A Brief Overview of the First Order of (Outer Grades)

taken from The Sanctuary of Ma'at Order of the Golden Dawn

Rituals, Rites, Meditations and Invocations by Grade

The curriculum offered in this website is not for the faint of heart. Practiced successfully, it gradually uncovers the reality of ones spiritual nature. The dead-end habit of developing happiness that is dependent on circumstances will be seriously challenged.

The material in this and other grades is presented in a brief format, but a serious look at it will reveal that it is quite involved and requires and enormous amount of time and dedication.

The First Order consists of the grades Neophyte through Philosophus. The grade of theNeophyte is a probationary period which is not assigned a Sephirah on the Tree of Life. A person of this grade would be considered a member of the Order, but not yet a full initiate.

The grades Zelator through Philosophus are known as the elemental grades, and are each attributed to one of the four elements (Fire, Water, Air, Earth). Advancement through the grades of the First Order is designed to expose the initiate to the four elemental principles of nature. More importantly, in these grades the student learns to recognize and balance the four elements as they exist within his or her own psychological makeup. The keywords of the entire First Order could easily be rendered as "learn to balance."

Between the grades of Philosophus and Adeptus Minor there is an additional initiation ceremony that is not assigned to a Sephirah on the Tree of Life. The Portal is not properly a grade, but it is in fact a probationary period between the First and Second Orders. The Portal is attributed to the fifth element of Spirit, which crowds and completes the other four elements. It is also a period of incubation; the initiate who has equilibrated the four elements within the psyche undergoes a symbolic interval of gestation before being "born" as an adept of the Second Order.

The Second Order consists of grades Adeptus Minor to Adeptus Exemptus. It is within the Second Order that the intitiate begins the practice of ceremonial magic. This is because the First Order is primarily a school where the foundations of magic, not the practice of magic, are taught. It is of crucial importance that the student of the First Order balance these psychic elements before continuing with more advanced grade-work. This is one of the built-in safeguards of the Golden Dawn system, wisely incorporated by Mathers and Westcott. Those who try to fly before they learn how to walk often fall flat on their face. In magic, those who disregard the safeguards of the system often fall prey to mental delusion and ego-inflation. Such types usually develop a messiah complex-proclaiming themselves to be Magus of the Universe, the New Prophet of the Millennium, the New King of Israel, etc. The Second Order guides and teaches the First Order, and is likewise guided and taught by the Third Order.

The Third Order, consisting of grades Magister Templi to Ipsissimus, is made up of nonphysical beings who are guardians of the entire current represented by the Golden Dawn. It is not possible for a living adept to attain these high grades since it entails crossing the Abyss. The First and Second Orders are governed by three officers known as the Greatly Honoured Chiefs. They are the Imperator, the Praemonstrator, and the Cancellarius, who are assigned to the spheres of Geburah, Chesed, and Tiphareth, respectively.

The grades of the Golden Dawn correspond to the Sephiroth on the Qabalistic Tree of Life. These grades are divided into three separate groups known as the First, Second, and Third Orders. The list of the First (Outer Order) grades (from lowest to highest) is as follows:

There are six grades in the outer order:

Grade Symbolized By Sephirah Element Planet

Grade	Symbolized By	Sephirah	Element	Planet
Neophyte	0=0
Zelator	1=10	Malkuth	Earth	Earth
Theoricus	2=9	Yesod	Air	Luna
Practicus	3=8	Hod	Water	Mercury
Philosophus	4=7	Netzach	Fire	Venus
Portal			Spirit

A Brief Overview of the First Order (Outer Grades)

0 = 0 The Neophyte Grade

Neophyte: This is an introductory grade. The aspirant is exposed to the vocabulary and symbolism of magic. He is also introduced to transformative energy. It is a probationary grade. It gives the ego a chance to use its defenses against change. If one is going to bow out, this is the time to do it, before the transformation process becomes unstoppable. The aspirant is tested to see if he is ready for accelerated evolution.

The daily ritual work, from this point onward, is to be undertaken with full devotion. The student should never miss a performance. A good routine should be established, so that one can fend off resistance when things begin to get difficult--and they will get difficult. You may find yourself reaching for all kinds of excuses not to do your magical Work, many of them quite reasonable. But you must do it nonetheless. There are times when you may have to physically drag yourself into your ritual space to do an uninspired performance. But you must push through resistance. To miss an exercise is to validate the counterfeit authority of the ego.

As for the other Work such as the diagrams and study, it is best to work on these a little bit every day, even if it means drawing a single Hebrew letter on a diagram as your work for that day. Long breaks from your studies only encourage idleness and give the dawning magical persona nothing new by which to get its bearings. A new awareness is being called forth and that requires a new kind of vocabulary and a new systematic approach for seeing the world. That means study and learning as well as exercises.

Rites and Rituals

0 = 0
The Neophyte Grade

1. The Fourfold Breath

2. The Qabalistic Cross

3. Lesser Banishing Ritual of the Pentagram (LBRP)

4. The Middle Pillar Ritual

5. Adoration of the Lord of the Universe

6. Kheperu Nu Ra

7. The Berakah

8. The Rite of Elemental Equilibration

9. Body Awarness Exercise?

10. Extra Sensory Awareness Exercise?

Recommended Meditations: 'The Banners,' 'A meditation on the Pillars,' 'A meditation on the Tau Robe' from the Neophyte Meditations in the Cicero's (Ritual Use of Magical Tools) are Higly recommended

1 = 10 The Zelator Grade

Zelator: This is the first of the Elemental Grades corresponding to solid matter, the material world, and Earth. Home, money, vocation, health, and other physical issues are dealt within this grade. Attention is directed to the physical body and material life. By the time this grade passes, the student will notice that he feels cut off from the society in which he lives--that is if this hasn't already happened. This is normal.

The student, having completed his probationary period in the Neophyte grade, is ready to proceed to the Elemental Grade process. The first step is the Grade corresponding to Earth, and it is represented by the bottom Sephirah of the Tree of Life, Malkuth. Here, in the Zelator Grade, the student contacts and establishes the forces of the physical world in his aura.

The LBRP had the hidden purpose of removing him from the influence of Elemental forces. It has at this point, established a level playing field for the student to begin experiencing the components of his/her being one at time, in controlled isolation. In Zelator we begin calling up the Earth aspects of our existence and sorting them out, apart from all other Elements.

The exercises of this grade draw our attention to matters of physical existence. They may also cause havoc with our personal life, raising personal energy or depleting it, cutting us off from the tribal mentality of our peers, and causing changes in diet and career. The student would do very well to begin cultivating his observer, carefully noting what is happening in his life, in his sensations, in his feelings, and in his thoughts. Most importantly in this grade is paying close attention to the sensations of your body and the physical environment (both of which are part of the same thing).

Whatever difficulties arise, the astute student will take comfort in seeing the changes as necessary and as signs that the Elemental ritual activity is working.

An important note about the Elemental Grades: When you begin them, make sure you resolve to finish them. They will exaggerate aspects of your lower nature that correspond to the Element of the Grade you are in. Stopping in the middle of this process may result in a feeling of being stuck between worlds, half asleep and half awake. The Elemental Grades throw you off balance until you can complete them and then put in order what you have acquired.

Your daily ritual work in the Elemental Grades will now take on a special format. It begins by banishing as before, then by invoking the Element of the Grade you are in, doing specialized work with that level of existence, and then ends by banishing again. This will keep your workings well insulated.

Since the Outer Order in one sense is contained within the Sephirah of Malkuth, the elements we are really working with here is Earth of Malkuth. Thus there is only one basic Invoking Pentagram used in all the Elements.

Zelator

1. Lesser Invoking Ritual Pentagram (LIRP)

2. The Invoking Pentagram Ritual of Earth

3. Relaxation Exercise

4. Fourfould Breath exercise for the Zelator

5. A Meditation for the Zelator

6. A Meditation on the Four Qabalistic Worlds

7. Meditation With the Archangel Auriel

8. Invocations "An Invocation of the Element of Earth"

9. Skrying and Pathworking "A Guided Visualization into Malkuth"

2 = 9 Theoricus

This grade corresponds to the Element Air, and also to the realm of the rational mind, the ego, and social life. Attention is directed toward thoughts, beliefs, and automatic behaviors. There may come a sense elevation and a feeling that the material world is just one room in the cosmic house in which we live.

1. The Invoking Pentagram Ritual of Air

2. Meditation With the Archangel Raphael

2. Meditation for the Theoricus

3. Rhythmic Breathing exercise

4. The Purifying Breath exercise

5. Mind Awarness exercise

6. Speech Awarness exercise

7. Tarot "A Simple Card Divinatory Exercise"

8. Meditation "A Meditation on the Parts of the Soul"

9. "A Jouney On The 32nd Path of TAU"

10. Invocations "An Invocation of the Element of Air"

11. Skrying and Pathworking "A Guided Visualization into The Path of Tau" A Guided Visualization into YESOD"

(NOTE: Remember that the Zelator may also perform the Neophyte rituals, the Theoricus can perform the rites of the Neophyte and Zelator, and so forth)

3 = 8 Practicus

This grade corresponds to the Element Water, to emotion, and to the tools with which one does magic. Attention is drawn to skillful means of achieving results in ones life. By the time this grade passes, the student may gather some sense of the power of perseverance inherent in Water. The relentlessness of water, flowing where it needs to flow without effort, is a force of/from The Fourfold Breath exercise for the Practicus

1. The Invoking Pentagram Ritual of Water

2. Meditation With the Archangel Gabriel

3. Meditation for the Practicus

4. Relaxation Excercise "Concentration and Mantra"

5. Psychic Development "Exercises I II III"

6. Practicus Invocation "An Invocation of the Element of Water"

7. Skrying and Pathworking "A Guided Visualization into The Path of Shin" A Guided Visualization into the Path Resh" "A Guided Visualization into Hod"

4 = 9 Philosophus

The last of the Elemental grades corresponds to Fire. Power and passion are emphasized here. A drive to be successful and to engage life ensues. There also arises a temptation to abandon occult practice and stay in this mode.

1. The Invoking Pentagram Ritual of Fire

2. Meditation With the Archangel Michael

2. Fourfould Breath Exercise for the Philosophus

3. Meditation for the Philosophus (Fire Triangle)

4. Devotion Exercise

5. Sacred Ground Exercise

6. Philosophus Invocation "An Invocation of the Element of Fire"

7. Skrying and Pathworking "A Guided Visualization into The Path of Qoph" A Guided Visualization into the Path of Tzaddi" "A Guided Visualization into the Path of Peh" "A Guided Visualization into Netzach"

The Portal

This grade summarizes and combines the experiences of the Elemental grades. It corresponds to the fifth Element, Spirit or aether. The analysis process that happened in the Elemental grades is reversed, and the components of ones being are recombined to be offered up in sacrifice to the Higher Self.

1. Supreme Invoking Ritual of the Pentagram

2. Supreme Banishing Ritual of the Pentagram

3. The Lesser Banishing Ritual of the Hexagram

4. The Opening By WatchTower

5. The Ritual of the Rose Cross

6. The Rite of Self-Purification

7. The Rite of Self-Consecration

8. The Rite of Self-Consecration through Sulfur

9. The Rite of Self-Consecreation through Salt

10. Fourfould breath exercise for the Portal

11. Meditation for the Portal (various forms of the cross)

12. The Regression Exercise

13. Development of the Will exercise

14. The Practice of the Divine essence exercise

15. Meditations "A Guided Visualization for the Portal Grade"

16. Skrying and Pathworking "A Guided Visualization into the Path of Samekh" "A Guided Visualization into the Path of Ayin" "A Guided Visualization into the Path of Nun"

17. A Simple Meditation on the Portal Lamens

As already mentioned the curriculum offered is not for the faint of heart. Practiced successfully, it gradually uncovers the reality of ones spiritual nature. The dead-end habit of developing happiness that is dependent on circumstances will be seriously challenged.

There is nothing special about the material presented. Everything that any aspirant needs in any tradition to succeed has been published for some time already. The trick to successful transformation is not to be found in some secret, unpublished material. Nor is it to be found in bizarre initiation rituals of a formal temple of lodge. The secrets of transformation are limitation and perseverance. Presented here are rituals, exercises and meditations that are to be done exclusively, all other spiritual work being abandoned. If the student has other interests, he may only read about them. Practice is to be limited to just the rituals, exercises and meditations of the grade work. Students who actually are exclusive about their work and go through this process purely and legitimately will find that the advanced work that they have seen or done before is not really what it appears to be.

This page is referenced by: Golden Dawn Probationary Work,  Page Index,  The Golden Dawn

Created by: Amadeus last modification: Friday 04 of March, 2005 [14:27:07 UTC] by Amadeus