Spiritual Development and the Esoteric Grades
One of the misconceptions about the Grade structure of Golden Dawn is that because each Grade represents a stage of spiritual development that a member of the Grade must exhibit and embody that particular spiritual attribute.
This misconception has lead to many people joining a Golden Dawn based Order, only to leave in disappointment when its higher Grade members prove to be flawed human beings still.
Furthermore, many Order use this misconception as evidence against their competition, despite proof that their own members are just as flawed.
Yet if the Grades are not the fulfillment of the stages of spiritual development, then why are they associated with the stages of spiritual alchemy?
Simple, the Grades are the gateways to developing the spiritual attributes associated with the major stages of spiritual evolution.
The wise student of the Golden Dawn system will keep in mind that the Grades and their study material are given to the students as tools to develop the powers of their soul, and not as a reward for attaining exalted spiritual states of consciousness.
The students of BOTA, AA and the Rosicrucian Orders would also be wise to keep these points in mind as they progress through their respective systems of study and initiation.