The Golden Dawn is one of the most influential and respected systems of magic in the world. Over a century old, the teachings of this once-secret society are considered the capstone of the Western Esoteric Tradition. Yet many of the available books on the subject are too complex or overwhelming for readers just beginning to explore alternative spiritual paths.
The Essential Golden Dawn is for those who simply want to find out what the Golden Dawn is and what it has to offer. Written by recognized experts on the topic, this introduction to High Magic is both straightforward and succinct. It explores the origins of Hermeticism and the Western Esoteric Tradition, as well as the rich history of the Golden Dawn and its founders. This guide explains the "laws" of magic and magical philosophy, describes different areas of magical knowledge that a Golden Dawn magician can expect to learn, and presents basic rituals for the novice.
If you have been curious about the Golden Dawn, but intimidated by its scope, this concise guide will shed light on this powerful system of practical magic and spiritual growth.
Many people outside the magical community assume that tarot cards are used as “fortune-telling” devices—as if all human destinies were absolutely fixed without any possibility of free will entering into the equation. Magicians know better. There is no fate but what you make. In other words, while tarot cards impel, they do not compel. Like the Qabalah, the tarot is a complete and elaborate system for describing the hidden forces behind the cosmos. Chic Cicero and Sandra Tabatha Cicero, Golden Dawn adepts and creators of The Golden Dawn Magical Tarot, discuss three magical uses of the tarot.
If you practice magick for even a short time, you’ll learn the reality of Mark Twain’s quote, “truth is stranger than fiction.” The popularity of numerous “reality” television shows indicates this is true. But when it comes to magick, TV seems to ignore this. I liked Buffy and Angel and I like Ghost Whisperer, Charmed and The Dresden Files. But they’re not based on real magick. Why not? Author...
In my last column I talked about advanced magick and why there aren’t more books on the subject. This issue I’d like to share what kindergarten and magick have in common — and why this is such good news. When it comes to drawing, I am not naturally ...
Where does it come from? This is one of the most frequent questions I receive about magick. There is no simple answer to this question. Every time a source is discovered, if you pull back a leaf you find another behind it. We could go back to ...
Ever since the doctrine of sympathies was propounded by the Greeks and popularized in the Renaissance by Agrippa, there has been a great deal of emphasis in esoteric circles on establishing sets of correspondences. Sometimes these lists have become ...
Over the past century or so, the model of society has undergone a drastic change due to a variety of influences. We have moved from a society where people lived with extended families — grandparents, parents, aunts, uncles, cousins, in-laws, ...
In my book, Modern Magick, I gave a brief introduction to one of the most important people in the history of magick, Dr. John Dee (1527–1608 or 1609). More than a magician, Dee was also one of the most interesting and fascinating figures of the Elizabethan Age. When he died, his home in Mortlake (a district of London on the southern bank of the... read this article
