A common question in the occult community is: what is the purpose of the Golden Dawn? Anthony Fleming, in his Introduction to the Golden Dawn American Source Book defined this purpose as:
The ultimate aim of the Golden Dawn system is two-fold and in two steps or stages: Knowledge & Conversation of the Holy Guardian Angel (or the Higher Self [though I technically believe the two to be different]), and, ultimately (with the previous step being the preliminary stages) Union with the Divine (although that is a more abstract philosophical pursuit, and doesn't really come into play until Adept level).
However, there are smaller, more achievable aims throughout the system. For example, one aim of the Outer Order is to give the student a thorough theoretical knowledge of magick and the occult, including ritual, divination, invocation, and so forth. This magickal training is also used as a practical means to stimulate communication and communion with the spiritual realm. The student learns techniques to heighten astral sensitivity (so that he or she can perceive things "other" to the norm), develop the intuition, clairvoyance, and other psychic faculties (primarily through divination, such as Geomancy, Astrology, and Tarot), and generally become more in tune with the spiritual and astral world. The student also learns techniques to banish the lower personality and invoke the higher, to remove astral junk, etc., and generally perfect the being through elemental and alchemical cleansing (a primary purpose of the Elemental Grades). In a sense, the purpose is to let the old self die and become spiritually reborn, with a higher understanding and a greater purpose as Inheritors of a Dying World.
The Golden Dawn is ultimately theurgical, and all the work used in the Order is designed to aid in the evolution of the soul (as well as helping others, in the Rosicrucian sense [healing the sick, etc.]). It is generally frowned upon to evoke and work with demons, pursue black magick (including curses and psychic attack), engage in sex magick, utilise spells for money or lust, and other matters revolving around the physical. One of the Order's main "slogans", from the Neophyte ceremony, is:
The meaning of this is made a little more explicit in the Theoricus ceremony:
"Stated somewhat simplistically, the purpose of the Golden Dawn was to provide to specially selected candidates a sytem of occult training which would enable them to acquire magical powers and eventually lead to their spiritual illumination."
The ultimate aim of the Golden Dawn system is two-fold and in two steps or stages: Knowledge & Conversation of the Holy Guardian Angel (or the Higher Self [though I technically believe the two to be different]), and, ultimately (with the previous step being the preliminary stages) Union with the Divine (although that is a more abstract philosophical pursuit, and doesn't really come into play until Adept level).
However, there are smaller, more achievable aims throughout the system. For example, one aim of the Outer Order is to give the student a thorough theoretical knowledge of magick and the occult, including ritual, divination, invocation, and so forth. This magickal training is also used as a practical means to stimulate communication and communion with the spiritual realm. The student learns techniques to heighten astral sensitivity (so that he or she can perceive things "other" to the norm), develop the intuition, clairvoyance, and other psychic faculties (primarily through divination, such as Geomancy, Astrology, and Tarot), and generally become more in tune with the spiritual and astral world. The student also learns techniques to banish the lower personality and invoke the higher, to remove astral junk, etc., and generally perfect the being through elemental and alchemical cleansing (a primary purpose of the Elemental Grades). In a sense, the purpose is to let the old self die and become spiritually reborn, with a higher understanding and a greater purpose as Inheritors of a Dying World.
The Golden Dawn is ultimately theurgical, and all the work used in the Order is designed to aid in the evolution of the soul (as well as helping others, in the Rosicrucian sense [healing the sick, etc.]). It is generally frowned upon to evoke and work with demons, pursue black magick (including curses and psychic attack), engage in sex magick, utilise spells for money or lust, and other matters revolving around the physical. One of the Order's main "slogans", from the Neophyte ceremony, is:
"Quit the Night and seek the Day!"
The meaning of this is made a little more explicit in the Theoricus ceremony:
"Quit the Material and seek the Spiritual!"
In summary, the purpose of the Golden Dawn is to "become more than Human"; in doing so the student brings this Dying World one step closer to Tiqqun, to Restoration, and the elevation of humanity as a whole to a new and greater height, where no longer are we subject to the wiles of the ego and the Dog-Faced Demons that lurk beneath even the kindest of human hearts.
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6 comments:
The HGA working is not a central aspect of the Golden Dawn system. In fact, many of the early member, going into the 40s with the splinter groups, felt the working was too dangerous. The idea that the HGA was part of the GD originated in Crowley's interpretations based on his own ideas and after his reading of Sacred Magic. Through his influence on Dr. Regardie the HGA working became perceived as a part of the system but nowhere in the grade work is the working mentioned, vague comments about "higher self" notwithstanding.
Those who feel that "higher self" is equivalent to the "Holy Guardian Angel" need to rethink their approach because the HGA, while it can be thought of as the Higher Self is most definitely not the Higher self in the more subtle planes, and is in fact it's own being, independent of the magician.
It was also a Crowley interpetation that Adonai=HGA. This is not so as the Golden Dawn papers meant Adonai in the sense of the Jewish concept of Adonai, the Lord God, creator of the universe.
Those who refute this, I'd love to see ORIGINAL Golden Dawn, Mathers/Westcott documents that talk about the HGA working as being central to the Golden Dawn. To the A.'.A.'. of Aleister Crowley, sure but the two are not equivalent and they aren't all that compatible by any means. True, the A.'.A.'. includes all of the GD, the A.'.A.'. includes much more than just the GD teachings (not implying superiority). It is only in Regardie's work on the Golden Dawn that we see the HGA working being emphasized while other writers from his generation like Fortune and Case make no case for the HGA working being central to the work etc.
Ave Frater (Frater who, might I inquire?),
Very good point. Perhaps I should have been more expressive of my own views on the difference between the HGA and HS, which I hinted at in my post. I think one of the central aims, whether explicitly stated or not, is becoming the Higher Self (I personally don't even attribute the HGA to Tiphareth, for that matter), and I find this hard to dispute. Likewise, I agree that the HGA is a very separate being, and this is why I cannot see it as the same as the HS.
I haven't seen the interpretation of Adonai as the HGA, and can't imagine this title as anything other than God in the Jewish sense.
Out of curiosity, would you like to share your own views on the purpose and aims of the Order? I'd like to see as much input on this as possible.
Thanks for the informative comment, Brother :)
LVX,
Dean.
One line of thought would say that the purpose of the Golden Dawn "In The Outer" is to prepare the student for his or her own particular adventure in the Inner Order. That is, supply the would-be adept with a set of tools (in the broadest sense) from which any particular setting can be exploited for advancement along a path chosen once the key to the Inner Order is to hand. This is perhaps why many common elements of Golden Dawn ritual and practice are to be found in many other expressions of the Western Mystery Tradition. Personally, this line of approach has been paramount in my own particular path-walking, nowadays mainly centred on "Listening to the Land", and many of the GD toolbox's contents are of immediate utility in my practice.
Ave Ian,
I think this falls under the scope of seeing the Outer Order as a kind of magickal Degree. Its broad scope allows for multiple systems to be learned, which can then be perfected or specialised in when the student advances to the Inner Order. Many Adepts go on to specialise in Enochian, Qabalah, Tarot, Alchemy, or any other of the many systems that the Golden Dawn uses, not to mention more personal paths.
I agree that the G.'.D.'. toolbox is of immense value to many people, specifically because it is so broad and far-reaching. It really does give a very healthy magickal education, one, which if followed fully, should lead to some very well-versed individuals (personality defects aside).
Thanks for the comment, Ian :)
LVX,
Dean.
Hi Dean and all,
thanks for the post. I too would like to make clear that originally the GD (outer) and the RR et AC (inner) had different, though complimentary aims. The outer GD was to prepare the candidate for the RR et AC. Here the initiate oathed to further develop themselves to become more than human.
The reason for all this, the purpose of the GD as a whole, is given at each Equinox:
"to offer only clean Oblation and acceptable sacrifice, which is Love expressed towards God, Man and the Universe."
It all comes down to love.
And you know that, for sure :)
Peregrin
Excellent comment, Peregrin. That quote from the Equinox Ceremony is particularly apt - thank you for sharing it here :)
LVX,
Dean.
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