The Thelemic Order of the Golden Dawn is a Spiritual Order based on the teachings of Aleister Crowley. It has seven Grades of Initiation which are linked with the seven Chakras of Yoga, the seven traditional Planets of Astrology and the seven Metals of Alchemy. The system of the Order is also Qabalistic in nature. It is Kundalini Yoga, Mystical Alchemy, Qabalistic and Magickal Initiation in one, designed as a service for the Initiate of the Great Work to experience Enlightenment. It derives its wisdom and knowledge from various Eastern and Western religious and philosophical sources. Its ceremonies have been constructed to accord with the divine principles of Thelema and to instruct the Initiate in the Magick of Thelema, for the realization of his/her True Will, and for the attainment of the Knowledge and Conversation of his/her Holy Guardian Angel.

The Thelemic Order of the Golden Dawn, also called the New Order of the Golden Dawn (Novus Ordo Aurora Aurea) is a name, and one among many, for the New Order of the Ages and the Universal Order of Initiates on earth. It is presided over by the Invisible Masters of the A.·. A.·., the Secret Chiefs, the Spiritual Illuminati whose sacred symbol is the Eye in the Triangle. The system of the Order is also just one among many which lead to "interior illumination" or Enlightenment within. The Order can only be found within the Heart of the Initiate. It is not an external organization of any kind and it does not have any ruling hierarchy or board of directors. It is not like a church, temple, lodge, party, or any other external, social or political institution, but rather it is a Spiritual Order and Movement, and its work is Universal rather than sectarian. It is not a cult, and it is not a religion in the common sense of the word. In the Order every Initiate is to discover and create his/her own personal and unique religion from within by using the spiritual system and tools of the Order to help accomplish this Great Work.

The Thelemic Order of the Golden Dawn is not affiliated with any other existing Thelemic Order or Golden Dawn organization. It is an independent Spiritual Order with its own magickal and mystical system and method of operation, which is different from other magickal and mystical systems and methods used by other Orders. But by no means does this difference entail that it is against other systems and methods used by other Orders. It is not opposed to other Orders, but nor does it endorse them. Its position is simply neutral in relation to them all. A member of the Thelemic Order of the Golden Dawn can also be a member of another Order without interference. However, membership in another Order is a personal affiliation. It does not represent or reflect the Thelemic Order of the Golden Dawn.

The Thelemic Order of the Golden Dawn is a Spiritual Order, so there are no membership dues which Initiates of the Order have to contribute to hold membership status in the Order. Membership in the Thelemic Order of the Golden Dawn is only to be found within the Soul of the Initiate upon initiation, not in any external organization or temple, certificate or title, and not by paying membership dues. There is no membership application to fill out. Any sincere aspirant to the Great Work, who is eighteen years of age or older and responsible for him or herself, may start the work by taking the Neophyte Oath, conducting the Neophyte Self-Initiation Ceremony of the Order, and by practicing the related grade material. You just do the work on your own, using the documents linked to this web site, according to the times of advancement given for each grade.

MAGICAL AND MYSTICAL
GRADES OF THE ORDER

The Order is Threefold

THIRD ORDER
Ipsissimus           7th Degree
Magus                 6th Degree
Magister Templi    5th Degree

SECOND ORDER
(Babe of the Abyss - the link)
Adeptus Exemptus    4th Degree
Adeptus Major          3rd Degree
Adeptus Minor          2nd Degree

FIRST ORDER
(Dominus Liminis - the link)
Zelator            1st Degree
Neophyte          0 Degree

The Neophyte is also called a Probationer. This grade has no real correspondence with a yogic Chakra, astrological Planet, alchemical Metal or qabalistic Sephira on the Tree of Life. It is purely a probationary grade. The Neophyte should "endure" nine months or longer of probation after the initiation before advancing to the next grade of the Zelator. It is the spiritual stage of gestation. The Zelator is also called a Magician, and this grade refers to Malkuth, the tenth Sephira on the qabalistic Tree of Life. Its corresponding yogic Chakra is Muladhara, the Lotus of Four Petals. Its corresponding astrological Planet is Saturn, and its alchemical Metal is Lead. The Zelator should wait twelve months or longer after the initiation before advancing to the next grade of the Dominus Liminis. It is the spiritual stage of Birth. In the Zelator grade there are concentrated the Mysteries of the Four Elements, so that the fully initiated Zelator is also called a Theoricus, Practicus and Philosophus. In the Zelator grade the Initiate completes the preliminary course of elemental initiation as represented by the four Sephiroth called Malkuth, Yesod, Hod and Netzach, which are the Elemental Sephiroth on the qabalistic Tree of Life. The Dominus Liminis is also called an Advanced Magician. This grade also has no real correspondence with a yogic Chakra, astrological Planet, alchemical Metal or qabalistic Sephira on the Tree of Life. The Dominus Liminis should wait twelve to twenty one months after the initiation before taking the Oath of the Adeptus Minor. It is the spiritual stage of Puberty.

The Adeptus Minor is also called the Adept Magician, and this grade refers to Tiphareth, the sixth Sephira on the qabalistic Tree of Life. Its corresponding yogic Chakra is Anahata, the Lotus of twelve petals. Its corresponding astrological Planet is Mercury, or alternatively Sol, and its alchemical Metal is Mercury or Gold. The task of the Adeptus Minor is one: To attain the Knowledge and Conversation of the Holy Guardian Angel. It is the spiritual stage of Life. The Adeptus Major is also called the Master Magician, and this grade refers to Geburah, the fifth Sephira on the qabalistic Tree of Life. Its corresponding yogic Chakra is Swadhisthana, the Lotus of six petals. Its corresponding astrological Planet is Mars, and its alchemical Metal is Iron. It is the spiritual stage of Death. A member of the Adeptus Exemptus grade is also called a Perfect Magician, and this grade refers to Chesed, the fourth Sephira on the qabalistic Tree of Life. Its corresponding yogic Chakra is Manipura, the Lotus of ten petals. Its corresponding astrological Planet is Jupiter, and its alchemical Metal is Tin. It is the spiritual stage of Life after Death.

The Magister Templi grade refers to Binah, the third Sephira on the qabalistic Tree of Life. Its corresponding yogic Chakra is Vishuddha, the Lotus of sixteen petals. Its corresponding astrological Planet is Venus, and its alchemical Metal is Copper or Brass. The Magus grade refers to Chokmah, the second Sephira on the qabalistic Tree of Life. Its corresponding yogic Chakra is Ajna, the Lotus of two petals. Its corresponding astrological Planet is Luna, and its alchemical Metal is Silver. The Ipsissimus grade refers to Kether, the first and highest Sephira on the qabalistic Tree of Life. Its corresponding yogic Chakra is Sahasrara, the Lotus of a thousand (and one) petals. Its corresponding astrological Planet is Sol, or alternatively Mercury, and its alchemical Metal is Gold or Mercury. The Sahasrara is not a Chakra per se; it is rather a metaphorical center of the Infinite.

SEVENFOLD SYMBOL
OF THE ORDER

The symbol of the Thelemic Order of the Golden Dawn is a Gold Cross of Elemental Equilibrium surmounted by a White Triangle of Supernal Light. (The White Triangle contains the All-Seeing Eye of the Spiritual Illuminati.) This sevenfold symbol represents the Great Work of the Thelemic Order of the Golden Dawn. There are seven Grades of Initiation in the Thelemic Order of the Golden Dawn which correspond with the seven principal Chakras (Wheels) or Padmas (Lotuses) of Yoga. These Chakras (also called interior Stars), and the sevenfold symbol of the Order, denote seven Steps to Spiritual Illumination or Enlightenment. The Cross represents the four Grades of Zelator, Adeptus Minor, Adeptus Major and Adeptus Exemptus; and the White Triangle represents the three grades above the Abyss called Magister Templi, Magus and Ipsissimus. Moreover, the Cross represents the four elemental Chakras of Yoga called Muladhara (Root), Swadhisthana (Navel), Manipura (Solar Plexus) and Anahata (Heart); and the Triangle represents the three higher Chakras called Vishuddha (Throat), Ajna (Pineal) and Sahasrara (Crown). In alchemical terminology, the Cross is the four Elements called Fire, Water, Air and Earth; and the Triangle is the three Principles of Trimaterialism called Sulphur, Salt and Mercury.

The sevenfold symbol of the Order also signifies a Universal Principle called Sulphur, which denotes the Secret Fire of Alchemy. This Secret Fire, which is the First Matter of the Great Work, is the Alchemical AZOTH, the Great Magical Agent, and the Kundalini or Serpent Power of Yoga. It is the work of Order initiates to awaken the Kundalini, or the Secret Fire, to enter the Royal Way within, to rise and to move or blossom the Chakras into motion or life, that the Kundalini may unite with its Lord Above in the Crown Chakra, which is linked with the qabalistic Sephira called Kether, the Crown of the Middle Pillar on the qabalistic Tree of Life. Such is the accomplishment of the Great Work of Spiritual Initiation. Such is the Art of Enlightenment.

CHAKRAS
AND GRADES

In the Initiation System of the Thelemic Order of the Golden Dawn, the Muladhara Chakra pertains to the Grade of Zelator (Zealous Student), the Swadhisthana Chakra pertains to the Grade of Adeptus Major (Major Adept), the Manipura Chakra pertains to the Grade of Adeptus Exemptus (Exempt Adept), the Anahata Chakra pertains to the Grade of Adeptus Minor (Minor Adept), the Vishuddha Chakra pertains to the Grade of Magister Templi (Master of the Temple), who is the Master of the Law of Sorrow (Dukkha) and of the Mystery of Joy (Ananda), the Ajna Chakra pertains to the Grade of Magus (Logos Magician), who is the Master of the Law of Change (Anicca), and the Sahasrara Chakra pertains to the Grade of Ipsissimus (He who is most Himself), who is the Master of the Law of Unsubstantiality (Anatta), which concerns the Mystery of Selflessness, called also the Mystery of Pan (Mystery of All).

The Chakras ultimately represent the grades or stages of one's various incarnations to attain Enlightenment. One may experience many life times within a particular Chakra before advancing to the next Chakra. In most people the Kundalini is asleep, and not even the Muladhara Chakra is active from the spiritual point of view. It is true that everyone derives some measure of influence from the universal powers which the Chakras represent, especially those related to Muladhara, Swadhistthana and Manipura, but this has nothing to do with the spiritual awakening of the Kundalini and Chakras in the Spiritual Body through the Great Work of Initiation, which can take many life times to achieve. The process can be accelerated, however, and true Enlightenment can be experienced by the Initiate within a shorter time than most. The sevenfold system of spiritual initiation represented by the Thelemic Order of the Golden Dawn will assist the sincere Initiate in this Great Work to attain the Spiritual Crown of Enlightenment.

SELF-INITIATION CEREMONIES,
OATHS, DOCUMENTS AND LINKS

Click on the links below.

First Order
Second Order
Third Order
Documents
Thelemic Links

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Thelemic Order of the Golden Dawn^® and T.·. G.·. D.·.^® are registered
service marks. The Thelemic Order of the Golden Dawn (T.·. G.·. D.·.)
was founded by David Cherubim on the Vernal Equinox of 1990 e.v.
It has lineage to Aleister Crowley and the Golden Dawn. The Order
and this website are maintained by the founder of the Order,
who also founded the Aleister Crowley Foundation.

This website was last updated
on October 6, 2008 e.v.

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