The Full Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn Review

Hello gentle readers,

You are now reading a review on the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn.

My name is Samuel Robinson and this is part two of my Reviews of the Rosicrucian Orders.

This is also the updated version of 2020, from the original of 2014. After reviewing AMORC we come to completely different Order. Where AMORC is considered mystical or New Thought, the Golden Dawn represents a magical Rosicrucian stream.

The review you are reading covers the Traditional Score of the Golden Dawn in particular. All Orders examined on this website are rated using the same system of analysis. The Golden Dawn is the most popular magical Order and claims to teach the “most powerful” forms of magic. In this review we’ll be asking “How Rosicrucian is the Golden Dawn anyway?”

As with all these Rosicrucian Reviews you’ll also see the pros and cons of membership. If you are a new student, deciding which Order is right for you, you have reached the right site. I’ve also reviewed the other major Orders so make sure you read all of my Reviews of the Rosicrucian Orders.

If you are a G.D member already, this article will serve to help expand your understanding of the G.D itself, regarding its context within the greater scheme of Rosicrucianism.

A nice Golden Dawn temple set up: source: Pinterest.

Be warned; some R.C elements the G.D embodies very well, far better than any other Orders. But before anyone gets too excited; the Golden Dawn completely flops on some points, leaving students to ponder whether or not these are points worth expanding upon in their own studies or even their Order’s materials.

As with all my posts, these examinations are given in order to further help students embrace their Rosicrucian heritage, whatever Rosicrucian society they have chosen to study with.

Therefore, enjoy the read, and try not to take anything to heart. Of course students of any system, AMORC or G.D etc. tend to see their beloved system subjectively and are attached to the body itself for all it has done for them. The reviews therefore were carried out by both long-time members of the Golden Dawn together with Rosicrucian scholars. Where anything is rated as lacking; this is a call to action to expand your studies or the studies of your Order. The Golden Dawn is Rosicrucian after all.

Or is it? You’ll find out in this Golden Dawn Review.

If you are new to my blog series, then please ensure you read ALL of the below blog posts. These will give you a strong historic basis for study, informing you about your tradition, and reveal how there is an underlying system behind all the various Rosicrucian Orders.

The documents you need to read are:

• Reviewing the Rosicrucian Orders.
• Scoring System for the Reviews of the Rosicrucian Orders.
• Are the Rosicrucians Really Christian?
• What is Rosicrucian Pansophy?
• Why All the Nit Picking in My Rosicrucian Reviews?

Make sure you especially read the last post in particular before going any further.

Onwards!

Briefly: How the Rosicrucian Reviews are Done

As you may have read in our scoring system, these reviews all follow a standardized review model. Without such a model they wouldn’t be objective reviews. They’d be totally biased.

Most of all, these reviews must be both helpful and open everyone to constructive discussion.

There are several issues at work in modern Rosicrucianism, one of them being that many Orders have lost track of their origins, and secondly many Orders are closed off from the greater community.

Here, at Pansophers, a movement has started. We are the network that exists beyond any organization. We are also a call for the restoration of our R.C principles. And you can join too.

Instead of writing biased reviews on each Order I’d like to clarify:

Only the early traditional documents were referenced in the creation of the Scoring System. We were not interested in the personal takes of those later Rosicrucian founders who developed their own ideas in the window between 1880’s to the 1920’s. Secondly, the Rosicrucian Reviews were not written alone by me (Samuel Robinson). In each review I have involved members from each Order, in this case – I am personally a member of one G.D temple and interviewed others to get second opinions on the content.

Beyond following a standard structure for each Rosicrucian Review: there are also unique questions addressed regarding each Order. For example, a common question asked for one Order might be “is this a new age version of Rosicrucianism?” or “Is this Order strictly Christian?” etc.

After all, there are weird urban legends about each Rosicrucian Fraternity. We’ll address those.

Now, onto looking at the HOGD using our scoring system:

1. Trinosophia Score: worth a total of 30 points.
2. Pansophia Score: worth a total of 30 points.
3. Christosophia Score: worth a total of 20 points.
4. Wild Card Core: worth a potential bonus of 20 points.

Again, refer to my Scoring System of the Rosicrucian Reviews to understand this system.

Now Let’s Review the Golden Dawn – The Magical Rosicrucian Order

The Order of the Golden Dawn has all the bells and whistles. Magic wands, magical mirrors, talismans, angelic magic. You name it! This is the Hogwarts of magical instruction.

Now, many will tell you “The Golden Dawn is not a Mystical Order.”

This shows a very inexperienced and superficial view.

All too often we hear: “This order is magical and that one is mystical.”

This is just not the case. The mystical Orders are doing far more magical work than the Slytherin folks think, and the magical Orders are far more mystical than Gryffindor thinks.

Call the G.D what you will, it is singlehandedly responsible resurrecting ritual magic.

But, despite what some say; being magical does not mean it’s not a Rosicrucian Order.

Viewing the Golden Dawn with Rosicrucian Eyes:

Some Rosicrucian readers may find it a surprise that the G.D is included in this series of reviews. After all, many Rosicrucians do not consider the G.D a ‘Rosicrucian Order’ at all. Further to this, some G.D figures themselves agree, considering instead that its Rosicrucian properties are an overlay to its rituals.

Yet I find this approach entirely mundane-making, if not a modern absconding of a Rosicrucian current.

After all, its Rosicrucian tomb is quite a drastic measure to have if Rosicrucianism is merely there to add a layer to its ritual work! We are talking a full-blown seven-sided vault here.

They don’t come cheap!

As you’ll see, the “not Rosicrucian” theory does not hold up.

The inner order of the G.D is called the “Rosae Rubae et Aurae Crucis” (RR et AC), meaning the Order of the “Ruby Rose and Cross of Gold.” It only not references a German Rosenkreuzer connection, but also borrows terminology from one of the Golden Rosenkreuzer documents; the “Thesaurus Theasaurum.”

In fact, many Golden Dawn symbols, regalia items and concepts are derived from the Golden Rosenkreuzers of the 1700’s (hereafter GuRC.) Not only that but several also come from Jacob Boehme, which is a bit of knowledge most G.Der’s are not aware of, which I covered here.

Once you get to the Inner Order of the G.D, guess what; you’re given a Rose Cross lamen.

Even at the beginning Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn founders, Mathers and Westcott, both claimed their Order had its origins in secret Rosicrucian adepts from Germany. The G.D offshoots were no different. Paul Foster Case, Mathers and Felkin each claimed it was their branch which was in fact in contact with the real adepts, granting them true authority over the G.D current.

Such a pedigree does make it difficult for the “not Rosicrucian” argument.

Of course, an inner order such as the RR et AC cannot belong to the Golden Dawn. It belongs to the Rosicrucian current. The broad and greater tradition itself sees this name appear in many other Orders. Not all G.D bodies ignore these Rosicrucian elements in their Order, but as a Pansophist my belief is that the more one embraces this heritage the richer their path becomes.

Golden Dawn Trinosophia Score

For new readers, the Trinosophia review examines how strongly any Order represents the three paths of alchemy, magic and Cabala, as outlined by the original Rosicrucians. For Cabala, Alchemy and Magic the G.D could get ten points for each for a potential total of thirty.

One thing I need to point out here that a few people may have missed is that being a Trinosophist is quite an accomplishment! Think about it. The Rosicrucians did not only aim to be masters of Cabala or Magic, or Alchemy, but masters of all three arts!

Consider the implications in terms of achieving adeptship!

A magus can communicate with angels, receive planetary powers and influence outcomes. A master alchemist had to uncover the Philosophers Stone, a substance which would restore one’s immortality and cure all illness, aside from transmutations and healing the sick. Lastly, the master Cabalist is priest and divine prophet to nations. Such a person is the very mouthpiece of God on earth and foresees the future to boot.

In case you didn’t notice; realizing any one of these singular paths is a lifetime achievement.

But, to realize all three? To my mind, this places the Rosicrucian path above all others.

Here is how the Golden Dawn stacks up in their Trinosophia Score:

Golden Dawn Magic Score

We’ll examine Golden Dawn magic first, seeing this is where the Order really shines. But, we’ll also ask “Is Golden Dawn magic even Rosicrucian?” Without question the Golden Dawn system of magic is unrivalled. That being said, this does not mean that many people practicing the G.D actually follow Rosicrucian ambitions, even if the RR et AC is clearly Rosicrucian. Right?

Let’s be clear, the G.D system is entirely ceremonial in its method. Even its alchemical operation is carried along with the support of much ceremony. Here, the different operations of alchemy are done as usual but overseen by pentagram or hexagram rituals, angelic seals traced in the air etc. with lots of wand waving!

Essentially the student is given a full-blown curriculum of not only study, but also ritual work to carry out. This can be positive and at the same time negative. You get your pentagram ritual, and you do it. Hexagram ritual, follow the instructions, just do it. Need to consecrate a talisman? Follow this methodology, and work your talisman under the right planetary hour, tracing the right planetary hexagrams round the circle and in the air, followed by vibrating the right angelic names etc. and you are doing it all right. But are you? The problem is; anyone can copy and follow such instructions.

In contrast I’ve come to appreciate the German Rosicrucian system that gives you broken ritual fragments and tells you that you have to psychically find the missing pieces. If you get it right; you’re given more. If you’re not developing intuitively-and-practicing then the second part won’t appear. Help is needed from the “other side.”

Think about it; anyone can copy exact instructions like a parrot and get to “high magical grades.” Where is the intuitive development? Fortunately the G.D does have advanced divination methods using Tarot.

Much of G.D magical methodology depends on the vibration of words and the invocation of the Astral Light, as described by Eliphas Levi. This is NOT the grimoire type method nor that of Agrippa, although the G.D did follow his Three Books of Occult Philosophy closely, it’s still more “visualization” based.

There are five main operations of magic for the G.D adept:

1. Talismans.
2. Evocation.
3. Invisibility.
4. Transformation or Spiritual Development.
5. Alchemy.

Each of these depend upon Hermetic principles like ‘above so below.’ The colour of your talisman corresponds to the planetary force and the magical names being used etc. You are drawing down divine rays. More importantly, G.D magic is Kabbalistic, which the R.C claimed to have mastered. All very good.

Yet, the facts are; the G.D magical methodology is relatively new. And yes its theurgic. It’s not black magic, that’s for sure!

Despite the fact that many modern G.D practitioners try to put the method towards selfish gain, the G.D system has a set of assessing godforms within its Z2 magical formula that judge whether or not magical power should be granted to the operation. Apparently, this safeguards against black magic. During the ritual (which is based on the Neophyte initiation turned into a magical process) the same gods that judged the candidate during initiation come forth to judge the work. These come from the Egyptian Book of the Dead. Egyptian gods and angels all work within one environment in the G.D framework. This makes for a distinct esoteric current.

But, actually this is very Rosicrucian!

Consider that, for the early Rosicrucian manifesto authors, and the likes of Boehme and Swedenborg, deities like Apollo and Venus hang out just fine with Christ and the Holy Spirit, who by the way is often transformed into a poetic Muse of initiation.

You may wish to familiarize yourself with this Hermetic blend of Christ with the gods through this blog.

With such protective forces at work G.D magic embodies divine magic. So, if you want to join the G.D to get that special partner or get more money etc. then you’ll be joining the wrong Order. Other Rosicrucian Orders might perceive the G.D system as carrying mundane type magic, and even some of its practitioners attempt to use it as such, but this is not the purpose of the Order.

Now, before I can give a magic score for my Rosicrucian Review of the Golden Dawn, we’ll have to take a slight detour into a few matters regarding the nature of two magical systems taught by the Golden Dawn. This detour will only take ten minutes. Bear with me as I’d like to investigate “What is Rosicrucian Magic and is Golden Dawn magic therefore Rosicrucian?”

First, there is the matter that there are two Golden Dawn veins today. There is the Public G.D and the Hidden Esoteric G.D.

By “Esoteric” I do not mean the “Esoteric Order of the Golden Dawn.” I mean that they are esoterically hidden and maintain an original Rosicrucian integrity. The Hidden G.D and the Public G.D are totally different groups. You’ll see the types in the Public G.D Orders, who have big egos and are trying to use the magical system for self-gain. You’ll also encounter the popular authors.

This might sound a bit harsh, but this has to be an honest review –

In the Public Golden Dawn students are generally quite poor, struggle with life and often unemployed. Their teachers make money from selling their books and courses. And yes I mean the big names.

The most important feature of the Public Golden Dawn is that several of its leaders deny any connection to the Rosicrucian current. For them the “Golden Dawn and its Inner RR et AC is not a Rosicrucian Order!” It’s hard to believe, but they have argued strongly against it. Which proves in itself that the two groups, the Public G.D and the Hidden G.D certainly exist.

The Esoteric Hidden G.D on the other hand is barely public. You’ll hardly find them participating in forums, but they are indeed very Rosicrucian in their outlook. They support their magical work with many mystical practices, some of which come from the Sun Order (Cromlech Temple). But, as I said, these groups are extremely hard to find. So, to set the record straight:

The Esoteric Hidden Traditional G.D groups come under Tony Fuller, Kasmillos and Olen Rush. No exceptions!

You can’t join them online, so my advice; just study it yourself. This is better than joining the public G.D system IMHO, simply because the two are massively different. One is more Rosicrucian.

By avoiding the low-magic type groups of the Public G.D, and studying it yourself, for your own spiritual search, you’ll still align to the more Rosicrucian approach of asking the current to present itself to you. This is what I meant before in referencing the German Rosicrucian approach of accessing the teachings by intuition. To be sure, you can effectively access the current itself and can learn directly from its guiding forces.

If you really need to study… well try to join one of the above.

You have to also be aware of a certain mentality within the Public Golden Dawn, which I’ll share here. If you want to study the G.D magical system do not get caught in the following trap:

Much of the public G.D follows the approach that “the more advanced something is, the more special it must be.”

Israel Regardie’s books show that sort of example. He wrote the black brick while he was just 25 years of age presenting some very complex magical ritual work. The issue here is that mainstream students often pursue “higher teachings” that are ever more advanced. This is something to watch out for, as there are G.D courses that claim to offer those “advanced” teachings for $100.00 per month per person. Naturally the teachers offering such courses have become expert at always turning out more advanced goodies and having the next best dazzling thing. In the exchange there is a coveting of these “higher teachings” on the student’s part and as one Scandinavian Rosicrucian Adept recently put it to me – “MORE advanced teachings are the heroin of today’s Hermetics!”

Unlike the Public G.D, the Hidden sections still prefer simplicity. The elaborate ritual processes are broken down into finer phases and done independently. The focus is not on how much ritual you do as a magician, but the quality of the work is more important; and to be sure it is more devotional!

One informant, from New Zealand, from the Hidden G.D shared (in so many words) that when a teacher keeps giving out “advanced teachings” that teacher is destroying the relationship between the fledgling 5=6 adept and the G.D system itself, seeing that now, having reached the Inner Order, you are meant to learn directly from the spirit of the RR et AC.

Such information is useful and suggests that having teachings given to you is a form of vampirism which gratifies the ego of the person giving out teachings, who is having the real experience to perceive such higher teachings themselves, but in giving them out is preventing others from gaining the momentum to directly access the inner experience of receiving the higher directly themselves from the current of the Inner Order. Essentially, the G.D inner current is meant to teach you directly!

The simplicity approach seen in the Hidden G.D Orders began with Mathers who started to streamline his Alpha et Omega rituals. Public Golden Dawn largely considers them as ‘watered down,’ and in doing so completely misses the inner approach. This is where I keep finding that the Hidden Esoteric Order of the Golden Dawn variants are more akin to old European Rosicrucian lineages, and Martinism.

Mathers was in France at the time, so his approach may reflect new influences after he left England. It is worth mentioning here that there are differences between French, British and German Rosicrucianism. This is not to mention the “I am God” approach found in the American side. If you consider G.D magic, it certainly is British but through a Rosicrucian lens. Still, the Public G.D is clearly cluttered compared to its mystical hidden twin.

Does G.D magic reflect the Rosicrucian cloister legend revealed in the Fama Fraternitatis? Can you imagine Christian monks practicing such a long-winded ritual system? Clearly not. But, then the R.C also has many influences from Giordano Bruno, and certainly elements of G.D magic reflect his work.

But, what is Rosicrucian magic really?

Magically, the only thing the Rosicrucians said they’d do (outwardly with their secret knowledge) was to heal the sick, freely and gladly.

Unfortunately, not a lot of the Golden Dawn system of magic is aimed towards healing. Far from it. While it has several complex rituals and methods, that CAN be applied to healing, it is not the official aim of the Order, and therefore the G.D loses some points on its magical score (in terms of traditional R.C approaches!)

The manifestos after all, named the Rosicrucians the “Therapeutic Brotherhood.” Regardie wrote a book on healing, and several times discussed how the astral light of the Middle Pillar ritual can be so applied. The problem is; talismans, evocation and several other methods of the G.D can be used for healing. So why have so many ways to skin a cat? For the sake of it? As I wrote in my Rosicrucian Tradition of the Golden Dawn the problem of the Golden Dawn rituals of magic (of the RR et AC) is that you could effectively use each ritual for the purpose of “getting back your ex-boyfriend.”

Making matters worse Paracelsus made it quite clear
everything can be manifested and magically done
by the power of imagination alone,
so why add all ‘the clap trap?’
Unless it’s for something else…

My hypothesis was that if you were to actually look at early Rosicrucian works and the traditions themselves, of Cabala, alchemy and the magic of Abramelin, you are given clear intentions, as to what each of those rituals should be for. Each has a purpose towards Regeneration, rather than a mundane magical approach.

Cagliostro and several Rosicrucian currents mention the “reception of the Pentagon” for example, which was a holy blessing from God. It was thought that the Rosicrucian should receive this magical seal from his Holy Angel and then consecrate it. And if you read the Abramelin carefully such a seal and process also appear. Here, the seal itself acts is a compact or “personal covenant” with God.

After this the “newly Reintegrated magus” would now have achieved a stronger bond by which to call his own Holy Angel into appearance, which is why such a seal also appears in the Abramelin operation. The magus is also now “Reintegrated” in the sense that they have reunited with the divine hierarchy, as the first step towards greater Regeneration!

The external Golden Dawn magical system ignores this, entirely, and such earlier Rosicrucian traditions. Their “magic” starts at 1888!

In fact, unlike the traditional Rosicrucians, in the Golden Dawn: there is no thread of purpose that runs from magical ritual to ritual showing a spiritual progression.

In my book I concentrated on revealing how the magical rituals of the Golden Dawn could be used properly when aligned with Rosicrucian intentions. The next step of the Abramelin for example (after receiving the seal of your angel) was to then evoke your Holy Angel to appear, an act which would bring further illumination. Cagliostro’s work also follows the same process. Thus my book stated that first the Z2 Talisman ritual could be used to consecrate the Holy Pentagon and secondly the Z2 Evocation ritual would manifest your Holy Angel, creating a progression.

You get the idea… the rest of the process I have since developed further since the original publication. The point is that Public Golden Dawn Orders ignore the TRADITION of the Rosicrucians to the present. In doing so they have a magical system that lacks any real spiritual intentions. You do your talisman consecrations for any number of mundane purposes, and then you do your evocation work, for whatever purposes. So long as you have done “lots of talismans and evocation work” you progress to the next grade…

Where the issue here lays, in reviewing the magical system of the G.D, is that for most G.D adepts the magical system starts with the inception of the Golden Dawn itself in 1888. Everything is considered from this point forwards, so that all the traditional Rosicrucian ambitions regarding reintegration is ignored, even if they were quite consistent throughout the majority of Rosicrucian Orders leading up to the Golden Dawn.

This issue is maintained despite the Golden Dawn having also borrowed much from the Order of the Egyptian Rite of Memphis Misraim, including its Neophyte hall godforms, as I show in my Memphis Misraim Review.

BUT Esoteric and Hidden Golden Dawn Orders still work closely with Rosicrucian intentions.

The Public Golden Dawn does not. Thus there are two magical G.D systems. One that is more akin to “casting spells to get what you want” whilst the other is very Rosicrucian but is alas barely online.

One figure from the Esoteric Hidden G.D current of an Alpha et Omega lineage also practices several forms of healing, using old systems which were practiced by alchemist such as Paracelsus and of that Rosicrucian period. (this is not David Griffin’s supposed G.D Order that also claims A.O lineage).

Remember that without healing the Order ceases to be Rosicrucian.

Thus, I will state that in my review what this essentially means is that Public Golden Dawn Orders, while they have the Rosicrucian equipment, such as the Rosicrucian tomb for initiations, and all the right words, they DO NOT practice Rosicrucian magic. Full stop.

They do practice magic, but it is nothing like the Rosicrucians would have wanted. This is, of course, a call for change on behalf of the greater Rosicrucian current.

Clearly the Rosicrucian form of magic only has these goals:

1. The Reformation of the Whole Wide World.
2. The establishment of a Christian Utopia.
3. Healing any illness.
4. The Philosophers Stone (alchemy)
5. Spiritual Reintegration (Cabala)
6. Divine Communion (magic)

Any other forms of magic would be considered evil or wasteful. Any work done towards the reformation of the world or the establishment of a new utopia or any kind of magic aimed at assisting the unification of humanity is appropriate. So would banishing negative forces from the mind of humanity.

Any form of magic not done for assisting humanity or healing then only leaves one option; to evolve yourself as a spiritual being towards the state of being a fully divine realized being of Light.

Now that we have defined Rosicrucian magic with the above six points we can go ahead with the magical score of the Golden Dawn. This detour to understand this issue was quite important.

Fortunately the Golden Dawn has something that shines as a true Rosicrucian manifestation.

The Golden Dawn Sphere of Sensation – Your Rosicrucian Get Away Car for Ditching New Agers!

Although complex one of the best teachings the G.D has to offer, in Rosicrucian terms, is their model for the Sphere of Sensation. This model is essentially their Rosicrucian magical aura theory.

Not only is the aura here a magical egg for regeneration, it also becomes a sphere that is charged with the Astral Light, thus empowering the magician’s rituals.

Here is where it gets really interesting.

A central idea is that the Astral Light is needed for magic. The more astral light – the more power you have for your rituals. The Golden Dawn offers magical formula such as the L.V.X signs, the Kabbalistic Cross ritual and the Middle Pillar ritual to help empower the Sphere of Sensation with the Astral Light.

Then in theory this power could be drawn into charging a talisman or bridging to another realm in order to help bring through the manifestation of some angelic presence.

The wording of the G.D process is quite complicated if you are not familiar with Cabala.

But I’ll summarize it; basically you have different parts of your Sphere, which make up the polarized field of your magical aura. It expresses the qualities of your higher self, and the Light is drawn down through the higher self into the Ruach (conscious vehicle) and then lastly it goes into the Nepesch. The later here is basically your etheric body, which expands out into a sphere-shaped field.

When you trace pentagrams into the air, projecting astral images, symbols and sounds, the intention travels from your higher self, through your conscious self, out into the sphere. This Sphere of Sensation is also your contact with the astral realm, projecting and receiving impressions.

Thus it is a “magical mirror” as well as a conduit of intentions to other planes.

When a symbol, such as an angelic sigil, is traced in the air, it is passing through the Sphere of Sensation and is charged by the power of the Astral Light that you have drawn down into your being.

But here is the catch.

The Astral Light may only fully be received according to the virtue of the operator.

The more virtue you have the more Light you are able to draw through your Ruach. It is explained that the rays of the higher self are caste down and become the Rays of the Ruach (illuminated conscious divine thinking) and this shows a process of real inspiration. But then the Rays of the Ruach are cast down and illuminate the Nepesch(etheric body), making the Sphere of Sensation an orb of LVX.

But unless you have virtue, truly have developed a Christ consciousness, then this transmission of Light is dampened. This is where Public Golden Dawn temple ideology gets it entirely wrong.

Such actions cannot be “willed” alone into being, or created “mentally.” The quality of the soul is a conduit of Light.

Light is afforded the operator to the measurement of their virtue.

Most G.D groups completely ignore this aspect of the teaching. But it is quite clear in the Sphere of Sensation papers. (I was one of the first to ever point out) Yet, this aspect of the original Golden Dawn teaching bodes well for its Rosicrucian magic score.

As with all reviews, the magical score of any Order is worth ten points. We have already reviewed the Martinist system and something is to be learned here. The Golden Dawn system, while it has all the tools and methods, largely ignores the greater doctrine of the Rosicrucianism. In comparison the Martinists have fewer methods but spend more time focusing on the idea of Reintegration, as the doctrine itself is fully explored. In this respect, one is all meaning, the other is all method.

But clearly the purpose of Rosicrucian magic, such as healing and assisting humanity is a concern for Martinist and Cohens and not Golden Dawn. It’s frightful to say; but some elements of Martinist and Cohens magic are more Rosicrucian than the G.D. But clearly the G.D’s system is superior in application.

Thus the Golden Dawn gets 7/10 for its magic score.

I can already hear people smashing down on their keyboards, but here I repeat; this does not mean that Martinist magic is better or more powerful than Golden Dawn. Only that it is more Rosicrucian.

And again this problem refers to Public Golden Dawn teachings and not the silent groups.

It also brings us to an interesting point; that despite certain people not wishing to see a blend of the two traditions, the Golden Dawn and the Martinist Order have far more in common seeing that both drew upon Jacob Boehme, who is at the heart of Rosicrucian doctrine. My blog post on “How the Golden Dawn Borrowed its Diagrams from Jacob Boehme” proves this beyond any doubt.

Golden Dawn Alchemy Score

This section focuses on Golden Dawn alchemy in the second Trinosophia Score. It too is worth ten points towards the total 30.

There is a large difference of opinion held between present groups, as well as differences in how alchemy was viewed in the original pre-schism Golden Dawn and how it is viewed today.

The Golden Dawn definitely has a its advanced Z2 alchemy operation and the Portal Ritual is alchemically brilliant. We’ll get into that but must start at the beginning to pre-schism G.D days, where it seems quite scant if not misleading at first glance. Did pre-schism G.D cover alchemy or not?

Written by Westcott in 1890, the flying roll paper on alchemy is quite brief and uninformative. From the original G.D it appears William Alexander Ayton was the real alchemist doing actual laboratory work. He was known to have reorganized the Order with Waite. A group under his supervision practiced alchemy. However it fell into abeyance after 1900. Several parties want the G.D to be an alchemical Order and point to his work as evidence. However, he was after all very old and unfortunately much of his practice does not reflect G.D work itself, but rather a lifetime of experience having been a member of the SRIA, the HBL and the Theosophical Society.

Sadly, nothing of his work entered into the G.D curricula.

Some alchemy did get reworked into the post-schism G.D however, in a most interesting way. But let’s be clear; the Golden Dawn is NOT an alchemical Order. The 1700’s Golden Rosenkreuzers was.

While several “histories” claim that the G.D is the continuation of the Golden Rosenkreuzers (GuRC), the fact remains that the GuRC was an alchemical Order and its teachings were different. While the G.D uses a similar grade structure, its similarities all but stop there. The G.D is instead a magical Order with little alchemy, whereas the GuRC was an alchemical Order with less magic. The story of the G.D being the “continuation” of the GuRC is just a myth of convenience.

Although several G.D members studied alchemy, nothing of their work was ever circulated as official Order papers. Thus it is clear alchemy in the early G.D was at best a side subject.

Where the original order really shines in terms of alchemical teachings is the Portal Ritual, which leads to the inner Rosicrucian Order of the RR et AC. This is quite fitting, as after all, alchemy is required to be present in order for any fraternity to be able to really call itself ‘Rosicrucian.’ In fact, this Portal Ritual underwent several ‘editions’ as originally it was part of the 5=6 ritual. Then Mathers split it from the 5=6, making it a portal to the Inner Order. After the G.D schism Felkin’s Stella Matutina gave it a workover.

The three wands of the officers are based on sulphur, salt and mercury. The movements of the officers are said to resemble the operations of alchemy upon the matter, which is embodied by the candidate undergoing initiation. Alchemy here is not spoken of directly during the ritual itself, but certainly its actions, such as the burning and perfection of the four elements, allow for alchemy to be studied later at a higher level. Thus the G.D alchemy that existed at this point was an alchemical drama.

But, after the Golden Dawn split, into its S.M and A.O factions, something new emerged. Felkin used his knowledge of alchemy to include a practical operation that allowed for magical ritual to support laboratory work.

This is the Z2 alchemy operation, which is extremely advanced.

Bear in mind – most practicing alchemist ignore it and think it’s silly.

The Z2 operation of alchemy is a document that outlines a magical regeneration occurring upon the matter. For those new to the G.D this means that the Neophyte ritual of initiation, or 0=0, becomes a magical process to employ upon various operations, including Talisman magic, or evocations etc.

In this case that process is transferred upon an alchemical material, lending it astral light.

The issue is whether or not alchemy has even been applied correctly in the Z2 and for that matter, was it made to fit with the Golden Dawn initiation process? Did the architects of the Golden Dawn KNOW alchemy well enough to say, “ok our Z2 alchemy process can be based on the Z1 Neophyte ritual?”

This would imply, if done correctly, that the Neophyte Z1 ritual itself was based on alchemy. As after all.. if it wasn’t then basing an alchemical process upon that ritual might very well be flawed.

Looking at the original Z2 alchemy operation it is brilliant in many ways. But it does stretch the alchemical process to fit the ritual. That much is clear.

What is great about the Z2 itself is the brilliance it offers in connecting ritual work with alchemical operations. I mean alchemical laboratory work could be just carried out mechanically without regard to prayer or invocations, like a chemist does. But the Z2 here makes a major contribution to alchemy by staging the ceremonial side, as taken from the Neophyte ritual and projecting its ceremonial phases onto the steps you’re doing while you’re going at it with furnace, glassware and liquids etc.

Just as  “ora et labora” means “pray and work,” the Z2 offers a theurgic approach to run alongside the lab process in such a way that encapsulates the ORA of the labora perfectly.

This is especially useful in that although ritual and mysticism always went hand in hand with alchemy, the operative alchemical manuscripts remained elusive on the ritual methods needed.

The GuRC did introduce ritual operations alongside alchemy, particularly in its “Fraternitatis Roseae et Aureae Crucis – Liber II: “De Magia Divina et Naturali cum Chymico-Magicae Secretorum.” Thus in the history of the Rosicrucians the Z2 alchemy process was a natural evolution.

Transforming the 0=0 ritual process into an alchemical process took interesting turns. Where in the ritual the candidate sees two officers, one in the west and one in the east, the Z2 alchemical practice replaces the officers with the sun and moon, exposing the alchemical fermentation to their rays. I had originally thought this a new idea from the Golden Dawn but during my alchemy-years of study I found that it also appears in the Mutus Liber, which tells us to collect the morning dew and ferment it under the moonlight as well. The Magia Divina itself introduces the solar rays likewise to the Rosicrucian process of alchemy but uses magical mirrors to project the rays into the vessel. So the Z2 isn’t too shabby after all.

That does not mean that anyone in the G.D is actually using these traditional Golden Rosenkreuzer methods to really understand how such methods should be applied to the Z2 though.

Concluding how much alchemy the original Order did, it appears Ayton was the real practitioner. His notebooks also contain alchemical rituals based on an early version of Z2 alchemy. The understanding of alchemy in the Portal Ritual is extremely advanced and very few understand it. Between the Z2 operation and the Portal Ritual you realize that G.D alchemy is “ceremonial alchemy”

Meaning; you’re not really looking to work rituals to support alchemy in reality; rather you are looking at ceremonial work through an alchemical lens. A nice idea and probably comfy for Hermeticists. Practical alchemy really got given a back seat. However this was not a bad thing.

As you’ll see in my article on Rosicrucian alchemy, that is to say specifically the alchemy of the early Rosicrucians, in its purest sense, was actually an internal art carried out upon the body (I am not kidding, Rosicrucian alchemy was never meant to be lab work).

This is where most people get it all wrong. In the world of alchemy as a broad topic there are subsections of alchemy. The cathedral alchemy of the French has nothing to do with RC alchemy for example. Neither does Templar alchemy. Each group had their own approach and worked their own alchemy within their own environment. If you read the manifestos carefully you’ll notice the authors often refer to “our art” for this reason. If you read my article on Rosicrucian alchemy it proves our art was internal.

This is why I’ve actually rated the alchemy score far higher in the Review of the Egyptian Rite of Memphis Misraim.

The Golden Dawn gets 5/10 for its alchemy score. The Order lacks an internal alchemy and secondly its only alchemical method (the Z2) is not very practical and is even disdained by practicing alchemist. The experts actually doing old school alchemy even pointed out, during my interviews, that the operation is so highly flawed that it moves between the dry and wet way instructions as if someone has glued together two different operations! This does not mean the Golden Dawn is missing anything. It is the magical branch of the Rosicrucian Order after all. And it is superb at what it does.

You have to consider here. You wouldn’t expect many G.D Orders to suddenly insist their students learn full blown lab alchemy. Although some Orders do this, this is also silly to some degree. A magical Order has its own benefits and not every Order is mean to be the “Be All and End All” as some Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn leaders imagine. That being said, once the G.D delivers a truly coherent internal-alchemy system of its own then this score will increase drastically.

As it turns out I have such a manuscript for the G.D which will soon be published. The system features an internal alchemy using the G.D Sphere of Sensation model and alchemical vessel diagrams showing how to operate internal alchemy movements based on G.D associations. It’s slightly advanced but very practical.

Golden Dawn Kabbalah Score

The Golden Dawn can get another potential ten points here going towards its Trinosophia score.

The Golden Dawn system of magic, if not its entire Order structure, is based on Kabbalistic theory. Any of the spiritual operations, be it a Talisman consecration, the alchemical Z2, or angelic invocation uses Kabalistic correspondences. In its construct, the grades of the Golden Rosenkreuzer were applied to the spheres of the Tree of Life (which the GuRC did not do). How deep does this all go?

Once you hit the Zelator grade of the Rosicrucians, you are in the sphere of Malkuth. In next grade of Theoricus you are in the sphere of Yesod on the Tree of Life. And so on. Your goal is to go up the Tree of Life by graded learning and initiation. Now, peel away another layer of the system and the officers and furniture on the temple floor are laid out according to the Tree of Life as well. In the 0=0 Neophyte ritual the Heirophant sits not only upon the Throne of the East but is also positioned on Tiphareth.

Upon this station is the godform of Osiris. Obviously, the Golden Dawn Cabala is something other than the traditional Judaic method. This is a Kabbalah for occultists. Does that make it “wrong?” No, not at all. In fact, the manifestos also make it clear that once alchemy or Kabbalah is brought into the Rosicrucian framework it acts differently. At the heart of the entire Fama myth is the idea that Christian Rosenkreuz had to reform and purify the older Cabalistic doctrines he had received into something new.

Most systems, when approaching the Qabalah, they cover the Tree of Life, with its 32 paths and traditional 10 spheres and negative veils of existence. And that is where they stop. The Golden Dawn Qabalah on the other hand keeps going. There are many angelic diagrams from Rosenroth’s 1677 “Kabbalah Denudata” for study, examining the Watery-Fire, angelic hierarchies and also the Qlippoth (demonic realms). Such diagrams are purposely positioned within initiation rituals, at certain locations on the temple floor, so that when the candidate is introduced to these figures a spiritual impression occurs.

Considering that alchemy is layered over the rituals the very positioning of the angelic diagrams for example relates to purification or spiritual fire, and the positioning of the Qlippothic diagrams are tied into ritual phases that re-enact alchemical putrefaction and darkness. We need not go into all details here. But one has to understand – that any application within the Golden Dawn’s ritual system sought to make these positionings congruent on many levels, through alchemy, Hermetics and Kabbalah at once.

In short, the Golden Dawn Kabbalah is nothing short of genius. It possess the strongest Kabbalistic vein out of all of the Rosicrucian Orders! Unlike AMORC, which merely offers a set of Kabbalistic monographs that water everything down, the G.D system will have you studying for a lifetime.

It would be a mistake however to assume this is all theory. The G.D has the practice.

It should also be said; that unlike those groups that also stick to the Tree of Life model, the Golden Dawn also explored not only the Zohar but also the Partsufim model of the Qabalah. This is entirely different and is far too big a topic to broach here. Briefly it means viewing the universe as the body or “parts of God” and the revelation of God’s greater and lesser countenances (faces) in the macro and microcosm.

To my mind the real beauty of the Golden Dawn Kabbalah though begins with its use of the Hebrew alphabet. Here you will encounter its deep connection to the Tarot. Paul Foster Case was able to base his entire Order (BOTA) upon these correspondences and the Tarot became the “Pictorial Key to the Kabbalah” for the Western Mystery Tradition. This set of correspondences was such a huge breakthrough, it became the foundation stone of occult studies for the next 120 years. In fact, no one has developed anything of its like since the inception of the Golden Dawn in 1888.

Cicero’s Golden Dawn Tarot (recommended).

Yes, the Golden Dawn Tarot is that big. Naturally the Golden Dawn gets 10/10 for its Kabbalah score.

Not only does it cover all bases, but it has plenty of secrets still to be unlocked by those who dare.

In total the Golden Dawn has now received:

7/10 for its Magic Score

5/10 for its Alchemy Score

10/10 for its Kabbalah Score

In total the Golden Dawn is awarded 22/30 for its Trinosophia Score

Golden Dawn Pansophy Score

All is well and good so far for the Golden Dawn. Now for the huge dilemma – searching for Pansophic ideas within the G.D. Here, we must evaluate to what extent the Golden Dawn considers social values, social reformation ideas and utopian visions. Yikes!

My early version of the G.D Pansophy score evoked bad reactions from G.D members. They did not like seeing their beloved Order ranked down for something. Yet these reviews are objective, and we have to ask; did the Golden Dawn even care about the Rosicrucian Reformation or is it just about magic?

A well-known Golden Dawn author complained that “No one had even heard of Pansophy until I first mentioned it on my blog,” suggesting the idea can be dismissed when examining the G.D.

However, Pansophy is not my own idea. Christopher McIntosh in his book “The Rosicrucians” points out that not only were the early Rosicrucians Pansophic, but so were the Golden Rosenkreuzers!

It all comes down to understanding the meaning of “Pansophy,” which, simply put, entails the Reformation Quest of the early Rosicrucians. By the time it arrived to the Golden Rosenkreuzers it also entailed, by extension and through the work of Frankenberg, a set of universal diagrams, or occult-alchemical schemata that would holistically explain the structure and nature of the universe.

So, no (for the last time)! Pansophy is not an education system set in stone by Comenius alone! Anyone claiming this is simply ignoring the fact that Abraham von Frankenberg (and Samuel Hartlib) had a form of occult mysticism also called “Pansophy” in the 1600’s that was circulated by Rosicrucians. That form of Pansophy was a Hermetic twin of all things Jacob Boehme, so Pansophy was well and truly extended beyond the original ideas of Comenius. Still, the utopian and social reform quests of Pansophy are inseparable from Rosicrucianism. Therefore, when we say “Pansophy” we generally mean “Reformation” and that clearly was one of the original Rosicrucian objectives of the manifestos.

They sought a reformation of society, of religion, of the government, of learning. Even entire utopian city like structures of living wisdom.

That doesn’t sound very Golden Dawn-like does it.

Yet, Pansophy wasn’t only about reformation. It also contained a Reintegration legend that worked throughout its universal matrix of the universe. This regeneration mythic cycle not only applies to the individual, but also to the entire state of humanity, throughout our social existence as a spiritual issue.

We also must consider; the “Secret Chiefs of the Golden Dawn” actually came from Pansophic Orders. As we have seen in bro:. Ian’s article, Mathers stated a certain “Anna Sprengel” was the German Adept supporting the creation of the Golden Dawn at its foundation. Ian Gladwin’s article reveals, that in fact, her lodge Licht, Liebe, Leben, was a Pansophic Order. Furthermore, the Secret Chiefs of Felkin’s Stella Matutina were not to be found in only Steiner, but those above Steiner were recognized by Felkin.

Therefore, aside from the fact that Pansophy (reformation) is inseparable from Rosicrucianism, it clearly applies to the early roots of the Golden Dawn in some way at least.

There are three main aspects of the Pansophic Score we look for in any Rosicrucian Order under review. With the Golden Dawn we are about to hit a few hiccups. The three aspects are:

• Universal Schemata
• Utopian Vision
• Social Reformation Quest

Those three should be pretty clear, but they also include a fourth aspect: the Sophianic myth of Pansophy.

These three standards are worth 10 points each for a total of 30 potential for the review.

Now, I’ll get this out of the way:

The Utopian Vision for the Golden Dawn is 0 out of 10.

The Social Reformation Quest is 1 out of 10.

The Universal Schemata is 6/10.

YES! The Golden Dawn completely fails as a Rosicrucian Order in terms of providing solid teachings relating social reformation and utopian ideas, even if such ideas are totally Rosicrucian.

Does that mean the G.D is not Rosicrucian, merely Hermetic, or is missing something?

As I’ve said in an earlier post, personal regeneration is only 50% of the equation. Most people forget that the Rosicrucians also went beyond this and wished to bring about “Light in Extension.”

Now, I’ve not pointed out this massive failure to bully. We are all here to make sure we can further our own studies, or that of our Order’s, to fully embrace the greater Rosicrucian tradition.

The single quote from G.D documents relating to reformation is from Flying Roll XXI by Moina Mathers, titled “Know Thyself.” It mentions the word “reform” just once.

“For only after having a complete knowledge of the constitution, character and inhabitants of his realm, will it be possible for a just Ruler to bring about such reforms as he may deem necessary.”

Her document describes the creation of an internal alignment between the divine consciousness in Kether, the human consciousness in Tiphareth, and then the automatic consciousness in Yesod, explaining how we must become a ruler of our own kingdom (sphere) before coming a ruler outwardly. She states that the micro and macro are inseparable, one follows the other.

Thus, in reading between the lines, she states that we must create an inner paradise or divine alignment between the lower will and divine will, in order to become reformers. This makes sense, as the outer city of the sun would very much be a reflection of the inner sun we have attained as a vivified humanity.

This implies that at some point the Third Order should have social reformation teachings btw. Or at least, this is what I’ve done with my own Third Order cariculum.

Aside from the above, ideas of utopia and social reform are non-existent in the G.D. It’s all occultism in dark corners and it never brings an outward manifestation for all humanity, perhaps (dare I say) creating useless occultists who are unable to fully create that “Light in Extension” after all.

This very much goes against the grain of Rosicrucian tradition. Yet, there are plenty of members of the G.D who studied or mentioned utopia, such as Florence Farr, Yeats, Atwood and Anna Kingsford. Some of them got involved in politics like the Irish Independence, vegetarianism and feminism.

But these ideas nor lectures never made it into the Golden Dawn.

With a little imagination and relation to the City of the Sun, Moina’s lecture could have nailed it. Lucky for us, our current movement is injecting Pansophy into the same G.D lectures and there is no reason why any individual temple couldn’t do the same to lift up their Rosicrucian score.

Tony Fuller nicely pointed out several interesting facts, like that Professor Millicent McKenzie (SM Chief 8=3) wrote a book on reforming education – based on Hegelian philosophy and often referred to the RC manifestos. Tony also shared how within the Cromlech Temple papers there is quite a lot of discussion on reform. Certainly these papers are the Golden Dawn’s ticket to salvation.

Paul Foster Case must have “gone more Rosicrucian” when he left the G.D to found his B.O.T.A. As a Golden Dawn offshoot he claimed contact with the true Rosicrucian source. His introductory lesson in Tarot Fundamentals mentions “but these are personal ends. Every true occult Order, such as the B.O.T.A, has as its major objective the welfare of humanity.” He then lists seven points:

• Universal Peace.
• Universal Political Freedom.
• Universal Religious Freedom.
• Universal Education.
• Universal Health.
• Universal Prosperity.
• Universal Spiritual Unfoldment.

It doesn’t get more Pansophic than that. I will try to review B.O.T.A soon.

So, why the 6/10 for the Universal Schemata score for the G.D?

I’ve covered this in more detail in the original post. To summarize – the Golden Dawn makes use of several Pansophic layers that serve to structure and organize the universe. Ultimately the model is missing important ideas from the original Pansophic model, which came to later be known as Panentheism; meaning the incorporation of Nature as a living expression of God, that maintains the identity of God above Nature while witnessing God and the Holy Spirit throughout Nature! The original Pansophers though worked a structure from the lowest levels of Nature all the way to the Monad. The Golden Dawn does parts of this very well and captures aspects of the mythic cycle that also permeates the universal schemata model of the Pansophers. Take for example how the Golden Dawn made use of the occult diagrams of Jacob Boehme, bearing in mind that his Theosophy is inseparable from Pansophy. This makes the G.D all very Rosicrucian. Make no mistake.

Where the G.D differs is in replacing the image of Sophia with the goddess Hathor in its 0=0 Neophyte ritual underlying godforms. She is positioned exactly above Osiris just as we see images of Venus appearing before Christian Rosenkreuz. Felkin actually took this a lot further by including a Shekinah Officer, who represents Sophia in his 6=5 and 7=4 rituals for the higher degrees of the RR et AC.

As many know from our studies on the Pansophic legend, a goddess always grants a sword or something to the slain hero. The lady of the lake granted the sword to Arthur after his had broken. Isis granted a new phallus to Osiris. In Masonry there is mention of a maiden who plants the acacia sprig upon the tomb of Hiram, next to a broken pillar. A nail is pulled out to reveal the Tomb of Christian Rosenkreuz. Later Venus appears to him holding a horn. All of this is the authentic Pansophic cycle.

Felkin’s Shekinah Officer places a sprig of acacia upon the candidate who lays in a coffin within the tomb of C.R.C. It’s that simple. Most Golden Dawn members have missed the vital relationship of this particular moment to the greater Pansophic legend. In fact, Felkin was directly in touch with a lineage of the German Pansophers though through contact with Steiner. Now, this somewhat helps the G.D score and is quite redeeming, considering the G.D totally lacks anything on social reformation. However, the catch is that not all G.D branches use Felkin’s rituals or this feature. It is a S.M practice rather than G.D, strictly belonging to this offshoot.

For now, this rounds up the total Pansophic Score of the Golden Dawn at 7/30.

Yes its quite poor but I feel it’s totally justified.

Without any mention of solar city models of the Christian Utopias, like those of JV Andrea or Campanella’s, the Golden Dawn is missing a serious chunk of Rosicrucian Tradition

Perhaps the G.D got too caught up in magic. Moina Mathers mentioned worldly reformation in her paper. But who was paying attention?

Golden Dawn Christosophia Score

For new readers the Christosophia score examines the presence of Christian mysticism within any given Order.

Certainly the Rosicrucians WERE Christians, and yet they practiced a Hermetic-Christianity.

If you need to first get clear on that subject see my earlier posts:

Are the Rosicrucians Really Christian?
Ancient Gods Above the Rosicrucian Tomb

For now, just consider how the Fama was a response to the “Reformation of the Whole Wide World by Order of Apollo” and how Venus appears in the Chemical Wedding of C.R.C. These ideas are Hermetic, not Catholic, not Protestant, but create a “Hermetic-Christianity” within the manifestos.

The Christosophia score is divided into three sections. The first two sections are worth ten points each for a total of twenty. The final part of this section is worth a potential minus ten points.

Golden Dawn Christ Symbol Score

Every Rosicrucian Review looks at how each Order represents Christ and by what symbol. Obviously, Christ must be present in order for any Order to call itself Rosicrucian. Christ does appear throughout the G.D system, that is to say – within its inner Rosicrucian Order.

Of course, the G.D is not a Christian Order, as compared to some masonic Rosicrucian bodies. It is a magical Order, and if this is the case, surely its magical regeneration would make one a Christ?

The G.D largely does not take a mystical-Christian approach, as say Jacob Boehme or Martinists. But, here again we find another gap arises between the public and esoteric Golden Dawn.

Within the Public G.D there are different views, such as reducing Christ to merely a “godform to be utilized as an energy current within the RR et AC.” Unfortunately the baby is thrown out with the bath water. The compassion aspect and mystical practices of Christianity get thrown out the window.

Waite was quite aware of this lack even and sought to rectify it. Felkin did as well in his Stella Matutina. Waite founded his “Holy Order of the Golden Dawn” and later his “Rosicrucian Fellowship.” It’s rituals are replete with Christian symbolism. He wrote, “the Fellowship of the Rosy Cross has no concern whatsoever in occult research, it is a Quest of Grace, and not a Quest of Power.” This speaks in volumes concerning another problem of the Golden Dawn, which we’ll get to at the end of this review.

Other branches of the G.D also incorporated Christianity, to varying degrees.

Whare Ra in New Zealand was one of the longest going G.D currents and certainly it was Christian and had a more faith-based approach. In fact most of its members saw attending the G.D as a way to enhance their Catholic beliefs. It helps, but it was not the Christianity of the manifestos.

So, within the core G.D system, where is Christ?

Firstly, Christ appears as a powerful symbol upon the lid of a coffin used for initiation rituals into the RR et AC. Here the candidate is dramatically led into the tomb and sees Christian Rosenkreuz, in an ever-sleeping state, where one experiences the G.D Christ mystery. Beautiful.

The importance of this pastos lid is that the Outer Order diagrams ones feature Old Testament symbolism and here in the RR et AC the Inner Order features Christian symbolism, leading you into the Rosicrucian current. It’s a progression that works nicely.

You can see two Christian figures on the lid. The first is Christ sacrificed upon the cross. The diagram is intended to show a reversal of damage caused by the fall of man, as seen in an earlier outer order diagram.

The figure on the top half of the coffin lid is drawn from the Apocalypse of Saint John of Kircher, being the figure of the Ancient of Days and about him are the seven spirits or torches of fire which are before the throne of God. All this scores solid points.

Another excellent use of Christ symbolism appears in the Seal of the Order, being the Seal of the RR et AC. Clearly Christ is featured and this time he is encircled within the colours of the five elements, which in G.D terms represents the five letters of the name YHShVH. In fact the Seal of the Inner Order is based upon the Golden Rosenkreuzer original featured in Secret Symbols.

Without doubt this seal scores above the Martinist symbol but there is a major issue here. The Martinists have all the Christian spirit and the Public G.D has the symbols at face value only.

It is this lack of a living Christian mysticism which diminishes the value of such symbols in this review. Are the Christ symbols there for nothing, or are they empty shells?

Clearly after initiation into the RR et AC all the Christ symbolism stops dead in its tracks. Instead, upon reaching Adeptus Minor, the initiate is handed more occult correspondences to learn off by heart, more magical rituals and very complex formula to study, which require a lifetime of study in fact.

I’ve stated here, “No Christ = No Rosicrucian current.” The Fama says “Jesus it my all.” We shouldn’t find that Christ appears only as a dude hanging out on the corner smiling at occultists in funny hats.

But bear in mind that this lack of Christosophia is more a problem of the Public Golden Dawn. The Hidden Golden Dawn has very strong Cabalistic teachings on Christian mysticism. This is an example of the Public G.D being guilty of ignoring its own teachings and papers.

What is highly redeeming is that in its Rosicrucian ritual of the 5=6 grade the candidate is actually crucified before initiation into the tomb of Christian Rosenkreuz. This is extremely dramatic and is the kind of thing we are looking for in this section of the review!

The Golden Dawn Receives 7 out of 10 for its Christ Symbol score, the highest rating so far.

If this score could be increased it would require a further examination of many Christian symbols, venturing into the cycle of Christ at a deeper level. No system is perfect. But the G.D comes close here!

Golden Dawn Hermetic-Christianity Score

Out of all the Orders the G.D has one of the strongest possible manifestations of Hermetic Christianity.

Now, before giving this score, I’d like to place it within some context:

Revisiting my earlier research, “Ancient Gods Above the Rosicrucian Tomb,” you’ll see how the seven-sided tomb of Christian Rosenkreuz was also connected to an ancient Egyptian prophecy of Hermes. It was declared that such a device would not only restore the ancient Hermetic religion but was related to a meeting held between Isis and Jupiter, whereby the gods of Olympus gathered to discuss the reformation of the world. Following occult laws of creation, this had to take place first in the heavens, before upon the earth, and then it comes crashing down through the Fama.

I mention this here because in its earliest days the Rosicrucians were adapting god-forms to their own purposes. All of this set the stage for a unique Rosicrucian approach.

The Golden Dawn does extremely well here, fully embracing pagan symbols and ideas.

Maybe too well… as there is an overkill of the gods. But, certainly if one accepts that the Rosicrucian manifestos are an extension of the Hermetic master Giordano Bruno then the approach is ideal.

What I am saying here is that there is a lot of room to play in embracing Rosicrucian heritage. Certainly we are all looking for something different and such diversity is important in our world.

The Golden Dawn approach to Christ is not that of religious Christianity, as is required as a set of beliefs one must hold in order to join the masonic SRIA, for example. Some branches of the Golden Dawn took Christian worship further than others. Some modern Public G.D groups often try to avoid Christ altogether! What the G.D did extremely well was to align Christ with the Egyptian god Osiris in its rituals.

This can be seen in the following words which are spoken inside the Vault of the Adepti, being the tomb of C.R.C used for the 5=6 ritual of initiation. Here the Adept is laying inside the coffin and takes on the part of C.R.C in his incorrupt state. He says:

First – ‘I am the Way, the Truth and the Life. No Man cometh unto the Father, but by me.’

And – ‘I am the Sun in his rising.’

Then follows – ‘I am Amon the concealed one, the opener of the Day.

And – ‘I am Osiris Onofris, the Crucified One. I am the Lord of Life, triumphant over death.

It doesn’t get more Hermetic than that.

The speaker is acts as Christian Rosenkreuz himself, but he is holding the crook and flail symbols of Osiris in his tomb. Thus Public Golden Dawn teaches that Osiris acts as a Nepesch godform layer working through the sleeping Adept who is empowering the candidate with the Christ current, which somewhat makes the situation  mundane and mechanical. Some things are best left unsaid. This is Hermetic Christianity, but it is also quite dry and distances the initiate from Christ.

One has to consider that if Boehme is the ideal form of Hermetic-Christianity, what is the difference between his approach and that of the Golden Dawn? He likewise generated a form of Christian mysticism that is purely Hermetic through its use of alchemical phases and language.

A contrast arises here, in that one objectifies Christ as an ideal we may become, while the other does the same, but also worships Christ adoringly through the same process.

I think that both processes are valid, so long as one lives and loves humanity as a Christ.

The G.D teachings of Christ are covered in Flying Rolls X and XXI.

Firstly Flying Roll X, “Concerning the Symbolism of Self-Sacrifice & Crucifixion Contained in the 5=6 Grade,” describes the initiation process carried out over the lesser grades to the Rosicrucian grade of Adeptus Minor. In particular it describes this process through the temple grade diagrams, and what effect the grades of initiation have on the soul. The language is quite rich, but it essentially states that these Christian symbols represent how the light of the higher-self triumphs over the lower-self.

In particular it mentions the diagram of an earlier grade depicting the Fall of Adam, shown through serpents raising their heads from the depths in order to bite the spheres on the Tree of Life.

Golden Dawn Reintegration Diagrams.

The lecture says that the diagram is symbolic of the “aura of Man” in that degraded condition.

But then the lecture goes on to say that on arriving to the Rosicrucian grade something new happens. The diagrams depict a suffering Man, “before whose justice and purity the heads of the dragon fall back.”

Again the documents state that this is something occurring within the initiates’ Kabbalistic aura and that the serpent figures recoil back due to the appearance of the cross.

It also says that the “on the upper half there is depicted a tremendous and flaming God,” which represents the “the Adept who has attained his Supreme Initiation.”

Thus here we see a cycle that brings the candidate from the OT to the NT, as something we fully experience for ourselves.

Flying Roll XXI also describes some Christian mysticism, quoting Paul “Till we all come to the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a Perfect Man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.”

The problem is, this appears to be the extent of Christian mysticism within RR et AC documents.

The document goes onto the describe some Way of the Heart type values, such as emphasizing the need of working together with other initiates in order to avoid becoming self-obsessed. It also mentions purity, but alas, the push towards the virtues embodied in BEING a Christ is vague at best.

The document doesn’t get the message across. Plus if you read it, you’ll note tries to sound like “We are all very occult & mysterious.”

What does give the Hermetic-Christianity score a HUGE boost is the mystical use of the word I.N.R.I in the Golden Dawn. It’s RR et AC calls this word “the sign of Osiris slain” and then examines the tarot cards applied to each letter and their respective astrological signs, being: Virgo, Scorpio, Sun, Virgo.

Essentially the word spells out in Tarot-Hebrew the process of life, death and resurrection.

All the above so far was from the original Golden Dawn. But seeing the Order split into two factions, the A.O and S.M which independently could be compared for years. I won’t go into too much detail here, but both had their own Rosicrucian flavour, even Christian flavour. The S.M of Felkin became more Protestant in some branches and Catholic in others but aligned closely to standard church thought. By that I mean the S.M branches became like Sunday church-gatherings. On the other hand, look at this interesting quote from Macgregor Mathers’ wife Moina written to Paul Foster Case. It was written during her time in the A.O branch, stating that we “must be prepared before all the Gods to be the servants of the greatest of them all, the Osiris, the Christ, the God of the Sacrifice of the Self.”

This is one example of a clear continuation of the traditional Hermetic-Christianity that was outlined by the original Order. It appears more strongly IMHO within the A.O branch rather than the S.M.

That surveys the old Golden Dawn sections, but what of today’s movement?

On the front of the Public Golden Dawn we find a mixed bag. The modern Public G.D ranges from Christian inclined all the way to Thelemic Golden Dawn Orders. Actually the Thelemic branches are quite anti-Christian, as is one widely-read Golden Dawn author. At this end of the spectrum are full blown pagan G.D temples, like Nick Farrells M.O.A. All this lowers the G.D’s Christianity score, a bit.

In many ways Public Golden Dawn has taken a step downhill in this regard. Not only do they ignore the Christ mysticism already outlined in the documents, but Christ has become a total stranger. It is almost as if modern Golden Dawn has attracted a bunch of youths who grew up hating their parent’s religion.

Had Golden Dawn remained secret I imagine things would be very different today.

A stain in the history of the Golden Dawn there are Orders like Robert Zinks’ Morning Star, his own and its offshoots which have separated from him, practice a very vulgar kind of Christianity.

I personally visited one such former-Zink group in Montreal Canada, which now under another lineage, and was a bit horrified when soppy Christian rock-band type music was played on a stereo at the end of Hermetic ritual gatherings in a basement. As I watched, their leader welled up tears to encourage others to cry and hug each other, but the whole thing was clearly forced and awkward for members. It was quite disturbing to watch. Some members later quietly asked me why they have to endure this. My answer was that “this is not the Golden Dawn.” It’s just not meant to be a church replacement.

In this branch and the others influenced by Zink’s practices, temples are reverently adored like mini Vaticans, and the leaders given the holy regard of the Pope. To my mind it reeks of cult.

Thankfully the Esoteric and Hidden Golden Dawn still exists, and I believe they hold the flame. They have not only preserved the Hermetic Christianity of the early phase but expanded upon it.

Again, I mean the branches of Tony Fuller, Kasmillos, Olen Rush.

That’s it. These are the only G.D branches not making things up or faking their lineage story. I don’t know if they like or dislike being named. But as someone who wishes to steer students in the right direction, I felt its at least going to help a few who wish to find the genuine thing.

One of these Esoteric Golden Dawn that is still hidden derives from the A.O lineage. To be clear on the matter for new readers, I do NOT mean David Griffin’s group which also claims an A.O origin.

For the sake of new Golden Dawn seekers, by all means Griffin is to be avoided. No G.D group really takes him seriously. Unfortunately today, many people I speak with say “Oh I joined the Golden Dawn, it was awful.” Later I find out that they mean Griffin’s group and they have assumed that is the “real G.D” or the only one. Just because his site ranks in Google and he talks a lot (A LOT) doesn’t mean any of its true! Avoid at all cost!

Interviews with the Hidden e G.D helped shape this review.

One figure stated “The contemporary focus is so backwards. The Magic is in “Self-Sacrifice” but how many instead believe that they are empowered by some “attainment” after going through the rituals? In the Outer Degrees older “dispensations” incorporating “Self-Sacrifice” are evident… an extremely notable one being the Kabiri, since in those “Mysteries”, the Candidate, “Kasmillos” is “Sacrificed,” showing that the key to the A.O Christian approach is in the expansion of this sacrifice principle, rather than the American worship type of modern Christianity that is being added by Public G.D.”

My research into such groups proves another point; that the Public Golden Dawn has taken a very different direction than is practiced within the small traditional Hidden G.D units.

For the sake of new seekers: for those who do not wish to join the problematic mainstream G.D groups, but cannot access the hidden Esoteric G.D, I recommend the SRC+SSA (Sodalitas Rosae+Crucis & Solis Alati) which is one of the best accessible groups and has strong connections to the hidden esoteric branches. I would even say they have graduated into the realm of the Esoteric Hidden G.D arena, as they have clearly developed a special alchemical culture which is beautiful and is now its own tradition bringing it on par with the old lineages of Whare Ra and the authentic Alpha et Omega.

All in all we have to look at the whole spectrum of groups to score this properly.

Clearly the traditional G.D documents show a Hermetic-Christianity through the Osiris-Christ mysticism. At the same time many groups have cut that back to a Christian religious worship approach, while others have totally ignored it, and worse, some have surgically removed it entirely.

I do however think that the real Hermetic Christianity of the G.D is found in the teachings of Anna Kingsford, who is the woman behind the pseudo Anna Sprengel of Westcott and Mathers.

The Golden Dawn scores 7/10 for its Hermetic-Christianity score. This score applies to its flavor, not the amount of faith.

I’ve scored it down one point here because it is not Sophianic and does not believe in a female regenerator as outlined by the Theosophers, Martinists and Rosicrucian manifestos. It certainly is Hermetic, but maybe not Christian enough to pull off a fully-fledged “Hermetic Christianity.”

Golden Dawn Against Gnosticism Score

This section of the Christosophia score was chosen to set us on the right path. We are not only chasing a certain type of Christosophia mysticism. We are also being very specific about what it rejects.

In my scoring system outline we saw that Gnosticism had some anti feminine elements (Sophia had fallen, she was to blame, Christ would redeem her wrongdoings in the Gnostic myth) and we also saw that several early branches of Gnosticism hated nature and perceived nature as something to escape. Both of these points run entirely against early Rosicrucianism, with its divine female redeemer and view of Nature as God-revealing in mind. Rosicrucianism and Gnosticism just don’t fit.

I mention this simply because several early members of the Order of the Golden Dawn were actually feminist and valued the goddess mystery, to my mind in a truly Rosicrucian way.

So far what we do know is that the Golden Dawn, largely, is not very Gnostic. Thank goodness.

The Golden Dawn indeed makes very little references to Gnosticism in its original documents. Though Flying Roll X does make mention of Sophia Achamoth saying, “This idea was expressed by the Gnostics when they said that the Achamoth attempted to comprehend the Pleroma, and could not understand it, and from the grief of her were formed the demons and the evil spirits.” This scores badly by the way.

Some Golden Dawn orders have “supplemented their esoteric Christianity with Gnosticism,” including Robert Zink (and offshoots) and groups under a few of the better Public G.D’s, like Cicero’s and Zalewski’s. Also, David Griffin has told me that his Alpha et Omega also communicates Gnostic consecrations, such as baptism by water, baptisms of Fire and of the Holy Spirit, which “have been transmitted to his disciples from the living saviour.” His G.D branch also transmits the Ecclasia Gnostica Antiqua. Thus “some” Gnostic integration is happening.

My thoughts on this are that such an implementation comes from a lack of understanding the context of Rosicrucianism in the realm of German Theosophy. Really if anyone studies Boehme they’ll see how his mysticism unlocks the manifestos and we are not only left in awe; we are also left recognizing that Gnosticism and Rosicrucianism are incompatible. Boehme after all, was buried as CRC (another story for a later day).

People tend to forget that Mathers was one of the early feminists on the occult scene, and his wife stated in an interview on her Rites of Isis performed on stage in 1900 that “love is the symbol of universal sympathy. That is where the magical power of women is found.” Thus the A.O branch of the G.D again does well here.

The other element of Gnosticism to be avoided is their approach to nature.

The Golden Dawn loses no points here, as its Zelator ritual states that Malkuth is the “gate.” Though the Golden Dawn does not pursue Nature enough there is nothing against Nature specifically within the Golden Dawn that warrants labelling anything as a Gnostic hate of Nature. Most of the Pansophic branches of Rosicrucianism in Germany studied Panentheism as a vehicle to incorporate Nature.

You can find out more about Panentheism in our post about lodge Licht, Liebe, Leben.

The Golden Dawn receives 1 negative point for including Gnosticism.

Like Sophia the G.D approach to Nature is something that it does not dive into enough to offer a full Rosicrucian approach. This is one area where I think all of western mysticism can improve.

The Golden Dawn being a ‘temple tradition’ generally shuns nature-based mysticism, such as Wicca or shamanism as nothing to be taken seriously, which imho is a mistake because it separates themselves, locked away as they are in dark basements, from all the action happening outside.

Any G.D group that wishes to embrace the full spectrum of Rosicrucian heritage should work on this.

In total the Golden Dawn receives 15/20 points for its total Christosophia score.

Golden Dawn 20 Points Wild Card Score

The 20 points wild card is where Orders have the chance to really score better.

The 20 points potentially given here is awarded in relation to how the Order under question relates to the six Rosicrucian manifestos of the early 1600’s. Several Orders do this in their own unique way.

Needless to say the Golden Dawn excels here by simply having an actual tomb of Christian Rosenkreuz as described in the Fama Fraternitatis 1614!

We are talking a huge commitment here just to build the thing. Think about it. Mirroring the Fama, it’s got seven walls, a coffin inside for the sleeping master, an ever-burning lamp, serpents on the floor, not to mention an occult colouring system that produces a series of squares and diagrams that turn this into a powerful visual experience. The G.D has to be Rosicrucian! Right?

Photo Credit: Whare Ra Havelock North Facebook Page.

Initiates are taken into this tomb during their 5=6 Adeptus Minor ceremony. They are ritually taken through a living drama of the Fama and the discovery of the tomb itself described in that story.

Now, if you haven’t already guessed, a full 20 points are awarded for this massive representation of the manifestos! You couldn’t represent the manifestos in your Order in any bigger way. Literally!

The other aspect of the G.D that strengthens the wild card score is the beautiful Rose Cross lamen of the RR et AC. There have been attempts to style new rose cross necklaces or badges by other Orders, and nothing comes close to it. Not only does it use Kabbalistic colouring, but it’s based directly upon that featured in the “Secret Symbols of the Rosicrucians” manuscript.

None of this is to say that the Golden Dawn is the “most Rosicrucian” order. After all Waite’s Fellowship of the Rosy Cross utilizes the CRC tomb and has a stronger Christosophia score…

A beautiful thing can be completely devoid of spirit, which is why we must ask “What kind of Adepts does the Golden Dawn produce really?” as I do with all Rosicrucian Orders.

Final Total Score for the Golden Dawn Review

Here are the scores of the G.D Review totalled for the final total:

Christosophia Score: 15/20

Trinosophia Score: 22/30

Pansophia Score: 7/30

Wild Card Score: 20/20

Total Rosicrucian Tradition Score: 64/100

This does not score the G.D in terms of quality, nor in terms of effectiveness.

It is only a score detailing how well the G.D represents the original Rosicrucian Tradition 😊

What Kind of Adepts Does the Golden Dawn Really Produce?

In the finish, it’s all about graduation. The final test of any Order is what type of Adepts is it producing? It should be clear by now that different Orders produce different types of people. Some are turning out Adepts, and some are not. Some are turning out new-age adepts who are still beginners.

There are two types of G.D Adept being produced. There are the quiet ones who keep to themselves and they are hard to find online. Then there are those of the mainstream Public G.D system. Due to Crowley (and his publication of the G.D teachings) and his influence on Israel Regardie, a new tradition has arisen in following generations which requires each “Adept” to publishing some teachings to “stand up and be counted.” This has created an ongoing need for G.D Adepts to prove their salt publicly.

Thus, typically it can be seen that G.D produces adepts who all want to start their own order, all with grand dreams of becoming mega-Pope type figures, dreaming to have hundreds of their own students “under their own banner.” Each adept seems to want to publish a number of books and be perceived as a great occult leader. Thus, let’s be honest, there’s a risk of triggering real megalomania.

Again, I am speaking of the Public G.D here.

The Hidden G.D has no books.

Having experienced the G.D I can attest to such influence. I too would have liked my own Order once. Thank goodness I found a way out of such grips by connecting with other R.C streams. But, you know what? Underneath it all is the impulse to actually help people instead. If you can actually help other occult students, no matter their Order, be they from AMORC, or Heindel’s Rosicrucian Fellowship etc. all the better I’d say. You’ve graduated beyond the “cult mindset” and have gotten to the greater mission. We all seek regeneration. How can it be any mark of adeptship if we are not willing to help any Rosicrucian from any Rosicrucian Order?

What I mean in this review, is that the G.D has a compassion issue.

Many of these paths are valid and one of the things G.D Adepts need to realize is that the Golden Dawn is not a “superior” path. I refer here to the tendency of G.Der’s to look down upon those who study, what seems to be in their eyes a “lesser path.” It’s become modern ideology. G.D practitioners are famous for ridiculing the paths of others, especially when that path is more mystical and perceived as “below” their own more “advanced” one. This is despite the fact that the Neophyte oath of the G.D requires its initiates to “never ridicule the path of that which is sacred in the eyes of another.”

I wouldn’t say this applies to all G.D Adepts, but it is widespread.

This tendency arises due to the fact that, over time, a G.D student learns that “more advanced is higher.” Certainly G.D teachings in the Inner Order are far more advanced than those given in the outer. The next assumption then is that teachings of the 6=5 and 7=5 must therefore be even more advanced. In fact, both the S.M and A.O leaned towards more simplified mystical approaches for these grades, and yet its Adepts still ever seek more advanced teachings, thinking something might be missing.

As said, “Advanced teachings are the heroin of Hermetics.”

Westcott’s Phoenix Collar, based on the Secret Symbols.

The need for more advanced teachings also rests upon building more layers upon existing systems and facts. G.D adepts pride themselves in knowing things, as “a matter of fact” and many of their dialogues are wasted in trying to prove the other person wrong. This type of duelling is carried out online and is tiresome to watch. The one who knew better is perceived as the higher initiate. This process of shooting down others creates an awful standard to live up to. It’s the total opposite of actually helping others.

But, that problem starts at the top, with the leaders of the Public G.D who thrive on it.

It might even mean more students, or books sales, and respect for the correct master.

Thus, a great level of pride is seen in the Golden Dawn. Pride in one’s grades, pride in knowing things, pride in having the “true lineage” etc. This train of thought leads Golden Dawners to perceive students of more mystical paths as airheads or just light-weights. Funnily enough, I would agree there are some “Rosicrucian” paths producing students of very little knowledge and lacking training in a sensible mental path to inquiry. But, for all the positivity of the mystical path, one has to wonder, which would you choose to be: the happy-idiot or the knowing-grouch?

Or, how about this:

Why can’t we become the happy-knower and have the best of both worlds?

By now, you’re probably thinking I don’t like the G.D. No, that’s not true.

You should read my other post “Why All the Nit Picking of Orders in your Reviews?”

I should add here, one of the greatest graduations you’ll ever have, as a Rosicrucian student is breaking away from your own Order. Yes, I mean cancelling your membership, giving up your grades and throwing it all away. This might sound strange at first, even hurting, but you can see why here.

You’ll also find out if your brothers and sisters are as nice as you originally had thought…

The Golden Dawn does produce adepts. But kindness comes with Adeptship and not just knowledge. This is probably a wakeup call and another thing that will improve. The moment G.D groups are willing to share with others outside their own group and let go of their prized teachings and papers to really benefit others will be a milestone IMHO. The Adepts all claim that any group can start without a lineage and access the tradition fully by practicing its rituals, and in the next sentence they tell those groups that “you don’t have the higher teachings.” So, just hand them over to folks in need and help them I say! 😊

We must also consider the fact that although Golden Dawn Magicians claim to be quite adept at magic, in fact many of them are poor, unemployed and have hardly ever held down a career. This does not apply again to everyone. The Hidden Esoteric Golden Dawn has its Adepts who are successful in real life.

During my own training in the Golden Dawn, in the first G.D order I belonged to, I actually learnt from a famous author who had never held down a real job, was unemployed and most of the students coming under his guidance were struggling with some issues. There was no selection process to prepare folks for magical Rosicrucian work. In fact, if you did black magic, this was not an issue. The Golden Dawn, due to its offering of magic, does attract some doozies. I’ve now joined a different branch of the G.D and its leaders are successful, nice and really work hard at helping people. They haven’t published a single book so aren’t out to prove themselves.

That being said, if you are interested in learning from this path there are a few solutions. I’ve heard one Hidden G.D Adept call the Golden Dawn the “Ritual Path of Development.” Nice! It really is all in the DOING!

Firstly, you could just do the magical work, and avoid the community altogether (recommended). You could join one of the offshoot G.D Orders that are not Golden Dawn, as some of these have really nice people. I mean here BOTA or FLO, for example. Alternatively, you could find one of the esoteric hidden groups, which are extremely hard to join. Or, if you really must join one of the public lines (not recommended) then try to question everything, guard yourself mentally and when you get to the Adept level, please never forget the need for the G.D to have some upstanding representatives who genuinely care about others, and see the bigger picture in terms of their role within the greater Rosicrucian Tradition.

Nice temple work from Hermanubis Temple. Courtesy Frater III.
Often the smaller private temples are best.

See our a full Golden Dawn groups list to find a group near you. Along that process, remember to be your own person. One of the questions I always asked when I studied in the Golden Dawn was “Do you want to be an “Adept of the Golden Dawn” or do you want to be “An ADEPT?”

One helps the Golden Dawn.

The other is here to help humanity.

More Information

For those readers who wish to get deeper into my Golden Dawn report, I based this article off my earlier reviews of the Golden Dawn. This review is an improved summary of my earlier findings.

However, there is additional information within each of the original blog posts. In particular, I have hidden many Easter Eggs regarding the nature of the Rosicrucian Tradition, scattered throughout all twenty post of my original Rosicrucian Reviews series. You can find the Golden Dawn ones here:

• How Rosicrucian is the Golden Dawn?
• Christosophia Score of the Golden Dawn.
• Magic Score of the Golden Dawn.
• Alchemy Score of the Golden Dawn.
• Pansophy Score of the Golden Dawn.
• Pansophy of the 6=5 and 7=4 Rituals.
• How the Golden Dawn Borrowed its Diagrams from Jacob Boehme.
• Lodge Licht, Liebe Leben: a Golden Dawn Origins Revelation.
• Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn Temple Locations.

A special thanks to our bro Ian Gladwin for the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn Temple Locations List and his “Lodge Licht, Liebe, Leben” post which explores the origins of the cipher manuscripts.

Closing Thoughts

Some people might get upset over this and other reviews, claiming that I have given their Order a bash.

Bear in mind our goal here; is to enhance our Rosicrucian connection. One of the things I firmly believe in is that no system is perfect. Certainly the founders of the Orders are flawed. If you do believe it is a perfect system, then you have to ask yourself “do I want to turn out like the founders?”

If the answer is no, then there is only one solution; keep loving the system you are in. But also leave it better than before, and expand it, opening up the system to higher levels of compassion and Light. If you are able to go beyond the founders, or raise your consciousness to a higher level, then it is also your responsibility to open those pathways to the Light within the system for future students.

Perhaps the Rosicrucian avenue you are following is something to expand upon. Still others will wish the Golden Dawn to remain as a magical Order rather than a Rosicrucian one, with all that it implies.

With a score of 64/100 the Golden Dawn has done very well in this review.

In fact, it scored at the same number of points as the Martinist Order, as shown in my Martinist Order Rosicrucian Review. Though, for very different reasons. Make sure you read that review to compare as it sheds light here too!

Looking to join a Golden Dawn Order? At Pansophers.com it is rare for us to recommend any specific group. The following Golden Dawn group is rated as outstanding by Pansophers.com:

The S.R.C & S.S.A is recognised for achieving excellence in Golden Dawn learning.

Thanks for reading my Golden Dawn Review.

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Samuel Robinson
Founder of Pansophers

*Cover image courtesy: Havelock North Facebook Page.