Golden Dawn Blog by Frater Yechidah

While some of my previous posts have gone over the official roles and duties of the Officers in an initation ceremony, what about the role of the Canidate? Some would argue there is no role, in that the Candidate has things "done" to them, as opposed to actively paritcipating. However, this is, in itself, a role. The passivity and receptivity required of the Candidate is their role. They are to become a Vessel for the energies and symbols implanted in them, and thus they must be made passive and receptive. Much of this is acheived through various dramatic elements of ritual, such as the quite potent one of shock . The not knowing what it happening or what is about to happen tends to heighten the senses to a degree that all things done are magnified in force. If, for example, the sight is removed from the Candidate (via a Hoodwink), then when it is restored there is a huge impact, including the fact that a coloured prop will now seem suddenly more vibrant and alive than it wou...

The Hierophant (Greek for "Initiating Priest") is the Initiator, Expounder of the Mysteries, and the Master of the Hall; and is also called Power and Mercy and Light and Abundance. He is represented by the god-form Oursiri (Osiris). His station is on the Throne of the East, the Place of the Guardian of the Dawning Sun. His duties are to initiate the Canidate, deliver the Mysteries, and to govern the Hall according to the laws of the Order, for he is the Master of all who work for the Hidden Knowledge. He wears a red mantle/tabard, symbolising Uncreated Fire and Created Fire, with a white cross on the left breast; and a white collar with a lamen depicting a red Circled Cross on a green background. He carries the Crown-headed Scepter and the Banner of the East. The feminine form of Hierophant is Hierophantissa , but Hierophant is often used in practice for both sexes.