Wednesday, October 3, 2012

Why heart centre in the GD Kabbalistic Cross (physical layer)



Here is a short video clip of one of the reasons that Golden Dawn uses the heart centre in its version of the Kabbalistic Cross (instead of the downwards pointing base centre Thelemic version).

[This is a test video to help determine whether or not I want to do a series of videos on the behalf of the BIORC and myself.]

Tuesday, September 11, 2012

Free for today only

Shakespeare's Monkey
Morgan Drake Eckstein here--web master for the BIORC--as some of you may know, I am also a writer of fiction, hence this bit of shameless self-promotion.

Today (well technically until Friday September 14, 2012), you can get a free copy of my ebook Shakespeare's Monkey when you enter coupon code EX49A at the checkout. Why free today? Well, one of the stories contained in this volume was based on 9/11--apologizes to the dozen people that I blended together to create the characters (it was creative license)--and today is as good of a day to share that piece of fiction as any other.

Tuesday, July 10, 2012

One godform per ritual (godform advice)

One of the things that was covered in the Inner (Second) Order--Adept Minor training that I recieved was the use of godforms. All three programs that I was officially a member of (as well as material from courses that I never officially a member of) included some teaching about the subject of godforms...though it should be noted that often the schools disagreed with one another. What follows is my official stance that I inflict on those who I train.

As an Adept Minor, every ritual that one performs should be performed while utilizing godforms. The magician, operating alone, should use the godform that is closest to the overall energy or purpose of the ritual that one is performing. While the magician, operating alone, can utilize several godforms--only the most appropriate godform for the purpose of the overall ritual should be used as the visible mobile center (visible station) that the magician occupies; the other godforms being utilized passively in the form of invisible stations.

One teacher, GH Frater OY, when questioned about the one godform per ritual rule stated that he felt that utilizing several active godforms, with the magician switching between them during the course of the ritual, could led to mental instability. His proof was the mental state of one of his former students, who had often used multiple godforms ("wearing them") during the course of a single ritual.

Now, the student will note that during the initiation rituals of Golden Dawn and the RR et AC that the chief officer switches godforms during the course of a single lodge ritual. The reason that this can be done in a lodge setting is the fact that the chief officer (for instance, the Hierophant in the Outer Order rituals) is not operating alone; they have a support network to help them switch between the various godforms as the ritual progresses. This is a luxury that the solitary magician does not have.

And while it is possible for the advanced Adept to rapidly switch between several godforms during the space of a ritual, it is not advisible for a magical newbie to do so. Stick to the one godform per ritual rule until one gains sufficient experience with the use of godforms.

Thursday, June 28, 2012

What is an open post?

Occasionally, you will see a post on this blog labeled an "open post." What this means is that it is a post that is subject to revision for one reason or another. Typically, these posts will be lists of sources that are being used for a large ongoing project. They can also be posts that need to be revised as new information is presented and/or discovered and/or disclosed. An open post is "open" because of the nature of the subject matter is not set in stone upon the first draft. All open posts will include a note about their last revision date unless they are the original draft.

Thursday, June 21, 2012

Thanks for 30 years of service to the Golden Dawn

The Golden Dawn community thanks the Ciceros for 30 years of service to the Golden Dawn tradition.
June 24th marks the 30th anniversary of the 1982 consecration by Israel Regardie of a Vault of the Adepti in Columbus, Georgia. Regardie also presided over the initation of two Adept Minors during that same week. This Vault was built by Chic and Tabitha Cicero. This event marks both the rebirth of Golden Dawn in the United States and the start of Inner Order service by the Ciceros to the greater Golden Dawn community.

(Overseas, during the same year, Pat and Chris Zalewski re-establish a branch of the Golden Dawn in New Zealand. For this reason, many of us consider 1982 to be the birth year of the current Golden Dawn community--Golden Dawn having fallen into disuse in the decades previous to this.)

For the curious, a Vault of the Adepti is necessary for initiations into the Adept Grades of the Golden Dawn (RR et AC) Second (Inner) Order. Without it, the system can only be performed up to the Grade of Portal. It is basically a seven sided chamber with multicolored walls, which can best be described as a "magical nuclear reactor."

The Ba Iset Order of the Rosy Cross (Golden Dawn in the Outer) would like to extend thanks to the Ciceros, and to the memory of Israel Regardie, on this 30th anniversary. May LVX continue to shine on our noble tradition.

Tuesday, June 12, 2012

Gateways to the Sephiroth


The Grades of the Golden Dawn system as arranged on the natural array of the Tree of Life.
[Warning: The following is an extension of the kabbalah found in the Golden Dawn and AA systems; it is not part of traditional orthodox kabbalah. In fact, it is not even traditional kabbalah as far as the Golden Dawn or AA is concerned. The ideas in this post are being presented as food for thought and not as gospel. Ye have been warned.]

One of the changes that Golden Dawn, and later offshoots such as the AA, makes to the traditional kabbalah is to associate each of the sephiroth to a Grade of the esoteric system. While there is some difference in the names and tasks of the Grades, the Golden Dawn and the AA can (in base form) be considered to use the same Grade system.

In addition to the ten Grades that fit neatly (in terms of diagramming) in the ten sephiroth, the Golden Dawn system has several Grades that are not properly associated with a sephirah. Instead, these Grades are associated with "gateways" to the proper sephiroth.

The first of these Grades that do not fit neatly in a sephirah is the very first Grade that a member of the Golden Dawn system experiences, the Grade of Neophyte (0=0). This Grade is associated with the edge of the sephirah Malkuth, or Petach Sha'ar "Gateway of the Gate."

The second of the Grades to fall outside of a sephirah proper is Portal which is said to be the gateway to the Grade of Adept Minor (5=6). The Grade of Portal is associated with Kenisa Sadna "Entrance to the Workshop" which is like the porchway to the sephirah Tiphareth.

The third and final Grade that is not assigned to a true sephirah is the Grade of Babe of the Abyss. This Grade is used more in Thelemic circles than in Golden Dawn, but there are some Golden Dawn Orders that do contain a ritual and course work for this Grade. Babe of the Abyss is associated with Da'ath, a pseudo-sephirah that is a combination of the symbolism and energies of the Supernals.

These three Grades, as well as their gateways, have several things in common. Each of the three Grades are probationary Grades for their respective Orders (Neophyte--Outer Order of the Golden Dawn; Portal--Inner Order of the RR et AC; Babe of the Abyss--The Third Order of the AA). Each of these Grades lay on the Middle Pillar of the Tree of Life. And each of the Grades, as well as their gateway, have symbolism related to, but not completely matching the symbolism of the Grade and sephirah that it leads into.

From the viewpoint of traditional orthodox kabbalah, only Da'ath is considered even remotely to be a real place; yet the Golden Dawn and AA use of these symbols make them real places and rest stops for students undergoing the initations of the Western Mystery Tradition.

Thursday, May 17, 2012

Welcome

The BIOGD/BIORC was formed in 1998 under the original name EOEW. In 2000, a major shift in focus occurred with the formation of Bast Temple. In 2004, in light of the ongoing Golden Dawn trademark dispute, it was decided to use the names BIOGD and BIORC to differentiate the group from the two parties using the name "Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn."

The BIORC combines several esoteric streams in its system. The principal stream is a variation of the tradition commonly known as Golden Dawn. The BIORC Golden Dawn variation is primarily based on the published Golden Dawn material, supplimented by some unpublished information from an oral tradition of a previous lineage.

In 2000, during the formation of Bast Temple, it was decided to declare the system a new lineage, despite the fact that its founder has been a member of several previous esoteric groups. As such, the BIORC only answers to its founder and its current membership. This decision mirrors a decision that was taken during the initial days of the EOEW.

Our place and role in the ongoing trademark dispute is not self-chosen, rather the membership of one side declared that we were an enemy supporting the opposite side. The BIORC would have preferred to be a neutral party to the ongoing conflict, but circumstances dictated otherwise. Being cast as an enemy of the one side essentially made us an enemy of that side, and so it goes.

While the BIORC acknowledges the possibility of the existence of Secret Chiefs/Third Order, its bylaws state that statements by any physical person or astral (spiritual) entity claiming to be a Secret Chief or their representative will be viewed as suggestions only. In the past, claims of contact with Secret Chiefs/Third Order has been used to disguise and justify bad decisions and behaviors by occult leaders; this is an ongoing problem. Because of the potential for abuse, the BIORC will never allow itself to be ruled by anyone whose sole claim to authority lays in their contact with Secret Chiefs/Third Order whether that contact is physical or astral. 

The BIORC believes that the Golden Dawn system developed from the "bottom up." Furthermore, it believes that each member can become an expert in a speciality and contribute additional knowledge and experience to the whole.

The BIORC does not believe in the use of absolute secrecy, believing that the only way to truly insure the mysteries is to reveal sufficient information to the public. The use of secrecy by the BIORC is to primarily protect its membership.

This blog is maintained by the BIORC to provide information to the public about its lore and operations.