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

The AS never split off from the GD. They are completely seperate. In fact I think the AS might be older than the GD.

The AS is more greek while the GD uses hebrew. The GD uses the lotus wand as a general wand while the AS has the trident based on the letter shin and other sources. You are correct that the GD is mostly influenced by rosecrusian in spirit and masion in set up. One of our central symbols is the rose cross and the vault where christians body was found is used in the inner order which is actually the RR et AC, while the outer order which is actually the GD uses the Hall of Ma'at.

Ritual wise they are strangly similer even though they developed seperatly. You may be able to find alot more GD material due to Regardie, Crowley, and later writers such as the cicero's and Pat. Z, spilling the beans as it were. Although the AS material is becoming more common due to Dennings and Phillips writtings. Regardless of which system you choose they are both designed to get you to the same place. Bottom line go with the one that feels right.