The Golden Dawn

by Israel Regardie

  Very honoured Frater Hodos Chamelionis, remove from the aspirant the chain of humility and the robe of mourning, and re-invest him with the crossed sashes.

  This is done.

  3RD AD: Know, then, O Aspirant, that the mysteries of the Rose and the Cross have existed from time immemorial, and that the rites were practiced, and the wisdom taught, in Egypt, Eleusis, Samothrace, Persia, Chaldea, and India, and in far more ancient lands.

  The story of the introduction of these mysteries into medieval Europe has thus been handed down to us.

  In 1378 was born the chief and originator of our fraternity in Europe. He was of noble German family, but poor, and in the fifth year of his age was placed in a cloister where he learned both Greek and Latin. While yet a youth he accompanied a certain brother P.A.L. on a pilgrimage to the Holy Land, but the latter, dying at Cyprus, he himself went to Damascus. There was then in Arabia a temple of the Order which was called in the Hebrew tongue “Damkar” (), that is, “The Blood of the Lamb.” There he was duly initiated and took the mystic title Christian Rosenkreutz, or Christian of the Rosy Cross. He then so far improved his knowledge of the Arabian tongue that in the following year he translated the book M into Latin, which he afterwards brought back with him to Europe.

  After three years he went on into Egypt, where there was another temple of the Order. There he remained for a time still studying the mysteries of nature. After this, he travelled by sea to the city of Fessa, where he was welcomed at the temple there established, and he there obtained the knowledge and the acquaintance of the habitants of the elements, who revealed unto him many of their secrets. Of the fraternity he confessed that they had not retained their wisdom in its primal purity, and that their Kabala was to a certain extent altered to their religion. Nevertheless, he learned much there. After a stay of two years he came to Spain, where he endeavoured to reform the errors of the learned according to the pure knowledge he had received. But it was to them a laughing matter, and they reviled and rejected him, even as the prophets of old were rejected. Thus also was he treated by those of his own and other nations when he showed them the errors that had crept into their religions. So, after five years residence in Germany, he initiated three of his former monastic brethren, Fratres G.W., I.A., and I.O., who had more knowledge than many others at that time. And by these four was made the foundation of the Fraternity in Europe.

  3RD AD: These worked and studied at the writings and other knowledge which C.R.C. had brought with him, and by them was some of the magical language transcribed (which is that of the elemental tablets) and a dictionary thereof made; and the rituals and part of the book M were transcribed.

  For the true Order of the Rose Cross descendeth into the depths, and ascendeth into the heights—even unto the throne of God Himself—and includeth even archangels, angels, and spirits.

  These four fratres also erected a building to serve for the temple and headquarters of their Order, and called it the Collegium ad Spiritum Sanctum, or the College of the Holy Spirit. This being now finished, and the work of establishing the Order extremely heavy, and because they devoted much time to the healing of those sick and possessed, who resorted to them, they initiated four others, viz., Fratres R.C. (the son of the deceased father’s brother of C.R.C.), C.B. a skillful artist, G.C., and P.D., who was to be Cancellarius; all being Germans except I.A., and now eight in number. Their agreement was:

  1. That none of them should profess any other thing, than but to cure the sick, and that freely.

  2. That they should not be constrained to wear any distinctive dress, but therein follow the custom of the country.

  3. That every year on the day of Corpus Christi, they should meet at the Collegium ad Spiritum Sanctum or write the cause of absence.

  4. Every one should look for some worthy person of either sex, who after his decease might succeed him.

  5. The word R.C. to be their mark, seal, and character.

  6. The Fraternity to remain secret for one hundred years.

  Five of the fratres were to travel in different countries, and two were to remain with Christian Rosenkreutz.

  2ND AD: Frater I.O. was the first to die, and then in England where he had wrought many wonderful cures. He was an expert Kabbalist as his book H witnesseth. His death had been previously foretold him by C.R.C. But those who were later admitted were of the First Order, and knew not when C.R. died, and save what they learned from Frater A., the sucessor of D. of the Second Order and from their library after his death, knew little of the earlier and higher members, and of the founder, nor yet whether those of the Second Order were admitted to the wisdom of the highest members. The discovery then of the tomb wherein that highly illuminated man of god, our Father C.R.C., was buried occurred as follows:

  After Frater A. died in Gallia Narbonensi, there succeeded in his place Frater N.N. He, while repairing a part of the building of the College of the Holy Spirit, endeavoured to remove a brass memorial tablet which bore the names of certain brethren, and some other things. In this tablet was the head of a strong nail or bolt, so that when the tablet was forcibly wrenched away it pulled with it a large stone which thus partially uncovered a secret door, (he draws back curtain, revealing door); upon which was inscribed in large letters “Post CXX Annos Patebo”—After a hundred and twenty years I shall open, with the year of our Lord under, 1484. Frater N.N. and those with him then cleared away the rest of the brickwork, but let it remain that night unopened as they wished first to consult the Rota.

  3RD AD: You will now quit the Portal for a short time, and on your return the ceremony of opening the tomb will be proceeded with. Take with you this wand and crux ansata, which will ensure your readmission.

  Aspirant goes out, carrying the wand and crux of Chief Adept.

  Second Point

  Adeptus Minor Temple, Second Point

  Prepare tomb as in diagram. Chief Adept lies in Pastos on his back to represent C.R.C. He is clothed in full regalia; on his breast is the complete symbol of the Rosy Cross suspended from the double phoenix collar. His arms are crossed on breast, and he holds crook and scourge; between them lies the book T. Lid of Pastos closed and circular altar stands over it. Other adepti outside tomb as before. On the altar are replaced Rose Cross, cup of wine, chain, and dagger.

  2ND AD: Associate Adeptus Minor, let the aspirant now be admitted.

  Third Adept opens the door and admits aspirant, who carries wand and crux of Chief Adept. He is placed in front of and facing vault door.

  2ND AD: Before the door of the tomb, as symbolic guardians, are the elemental tablets and the Kerubic emblems, even as before the mystical gate of Eden stood the watchful Kerubim and the sword of flame. These Kerubic emblems be the powers of the angles of the tablets. The circle represents the four angles bound together in each tablet through the operation of the all-pervading spirit, while the cross within forms with its spokes the wheels of Ezekiel’s vision; and therefore are the cross and the circle white to represent the purity of the divine spirit. And inasmuch as we do not find the elements unmixed, but each bound together with each—so that in the air we find not only that which is subtle and tenuous, but also the qualities of heat, moisture, and dryness, bound together in that all-wandering element; and further also that in fire, water, and earth we find the same mixture of nature—therefore the four elements are bound to each Kerubic emblem counterchanged with the colour of the element wherein they operate; even as in the vision of Ezekiel each Kerub had four faces and four wings. Forget not therefore that the tablets and the Kerubim are the guardians of the tomb of the Adepti. Let thy tongue keep silence on our mysteries. Restrain even the thought of thy heart lest a bird of the air carry the matter.

  3RD AD: Upon more closely examining the door of the tomb, you will perceive, even as Frater N.N. and those with him did perceive, that beneath the CXX in the inscription were placed the characters IX thus:

  POST CXX ANNOS PATEBO

  IX

  being equ
ivalent to Post Annos Lux Crucis Patebo. At the end of 120 years, I, the light of the cross, will disclose myself. For the letters forming L.V.X. are made from the dismembered and conjoined angles of the cross and 120 is the product of the numbers from one to five, multiplied in regular progression, which number five is symbolized in the cross with four extremities and one centre point.

  2ND AD: On the following morning, Frater N.N. and his companions forced open the door (he opens it wide) and there appeared to their sight a tomb of seven sides and seven corners. Every side was five feet broad, and eight feet high, even as the same is faithfully represented before you.

  Second Adept enters and passes by north to east of Vault and turns to face west. Third Adept places aspirant on north facing south and takes his place at south facing north.

  Circular Altar of Vault

  2ND AD: Although in the tomb the sun does not shine, it is lit by the symbolic Rose of our Order in the centre of the first heptagonal ceiling. In the midst of the tomb stands a circular altar with these devices and descriptions on it:

  A.G.R.C.—Ad Gloriam Roseae Crucis.

  A.C.R.G.—Ad Crucis Roseae Gloriam.

  Hoc Universalis Compendium Unius Mihi Sepulchrum Feci—Unto the glory of the Rose Cross I have constructed this tomb for myself as a compendium of the universal unity.

  Within the next circle is written:

  Yeheshua Mihi Omnia—Yeheshua is all things to me.

  In the centre are four figures of the Kerubim enclosed within circles surrounded by the following four inscriptions and each distinguished by one of the letters of the Tetragrammaton:

  Yod—Lion—Nequaquam Vacuum—nowhere a void

  Heh—Eagle—Libertas Evangelii—liberty of the gospel

  Vau—Man—Dei Intacta Gloria—unsullied glory of God

  Heh(f)—Ox—Legis Jugum—yoke of the law

  And in the midst of all is Shin, the letter of the spirit forming thus the divine name Yeheshua, from the Tetragrammaton. Therefore, by God’s grace, having come thus far, let us kneel down together, and say:

  All kneel, joining wands above altar.

  2ND AD: Unto Thee, sole wise, sole mighty, and sole eternal one, be praise and glory forever, who hast permitted this aspirant who now kneeleth before Thee to penetrate thus far into the sanctuary of Thy mysteries. Not unto us, but unto Thy name be the glory. Let the influence of Thy divine ones descend upon his head, and teach him the value of self-sacrifice, so that he shrink not in the hour of trial, but that thus his name may be written on high, and that his genius may stand in the presence of the holy ones, in that hour when the Son of Man is invoked before the Lord of spirits and His name in the presence of the Ancient of Days.

  It is written: “If any man will come after Me, let him take up his cross, and deny himself, and follow Me.”

  Third Adept hands chain to aspirant and takes wand and cross from him.

  2ND AD: Take therefore this chain, O Aspirant, and place it about thy neck and say: I accept the bonds of suffering and self-sacrifice.

  Second and Third Adepts rise. Aspirant repeats words as directed.

  2ND AD: Rise, then, my frater, in the symbol of self-renunciation and extend thine arms in the form of a cross.

  Aspirant rises, feet together, and arms extended.

  2ND AD: Associate Adeptus Minor, take from the altar the dagger of penance and the cup of tribulation, that I may confirm the vow of the aspirant forever by marking him afresh with the stigmata of the cross.

  Second Adept takes dagger from Third Adept and marks aspirant anew as at obligation: brow, feet, right hand, left hand, and heart. Gives dagger back to Third Adept who replaces it on altar, and then hands aspirant the rose crucifix.

  2ND AD: Take that symbol, raise it with both hands above thy head, and say: “Thus will I uphold the sign of suffering and of strength.” And I heard the voice of the King of Earth cry aloud and say: “He that aideth Me in my suffering, the same shall partake with Me in my rising.” Replace then, O Aspirant, that cross upon the altar, and say: “In and by that sign, I demand that the Pastos of our founder be opened, for my victory is in the Cross of the Rose.”

  For it is written: “If ye be crucified with Christ, ye shall also reign with Him.”

  Aspirant replaces crucifix and repeats words as directed. Third Adept gives him back wand and crux of Chief Adept. Second and Third Adepts move away from the altar, revealing upper part of Pastos. They open lid, disclosing Chief Adept within.

  3RD AD: And the light shineth in darkness, and the darkness comprehendeth it not.

  2ND AD: Touch with the head of thy wand the Rose and the Cross upon the breast of the form before thee, and say: “Out of the darkness, let the light arise.”

  Done. Chief Adept, without moving or opening his eyes, says:

  CH. AD: Buried with that light in a mystical death, rising again in a mystical resurrection, cleansed and purified through Him our master, O brother of the Cross and the Rose. Like Him, O adepts of all ages, have ye toiled. Like Him have ye suffered tribulation. Poverty, torture, and death have ye passed through. They have been but the purification of the gold.

  In the alembic of thine heart, through the athanor of affliction, seek thou the true stone of the wise.

  Aspirant gives wand and crux to Chief Adept who gives in exchange the crook and scourge.

  CH. AD: Quit then this tomb, O Aspirant, with thine arms crossed upon thy breast, bearing in thy right hand the crook of mercy and in thy left the scourge of severity, the emblems of those eternal forces betwixt which the equilibrium of the universe dependeth; those forces whose reconcilation is the key of life, whose separation is evil and death. Therefore thou art inexcusable, whosoever thou art, that judgest another, for in that thou condemnest another, thou condemnest but thyself. Be thou therefore merciful, even as thy Father who is in heaven is merciful. Remember that tremendous obligation of rectitude and self-sacrifice which thou hast voluntarily taken upon thyself, and tremble thereat. And let the humble prayer of thy heart be: “God, be merciful to me a sinner, and keep me in the pathway of Truth.”

  3RD AD: Thus, then, did Frater N.N. and his companions, having moved aside the circular altar and having raised the brazen plate or lid of the Pastos, discover the body of our founder, with all the ornaments and insignia as here shown before you. Upon his breast was the book T, a scroll explaining in full the mystic tarot, at the end of which was written a brief paragraph concerning Christian Rosenkreutz, beneath which the earlier fratres had inscribed their names. Following this came the names of the three highest chiefs of the order, viz.:

  Frater Hugo Alverda, the Phrisian, in the 576th year of his age.

  Frater Franciscus de Bry, the Gaul, in the 495th year of his age.

  Frater Elman Zata, the Arab, in the 463rd year of his age.

  Last of all was written: Ex Deo Nascimur; In Yeheshuah Morimur; Per Spiritum Sanctum Reviviscimus. “In God are we born, in Yeheshuah we die, through the Holy Spirit we rise again.”

  They reclose the Pastos and replace altar.

  2ND AD: So, then, our Frater N.N. and his companions reclosed the Pastos for a time, set the altar over it, shut the door of the tomb, and placed their seals upon it.

  All quit the Vault. Aspirant carries crook and scourge; the door is closed, and aspirant is led out of the Portal. The tomb is then reopened and Chief Adept released.

  Third Point

  Adeptus Minor Temple, Third Point

  Tomb prepared as in diagram. Door not quite closed. In southeast angle is diagram of Minutum Mundum; in northeast that of sword and serpent. Due east, the Mountain. Altar as before with crook and scourge added later. Chief Adept stands at east with arms extended. Pastos outside in Portal, head to the east. Lid laid side by side with space between. Second Adept seated at head, Third Adept at foot of Pastos. Aspirant is admitted, still carrying crook and scourge. Second and Third Adepts discard cloaks.

  2ND AD: And lo, two angels in white apparel sitting, the one
at the head and the other at the foot, where the body of the master had lain, who said: “Why seek ye the living among the dead?”

  CH. AD: I am the resurrection and the life. He that believeth in Me, though he were dead, yet shall he live. And whosoever liveth and believeth in Me, shall never die.

  2ND AD: Behold the image 12 (points to lower half of lid) of the Justified One, crucified on the infernal rivers of Daath, and thus rescuing Malkuth from the folds of the red dragon.

  Third Adept points to upper half of lid.

  3RD AD: And being turned, I saw seven golden light-bearers, and in the midst of the light-bearers, one like unto the ben Adam, clothed with a garment down to the feet, and girt with a golden girdle. His head and his hair were white as snow, and his eyes were flaming fire; his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace. And his voice as the sound of many waters. And he had in his right hand seven stars, and out of his mouth went the sword of flame, and his countenance was as the sun in his strength.

  CH. AD: I am the first, and I am the last. I am he that liveth and was dead, and behold! I am alive for evermore and hold the keys of death and of hell.

  2ND AD: He that hath an ear, let him hear what the spirit saith unto the assemblies.

  Second and Third Adepts open door of tomb and lead aspirant in. They kneel down west of altar with heads bent. Chief Adept stands at east of altar with arms extended.

  CH. AD: For I know that my Redeemer liveth, and that He shall stand at the latter day upon the earth. I am the way, the truth, and the life. No man cometh unto the Father but by me.

  I am the purified. I have passed through the gates of darkness into light. I have fought upon Earth for good. I have finished my work. I have entered into the invisible.

  I am the sun in his rising. I have passed through the hour of cloud and of night.