Magical mottoes are the magical

nickname A nickname is a substitute for the proper name of a familiar person, place or thing. Commonly used to express affection, a form of endearment, and sometimes amusement, it can also be used to express defamation of character. As a concept, it is ...

s, pen names, or

pseudonym A pseudonym (; ) or alias () is a fictitious name that a person or group assumes for a particular purpose, which differs from their original or true name (orthonym). This also differs from a new name that entirely or legally replaces an individua ...

s taken by individuals in a number of

magical organization A magical organization or magical order is an organization created for the practice of ceremonial or other forms of occult magic or to further the knowledge of magic among its members. Magical organizations can include Hermetic orders, Wicca ...

s. These members were known and sometimes referred to in many publications by these mottoes. Members of these organizations typically adopted such a motto at their initiation into the

neophyte A neophyte is a recent initiate or convert to a subject or belief. Neophyte may also refer to: Science * Neophyte (botany), a plant species recently introduced to an area As a proper noun Arts and entertainment * Neophyte, a character class ...

grade of the organizations. Magical mottoes are taken in order to separate the magician's magical identity from their mundane identity within the context of magical work. Within the highly influential tradition of the

Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn The Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn ( la, Ordo Hermeticus Aurorae Aureae), more commonly the Golden Dawn (), was a secret society devoted to the study and practice of occult Hermeticism and metaphysics during the late 19th and early 20th ...

, the mottoes chosen were usually in a foreign language, often but not always

Latin Latin (, or , ) is a classical language belonging to the Italic branch of the Indo-European languages. Latin was originally a dialect spoken in the lower Tiber area (then known as Latium) around present-day Rome, but through the power of the ...

. The mottoes were sometimes called the initiate's "aspiration name," and most contain high-minded sentiments and often literary allusions. Members were free to change them upon receiving initiations into higher degrees of the organizations;

William Butler Yeats William Butler Yeats (13 June 186528 January 1939) was an Irish poet, dramatist, writer and one of the foremost figures of 20th-century literature. He was a driving force behind the Irish Literary Revival and became a pillar of the Irish liter ...

began as ''

Festina Lente ''Festina lente'' () or ''speûde bradéōs'' (, ) is a classical adage and oxymoron meaning "make haste slowly" (sometimes rendered in English as "more haste, less speed"). It has been adopted as a motto numerous times, particularly by the e ...

'' (Latin: "Make haste slowly") and changed it later in his career with the Golden Dawn. Within the Golden Dawn tradition, documents and instructions were typically issued under the initials of the magical mottoes of their authors. For example, the document ''Of Skrying and Travelling in the Spirit-Vision'' was written by

Moina Mathers Moina Mathers, born Mina Bergson (28 February 1865 – 25 July 1928), was an artist and occultist at the turn of the 20th century. She was the sister of French philosopher Henri Bergson, the first man of Jewish descent to be awarded the Nobel Pri ...

, and as such appears credited to "Soror V.N.R.", standing for her motto ''Vestigia Nulla Retrorsum''. And, ''The Tree of Life as Projected as a Solid Sphere'' is credited to "S.R.M.D.", indicating that its author was

Samuel Liddell MacGregor Mathers Samuel Liddell (or Liddel) MacGregor Mathers (8 or 11 January 1854 – 5 or 20 November 1918), born Samuel Liddell Mathers, was a British occultist. He is primarily known as one of the founders of the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn, a cerem ...

. Within this tradition, users of magical mottoes typically referred to each other in their capacity as initiates as ''Frater'' (men) or ''Soror'' (women), Latin for "brother" and "sister" respectively, followed by the initials of their magical mottoes.

Israel Regardie Francis Israel Regardie (; né Regudy; November 17, 1907 – March 10, 1985) was a British-American occultist, ceremonial magician, and writer who spent much of his life in the United States. He wrote fifteen books on the subject of occultism. Bo ...

, ''The Golden Dawn'' (Llewellyn, 1988)

Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn

*Julian Baker – ''Causa Scientiae'' (Latin: "For the sake of knowledge")King, Ritual Magic, 1989 * Edmund William Berridge – ''Resurgam'' (Latin: "I will rise again") *

Aleister Crowley Aleister Crowley (; born Edward Alexander Crowley; 12 October 1875 – 1 December 1947) was an English occultist, ceremonial magician, poet, painter, novelist, and mountaineer. He founded the religion of Thelema, identifying himself as the pr ...

– ''Perdurabo'' (Latin: "I will endure" or " I will endure until the end") *

Florence Farr Florence Beatrice Emery (''née'' Farr; 7 July 1860 – 29 April 1917) was a British West End leading actress, composer and director. She was also a women's rights activist, journalist, educator, singer, novelist, and leader of the occult ...

– ''Sapientia Sapienti Dono Data'' (Latin: "Wisdom is a gift given to the wise") *F. L. Gardner – ''De Profundis Ad Lucem'' (Latin: "From the depths to the light") *

Maud Gonne Maud Gonne MacBride ( ga, Maud Nic Ghoinn Bean Mhic Giolla Bhríghde; 21 December 1866 – 27 April 1953) was an English-born Irish republican revolutionary, suffragette and actress. Of Anglo-Irish descent, she was won over to Irish nationalism ...

– ''Per Ignem ad Lucem'' (Latin: "Through fire to the light")Mary K. Greer, ''Women of the Golden Dawn'' (Park Street Press, 1996) *

Annie Horniman Annie Elizabeth Fredericka Horniman CH (3 October 1860 – 6 August 1937) was an English theatre patron and manager. She established the Abbey Theatre in Dublin and founded the first regional repertory theatre company in Britain at the Gaiety ...

– ''Fortiter et Recte'' (Latin: "Strongly and rightly") *

– ''Vestigia nulla retrorsum'' (Latin: "I never retrace my steps") *

(founder) – S Rioghail Mo Dhream'' ( Gaelic: "Royal is my race") *Mrs. Simpson – ''Perseverantia et Cura Quies'' (Latin: "Perseverance and care for rest") *Miss Elaine Simpson – ''Fidelis'' (Latin: "Faithful") *Colonel Webber – ''Non Sine Numine'' (Latin: "Not without divine favor") *

William Wynn Westcott William Wynn Westcott (17 December 1848 – 30 July 1925) was a coroner, ceremonial magician, theosophist and Freemason born in Leamington, Warwickshire, England. He was a Supreme Magus (chief) of the S.R.I.A and went on to co-found t ...

(founder) – ''

Sapere Aude ''Sapere aude'' is the Latin phrase meaning "Dare to know"; and also is loosely translated as “Have courage to use your own reason”, "Dare to know things through reason", or even more loosely as "Dare to be wise". Originally used in the '' F ...

'' (Latin: "Dare to Know") * A. F. A. Woodford – ''Sit Lux et Lux Fuit'' (Latin: "There is light and there was light") * William Robert Woodman (founder) – ''Magna est Veritas et Praevalebit'' (Latin: "Great is the Truth and it shall prevail") *

– ''Demon est Deus inversus'' (Latin: "The demon is the reverse of God") George Cecil Jones (Volo Noscere Frater DDS "Eu saberei")

Alpha et Omega

Allen Bennett Charles Henry Allan Bennett (8 December 1872 – 9 March 1923) was an English Buddhist and former member of the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn. He was an early friend and influential teacher of occultist Aleister Crowley. Bennett received ...

– ''Iehi Aour'' (

Hebrew Hebrew (; ; ) is a Northwest Semitic language of the Afroasiatic language family. Historically, it is one of the spoken languages of the Israelites and their longest-surviving descendants, the Jews and Samaritans. It was largely preserved ...

: "Let there be light") * J. W. Brodie-Innes – ''Sub Spe'' (Latin: "Under hope") * Violet Mary Firth – Dion Fortune "Deo, non fortuna" (ancient motto of Barons & Earls Digby, Latin: "By God, not by chance") *

George Cecil Jones George Cecil Jones, Jr. (10 January 1873 – 30 October 1960),''Who's Who in Science'', 1913 was a British chemist, occultist, one time member of the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn and co-founder of the magical order A∴A∴. According to autho ...

– Volo Noscere Frater D.D.S. "I Will know" ) *Mrs. Tranchell-Hayes – ''Ex Fide Fortis'' (Latin: "strength out of faith")

Stella Matutina

*Harriet Felkin – ''Quaestor Lucis'' (Latin: "Seeker of light") *

Robert Felkin Dr Robert William Felkin FRSE LRCSE LRCP (13 March 1853 – 28 December 1926) was a medical missionary and explorer, a ceremonial magician and member of the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn, a prolific author on Uganda and Central Africa, and e ...

– ''Finem Respice'' (Latin: "Look to the end"): Imperator *Mr. Meakin – ''Ex Orient Lux'' (Latin: "Light from the East") *

– ''Ad Majoram Adonai Gloriam'' (Latin: "For the greater glory of the Lord")Diaries, 1999

Argentium Astrum

– To Mega Therion (Greek: "The Great Beast") *

J.F.C. Fuller Major-General John Frederick Charles "Boney" Fuller (1 September 1878 – 10 February 1966) was a senior British Army officer, military historian, and strategist, known as an early theorist of modern armoured warfare, including categorising pr ...

– ''Per Ardua ad Astra'' (Latin: "By struggle to the stars") * Charles Stansfeld Jones – ''Unus In Omnibus'' (Latin: "One in All") and also ''Parsival'' *

– ''Volo Noscere'' (Latin: "I Wish to Know") *

Victor Benjamin Neuburg The name Victor or Viktor may refer to: * Victor (name), including a list of people with the given name, mononym, or surname Arts and entertainment Film * ''Victor'' (1951 film), a French drama film * ''Victor'' (1993 film), a French shor ...

– ''Omnia Vincam'' (Latin: "I will conquer all") *

Austin Osman Spare Austin Osman Spare (30 December 1886 – 15 May 1956) was an English artist and occultist who worked as both a draughtsman and a painter. Influenced by symbolism and art nouveau his art was known for its clear use of line, and its depiction of ...

– ''Yihoveaum'' *

Jane Wolfe Sarah Jane Wolfe (March 21, 1875 – March 29, 1958) was an American silent film character actress who is considered an important female figure in magick. She was a friend and a colleague of Aleister Crowley and a founding member of Agape Lodg ...

-- ''Estai'' – (

Greek Greek may refer to: Greece Anything of, from, or related to Greece, a country in Southern Europe: *Greeks, an ethnic group. *Greek language, a branch of the Indo-European language family. **Proto-Greek language, the assumed last common ancestor ...

έσται: "I will be") * Frieda Harris – ''TzBA'' (

: "Host") *

Leila Waddell Leila Ida Nerissa Bathurst Waddell, also known as Laylah, (10 August 1880 – 13 September 1932), born Leila Ida Bathurst Waddell, was a violinist who became a famed Scarlet Woman of Aleister Crowley, and a powerful historical figure in magic ...

– ''Agatha''

Ordo Templi Orientis

*George Macnie Cowie – ''Fiat Pax'' (Latin: "Let there be peace") *

Karl Germer Karl Johannes Germer (22 January 1885 – 25 October 1962), also known as ''Frater Saturnus'', was a German occultist and the United States representative and later a successor of author and occultist Aleister Crowley as the Outer Head of the Ord ...

– ''Saturnus'' * Grady McMurtry – ''Hymenaeus Alpha'' * Jack Parsons – ''Thelema Obtentum Procedero Amoris Nuptiae'' (Grammatically incorrect Latin for "The establishment of Thelema through the rituals of love.") *Aleister Crowley – ''

Baphomet Baphomet is a deity allegedly worshipped by the Knights Templar. that subsequently became incorporated into various occult and Western esoteric traditions. The name ''Baphomet'' appeared in trial transcripts for the Inquisition of the Knights ...

'' *

Gerald Gardner Gerald Brosseau Gardner (13 June 1884 – 12 February 1964), also known by the craft name Scire, was an English Wiccan, as well as an author and an amateur anthropology, anthropologist and archaeology, archaeologist. He was instrumental in bri ...

– ''Scire'' (Latin: "to know")

Notes

References

*Crowley, Aleister (edited by Stephan Skinner) ''Magical Diaries of Aleister Crowley; Tunisia 1923'' (1999) *King, Francis ''Modern Ritual Magic: The Rise of Western Occultism'' (1989) *Regardie, Israel ''What you should know about the Golden Dawn'' (1993) {{ISBN, 1-56184-064-5 Motto, Magical