"That none of them should profess any other thing
 than to cure the sick, and that gratis."
–The First Rule of a Rosicrucian,
Fama Fraternitatis
 

Do you aspire to be a Rosicrucian?

Then help someone today with the charity of your choice:
Doctors Without Borders • American Red Cross • CARE • Direct Relief International • UNICEF
• International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent • Network for Good
• Habitat for Humanity International • Save the Children • World Food Programme (UN)

The Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn® (H.O.G.D.) is a non-profit Florida organization incorporated in 1988 by Charles "Chic" Cicero. The stated goal of the corporation is educational, spiritual, and philosophical. The primary goal of of the organization  is the continued preservation of that body of knowledge known as Hermeticism or the Western Esoteric Tradition. This organization promotes the teachings of the original Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn, a magical fraternity founded in London in 1888 by Dr. William Wynn Westcott and Samuel Liddell MacGregor Mathers, which ceased to exist under that name in 1903 but which continued for a number of years under the names of two spin-off organizations, the Stella Matutina and the Alpha et Omega.

The Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn (H.O.G.D.) is also the name of a magical Order founded in 1977 in Columbus, Georgia. This Order's mentor and guiding light was the late Dr. Israel Regardie. The modern-day Order does not claim institutional lineage to the original H.O.G.D., but it does claim initiatory lineage to the original Order through Israel Regardie. The modern Order follows the traditional hierarchical structure of the original Golden Dawn Order in England with a ruling triad of Officers known as the "G.H. Chiefs" who govern both the First or Outer Order as well as the Second or Inner Order (known as the Ordo Rosae Rubeae et Aureae Crucis or the RR et AC). The modern Order also follows the traditional teachings, grade structure, and ethos of the original Order. Temple officers are known as Temple Chiefs. Although it currently has a worldwide membership with temples in several countries, the Order is rather private and membership is by invitation only.

The Order and the corporation are related organizations, but they are not one and the same. However, both organizations are on friendly terms with several other Golden Dawn groups and other organizations in the wider esoteric community.

The Golden Dawn System

The Golden Dawn system of magic is not a religion, although religious imagery and spiritual concepts play an important role in its work. The Golden Dawn was designed by its founders to be an Hermetic Society dedicated to the philosophical, spiritual, and psychic evolution of humanity. It was also designed to be a school and a repository of knowledge, where students learned the principles of occult science and the various elements of western philosophy and magic. Tolerance for all religious beliefs was stressed, and symbolism used within the G:.D:. came from a variety of religious sources. Today, people from many diverse religious paths consider themselves practicing Golden Dawn magicians--including Neopagans, Gnostics, Jews, and Christians.

The Golden Dawn system of magic is designed to teach its students both abstract esoteric concepts as well as the more practical applications of ceremonial magic. Egyptian, Judeo-Christian, Greek, Gnostic, Rosicrucian, and Masonic elements can all be found within the teachings of the G:.D:. The curriculum includes the study of Qabalah, astrology, divination, inner alchemy, Egyptian magic, skrying, and Enochian magic.

This web page is not intended to be a vehicle for the recruitment of those individuals who are seeking initiation in a Golden Dawn Order or temple, but rather as a resource for all students and practitioners of the Western Esoteric Tradition. Periodic updates will include articles by various authorities in the larger esoteric community, and expanded versions of articles already posted.

Click here to find out how to link to our web page

What's New

1/20/08 - 2008 Golden Dawn Conference in London (celebrating the 120th Anniversary of the GD)

8/3/07 -  2007 Western Mysteries Conference

5/18/07- AVAILABLE: Basics of Magic: The Best of the Golden Dawn Journal

4/17/07- Golden Dawn Rosicrucian Workshop in Central England
2/27/07- Rosicrucian Magic Workshop in Toronto
2/12/07- Trademark News
1/29/06- More Letters from the HOGD Regardie Archives
 

Archived List of Updates