The Magus is the second highest grade in the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn's initiatory system, directly below the Ipsissimus. The title derives from the Greek magos, referring to a wise man or sorcerer, and ultimately from the Old Persian maguš, a priestly caste in Zoroastrianism. In the Golden Dawn, the Magus is the grade of the Master of the Temple, one who has attained the knowledge and conversation of the Holy Guardian Angel and now acts as a channel for the divine will.

Position on the Tree of Life

The Magus corresponds to the second Sephirah, Chokmah, on the Tree of Life. Chokmah is the sphere of Wisdom, the first emanation of pure force and the active principle of creation. As the second step on the path of initiation, the Magus stands at the threshold of the Supernal Triangle, having passed beyond the Veil of the Abyss. This position signifies the attainment of direct, intuitive knowledge and the ability to formulate and project the divine will into manifestation.

Astrological and planetary correspondence

In the 777 system, the Magus is attributed to the zodiacal sign of the Sun in Leo, reflecting the solar, creative, and kingly nature of this grade. The planet Jupiter also holds a correspondence, emphasizing expansion, wisdom, and authority. The Magus is the active, masculine principle, the force that initiates and empowers all subsequent grades.

Historical context

The concept of the Magus as an initiatory grade has deep roots in Western esotericism. In the Hermetic tradition, the Magus is the one who has mastered the art of theurgy and can command the elemental spirits. The Golden Dawn's grade structure, as outlined in the Cipher Manuscripts and later codified by S.L. MacGregor Mathers and others, places the Magus at the head of the Second Order, the Ordo Rosae Rubeae et Aureae Crucis (Order of the Rose of Ruby and the Golden Cross). This grade is associated with the title "Magister Templi" (Master of the Temple) in the later A∴A∴ system of Aleister Crowley, where it represents the attainment of the Knowledge and Conversation of the Holy Guardian Angel. The Magus is the one who has crossed the Abyss and become a Master of the Temple, capable of formulating the Word of the Aeon.

In the 777 table, the Magus appears at step 2 of the Grades of the Order, directly beneath the Ipsissimus and above the Magister Templi. This placement emphasizes its role as the active, creative force that initiates the process of manifestation, standing as the bridge between the unmanifest and the manifest worlds.