Cicero - Self Initiation into the Golden Dawn Tradition_Part 01

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SELF-INITIATION IN'IO 1HE GoLDEN DAWN TRAomON
end. Indolence can playa role here as well, for the work of an initiate is not easy
and requires much dedication and perseverance.
In deciding to write this book, we were faced with certain problems. How
does a person initiate him/her self into a current of magic that calls for a complex
ceremony performed by a team of competent initiators? How does someone who
is not yet a Neophyte satisfactorily perform a ritual that is traditionally executed
only by someone who holds the rank of Adept? It seemed like a Catch-22-an
impossible scenario. Our solution was to supply the barebones of the rituals and
provide step-by-step instruction in the necessary visualizations as they occur in
the ceremonies. We revised the rituals so that they could be performed by a solitary
individual. We also expanded and emphasized the role of the godform of
Thme (Meet or Maat) as the Introducer and Mediator between the candidate and
the other energies present during the initiation. It seemed only natural that the
aspiring student who is working alone and unaided should call upon the reconciling
attributions of Thme to assist in his/her climb up the mountain of initiation.
All advanced ritual gestures and techniques are carried out by the student only
under the authority and dispensation of the Higher Self, not under the lower will
or ego of the student. This is true of every initiation ceremony presented in this
book, from Neophyte through the Portal grade; all of them are based upon this
premise in order to circumvent, as much as possible, any tendency for ego-inflation
(a primary scourge of manyan unvigilant magician). Prior to any self-initiation,
a dialogue must be established between the student and the godform of
Thme in order to set up a conscious link between the candidate (as the Lower Personality)
and the goddess of Truth (as the Higher Self). Aseries of meditations for
establishing this communication is given at the end of this introduction.
In designing these rituals we have tried as much as possible to give the
student an initiatory experience that is as complete and fulfilling as any bestowed
by an initiating team. We have chosen to retain certain long speeches in the Elemental
grade ceremonies, due to the fact that reading them aloud insures that the
student will focus on them and not simply skim over them.
One of the things that Israel Regardie was adamant about was that the
occult student should seek out a course of psychotherapy as a safeguard against
inflation of the ego and other problems that might possibly crop up as a result of
the increased activation of the psyche through magical training. We also hold this
view, but have found that it is not always possible for students to find a good therapist
who is sympathetic to the magical arts. The solitary student is particularly at
a disadvantage here, not having a group of temple-mates to consult if problems
arise. Therefore we have liberally selected several good psychology books for suggested
reading in each grade of this course.
• We have already stated that magic is a spiritual science. The curriculum of
the Golden Dawn represents, if you will, the academic program of one of the
mostly highly acclaimed universities of that science. Bythe time a student reaches
the end of the Portal grade in this course, s/he will have committed to memory
the basics of Qabalah, Astrology, and spiritual Alchemy. The student will also
know how to construct a natal or horary Astrology chart, perform divination by