The Path of the Black Dragon

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In the Western or Hermetic external Alchemical traditions there mainly exists two major paths according to the subject matter, that of the Red and that of the Black Dragons. In Hermetic Alchemy the Dragon signifies the First Matter or Materia Prima, the crude material basis that is to be subjected to the Great Work, or Opus Magnum. There are also distinct “ways” or “paths” which are related to the process itself, or the Modus Operandi of the Great Work. They are basically three, the “wet” or “humid” way, the “dry” way, and lastly the “amalgams” or “mixed” way, the last one combining processes of both the dry and the wet ways.

In short the wet way uses glassware and a “secret fire”, as contrasted to the vulgar fire used in the dry way, and therefore it is seen as the more noble of them both. The amalgams way uses both the vulgar fire from the furnace (Athanor) and glassware. While the process of the wet way is more prolonged and take months rather than days to finish as with the dry way, using heat from chemical reactions which reaches temperatures way below 500°C, the dry way reaches very high temperatures approximating 1000°C.

While there are several matters used with the wet way, such as the Vitriol (Sulphate salts) and the Red Dragon, or Cinnabar (Mercury sulphide), there is a general agreement (however not uncontested) that the matter of the dry and amalgam ways concerns Antimony. Actually it is the mineral and not the metal of Antimony that is being used, i.e. Stibnite (Antimony sulphide). This mineral has several names in Alchemy, such as the Black Dragon, the Scaly Dragon, the Grey Wolf, the Child (or Offspring) of Saturn, the First Born or Saturn, Daughter of Saturn, Son of Saturn, and Venomous Serpent. A beloved child has many names as we say in my native country of Sweden.

The Black Dragon

The Amalgams Way of Antimony was followed by Nicholas Flamel and Eirenaeus Philalethes, and Jean Dubuis, while the Wet Way of Vitriol was lead by Basil Valentinus and that of Cinnabar by Kamala Jnana and Roger Caro, while the Dry Way of Antimony was perpetuated by Basil Valentinus, Cyliani and Fulcanelli. This essay mainly concerns with the so-called “Dry Way of Antimony”, which has been popularised by the books of Eugène Canseliet (1899-1982), the beloved pupil of Fulcanelli. Thus we will remain within the French Alchemical tradition and continue with its disclosure, an exposition that I started with my essay on The Path of the Red Dragon.

The original cover of “Le Mystère des Cathédrales”
drawn by Julien Champagne

Today Fulcanelli is regarded as perhaps the greatest of the Masters of external Alchemy, revered by many modern students of the Hermetic Path. The name “Fulcanelli” is a pen name or a “magical motto”, which may be translated into “The Sacred Fire” (from the roman god Vulcan and the Canaanite god El). He only penned two books that have become modern classics, Le Mystère des Cathédrales (“The Mystery of the Cathedrals”) from 1929, and Les Demeures Philosophales (“Dwellings of the Philosophers”) from 1930. A third book was planned but never came to be published, called Finis Gloriae Mundi (“End of the World’s Glory”).

Part of Fulcanelli’s favorite painting “Finis gloriae mundi”
by Juàn de Valdès Léal

Some claim Canseliet wrote or compiled these works using the notes from his master. Perhaps Canseliet was somewhat involved in its editing as he wrote rather lengthy introductions to both, and later wrote several books on Alchemy using his own name, the most prominent being the L'Alchimie expliquée sur ses textes classiques. In this latter book, which never has been translated into English, Canseliet quite openly describes the Dry Way of Antimony, and modern adherents of this way use both it and Fulcanelli’s Les Demeures Philosophales as their main source material.

Sketch of Fulcanelli by R. A. Schwaller dated 1930

It is said that already in his Dwellings of the Philosophers Fulcanelli were more generous than his predecessors in describing the Alchemical process, however scattered it may be through his work. But in the same vein as the old Masters of the Art, Fulcanelli also resorted to veiled symbolism in his descriptions. This has of course led to different interpretations about the nature of the process, and even about the very Matter of choice, i.e. the identity of the Black Dragon or Daughter of Saturn as Fulcanelli calls it. It’s a fact that even Canseliet sometimes contradicts Fulcanelli, if we are to interpret Fulcanelli literately. And this polemic still continues today and a recent one on two Yahoo forums moderated by the Portuguese Alchemist Rubellus Petrinus actually inspired me to write this piece.

Basil Valentin

Fulcanelli himself believed that he was the pupil of Basilius Valentinus, the famous German alchemist supposedly born in 1394. Canseliet claim Fulcanelli was born in 1839 and there are many other fantastic stories attached to his character, as for example Canseliet meeting his old master in 1953 for the first time after his disappearance, after the end of World War II, and in a much more younger appearance and vigour at that. He is of course reputed to have successfully transmuted led into gold through Projection already in the 1920’s.

François Jollivet-Castelot in his laboratory

However the identity of Fulcanelli is still shrouded in a veil of mystery, even if Canseliet left us some clues. Several names and identities have been proposed, all French, such as the painter Jean-Julien Champagne (1877-1932), the scientist Jules Violle (1841-1923), the renowned alchemist François Jollivet-Castelot (1876-1939), and even Canseliet himself (although that last suggestion seems to be the least probable). However if the suggestions regarding Jollivet-Castelot are correct, this clearly ties him with Cyliani, through G F Tiffereau who reportedly knew Jollivet-Castelot. Most believe him to have been Champagne because of the similar physical appearance.

Self portrait by Jean-Julien Champagne from 1930

The name Fulcanelli is closely attached to an occult group called Frères d'Heliopolis (“Brotherhood of Heliopolis”), which included Canseliet, Champagne and Jules Boucher (1902-1955). Some maintain that Fulcanelli was the founder and head of this Brotherhood. Now this fellow Boucher is interesting besides the other three because of his merits which he later earned as a Martinist, as he later lead the group called l'Ordre Martiniste Rectifié (O:::M:::R:::), founded in 1948 claiming lineage to Robert Ambelain (1907-1997). The fact is that Boucher lead a earlier group together with Ambelain, founded by them together in 1935 and called Association pour la Rénovation de l'Occultisme Traditionnel (L'A.R.O.T.). What we see here is a tightly knit collage of French Adepti which has been highly influential in the modern French occult movement, both before and after the Nazi occupation.

The Ex Libris of Jules Boucher

While on the subject of the highly influential French esotericist Robert Ambelain, it is well worth to mention in this context, that he was the head of the Rose-Croix d'Orient and its inncer circle, the l'Ordre des Chevaliers EASIA-EASIE (“Eques A Santi Iohannes Apostolica-Eques A Sancti Iohannes Evangelistae”). Now Ambelain taught a form of Inner Alchemy based upon certain Pythagorean principles, to produce the Philosopher’s Stone. He also claims that Fulcanelli himself taught a similar Inner Alchemical technique to his students, besides teaching the Dry Way of Antimony. Furthermore Ambelain claims that the Black Madonna, abounding in the Catholic world, was not only the patron of the Order but also the symbol of the Materia Prima of the Dry Path, i.e. of Antimony.

The Black Madonna

Canseliet left several students of his own and inspired others to perpetuate the Fulcanelli tradition of Alchemy, the most renown today being Rubellus Petrinus and Patrick Rivière. Rubellus Petrinus claims that he was taught the Dry Way by the French Alchemical Master publicly know as “Solazaref”, which also used to call himself “Pierre d’Ouche”, who was a close friend of Canseliet and headed the group Filiation Solazaref. The real identity of Solazaref according to some is Daniel Winter. This Filiation seems to be defunct today because of infighting but Solazaref left us some French books to study the Dry Way of Antimony, such as Introitus ad Philosphorum Lapidem.

Eugène Canseliet in 1982

Rubellus Petrinus is the nom de plume of the Portuguese alchemist Telémaco A. Pissarro (1951-), who has written a book translated into English entitled The Great Alchemical Work of Eirenaeus Philalethes, Nicholas Flamel and Basil Valentine which basically is a testament of the author’s understanding of these old Masters of the Royal Art. He runs a very informative web site on Alchemy and Spagery, which perhaps is the best source on the internet about these subjects. He runs several Yahoo-Group forums, the English the-Alchemist and the Portuguese-Spanish Os-alquimistas and El-alquimista, the latter one restricted for only laboratory practicing and experienced alchemists.

Rubellus Petrinus

All these sites are extremely rich on source material when it comes to the practical application of the classical texts and the level of discussion is unparalleled. This fact has clearly placed Rubellus Petrinus on the absolute forefront in contemporary Alchemy of today. He is widely critically acclaimed for his work and contribution to the field of Alchemy and Spagery by most contemporaries amongst scholars and renown practicing alchemists. The fact is that I have this man to thank for most of the information regarding practical Alchemy that I have gathered and complied into this essay.

Patrick Rivière, who claims to have been a personal student of Canseliet, runs an Alchemical group in France known as Spagy-Nature, which is devoted to both the spagyrical tradition of Paracelsus and the Antimony Dry Way of Fulcanelli and Canseliet. This group is also linked to a neo-rosicrucian organization called CHR+CHM, claiming antiquity and lineage to the Rosicrucians of the 17th century. Rivière is an acclaimed author on the history of Alchemy dealing with Paracelsian spagery and the works of Fulcanelli, with French titles such as Alchimie: Science et Mystique, or Alchimie et Archimie, or Pratique de l’Oeuvre Alchimique Végetale & Métallique, etc. The only English translation to date is a book entitled Fulcanelli: His true identity revealed.

Patrick Rivière

Patrick Rivière also runs a quite informative web site for his group Spagy-Nature, where he exhibits some of his work, both as an author and as an alchemist. He has also starred in a documentary by Christian Sulleman entitled L'Alchimie, Science et mysticisme made for France 3. It runs for 52 minutes and is very well made film in my opinion, featuring several French spagyrists and the alchemist Rivière. The last 20 minutes is dedicated to the Dry Way of Antimony and documents the Alchemical process which I will describe below, performed by a member of the Spagy-Nature (presumably Rivière himself). You may watch this entire documentary here, divided into three parts because of time restrictions (the last two minutes of the 2nd part and the entire 3rd part containing the Antimonian work).


L'Alchimie, Science et mysticisme 1/3
Uploaded by Arcadya.

L'Alchimie, Science et mysticisme 2/3
Uploaded by Arcadya.

L'Alchimie, Science et mysticisme 3/3
Uploaded by Arcadya.

After this brief historical exposition, let us now turn our attention to the actual working process as described by Canseliet, the expounder of the mysteries of Fulcanelli, and the preparation of the Holy Mother (Black Madonna). Now I have already mentioned that this signifies the mineral ore, or Stibnite, from which Antimony is extracted. So in the preparation of the Black Dragon it must be subjected to a process of Separatio or Solve. This is done by adding three more matters, namely Mars and a “Double Salt” composed of Tartar and Nitre.

The Nitre is an animal salt or saltpetre blended with dew (which naturally contains a nitrate; the Salt of Dew). The traditional Salt of Tartar is sometimes called “potash” or potassium and is a vegetable salt. Together our Nitre and Tartar constitutes our Salt, which is a Double Salt. This is used together with the purified Stibnite during the process of Separation. But before the Separation the Stibnite must be properly prepared to create the “Antimony of the Sages”, which is done through Assation and Purgation.

Julien Champagne in his laboratory ca. 1927

The initial preparation of the Stibnite is through a process that is described by Canseliet and Solazaref, and by the latter referred to as the “Philosophical Assation”. The reason behind this is that metals taken from the mine or bought in a shop are dead and have to be “reincruded”, i.e. brought back to life. Through this Philosophical Assation the Antimony of the Sages of Fulcanelli is produced, according to the students of Canseliet.

Canseliet in his laboratory

This process transforms the vulgar matter or Stibnite into a Philosophical Matter. Some however contest that this process is actually the true Philosophical Assation. There is also a polemic against and for the need of this Assation, as the detractors accuse Canseliet of inventing it to explain away the denial of Fulcanelli of the vulgar Antimony being the actual matter. I will return to the polemic in the last part of this essay, after my disclosure of the remaining parts of the Alchemical process of the Dry Way of Antimony.

Next comes a process called the Purgation or simply “Purge”, where the Stibnite is purified of its silica using a refractory clay crucible put into a furnace and through a “distilation per descensum”. The greatest problem with the Purge or Purgation is that the alchemist needs to know exactly the suitable temperature for Stibnite ore purgation, so that the Sulphur isn’t burnt away. This of course requires lots of experience of metallurgy.

Crucible

Now it is in place to say something about the furnace which is used in the Dry Way of Antimony, in the before mentioned Purgation and in the following processes. It is basically a modern melting furnace often built by the alchemist himself, from a large cylindrical aluminium cooking pot or from a dustbin. The two ears of the pan comes handy as the furnace has to be portable and placed outside, because of the poisonous fumes which is created during the process (remember one of the names for the Matter, i.e. “venomous serpent”). The inside is covered with a refractory insulator, such as concrete combined with fireclay, vermiculite or silica (sand), or a combination of more or all of these materials. Some simply use cement. In either case a hollow cylindrical space is left in the centre to hold the crucible. The opening is at the top of the cooking pot. A hole is drilled at the side made to fit the propane gas burner.

Furnace with propane gas burner

Some also build similar furnaces as the above example but instead of using propane gas they place charcoal at the bottom and mount an air-blower into the hole at the side so that the furnace is able to reach the desired temperatures. Even though there are many practical advantages of using a propane gas burner I personally find this last type of a charcoal burner as more appealing as it more resembles the ancient Athanors, but without resorting to bellows to keep the high temperature levels. There are lots of “do it yourself” web sites which amply describes the creation process of a melting furnace, of whatever kind desirable.

Charcoal furnace

Furnaces of the first propane gas kind made by Spagy-Nature (as seen in the documentary) may be bought in France from Patrick Rivière’s site at Alchymie.net. Professionally made furnaces similar to these hand-made ones may be bought from several distributors and workshops all over the world. These furnaces are indispensable for this work on the dry and amalgams paths, as both start off with the same preparation and separation in creation of the so-called “Martial Regulus of Antimony”. We may now proceed with it, having prepared and purified the Stibnite ore through Assation and Purgation for it to become the Antimony of the Sages.

Professional furnace

The Antimony, being finely grinded, is now placed inside a refractory clay crucible. Next the alchemist puts a quantity of finest and very old Mars, also grinded to a fine powder. The reason behind this is that Fulcanelli regards it as the male “fire” or “sulphur” that the Alchemist introduces into the female Antimony, which eventually will become the Mercury. Fulcanelli designates Sulphur as “Adam” and Mercury as “Eve”.

Fulcanelli likens this with the image of the crucifixion of Christ, who was put onto the cross by three iron nails. Cyliani on the other hand gives us the metaphor of the knight killing the Black Dragon with a Spear, using a “substance” to unlock the door to the Temple holding the Dragon. Alchemists interpret this “substance” as the Double Salt. Hence the Double Salt, finely grinded, is also to be joined according to specific ratios of quantity, which are partly described in the works of the ancient Masters of the Art, such as Flamel and Philalethes.

The crucible is sealed with a lid and placed inside the furnace. A heat resistant cover, with a chimney hole, is placed onto the opening of the furnace with which to contain the heat. The temperature is now supposed to reach almost 1000°C during the process of Separation of the Martial Regulus from the Antimony. Or to be more specific, the Regulus is separated from the Antimony with the assistance of Mars and the Double Salt. When all reaches the desired temperature and is melted the compound or alloy is then poured into a stainless steel mould with a conical shape.

Crucible inside the furnace

After cooling the waste material is gently removed from the solidified matter with a hammer. The result is the so called Martial Regulus of Antimony, also called the “Starry Regulus”, or using Fulcanellis own words “Astral Stone”, “Celestial Water”, “Alkehest”, and “First Mercury”. These wastes left after the creation of the Regulus are in Alchemical parlance called the “Caput Mortum” and from this is the Sulphur extracted, which is called “First Adam” by Fulcanelli.

Conical mould

In the last part of the first stage of the Great Work the Martial Regulus or Mercury is to be put through a process of Mercurial Purification. This basically means that the Regulus or Mercury is put into the crucible anew, heated to the melting point when it is again poured into the conical mould to cool off, while Adam melts over the Starry Regulus to create a thin enamelled layer. When cooled it creates a scoria called “our Vitriol”.

And this process of Purification is repeated two or three more times to reflect the three days between the crucifixion and resurrection of the Christ. The three nails used in the crucifixion mentioned above echo this process of purification by Mars. Each time this is repeated the Regulus takes a more shining or starry appearance, likened to the Mercury. This is a reference to the glorius body of the Christ after his resurrection, but also to the star that guided the magi (alchemist) at the birth of Jesus. In this purified state the First Mercury has been transformed into the “Philosophical Mercury”. This matter now produced is also called the “mirror of art”, a term understandable by looking at the image of the purified Regulus shining like a mirror.

Martial Regulus

In each of these Purifications the thin enamelled layer or Vitriol created changes its colour and in the 3rd or 4th Purifications takes the form of a clear substance. Thus far the Alchemical work upon the Black Dragon or Stibnite is similar in the Dry Way of Fulcanelli and Canseliet, and in the Amalgams Way of Flamel and Philalethes alike. But as the latter now proceed with a wet or humid processes, the path of Fulcanelli, as taught by Canseliet, continues to proceed with the Dry Way using ovens and crucibles.

Thus we now proceed with the second part of the Great Work or Coagula, which constitutes the Eagles or Sublimation of the Alchemical Sulphur and Mercury, together with the Green Lion. This process is sometimes also called the preparation of the “Rebis”. The end result of this is the so-called “Remora”. Remora, or “suckerfish”, is a fish that reputedly is very hard to catch and therefore serves as a good metaphor for the difficulty of this process and where most fail in the work. It was mentioned already by Michael Sendivogius.

Green Lion

According to Canseliet Adamic Red Earth is placed at the bottom of the crucible. Next is placed the Philosophical Mercury, also called Eve in Fucanellian parlance. When the desired temperature is reached the Red Earth will give away its Sulphur, which will rise and blend with the Philosophical Mercury above it, which in turn will start to melt and rise to the surface. These melted parts of the Philosophical Mercury is called the “ocean” in which the blackish fish Remora is suppose to swim. When the melted Mercury blends with the Green Lion it becomes golden and when cooled produce the Remora.

Remora

Thus the resultant of the Eagles process will be the fish Remora. Its blackish colour has also given it the name of “Black Crow” according to Fulcanelli. The third and last part of the Great Work concerns Coction or cooking of the Remora with the “Secret Fire”, or Golden Salt. This is the digestion process that supposedly all have failed since the days of Fulcanelli as it constitutes the most difficult phase of the work. This process is supposed to eventually result in the Philosopher’s Stone.

Philosopher’s Stone

To take the Stone to the test a Transmutation or Projection is performed. One gram of the Philosopher’s Stone is placed into the crucible together with some base metal, such as vulgar Mercury. Placed into the furnace and exposed to a high temperature the metal is supposed to transmute into Gold.

To complicate matters further there are some alchemists today who regard Fulcanelli as the last in line of Alchemical Masters, or even alchemists, and all authors after him as “puffers”, or to use Fulcanelli’s own words working with “archemy” not Alchemy. Even Canseliet is regarded as a soufleur by some. Not only is the process described wrong by him, according to his detractors, but even his choice of Materia Prima. They state that the Matter is not Stibnite, even if it is supposed to be a mineral sulphide. The often-proposed alternative mineral is Galena (Lead sulphide), because of the fact that Fulcanelli refers to the First Matter as “G”, as in the Masonic letter contained in the Hexagram. The Materia Prima is also called Cohol or Khol, i.e. “coal”, a word often attached to Galena in ancient times.

Masonic letter “G”

Some state that Canseliet initially worked with Galena until 1945 (i.e. at the time of the disappearance of Fulcanelli) but failing in his work with Lead rejected it to embrace Stibnite, after meeting the Spanish alchemist José Gifreda. Being more successful he started to understand that Fulcanelli must actually have have meant Antimony, and by “rejecting” it actually embraced it in the old traditional confusing manner of the old masters of the Art as to hide their secrets.

Galena as the mineral “G”

Others contest Canseliet’s description of the process also because of the fact that many masters of the Art repeatedly state that you cannot use a solvent or alkahest (i.e. Salt) from another kingdom (i.e. vegetable or animal) to dissolve a metal. This is a reference to the Double Salt, which is both vegetable and animal. But in defence of the use of Nitre and Tartar the highly revered Eirenaeus Philalethes used an alkahest that actually was taken from the animal kingdom.

Regarding my own opinions on the matter of the true identity of the Materia Prima I will keep that to myself. But in defence of Stibnite in contrast to Galena one has to contemplate the designation which Fulcanelli, as well as all elder masters, have given to the Matter, i.e. that of the “Offspring of Saturn”. Besides the seven classical Planets (metals) the ancients recognized more metals which were seen as related to the main seven, such as the different Saturnian metals, of which Antimony is but one example. Galena on the other hand is the main Led ore and thus from it is extracted Lead and Sulphur, i.e. it cannot be an “offspring” as it is Saturn itself.

But this is typical of Alchemical lore as each classical author attached his own meaning to the use of common Alchemical symbolism and often developed his own path to the Philosopher’s Stone. Wouldn’t it be best in a perfect Alchemical world if all authors used the same meanings attached to the common symbology, and that there were but one Path? Yes, but this unfortunately is not the case.

So in my essay I have made an exposition of one peculiar Path dealing with one of several First Matters (Antimony), preparing it according to one of several Ways (Dry), according to a peculiar Alchemical master (Canseliet). This is but one of several Ways or Paths, but a very popular one at that, practiced by quite a few alchemists of today. It is also a widely expounded Way, but restricted to French, Spanish and Italian literature and some web sites, in particular the one maintained by Rubellus Petrinus. This subject of the Dry Way of Antimony is also widely discussed on the several fora owned by Petrinus.

The Cruciferous Globe - symbol of Antimony

Thus my exposition is but a summary of information which may be gathered from published sources, even if it takes some time of investigation. Now, when I wrote the first version of this essay I wrote all I know about it in plain and fully disclosed manner. But adhering to the old principle of Silence I finally decided to heavily amend and abbreviate the text until it reached the format which you have been reading.

Silent madonna

Anyone wishing to read the fully disclosed version, which describes this entire process of the Great Work in detail, may send me an e-mail. But to receive a pdf-copy you have to be a member of my Order, or belong to an affiliated or recognized Temple or fraternal organization.

Finally I must also state that the confusion that resides within Alchemy mainly concerns the external way, or analogical path, also referred to as the Lunar Mysteries. When we concern ourselves with the Internal Way of Hermetic Alchemy the confusion is dissipated. Hence the confusion arises in a general misinterpretation of Alchemy in the first place, who seeks outer similarities in internal processes as disclosed by the direct or Solar Mysteries.

However I personally do see a great significance and practical value of the Lunar Mysteries, as well as the Solar. Thus I consider practice of Outer or External Spagyric Alchemy as a prerequisite of the practice of Inner or Internal Hermetic Alchemy. And on the Tree of Life and the Rosicrucian Grade system I would correspond the work with the Black Dragon to the fiery Geburah of Mars and the Adeptus Major 6°=5° Grade, as well as I would assign the work with the Red Dragon to the watery Chesed and the Adeptus Exemptus 7°=4° Grade; the former because of the use of vulgar fire of the Athanor and intense processes, not to mention the creation of the Martial Regulus, and the latter because of the humid and tranquil quality of the work, and the use of the Secret Fire.

S∴R∴

Don't feed the blog trolls

o

Some of you will know that the Order which I represent in Scandinavia, The Rosicrucian Order of Alpha et Omega (HOGD/A+O), announced a peace initiative at the Vernal Equinox of 2009 - which has become known as the "olive branch" of David Griffin - and invited all parties to follow suit. The Ros. Cruc. Order of A.O. has come to realize that this kind of brutal competition, which all of the major Golden Dawn Orders has been involved in since the middle 1990's, destroys nothing but the overall reputation of the Golden Dawn, not only as a physical body but also as an idea.

I know for a fact, from personal experience, that serious students are frightened away from a golden opportunity of spiritual growth because of this constant mud slinging between factions.

I know for a fact that this peace offer is sincere. It's not just empty words; the Ros. Cruc. Order of A.O. has presented detailed plan of action of how to go about to manifest a multilateral disarmament. But not a single body of the big name Orders has even cared to comment upon it. Instead this olive branch has been met with nothing but contempt from the other factions.

On the other hand, the majority of the small and independent Temples and observers, who have no interest in proselytizing members, has either been silent or has been reserved and sceptic regarding this "olive branch", which is fully understandable considering how long this "War of Roses" has been continuing and to what extremes it has gone. But what we have witnessed on Robert Zink's Esoteric Order of the Golden Dawn yahoo-forum is a barrage of the usual nonsensical rumours and accusations which we have become used to during the past 10 years or so, and more so.

Following this peace offer the Ros. Cruc. Order of A.O. also published a series of videos on YouTube, showing parts of the Vernal Equinox ritual of the Ahatôôr Temple No. 7 in Paris, which opened the 100 Year Centennial Jubileum Celebration of the founding of the Rosicruian Order of Alpha et Omega in 1909 by S.L. MacGregor Mathers.

We actually hoped that everyone would enjoy in sharing this with us. But what happened instead? Another meaningless defamation campaign against the A.O. emerged, involving the usual "nazi" rumour which the competing fractions normally use when they have ran out of reasoned argumenting.

As I personally attended and took active part in these festivities, I took it quite personal and was hurt deeply in my heart. I thought that the spirit of the Golden Dawn deserved better than this, so as naive as I am I embarked in a futile attempt to create a creative discussion about Golden Dawn ritual and symbolism, which amongst other things incited me to write a couple of short essays about the Red Enamelled Golden Cross and the Five Petaled Rose. But nobody cared about having a serious debate, so I resignated.

But the most ugly part in all this is the latest initiative taken in this defamation campaign, the blogosphere. We have before come to be used to anonymous defamation cites, but now this saddest part of the "War of the Roses" has spilled over to the blogosphere, which I refer to as the "Blog Trolls". So, naive as I am and against better judgement, I thought that I could perhaps reason with one of these guys (why do we always presume that these persons are male?) and embarked on, what I initially though was, a serious debate. I tried to reason with the guy telling him that what he did on his blog was counterproductive towards the entire Golden Dawn community, but to no avail.

I have learnt a hard lesson: Don't deal with anonymous blog trolls, don't feed them with more fuel. I did and I deeply regret that I even gave him serious attention. So now I admonish you all, who are serious in creating peace in the Golden Dawn community:

Don’t feed the blog trolls! Don't pay them any attention!

I will show you why, as what follows is a complete transcription of the conversation. This is published here as a warning not to fall into the same trap as I did. There is no sense in reasoning with these disciples of negativity. Give them the only reaction that they deserve - ignore them completely.

The anonymous blog troll in question calls himself "Golden Dawn Insider" and goes under the name of "Tommy", claiming that he has had experience of the Golden Dawn community since the middle 1990's and had communication with most Temples involved in this conflict. He tries to pose as an serious and objective observer, not representing anyone else but himself. But reading what he writes on this blog makes it quite clear to me that he has a hidden agenda which is not just his personal, but involves one of the big name Orders, and that he does not at all use intelligent reasoning but simple propaganda tactics and recurring themes or talking points, which amounts to that the Ros. Cruc. Order of A.O.:

1. Is a front to a nazi organization.
2. Lacks any lineage.
3. Breaks the hallmarks of the Golden Dawn tradition.

Everything else he is saying is just a glamorous package to deliver this same and old recurring message, which he's trying to hammer into the consciousness of the unsuspecting and serious seeker. And to all of you serious spiritual seekers who are reading this:

What follows has nothing at all to do with spirituality.

It has nothing at all to do with the high ideals of the Golden Dawn.

This is not about L.V.X.

It's all about V.I.T.R.I.O.L.
(and I am not referring to alchemy here)

Read and judge for yourself (A note: I have felt compelled to edit certain parts of the following transcription out of legal considerations).

The point of contention of Golden Dawn Insider is:

That David Griffin and associates demonstrate very clearly how out of touch with the tradition of the Golden Dawn they really are, as it is clear he is ignorant of traditional Golden Dawn symbolism. This, Tommy claims, is proven in the aforementioned videos where the ritual is shown.

That the fact that David Griffin was wearing an "Iron Cross" is proof of his ties to Nazism, and that the historical Iron Crosses of the WWII were not only black, but also Gold, Blue, or Red. This is also proven because he has his Hegemon dress as a member of the Ku Klux Klan. [Sic!]

To this I responded:

You wrote: "In fact, I've found, with minimal effort, Iron Crosses that were Gold, Blue, or Red."

Could you please give any sources? And btw, how able are you to judge Mr. Griffin's knowledge of Golden Dawn symbolism, having not ever met him? Just curious.

S.R.

To witch Golden Dawn Insider answered:

Look, I'm not going to sit here and tell you I believe David Griffin to be a Nazi. I'm only posting here current events and putting pieces of the puzzle together. You can make up your own mind.

I'll concede that it's possible the cross he's wearing isn't an "Iron Cross." However, there is other visual evidence I've encountered that hints at the fact that either David Griffin is tied with Nazi-ism in some way or just has a fancy for such symbolism.

How can I judge Mr. Griffin's knowledge of GD symbolism? By their fruits shall ye know them. He has absolutely no regard for the traditional structure of the order, and only justifies it by stating that the Golden Dawn system was never meant to remain exactly the same over the years. I would agree to a degree with this perspective. His lack of understanding for the traditional structure of the order is not entirely his fault, as he was kicked out of the inner order within two weeks after [...] initiated him into 5=6.

Look how he tries to maintain a image of being "reasonable" and "intelligent", i.e. every intelligent person cannot believe in any of these rumours of Mr. Griffin having ties with nazism, at the same time ending the sentence insinuating that it "looks" like he could be a nazi. Very simple law of propaganda tactics which reads: Tell people something repeatedly, it becomes the truth. Look also that he partly agrees with the rationale behind the General Reformation of 1999, at the same time disqualifying it by reducing Mr. Griffin' lineage to an old American initiation by one of Israel Regardie's students, which has no bearing to the reformation at all. My response to this was:

Care "Tommy",

You wrote: "He [i.e. Griffin] has absolutely no regard for the traditional structure of the order".

In this I agree, that he has no regard of preserving an old and obsolete structure which was created 121 years ago. But to call this not having sufficient understanding of the structure, that's not more than conjecture on your part. Instead of your conclusion Mr. Griffin's and Mr. Ruggiu's decision to reform their order may be a proof that they know something about the structure that you yourself doesn't understand or have overlooked.

Notice that I included Jean-Pascal Ruggiu together with David Griffin as the source of the Reformation of 1999. I know for a fact that the reformation was a combined effort between Sweden and France.

I would be happy to inform you about the reasons behind the 1999 reformation, if you are willing to reason and discuss with me. But considering all the usual nonsense rumours you are spreading here on your blog (including the particulars of Mr. Griffins 5=6 initiation), I fear that you are not interested in a serious discussion. But I am willing to give you the benefit of the doubt.

S.R.

To this Golden Dawn Insider responded:

It is obsolete, according to Griffin's extensive writing on the subject, in as much as a lot of the inner and outer order grade material was published, primarily by Regardie. The publication of certain lessons and methods, however, does not impose a necessary reform of the entire structure of approach to theory and practice of magic, specifically the Golden Dawn.

I would entertain a discussion with you on "1999 reformation," but I hardly think it would be anything more than a rationalization of a decision made by (in my humble opinion) those unqualified to make such a change.

Regarding Griffin's 5=6 initiation, it is a matter of his word against [...]. What you can't deny is that he is a former member of [...] order and that he founded his own order in the late 90s. Knowing his roots, it becomes clear that the nonsense is his claim to be the "one and only" only order with any lineage to Mathers.

Here Golden Dawn Insider tries to pose as someone that's interested in a serious discussion about Golden Dawn initiation and the training of the modern Golden Dawn initiate. There is some credence to his opinion that just because something is published doesn't necessarily mean it cannot have merit to present it traditionally to the student. Here I take the bait, which is further made more appeasing when he challenges me to present something solid. Again he repeats the old "Griffin has no lineage" mantra, knowing that most that read his messages remember the last sentence thrown out.

What follows is my effort to provide a serious explanation of the Reformation of 1999:

Care Frater Tommy,

Perhaps I'm naive, but I sense in you some kind of willingness for discussion. Your willingness to let my posts through is a token of this, and in this regard I salute you. Please bear in mind that I'm not interested in any infighting with you or anyone else. We should be beyond this, as we both belong to the Greater Fraternity of the Golden Dawn. We should strive to see what we have in common and what binds us together, rather than searching for the enemy. I don't like to fight with my own kind.

Regarding me indulging in rationalization...perhaps, perhaps not. I'm not one of the original reformers, but I'm one of those who has implemented them, namely in my Temple, as have all Temples in Sweden (even them not belonging anymore to the Ros. Cruc. Order of A.O.). I have advanced several initiates through the Grades and personally supervised their training and giving them regular counselling, as part of their initiatic process, since the middle 1990's. So I believe I'm quite qualified to have a educated opinion of its effectiveness and of its appropriateness. This doesn't mean that I won't acknowledge your right for a difference of opinion. To be honest, I fully respect your reservedness. I probably would have been one of its critics wouldn't I had experienced it myself.

First of all, the reformation of 1999 doesn't change the initiatic structure at all, but greatly enhances it. Our initiatic rituals are more or less the same as the ones you are accustomed to, even if we have made some amendments of a minor nature. The greatest change lies on the individual level and personal work. As the G.D. in the Outer was mainly a theoretical Order, now it is also operative magical and alchemical.

The initiates of the Ros. Cruc. Order of A.O. follows a very rigid regimen of gradual magical workings as related to the standard and correspondences as set forth by the original Golden Dawn of the 1888 year reformation, i.e. following the path and ascension of the Tree of Life. So a Practicus of our Order, as an example, invokes all forces relating to Water and the Sephirah Hod - nothing else or less. You will see the same with the other Elemental Grades, as invocation starts off with the Zelator Grade.

Our Neophytes prepare themselves for the initiatory work, with Lesser Banishing Rituals and Middle Pillar Ritual. As initiates of the Elemental Grades they learn to perform the Greater Pentagram and Hexagram Rituals. As portal members they learn the Supreme Pentagram Ritual. As Neophyte Adepti Minori they work with the Planetary Hexagram workings inside the Vault.

In the Elemental Sub-Grades of the Adeptus Minor Grade they work with each Enochian Tablet (Elemental, Planetary and Zodiacal), and in much more detail and depth compared to the Outer Order Workings, plus even more interesting operations that I cannot divulge here. So, as you see, there is a very conscious and deliberate structure in the Magical training of the initiate that, in my experience is superior to the old structure of training. On the level of Adeptus Major, which also breaks into Sub-Grades, we train our initiates in magical evocation, i.e. the much misunderstood but highly imperative workings with the averse forces. These averse forces are of course the repressed "demons" or complexes of the unconscious of the initiate. If successful, this naturally transforms the initiate into a Exempt Adept, free from his own irrational and infantile desires.

This clearly follows the Abramelin formula. The six months preparation as described in the second book corresponds to the Elemental Grades and Portal. The convocation of the good spirits corresponds with the Adeptus Minor Grade, which of course should result in the Knowledge and Conversation with the Holy Guardian Angel, while the conjuration of the Evil Spirits is corresponding with the Adeptus Major Grade.

Regarding Alchemy, we train our Outer Order members in some very basic spagyrical operations in the higher Elemental Grades. As Adepti Minory we work with the Lesser Work or the Circulatum Minor, production of the Plant Stone. In the Adeptus Major Grade we work with the Great Work, or Ciruculatum Major, according to the Dry Way. In the Adeptus Exemptus Grade we work with the Great Work according to the Wet Way.

Inner Alchemy, the true Jewel and capstone of the old Continental Rosicrucian tradition, is the subject of the three Magisteria of the Magister Templi, Magus and Ipsissimus Grades.

In my own personal experience and that of my students, I know the difference between how it was used to be and how it is now after 1999. As I said, the Outer Order process is now greatly enhanced, but at the same time "weeds out" the unprepared. Granted, the initiatic process is much more testing and tries the candidate to a greater extent, but that is for the good in my opinion.

Some leave because they cannot handle the forces, i.e. out of spiritual immaturity. Others leave because of the time consuming required work and study, i.e. out of laziness. The rest are much more tempered and prepared for the Greater Initiation of the Adeptus Minor.

Considering the advanced workings of the reformed R.R. et A.C. this magical and alchemical preparation in the Outer Order is both required and needed. So the reformed curriculum is certainly not for anyone interested in the G.D.; it is not for the armchair occultist. As a matter of fact, it requires perseverance, courage, determination, maturity, seriousity and sincerity. Following the required work, it is extremely difficult to advance just by chance or outer appearance, and intellectual capacity alone.

I wouldn't say that it is more dangerous to be an initiate today. But it is definitely more difficult, and stressful. The initiate is protected by the egregore and current of the Temple and Order. He or she is, as always has been the fact both before and after the 1999 reformation, introduced to the forces of the Grade (which is a blend or amalgamation of Elemental, Planetary, Zodiacal and Sephirotic currents) by the medium of the Hierophant and the Temple, through the initiatic rites. The Grade Rituals serves to be a species of catalyst which awakens the corresponding forces within the Sphere of the initiate. This fact makes him or her able to work with these forces and transform him- or herself through their agent, which is always linked to the currents invoked prior in the Grade Ritual.

Furthermore, the initiate is under strict supervision of his or her tutor or mentor, which is a must with this kind of advanced curriculum. Any signs of unwanted effects are easily spotted; the initiatic process is either adjusted, checked, suspended or discontinued. My experience is that the initiate him- or herself intuitively or by necessity knows when the obstacle is to great, be it the sheer workload or spiritual unpreparedness.

Knowing that the initiatic process of the Golden Dawn in itself is quite intense, if your are dedicated to the path, it is even more so and greatly enhanced now after 1999. The archetypal synchronistic events are even more emphasized. Each initiation (or advancement) is a species of a deliberate crisis for the initiate; it may bring forth spiritual development or regression. Even more so now. But as I said, the mere structure of the work, together with close tutorship, the Grade rites and the protective egregore, makes this a great opportunity for the sincere student.

Now it’s up to you and the readers of your blog to judge for yourselves if all this is mere rationalization concocted up in my own morbid mind, or if my words bear the mark of someone with experience. Please bear in mind that I don’t regard the pre-1999 reformation curriculum to be without merit. It still has an extremely great spiritual potential to bring the initiate to his or her own God. I even wouldn’t dare to call the structure of curriculum that I profess to be superior to the one you and most of my Golden Dawn brothers and sister are used to. Please continue to follow it. I encourage you to. This is not about an “old vs. new aeon” thing. Not an all. It is just the simple fact that we prefer to do it a bit differently as compared to how you do it, and that we regard ourselves to be in a legitimate position to make these changes. Still there is lots of points left which we share in common. We are basically working in the same tradition. Again, let’s look for the similarities instead of the differences between us.

Regarding the initiation of Mr. Griffin, I believe he is best qualified to defend himself. He doesn't need me for this. May I just bring your attention to the fact that Mr. Griffin was a member of Cris Monnastre's Temple in Los Angeles, and no one else’s. It's true that this Temple under Monnastre’s supervision was part of a greater confederation of Temples across the States during the late 1980's and early 1990's. It is also true that they had much cooperation on the level of the Inner Order and used a common Vault of the Adepti. But this doesn't mean that Mr. Griffin was anyone else’s student but that of Cris Monnastre. He was under her direct supervision and authority, and no one else’s, during these years.

But these things of the past or American “lineages” doesn't matter anymore, as the Ros. Cruc. Order of the A.O. have its base and pivot in Paris and the Ahatoor Grand Temple No. 7. So, my suggestion is to drop this particular aspect of our discussion entirely as it leads nowhere, is counter productive, and frankly is boring.

Fraternally in L.V.X., Life and Love,
S.R.

To this Golden Dawn Insider commented, still with some kind of spirit that seemingly entertains a creative discussion (he even calls me "Frater"):

Frater,
Assuming I have the time, I certainly have a willingness for discussion.

Far be it from me to tell you and yours what to do. If something is working for you, by all means do continue. I'm not convinced that the outer order initiates are ready for all inner order materials, published or otherwise. Some practices I would go as far as to say they are dangerous for the unprepared.

I have read this defense of Griffin's affiliation, history, and ties with [...]. However, it really just because a student is guided by their primary teacher doesn't mean they don't still fall under the jurisdiction of the reigning chief adept. Consider if the same thing happened within your order. I'm not making any of this up. I have had oral and written communication on the subject from members of a few orders.

I don't deny David or his (your) order's right to practice Golden Dawn magic or to run an order. However, to make such a claim to be the only legitimate Golden Dawn order in existence is absurd. He used to make statements more to the effect that he would essentially head the whole Golden Dawn, and it seems more that since he has been successful only in stirring up ill feeling he changed gears last year when he started claiming to possess the sole lineage. As I've stated before the videos he took of the supposed 100+ year old temple bears little resemblance of the simple construction of a proper Golden Dawn temple. 100 years is more than enough time to construct a proper "grand temple." This discussion is far from counterproductive, but if you don't wish to continue with it, that's fine by me.

But as can bee seen, Tommy is speaking with a forked tongue; "please go ahead and continue with your reformation, but remember that it is dangerous for your students". Here he also introduces the misguided concept of the Chief Adept, which I will soon deal with below. To underpin his statements, he again reaffirms his "insider position" and close ties with certain important parties. Again he ends his message with refuting the lineage of the Ros. Cruc. Order of A.O.

To this I answered, still believing some parts of his sentiments being sincere and personally motivated:

Care Frater Tommy,

I appreciate your candidness. Could you be more specific about which Inner Order practices you regard as dangerous for the unprepared initiate?

I understand your sentiments about Mr. Griffin's claims. Looking back it has been counterproductive, and I can understand that many has been upset by it. I am the first to applaud the new direction taken in my Order to acknowledge all Golden Dawn Orders. This new approach has been long overdue.

Let me just make it clear that our Order was not the first to make such bold claims (and I am not referring to any of the Orders you have mentioned in our discussion); you know who I mean. But let's not linger on the past. Let us look ahead.

I understand yours and others reservations about this new direction. But let me assure you that it is sincere. We have come to understand that all this crap - which basically is a classic strife within a family, albeit a dysfunctional one - has just made harm to the entire Golden Dawn community. I know for a fact that it has scared away lots of serious seekers. This is tragic.

Unfortunately, some contents on your blog isn't making things for the better. So I do believe it is counterproductive. Let's stop pointing fingers at each other; we all have a collective responsibility in preserving the reputation of our common venerable tradition.

Regarding the Paris Grand Temple of Ahatoor No. 7. Our Order has never claimed that it has had a continual operative existence since its original founding in 1892; it was revived by Jean-Pascal Ruggiu and Nicholas Tereschenko in 1992. The fact remains that it performs its meetings in a freemasonic lodge room, which it rents from a French Masonic Order. This accounts for some of the non-optimal solutions that you can spot in the video, as regards the props, etc. This is a common situation for most Golden Dawn and other occult Orders in Europe. This was also, as you know, the situation at the original Grand Temple of Isis-Urania No. 3 in London, which usually held meetings at the house of some member and occasionally held its meetings at Mark Masons Hall. This was also the case with the Mother Temple of Stella Matutina, the Amoun Temple, which held its meetings in the living room of some initiate.

This is nothing uncommon at all. Perhaps the situation is different in the States, I don't know, but this is the situation in Europe.

Regarding the situation in the States in the 1980's and early 90's, Cris Monnastre's Temple was authorized (or rather approved) by non other than Israel Regardie; no one else had jurisdiction over her. She was, in fact, the closest pupil of Regardie. Everyone knew this to be a fact during the time of Mr. Griffin's initiations. Temples at that time were in practice independent. The principle was co-operation, not autocracy. I know that people involved in these tragic events today have other views, but this is how Monnastre herself viewed this.

But all this is history now. Please let us look ahead towards the future instead.

Fraternally in L.V.X.,
S.R.

What was before a tentatively and almost fraternal discussion now suddenly turns foul, with this message from Golden Dawn Insider:

I have witnessed, the uninitiated specifically, experience psychological problems due to working with various forces and entities. The Enochian system is but an example of something that generally lies within the inner order that has the potential to really mess up someone's life. It is not a result that is absolutely destined to happen with every individual, but it does happen. I don't quite how in depth into Enochian magic you go into with your outer order, but I do know you provide the Enochian tablets to your Zelator, or rather what you have renamed to "Junioris."

Why do you hold the view that it is "more difficult for a student today."

How can you claim lineage through a building when your order's website clearly places an emphasis on "apostolic succession?"

I do certainly hope for a peaceful future within the Golden Dawn, but it isn't yet clear to me how that will happen. If you truly believe it to be a possibility, I would encourage your webmaster to set a good example by removing all the trash about other orders hosted there. I think this might send the message that you are all at least trying, as it currently seems that nobody trusts the "olive branch."

Here is becomes clear that Golden Dawn Insider just are reflecting the discussion which has been prevalent on the EOGD yahoo-forum. Again, that the reformation of 1999 is dangerous for our candidates, that our lineage is nothing that a myth of the recreated Ahathôôr Temple in Paris (i.e. "lineage through a building"), and lastly that the responsibility must belong to the Ros. Cruc. Order of A.O. to unilaterally dismantle the contents on its web page, before anyone else does anything.

For me it now becomes clear that I am talking to a member of one of the big name orders, probably the EOGD, because of the focus on the untraditional Christ like sanctity of the Chief Adept, and because of his use of libellous and simple defamation tactics, a behaviour which I have seen from this camp many times before. Would he been sincere when, and I quote, he stated that he "certainly hope for a peaceful future within the Golden Dawn" he wouldn't had use these kind of unproductive and highly political ways to express his point. It's people like Golden Dawn Insider, which hides behind a veil of anonymity on defamation blogs, which makes ME doubt that something substantial of this peace offer of the Ros. Cruc. Order of A.O. will ever come through.

Regarding the "Enochian Magic is dangerous" slogan, now this sounds like something coming from a hardliner B.O.T.A. member. I'm curious of how Elemental invocation, as an example, can be harmful just by using the same symbols and names that are already used in the Elemental Grade rituals? As I said in my post earlier, being introduced to these forces in a physical initiation ritual actually seals a covenant with these forces and the candidate. This is a very underestimated and highly important aspect of initiation. Tommy even partially confirms this when he write that he has noticed this specifically amongst the uninitiated. But considering that the EOGD practices "astral" initiation, I wouldn't recommend them following our suit when it comes to the magical training of their Outer Order member. Also considering the hard work that is to be expected with this kind of magical regimen and requires lots of time investment and discipline, which is counterproductive if you have the ambition to become the biggest Order in membership.

Guess what people? Serious students of magic are doing this kind of work anyway, whether any Chief of a Temple approves of it or not. The safest way to deal with this fact is to provide with a deliberate and conscious magical curriculum, which is stimulating for the modern student of the Golden Dawn, who is much more advanced compared to candidates back in 1888.

I did write a final post to Golden Dawn Insider, which hitherto hasn't been published. Therefore I will publish it here for everyone to read. As you will notice it is more harsh in tone, which expresses my deep disappointment about the real motives of Golden Dawn Insider, which is nothing more than defaming the reputation of the Ros. Cruc. Order of A.O., not taking to consideration that it actually defames the entire Golden Dawn community.

Care Frater Tommy,

There are always two sides to every debate. Please take my questions to you in the fraternal spirit in which they are intended.

In my opinion, your blog has but one purpose. To anonymously defame the Ros. Cruc. Oder of A.O. in order to frighten potential members away from our order to the EOGD. Otherwise, why do you hide behind anonymity, except so as not to face consequences of the libelous content of the statements that you make?

Moreover, I am deeply concerned that you do not appear willing to have an intelligent discussion with me at all. Instead, you merely keep repeating your talking points over and over like a broken record. This is a common rhetorical strategy used in propaganda, but not in academic discussion.

It is obvious, despite your attempt to protect both yourself and the EOGD from prosecution for libel in response to the rumors that you create and spread anonymously on this blog, that you in fact represent the EOGD. This is clear from the content of your blog posts. Does Robert Zink agree with what you are doing? Does he support this? I would appreciate some honest answers to these questioins rather than your merely repeating your talking points yet again.

I hope that you fully understand that the Golden Dawn community here in the Blogosphere is getting very tired of defamation spread by anonymously published websites and blogs. Numerous of the legitimate Golden Dawn blogs have been discussing this problem of the terrible public impression caused by the defamation being spread by anonymously published blogs like this one and others like it, no matter which order and leaders they are attacking.

Our Imperator recently spoke out against this in the Blogosphere and asked every one to stop this, including those misguided individuals misguided attacking the EOGD. I agree with his words that you should all "zip your lips." I note that the anonymous blogs that had been attacking the EOGD have fallen silent for some time now and that you are the only anonymous writer continuing to spread defamation in the blogosphere.

Why do you spread such defamation? All of this amounts to nothing but fear-mongering as a marketing tool - from your silly Nazi rumors to the ridiculous notion that practicing magic under supervision in our Order is more dangerous than doing it on one's own reading from the published litterature. The Golden Dawn community on the Blogosphere is getting fed up with this sort of thing.

I hate to bring this issue about lineage up into our discussion, which is not one of my favorite subjects. But it was you who brought it up in the first place, and who repeats it in every other paragraph. On the subject of lineage, it is historical fact that the lineal affiliations of the Golden Dawn have always been vested, not in the office of Chief Adept as you and EOGD mistakenly assert, but rather in the Adeptus Exemptus Grade of 7=4. The lineages of the Golden Dawn and its derivative orders have always transmitted with this grade.

In the case of the Ros. Cruc. Order of A.O., you are mistaken in your erroneous assertion that we claim lineage through Isreal Regardie or Cris Monnastre. We have never claimed this. In reality, the lineages of our order derive directly though our present Chief Adept, G.H. Frater Lux Aurorae, Jean-Pascal Ruggiu (Imperator of the Ahathôôr temple No. 7 in Paris) via Countess Tamara Bourkoun, Marquis Nicholas Tereschenko, the Serapis Temple of the Golden Dawn in London, and the Continental European source of the original Golden Dawn that Mathers referred to as the "Secret Chiefs." We hold valid charters from both of these sources and have for years consistently published detailed information about our lineages and lines of transmission. These have been exposed to a great deal of scrutiny and yet stand.

You may read about this in detail in the following article and in this second one.

In order to be fair, you must finally likewise allow a public examination of the lineage claims being made by Robert Zink and the EOGD. It is interesting to hear the story of the lineage claims in the EOGD. This story has changed somewhat over the years, but Robert Zink, now claims that he received a genuine lineage from the American branch of the Rosicrucian Order of the Alpha et Omega through some anonymous, now conveniently deceased, Adept.

Who was this and why does Robert Zink refuse to provide the name of this individual so that this claim may be independently examined?

In fact, Robert Zink's ex-wife, Sonya Neiman Zink, disputes this claim, stating that she and Robert were "self-initiated" into the current of the Golden Dawn, with no outside authorization whatsoever. Moreover, looking at the YouTube video of the EOGD, which I enjoy so much for its sheer beauty, I must conclude that the design of the Vault of the Adepti, as pictured in that video, isn't following the traditional design according to all the relevant Alpha et Omega papers on the Vault, such as The Book of the Tomb and the 5=6 ritual, etc.

EOGD Vault of Adepti

Here is what Vault walls are supposed to look like in the Alpha et Omega according to these specific source documents:

Ahathôôr Temple Vault

Note that the EOGD Vault walls look nothing like this, but have completely different colors and a white lattice work between them for which I can find no reference in any Golden Dawn, Stella Matutina, or Alpha et Omega document. If the EOGD Vault of the Adepti were painted according to the instructions contained in confidential Alpha et Omega documents, this would have gone far to substantiate Mr. Zink's claim of A.O. lineage. Unfortunately, however, they do not, so I am inclined to believe Sonya Neiman Zink instead.

This does not mean, however, that Ros. Cruc. Order of A.O. is the only "legitimate" order as you erroneously state we are claiming. Why should lineage be understood as legitimacy? This is a misunderstanding. In fact the Ros. Cruc. Order of A.O. sees lineage very differently. Our Imperator wrote about this just last week. I qoute:

There remains much confusion here in the West regarding the true nature of initiatic spiritual lineages. Most people either think that lineage means apostolic succession as in the case of certain Christian churches or that it is based on mutual recognition as in the case of Freemasonry. The spiritual transmissions that occur with initiation in the lineages of Tibetan Buddhism, however, like that described by Frater Peregrin in the above linked article, are one of the best examples to help Westerners understand the true nature and value of spiritual lineages. I am aware that this remains somewhat controversial, but if we in the Golden Dawn community could just get our egos and defensiveness out of the way, both the Hermetic and Rosicrucian traditions also have major spiritual lineages to transmit to intiates, that have been faithfully passed down in an unbroken chain, from Alchemical Master to Alchemical Disciple, for two entire decades of Centuries.

In other words, we see primarily lineage in a spiritual sense, like in Zen or Tibetan Buddhism, rather than in an apostolic sense as you erroneously state.

Finally, you state that our webmaster should "set a good example by removing all the trash about other orders hosted there". I note that our order has had an offer on the table for over a month now to take down such pages on a reciprocal basis with the EOGD. We even provided a list of the offensive pages that need to be removed. We requested that Robert Zink likewise provide us with a list of such pages an that we would take them down simultaneously. He has completely failed to do so until present.

Moreover, as a gesture of good faith and as a first step, our order over a month ago stopped all posts on our forum that contained personal attacks against members of any other orders. We requested that EOGD do the same, also as a gesture of good faith. Not only did they fail to do this, but they actually increased the personal attacks against Ros. Cruc. Order of A.O. members many fold!

Moreover, at this time you, Tommy, are the only anonymous writer continuing to publish defamatory material attacking another order here on the Blogosphere. Under these circumstances, your suggestion sounds extremely hypocritical.

Please do not misunderstand me. Our order has already set out on a new course and we will stay on it. We are committed to a healthy clean-up and the healing of old polarities. We have even changed our Chief Adept since the Equinox.

We have already taken many concrete steps to clean up the mess, but we can not do it alone. And it is looking more and more that EOGD is not even interested in cleaning up defamation and building better relations. The time has come for EOGD to stop attacking other orders with anonymous writers and to work with us to begin to clean up this mess instead.

But you are mistaken about one thing. The ball is not in our court. It is in EOGD's. The time has come for EOGD to take down this blog, stop all personal attacks on their forum, and to take down the specific pages from their website that we requested.

If EOGD is serious about beginning to clean up this mess, then they are welcome to attain open direct talks between initiates of both orders with Ros. Cruc. Order of A.O. We remain willing to talk with them as we have been for over a month though. We will, however, no long hold such talks with an anonymous writer both speaking and not speaking on their behalf, while simultaneously defaming our order with propaganda-like talking points in every paragraph as in the comments involved in this present discussion.

Fraternally,
Frater S.R.

Looking through all this, and the latest events on the EOGD yahoo-forum, I wonder how anyone can demanding unilateral concessions from the Ros. Cruc. Order of A.O. despite the fact that it has already made first attempts to it, i.e. not to post any libellous attacks on its yahoo-forum. The fact remains that the peace offer to all other big name Golden Dawn orders coming from Mr. Griffin has been met with nothing but renewed defamation campaigns on the EOGD yahoo-forum, which proves that there is no real interest in any peace from any other Golden Dawn Order today but the Ros. Cruc. Order of A.O. But my sincere hope is that I'm just being paranoid again. I hope that I can find my way back into my original naiveness, in my belief that everything, including the Golden Dawn, is progressing to integration or "Gold".

Or am I a fool to believe in a future and Invisible Golden Dawn Fraternity "made without hands”?

S∴R∴