Chic Cicero

I really enjoyed Cicero's way of writing. I found much of his analyses absolutely brilliant. He was a student of the late Israel Regardie. It's a very no-nonsense approach and devoid of all the usual esoteric jargon so common in magickal books. In fact, this book might have one of the clearest explanations of ritual magick I've ever encountered. That's quite a feat, as it's a pretty complicated subject. I also appreciate the fact that Cicero's not out to convince anyone, or that this system show more is better than others; he just offers the material and allows the reader to decide. The book explains the degree system within the order (think Freemasonry with magick), the order's philosophy, various rites and practices, and what they all mean. I also appreciate that the order is non-dogmatic and non-religious, unlike nearly all other magickal orders and secret societies. show less

What a very fine idea! The amorphous dispersion and multiplication of the Golden Dawn as an institution, and the recognized insinuation of its technologies into virtually every corner of the contemporary practice of ceremonial magic, have set the stage for a momentous publishing project.

The Golden Dawn Journal is presented as an ongoing series of book-length anthologies on diverse topics of interest to the praciticing ceremonial magician. The first volume concentrates on divination, and show more projected themes appear to include everything from Alchemy to the Z documents.

As a material artifact, it is a little disappointing. The softbound book uses flimsy paper and coverstock. The cover bears an attractive design with a very conservative graphic, designed (I suppose) to attract stodgy ceremonialist types.

The editors preface the text with a fine essay on the general nature of divination and its role in ceremonial practice. I found myself getting annoyed that so many of the individual contributors then began their pieces with a reworking of the same generalities.

There is a wide mix of articles, though there is a predictable bias towards the Tarot among the available techniques. Any practicing magician is likely to find at least a couple of the 15 essays valuable.

The volume concludes with a "Forum" section, which appears to have been an interesting backfire. The concept was to get a variety of positions from the contributors in response to a single question on the topic. Instead, the query "Can a divination always be trusted?" elicited a high degree of consensus, broken mostly by semantic variations. That's not too surprising, since it's one of the few questions that I have not heard ever-contentious magicians disputing.

All told, this first volume of The Golden Dawn Journal is an ambitious project with mixed results and great promise. show less

Submitted by Salient

A true classic of Magickal Tool creation, this masterpiece by Chic and Sandra Cicero is a "must-have" for anyone interested in creating Magickal Tools in the Golden Dawn tradition. He begins the book with notes about the Golden Dawn, tools & safety, and explains about flashing colors and scales. I also LOVE the 16 full colored pages of completed tools! What a benefit to those who have difficulty seeing the end-project, or even colors!

From the first project, the Altar, show more through various Temple pieces and even a construction of the fabled "Vault of the Adepti", to his final project, the Tarot Divination Wand, Chic Cicero gives step by step instructions and options for creating every magickal tool the aspiring ceremonialist could ever need! Even if you do not want 'golden dawn' tools, the friendly and easy-reading instructions can be followed to make your own Athame, Chalice, Wand and pentacle, just paint, design and color them as you desire.

I have personally used this book since it was published, making almost everything in it for my own individual and group practice. I consider this the most practical book I have ever used. One has to experience the feeling of putting their own energy carving, molding and painting their own tools, after which the energy is more 'personal' and powerful in their magickal use. I highly recommend this book. show less

One of the first books outlining Golden Dawn rituals such as the LBRP, BRH and Neophyte Initiation, this classic by the authors that showed you "How to make Magickal Tools", now return to show you how to use them in ritual! This book reads very easily, is full of detail and also explains things in a way that is easy to understand. Perfect for beginners!

From the first, this book offers rituals of meditation and consecration for everything that could have been made in the first book. Filled show more with rituals for deeper connection and understanding of your HGA, this book leads you through the Neophyte Grade, the Elemental Grades and the Portal Grade. It also offers rituals of self-dedication and spiritual purification/transformation for yourself. The rituals for cleansing and consecrating the Adepts tools are terrific and really brings home the meaning of all those Glyphs you spent hours painstakingly painting on their sides!

I have personally used this book since it was published, using each ritual for each item as they were created. You can use the two books in tandem, and indeed this is the best way to do it as you slowly and carefully erect everything you need to create your own Temple dedicated to the Golden Dawn tradition! I highly recommend this book. - Salient
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Salient

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Joined: Fri Apr 27, 2012 6:13 am
Location: Speed, Missouri
Enrollment Date: 24 Apr 2012
House/Lodge: Winds
Student Level: 4 show less