Israel Regardie (1907-1985) is a crucial figure in the development of modern occultism. At the age of 21 he travelled to Europe to work as Crowley's secretary, a period he writes about in his perceptive and sympathetic biography of the Beast, The Eye in the Triangle. This work describes (and is written despite of) their dramatic falling out which culminated in Crowley writing anonymously to every one whom Regardie knew or might come into contact with alleging all manner of extreme personal faults, no doubt intended to be as hurtful as possible. Regardie's commitment to magick and spiritual advancement continued unabated. He joined the Stella Matutina, a continuation of the Golden Dawn. As the operations of this group faltered Regardie came into possession of the Order's papers. Starting in 1937, Regardie published them so that the system would be preserved forever. Hand in hand with his magickal activities Regardie explored Freudian, Jungian and Reichian psychoanalysis, and became a practitioner. For Regardie, magickal endeavour had to interface with spiritual awakening and psychological development.

Regardie authored nearly a dozen original books including such substantial works as A Garden of Pomegranates, The Tree of Life, The Philosopher's Stone and The Middle Pillar all of which were first issued in the 1930s. He worked to make the Golden Dawn system available and understandable to a new generation with new revised editions of The Golden Dawn and original works drawing upon the system in the 1960s, 70s and 80s. His transmission of the Golden Dawn system went beyond just communication of information about the system, he also acted as ritual initiator permitting others the reactivation of the Order.