ESOTERIC CODE BROKEN

I have a new book out:

From the blurb 

In the late 18th century two prominent German esoteric masons wrote a fantasy about an Ancient Egyptian Magical Order called the Crata Ropea.  The tiny book was based on classical sources and was taken literally, particularly in France. 

It was influential in the development of many masonic and esoteric groups through-out the 18th and 19th centuries and its influence can be indirectly seen on modern groups such as the Order of the Golden Dawn, the Ordo Templi Orientis and even modern Wicca. As the knowledge of Egyptian history developed, Crata has become disregarded by those who had taken it literally and it has been largely ignored.

What Nick Farrell sets out in this book is that Crata Ropea was an example of an esoteric allegory written by two adepts to explain the path of initiation and goal posts to other esoteric experts. It sets out what happens on the path within the Western Mystery Tradition and what should happen to each individual as a result.  Once you have broken the symbolic code behind the book you can see advice, guidance and direction for various points of your esoteric life.

It will be one of my limited 100 copies things and available from Lulu here http://www.lulu.com/shop/nick-farrell/hidden-path-behind-initiation/hardcover/product-21652868.html 

Magical Machine -- The Golden Dawn Vault in Colour limited edition book out now.

From the blurb

“The creation of a vault is a rite of passage for any Modern Golden Dawn Order. Creation of one a Herculean task and it requires a knowledge of as much of the Second Order material as possible. It is a moot point if you can ever be a real Golden Dawn Order unless you have made one.” 

The Order of the Golden Dawn had a magical machine which used colour to create a magical effect within its Adepts. The construction of a vault was the key to understanding the Golden Dawn system of magic. However, it remained a closely guarded secret and before the development of the computer creating one was a work of art which required a deep knowledge of the colour magic of the Golden Dawn.  Few vaults have been built in the modern era and, thanks to the secrecy surrounding the original magical order, many have been constructed on using colours or ideas which have not been right.

In Magic Machine, I have  provided full colour drawings of what a vault should look like and offers readers of what will be for many will be a first glimpse of the Golden Dawn’s magical machine.

I have also provided a method of how to use the vault walls and other material in a practical way without needing to construct a full sized model for yourself. He gives techniques for exploring the Inner heart of the Magical Golden Dawn.

This is not a book for beginners, but for those wanting to work deeply with the Golden Dawn system at the adept level.  It fills a gap in the Golden Dawn magical knowledge  in the 21st century written by someone who has actually built one himself.

Only 100 copies of this book have been made.

Apparently it might be a bit controversial because there are some who think that this information should not be made available.  It is 56 pages and in full colour you can order it by pressing the button, http://www.lulu.com/shop/nick-farrell/the-magic-machine/hardcover/product-21580543.html

A REAL MAGICAL BOOK

For years, I have wanted to create a magical book; something that you can use as a magical tool. The idea has been around since the middle ages. The Ars Notoria would provide you with a diagram, or a magical seal on the left hand side which you would meditate on while saying a prayer on the left hand side. Now a Canadian occultist Fra Alim has managed to create a Golden Dawn version of what I always wanted. It has taken him ten years hard work and meditation and getting a copy is a real honour.

It arrives in a purple bag with its own seal of protection.

It is a beautiful half leather with gold seals on the front

Front Cover 

Back cover 

  

Inside, Alim has taken several different aspects of the Golden Dawn tradition and built specific diagrams which unlock those particular ideas. On the right hand side are the parts of the ritual, or prayers which unlock the seal and are used as part of the diagram meditation. To a muggle these are simply beautiful diagrams, but to a magician the seals manage to take you places both intellectually and astrally. 

In combination with the prayers or meditations you are taken to places which depict different aspects of reality as seen through the lens of Tiphareth. This is only possible if the artist, in this case Fra Alim, has an experience of those particular states. If someone who had not experienced these states had created such a book, the doors would lead to lower astral or simply intellectual ideas. These seals take you to spiritual visions.

Particularly useful are his seals for the Spheres on the Tree of life. These would be very effective if used ritually by placing the book in the east and opening it on an appropriate page to bring in the sepherotic power for the ritual or to prepare the magician before they start a ritual. It would be useful for a Heirophant to meditate on the Malkuth seal and meditations before attempting to initiate someone into the 1=10.

The book itself appears to have a life of its own. Paola became very attached to it and it seems to like her a lot. It lets you discover something new about the Golden Dawn when you open a page at random. It is a strange and beautiful experience. I have favourite pages one includes a much better version of the Qesheth for the portal grade than the GD or the SM came up with.

Fra Alim’s work is still personal to him, so he is understandably reluctant to give it out, and certainly not to anyone below a certain grade within the tradition. However, if you are real spiritual seeker within the Golden Dawn and under the rose you can seek him out on Facebook for a chat. If you are lucky, he might let you buy one of these.

The Magic of the Angels

I have been out of things for a while I concentrated on my latest book The  Shem Grimoire.  The book is exactly what it says on the tin.  It is a collection of my Kabbalistic notes and essays on invoking the 72 Shem Angels.   It is a process that I started to investigate several years ago and built up momentum until it started teaching me more about Tarot and the angels.

This book was compiled from my notes and diaries and so is not exactly orthodox.  It uses the Golden Dawn system of magic in its highest aspects and includes papers on consecrating tools for this particular work.

What I found interesting was that besides requiring me to tinker with the Tarot system, the Shem Angels suggested that they were the key to not only understanding your chart but how to work with it to be who you are supposed to be.

The Shem system I worked on says that the 12 areas of your life are controlled by 12 Shem guardians.  Understanding those areas of your life involves talking to them. In addition, while your life is under the authority of the seven main planetary spirits these are specialised according to the deans of your chart and have unique angels appointed to them.

This could mean some big changes for personal rituals as it is possible to get into the details of why some rituals work and some don’t  and to talk to the beings that are making sure that it does (or doesn’t).

This book has burnt me out and I am not going to do any more for a while.  There is a lot in it and it is a really serious book.  It is 333 pages and on a larger format than I normally use.  I think on that basis it is the largest book I have ever written It is packed full of diagrams, sigils and woodcuts.  This is mostly because I always wanted to create a magic book (of the sort you see on Buffy).

I have released it as a limited edition hardback and there will only be 200 made.  Many people have said that they want it and I have sent out a couple of copies for reviews.  It will be my last one for a while, I also have been thinking if this will be my last “practical” Golden Dawn book as I am more and more moving from that system.

You can buy the book here http://www.lulu.com/shop/nick-farrell/the-shem-grimoire/hardcover/product-21451554.html

Golden Dawn Beginners Reading List

Aaron Leitch has just published a list of books which are useful for Golden Dawn and general magical studies here


His list, which is for beginners includes :

The Essential Golden Dawn : An Introduction to High Magic - Chic and Tabatha Cicero


Modern Magick: Twelve Lessons in the High Magickal Arts – Donald Michael Kraig

Self-Initiation Into the Golden Dawn Tradition: A Complete Curriculum of Study for Both the Solitary Magician and the Working Magical Group – Chic and Tabatha Cicero

Secrets of a Golden Dawn Temple – Chic and Tabatha Cicero

The Golden Dawn Ritual Tarot – Tabatha Cicero and Chic Cicero

The Golden Dawn: The Original Account of the Teachings, Rites & Ceremonies of the Hermetic Order – edited by Israel Regardie

The Complete Golden Dawn System of Magic – edited by Israel Regardie

A Garden of Pomegranates: Skrying on the Tree of Life – Israel Regardie, Chic and Tabatha Cicero

The Middle Pillar: The Balance Between Mind and Magic – Israel Regardie, Chic and Tabatha Cicero

Prometheus Rising – Robert Anton Wilson, Introduced by Israel Regardie.

Ishtar Rising: Or, Why the Goddess Went to Hell and What to Expect Now That She’s Returning – Robert Anton Wilson

Experiencing the Kabbalah: A Simple Guide to Spiritual Wholeness – Chic and Tabatha Cicero

Making Talismans: Living Entities of Power – Nick Farrell

King Over the Water: Samuel Mathers and the Golden Dawn - Nick Farrell

Mathers’ Last Secret REVISED – The Rituals and Teachings of the Alpha et Omega – Nick Farrell

By Names and Images: Bringing the Golden Dawn to Life – Peregrin Wildoak


I have not read anything by  Robert Anton Wilson and have only glanced through Modern Magick.  But to this list I would add:

Mystical Cabbalah, by Dion Fortune
(Still the best intro to Golden Dawn Cabbalah)

Training and Work of an Initiate by Dion Fortune

Esoteric Orders and Their Work  by Dion Fortune

Magician his Training and Work by Ernest Butler

Magical Imagination by Nick Farrell
I am biased but I still think this is one of the first books to help understand inner states of magic – Perigrin's is another.

The Magical Tarot of the Golden Dawn by Pat and Chris Zalewski

For the History I would add
Magicians of the Golden Dawn Ellic Howe

The “next level” of books is very long and includes everything that has been written by Pat and Chris Zalewski and Darcy Kuntz