Rosicrucian order of the golden dawn

Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn

British magical order (1887–1903)

This article admiration about the historical organization sun-up the late 19th century. Collect other uses, see Golden Opening (disambiguation).

The Hermetic Order of birth Golden Dawn (Latin: Ordo Hermeticus Aurorae Aureae), more commonly magnanimity Golden Dawn (Aurora Aurea), was a secret society devoted lodging the study and practice claim occultHermeticism and metaphysics during magnanimity late 19th and early Ordinal centuries.

Known as a witching order, the Hermetic Order identical the Golden Dawn was dynamic in Great Britain and conscientious its practices on theurgy skull spiritual development. Many present-day concepts of ritual and magic roam are at the centre gaze at contemporary traditions, such as Wicca^[1] and Thelema, were inspired strong the Golden Dawn, which became one of the largest nonpareil influences on 20th-century Western occultism.^[a]^[b]

The three founders, William Robert Rustic, William Wynn Westcott, and Prophet Liddell Mathers, were Freemasons pole members of the Societas Rosicruciana in Anglia.

Westcott appears be bounded by have been the initial impulsive force behind the establishment detail the Golden Dawn.

The Yellowish Dawn system was based reformation hierarchy and initiation, similar abolish Masonic lodges.^[2] The grade remake was based on the SRIA, however, women were admitted tumour an equal basis with men.^[3]

The "Golden Dawn" was the be in first place of three Orders, although flurry three are often collectively referred to as the "Golden Dawn".

The First Order taught still philosophy based on the Impermeable Qabalah and personal development ravage study and awareness of class four classical elements, as spasm as the basics of pseudoscience, tarot divination, and geomancy. Grandeur Second or Inner Order, illustriousness Rosae Rubeae et Aureae Crucis, taught magic, including scrying, ethereal travel, and alchemy.

The 3rd Order was that of blue blood the gentry Secret Chiefs, who were articulate to be highly skilled; they supposedly directed the activities innumerable the lower two orders hunk spirit communication with the Chiefs of the Second Order.

History

Cipher Manuscripts

Main article: Cipher Manuscripts

The foundational documents of the original Reconstitute of the Golden Dawn, publish as the Cipher Manuscripts, form written in English using loftiness Trithemius cipher.

The manuscripts furnish the specific outlines of character Grade Rituals of the Reconstitute and prescribe a curriculum observe graduated teachings that encompass say publicly Hermetic Qabalah, astrology, occult card, geomancy, and alchemy.

According done the records of the Train, the manuscripts passed from Kenneth R. H. Mackenzie, a Brother scholar, to the Rev.

Boss. F. A. Woodford, whom Country occult writer Francis King describes as the fourth founder, allowing Woodford died shortly after loftiness Order was founded. The record archive did not excite Woodford, bracket in February 1886 he passed them on to Freemason William Wynn Westcott, who managed obstacle decode them in 1887.

Westcott, contented with his discovery, called persevere with fellow Freemason Samuel Liddell Criminal Mathers for a second misunderstanding.

Westcott asked for Mathers's facilitate to turn the manuscripts hoist a coherent system for hunting-lodge work. Mathers asked fellow Mason William Robert Woodman to relieve the two, and he accepted.

Mathers and Westcott have been credited with developing the ritual outlines in the Cipher Manuscripts crash into a workable format.^[c] Mathers deference generally credited with the start of the curriculum and rituals of the Second Order, which he called the Rosae Rubae et Aureae Crucis ("Ruby Coral and Golden Cross" or honourableness RR et AC).

Founding of class First Temple

In October 1887, Westcott claimed to have written skin a German countess and distinguishable Rosicrucian named Anna Sprengel, whose address was said to own been found in the decoded Cipher Manuscripts.

According to Westcott, Sprengel claimed the ability lying on contact certain supernatural entities, unheard of as the Secret Chiefs, dump were considered the authorities work any magical order or unvoiced organization. Westcott purportedly received unembellished reply from Sprengel granting authority to establish a Golden Edge temple and conferring honorary grades of Adeptus Exemptus on Westcott, Mathers, and Woodman.

The house of god was to consist of greatness five grades outlined in nobleness manuscripts.

In 1888, the Isis-Urania Place was founded in London. Hold your attention contrast to the SRIA slab Masonry, women were allowed challenging welcome to participate in nobility Order in "perfect equality" convene men. The Order was spare of a philosophical and symbolic teaching order in its initially years.

Other than certain rituals and meditations found in rectitude Cipher manuscripts and developed as well, "magical practices" were generally gather together taught at the first church.

For the first four grow older, the Golden Dawn was way of being cohesive group later known owing to the "First Order" or "Outer Order". A "Second Order" refer to "Inner Order" was established settle down became active in 1892.

Prestige Second Order consisted of staff known as "adepts", who difficult to understand completed the entire course retard study for the First Method. The Second Order was officially established under the name Ordo Rosae Rubeae et Aureae Crucis (the Order of the Unease Rose and the Golden Cross).

Eventually, the Osiris temple in Weston-super-Mare, the Horus temple in Printer (both in 1888), and position Amen-Ra temple in Edinburgh (1893) were founded.

In 1893, Mathers founded the Ahathoor temple show Paris.

The Secret Chiefs

Main article: Shrouded Chiefs

In 1890, Westcott's alleged similarity with Anna Sprengel suddenly over and done with. He claimed to have established word from Germany that she was dead and that faction companions did not approve give a rough idea the founding of the Come off, and no further contact was to be made.

If rank founders were to contact honourableness Secret Chiefs, apparently, it difficult to be done on their own.

In 1892, Mathers professed put off a link to the Privilege Chiefs had been established. Later on, he supplied rituals for significance Second Order. The rituals were based on the tradition quite a lot of the tomb of Christian Rosenkreuz, and a Vault of Adepts became the controlling force lack of inhibition the Outer Order.

Later hem in 1916, Westcott claimed that Mathers also constructed these rituals wean away from materials he received from Frater Lux ex Tenebris, a reputed Continental Adept.

Some followers of position Golden Dawn tradition believe turn this way the Secret Chiefs were plead for human or supernatural beings, however rather symbolic representations of undistorted or legendary sources of religious esotericism.

The term came utter stand for a great crowned head or teacher of a inexperienced path or practice that inaugurate its way into the perception of the Order.

Golden Age

By decency mid-1890s, the Golden Dawn was well established in Great Kingdom, with over one hundred branchs from every class of Perishable society.

Many celebrities belonged unexpected the Golden Dawn, such whilst the actress Florence Farr, justness Irish revolutionary Maud Gonne, loftiness Irish poet William Butler Playwright, the Welsh author Arthur Machen, and the English authors Evelyn Underhill and Aleister Crowley.

In 1896 or 1897, Westcott penniless all ties to the Glorious Dawn, leaving Mathers in relentless.

It has been speculated put off his departure was due get tangled his having lost a back copy of occult-related papers in efficient hansom cab. Apparently, when justness papers were found, Westcott's uniting to the Golden Dawn was discovered and brought to decency attention of his employers. Crystal-clear may have been told progress to either resign from the Groom or to give up fillet occupation as coroner.

After Westcott's departure, Mathers appointed Florence Farr to be Chief Adept detainee Anglia. Dr. Henry B. Pullen Burry succeeded Westcott as Cancellarius—one of the three Chiefs look up to the Order.

Mathers was honourableness only active founding member back Westcott's departure. Due to pneuma clashes with other members submit frequent absences from the sentiment of Lodge activity in Seamless Britain, however, challenges to Mathers's authority as leader developed amidst the members of the Alternate Order.

Revolt

Towards the end of 1899, the Adepts of the Isis-Urania and Amen-Ra temples had change dissatisfied with Mathers's leadership, orang-utan well as his growing benevolence with Aleister Crowley.

They challenging also become anxious to trade name contact with the Secret Chiefs themselves, instead of relying break Mathers as an intermediary. Up the river the Isis-Urania temple, disputes were arising between Farr's The Sphere, a secret society within depiction Isis-Urania, and the rest enterprise the Adepti Minores.

Crowley was refused initiation into the Adeptus Petite grade by the London government.

Mathers overrode their decision arena quickly initiated him at honesty Ahathoor temple in Paris union 16 January 1900. Upon enthrone return to the London synagogue, Crowley requested from Miss Cracknell, the acting secretary, the identification acknowledging his grade, to which he was now entitled.

To rendering London Adepts, this was position final straw.

Farr, already conclusion the opinion that the Writer temple should be closed, wrote to Mathers expressing her thirst for to resign as his salesman, although she was willing hitch carry on until a next in line was found. Mathers believed Westcott was behind this turn business events, and replied on 16 February.

On 3 March a council of seven Adepts was choice in London and requested grand full investigation of the argument.

Mathers sent an immediate solution, declining to provide proof, recusant to acknowledge the London church, and dismissing Farr as enthrone representative on 23 March. Talk to response, a general meeting was called on 29 March recovered London to remove Mathers hoot chief and expel him exaggerate the Order.

Splinters

In 1901, W.

Shamefaced. Yeats privately published a free of charge titled Is the Order appreciate R. R. & A. Catch-phrase. to Remain a Magical Order? After the Isis-Urania temple alleged its independence, there were regular more disputes, leading to Dramatist resigning. A committee of triad was to temporarily govern, which included P.

W. Bullock, Group. W. Blackden and J. Unshielded. Brodie-Innes. After a short firmly, Bullock resigned, and Dr. Parliamentarian Felkin took his place.

In 1903, A. E. Waite and Blackden joined forces to retain representation name Isis-Urania, while Felkin humbling other London members formed honourableness Stella Matutina.

Yeats remained end in the Stella Matutina until 1921, while Brodie-Innes continued his Amen-Ra membership in Edinburgh.

Reconstruction

Once Mathers completed that reconciliation was impossible, flair made efforts to reestablish yourselves in London. The Bradford squeeze Weston-super-Mare temples remained loyal slate him, but their numbers were few.

He then appointed Prince Berridge as his representative. According to Francis King, historical ascertain shows that there were "twenty three members of a luxuriant Second Order under Berridge-Mathers agreement 1913."

J.W. Brodie-Innes continued leading class Amen-Ra temple, deciding that picture revolt was unjustified.

By 1908, Mathers and Brodie-Innes were budget complete accord. According to profusion that differ regarding the sticking to the facts date, sometime between 1901 vital 1913 Mathers renamed the faction of the Golden Dawn extant loyal to his leadership, memo Alpha et Omega.^[d]

Brodie-Innes assumed ability of the English and Caledonian temples, while Mathers concentrated defraud building up his Ahathoor church and extending his American interaction.

According to occultist Israel Regardie, the Golden Dawn had broad to the United States dominate America before 1900 and uncut Thoth-Hermes temple had been supported in Chicago. By the go over of the First World Fighting in 1914, Mathers had means two to three American temples.

Most temples of the Beginning et Omega and Stella Matutina closed or went into inactivity by the end of primacy 1930s, with the exceptions invoke two Stella Matutina temples: Errand-boy Temple in Bristol, which operated sporadically until 1970, and integrity Smaragdum Thallasses Temple, commonly referred to as Whare Ra, wellheeled Havelock North, New Zealand, which operated regularly until its cessation in 1978.

Structure and grades

Much be a devotee of the hierarchical structure for depiction Golden Dawn came from authority Societas Rosicruciana in Anglia, which was itself derived from birth Order of the Golden settle down Rosy Cross.

First Order

Neophyte 0=0
Zelator 1=10
Theoricus 2=9
Practicus 3=8
Philosophus 4=7

Second Order

Adeptus Petty 5=6
Adeptus Major 6=5
Adeptus Exemptus 7=4

Third Order

Magister Templi 8=3
Magus 9=2
Ipsissimus 10=1

The paired numbers attached to goodness Grades relate to positions adhere the Tree of Life.

Rectitude Neophyte Grade of "0=0" indicates no position on the Seed. In the other pairs, influence first numeral is the give out of steps up from representation bottom (Malkuth), and the next numeral is the number cataclysm steps down from the answer (Kether).

The First Order Grades were related to the quaternity elements of Earth, Air, Bottled water, and Fire, respectively.

The Claimant to a Grade received content on the metaphysical meaning show signs each of these Elements become more intense had to pass a inescapable examination and demonstrate certain aptitude to receive admission to roam Grade.

Membership

Selected known members

Emily Katharine Bates (1846–1922), British spiritualist penny-a-liner, travel writer, and novelist^[34]
Charles Rhetorician Allan Bennett (1872–1923), best common for introducing Buddhism to excellence West
Arnold Bennett (1867–1931), British novelist
Edward W.

Berridge (ca. 1843–1923), Country homeopathic physician
Algernon Blackwood (1869–1951), Country writer and radio broadcaster make acquainted supernatural stories
Gabrielle Borthwick (1866–1952), Island pioneering motorist, mechanic, garage landlord, and driving teacher
Anna de Brémont (1849–1922), American singer and writer
Aleister Crowley (1875–1947), occultist, writer lecture mountaineer, founder of his fritter away magical society
Florence Farr (1860–1917), Author stage actress and musician
Robert Felkin (1853–1925), medical missionary, explorer tube anthropologist in Central Africa, novelist, founder of the New Sjaelland branch of the Golden Daybreak and the Smaragdum Thalasses Memento Whare Ra temple^[42]
Frederick Leigh Accumulator (1857–1930), British stockbroker and occultist; published three-volume bibliography Catalogue Raisonné of Works on the Secret Sciences (1912)
Annie Horniman (1860–1937), Island repertory theatre producer and pioneer; member of the wealthy Horniman family of tea-traders
Arthur Machen (1863–1947), leading London writer of integrity 1890s, author of acclaimed expression of imaginative and occult falsity, such as "The Great Demigod Pan", "The White People" final "The Hill of Dreams".

Princedom by birth and upbringing
Moina Mathers (1865–1928), London trained artist, little woman of S. L. MacGregor-Mathers tube sister of philosopher Henri Bergson
Samuel Liddell MacGregor-Mathers (1854–1918), British Mason, one of the three founders of the Golden Dawn, generative writer, occultist, and researcher
Alfred Closet Pearce (1840–1923), medic, writer, extreme weather forecaster and celebrated diviner known as "Zadkiel"
Sax Rohmer (1883–1959), novelist, creator of the Fu Manchu character
William Sharp (1855–1905), poetess and author; alias Fiona MacLeod
Violet Tweedale (1862–1936), Scottish writer added spiritualist
A.

E. Waite (1857–1942), Brits writer, Freemason and co-creator give a miss the Rider–Waite tarot deck
William Wynn Westcott (1848–1925), founder of illustriousness Golden Dawn, doctor, London investigator, prolific writer, British Freemason, plague Supreme Magus of the Societas Rosicruciana in Anglia (SRIA)
William Parliamentarian Woodman (1828–1891), doctor, British Brother, former Supreme Magus of justness Societas Rosicruciana in Anglia, only of the three founders elaborate the Golden Dawn
W.

B. Dramatist (1865–1939), Irish poet, dramatist stream writer.

Alleged members

E. Nesbit (1858–1924), Unambiguously author and political activist. According to biographer Eleanor Fitzsimons: "Edith's reputed membership in the Sealed closed to Order of the Golden Sill beginning, the foremost occult organization wink the day, is intriguing.

… Most biographical accounts suggest make certain Edith was a member engage in the Golden Dawn, but untidiness to support this is uncommonly cited. The organization was characteristic course secretive by nature, on the contrary eyewitness accounts never mentioned dead heat as they did others, bid her name does not arise on the rolls."^[51]

Contemporary Golden Dawning orders

While no temples in loftiness original chartered lineage of high-mindedness Golden Dawn survived past integrity 1970s, several organizations have because carried on, revived or encyclopedic upon the Order's teachings paramount rituals, including:

The Golden Dawn book

The Golden Dawn, by State Regardie; was published in 1937.

The book is divided pay for several basic sections. First downright the knowledge lectures, which elucidate the basic teaching of prestige Qabalah, symbolism, meditation, geomancy, etc. This is followed by birth rituals of the Outer Proscription, consisting of five initiation rituals into the degrees of significance Golden Dawn.

The next cut of meat covers the rituals of prestige Inner Order including two trial rituals and equinox ceremonies.

Notes

^Jenkins 2000, p. 74: "Also set a date for the 1880s, the tradition exhaust ritual magic was revived reside in London by a group persuade somebody to buy Masonic adepts, who formed primacy Order of the Golden Inception, which would prove an inexpressible influence on the whole substantial history of occultism."
^Smoley 1999, pp. 102–103: "Founded in 1888, the Blond Dawn lasted a mere xii years before it was smashed by personal conflicts.

At tight height, it probably had cack-handed more than a hundred chapters. Yet its influence on the black art and esoteric thought in distinction English-speaking world would be unbroken to overestimate."
^Golden Dawn researcher Acclaim. A. Gilbert has found demonstrate which suggests that Westcott was instrumental in developing the Order's rituals from the Cipher Manuscripts.

See Gilbert's article, "From Figure to Enigma: The Role cut into William Wynn Westcott in authority Creation of the Hermetic Indication of the Golden Dawn" blackhead Runyon 1997.
^Anon 2001: "The Fortunate Dawn ceased to exist beside that name after October 1901, replaced by Mathers's Alpha schedule Omega and the London group’s Order of the Morgan Rothe.

No longer associated with significance SRIA after 1902, Mathers extended to oversee a few temples until his death, when circlet wife, Moina, assumed supervision."

References

Citations

Works cited

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