April 26, 2004

The Essential Golden Dawn: An Introduction to High Magic
By Chic Cicero and Sandra Tabatha Cicero
Publisher: Llewellyn Publications (March, 2003)
Pages: 456 - Price: $16.95

Review by Lee Prosser - leep@ghostvillage.com
Ghostvillage.com review

The reason this review covers two separate books together is because they go together like a horse and carriage, each one complimenting the other in wholeness and depth. This reviewer decided the brilliance of both books, by the same authors, deserves a joint review for the enjoyment of the readers at Ghostvillage.com.

In The Essential Golden Dawn, the authors take great amounts of detail and information then present it in such an educational manner that the reader has no doubt as to what the Golden Dawn was, is, the minds behind its founding, and the secrets the Golden Dawn offers to those who are interested in it. The magick, mysticism, and teachings of the Golden Dawn are completely revealed for the beginner. You will learn about Hermetism, Christianity and Hermetism, Hermes Trismegistus, the founders of the Golden Dawn including such figures as Yeats and Waite, the Ciper Manuscript, Magic and religion, the ancient origins of Western magic, high magic, grades and officers, chiefs, the three degrees, the Outer Order grades, the first degree, the Portal, the second degree, the inner order, the third degree, the third order, the Qabalistic Cross, prayers and invocations, Qabalah, astrology, divination, alchemy, skrying and astral work, and Enochian magic, among other detailed topics. There is also included a Golden Dawn timeline and bibliography.

Click here to buy this book now.


Self-Initiation into the Golden Dawn Tradition: A Complete Curriculum of Study for Both the Solitary Magician and the Working Magical Group
By Chic Cicero and Sandra Tabatha Cicero
Publisher: Llewellyn Publications (June, 1995)
Pages: 784 - Price: $34.95

Review by Lee Prosser - leep@ghostvillage.com
Ghostvillage.com review

In Self-Initiation into the Golden Dawn Tradition, the reader is given a complete curriculum of study which applies to the solitary magician as well as the working magical group. There are six chapters in this fine book, each chapter usually covering over a hundred pages of documentation. The grades are examined and explained in detail, and all secrets are revealed to the individual who seeks to walk the pathways of the Golden Dawn. The illustrations and reference charts are helpful, and educational. The Ritual of the Rose Cross, and the secret and sacred names of God are covered in detail. This book will awaken minds to one of the greatest Western magic traditions ever created, illustrating and explaining the beauty of a system designed to awaken the reader to a world that awaits him or her.

It is this reviewer's suggestion for those who are interested in what the Golden Dawn has to offer, and share, to purchase these two books together and read them. A second suggestion is that these books be ordered and placed in Public Library use by an Order Librarian. Both books will dispel any and all myths that have grown up over the past one-hundred years concerning the Golden Dawn, and both books will give the reader an honest and straight-forward approach to the Golden Dawn. Highly recommended.

Resource articles about the Golden Dawn and Arthur Edward Waite can be found at the Ghostvillage.com website for further reading. The resource article on the Golden Dawn will give additional information for Golden Dawn website links.

Click here to buy this book now.