Rating: 
Summary: 800+ pages of Regardie?!?!?!
Review: Anyone who has attempted to read a book from good 'ole Israel has surely noticed, it's not an easy read; so 800+ pages is enough to give the most sophisticated a tumor. This book is not at all practical to any student, unless s/he wants to start his or her own Golden Dawn temple. So, if you want a book on magick, I recommend something practical like: Bardon, Kraig, Greer, or many others.
Rating: 
Summary: Magick Made Easy
Review: As someone who didn't believe in Christianity most of my life, I took lessons from the Greek and Roman Gods. First, they were most likely myths meant to teach moral lessons, especially to young people. Second, who believes in the Greek and Roman gods anymore? And last, that was what their whole great society was based on, and it crumbled due to lesser leaders of each subsequent generation. Most things truly occult today, in the middle years of the first deacade of the millenium that are classified as such by true occultists such as myself, it's mostly Wicca. These are original, non Wiccan rituals though can be used by Wicca. The main reason for my lack of interest in Wicca was due to common frequency of it at majoe bookstores. It was for the masses interested in the occult. So then I tried satanism. They were a stuck up culture who got some exposure in the mainstream. They were not extreme enough for my tastes; it was softcore, mass produced "satanism." So then I tried Thelema. After initial morbid curiosity interest I recognized myself as a Thelemite and officially joined the lower ranks of its memberships and am recognized as "Brother Joe." Then I researched Aleister Crowley further and found out before Thelema he rose to the highest ranks of a really cool order called the Golden Dawn. I got books on the Golden Dawn and liked it. It was powerful, original stuff other than the massive flood of Wicca books currently on the market. Crowley and the Golden Dawn (and satanism) are on the market, too, but less common. You have to really look through a bookstore's entire section at least a couple times to stop a book by Crowley or the Golden Dawn and visit frequently. Included in this book are simple rituals someone who is serious about magick can due with ease. I will refer you to the very first ritual of the pentagram. From what I've seen the hardest part of become proficient in the occult is the excessive reading required and this book at a good 750 pages is hard reading, especially to finish it. It depends on how good a reader you are and how dedicated you are. If you like horror, Bram Stoker was most likely a member of the Golden Dawn. And if you like heavy metal music, Aleister Crowley was a high ranking member of the Golden Dawn. I would reccomend this book, as well as the Golden Dawn's Kabbalah and The Essential Golden Dawn if you are serious about this secret order. And out of all Golden Dawn material available to the public, this is the most crucial. A crash course in original magick theory and practice.
Rating:
Summary: The best reference...
Review: Excellent reference book about the outer order Stella Matutina,and the inner order R.R.et A.C.It describes all grade ceremonies with temple diagrams.Construction and consecration of magickal weapons..Geomancy,Tarot,Tattwas,Enochian..Rituals of pentagram,hexagram,rose cross,evocation,talisman consecration,invisibility,self-transformation,spiritual development,the Bornless.. If one book on the subject will be bought it should be this one.But as I mentioned above,this is a reference book rather than practicing.So not for the beginners seeking for self-initiation.For them,I recommend The Ciceros' "self-initiation into the G.D. tradition".Ciceros'is a complete course from neophyte to portal degree,but it has only the outer order's info. So,I suggest to buy both for the completeness.
Rating:
Summary: the edition to hold you, for now . . .
Review: I am suspicious of the consecutive editions of this work since Regardie's death. Llewellyn, occasionally useful publisher of worthy 'occult' volumes, seems to have let Chris Monnastre, or whoever, stick their fingers into this volume, and muddy up some of Regardie's original edition, with dubious revisions of the original material.Quite frankly, any reprinting of the Golden Dawn material should be left alone, if only for historical reasons. All over the internet, are versions' of the original Golden Dawn material, recklessly modified this way and that, leaving the sincere student to muddle with poorly documented material, free of Regardie's explanations, as well as free of access to the Golden Dawn material as Regardie knew it. To put it bluntly, I want the Golden Dawn material as Regardie originally knew, compiled, and explained it! Fortunately, I believe the Complete Golden Dawn System volume, although twice the price, or more, of this Llewellyn 'modified' reprint, is still available - and, I beleive, untouched and unmodified. ( Other material is added, but Regardie's work is apparently left untouched. Can you say 'respect?' I think the New Falcon Publishers can. I'm not so sure the Llewellyn Publishers can, however.) Still, this volume is likely to serve you well, as being closer to the original Golden Dawn material as gathered by Regardie, than unreliable and random ramblings through any dubious websites that offer up the same material. In the other, New Falcon edition, Regardie expands on the desirable recommended books he felt one should study along with the Golden Dawn material. However, useful recommended reads are also set forth in the Llewellyn edition. One can use these as a 'beginner's guide,' and acquire the 'New Falcon' edition later. You will need a guide through the occult maze, assuming you set out on it. Regardie provides that guidance. Certainly one should acquire Regardie's 'Tree of Life' volume (even if it's the Cicero's!) It is in 'The Tree of Life' that Regardie provides the understanding necessary to appreciate the spirit of both the Golden Dawn and the much maligned, yet worthy, Mr. Crowley material. Having done that, one can add 'Gems from the Equinox' to one's bookshelf, the second major important volume to study along with 'The Golden Dawn,' even in the edition set forth by Llewellyn. Truly, we shall not be setting in gear with Golden Dawn or Regardie to much of anyone's benefit, until more of Regardie's material is reprinted ( and I might add, the magic books of W. E. Butler.) It is in Regardie's various books that guidance is also provided, as well as his recommended readings in various authors, not completely discussed elsewhere. Enough of this 'word to the wise.' If you have a nose for the best, you will not be distracted by lesser 'occultarians.' and Regardie will appear to be the 'man to go with.' I especially enjoyed having my Llewellyn Golden Dawn (before anyone started to 'revise' it) as I originally started on this road, to augment my work with the 'middle pillar ritual' (see Regardie's 'Art of True healing.') Benefits accrued, as Regardie would say. And they continue to. Proceed cautiously, but proceed. And don't fall for the 'glitter kids' of the occult scene, before spending some time reading and contemplating Regardie's efforts, and learning to understand and practice them. Complete comprehension will gradually arise, all in good time. As Regardie says in an essay currently out-of-print, though accessible on the internet, ' The benefits are such as to make this effort extremely worthwhile.' Get your currently preferred edition (Llewellyn's is smaller than New Falcon's) of the Golden Dawn material. Start studying a few pages a day. And practice the Middle Pillar ritual every day, as you will find Regardie recommends in his books. It is a 'sine qua non' of magical practice as Regardie sees it, and practically the entire central essence of his conception of the Golden Dawn.
Rating:
Summary: Out Right Confusing!!!
Review: I bought this book recently, having had my interest piqued by dipping into the Harry Potter series that my youngest son Derek so admires. I can certainly understand the appeal of playing Quidditch (though the rules remain as impenetrable to me as American Football - sorry US friends!) and of flying and so on. However, Israel Regardie et al seem to be so into the arcane "Ceremonial Magick" esoterica that they miss the things that the common man like me would welcome - to wit, most of the tricks in the film "Matilda" and showing off at dinner parties. Being honest, this didn't even help me improve my sleight of hand. A real disappointment.
Rating:
Summary: I still don't see how David Blaine does it ...
Review: I bought this book recently, having had my interest piqued by dipping into the Harry Potter series that my youngest son Derek so admires. I can certainly understand the appeal of playing Quidditch (though the rules remain as impenetrable to me as American Football - sorry US friends!) and of flying and so on. However, Israel Regardie et al seem to be so into the arcane "Ceremonial Magick" esoterica that they miss the things that the common man like me would welcome - to wit, most of the tricks in the film "Matilda" and showing off at dinner parties. Being honest, this didn't even help me improve my sleight of hand. A real disappointment.
Rating: 
Summary: Good but complicated
Review: I picked up the golden dawn knowing somewhat of what cermonial magick is but, no real previous knoweldge of it or the hermetic order etc, looking back i wish i had read some of the other books mentioned before i started on this one. (which i plan to do when i finish with this). I myself do have pervious knowledge in magick so it is not like i am starting out of no where but, most of the material in this just flew right passed my head and made it spin 9000 miles an hour. This book does appear to be loaded with good information and i'd hope so for paying 30 bucks or so for a 700 page book but, If you are just starting out this book will just make ur head spin round and round
Rating: 
Summary: Indispensible Reference
Review: I purchased this book a few years ago and found it to be terribly cumbersome. Don't get me wrong, this is a must own for any Kabbalist or one interested in High Magick. I consider it to be the best reference for the historical Golden Dawn, and I am generally pleased with it today.
However, for the solitary practitioner with no ties to an Hermetic Temple of any kind, Regardie's book is too much, too soon. I would reccomend before purchasing this book, you read the Tree of Life, A Garden of Pomegranates, and even the Cicero's Self-Initiation into the Golden Dawn Tradition. The first two books give an excellent background on ceremonial magic and the Kabbalah, and the third is a more easily workable exposition of the Golden Dawn. After going through these works, one can understand the much of the content of The Golden Dawn as never before.
Rating:
Summary: a great magickal text
Review: I read this book and am very impressed with the contents. It has everything that a magician could want. It makes somewhat difficult reading at times but it can be gotten through. It offers a complete system of magick;enochian tablets and chess, how to consecrate ritual tools, scrying. It's all here. What made an impression on me, is Regardies claim that magicians try to attain Godhead as the buddhists do. Magicians do it through ritual, buddhists do it through meditation. This book is definetly required reading for the magician.
Rating:
Summary: Incredible, if used correctly
Review: I would highly, HIGHLY, recommend not reading this book cover to cover, at least not at first. The occult world utilizes secrecy for a reason. The reason? Otherwise the student will be overwhelmed by the inrush of new knowledge. The student may progress to the next level only when his or her Order Superior can determine that the student has mastered the small degree of knowledge he or she has learned. Otherwise, they will be completely bowled over by the immensity of the distance to the ultimate goal. Take the first small sections as they come. Practice them. Until you are quite honestly certain that you are PERFECT at this section, resist the temptation to look ahead. You'll come to it when it's appropriate. In the meantime, though, take it slow and patiently. Master the individual sections before proceeding, and you'll do well.
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