Isis-Urania Temple

Part of a series on the
Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn
Leading figures Allen Bennett Florence Farr Samuel MacGregor-Mathers Henry B. Pullen Burry A. E. Waite William Wynn Westcott William Robert Woodman
Teachings Astrology Body of light Esoteric Christianity Ceremonial magic incl. Enochian magic Clairvoyance Egyptian mythology Geomancy Hermetic alchemy Hermetic Qabalah Neoplatonism Rosicrucianism Tarot Theurgy
Texts Cipher Manuscripts
Organizations Alpha et Omega Isis-Urania Temple The Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn, Inc. Open Source Order of the Golden Dawn
Related topics Enochian chess Great Work Holy Guardian Angel Lesser ritual of the pentagram Magic circle Opening by Watchtower Secret Chiefs Table of magical correspondences Tattva vision Thelema
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The Isis-Urania Temple was the first temple of the

In October 1887, Westcott wrote to Anna Sprengel, whose name and address he received through the decoding of the Cipher Manuscripts. A reply was purported to have been received with much wisdom, and honorary grades of Exempt Adept were conferred upon Westcott, Mathers and Woodman, as well as a charter to establish a Golden Dawn temple to work the five grades outlined in the manuscripts.^[2][3]

In 1888, the Isis-Urania temple in London was founded,^[2] in which the rituals decoded from the cipher manuscripts were developed and practiced.^[4] In addition, there was an insistence on women being allowed to participate in the Order in "perfect equality" with men, which was in contrast to the Societas Rosicruciana in Anglia (S.R.I.A.) and Masonry.^[3]

Towards the end of 1899, the Adepts of the Isis-Urania and Amen-Ra temples had become extremely dissatisfied with Mathers' leadership, as well as his growing friendship with Aleister Crowley. They were also anxious to make contact with the Secret Chiefs, instead of dealing with them through Mathers.^[5] Among the personal disagreements within the Isis-Urania temple, there were disputes between Florence Farr's The Sphere, a secret society within the Isis-Urania, and the rest of the Adeptus Minors.^[5]

Separation

After the Isis-Urania temple declared its independence, there were even more disputes, leading to the resignation of

Waite, Blackden and Ayton were now the leaders of the order which they now named Independent and Rectified Rite of the Golden Dawn or the Holy Order of the Golden Dawn which aimed at exploring mysticism. However Blackden and Ayton in fact took no active role leaving Waite in charge. Those who adhered to the reformed order included Arthur Machen, Algernon Blackwood, Pamela Colman Smith, and Isabelle de Steiger. The order also gained an active new member Evelyn Underhill in 1905. After Ayton's death, Col. Webber took his place.^[9] Waite continued his Isis-Urania Temple work during the years leading up to World War I and initially maintained a somewhat peaceful relationship with the Amoun Temple of the Stella Matutina though refusing contact with Alpha et Omega.

The new temple,

• Rosicrucianism

Notes

References

• Gilbert, Robert A. (1983). The Golden Dawn: Twilight of the Magicians. The Aquarian Press.
  ISBN 0-85030-278-1
  .
• King, Francis (1989). Modern Ritual Magic: The Rise of Western Occultism. Prism.
  ISBN 1-85327-032-6
  .
• King, Francis, ed. (1997). Ritual Magic of the Golden Dawn: Works by S. L. MacGregor Mathers and Others.
  ISBN 0-89281-617-1
  .
• Regardie, Israel (1993). What you should know about the Golden Dawn (6th ed.). New Falcon Publications.
  ISBN 1-56184-064-5
  .