Aurum Solis Vs. Golden Dawn Options

Hello all!

I have some questions about the Aurum Solis.

Over the past year I have become interested in the occult, mainly in Ceremonial Magick. Most of the info that I have read has been from the net and I have found a plethora of articles and sites that deal with the Golden Dawn but very little about the A.S. What little I have found about them intrigues me quite a bit, and, seeing it recommended a number of times, I purchased "Mysteria Magica" by Denning & Phillips.

So, what I am wondering about is what are the differences between the G.D. and the A.S. I understand that the former is a Rosicrucian style and the latter is Ogdoadic and from what I can tell, Ogdoadic has something to do with the number eight and deals mostly with Greek gods and seems to use the Greek language more so than Hebrew. Other than that I'm lost to the major differences between the two. The rest look to be more... for want of a better term, minor. For instance the Golden Dawn uses the Kabbalistic Cross and the Aurum Solis use the Calyx. They seem to be the same ritual to me! The G.D. has the LBRP; Aurum Solis has Setting of the Wards. Again, to my unseasoned eye, same thing! From reading articles and people's comments about magic and the occult, it is the subtlties that have the most impact. After all, the "Devil IS in the details".... I just can't see the little bugger! lol

Any help appreciated

-- G.L.B.

p.s. I apologize if I seem a bit incoherent. It's 0744 est , I just got home from work and my head feels like it's full of oatmeal

Perhaps you have noticed that a commonality among restaurants is that they offer drinks, appetizers, daily specials, entrees, desserts, and a kid's menu.

Perhaps you have also noticed that mainstream restaurants tends to offer a variety of different options under each of those familiar food categories.

To focus on drinks: at the very least, one can get beer and liquor. Yet, even amongst the brewsky option, different varieties are available. The flavor of some beers can be heavenly. Others can taste like little more than recycled moose piss. Never mind the tongue enticing diversity of stews available for mixed liquor drinks that would boggle the mind of the Potions Professor at Hogwarts.

Nachos are nachos - and yet one can get a plate with different kinds chips, different kinds of cheese, refried beans, or perhaps beef, maybe even pork! Jalepanos? Red peppers? OoOoooo how about olives - black or green. However: in the end, nachos are nachos - much in the same way that beer is beer.

Magickal paradigms are somewhat similar to restaurants. Exercises for magickal work in various paradigms are somewhat similar to menu options. An Order that provides a pretty good workout often has postures, breathing methods, intonation instructions - then of course some form of daily ritual, banishing rituals, summoning rituals, invocation, evocation, divination, trinket charging, multidimensional pathworking, etc... Just as there are forks and knives and spoons, there also are magickal utensils like wands, and chalices, and swords (to name just a few).

And just as each restaurant has a different atmosphere, Orders tend to have respectively unique vibes.

Chowing down with the Golden Dawn seems a lot to me to be like dining at Applebees. Good ol' well known food. A star or two on the menu. Infamous chefs who got their start sweatin in the kitchen. All sorts of pretty colored crap stuck up on the walls and ceiling. Video monitors perched here and there around the bar, broadcasting various entertainment programs from the mass consciousness for consideration.

Munching at the Aurum Solis seems to me to be more like dining at an establishment that is a bit more exotic. Yeah, yeah - the menu choices are similar - and thus familiar. Yet it is the ineffable vibe of the place that seems a bit different. Their salsa has a bit more zing to my tastebuds - even if their chips are blue corn instead of yellow. They might not have a huge bar filled with liquors to make you tipsy with such spirits - but they do have an marvelous Enochian smoking room with selected grasses to sample in their Grecian bongs. And who can resist a ritual for Setting the Adamantium Wards? WOO HOO!

The bottom line is to give each a go for a bit - and keep a detailed journal to see what strikes the fanny of your fancy in the most stimulating and effective way. Start with something simple from the GD - like The LBRP. Nice little appetizer, that one. Learn and do it for a month or so, keeping your awareness fine tuned to the aroma, how the flavors massage the metaphysical tongue, and how satisfying you are after you have finished. Then, switch over to learning and doing the Calyx from the AS. Turn on all the meta-senses and savour the experience. The sights, smells, textures, scents, and flavours - take it all in, and wash it down with a tall cold glass of contemplative beer.

The differences might become more apparent to you.

This post has been edited by Praxis: Mar 12 2006, 07:08 AM