Self-Initiation Into the Golden Dawn Tradition: A Complete Cirriculum of Study for Both the Solitary Magician and the Working Magical Group

by Sandra Tabatha Cicero and Chic Cicero

Book Overview

The Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn has been considered one of the most important Western magical systems for over a century. Although much of their knowledge has been published, to really enter the system required initiation within a Golden Dawn temple--until now.

Regardless of your magical knowledge or background, you can learn and live the Golden Dawn tradition with the first practical guide to Golden Dawn initiation. Self-Initiation...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1567181368
• ISBN13: 9781567181364
• Release Date: September 2002
• Publisher: Llewellyn Publications
• Length: 792 Pages
• Weight: 2.90 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.6" x 7.0" x 10.1"

Customer Reviews

Excellent resource!

I originally bought this book back when it was released in 1995. While I thought it was an excellent companion to Doc Regardie's Golden Dawn, it appeared to be a very daunting task. Eventually my original copy would disappear... somewhere. A few years later a friend who was moving away gave me his copy of the book. He was heavily involved in Wicca and I was, at the time, an initiate of the Society Ordo Templi Orientis and deeply, deeply involved in my A.'.A.'. work. While I appreciated the gift and would occasionally reference it, I pretty much left it sitting on my shelf. In the interveing years I have slowly shifted away from Thelema, not totally, but in many ways I find I no longer feel the strong identification with the Current I once felt. Rather, and from my discussions with other magicians, it seems I have gotten beyond the point where Crowley and Thelema are necessary to my spiritual development while recognizing them as practical tools that helped me to get where I am and define my sense of identity. Thelema helped me to release the Ego in the sense of what I call the "I am the Beast" syndrome. Robert Anton Wilson writes about what I mean extensively in his "Cosmic Trigger". Think of it as a "Psychology of Liberation". Like many of the reviews here though, I thought Self-INitiation was overly complex, contained too much information and impractical. I am now sitting down with it and rethinking the entire approach. Anybody who says this book is too complex is simply trying to rush through the material or hasn't confronted their own inner laziness. It is necessary to begin with the introduction which explains the theory behind the book and gives practical instructions on beginning the work of Self-Initiation and explains the various godforms that are assumed in the rituals. The Knowledge lectures, outside of the addition of more complete material on Astrology, are expanded versions of the same knowledge lectures presented in the Regardie books. While Regardie's work just listed symbols etc. the Ciceros have explained the symbols and expanded on them in interesting, if not always necessarily useful, ways. The expansion of the Astrology material alone is excellent. The key here is to take time with the material and to absorb it, not simply memorize the material. If you were going through a traditional Golden Dawn group these are the very same things you would be learning and using in your advancement through the grades and it seems, reading reviews and based on my own experiences, that many people just want the quick fix via a book rather than taking the time to absorb the material. The Ciceros suggest a 6 months period between the taking of each of the grades but this is based on the Self-Initiation rituals presented in the book. I think the material contained in the expanded knowledge lectures could be absorbed in a month or two quite easily, but take about 3-4 months just to be thorough. The presentation is excellent and I wish this

Excellent as a resource, but not a course in itself!!!

Since I am currently participating in the Neophyte grade of the Golden Dawn, I purchased this text as a supplement to my study regimen. While there is some disagreement among my proctors as regards the propriety on the Cicero's part in making this information for the outer grades available, it has been immensely valuable to me as a secondary resource, the the Ciceros have basically done nothing any more inflammatory than Regardie himself in the Publication of the Golden Dawn so many years ago. While the basic information in the various grade lectures is intact, there are also some differences in the perspectives and points of view, as well as some in the timing of information presented (an example of the latter is that the meanings associated with the Tarot cards is presented as if it were part of the Philosophus grade, whereas one is actually exposed to this material during the Neophyte and Zelator grades in the actual Golden Dawn). However, I must concur that "self-initiation" into the Golden Dawn is an onerous, if not impossible, task. It's like writing a text on "Self Admission to and Study of a Harvard MBA", or such-like. You cannot be part of the Golden Dawn without being intiated into it. The Golden Dawn is not a way of thinking, or a religious belief that one can associate with simply by having a like mind. It's an established magickal order, and to be appreciated by its membership, one must join it. This is much simpler than following the book. First, the Order is actually quite easy to contact, and generally welcomes everyone, at least in the early grades. Second, the course of study is difficult enough, but the initiatory experiences proscribed in the book, while very much the same as in the Temple, are FAR too complicated for a beginner to successfully perform, and completely omit the astral and essential benefit of the performance by ordained initiates of the Golden Dawn. Believe me, it's much simpler to pay your ?120 per year and go through the initiatory experience within the temple, as well as have a dedicated instructor/proctor to quiz you on the material. You would spend AT LEAST that amount of money on just the implements required for just one of the initiatory rituals included within this text. Finally, any organized Golden Dawn temple would likely refuse to admit or recognize the work you have done until you actually do take the plunge and JOIN, and even then you would be required to pass through the various grades (no Advanced Placement credit allowed, I'm afraid). If one is looking for a course in magick based on the Golden Dawn system of magick, Modern Magick, by DM Kraig, still stands as one of the best. If one wants to be part of the Golden Dawn, join it! It's easy to do! Then buy this book to supplement the order's already phenomenal course materials.

Great for the Intermediate Student

If you are a beginner in the study of Magick, especially High Magick then you should get Donald Michael Kraigs "11 lessons in High Magick" first and go through it. This book is wonderful but it will be extremely overwhelming for someone who is new to the practice. This book is so jam packed with info and hard to stay focused if you don't have patience. I Love this book though very informative and great Lectures. A must read for anyone interested in the Golden Dawn Tradition.

Magick et al

When I finally recieved this book, I was amazed at the wealth of information in it. I was extremely impressed at what an excellent job they did packing it with useful information. However, this book was written in such a fashion it's a bit like "jumping into the deep end"..so I recommend you do as I did, and purchase and read Donald Michael Kraig's Modern Magick first in its entirety, then use the understanding gained there to move on to this book. Otherwise, when it mentions things like Qameas and whatnot early on, you are likely to get lost. One other thing: a chaote who reviewed this book referred to outdated dogma, etc., etc., and said if you want results, try these other books. I feel the need to point out that Golden Dawn magick isn't as much about practical magick results as it is about Spirituality, Mysticism, and reuniting with the Godhead. For those of you looking for magick for another end, this isn't likely to be a good path for you; perhaps you should look into other more "practical" books.

Encyclopedic in size and scope

A comprehensive, practical and intelligently laid-out manual to Golden Dawn Initiation and Ritual Magic designed so that anyone with perseverance and self-discipline can work the Golden Dawn system without having to run the risk of contacting questionable groups or teachers. It covers all the fundamentals of Hermetic Magic, including Cabala, Astrology, Alchemy, Tarot, Geomancy, Banishings, Meditation, Vibration, Godform Visualization, Invocation, Daily Rituals, and much more. And it does so with self-paced instructions and written examinations that allow the student to be her or his own teacher. The authors' experience as caring and knowledgeable teachers comes across loud and clear. Outstanding!