Layers of a Godform

One of the ideas that has influenced the material of the BIOGD/BIORC is the idea that the Godforms are constructed from many layers. The Godform of Isis is not the goddess Isis (Ancient Egyptian version or otherwise), rather it is a set of correspondences and energies layered upon one another that allows the Adept to tap into the energies of the cosmic pool that Isis is the guardian of without having to be a devotee of the goddess herself. This is why a Christian RR et AC member can tap into the energies of Osiris and Isis and still be a good Christian, and a pagan can invoke Jesus without having to abandon their gods and goddesses. Needless to say, there are some who consider this a debasement of the truth of "fill in the blank" religion, and an attempt to enslave some aspect of the divine in service of a falsehood--those people are not welcome in the Halls of the Initiates.

The member who introduced the idea of Godform layers into the BIORC was a member of a course ran by Samuel Robinson (Frater Maui), and later advanced to the 6=5 level of Pat Zalewski's Inner Order Course--the idea of Godform layers were part of the BIORC by 2008 (perhaps earlier--bad record keeping abounds in the unindexed stacks). The idea was lifted from Robinson's course, and was a scaffold for organizing material from Zaleweski's course--it was also a way to organize the study of the energetics of the Grade rituals of the Golden Dawn system.

This system of Godform layers was published by Samuel Robinson a couple of years ago in his book, Rosicrucian Tradition of the Golden Dawn: Revealing the Alchemy and Theurgy of the RR et AC. The layers as published by Robinson are slightly different than the version introduced originally into the BIORC system, which took the form of a seven layered system--the two versions are essentially the same, just broke down slightly different. BIORC has decided to use the published version in public, and the original seven layer version in private (which is why members of the BIORC refer to "Seven Layers" rather than six and/or ten layers that the published version has, and the number 67810 actually means something to an Adept of the BIORC).

[The following is written from notes jotted down awhile back during a borrowed reading of Rosicrucian Tradition of the GD, and not directly from the book itself, therefore it differs slightly (or maybe a lot) from what Robinson wrote in his book.]

The first layer is the Guph (Malkuth) of the Godform--this is the physical location of the Godform and its seat of operations in ritual. Golden Dawn tradition refers to those Godforms which are centered on and travel with a ritual officer as having a "Visible Stations." Stationary Godforms anchored to a part of the Temple and/or Admission Badge are said to have an "Invisible Station." There are also a set of Godforms that move during ritual without anchorage to an officer; depending upon whether the Godform's path is mappable or not, these Godforms are said to be "Circuited" or "Free-floating."

The second layer is the Nepesch (Yesod) of the Godform--this corresponds to the Enochian Square assigned to the Godform. This layer tends to operate instinctive, below the level of consciousness, which is one of the reasons that the BIORC does not consider the Enochian Tablets to reach above the world of the elements and planets (in other words, the Enochian system is not considered by the BIORC to be the most advanced magical energies contained in the GD system).

The third layer is the Ruach of the Godform--the conscious deity aspect of the Godform, a form of astral body. With Egyptian based Godforms, Hod is associated with the Coptic Name of the god or goddess that the Godform is based on. With the pseudo-Egyptian Godforms, the name is bastardized Coptic. Godforms based on other "pantheons" [sic] are based on the native languages of their respective cultures. The mythology of the god is assigned to Netzach; the parts of the mythology that do not support its Golden Dawn Godform counterpart are generally discarded. Tiphareth, Geburah, and Chesed are assigned the image and coloring of the Godform--every tool, symbol, and color are placed in the built-up image for a reason.

The fourth layer is the Neschamah of the Godform; this layer is assigned to Binah on the Tree of Life. This layer is associated with the Vault of the Adepts; in particular, each Godform is associated with a corresponding square from one of the walls of the Vault of the Adepti.

The fifth layer is the Chiah of the Godform, its Chokmah. This layer consists of the astrological, archetypal forces behind the Godform, as well as the associated Tarot card as described in the Golden Dawn documents.

The sixth layer is the Yechidah of the Godform, its Kether. According to the published work of Robinson, this layer is the Divine Name from the Hebrew Kabbalah that rules the preceding layer. This is the layer that most upsets the most vocal critics of this method of Godform creation and analysis, for they view it as an attempt to enslave a portion of a true divine entity to a falsehood--of course, by their standards, all members of the GD are heretics, even the most devout.

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.

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.

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.