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What is Initiation?
Know Thyself and Know the Universe
γνῶθι σεαυτόν
(Gnothi Seauton) Know Thyself
These words were written above the entrances of the ancient Mystery Temples of Greece. Translated as 'Gnothi Seaton', or Know Thyself, they formed one of the Delphic Maxims and were inscribed in the pronaos of the Temple of Apollo at Delphi.
Initiation is the first step on the journey of learning about and working within the Western Mysteries.
Initiation has many meanings. It may be understood as the process of being introduced to a particular way of thinking and spiritual practice designed to awaken the mind and prepare the soul for the ultimate theurgic goal of Henosis, the encounter and reunification with the Divine Principle.
Neoplatonists such as Iamblichus taught that this goal may be attained through the practice of theurgy and sacred ritual. The mystical traditions of the Kabbalah describe, in their own way, a path towards the same objective. Through study, ritual work, and spiritual experience, the aspirant gradually develops a deeper understanding of both themselves and the Mysteries, while cultivating various mystical and magickal abilities.
Much of the work of the Golden Dawn is founded upon Neoplatonic and Kabbalistic concepts and teachings.
Within the Golden Dawn system, initiation is marked by a specific ritual that both signifies acceptance into the Order and marks the beginning of a process of inner transformation.
If you feel called to explore the Golden Dawn Hermetic Magical Tradition and wish to undertake the path of initiation, we invite you to contact us using the form below.
Quit the Night and Seek the Day!
For many, the journey begins with a curiosity about life's bigger questions. Through guided study and personal experience, members develop greater self-awareness, insight, and understanding while exploring a tradition that has influenced the Western Mysteries for over a century.
