Many people think that the "lodge system" is dead or dying, and that the Golden Dawn is not as strong as it was in its hey-day, or, indeed, that it too is dying a slow death. I don't believe this to be true. Indeed, while perhaps the lodge system is not as popular as it once was (the decline in Freemasonry being the prime example), the Golden Dawn is thriving, so much so that I wonder if there is a kind of Renaissance occurring.
The Golden Dawn today is served by at least half a dozen orders, with another dozen or more that use its magic or are in some way derived from it (for example, the BOTA and SOL). Many of these Orders have a large number of temples around the world, more than the original ever had, and there are more popping up as we speak. Europe and America, in particular, are well-served today.
Couple this with a number of new developments and publications that have occurred or are on the horizon. For example, there is the GD magazine Hermetic Virtues, only a few years old. Then there are the two new GD Tarot decks coming out, the HorusHathor deck and the Ra Horakhty deck, not to mention the half a dozen other GD decks already published. Then there are also a number of intriguing GD books that will be published soon, such as Nick Farrell and Melissa Seims' King Over The Water (which will include much previously unpublished Alpha et Omega material), Peregrin Wildoak's By Names and Images, a reworked reprint of Pat Zalewski's Golden Dawn Rituals and Commentaries (all his Z4 and Z5 material), and Darcy Küntz's magnum opus Golden Dawn Temple Manual. Add to this the excellent (if I do say so myself) Golden Dawn Forum, not to mention the many GD yahoo groups and dozens of blogs, and it does sounds like those who are interested in the Golden Dawn are enjoying a really good time.
So, is this a bit of a Renaissance for the Golden Dawn?
Couple this with a number of new developments and publications that have occurred or are on the horizon. For example, there is the GD magazine Hermetic Virtues, only a few years old. Then there are the two new GD Tarot decks coming out, the HorusHathor deck and the Ra Horakhty deck, not to mention the half a dozen other GD decks already published. Then there are also a number of intriguing GD books that will be published soon, such as Nick Farrell and Melissa Seims' King Over The Water (which will include much previously unpublished Alpha et Omega material), Peregrin Wildoak's By Names and Images, a reworked reprint of Pat Zalewski's Golden Dawn Rituals and Commentaries (all his Z4 and Z5 material), and Darcy Küntz's magnum opus Golden Dawn Temple Manual. Add to this the excellent (if I do say so myself) Golden Dawn Forum, not to mention the many GD yahoo groups and dozens of blogs, and it does sounds like those who are interested in the Golden Dawn are enjoying a really good time.
So, is this a bit of a Renaissance for the Golden Dawn?
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4 comments:
Is there an active GD group in Ireland? I thought GD was fading out, but there indeed does seem to be a revival on the horizon.
There is. If you'd like to inquire more about it contact me at: frateryechidah[at]gmail[dot]com
LVX,
Dean.
Good time to have a few hundred dollars put aside for these up and coming goodies.
The Journal of the Western Mystery Tradition also has a lot of GD-oriented material.
Anywho, something I think people who make this kind of statement, that the esoteric lodge system is loosing its large membership and then use that as evidence that it is dying and never really worked in the first place, are forgetting their history. Any number of modern GD orders have many, many times the membership of the original order. Beyond that, and very importantly, its supposed to be a mystery school! Its elitist, and that's a good thing. Its not supposed to be open to anyone off the street, entrance is limited and advancement equally limited. Heck, there are mystery schools out there that do not advertise at all, people only learn of them word of mouth. Quality vs. quantity and all that.
I kind of like it that way, actually.
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