About HOGD

The Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn in the USA

The Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn (H.O.G.D.) is a non-profit Florida organisation incorporated in 1988 by Charles “Chic” Cicero. The stated aim of the corporation is educational, spiritual and philosophical. The primary goal of the organisation is the continued preservation of that body of knowledge known as “Hermeticism” or the “Western Esoteric Tradition”. This organisation promotes the teachings of the original Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn, a magical fraternity founded in London in 1888 by Dr. William Wynn Westcott and Samuel Liddell MacGregor Mathers, which ceased to exist under that name in 1903 but which continued for a number of years under the names of two spin-off organisations, the Stella Matutina and the Alpha et Omega.

The Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn (H.O.G.D.) is also the name of a magical Order founded in 1977 in Columbus, Georgia. This Order's mentor and guiding light was the late Dr. Israel Regardie. The modern-day Order does not claim institutional lineage to the original H.O.G.D. but it does claim initiatory lineage to the original Order through Israel Regardie. The modern Order follows the traditional hierarchical structure of the original Golden Dawn Order in England with a ruling triad of Officers known as the “G.H. Chiefs”, who govern both the First or Outer Order as well as the Second or Inner Order (known as the Ordo Rosae Rubeae et Aureae Crucis or the RR et AC). The modern Order also follows the traditional teachings, grade structure and ethos of the original Order. Temple officers are known as Temple Chiefs. Although it currently has a worldwide membership with temples in several countries, the Order is rather private and membership is by invitation only.

The Order and the corporation are related organisations but they are not one and the same. However, both organisations are on friendly terms with several other Golden Dawn groups and other organisations in the wider esoteric community.

Ciceros