Archived title – now sold out
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Z3

The Enterer of the Threshold
a facsimile of a Golden Dawn Inner Order Manuscript

Available in two formats limited to 22 and 78 copies

This edition is limited to 78 copies

Bound in full green sheepskin, vegetable tanned and dyed, brought to a clean finish by hand. Each of these 78 copies is gilt with the title to the spine and central to the front design is an image of the Egyptian deity Thoth as Recorder of the Soul in the Balances. All of the tools for these editions having been specially cut for the purpose.

The copyist’s motto ‘Cogito Ergo Sum’ was that of a Mrs Jean Gillison, transcribed from the orders copy ‘Issued by DDCF and NOM’ the inner order mottoes of Mathers and Westcott respectively. The copyist, an otherwise obscure figure, was active in the Order before the historic division of the Order in 1900. Raised to the Second Order of the Rosae Rubae et Aurae Crucis probably around 1895 she most probably joined sometime after 1893 when most of the material she copied was being released for study for the first time.

The Aleister Crowley archive left to the Warburg Institute by J.F.C. Fuller has a document relevant to Jean Gillison, wherein there is mention of a disagreement between Mathers and his financial sponsor Annie Hornimann. Evidently, the irregular teachings of Dr E.W.Berridge (Frater Resurgam) were the cause. Whether Gillison, as an Adept, came out in favour of Mathers we cannot now tell.

The ‘Z’ series of documents are perhaps the most important and magically illuminating of all the Golden Dawn descriptive papers, revealing layer upon layer of insight into the operations of the formulae of the magic of light.

Additions, omissions or alterations in the early orders material will thus be of great interest to both historians of and scholars within the Hermetic Orders, equally to those interested in and engaged in practically applying the formulae expressed.

‘Complete symbolism of Admission of the Candidate…

…Containing the Symbolism of Admission to the Neophyte Grade
Closing, Oration and Equinox’

Throughout the first sections of our text, there are minor alterations and additions, as one would expect from a manuscript copy which would require clarification from oral sources or from memory, such as the insertion of:  ‘…as in the case of the Imperatrix..’  at one juncture and so on. But we also find illuminating additional material such as an elaboration of the ‘Tree of Life in The Aura’ which is absent in Regardie.

In our manuscript, terms for the psychological and spiritual faculties of the Initiate are rendered in Hebrew throughout, names of the invisible stations and God-Forms are given in Coptic respectively, whilst (on page 23 of the MS) we have an interesting passage ‘…on Thoth as Metatron ..(written again in Coptic and Hebrew).. in the Sign of The Enterer of the Threshold…’

Other alterations or additions serve as essential stage directions in the performance (physical or astral) of the neophyte Ceremony,  ie:  MS  adds  ‘…in the midst of the triangle of Aroueris..’  where Regardies narrative has  ‘..in the presence of…’   etc etc.

More Significant are two longer passages one (MS p 29) on the 42 lettered Name and visualisation of the Assessors of the Dead, followed  (MS 31-33) by a series of comments on the ‘penal clause’ and the aspect of the ‘Evil Triad’.

The connection between the Candidate and his/her Higher Self is made evident to the Initiatory Officers  (‘…and members of the Second Order who may be present..’) and there follows an injunction to Silence in regard to the ‘Form of the Higher Self’ which may be apparent to the spiritual sight of the assembled initiates.

‘Of the Complete Symbolism & Meaning of the Step,
Sign, Grip, Token, Grand Word & Password
Of the 0’=0’ Grade of Neophyte…’

Alongside alterations in the text at this juncture, the MS adds two interesting passages: one a note by S.R.M.D. (Mathers) on invisibility, and another very interesting aside on the use of various robes and masks modelled on Egyptian deities in ‘…private magical workings…not of the Second Order….’

‘The Symbolism of the Ceremony of the Equinox’

Our manuscript adds a small number of points including a reference to ‘..mystic circumambulation..’  describing the ‘…limits of the Sun (gives a symbol)..’ rather than the narrative in Regardie which simply reads  ‘limits of the circle’..

Following this is a highly interesting note upon the action of the Solar Light and its connection with the Password, and the connection of the Officers Insignia therewith.

The last page of the Manuscript is magnificently titled: