Burning the Sorcers and Witches

Somehow I randomly bumped into Mary K. Greer's Tarot Blog. There I found a post regarding a TV fortune teller from Beirut, having been arrested and sentenced to death in Saudi Arabia, while being on a pilgrimage. A first appeal was rejected and so far things do nto look too promising. Amnesty International is also reporting upon the case and is reporting other cases and an increasing of accusations for sorcery in Saudi Arabia (see also CNN)


On MSNBC there is an article about the increasing accusations of kids as being witches in Nigeria, based on Christian Pentacostal Churches or communities (excuse me if I am not precise enough in defining who is who) which are linked to their respective mother churches in the US. Children there get accused and then “exorcised”, basically tortured, a lot of them do not survive the attempts to save their souls.

In her post, Mary Greer also quotes Helen Ukpabio, the leader of Liberty Foundation Gospel Ministries from her book “Unveiling the Mysteries of Witchcraft” with: a child under the age of two that cries at night and has poor health is ‘an agent of Satan “ –imagine to how many of our kids this fits? Well but then, we are all to be burned at steak anyways…

I have no illusions about the world we live in. Throughout my professional experience I have see the worse humanity is capable of. However, this still reminds me once more in what world we live in and that all the freedom we enjoy – and that includes our ability to more or less freely and publicly work our traditions and rituals – does not come for granted and may be not safe for ever…

Self Initiation and the Golden Dawn

I created this blog not only but also for the solitary student who is looking into the studying of the occult in general by using the GD tradition in special, when joining an existing GD Order or group is not possible for whatever factual or personal reason. At this point I can not teach anything but expressing my thoughts and showing my experiences on that path. I am however not dogmatic about being solitary. For the time being I have some factual and some personal reasons but I truly wish to be able to join in real temple work sooner or later (rather sooner).



Having said this, the path of a solitary practitioner is difficult. Finding your way through the published material. Figuring which system is best for you. One shouodl note that there are various ideas about how self initiation is supposed to happen , which rituals should or could be used and the like. There also is a lot of discussion about the possibility, the acceptance and even the existence of self initiation and also astral initiation in the first place. I do not want to repeat all this, one may research on the usual well known GD forums and websites. However, I am glad that initiates of GD orders seem to accept the fact that self initiation can have some value and can be a way to work with(in) the GD tradition. Of course no one should confuse self initiation with real initiation and should call himself a member of a specific GD order. However after self initiation you are a member of the greater GD community and Tradition. Regarding this and also for having some valuable guidance, if self initiation is your way into the GD tradition, on how to structure the work, I want to recommend Sincerus Renatus’ latest post Golden Dawn and self initiation. Within that post he suggests some very helpful structure for the studying and practice of the different grades and levels.

He also suggests to keep the work “clean” meaning clean from other non GD work. This is an important aspect while working on or with self initiation. I have to admit that I have used other, non GD rituals now and then – depending on the purpose. However, I do not mix the systems and their rituals while working and I would recommend to stick to the “pure” GD while working with the grades. You may have some single rituals you like in your daily practice, like some daily or solar adorations, some balancing meditation etc. Using these independently and out of the GD ritual context may not harm. However, there will be the question of the necessity at some point since the grade work will provide for everything you need.

In L.V.X.

Arcad