Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn
From Freepedia
The original Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn (founded originally as "the Fraternity of the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn") was a magical fraternity founded in London in 1888 by Dr. William Wynn Westcott and Samuel Liddell MacGregor Mathers, which ceased to exist under that name in 1903 but which continued under at least two spin-off organizations, the Stella Matutina (Morning Star) and the Alpha et Omega, as well as a renamed faction headed by Arthur Edward Waite that underwent further splits. The Stella Matutina closed its doors in the United Kingdom before WWII, but continued to function under the popular name Whare Ra in New Zealand until the late 1970s.
Influences on Golden Dawn concepts and work include freemasonry, theosophy, Eliphas Levi, Papus, Enochian Magic, and medieval grimoires. It has long been thought that the synthesis of these influences into a new school of thought is largely the work of Mathers, who at times was teaching things he had discovered only days or hours before. However, more recent research suggests that Dr. Westcott was a considerable influence. Mathers was responsible for the Rosicrucian inner order of the Golden Dawn being established where practical magic was taught.
The "Golden Dawn," as it is commonly referred to, was probably the single greatest influence on 20th century western occultism. While it existed, it was the focal point of the development and redevelopment of magical thinking in Europe. In it, most concepts of magic and ritual that have since become core elements of Wicca, Thelema, western mystery schools and other forms of magical spirituality were first formulated.
In its heyday, many cultural celebrities belonged to the Golden Dawn. Some well known members included Aleister Crowley, Arthur Machen and William Butler Yeats.
After dissolution, Israel Regardie published a large part of the order's documents, contravening his vow of secrecy. Before his death, he was involved in the continuation of the Golden Dawn tradition that exists as of 2005.
See also
References
- Greer, Mary K. Women of the Golden Dawn. (Park Street, 1994) ISBN 0892815167.
- Gilbert, RA. The Golden Dawn: Twilight of the Magicians. The Aquarian Press, 1983. ISBN 0850302781.
- Howe, Ellic. The Magicians of the Golden Dawn: A Documentary History of a Magical Order 1887-1923. Samuel Weiser (1978). ISBN 0877283699. (Widely regarded by historians as the definitive history of the Golden Dawn.)
- Regardie, Israel, et. al., eds., The Golden Dawn: A Complete Course in Practical Ceremonial Magic (Llewellyn, 1989) ISBN 0875426638
