What is the Golden Dawn?

The Golden Dawn is an initiatory school that teaches the foundation of ritual magic. Contrary to popular belief, the traditional Golden Dawn is not a magical order; the Inner Order of the group (under whatever name) has traditionally been the magical order. One would progress through the outer order until proven proficient in the knowledge lectures and other requirements, and then they were allowed into the inner. Only then would they receive practical magical instruction.

The Golden Dawn is a school of knowledge required to enter into practical magical work. Our group holds itself to the same structure as the original order and requires its members to memorize information and perform certain requirements until they test into the Inner Order.

The Golden Dawn course of study is exhaustive. As traditional Golden Dawn, our Temple teaches initiates in the following fields as well as many others:

• Kabbalah
• Astrology
• Divination
  • Tarot
  • Geomancy
• Alchemy
• Hermeticism
• Theurgy
• Initiatic Work
• Elemental/Zodiacal/Planetary Magic
• Talismans
• Scrying
• Astral Travel
• Healing
• Rosicrucian Mysticism
• Egyptian Magic
• Enochian Magic

In the Golden Dawn, there is a Kabbalistic grade structure. Each grade is associated to a Sephirah on the Tree of Life, as well as being associated to one of the traditional classic Alchemical Elements. The Temple of Thoth Amen-Ra offers initiation into the following traditional Golden Dawn grades:

Grade:     Name:                Element/Planet/Sephirah

0=0     Neophyte                   --

1=10   Zelator                        Earth/Malkuth

2=9     Theoricus                    Air/Luna/Yesod

3=8     Practicus                     Water/Mercury/Hod

4=7     Philosophus                 Fire/Venus/Netzach

 Portal                         Spirit

Before passing on to each successive grade, members must pass written, practical and oral examinations testing their theoretical and ritual knowledge of the Golden Dawn System. 

The student will be expected to perform all of the three sections to the best of their ability. In addition to the exams, each member must write two short essays. 

• The first is chosen from within the grade material of the current grade, and may be taken from either knowledge lecture information or from the ritual itself. The goal of this exercise is to continue to expand one's mind and spirit, as well as to identify one's particular areas of interest; this paper will be made available to other members of the same grade.

• The second is an essay based on one's experience within the grade, and its distribution is limited to the Inner Collegium. Its purpose is to ensure that the aspirant has not only learned the lessons of the grade, but also has absorbed and balanced the element of the grade and sephirah within their sphere of sensation.

Upon completing the journey of the Outer Order, and after spending a certain period within the Grade of Portal, members may be invited & initiated into the Second Order Grades, which consist of:

Grade:     Name:                  Planet/Sephirah

5=6        Adeptus Minor        Sol/Tiphareth  

6=5        Adeptus Major        Mars/Geburah

7=4        Adeptus Exemptus   Jupiter/Chesed

For more information, please see the GD FAQ.