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The Museum of Witchcraft
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Ritual Magic and Golden Dawn |
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There are several ancient systems of magic, many of them involve elaborate rituals and regalia. |
Ritual magic is not witchcraft but many of the theories and methods used by ritual magicians are also incorporated into Freemasonry and modern witchcraft. Many of the people responsible for the revival of interest in witchcraft were also involved in these secret magical societies. The Museum shows a painted altar slab made by Alex Sanders before his name became associated with witchcraft. The Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn was one of the most influential occult societies of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. It still survives today. The Golden Dawn was formed in 1888 with a hierarchy based on the ten sephira of the Cabalistic Tree of Life plus an eleventh degree for neophytes (trainees). |
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 The seven steps of occult knowledge, Liber de Ascensur, (1512) |
Famous occultist Aleister Crowley was initiated into The Golden Dawn in 1898, but by 1900 had fallen out with the higher ranks and was expelled. Several other magical societies existed including:
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