Customer Reviews

The Essential Golden Dawn: An Introduction to High Magic

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

The Golden Dawn's magkical system is probably the most famous of all Western esoteric traditions. This simple, down-to-earth book explains what it is, its history, how it works and it offers the reader an introduction to the basic ritual work.

It investigates the sources of the Western tradition and the roots of Hermeticism. The authors' account of the history of the Order of the Golden Dawn and its colourful founders is very thorough and makes for engaging reading.

The book clearly illustrates the principles and philosophies of high magick and explains its laws in a straightforward manner. In addition, it covers all of the various areas of magkical knowledge and provides plenty of Golden Dawn rituals for the newcomer.

I also recommend Israel Regardie's Garden Of Pomegranates: Skrying On The Tree Of Life, edited and annotated by Chic Cicero and Sandra Tabatha Cicero. This is a classic work on the Qabalah for the more advanced student.

As an alternative to the Golden Dawn tradition, I recommend the book Foundations Of High Magick by Melita Denning and Osborne Phillips. This is the best work explaining the theory and practice of Art Magick, the venerable Ogdoadic tradition which differs markedly from the Golden Dawn.

The Essential Golden Dawn contains several appendices, a glossary of terms, an extensive bibliography and a thorough index.

Be careful! I bought this book with the misunderstanding it covered Golden Dawn magick. It does not. It does have a eleven page chapter on rituals that you don't need because you could find the same ones using a web search. BUT, it is an excellent history book about the Golden Dawn organization. So if you are looking for background and history I recommend this one. If you are interested in practical magick look elsewhere.

As a Witch for 6 years and a Pagan Priest of British Witchcraft, I recommend this book highly to anyone who is seeking to honestly learn about the Golden Dawn magical system. In all honesty, I have not known too much about the GD aside from basic ritualism, and this book sheds much historical and well-researched information on the path. I respect the authors, especially Sandra (incredible energy and radiant aura), as I had the honour to meet them both at Orlando's INATS (International New Age Trade Show)--I was proud to be the first in line for their book signing. They are great and knowledgeful and I recommend this book highly. Salutations,
~Colin/OakRaven~

"The Golden Dawn" is one of the most respected systems of magic in the world: over a century old, it has its roots in long-reaching traditions. The Essential Golden Dawn is a beginner's guide geared for newcomers to Golden Dawn. The Essential Golden Dawn is written by experts on the topic and explores both the history and the spirituality of this tradition, explaining ideas of magic and magical philosophy and exploring the teachings and basics of the Golden Dawn belief system. An outstanding introduction.

Another classic work from the authors who brought you the now world famous masterpiece "Self-initiation into the Golden Dawn Tradition" and "Secrets of a Golden Dawn Temple", - the most famous students and living successors to the late, great Israel Regardie (editor of the famous "The Complete Golden Dawn System of Magic" and author of the now classic "The Middle Pillar" and "The Tree of Life"). The Ciceros are also the creators of what is arguably the only true-to-the-tradition Golden Dawn Tarot deck ("The Golden Dawn Magical Tarot").Once again, the Ciceros come up trumps with this new masterpiece, a work which contains everything you would possibly wish to know about the Golden Dawn: it's history, its Rituals, the purpose of Initiation, the dangers of ego on the Path, the much misunderstood question of lineage, are all covered extensively in its 360 pages of untimely, hermetic wisdom. ........ It is a scholarly exposition of a living tradition, written by High Adepts and Chiefs of an existing legitimate and prestigious Golden Dawn Order....Personally, as a long-time student of the Golden Dawn Tradition, I could not recommend this book high enough.

Having just finished this book I found it to be a very introductory thesis on the Golden Dawn. It left me wanting.

The background on Hermeticism, the first part of the book, is the best part. It's a consise overview of the Western Mystical Tradition.

The history of the GD was brief and painless but not new or enlightening.

The overview of the work of the GD covers only the introductory grades and is brief. If you're at all familiar with the subject, you'll find it to be a dull retelling of what so many other authors have already revealed.

All told the book does what it set out to do - give a boiled down explanation of this influential group. But it looks at it from so many angles, so briefly, that it can only offer the most superficial treatment of each part. This translates into a very superficial appreciation for the GD.

Readers with any familiarity with the subject will be dissapointed. Readers without any foreknowledge may wonder what's the point.

This book is ideal for those curious about or interested in the Golden Dawn. It gives you a general idea of what the Golden Dawn encompasses, helping you decide if this path is for you. It is easy to comprehend but at the same time more extensive in the history of magic than I expected. It gives honest insight to the history of the Golden Dawn and the pioneers who despite their flaws started one of the greatest mystery schools to touch so many, on so many different levels.

This was a very informative book. I've been interested in the Golden Dawn's teachings for some time but wasn't quite ready to pursue the initiation and further teachings. This book answered many questions that I had concerning magick, the Golden Dawn, teachings, initiation, psychology, and other related subjects.
If you are truly interested in solid information about the Golden Dawn, this book will not disappoint.

I have almost everything in print on the Golden Dawn and I found this book to be an excellent introduction. For those who want to find out what the Golden Dawn system is all about, this is the book for you! While the excellent books by Israel Regardie contain all the Grade Materials, they really don't give a beginner a good place to start. This book does. When you finish reading this one, you will have a pretty good idea if this system is for you.

A brilliant introduction to the Golden Dawn for this reader. Very well wriiten and full of what I would say is some very valuable information for those, like me, who are looking into high magic and preparing for a more disciplined education in spirituality. Many, if not all, of the concepts I have either long believed or felt on an intuitive level. I've just ordered the book by Israel Regardie and the self initiation book by the Cicero's after reading the "Essential Golden Dawn".