Who Is David Griffin?

For a long time, people have questioned exactly who is this person that claims to hold title and ownership over the egregore of the Western Mystery traditions. Claiming to be the sole inheritor of early Rosicrucian documents and the Golden Dawn and R.R. et A.C. lineage, Griffin has had a profound influence on the Western Mystery tradition as it is known today. Based on extensive research through publicly available archives, the following information has been gathered to provide you extensive details on this individual's trek to spirituality and his professed desire to unify the Golden Dawn tradition.

The reader would be advised that it is best not to merely read this, but to follow the links provided here to make your own decisions about the history, character, and validity of Mr. Griffin's claims. No text from any articles is included here. The purpose of this site is to provide links to exhisting USENET articles (the bulletin board system now known as "newsgroups" and a popular way of discussing common topics since the inception of the Internet) so that the user may enjoy the freedom of sound decisions based on actual information in the words of both Mr. Griffin and those who have known him over the years.

 

1. Lineage

David J. Griffin's occult training and lineage descends from Cris Monnastre(a.k.a Pat Behman) who was a student of Israel Regardie. Chris Monnastre wrote a frightfully long introduction about her magical career and her relationship with Regardie as his "Only accepted student" in the introduction of the paperback edition of Isreal Regardie's "The Golden Dawn" published by Llewllyn (isbn:0-87542-663-8). Regardie started his magical life as the secretary of Aleister Crowley. This went on for a number of years until Crowley ran out of money to pay him. After their parting of ways, and a couple of books later, Regardie was invited to join the Stella Matutina, an offshoot of the original Golden Dawn. The S.M. was founded by W.B. Yeats, William Brodie Innes and Dr. Robert Felkin, former members of Mather's Orders. Innes and Felkin were expelled from the Order by Mathers with the consent of Westcott on charges of subversion (training and informing Madame Horos in ways to undermine his authority) and schism (see Women of the Golden Dawn, pg. 272). Regardie eventually became disenchanted with the Stella Matutina and subsequently published the rituals and materials that he had access to in a three volume set. He did this in the hopes that the knowledge could at least be passed on. He also wrote a book on his dissention known first as "My Rosicrucian Adventure" and later as "What You Should Know About the Golden Dawn" (isbn:0-941404-15-3) In this written work, he expresses great contempt for the "Claptrap of Secret Societies" and the Golden Dawn in general. He himself felt that he had "no authority" to confer lineage.

2. Trademark Holder

Griffin owns registered trademarks on several items, including the term R.R. et A.C. He now shares a trademark with Chic Cicero for the name Golden Dawn. Ironically, prior to his application for the trademark, Griffin publicly attacked Chic Cicero for attempting the same thing. He opened his Golden Dawn site officially on July 19, 1997. He claims first usage of the term R.R. et A.C. on June 12, 1982 (USPTO application #2045501, search for "David Griffin" as the owner)

 

3. NAZI and Possible Member of Thule Group

Numerous allegations of these ties have been raised. The Thule Group, is the mystical German society determined to invoke the anti-Christ (and the leaders of the SS division of the Third Reich). Much can be found about the Thule Group by searching the web. Griffin has been publicly accused of being a NAZI and a member of Thule. In fact, R.A. Gilbert, the noted Golden Dawn historian publicly claimed to have a photo of Griffin in front of a NAZI flag (an article referencing this action can be found here). One of the earliest posts of this nature, on Sept 6, 1996 came at the heels of some intense anti-semitic and pro-NAZI postings a few months earlier, as well as attempts to back up his claims using the Bible (May-July, 1996).

Several people have offered compelling arguments that Mr Griffin is not a NAZI. However, given his constant attention to filing suit against parties, it is a wonder that he did not deal with this issue in that manner (a possible explanation -- that the charges could be true!!).

 

4. Worker For Unification of the Golden Dawn

David Griffin has worked quite hard for this. In fact, he has promoted the unity of all branches of the Golden Dawn (Jan 4, 1999). No, sorry ... he campaigned against it on April 24, 1999. On the same day, he posted a Manifesto declaring himself the leader and heir of the entire Golden Dawn and the R.R. et A.C. in all of its forms. The resulting backlash is (needless to say) quite an interesting read. Not bad for some one who claims this lineage from someone who claims they have no lineage to confer! (see #1, above).

It is my earnest hope that the reader has found this information quite enlightening as to the nature of the leader of the so-called "official" Golden Dawn.

 

Please note: A group doesn't have to be branded "Nazi" to be a danger to humanity...ANY group or person who's belief is hate and who does not consider some other person or group of persons worthy of life is a menace to the human race.