Magic Of The Temple

When you were ready, or rather considered yourself ready you asked for an auspicious date at the temple. There was no control, no gatekeeping, and definitely no hand-holding. The result was a large amount of lower grade, a few higher ones, and a splash of Adepts, although I’m sure many, myself included, didn’t know the real numbers. It wasn’t fully a hands off approach, one could get feedback on the previous grade and studies, there we opportunities to run questions by somebody senior, one could even have their aura checked, but the lack of kingmaking and gatekeeping was adamant. This seemed to be by design in order to fast track out anybody who wasn’t serious and wasn’t prepared to be taken seriously. The exoteric order that many speak about was one thing, it was the esoteric order that did all the sorting out. Darwanistic meritocracy was the name it was given. I can speak to some of the methods used as they produced interesting results if not orthodox, but with all (most) o...

Whenever it was possible the two of us would just sit in the temple after one of the ceremonies, especially if was the 0=0 ceremony. That window of experience where the temple current was closed down, but the Gods still remained, standing in silence, incense still hanging in the air. To just sit in that place of power and exist in that moment outside of space and time. Visibly the temple was dormant with the pillars in place, the tablets covered, and the altar bare except for the red cross and white triangle. Invisibly, if one closed their eyes and had the sight, the temple as awash in colors. Radiant colors streaming off the Gods standing at the stations, a pillar or white light emanating from the cross and triangle, raising to the ceiling and beyond. To just sit there with the eyes closed in that moment. Did you just see that? asked my friend. My response took a few seconds to process as it left me quite startled. I did, and I think it’s time we go. At first I had a pr...

Let us adore the Lord of the Universe. Holy art Thou, Who art in all things, in Whom are all things. If I climb up to Heaven, Thou art there and if I go down to Hell Thou art there also. If I take the Wings of the Morning and flee unto the uttermost parts of the Sea, Even there shall Thy hand lead me and Thy right hand shall hold me. If I say, Peradventure the Darkness shall cover me, even the Night shall be turned Light unto Thee! Thine is the AIR with its Movement! Thine is the FIRE with its Flashing Flame! Thine is the WATER with its Ebb and Flow! Thine is the EARTH with its enduring Stability. Today is the day of the Equinox, observed in time or close date by those temples and magicians working in the tradition of the Golden Dawn and its system of magic.  The Equinox is an interesting time of energy and opportunity that if one can hook-on and hold-on, can have interesting magical effects. *Things* tend to happen around the Equinox, meeting people, and having s...

Have you ever used the magic of the temple? To answer that I can say that I can count the number of times I have used it on one hand, and still have a finger or two to spare. I have always been very cautious about such things as a magician, realizing that the invisible world is more interconnected then one may think, and just how permanent such forces can be. Most of the time it is better to wait, and when put to use one had better be ready for the outcome. Admittedly on this I am very conservative on this, as in better to wait it out and do nothing. But you are not here to read about doing nothing. How does the sword of the magician appear? Physically it is a remarkable blade that can take a few different shapes and forms, that shape and form appearing with flashing colors and sigils of red and green, directing the forces of Mars and war, an embodiment of the will of the magician directed by imagination. Would you agree it is the least used tool of the magician, but if dra...

Are you an alchemist? It was a curious question out of nowhere, and at first I wasn’t sure of how to respond. I was paused on reflecting just what alchemy was in general, and of course what that flavor would be like from a Golden Dawn perspective. Strange things, synchronicities tend to happen around the Equinox, that time a few days to a week both before and after the auspicious date, as magicians we learn to be prepared for the opportunities that may present. I was returning some items to the library for a friend, a particular library out of my way and one that I never frequent as a framework for this telling, and after dropping off the books, a curious decision to peruse and check out what passes for the occult section in terms of books. I’m there but a few seconds and this person walks right up to me with an inquiry. Reflecting back after our conversation, which was pleasant enough, I suspect they were off to the side in the reading area of the library just waiting for so...

There once was a magician, a Magister of the Light (magi) who was forced to flee a city in ruin as it collapsed all around him.   Taking the Philosopher’s Stone with him, he planned to take it far away, somewhere out of the reach of society, to preserve it for those to come.   In the chaos of that dark night, a fragment of it broke off and fell to the ground burying itself in the dirt of the ruins.   Did the Magi notice?   Regarding that we will never know.   Sometime later a boy found the stone in the dirt, but did not know what to make of it. It was heavy like gold, yet ethereal at the same time.  Bright red-orange in color, an immediate feeling of something special that could not be described in words.   The boy put this curiosity on his bookshelf where it sat for many years.  He knew the stone was special, but there was always other pressing matters that prevented its inquiry as life got in the way.   Wh...

It was the first time I was meeting a *real* alchemist, real as in that was this individual’s primary focus through the G.D. tradition. It was a fantastic opportunity to both meet and get a G.D. perspective as both an alchemist and an adept in the tradition. The real opportunity was after the presentation in the temple, the group hosting the honored guest for dinner at a popular venue in the city. A chance to sit down and talk, but more importantly listen. Some time ago an adept-friend gave me some excellent advice regarding these situations, advice that has always worked out. When it comes time for sitting down for dinner, or sitting down regarding any such situation with an honored guest, always sit at the far end of the table, away from the honored guest. If you are meant to sit closer, the host or guest will make sure of it and you don’t risk overstepping your bounds, and if not, by sitting at the far end you will be able to hear all of the conversations at the table.   T...