Daily Meditation.
The Silent Guide to a Successful Future.
Other titles: Divine Meditation (mentioned in May 1941 article on Rose Dawn in The Linking Ring)
1937--1990s Monthly, bimonthly, then quarterly
Del Rio, and then San Antonio, TX. Publisher: Mayan Press; Mayan Order, Inc.; Rose Dawn, Publisher. Editor: Rose Dawn (Isabelle Madge Coutant); Ruth S. Paterson, Faye Arnim, associate editor; Anne R. Carroll, associate editor; "P.R. Koran," feature editor.
Succeeds: Rose Dawn's Modern Astrology
1/1, 1937-1990s (?) (Vol. 27, no. 4 is October 1951.) 35 cents an issue, $2.50-$4.00 a year; 96 pp.

This was an organ of the Mayan Order started by Mr. and Mrs. (?) William P. Taylor ("Rose Dawn" and "Koran") in Del Rio, Texas in 1937 after Rose Dawn's Modern Astrology was sold. On them, see the note under that journal.

The journal's principal purpose was to continue its predecessor's promotion of the Taylors and their products, and pursuit of that goal concentrated on the permutations of the standard New Thought theme of man as a Spirit: "Can you not see the simple truth that this world is of Mind's own creating? You can put into it, or get from it, pretty much what you wish. The same applies to your Soul and your Spirit which, with your mind, is the real part of you." It was principally devoted to "One Minute Meditation Lessons" for each day of the month ("To know that we are a part of the abundant life of God helps us to come into a greater consciousness of life," etc.), but contained selections from Rose Dawn's articles and material by what appear to be disciples and by freelance writers of uplifting material ("How to Walk with Joy," "Let the Tree Teach You," "The Magic of Believing," etc.), and also regularly contained "News and Notes" on the activities of the Mayan Order's "Companions" around the United States and testimonial letters on the powerful effects of the Mayan Teachings. Even after Rose Dawn's death in 1964 the journal continued to carry "Rose Dawn Publisher" on its masthead and gave considerable space to advertising her books (TNT: The Power Within You; The Miracle Power; In Search for Happiness; etc.) and items like "Rose Dawn's Exclusive Design ‘Gift of Life' Pendant" ("illustration of the ancient Maya depicting the spiritual journey of man," $57.95).

The Mayan Order was "a secret brotherhood which base[d] its teachings on the traditional wisdom of that mysterious race of astrologers and temple builders, the ancient Mayans of Mexico and Central Mexico. They deal with the problems of making Prayers work; how to use your subconscious mind, and thousands of other practical, helpful suggestions." Rose Dawn was the Official Scribe (and sometimes "Patroness") of the Order. After William's death she became the "Supreme Leader, the Mayan Order." Although originally there seems to have been some attempt to call the movement "Koran-ology," Rose Dawn was always its public face. When Brinkley's radio station was closed down by the government finally in 1941, the Taylors moved to San Antonio and continued their work through nationwide, frequently full-page advertisements: "Would you Gamble 3 cents to win Happiness?" These unashamedly appealed to the fears and perceived inadequacies of the target demographic that the Taylors had come to know well from their radio audience: "If you are discontented, unhappy, not getting ahead . . . if you are worried about rising living costs . . . if you want to feel equal to other people mentally and financially . . . then you will want to know something about the easy to use principles of self-improvement taught by the Mayan Order." A reply to the advertisements got the interested person a "FREE" copy of the pamphlet Mayan Mysteries (or, in the 1930s, The Revelation Secret, sent for $1.00) and an invitation to join the Order ($2.00 for membership and $2.50 a month thereafter). Readers were promised the secrets of "Getting What You Want," and "Fulfilling Your Wishes," and the "Method for Obtaining Your Desires" (make a list of your desires and mentally photograph it and think often of it, building "expectation," and then "Simply believe"). Success was assured by a "GUARANTEE . . . a Certificate of Guarantee, backed by Universal Wisdom, assuring you of a constantly Increasing Income." Members received on a monthly basis the Order's "special, private" lesson series of what eventually became more than 300 lessons, arranged in at least 10 degrees. These instructed students on matters like "Personal Magnetism," "Super-Sensory or Extra-Sensory Perception," "moving in the astral body while the physical body remained behind," the mysteries of numbers and cosmic cycles, and other secrets, not only of the Mayans but also of the Indians, Egyptians and the mysterious Orient generally. All led students to realization of "Maximum Living." The lessons were lent, not sold, and members swore that they would "delivered up to the Order on demand." Members received a Mayan Order membership card and signs and passwords by which they could identify themselves to fellow members. Mayanry, as the Order described itself, was strongly Masonic in its organization, with members advancing through various degrees of "Companion of the Order" and becoming "Mayan Lectors," "Centurions," etc.

The Mayan Order was only one of the money-making ventures of the indefatigable Rose Dawn in the early days in Del Rio. In 1936 she and Perry Taylor started Modern Astrology (which published her regular column "Dawn-ology" and the June 1937 issue of which carried a glamorous photograph of her), and she wrote a nationally syndicated newspaper astrology column. She also promoted on XERA her "Giant Daily Astrological Guide," a 30-page forecast for each astrological sign for each year, which listed a variety of her lessons: "Ten Lessons in the Art of Being Successful," "Course of Ten lessons in the Art of Hypnotism," "The Art of Prophecy," "A Guide to Love, Romance and Marriage," etc. The piece de resistance of her lessons was "Selfology" ($25.00, or $30.00 if paid over time) arranged in 12 lessons on "Natural Laws," "The Psychic Department of Mind," "The Five Principles of Successful Attainment," "The Higher Psychic or Spiritual Intelligence," etc., all of which almost certainly eventually found their way into the Mayan Order lessons. Additionally, the Taylors promoted a healing service in their radio programs. They offered (for 50 cents a year) The Good Companion, "a little printed publication containing Extra Instruction each month and News from the Prayer Room, Stories of the healings and the victories and many other helpful items of interest." This was the organ of the Society of the Guiding Light, seems to have been a "pool" from which radio listeners could be drawn to the Mayan Order. The Society practiced thrice-daily prayers of healing and invited its members to join in prayer at the same times. ‘Upon entering the lovely little Prayer-Room maintained by the Society of THE GUIDING LIGHT, one finds at his right side, a stained-glass window reaching up to the ceiling, and picturing the ascended Christ. Directly before him is a prayer-altar where daily prayer is observed by certain of The Meditators, trained members of the higher degrees of Mayanry, the student Order of Mystics who sponsor The Society of The Guiding Light." Microfilm in Non-Traditional American Religions, LOC; University of California, Santa Barbara.

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