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To: alt.magick From: taliesin@NOJUNKmail.utexas.edu (G Leake) Subject: poke's new book--review (Secrets of the GD MS) Date: 8 Jul 1997 16:37:06 GMT Secrets of the Golden Dawn Cypher Manuscript, by Carroll R. "Poke" Runyon, Jr., Church of Hermetic Sciences, 1997, Pasadena, CA., ISBN# 0-9654881-2-8 Review by George Leake This work has been long in coming, as Poke Runyon is simply one of a long line of esteemed Western Magick scholars attempting to make heads or tails out of what is in essence a series of manuscripts comprising the charter myth of the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn. Many know the basic story behind the founding of the Golden Dawn: three English Masons, Woodford, Mathers and Westcott, somehow happen upon some strange papers in a vintage book shop that leads them to Fraulein Sprengel, a high ranking German Adept. When the original Golden Dawn group unravels, it comes out that this story was a hoax, now generally known as the Sprengel ruse. Secrets of the Golden Dawn Cypher Manuscript not only tries to set the motives behind the Sprengel ruse straight, but investigates the truth of the founding papers, who wrote them, what do they mean, and how they are relevant for us. In this book it is asserted these papers comprise the basis for the Golden Dawn's Outer Order rituals, and that these papers were authored by Kenneth Mackenzie, possibly with the help of Frederick Hockley or one of several other prominent Victorian era occult aficionados. At times, it seems this work is a response to Ellic Howe's The Magicians of the Golden Dawn. By all accounts, Howe's work is biased against not only the founders of the Golden Dawn, but all practitioners of Magick. Runyon questions his motives, and while I think he is entirely right when he suggests that Howe, as a Mason, was trying to distinguish Freemasonry from Magick due to the British tabloids' continual sensationalizing of anything mystic, and paranoia among status quo masons who want to keep their private club atmosphere free from the stain of the unwashed LSD imbibing masses of the late 60s, I don't think that being a practitioner automatically confers authority or that not being engaged in Magick disqualifies one from writing a sensible history on said subject. The proof is in the pudding. That said, Runyon embarks on slippery ground almost from the get-go but deftly keeps his balance. His suggestion (p.10) that this collection of manuscripts served as a charter myth is as sensible as any, and Gilbert's suggestion that Westcott found these papers amongst the possessions of Kenneth Mackenzie's widow is quite plausible. So often, we look for stunning truths or amazing coincidences. That the basis for the most dominant strain of Western Magick today might have been found in some odd shoebox wholly by accident (with perhaps a hint of incompetence) rings true. Runyon sets a tone early that is honest, complete as possible without being overly anal, non-blustery, and frankly, he's got a good sense of humor, a sign that he's not talking to the mirror too much if you know what I mean. What strikes me most about the Cypher Manuscript text is its overwhelming Masonic flavor. It occurs to me that one of Howe's motivations might have been his brand of Freemasonry was likely not of the very mystical variety. Though I am hardly an expert in Freemasonry, I wonder whether there's any hint of Grand Orient influence in these manuscripts, or is it pure Scottish Rite? Another motive for Howe's stance might be the Western Magickal impulse to adopt a magical persona. Runyon's historical background, while a bit uneven, is thoroughly fascinating. One suggested motive for Westcott's invention of the Sprengel ruse was to not alienate Madame Blavatsky, founder of the influential Theosophical Society. The text itself is based on a cypher invented by Johannes Trithemius (from his Polygraphia, 1561), reprinted on p. 65 just before the body of the cypher text begins. Runyon's translation seems on the up and up, despite the many misspellings and mistakes by the rushed scribe. I tried my hand at a couple of lines of translation, and on the first try found a scribal error! Note line two of text on page 86--Qlipoth is rendered "KLLIPPOTH", a variant I've never seen. In the notes, Runyon makes some astute observations: for instance the mix-ups of thy and thine in the cypher texts signal that Mathers was not the author. He also highlights the phrase "LORD OF LIGHT AND DARKNESS" as a sublime turn of phrase; I couldn't agree more. The Tarot Lecture is full of insight. I am tempted to get into a lengthy discussion about how these manuscripts illuminate the thought process of early Golden Dawn tarot, in particular some hints in here on the switch of positioning of Justice and Strength, but I'd also like to encourage as many people as possible to read this book and come to their own conclusions. One other fascinating aspect of Secrets of the Golden Dawn Cypher Manuscript, are the number of 11 sephira trees of life presented here, which accents the importance of Da'ath. There's much commentary on this and its presence in these cypher manuscripts, its difficult to set on one quote, but I think this sums up Runyon's attitude nicely: The Secret Tree not only recognizes Da'ath; it accesses it! Calling it "The Tree of Life Before The Fall" was an inspiration. That concise title communicates volumes of meaning. In our individual microcosoms [sic], for instance, how much of our psychic capacities have we lost in "The Fall" from childhood innocence? Using this analogy one might say that The Secret Tree is C. S. Lewis' "wardrobe", Alice's "looking glass" or Dorothy's "magic slippers." -- Skill without imagination is craftsmanship and gives us many useful objects such as wickerwork picnic baskets. Imagination without skill gives us modern art. -Tom Stoppard It is unlawful to use this email address for unsolicited commercial email per United States Code Title 47 Sec. 227. I assess a US $500 charge for reviewing & deleting each unsolicited commercial email. Sending unsolicited commercial email to my email address denotes acceptance of these terms. My posting messages to UseNet neither grants consent to receiving nor is intended to solicit commercial email. George Leake taliesin@mail.utexas.edu
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