The three foci of the OIA curriculum can be somewhat attributed to the Three Alchemical Principles.  The thinking and study required for the focus of Theory is essentially a Mercurial process.  Theurgy can be considered the Transformation of the Soul, which is alchemically analogous to Sulfur.  Practice is the crystallization and manifestation of the spiritual process into the material world, and thus, is attributed to Salt.

Theory and Practice have always been the two Pillars of the Golden Dawn system of Magic.  Adding Theurgy as the Higher Principle and therefore the Apex of our Triangle makes it the uniter and reconciler of both the Theory and the Practice.  In this sense, we have the rare case in which the Sulfurous principle reconciles the Mercury and the Salt.

Now that we’ve introduced the overall approach to the OIA curriculum, let’s now look at its component parts.

The Theoretical portion of the curriculum is derived initially from the Cipher Manuscripts from which the Golden Dawn was originally formed.  This includes subjects such as Qabalah, Hermetica, Astrology, Geomancy, Tarot, Alchemy and various other related topics and symbologies.  We’ve also added some lectures on basic magical techniques and lessons on symbologies and operations within the Temple.  The Tattwas of the Eastern school are included, as well as a set of symbols analogous to the Tattwas but are firmly rooted in the Western tradition--the Platonic Solids.  We are firmly rooted in the traditional Golden Dawn system of magic, but are of the belief that it is a living tradition and should be able to grow and evolve.

In the original Golden Dawn, there was not a lot of practice.  The only ritual given to the Outer Order was the Lesser Banishing Ritual of the Pentagram.  The OIA has included other basic rituals, such as the Lesser Banishing Ritual of the Hexagram, the Middle Pillar and the Rose Cross Ritual.  There is also Pathworking, meditations, scrying, godforming and the Elemental Prayers.  In the elemental grades, we give a gradual progression of invocations which start with the Lesser Invocations of the Pentagram all the way up to the Opening of a Temple in that particular grade.  So in the OIA Practicum, we are not only teaching you practical magic, we are also teaching you the fundamental techniques of being an officer in the Temple, including operating a Temple as a Hierophant.

Although the original Golden Dawn corpus has an occasional mention and lecture on spiritual transformation, much of it has little practical value.  We hope that the OIA lectures on Spiritual Transformation and Handling Life Changes will provide you with the assistance and guidance to manifest your spiritual growth in the OIA and all facets of your life.  Israel Regardie (1907-1985), an Adept in the Stella Matutina (an offshoot of the original Golden Dawn), fully recommended that every initiate of a magical order should be involved in some form of psychotherapy.  We agree with this recommendation as long as a qualified and trusted therapist can be found who is tolerant of the magical path.

In the OIA, our goal is to help you on your quest to achieve the Great Work, to purify and exalt your Spiritual Nature so that with the Divine Aid you may at length attain to be more than human, and thus gradually raise and unite yourself to your Higher and Divine Genius.  However, if in our training we have not helped you to help yourself, we have fallen short of our goal.  The true Adept is not dependent on an Order nor a Chief, Secret or otherwise, in order to be empowered or enlightened.  We hope that your experience in the OIA enables you to find your calling in life--your True Will--whether that in the long run means staying with the OIA or going along a different path.

March 1, 2006