Subject: Golden Dawn FAQ, part 2 of 4
Date: 12 Feb 1996 12:25:33 GMT
X-News-Reader: VMS NEWS 1.24


THIS IS PART 2/4 OF THE GOLDEN DAWN FAQ

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7.   Who was Israel Regardie?

Dr. Francis Israel Regardie (17 Nov 1907 - 10 Mar 1985, motto "Ad Maiorem
Adonai Gloriam," or "To the greatness of the Lord") was a relative latecomer
in the Golden Dawn, joining Felkin's Hermes Temple of the Stella Matutina in
about 1934.  He is most infamously known for publishing _The_Golden_Dawn_ 
a few years later, thereby breaking his oath of secrecy.  Every Order ritual,
from 0=0 to 5=6, was included, along with many of the original "knowledge
lectures" and "flying rolls" (instructional manuscripts) written by Mathers
and Westcott.

Although initially spurned by his G.D. peers, lately Regardie has been
seemingly vindicated.  The publishing of the Order material in a relatively
complete form has certainly kept the Golden Dawn from being lost to the
mists of time.  Many of the modern G.D. Orders claim an "apostolic suc-
cession" through Regardie, so it seems he has been sufficiently forgiven.
During the last few years of his life, he "authorized" a few different
groups to carry on his work, but it seems that some of these groups have
taken to claiming "bigger pieces of the pie" when it comes to authority and
lineage.

Recently, Regardie's role in the propagation of Golden Dawn documents has
been called into question.  Bill Heidrick (heidrick@well.sf.ca.us), the
Grand Treasurer General of the O.T.O., wrote on April 14, 1994:

  "Regardie's _Golden_Dawn_ was a joint enterprise between Israel 
   Regardie and Gerald Yorke.  Yorke supplied the materials, as 
   Francis (I.Regardie) told me himself.  Yorke had warning from
   his family as far back as the days of Equinox Vol.I never to
   allow publicity of his connections with either Crowley or the
   Golden Dawn.  This is not surprising in that the family was and
   is not very far removed from the succession to the British throne.
   When _G.D._ was to be published this ban was serious enough for
   Gerald to act as a silent partner and unannounced co-author with
   Francis.  Toward the end of his life Gerald did relax his privacy
   a little, to the extent of taking an occasional "bow" in print 
   and supporting Ellic Howe with an intro to _The_Magicians_of_the_
   _Golden_Dawn_.  The largest public collection of Golden Dawn and
   Crowley MSS is the Yorke collection in the Warburg Institute at
   the University of London.  That is Gerald's collection, fortified
   with materials provided by Karl Germer."

Although Yorke probably helped Regardie track down papers for the later
book, _The_Complete_Golden_Dawn_System_of_Magic_, it is difficult to assess
his impact on the earlier published materials.  Regardie's own initiatory 
status in the 1930's is also under dispute.  He claimed that he was an Adept
(5=6) of the Hermes Temple, but some have claimed that he could not have
achieved this degree in the short time he was a member.  Nick Farrell, a
Golden Dawn scholar, wrote on August 15 1995  (in private email, quoted
with permission):

  "Regardie got his 5=6 from somewhere, but I know that it was not
   from Bristol.  There are two dates Regardie gave for him going to
   Bristol.  One was Jan 1934 and April 1934.  He wrote in his book
   `My Rosicrucian Adventure' that he had the 5=6 in Jan 1935.  It
   is a fact that Bristol closed every year between November and
   February.  This means that he got his 5=6 in less than 10 or 11
   months.  Bristol had a 3 month wait between 4=7 to Portal, and 9
   months between Portal to 5=6.  But if he joined in April then he
   got his 5=6 in 8 months.  I have spoken to Bob Gilbert who has 
   told me that in Bristol they took these waiting periods very 
   seriously - even with the 'glowing candidates' like Regardie.
   Although it was possible to go from 0=0 to Portal in a year,
   there would still have to be the waiting period of nine months
   before you got 5=6.  At the time Regardie published _GD_, there
   was an emergency meeting at Whare Ra.  Mrs. Felkin was still
   technically the head of Stella Matutina, and had been contacted
   by the Bristol inner chiefs. (I have this from a 7=4 who was there).
   Felkin told this inner group said that Regardie was going to pub-
   lish and the Outer Order people were forbidden to buy the book.
   She also said that Regardie had not got into the Inner Order."

Some claim that Regardie, later in life, attained the higher degrees of
6=5 and 7=4, and was glad to finally receive true initiation (contrasted
to the ceremonies of the "Inepti" at Hermes Temple).  Harvey Newstrom
(hnewstrom@hnewstrom.ess.harris.com), a member of the Hermetic Order of
the Golden Dawn that Regardie sponsored in the 1980's, wrote on April 18,
1994:

  "Regardie was given a certificate of 6=5 after visiting New 
   Zealand.  This was an honorary degree that was intended to show
   respect and affirmation of Regardie's work.  Regardie was not
   a member of the New Zealand branch of the G:.D:., he did not 
   study from them, he did not undergo examination from them nor
   did he demonstrate the completion of the requisites for that 
   level.  Most importantly, Regardie still maintained the title,
   signatures, magical insignia, and other ensigns of office as
   appropriate for his actual level.  He never upgraded his own 
   assesment to claim any higher degrees.  After Regardie's death,
   the New Zealand group also sent a 7=4 certificate filled out for
   Regardie.  Dated after his death, this certificate certainly
   was an honorary one."

Patrick Zalewski, in _Secret_Inner_Order_Rituals_of_the_G.D._, claims that
Regardie "...participated in a 6=5 ceremony as one of the Temple Officers"
during his visit to new Zealand in August 1983, but the issue of his
initiatory status is left unclear.  The certificate in question was
reproduced in facsimile in early editions of _The_Complete_Golden_Dawn_
_System_of_Magic_, and was dated October 10, 1984, before his death.

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8.   What connection did Aleister Crowley have with the Golden Dawn?

Edward Alexander (Aleister) Crowley (1875-1947) joined the Isis-Urania
Temple of the G.D. in November of 1898, and quickly advanced to the grade
of Adeptus Minor by January of 1900.  Crowley grew distasteful of the
pretentious dealings between many of the members, and of the fact that
many were initiated for no other reason than their "worldly prosperity."

I quote from his "history lection" (with the line numbers removed for
readability) from Liber LXI vel Causae A.'.A.'. :

  "In 1900 one P., a brother, [Crowley, "Perdurabo"] instituted a 
   rigorous test of S.R.M.D. [Mathers] on the one side and the Order 
   on the other.  He discovered that S.R.M.D., though a scholar of 
   some ability and a magician of remarkable powers, had never attained
   complete initiation:  and further had fallen from his original place,
   he having imprudently attracted to himself forces of evil too great
   and terrible for him to withstand.  The claim of the Order that the
   true adepts were in charge of it was definitely disproved.  In the
   Order, with two certain exceptions and two doubtful ones, he found
   no persons prepared for initiation of any sort.  He thereupon by
   his subtle wisdom destroyed both the Order and its chief."

While the last statements certainly aren't true (both the G.D. and Mathers
long surviving Crowley's defection), it certainly sheds light on the "birth"
of the Golden Dawn's first "pseudo-messiah," as Gerald Yorke termed Crowley.

Crowley's subsequent magical work, too lengthy to describe completely
here, was a unique and singular accomplishment.  His reception of _Liber_
_AL_vel_Legis_ in Cairo in 1904 marked the beginning of a "new aeon" of
the world, and of the religion/philosophy of Thelema.  The details of
ritual and magical doctrine that Crowley continued to propagate, however,
were intimately connected with his beginnings in the Golden Dawn.

The two primary esoteric Orders which Crowley either created or placed
his unique imprint upon are the A.A. and the O.T.O. (Ordo Templi Orientis).

The A.A., which some claim stands for "Astron Argon," "Aster Argos," or
"Argentum Astrum" (Greek and Latin for "Silver Star"), was Crowley's idea
of the ideal and individualized initiatory regimen.  Most lineages (which
usually are passed down on a one-on-one basis) follow the Golden Dawn-like
grade system and magical/mystical "curriculum" set down in Crowley's "One
Star in Sight," which is in _Magick_in_Theory_and_Practice_.  Also, the
recently-published _Mystical_and_Magical_System_of_the_A.'.A.'._, by James
Eshelman, is a good source of information on this subject (see the Reference
List, Part IV, below).

The O.T.O. was founded in 1895 by Karl Kellner as a concretization of 
various Masonic rites, and also as a vehicle for the teaching of tantric-
based sexual magic.  In 1922, Crowley took over as Outer Head of the Order
(OHO), and modified its focus to conform to his "new aeon" Thelemic revel-
ations.  Although still an initiatory organization, the O.T.O. is concerned 
mainly with the social, economic, and interactive aspects of magic and Thelema,
rather than on presenting an individualized system of spirituality (as is
the regime of the A.A.).  The O.T.O. today is at its largest size ever, with
over 2000 members, and many of the active North American G.D. groups listed
below have some kind of connection with the O.T.O..  Crowley's _Equinox_,
especially the recently-written Volume III, Number 10, is a good reference
for the O.T.O..

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9.   How do I get started?

First, there exist various other "getting started" documents on magic
and esoteric spirituality posted to the Usenet newsgroups alt.magick,
alt.pagan, alt.meditation (?), and others, as well as on many Internet
WWW and FTP sites.  Since the suggestions below come from a Golden Dawn
point of view, these other more general documents may also be of interest.

Prior to the publication of most of the Golden Dawn material, the only
real way to "get started" was by petitioning an active Temple, being
accepted, and going through the Neophyte (0=0) initiation ceremony.
While this is still an option, easy access to the bulk of the Golden
Dawn material has opened up other, more solitary avenues of approach.
What follow are two basic techniques (one meditative, one ceremonial)
that have helped many to begin on the road to their "Great Work."

(A)  The Neophyte Meditation

  This exercise in concentration and stilling the mind contains two
  general components -- breathing and visualization -- but some helpful
  hints about relaxation and concentration might be in order first.
  Make yourself comfortable (sit or lay down) and try to relax the body.
  Starting at the feet, clench and release various muscles, and work
  up the body to the head and face.  Think of your warm blood coursing
  through your body, enriching each part as it relaxes.  If you fall
  asleep, that's fine, but you may want to find a better time of day
  to do this.  Breathe from the abdomen, not the chest.

  (i) Rhythmic Breathing:  The "fourfold breath" is suggested for
      beginners:
                    * inhale fully,    while counting 1-2-3-4
                    * hold the breath, while counting 1-2-3-4
                    * exhale fully,    while counting 1-2-3-4
                    * hold the breath, while counting 1-2-3-4

  (i) Visualization:  From the First Knowledge Lecture (cf. Regardie's
      _Golden_Dawn_),

      "Let the Neophyte consider a point as defined in mathematics --
       having position, but no magnitude -- and let him note the ideas
       to which this gives rise.  Concentrating his faculties on this,
       as a focus, let him endeavor to realise the *Immanance* of the
       *Divine* throughout *Nature*, in all her aspects."

      This "primitive point" (in Hebrew, NQVDH RAShVNH) can be fruitfully
      compared to the initial point of the creation of the universe, as
      is described in the _Zohar:_The_Book_of_Enlightenment_ (translated
      below by Daniel Chanan Matt, NY: Paulist Press, 1983):

         "A blinding spark flashed
          within the Concealed of the Concealed
          from the mystery of the Infinite,
          a cluster of vapor in formlessness,
          ...
          Deep within the spark gushed a flow
          imbuing colors below,
          concealed within the concealed of the mystery of the Infinite.
          The flow broke through and did not break through its aura.
          It was not known at all
          until, under the impact of breaking through,
          one high and hidden point shone.
          Beyond that point, nothing is known.
          So it is called Beginning,
          the first command of all."

      A comparison can also be made to various modern scientific theories
      of the "Big Bang," which is thought to have occurred within an
      infinitesimally small point which encompassed all of the present-
      day universe.

(B)  The Lesser Banishing Ritual of the Pentagram  (LBRP)

  The ritual act of "banishing" stems from an old notion that magic
  must be performed in a purified environment, and that "evil spirits"
  (or undesired "unconscious thought forms") must first be told to
  vacate the premises.  A more recent interpretation is that of de-
  lineating a "sacred space" at the beginning of a ritual, apart from
  the mundane world.  The focus is often on a military-like attention
  to detail, which constructs this impregnable "circle" around the
  magician. 

  The following banishing ritual was given to Neophytes of the Golden
  Dawn, to get them prepared and accustomed to dealing with spiritual
  entities.  It is also an often-used component at the beginning and
  end of many rituals.

  First, perform the Qabalistic Cross:

     Face East, and take a steel dagger in your right hand.  

     Touch your    forehead   , and say . . . ATEH             (Thou art)
     Touch your     breast    , and say . . . MALKUTH       (the kingdom)
     Touch your right shoulder, and say . . . Ve-GEBURAH  (and the power)
     Touch your left  shoulder, and say . . . Ve-GEDULAH  (and the glory)

     Clasp your left hand over your right hand
     hand before you, and say . . . . . . . . Le-OLAM          (for ever)
   
     Turn the dagger upwards, and say . . . . AMEN

  Next, begin to slowly rotate clockwise ("deosil," with the sun), prepared
  to trace a Circle around yourself with the dagger.   First, while facing 
  the East, trace a "banishing pentagram of Earth," in the order 123451:

                                   2
                                4     5
                                 1   3

  and "vibrate" the Hebrew God-name IHVH.

  Rotate clockwise, and face South.  Trace the pentagram, and vibrate ADNI.
  Rotate clockwise, and face West.   Trace the pentagram, and vibrate AHIH.
  Rotate clockwise, and face North.  Trace the pentagram, and vibrate AGLA.

  Rotate clockwise, and come back around to the East.  Upon completing the
  Circle, form a Great Cross (feet together, arms extended horizontally with
  with palms forward), close your eyes, and recite the archangelic powers
  stationed about the Circle:

                   "Before me,         Raphael
                    Behind me,         Gabriel
                    At my right hand,  Michael
                    At my left  hand,  Auriel.

                    Before me flames the Pentagram --
                    Behind me shines the Six-Rayed Star."

  Follow with the Qabalistic Cross again, and you're finished.

  An interesting analysis and interpretation of this ritual, along with
  some personal commentary as to its potential, is given below:

  ---------------------------BEGIN-QUOTATION-------------------------------

  From:       markk@cypress.West.Sun.COM (Mark Kampe)
  Subject:    a lesser banishing
  Newsgroups: alt.magick
  Date:       31 Oct 1994 16:45:34 GMT

  The words are widely known, but it occurred to me that I've never seen 
  a discussion of the melody and harmonies that give them meaning.  Surely,
  like the Tao, "the tune that can be told is not the true tune".  None,
  the less, I thought I would try to describe some of the experiences that
  have accompanied some of my attempts at a LBRP.

  P.S. ... For those who know the words, 
              please sing along, and tell me how the tune works for you.
           For those who have your own tunes, 
              would you consider trying to share one?
           For those who don't haven't tried the song, 
              this may not make much sense at all.
.
  0.    I begin with receptive silence, first bringing the room into 
        order, then bringing my body into repose, then my breathing
.into measured rhythm, and finally my thoughts.  I cannot begin 
        this work until I have ceased doing other things.

  1.    Using my father's dagger I trace the circle, and the cross, 
        addressing myself to the ritual.  It seems a bit like an 
        introduction (to the One "who needs no introduction" :-).  
        The real purpose, however, is to remind me where I am, and 
        why I have come here ... and it does that pretty effectively.  
        Establishing my relationship to the power is indeed an important
        preliminary to the remainder of the ritual.

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CONTINUED IN PART 3/4

