What is initiation?
Know Thyself and Know the Universe
γνῶθι σεαυτόν : These words were written above the entrance to the mystery temples of old in Ancient Greece and are translated as 'Gnothi Seaton', or Know Thyself. They were a Delphic maxim and were inscribed in the pronaos of the Temple of Apollo at Delphi.
Initiation is the first step on the journey to learning about and working within the Western Mysteries.
Initiation has many meanings. It can refer to the process of being inducted into a particular way of thinking designed to awaken the mind and prepare the soul for the ultimate theurgic goal of Henosis, that is the encounter and reunification with the Divine principle. Neoplatonists such as Iamblichus asserted that through theurgic ritual this can be attained. The mystical traditions of Kabbalah describe, in a different way, the methodology for attaining this goal. During the process of theurgic training and experience, various mystical and magickal skills and powers will develop.
Much of the work of the Golden Dawn is based on neoplatonist and kabbalistic concepts.
Within the Golden Dawn system, initiation is marked with a specific ritual, which both begins the process of inner transformation and marks acceptance into the Order.
If you feel that you are interested in being initiated into our order and learning through the Golden Dawn hermetic magickal tradition, please send us a message using the form below.
Quit the Night and Seek the Day!
Image representing Plato's allegory of the cave. This is often seen as a metaphor for initiation.