As soon as one takes an interest in the Western Magickal Tradition, it is inevitable that they will almost immediately come across references to the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn. This esoteric order has aroused so much speculation, deliberation and analysis that it has been elevated to the status of a super-society. The reasons behind this are not clear. It may be that since it was the starting or finishing point to the careers of so many reknowned occultists that it takes on some of their personal glory. Whatever the reason, the Golden Dawn is firmly etched on the surface of our Magickal Tradition, and as such, I wish to present a brief discourse on it's nature, history and significance in perspective.
It is not my aim to present a detailed analysis, since there have been many erudite books on the subject, by far more qualified people than me. The Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn was an esoteric society that dealt in ritual magic, the Qabalah, and other mystical matters. Its origins have been the subject of much debate, although there is a general view that it was the product of one man, William Wynn Westcott. This in itself is not completely accurate, since the two authorities that I hold in the highest regard both have suggested a slightly more complex ætiology. Dr. Westcott, a London Coroner, was a prominent Freemason. He was the Supreme Magus (ruler) of a Masonic side degree, the Societas Rosicruciana in Anglia (SRIA), whose purpose was the study of philosophic and esoteric matters. Not content with this order, which did not practice anything that could be truly called magic, he set about inventing a new order. However, due to the very nature of occult orders, for it to be of note, it needed a defined, authentic origin. Westcott achieved this authentication by 'translating' some cipher manuscripts 'discovered' by a priest (who happened to be a mason) in a second-hand bookshop. These, he claimed, were fragments of magical rituals, with an address in Germany representing an order of Rosicrucian adepts.
In 1887, with the co-operation of two other men, Dr. Woodman and Samuel Liddell Mathers, Westcott founded the first Temple of the Golden Dawn, by right of a charter 'granted' by the head of the German order. This they named the Isis-Urania Temple, and it was to meet at Mark Mason's Hall, then in Great Queen Street, London.
The Golden Dawn possessed a hierarchical structure, in keeping with many other occult bodies, including the Freemasons and the Rosicrucian societies. It was divided into 11 grades or degrees, which represented successively increased learning and ability in magical matters. It's codes for these grades were based upon an esoteric figure known as the Tree of Life, which was part of the Hebrew body of Mysticism known as the Qabalah (From QBLH p; received tradition). The hierarchy was divided up into 3 orders which each represented a certain class. The lowest order was named the Golden Dawn, and comprised those students who had learnt basic magickal doctrines, and had passed exams on these. The second order was titled the Red Rose and Golden Cross, and it was here that the members practised magickal acts. The third and final order was known as the Silver Star, and was composed of those adepts who had crossed the Abyss, and themselves become masters of the magickal arts.
Around 1891, the head of the German order 'died', and there was no further contact, following a brusque reply which stated that if they wished to learn more, then they had the means to obtain it. This implied that they should obtain direct contact with the 'Secret Chiefs', a tenebrous group of individuals who were immortal and masters of all. These Secret Chiefs were thought to inhabit the unpopulated areas of Tibet, or actually be ethereal spirits, with no physical form. At any rate, The leaders of the Golden Dawn needed to establish a link with these lofty souls. In 1891, in Paris, Mathers, the third leader of the GD claimed to have made contact with the Secret Chiefs (the story is rather apocryphal, with Mathers stating that he met a man in the Bois de Boulogne, who overwhelmed him so with his powers, that blood poured from Mather's nose. Cynics would say that he had got into a fight!). He stated that they had granted him sole authority to rule the order, and he wrested control from Westcott, who resigned in 1897. Meanwhile, the other leader, Dr. Woodman had died. Mathers was now the supreme ruler of the GD.
As for the actual body of the work of the Golden Dawn, this is very well documented. The original 5 grades in the lowest order were primarily academic, in that each grade had a certain number of skills to perfect, and knowledge to acquire. For example, they needed to achieve mastery of the astral plane through meditation and certain forms of Yogic exercises. The knowledge required was primarily Qabalistic, although other forms of occult doctrine were touched upon: the Tarot, Enochian magic and ceremonial magic, to name a few.
The major body of work in the second order was that of achieving conversation with one's Holy Guardian Angel. The individual HGA is a celestial intelligence (some say a Secret Chief) with whom each person is theoretically capable of reaching through meditation. This contact was beneficial as it allowed the adept to reach his true potential, and so ascend to, and cross the Abyss, to become a true Master. This was considered the Great Work of the Order as a whole, and it is interesting to read the differing accounts of adepts who claimed to have achieved it.
In the early part of the 20th century, Mathers was living in Paris. Removed geographically from the Golden Dawn in England, dissent arose. The adepts of the second order started to rebel against his authority over them, demanding proof of his compact with the Secret Chiefs. There was nothing left except to send his protégé Aleister Crowley to wrest control of their London Headquarters. This in itself is a long story, but the outcome was that the original Golden Dawn crumbled into twilight, and Mathers lost control forever. In these latter years the leadership was passed around between several adepts, before the order disappeared. Since this time, many subsequent Golden Dawn's have been formed, all claiming that since they use the original rituals they are justified in using the name. However, the truth is that all of these, to a greater or lesser extent, are pale substitutes for the original.
As regards the original issue of the ætiology of this order, the theory has been thus: The formulation of the Golden Dawn was not in the hands of just Wynn Westcott, but also in those of a certain Kenneth MacKenzie. A complete biography of Westcott has never been written, but a rough character analysis is that he was a rather schizoid type who possessed a rather mediocre intellect, and in himself was not capable of generating the cipher manuscripts, nor the complex Golden Dawn rituals. All the evidence points to MacKenzie as the genius behind the creation of the GD. MacKenzie died in the 1870's so the suggestion is that the GD was a long time in the making, and following MacKenzie's death, Westcott carried on their work to it's conclusion.
Samuel Liddell Mathers is a character fascinating to study, since his persona is similar to that of Aleister Crowley in several key areas. Both these men were social climbers, and both claimed to be nobility. There is an amusing story of the Laird of Boleskine and the Comte de Glenstræ meeting, both in ceremonial Highland dress, although neither of them had a drop of Scots blood in them. Mathers was a powerful man in comparison to the other dilettante members of the Golden Dawn, and this secured his position as leader, although his paranoia of being challenged led to his eventual downfall. One can only guess what would have happened to the Dawn if Crowley had taken control.
