The Essential Golden Dawn: An Introduction to High Magic

I have found few writers that give you the detail needed and who want you to understand the way this and that is done BUT also the why. That is hard to find in the vast book market in this day and time. This is another of their books that I now own, read and use at some point almost every day. I know that their data comes from others who have lead the way. However when it comes to putting into a usable form I have only a few authors I now go to for the information that I can readily understand and use. I can't say that about some of the other 6 dozen or so authors who regurgitate the same data in a fluffier form. Thank you Chic and Sandra Cicero Nick

My girlfriend said it was a pretty good book she was interestin golden dawn she was just bummed out that it didn't talk more about ritual performing it just talked about the basics over and over again so there was that however it was a good informative book so we're going to give it 5 stars

Good book for exploring the history and the surface of what the Golden Dawn was and is. However this is not a book that will give you the nuts and bolts of the system. Like it says in its title it is an "Introduction". If you want depth get Cicero's Self Initiation book and of course Israel Regardie's book on the Golden Dawn.

If you are interested in the Golden Dawn system of magic this should be your first book, it will give you the nuts and bolts on the history of the original order, the overview of the iniciatory path in a Golden Dawn system, the main rituals, etc. Plus it has a great bibliography if you decide you want to continue on this path. It is well writen, it moves at reasonable pace, it will give you a basic understanding of the whole thing, and the book does just that very well, its an intoduction but it does honours its title, it's essential. If you are new to the Golden Dawn buy it with confidence, there's no better introduction to the Golden Dawn than this book.

This book is an excellent, well put together introductory for anyone interested in the teachings and history of the hermetic order of the golden dawn. This book gives you a well put together outline of original golden dawn order to the modern time era order. I recommend this book as one of the first books one gets on his journey, just to see if this path is right for him/her or not.

This is a very good general book to know the GD trainning, levels, etc. It is written in a very clear way and provides very useful information if someone wants to know or follow the Golden Dawn branch managed by the Ciceros. I am not part of this branch so my comment is from the outside. The book includes good biography for the different areas (astrology, divination, alchemy, etc.). I recommend it !!!!!!!

This book is ideal for those curious about or interested in the Golden Dawn. It gives you a general idea of what the Golden Dawn encompasses, helping you decide if this path is for you. It is easy to comprehend but at the same time more extensive in the history of magic than I expected. It gives honest insight to the history of the Golden Dawn and the pioneers who despite their flaws started one of the greatest mystery schools to touch so many, on so many different levels.

I really enjoyed this book and learned a lot about the Golden Dawn. While it's an introductory text, there is an element of 'back to basics' that I appreciate. It gives you a new perspective on a well known subject.

Chic & Sandra Tabatha Cicero have written the best general introduction to The Hermetic Order of The Golden Dawn.Their own contemporary Order was I believe,a genuine refounding of The G.D. on it's essential principles.It had the blessing of Francis Israel Regardie,who although his training had combined early work as secretary to Crowley & a period in an offshoot order,The Stella Matutina,perhaps knew as well as anyone what The original Order had aspired to teach and nurture.What it quintessentially was.I understand that R.A.Gilbert,historian of The G.D.,member of Waite's Fellowship Of The Rosy Cross and onetime editor of the masonic research journal,A.Q.C. ,sponsored Chic Cicero for The Societas Rosicruciana In Anglia.This gave Cicero access to William Wynn Westcott's personal library and papers.Perhaps this has helped to deepen his appreciation of the original Chief's intentions.The Cicero's rightly treat The Order structure as tripartite;The Outer "elemental "grades comprising one phase of initiation;The Portal, a phase in itself and The Inner Order as in practice only consisting of one grade in two workable phases;Zelator Adeptus Minor & Theoricus Adeptus Minor.The Chief's were only ever nominal 7=4's. The whole sorry business of "degree mongering" that ran wild in some of The G.D.'s derivative orders,they rightly treat with contempt.The question of "The Secret Chiefs",is treated soberly.If anything,they are what Dion Fortune named "Inner Plane Contacts".What The G.D. teaching called the "Higher & Divine Self"of the initiate may be of their company.It seems to me that the Ciceros implicitly realise that the whole of the Outer Order work,which is such a pageant of pre Christian symbolism,only attains it's fulfillment in The Christic nature of The 5=6 initiation.This is the burning,shining heart of the "system."In a certain sense The Order was an esoteric Christian one.A genuinely Rosicrucian Body.A major inspiration for both Westcott & Mathers had been Anna Bonus Kingsford and her "Perfect Way".The fact that The Order was created by Masonic Rosicrucians is crucial.The fact that there was no Masonic qualification for membership and that women were admitted on an equal basis is also key.Mathers & Westcott wished to create a working school of theoretical occultism in The Outer Order & a school of Practical Occultism in The Second.The Work of The Inner Order is Theurgy. In this book the authors stress that initiation and spiritual development must be grounded and accompanied by moral development.The G.D. system,as Regardie knew,is balanced,crucially by work on The Middle Pillar.Scholarship concerning the beginnings of The G.D. has moved on considerably since Ellic Howe's seminal history "Magician's Of The Golden Dawn".Since that classic is out of print and whoever holds the copyright seems loathe to republish it,this book is the finest general introduction available.Of course ,though a gifted astrologer & conscientious Mason,Howe was never a practicioner.The Cicero's are past masters it seems to me from their written works.Anyone with a genuine interest in The Golden Dawn will find this volume & their "Golden Dawn Magic"perfect complements to Regardie's classic.As for the history,there are Gilbert's titles.In conclusion then,I cannot recommend this lucid & insightful work highly enough to the newcomer or the longtime student.Ave Frater,Ave Soror.

Una visión panorámica de la Golden Dawn, con las nociones básicas de su sistema. Libro inicial que permite saber si te interesaría profundizar más. Lectura fácil. Muy recomendable.

Very much worth a read for beginners and the curious on the order and the western esoteric tradition as a whole.

No estaal pero el precio es muy elevado por lo que ofrece

I loved this first book. It was easy to read . I couldn't put it down. Great for the first time look into the Golden Dawn. Wasn't too complicated, easy to follow and understand. Highly recommend.