The Golden Dawn Vs. Book 4(ABA)
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Ok, I am going to read through The Golden Dawn and work through it, mostly because it seems in a more student friendly version than Book 4, however I wanted opinion on pro's and con's vs. each of the books for student learning, and development.
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The Golden Dawn is a nice little compendium of foundational hermetic ritual magick. The information is good but the way it is presented as a system of attainment is one thing Crowley criticized. In the original HOGD you did a meditation or two, memorized a few sheets of information, and you went to the next grade. This carried you up to Adeptus Minor! Crowley saw how there were "adepts" who did not seem up to snuff to him. Much of what you find in The Golden Dawn book is what is expected an A.'.A.'. admittant in the Student area and up into the Probationary time period. The Adeptus Minor Zelator material aligns, to a certain degree, with the Neophyte grade of the A.'.A.'. This is probably why it feels more student friendly because it essentially is foundational information.
That being said, I think Book 4 is simply awesome in its elegance. Much of what is in Book 4 applies directly to what you'll read in The Golden Dawn. I say study both
You might want to read the knowledge lectures up through the Portal Grade and then go to Book 4 and then come back to The Golden Dawn. -
This is probably what I'll do. Go through the entire GD Book, and then when I fully understand in the GD Book i'll find the corresponding lesson in ABA and just go back and forth.
Although after reading through only the introduction of the GD Book, I'll have to get a second job to get all the books recommended in it, and a second home to store them.
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@Michaeljwjr said
"Although after reading through only the introduction of the GD Book, I'll have to get a second job to get all the books recommended in it, and a second home to store them."
There are always numerous jokes about how large a ceremonial magickian's library is. I have about half a book shelf filled. I know a magickian who has an entire wall of his house up to the celing with book shelves full of books. He has the third largest Thelemic/Crowley collection in the world.
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I guess this is where having a teacher comes in handy. It just feels that everything I read has prerequisites, and those prerequisites have other prerequisites and so on and so forth(and normally those books are by the same author your already reading). I'm confident enough now to work through both books without further books, the last book I purchased and am awaiting delivery on, is the Book of Abramelin. After that I should be satisfied with what I have until such time as I actually do need to make further purchases.
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I just got Book 4 in the mail and cant put it down,many years ago I picked it up and wanted to get it but the timeing in my life is right for me to pick up it and get it and study it along with my other work as well.
Even thou it says its a book for beginners I really dont think it is, I think there should be a little more studying as well as practice in magick before picking it up.
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@SetiDraconis said
"I just got Book 4 in the mail and cant put it down,many years ago I picked it up and wanted to get it but the timeing in my life is right for me to pick up it and get it and study it along with my other work as well.
Even thou it says its a book for beginners I really dont think it is, I think there should be a little more studying as well as practice in magick before picking it up."
One should take it like a spiral. The Book has something for beginners and advanced students, and each will see what they are ready to see. The best is to read it as a beginner then come back to it later and you will definitely understand it on another level... then come back to it even later! Sometimes it seems as if you are reading a new book...
IAO131
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Those words are true, Aum418. I remember reading Liber ABA for the first time maybe 8 years ago or so and decided to reread it not too long ago and alot of it made a lot more sense, or just plain clicked on a different level.
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@kuniggety said
"Those words are true, Aum418. I remember reading Liber ABA for the first time maybe 8 years ago or so and decided to reread it not too long ago and alot of it made a lot more sense, or just plain clicked on a different level."
That is how it is for me right now and a big part of understanding some of it is actually thanks to Jim.[even thou im kind of the loud student in the back of the class room here
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@SetiDraconis said
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@kuniggety said
"Those words are true, Aum418. I remember reading Liber ABA for the first time maybe 8 years ago or so and decided to reread it not too long ago and alot of it made a lot more sense, or just plain clicked on a different level."That is how it is for me right now and a big part of understanding some of it is actually thanks to Jim.[even thou im kind of the loud student in the back of the class room here
]"Sounds great. Persist! (and read widely! and make sure to put all that theory into practice)
IAO131