Israel Regardie - The Complete Golden Dawn System of Magic.pdf

VOLUME ONE
A great deal of the above is legend. Many modern authorities insist that that is all it
is -- a legend. This runs counter to some of the more common pseudo-Rosicrucian
orders of today that claim an impossible antecedence for their own group. Be that as it
may, the legend itself gives evidence to the belief that there was a definite body of occult
knowledge in existence which could be and was communicated in an orderly manner.
A third factor that should never be overlooked, but which often is, relates to the
nature of the monasteries in Roman Catholic Europe. These were the primary centers of
learning in an otherwise ignorant world -- the Europe of those dark days. They kept alive
the learning of every kind then known, and passed it on faithfully to succeeding
generations. We know that many of the faithful studied and practiced both alchemy and
astrology. It is also known that the Qabalah of the Hebrews was also studied, even
though the motive exoterically seemed to be that it was a valuable tool with which to
convert the unhappy Jews to the joys and blessings of Christendom.
The Catholic Church, and also the Church of the Byzantium, has a glorious
history of great mystics, of men and women to whom the highest vocation called, the
quest for God. I here were teachers of mystical meditation and interior prayer in many of
the monasteries so that the proper preparation for such a high calling would not be lost.
They were of many persuasions, these teachers, and so were the mystics who came out of
these institutions. They have left their mark on the Church, despite its apparent
antagonism to mysticism as such, due to fear it might challenge the Church's demand for
conformity to fixed inherited dogma.
There is another most interesting set of circumstances too often glossed over or not
well understood. It relates to one of the most crucial and interesting periods of
European history. At one time, it must be recalled that the Arabs had invaded Europe
and had virtually conquered a part, if not all of Spain. They brought with them not
merely a victorious army, but Islamic culture as well. That included not solely
mathematics, though it is well to reflect on what this one item did to European
knowledge, but in addition the Greek classics and literature, from Aristotle on. Their
contribution included alchemy as well, astrology and the other occult arts. Above all it
brought Islamic mysticism, Sufiism. It flourished not merely in North Africa but in Spain
as well. From there it was carried by one means or another to all parts of Europe and to
every center of learning.
Simultaneously, Christian mysticism was flourishing in Spain and Europe, and
some great and wonderful people were active spreading mystical knowledge far and wide.
It was a period of rejuvenation and spiritual growth for Spain and for the Church as a
whole.
Furthermore, what must not be forgotten was that a favorable climate was also
being evolved for the wandering and exiled Jewish people to flourish in. They
contributed enormously to Spanish culture and scientific knowledge, and at the same
time a specific Hebraic mysticism was taking shape and form. This included some of
the pre-Zoharic literature, as well as some of the greatest names in Qabalistic history.
7