Golden Dawn Blog by Frater Yechidah

In all aspects of Golden Dawn work there is the exoteric or apparent element and an esoteric or hidden one (and sometimes there is a third layer of symbol between them). It can therefore be argued that these seemingly simple rites and rituals are very potent acts of magic, and the more we realise such, the more we can get from them.

I believe that certain things are "fated" to be, but, in fact, they're also completely changeable. In a normal human sense they are fated, but in a more "godly" sense they are changeable. This is where the distinction between Higher and Lower Self is needed. The Higher Self chooses, while the Lower Self enacts a choice. Indeed, this is where, to give an analogy from the Matrix, the Oracle tells Neo "You've already made the choice. Now you have to understand it". If we will, we may change anything that is "fated", but only through the Higher Self - and we may decide not to change something after initially trying to once we realise it was an essential choice for our spiritual growth.