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HERMETIC SOCIETY OF THE GOLDEN DAWN
RA HORAKHTY TEMPLE
The Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn, a magical order which began
in England in 1888, was the most famous and influential of the
modern era. It successfully integrated various branches of the
Western Mystery Tradition into a workable system of enlightenment.
Its goal was to help each member to "become more than human", to
contact and live under the guidance of the higher self. Some of the
areas of study included ritual magic, tarot, Egyptian god-forms,
Enochian magic, Kabala, and Astrology. Among the original Golden
Dawn members were MacGregor Mathers, W.B.Yates, Aleister Crowley,
A.E.Waite, Dion Fortune, Dr. R.W. Felkin, Arthur Machen, Paul Foster
Case, and Dr. Israel Regardie. Regardie, who died in 1985, was the
last great representative of the original Order.
To achieve this attainment the Golden Dawn brought the aspirant
through a calculated series of techniques, experiences or mental
exercises. These exercises brought about progressively higher
states of consciousness. Initiation occurs when a person passes
into a higher state of consciousness. As Israel Regardie said,
"Initiation is the preparation for immortality. Man is only
potentially immortal. Immortality is acquired when the purely human
part of himself becomes allied to that spiritual essence which was
never created, was never born, and shall never die. It is to effect
this spiritual bond with the highest that the Golden Dawn owes its
ritual and practical magical work.
The Ra Horakhty Temple of California was chartered in 1985 by
Patrick and Chris Zalewski, 7=4 Adepts and co-chiefs of the Thoth
Hermes Temple of New Zealand. The following chart describes the
succession back to Mathers' original Golden Dawn temple in England.
ISIS URANIA:MacGregor Mathers,England,1888
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STELLA MATUTINA:Dr.R.W.Felkin,England,1900
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WHARE RA:Dr. Felkin,New Zealand,1912-1978
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THOTH HERMES:Patrick Zalewski,New Zealand,1980-Present
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RA HORAKHTY:Laura Jennings/Peter Yorke,Santa Monica,California 1985
Our temple is greatly honored to be working directly with Thoth
Hermes Temple as a conduit for the passage of material from the New
Zealand temples and from the Stella Matutina. Together we hope to
bring both the Outer and Inner Order information to people
throughout the world by teaching and publication.
690
TEMPLE DUES: $200.00 annually
TEMPLE INITIATION: $50.00
TEMPLE MEMBERSHIP includes:
Temple ritual once a month.
Neophyte and Elemental Grade Curriculums with guidance and direction
Attendance at Temple business meetings and other Temple events.
Initiation:Neophyte, Elemental Grades, and Inner Order work.
Tests for each level.
Temple Membership for students outside the L.A area includes:
Temple initiations in L.A. upon completion of required Grade work.
Attendance at monthly Temple meetings when in the L.A. area.
Neophyte and Elemental Grade curriculum with guidance and direction
by correspondence.
The same test requirements as local members;written,oral and
performance of ritual.
Laura Jennings, co-Temple Chief of the Ra Horakhty Temple, has been
practicing and teaching metaphysics for the past 20 years. She
received an anthropology degree from UCLA(1975) and is presently
working to complete a Ph.D in archeology. For the past 10 years her
efforts have concentrated on the Golden Dawn System of Magic. Under
Dr.Regardie's direction she was a co-founder of two Golden Dawn
Temples in Southern California. Her book on the creation and
administration of GD temples will be published next year.
Peter Yorke, co-founder of both Temples,was also a student of Israel
Regardie. He has a degree in botany from Cal State Long Beach. He is
presently co-Chief of the Ra Horakhty Temple and director of
alchemical studies and research.
David Stoelk, administrator director of the Outer Order curriculum
for the society, received his Bachelor of Arts in history and
architecture from ISU. He is in charge of a magical newsletter which
promotes GD studies and networking.
FOR FURTHER INFO. WRITE
Laura Jennings
c/o Hermetic Society of the Golden Dawn
PO Box 5461
Santa Monica CA 90405
691
Next: Golden Dawn Training (outline)