The Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn

The Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn was founded in London in 1888 by Dr Wynn Westcott, a coroner and Freemason, who designed its grades to correspond with the Sephiroth on the Qabalistic Tree of Life. Westcott, along with Samuel Mathers and Dr Woodman, established the Isis-Urania Temple. Mathers translated 'The Sacred Magic of Abremelin the Mage' and presided over the Ahathoor Temple while trying to maintain control over English temples. The Order promoted the concept of 'living gods' contactable through the highest grades.

Study at a glance

Abstract

In 1887 Dr Wynn Westcott, a London coroner and Freemason, acquired a manuscript in cipher from a Dr Woodford. The grades of the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn, for Masonry loved grades, were designed by Westcott to correlate with the Sephiroth or stages of mystical consciousness upon the Qabalistic Tree of Life. Westcott established the Isis-Urania Temple of the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn in London in 1888, inviting Mathers and a masonic friend Dr Woodman to join with him as Chiefs of the new Temple. While translating a lengthy and important occult manuscript entitled ‘The Sacred Magic of Abremelin the Mage’, Mathers presided over the Ahathoor Temple and attempted to maintain dominance over the English temples simultaneously. The concept of physical personages whose inspirational levels lay above the Abyss was an impressive one, for it suggested that there were ‘living gods’ that could be contacted once one had reached the highest Sephirothic grades.