What You Should Know about the Golden Dawn

I've been interested in the history of Western magic orders for quite some time now, and I've realised that it is extremely hard to get reliable information that would make sense and be presented in somewhat organized and coherent manner. Reading this book helped me to finally put together scattered bits and pieces of info I've go before, as well as get loads of new knowledge. The book was written by a person who had firsthand experience with the order of the Golden Dawn and with Aleister Crowley personally, so the information given is based on the facts and documents that were available to Dr. Regardie, and certainly not to most other people.

This is a great book, except for the nonsense and recruitment stuff found at the end. At a certain point, Regardie's writing ends and there are several essays written by people defending their organization (though it does not seem very easy to defend after reading what really happened to the Order of the Golden Dawn). If you are wondering why the same book written by Regardie from '82 or '72 is completely different from the edited and annotated version from '94 or 2004; then this book should explain what happened. After his death in '84 certain publishers began to butcher this great man's work. "The Tree of Life" from after the year 2000, for example is filled with illustrations not even found in the original, weird illustrations (earlier editions after '84 are liable to have similar corruptions, unless of course you try to get a solid Weiser edition). This is a great book and should be read by anyone interested in the subject or the OGD and its history.

a thoroughly fascinating and stimulating account of the mystical goings on of a very intriguing group of people. Regardie spoke with a refreshing frankness and openness to inquiry. Those who consider themselves adepts, or simply amateurs or voyeurs, will both benefit from this accessible and engaging classic.

The sincerity of the author and insightful tone of the Authors writing make for fascinating reading for anyone intersted in the golden dawn. Written by the legend that kept the dawn from fading into history, Israel regardie vindicates himself justifiably without slandering his accusors. This book is essential reading to any GD historian or practitioner-absolutely brilliant! We owe Israel regardie so much for what he's done to help our quest.