On the 18th of January 1902, readers in distant New Zealand opened their morning paper to a London report headlined, “The Sentence in the Horos Case.” The article detailed the conviction of Theodore and Laura Jackson—self-styled initiates who had masqueraded as members of the Golden Dawn, defrauded their followers, and brought public disgrace upon theContinue reading “Counterfeiting the Mysteries”
Category Archives: (a) Candidate
Legitimacy and Lineage in the Golden Dawn
Much has been written and argued about the “legitimacy” or “lineage” of modern Golden Dawn temples. The subject is often presented as if there were a single, unbroken line back to 1888, which one can simply trace and thereby claim authority. The reality is far more nuanced. The Golden Dawn fractured in 1900, just 12Continue reading “Legitimacy and Lineage in the Golden Dawn”
The Magic of the Order
The need to join a healthy, functioning Temple, so that you are exposed to the transformative magic of the Order, is the most important thing to take away from this discourse. The Order has always used group ceremonial for a reason. It might take many years to find such a Temple, for all sorts ofContinue reading “The Magic of the Order”
The Candidate’s Regalia
Prior to their Initiation, each Candidate for the Grade of Neophyte 0=0 is required to procure a pair of red footwear and a black robe, to be worn over street clothes during their ceremony. Of these, the red footwear is usually the harder to obtain, for men particularly. At a pinch, a pair of redContinue reading “The Candidate’s Regalia”
What’s in a Name?
Traditionally, when a Candidate applies for membership of the O., they fill in a Pledge Form a few weeks before their Initiation, which includes their proposed Motto, or magical name as some like to call it. This Motto is then reviewed by one or all of the Chiefs, who give their consent for the CandidateContinue reading “What’s in a Name?”
The Magic of Havelock North
In 1916 a new constitution was issued to the Stella Matutina, and the Order’s Chiefs immigrated to New Zealand, settling in the pastoral village of Havelock North, in the Provincial District of Hawke’s Bay on the central East Coast of the North Island. The village lay on the gentle west facing foothills below the locallyContinue reading “The Magic of Havelock North”
Whare Ra Closure Letter to Members
I rembember Fiat Lux telling me how shocked he was to receive this letter, even though it had been a handful of years since he last attended any Ceremonies – he withdrew earlier when it became obvious (to him) that the the ship was adrift. There seemed to have been several reasons that finally ledContinue reading “Whare Ra Closure Letter to Members”
Seven Virtues of the Ideal Candidate
1. WELL GROUNDED – the Candidate is in a lasting relationship, has a grown family, has a stable career, owns their own property, actively engages in “normal” society, is free of excesses. 2. SPIRITUALLY INQUISITIVE – the Candidate is seeking for something beyond the material, is looking for a spiritual path, has an inner urge,Continue reading “Seven Virtues of the Ideal Candidate”
Frank Salt a.k.a. Fiat Lux
Frank Salt was initiated into the S.T. Temple in 1936, and eventually rose to the Grade of Exempt Adept, 7=4. As well as performing the duties of Hierophant and Chief Adept, he was also briefly Cancellarius, and then Demonstrator (Praemonstrator) for many years. After the closure of the S.T. in 1978, Fiat Lux contacted variousContinue reading “Frank Salt a.k.a. Fiat Lux”
