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

This is a very interesting question. There are some similarities, as well as some key differences.

Each of these groups are Mystery Schools or initiatory groups drawing upon magical teachings that stretch back to Egypt. An initiatory group can be seen as an organisation that is able to lead and support an individual seeker through a system of experiences and practices which, if worked through correctly, can make that individual a fuller person.

Each organisation tends to have a form of “outer court” and “inner court,” and each celebrate both the Lesser Mysteries and Greater Mysteries. To borrow a quote from Masonry, all could loosely agree that the goal of the Lesser Mysteries is the “making smooth the rough-hewn ashlar.” Each has a series of degrees (known as “Halls” in the Astrum Sophia) encompassing certain teachings, after the completion of which you may be invited to receive initiation into a “higher” degree(s).

But the flavour and emphasis of each group are quite different. The best way to experience the differences is to practice key exercises from each system. Some specific differences are:

1) The Ogdoadic Mysteries draw their lineage predominantly from Hermetic, neo-Platonic and Renaissance sources, while the Golden Dawn, Society of the Inner Light and related groups draw more extensively upon Rosicrucian influences.

2) Inner Contacts: The Astrum Sophia is a fully-contacted esoteric Order, as is the Society of the Inner Light. Historically, Golden Dawn lodges are not contacted, although there are some exceptions.

3) The Golden Dawn is traditionally very lodge-based, as is the Inner Light. While there are group meetings and group workings performed at Houses and Commanderies of the Astrum Sophia, the bulk of the work is completed by the solo practitioner.

There are of course further differences, but those are more subjective. Perhaps the one difference we might venture to discuss pertains to the pantheons utilised. The Golden Dawn did a magnificent job of cataloguing and synthesising the diverse magical traditions found in the West. Their works are a rich, multi-coloured tapestry that can take you from Samothracian mysteries in one rite to Chaldean Oracles in the next. It is a fantastic exploration of the many-hued magical systems which have existed. The Astrum Sophia, in contrast to this rich tapestry, is more of a fine spun silk. There is a strong internal coherence to the system, and all of the fundamental rites and practices operate around a set group of deities and concepts. This can lead to building a profound relationship with the magical beings and ideas because all the exercises have a cohesiveness that is not found in many other systems.

Again, this is very subjective, and we do not say it to value one system over the other. It is simply to show that they each have a very different flavour, and in the end, the seeker must decide which flavour best suits his or her disposition.

Further "frequently asked questions" relating to the Ogdoadic Tradition can be found at the www.houseofthoth.net faq section. House of Thoth is part of the Astrum Sophia.

Best wishes

Malvhina