The Essential Golden Dawn: An Introduction to High Magic

Rating:
Summary: Informative
Review: "The Golden Dawn" is one of the most respected systems of magic in the world: over a century old, it has its roots in long-reaching traditions. The Essential Golden Dawn is a beginner's guide geared for newcomers to Golden Dawn. The Essential Golden Dawn is written by experts on the topic and explores both the history and the spirituality of this tradition, explaining ideas of magic and magical philosophy and exploring the teachings and basics of the Golden Dawn belief system. An outstanding introduction.

Rating:
Summary: Great book!!
Review: Another classic work from the authors who brought you the now world famous masterpiece "Self-initiation into the Golden Dawn Tradition" and "Secrets of a Golden Dawn Temple", - the most famous students and living successors to the late, great Israel Regardie, author of the awesome magnum opus: "The Complete Golden Dawn System of Magic" and "The Middle Pillar"

They are also the creators of what is arguably the only true-to-the-tradition Golden Dawn Tarot deck ("The Golden Dawn Magical Tarot").

Once again, the Ciceros come up trumps with this new masterpiece, a work which contains everything you would possibly wish to know about the Golden Dawn: it's history, its Rituals, the purpose of Initiation, the dangers of ego on the Path, the much misunderstood question of lineage, are all covered extensively in its 360 pages of untimely, hermetic wisdom. ....

.... It is a scholarly exposition of a living tradition, written by High Adepts and Chiefs of an existing legitimate and prestigious Golden Dawn Order.

...

Personally, as a long-time student of the Golden Dawn Tradition, I could not recommend this book high enough.

Rating:
Summary: Informative and Powerful.
Review: As a Witch for 6 years and a Pagan Priest of British Witchcraft, I recommend this book highly to anyone who is seeking to honestly learn about the Golden Dawn magical system. In all honesty, I have not known too much about the GD aside from basic ritualism, and this book sheds much historical and well-researched information on the path. I respect the authors, especially Sandra (incredible energy and radiant aura), as I had the honour to meet them both at Orlando's INATS (International New Age Trade Show)--I was proud to be the first in line for their book signing. They are great and knowledgeful and I recommend this book highly. Salutations,
~Colin/OakRaven~

Rating:
Summary: Does what it says, but isn't inspired or inspiring
Review: Having just finished this book I found it to be a very introductory thesis on the Golden Dawn. It left me wanting.

The background on Hermeticism, the first part of the book, is the best part. It's a consise overview of the Western Mystical Tradition.

The history of the GD was brief and painless but not new or enlightening.

The overview of the work of the GD covers only the introductory grades and is brief. If you're at all familiar with the subject, you'll find it to be a dull retelling of what so many other authors have already revealed.

All told the book does what it set out to do - give a boiled down explanation of this influential group. But it looks at it from so many angles, so briefly, that it can only offer the most superficial treatment of each part. This translates into a very superficial appreciation for the GD.

Readers with any familiarity with the subject will be dissapointed. Readers without any foreknowledge may wonder what's the point.

Rating:
Summary: Great Introduction to the Golden Dawn
Review: I have almost everything in print on the Golden Dawn and I found this book to be an excellent introduction. For those who want to find out what the Golden Dawn system is all about, this is the book for you! While the excellent books by Israel Regardie contain all the Grade Materials, they really don't give a beginner a good place to start. This book does. When you finish reading this one, you will have a pretty good idea if this system is for you.

Rating:
Summary: Good foundational book, but not everything!
Review: I read this when i was completley new to the golden dawn studies. I would have to say the golden dawn is a really indepth studied, and wouldn't have anyone read these book just out of sheer interests. This book gives a good foundation, but going on to reading the more advanced and classic books by isreal regardie,alister crowler, and Mathers, this book cant tell you the half of it. A good read, but the golden dawn is extrmeley confusing to those unfamiliar!

Rating:
Summary: Great introduction to the Golden Dawn
Review: The Golden Dawn's magkical system is probably the most famous of all Western esoteric traditions. This simple, down-to-earth book explains what it is, its history, how it works and it offers the reader an introduction to the basic ritual work.

It investigates the sources of the Western tradition and the roots of Hermeticism. The authors' account of the history of the Order of the Golden Dawn and its colourful founders is very thorough and makes for engaging reading.

The book clearly illustrates the principles and philosophies of high magick and explains its laws in a straightforward manner. In addition, it covers all of the various areas of magkical knowledge and provides plenty of Golden Dawn rituals for the newcomer.

I also recommend Israel Regardie's Garden Of Pomegranates: Skrying On The Tree Of Life, edited and annotated by Chic Cicero and Sandra Tabatha Cicero. This is a classic work on the Qabalah for the more advanced student.

As an alternative to the Golden Dawn tradition, I recommend the book Foundations Of High Magick by Melita Denning and Osborne Phillips. This is the best work explaining the theory and practice of Art Magick, the venerable Ogdoadic tradition which differs markedly from the Golden Dawn.

The Essential Golden Dawn contains several appendices, a glossary of terms, an extensive bibliography and a thorough index.

Rating:
Summary: Good History
Review: Whilst before I read books by the notorious occult group that covered rituals as in Z-5 and their Kabbalah, this book covers its basic belief system and history. I really enjoyed the parts on Aleister Crowley. The Golden Dawn is for serious students of the occult with a sense of humor. The Golden Dawn is the most mature and least trendy of the great occult groups, the opposite is true of the Church of Satan- grossly immature and trendy as hell.