A question came about recently as to the connection between the Golden Dawn and Freemasonry. It seems that newcomers who are studying the Golden Dawn often initially also investigate Freemasonry and how the Golden Dawn is related to it. Here I will recount my experiences in Freemasonry and how it compares to the Golden Dawn.



Around 20 years of age, I started seriously practising Western Magic, and soon after focused exclusively on the Golden Dawn, first as a solo practitioner, and soon after as a member of an Order/Temple. As well, I was initiated up to my 3rd Degree/Master Mason in Blue Lodge.



First, a bit of background on what I am going to talk about here. I am a 3rd Generation Freemason. My grandfather completed his full Blue Lodge/Scottish rite degree-work, and my father worked through many of the various paths and ended up being a Grand Master for the area we live in. So when my Father suggested that I apply to join the Masons if I was interested, I did just that.



The funny thing is, when I went for my Entered Apprentice Degree (1st Grade in Freemasonry), I was practising the Golden Dawn with a fervour – daily LBRP, Middle Pillar, etc. . When I received my Entered Apprentice degree, I did so in my Magical Personality and utilized my Magical Voice throughout. To say the least, I scared the living crap out of the Brothers who were performing the initiation. They said a few things like, “Something was watching us”, “What was that, no initiation has been like that before”, etc. . My Dad (who was one of the initiating members), took me aside, and while laughing at the situation, told me in no uncertain terms, “Don’t do that again.”



I learned my lesson, did the following two grades without taking on anything magical, and received my Master Mason degree without issue. Of note, the Initiation team who did my Master Mason degree were excellent and was one of the best secular performances of ritual I have ever seen.



Following this, I participated in a year or two of workings and then moved to Taiwan. When I came back to Canada to visit, I would often go with my Father to various lodges to visit. And the year he was in his Grand Master position, I managed to visit more than a few lodges when I was visiting that summer.



In addition, when my wife and I moved back to Winnipeg, MB, Canada, I joined one of the most (if not the most) esoterically inclined Masonic lodges in Canada, Templum Sion. In Templum Sion, the lodge work is basic Blue Lodge, but with a hint of ritual work prior to the official opening (LBRP sometimes being done, as was a purification/smudging of the space). As well, there is a discussion topic every meeting where a speaker from within the lodge (or from the outside) attends to lecture on various esoteric topics of interest. It is a good lodge – definitely a great idea, with a good bunch of people.



However, my point here is a straight forward one. It is also the reason that I am no longer involved in the Freemasons. Quite simply, they DO NOT PRACTISE MAGIC! Yes, there is ritual. Yes it is “occult” – in that it is hidden/not known to the general public.



If you are interested in a fraternal group that helps people in the community both inside and outside of the group, especially one that has an interesting esoteric symbol set that can be a good starting point in your esoteric knowledge, the Freemasons are for you. (Don’t forget, in traditional Freemasonry, no women allowed ….)



However, if you are interested in spiritual development, actually changing your state of being, theurgy, communing with Gods, Angels, spirits, tapping into the well spring of life, the Lapis Philosophorum, actually DOING MAGIC … you are out of luck. The Freemasons have none of it, and many of the people I met that were involved in Freemasonry were frightened of Magic.



This is likely part of the reason that the founders of the Golden Dawn set it up as it did. First, the members are taught the fundamental tools of Magic in the Outer Order, and they are initiated in such a way to allow them to do magic without imploding (though this part didn’t really work). Then, in the Inner Order, everyone actually does magic both in group and personal rituals.



So to sum up, the Freemasons are a ritual-based, philanthropist fraternity – one that has esoteric ceremony, but is not a secret organization. And, in no way do they practise magic.



This doesn’t mean that the symbol set that they use could not be used for magic, however …..



Thoughts, comments??

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