Cover design by accipio 2015

Cover design by accipio 2015

Overview of the Golden Dawn Z-Papers The Original Z-Papers The Golden Dawn was a revolutionary Order. Inheriting the standard lodge kit of their predecessors, the Order created a new approach to lodge work. Previous to Golden Dawn, one personal (magical) work and onelodge work was unrelated. Golden Dawn changed all that.  It was already common practice to associate the officers and their emblems to symbolic ideas. To this Golden Dawn added another layer, one devoted to one's personal work. For the first time, one's lodge work boosted the efficiency of one's private workings, and vice versa. The Z papers are a glimpse into this major addition to standard lodge kit.   Z1: The Enterer of the Threshold This Z paper was written in 1892 (or perhaps earlier) was issued to the members of the original Golden Dawn. The author of this paper was in all likelihood G.H. Frater D.D.C.F. (Deo Duce Comite Ferro) “With God as my leader and the sword as my companion”--Samuel Liddell MacGregor Mathers. It describes the symbolism of the Neophyte Grade, and it is from this document that we gain our preliminary knowledge of the underlying Godforms of the Neophyte ritual. Z2: The Formulae of the Magic of Light  One of the most important documents issued to the Adept Minors, this document was again most likely the work of D.D.C.F. (1892 or earlier) and contains the core theory of how one's lodge work can boost the effectiveness of one's personal magical work. It is divided into six sections (a general index and five magical operations) and provides a general outline for constructing one's own personal magic rituals.  Z3: The Symbolism of the Admission of the Candidate   Once again most likely the creation of G.H. Frater D.D.C.F., this paper is the clearest example of the difference of approach to lodge ritual that Golden Dawn implemented. Examining the document, one can clearly see the Practical Aspect of sections of the ritual along with its Symbolic Interpretation--the two parts of the system that were already part of standard lodge kit (those techniques and procedures common to all lodge and Order based systems). Plus one can see the Magical Use, something that was unique to Golden Dawn and its offshoots previous to the publication of the core material by Aleister Crowley and Israel Regardie.  For example, look at the section detailing the Sign of Silence. The first aspect is the practical aspect of the Sign it is a reminder to keep the Mysteries of the Order secret (it is used as the second part of the recognition signs). The second aspect, which connects the Sign with its mythic symbol, could have been found in any Order of the time as would have been the first aspect.  It is the third aspect, a whole new approach to the components of lodge ritual that is the unique part. Here wesee a simple recognition sign connected with an ancient symbol becoming the engine of power in a magical technique. It is this aspect that made (and still makes) Golden Dawn and its offshoots a brand new type of Order--the first true magical Orders. New Additions to the Z-Papers The evolution of the use of lodge kit in magical work did not come to an end when the original Golden Dawn

split up in 1900 during the “Revolt of the Adepts.” While it was true that some of the offshoots like the Stella Matutina Hermes Lodge in Bristol removed important documents like the Z2 from circulation, others like the Smaragdum Thalasses (Whare Ra) continued to develop the magical connection between the lodge rituals and private magical workings.  This further development has resulted into more documents and a rich oral tradition in some groups. Good examples of this are the parts of a new set of Z Papers that have been published by Pat Zalewski of the Whare Ra lineage. In a series of books, he has revealed some of the higher Grade teachings that he received from the Whare Ra, as well as further developments that he and his associates came up with. It should be kept in mind that much of this material is skeleton outlines and hints about the teachings of the 6=5 and 7=4. Today, new Z Papers are continuing to be developed; much of this work is being done in a course under the direction of Zalewski.  Z4: Commentary of the Portal and Adept Minor Rituals Originally started as a private exercise, Zalewski published this in his privately printed Golden Dawn Rituals and Commentaries . Z5: Additional Commentary to the Outer Order Rituals Containing some of the additional teachings about the Outer Order rituals, including some of the 6=5 and 7=4 teachings, this document has a rocky printing history. Originally conceived as a single book, Llewellyn Publications chose to split it apart into books focusing on individual Grades of the system; the resulting poor sales ended up with the series never being finished. Zalewski privately published a version based on the original idea (vide Z4). [It is our understanding that a new version, based on the private edition, is going to bepublished by Thoth Publications.] Of the two versions, the private edition is the better. It reveals a complete set of godforms for the Outer Order rituals, along with certain vital teachings (such as the effect of the Admission Badges on the Temple floor). It provides many hints that will benefit both one's private and lodge work. Hopefully, it will be republished soon. Z6: Commentary on the Equinox Ritual This document is included along with the Z7 in The Equinox and Solstice Ceremonies of the Golden Dawn. It goes into some of the higher aspects of the Equinox ritual, including the Inner Order members’ only part of the ritual.  Z7: Commentary on the Vault (Consecration) Ceremony This document deals with some of the aspects of the Consecration of the Vault of the Adepts (vide Z6).   Unverified Z-Papers There is cause to believe that at least two more additional Z-Papers exist. One is the Z8: Commentary on the Adept Major Ritual; the other is the Z9: Commentary on the Adept Extempt Ritual . If they do exist they would be restricted to the curriculum of the Magister Templii (8=3) and Magus (9=2) Grades.  Several more Z-like Papers may have come out of the Outer Order Development Course; if so, these papers

would rest in the hands of the students of that particular course.  It is also known that G.H. Frater D.D.C.F. (Mathers) did some additional papers on the Elemental Grades; thesepapers were part of the Alpha and Omega Order curriculum. The members of Bast Temple have not been able to obtain copies of these documents yet. In addition, two of the members of Bast Temple are in the process of developing some additional papers detailing layers only hinted about in the Z Papers. While these papers will not be given Z numbers, due to the organizing system of the BIORC, they will bear some of the hallmarks of the existing Z Papers.  

Bibliography Greer, John Michael--Inside a Magical Lodge: Group Ritual in the Western Tradition . St. Paul: Llewellyn (1998). Regardie, Israel--The Complete Golden Dawn System of Magic. Tempe: New Falcon (2003). Zalewski, Pat., and Chris Zalewski. The Equinox and Solistice Ceremonies of the Golden Dawn . St. Paul: Llewellyn (1992).---. Z-5: Secret Teachings of the Golden Dawn--Book II: The Zelator Ritual (1=10). St. Paul: Llelwellyn (1992). Zalewski, Pat. Golden Dawn Rituals and Commentaries (in Three Volumes). Privately printed (1993?).---. Z-5: Secret Teachings of the Golden Dawn--Book I: The Neophyte Ritual (0=0). St. Paul: Llewellyn (1991.