The Companions in Light
The dramatis personae of the Order,
from 1897 to today.
Here are a few short biographic capsules of some the Companions instrumental in shaping the Aurum Solis and other modern vehicles of the Ogdoadic Tradition.
OgdoadicMagick.Net - a
center where Ogdoadic practioners can network and interface.
Vivian Godfrey (Melita Denning)
Leonard Barcynski (Osborne Phillips)
"Denning & Phillips"
Julianus-Hekatyfy
William Stoltz
Thomas Worrel
Norman Kraft
Vivienne O'Regan
Carl L. Weschcke
Thomas Maughan
Ernest Page
Rabbi Morris Greenburg
Charles Kingold
George Stanton
Vivian Godfrey
The first female Grand Master of AS, from 1976 to 1997. At one point
Vivian spent about six years traveling throughout and gathering occult
knowledge, chiefly from the Middle East and the Mediterranean. These studies
led her to discover the work of the Aurum Solis on kindred matters. She
studied Jungian psychology under Buntie Wills, herself a student of C.
G. Jung's friend Toni Sussman. Vivian was invested Dame d'Honneur, OMCT,
in 1968 by the Geneva Grand Priory of the Sovereign Military Order of the
Temple. She was also friends with Olivia Robertson, the founder of the
Fellowship of Isis, since they were young women. Vivian spoke English,
French, Italian and Latin.
Leonard Barcynski
Former Grand Master of the Order, and Administrator-General. Leon received
magical training at age 16 from Ernest Page, the Warden of the Ordo Sacri
Verbi and notable London astrologer. For some time in the early 70's he
was the head of the Aurum Solis psychic investigation team. Leon was a
pupil of U Maung Maung Ji, a lecturer in Eastern philosophies, who worked
with the UN Secretary-General U Thant. He is a Fellow of the International
Biographical Association, a Life Patron of the American Biographical Institute,
and an Honorary Fellow of the Anglo-American Academy.
"Denning & Phillips"
Husband and wife, together Vivian and Leon wrote the Magical Philosophy
series as well as many other books. Both are adepts of the Aurum Solis.
Around 1971 Vivian & Leon met or began working with Carl Llewellyn
Weschcke. Around 1979 they moved to the United States. In June of 1982
Leon & Vivian were consecrated Autocephalous Bishops of the Paracletian
Church by Herman Adrian Spruit, the founder of the Church of Antioch. In
1983, they both consecrated Carl Weschcke into the same bishopric. On 8
July 1987 Vivian & Leon retired from the Aurum Solis, and Weschcke
became the Grand Master. Yet on 23 June 1988 both resumed office at the
unanimous request of the members; Vivian as Grand Master and Leon as Administrator-General.
In 1989 the two returned to England, and presumably the Grand Commandery
relocated. In 1997 Vivian was diagnosed with cancer and died on 23 March.
On 11 April 2001 Leon resumed office as the Grand Master of Aurum Solis.
Julianus-Hekatyfy
The current Grand Master of the Aurum Solis, succeeded Leon Barcynski
on 14 June 2003. Former Associate Grand Master and Prior of the Order.
William Stoltz
The Master of the Commandery of the Winged Serpent in Minneapolis,
Minnesota, and Grand Master of the Ordo Astrum Sophiae. Initiated into
the Aurum Solis in 1984, he became the Chief Liaison Officer of United
States in the Aurum Solis and maintained this senior position until The
Grand Commandery dissolved all American commanderies. He has written--among
other things, no doubt--an excellent essay for the Cicero's Golden Dawn
Journal: Book II entitled "Sacred Images: A Qabalistic Analysis of
the Neophyte Formula."
Thomas Worrel
The Master of the Commandery of the Green Lion--formerly of the Aurum
Solis--located in Marin County, California. He is also a Freemason and
has written several essays on Masonry, Rosicrucianism as well as the Ogdoadic
Tradition available at www.tomworrel.com.
Norman Kraft
The former Master of both the former Commanderies of the Black Rose
in Toronto, as well as Lapis Lazuli in San Diego. He has published an introductory
book to the AS system compiled from his experience with initiates of Lapis
Lazuli entitled Ogdoadic Magick (Weiser, 2001). More information
is available from his website.
Vivienne O'Regan
The Acting Grand Master of the Order from 1999-2001, as well as the
Order's former Deputy Grand Master, Prior, Administrator-General, and Master
of the former Commandery of the Crown of the North (U.K.). She is the author
of The Pillar of Isis: A Practical Manual of the Mysteries of the Goddess
(Aquarian
Press, 1992). More information is available from her website,
Caer
Sidi.
Carl Llewellyn Weschcke
Weschcke began his relationship with Vivian & Leon some time before
their move to the United States, and his company published many of their
works. On July 8, 1987, Weschcke became Grand Master of the Aurum Solis
after Vivian & Leon retired. He had previously been Administrator-General
of the Order. About one year later, Weschcke stepped down when Vivian &
Leon resumed their positions in the Order.
Thomas Maughan
Born 1901, Maughan was a British native and a talented Homeopath. He
became Archdruid of England in 1964 and held this position until his death
in 1976. The first edition of The Magical Philosophy, Book III: The
Sword & the Serpent is dedicated to him. The dedication references
Maughan as: "... Adeptus Magni Aestimatus Sodalis, Collegii Cathedrarum
O.S.V." It is difficult to say without more evidence, but one could assume
these comments to mean he was an adept of A.S.
Ernest Page
Ernest Page was a notable London astrologer and teacher of Leon Barcynski.
He was a well-known figure throughout Soho and would meticulously draft
horoscopes and interpret them to a high degree of accuracy in local cafes.
He was also a skilled graphologist, and talented lyrical poet--a short
verse of his appears in The Magical Philosophy, Book III: The Sword
& the Serpent, pp. 170-171. As well as his esoteric work,
he was a devoted social-worker with the Simon Society, an organization
dedicated to helping those who needed aid but could not seek it through
the normal channels. Upon becoming Warden of the Ordo Sacri Verbi in 1959
he immediately began to work for its reunion with the Aurum Solis. He died
in 1966. Melita Denning's poem "Orpheus," which prefaces Book I of the
Magical Philosophy, serves as a dedicatory verse to Page.
Rabbi Morris Greenberg
Little is known about this influential figure in the early days of
the Order. The Rabbi added tremendously to the Order's Hebrew knowledge.
However, the only topic in The Magical Philosophy which is specifically
identified as the result of his work is the scheme of the Princes of the
Qliphoth and of their Cohorts described towards the end of Chapter V of
The
Sword & the Serpent. We are told he continued to be a great mentor
to the Order, even up to his final days in the 1930's at Bournemouth.
Charles Kingold
Quite literally nothing is known about the co-founder of the Aurum
Solis, except that he was a senior member of the Societas Rotae Fulgentis
along with Stanton.
George K. Stanton
Along with Kingold, Stanton constituted the Aurum Solis in 1897. He
was the first Warden of the Order. He was also the author of "Rambles &
researches among Worcestershire churches, with historical notes relating
to the several parishes; to which is added, an authentic account of the
old Manor House at Harrington Chaddesley Corbett," published in London,
1886.