However, as they were a cabal, where individual power wasn't enough, they just had to work together. The foundation and essence of the cabal was their group magic, involving ceremonial rituals which were modeled after stage plays.ДЄlthough they studied in the same cabal, the members of the Golden Dawn each had their own distinct areas of expertise and levels of magic.

The Golden Dawn and Golden-style cabals specialize in constructing sanctuaries and harnessing large amounts of Telesma to conduct large-scale powerful magic. It uses Hermeticism and Kabbalah in its foundations, incorporating elements of Tarot, Egyptian Mythology, Greek Mythology, Enoch, and Astrology among other things. Golden-style Magic is the system of magic developed by the Golden Dawn and used by the cabal and its successors.

Grades of 8=3 and beyond (associated with the Secret Chiefs) are not typically involved with the cabal's standard operations. With the exception of the initial 0=0 grade which has no associated position, the first numeral is the number of steps up from the bottom of the tree (Malkuth), while the second is the number of steps down from the top (Keter). The grades are referenced to by paired numbers separated by an equal sign, relating to the associated position on the Tree of Life. The Golden Dawn has an internal grading system, connected to both individual rank and the roles in the ceremonies carried out by the cabal. Since 1931, the organization has been ruled by Lavinia Hemingway. Eventually, the true organization split into two, with one half joining the Mages Association, and the other remaining independent. The original organization fell apart in the early 20th century after power struggles caused by pressure from the Mages Association who felt the organization threatened the secrecy of magecraft. The Third Order was that of the 'Secret Chiefs', who were said to be highly skilled they supposedly directed the activities of the lower two orders by spirit communication with the Chiefs of the Second Order. The Second or 'Inner' Order, the Rosae Rubeae et Aureae Crucis (the Ruby Rose and Cross of Gold), taught magic, including scrying, astral travel, and alchemy. The First Order taught esoteric philosophy based on the Hermetic Qabalah and personal development through study and awareness of the four Classical Elements as well as the basics of astrology, tarot divination, and geomancy. The 'Golden Dawn' was the first of three Orders, although all three are often collectively referred to as the 'Golden Dawn'. The Golden Dawn system was based on hierarchy and initiation like the Masonic lodges however women were admitted on an equal basis with men.

Many present-day concepts of ritual and magic that are at the centre of contemporary traditions, such as Wicca and Thelema, were inspired by the Golden Dawn, which became one of the largest single influences on 20th-century Western occultism. Known as a magical order, the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn was active in Great Britain and focused its practices on theurgy and spiritual development. The Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn was an organization devoted to the study and practice of the occult, metaphysics, and paranormal activities during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Golden dawn enochian chess board