I just mentioned in a posting that I did on the Golden Dawn Group yahoo forum that I once read that each of the Neophyte officers could be associated with a planetary energy. For anyone who does not know the list, or does not own The Equinox & Solstice Ceremonies of the Golden Dawn by Pat & Chris Zaleski, here is the list:
Hierophant: Sun
Hegemon: Moon
Hiereus: Mars
Kerux: Mercury
Stolistes: Jupiter
Dadouchos: Venus
Sentinel: Saturn
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
Selected Definitions from the Zealot’s Dictionary
Golden Dawn: An esoteric Order that was both formed in 1888 and predates the Victorian Era. Its rituals and instructions are both at the pinnacle of spiritual purity and the rock bottom of black magic. The writings detailing the Order both completely reveal and obscure every important fact concerning the Great Work of the Order; especially suspect are documents meant for the eyes of its own members, none of which can be trusted. The system is ruled by four hundred Secret Chiefs, also known as the Third Order of Curly Fries; all of them are liars and deceivers and always tell the truth; none of the Secret Chiefs allow themselves to be known by more than one lunatic at a time, who they authorize to ruin and destroy a select group of rivals while fleecing their own for beer and taco money in their name; furthermore each Secret Chief insists that they are the One and Only True Secret Chief. The Order has been completely destroyed (1900, 1901, 1904, 1909, 1913, 1937, 1978, 1984, 1994, 1999, and yesterday) and continues to survive until this day. The best advice that a Zealot can follow about the Order, besides welding their wallet shut, is to read none of the writers who use or reveal any of its system of buggery, nor compose or recite any love poetry to any of its members, and always cross the street as soon as you notice one of its members walking down the avenue towards you.
Black Magic: Any magic that employs techniques that you have not mastered to manifest goals that you find morally repulsive. In general, any magic practiced by a rival magician.
White Magic: The act of attempting to change the universe by just thinking loving thoughts at it, generally ineffective against any problem or creature larger than a ladybug.
Black Magic: Any magic that employs techniques that you have not mastered to manifest goals that you find morally repulsive. In general, any magic practiced by a rival magician.
White Magic: The act of attempting to change the universe by just thinking loving thoughts at it, generally ineffective against any problem or creature larger than a ladybug.
Sunday, May 18, 2008
Rocky Mountain Wiccan Temple on hiatus
Yesterday, I recieved an announcement from the Rocky Mountain Wiccan Temple; it said:
The Rocky Mountain Wiccan Temple is supending all activities untill further notice. We apologize for any inconvenence and hope to have activities resume soon--The RMWT Council.
The news was sad (sort of--I wasn't involved highly in the group), but hardly unexpected. Awhile back (on their yahoo group), they talked about some of the problems plaguing the group. Being an experienced group member, their hiatus is no surprise to me.
It is much like the hiatius that Bast Temple has slipped into; there is no real surprise there either. Though there is a difference, I suspect that Bast Temple will survive its hiatus; I am not so sure that RMWT will.
The root problem that the RMWT was suffering from, one I am very familiar with, is a general lack of members, especially ones that contribute (either though money or effort). It is a common problem in esoteric/pagan/wiccan circles; a few people (normally those who started the group) get stuck with supporting it with both money and work--no one else ever steps up and the group eventually disappears as the creators of the group run out of energy and resources.
A few groups have managed to sidestep this problem; or at least in the short term, they have. One is Hearthstone Community Church (though they are short of rent money lately as their turnout has dropped), "the Open Full Moon Folk."
Bast Temple has managed to sidestep this problem occasionally. We have survived one hiatus already, and will survive the current one (not yet officially a hiatus, if we manage to meet this summer, then it is not a hiatus). Bast Temple is merely suffering a membership shortage. As soon as there are enough people who consider Bast Temple the better option (and for some people, the other two Golden Dawn groups will not be acceptable), we will resume operations. In the meantime, there is a lot on the Chief Adept/Hierophant's deck, including writing course material, that needs to be done.
The root of our membership problem is half economical and half personality. Being scattered all over the state, gas prices have hurt the lodge. The correspondence course is becoming more and more a necessity. As for the personality problem, lodges are like families, except that you can leave if you end up arguing with someone constantly. (Actually, I would prefer people to argue rather than just leaving.)
The notice from the Rocky Mountain Wiccan Temple reminded me of Bast Temple's problems; but at least, I know that Bast Temple's problems are temporary. I am not so sure about the RMWT's.
The Rocky Mountain Wiccan Temple is supending all activities untill further notice. We apologize for any inconvenence and hope to have activities resume soon--The RMWT Council.
The news was sad (sort of--I wasn't involved highly in the group), but hardly unexpected. Awhile back (on their yahoo group), they talked about some of the problems plaguing the group. Being an experienced group member, their hiatus is no surprise to me.
It is much like the hiatius that Bast Temple has slipped into; there is no real surprise there either. Though there is a difference, I suspect that Bast Temple will survive its hiatus; I am not so sure that RMWT will.
The root problem that the RMWT was suffering from, one I am very familiar with, is a general lack of members, especially ones that contribute (either though money or effort). It is a common problem in esoteric/pagan/wiccan circles; a few people (normally those who started the group) get stuck with supporting it with both money and work--no one else ever steps up and the group eventually disappears as the creators of the group run out of energy and resources.
A few groups have managed to sidestep this problem; or at least in the short term, they have. One is Hearthstone Community Church (though they are short of rent money lately as their turnout has dropped), "the Open Full Moon Folk."
Bast Temple has managed to sidestep this problem occasionally. We have survived one hiatus already, and will survive the current one (not yet officially a hiatus, if we manage to meet this summer, then it is not a hiatus). Bast Temple is merely suffering a membership shortage. As soon as there are enough people who consider Bast Temple the better option (and for some people, the other two Golden Dawn groups will not be acceptable), we will resume operations. In the meantime, there is a lot on the Chief Adept/Hierophant's deck, including writing course material, that needs to be done.
The root of our membership problem is half economical and half personality. Being scattered all over the state, gas prices have hurt the lodge. The correspondence course is becoming more and more a necessity. As for the personality problem, lodges are like families, except that you can leave if you end up arguing with someone constantly. (Actually, I would prefer people to argue rather than just leaving.)
The notice from the Rocky Mountain Wiccan Temple reminded me of Bast Temple's problems; but at least, I know that Bast Temple's problems are temporary. I am not so sure about the RMWT's.
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
Atonement for the Church’s history of anti-Semitism
Prayer: Atonement for the Church’s history of anti-Semitism
We realize now that many, many centuries of blindness have dimmed our eyes, so that we no longer see the beauty of Thy Chosen People and no longer recognize in their faces the features of our first-born brother. We realize that our brows are branded with the mark of Cain. Centuries long has Abel lain in blood and tears, because we had forgotten Thy love. Forgive us the curse which we unjustly laid on the name of the Jews. Forgive us that, with our curse, we crucified Thee a second time.
---Pope John XXIII
We realize now that many, many centuries of blindness have dimmed our eyes, so that we no longer see the beauty of Thy Chosen People and no longer recognize in their faces the features of our first-born brother. We realize that our brows are branded with the mark of Cain. Centuries long has Abel lain in blood and tears, because we had forgotten Thy love. Forgive us the curse which we unjustly laid on the name of the Jews. Forgive us that, with our curse, we crucified Thee a second time.
---Pope John XXIII
Friday, April 25, 2008
Worked on website today
Worked some on the Bast Temple website today. It was mainly rearranging things and transferring over three pages that I wrote months ago, but never got around to transferring before the semester overwhelmed me.
The plan for summer is to finish fixing up the site, and reestablish monthly meetings (which requires more local [Denver] members). This plan may be tossed in the gutter if my student aid situation can not be fixed; if I am forced to go back to my old job, all bets are off.
The plan for summer is to finish fixing up the site, and reestablish monthly meetings (which requires more local [Denver] members). This plan may be tossed in the gutter if my student aid situation can not be fixed; if I am forced to go back to my old job, all bets are off.
Quote of the day
Robert Wang (An Introduction to the Golden Dawn Tarot):
One final point should be made here relative to the esoteric Tarot. Obvivously, the fact this was the Tarot of a secret group, and that its member swore death oaths to maintain secrecy places the deck in a special category. But there is more involved here than may be immediately obvious. The [original 1888-1900] Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn, as do all legimate esoteric orders, functioned with a set of Inner Plane contacts unique to their system, although presumably pre-existent and strengthened by the Order's contacts; the Order paved some inner roads which can be followed even today. Thus, serious use of the Tarot deck designed for the exclusive use of the Golden Dawn initiates will bring about some subtle links with the spiritual currents used by the Order. The same may be said of strictly following any aspect of the Golden dawn system, particularly its exercises and rituals.
One final point should be made here relative to the esoteric Tarot. Obvivously, the fact this was the Tarot of a secret group, and that its member swore death oaths to maintain secrecy places the deck in a special category. But there is more involved here than may be immediately obvious. The [original 1888-1900] Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn, as do all legimate esoteric orders, functioned with a set of Inner Plane contacts unique to their system, although presumably pre-existent and strengthened by the Order's contacts; the Order paved some inner roads which can be followed even today. Thus, serious use of the Tarot deck designed for the exclusive use of the Golden Dawn initiates will bring about some subtle links with the spiritual currents used by the Order. The same may be said of strictly following any aspect of the Golden dawn system, particularly its exercises and rituals.
Friday, April 4, 2008
Ebb and flow of the esoteric traditions
Today while reading a question on a private membership forum, I was reminded that our tradition at one of the low water marks as far as the general history of the esoteric traditions is concerned.
One of the interesting things about the esoteric traditions is that it ebbs and flows. And while I am not sure if is currently ebbing or flowing, I do know that this is one of the times where the esoteric traditions are relatively impoverished. Membership in the mysteries is down, whether you are talking about Freemasonry, Wicca, or esoteric Christianity.
But it is not just the lack of warm bodies that indicate that we are at the lower end of the esoteric tide. The posting that I was reading was about geomancy, and it made reference to the older geomantic texts. I understand the student’s comment because I have seen some of the material that he was referring to. I have also seen some documents that expand upon the technique that he mentioned. Yet, I know that I am one of the few people who have learned anything about this aspect of geomancy in recent years.
The art and science of geomancy has been ebbing for the last sixty years; I know what caused this particular ebb. But it is not just geomancy that is ebbing. The entire esoteric field seems to be getting simpler and less complex all the time. I have some theories about why it is happening, but that is a subject for another time.
What I want to draw your attention to is the very existence of the ebb and flow of information about the mysteries. I want you to think about it--are the esoteric traditions getting stronger or weaker? And does the answer concern you?
One of the interesting things about the esoteric traditions is that it ebbs and flows. And while I am not sure if is currently ebbing or flowing, I do know that this is one of the times where the esoteric traditions are relatively impoverished. Membership in the mysteries is down, whether you are talking about Freemasonry, Wicca, or esoteric Christianity.
But it is not just the lack of warm bodies that indicate that we are at the lower end of the esoteric tide. The posting that I was reading was about geomancy, and it made reference to the older geomantic texts. I understand the student’s comment because I have seen some of the material that he was referring to. I have also seen some documents that expand upon the technique that he mentioned. Yet, I know that I am one of the few people who have learned anything about this aspect of geomancy in recent years.
The art and science of geomancy has been ebbing for the last sixty years; I know what caused this particular ebb. But it is not just geomancy that is ebbing. The entire esoteric field seems to be getting simpler and less complex all the time. I have some theories about why it is happening, but that is a subject for another time.
What I want to draw your attention to is the very existence of the ebb and flow of information about the mysteries. I want you to think about it--are the esoteric traditions getting stronger or weaker? And does the answer concern you?
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