Thelemapedia - User contributions [en]

User:Ash

2009-07-25T01:28:09Z

Ash:

Thelemapedia:Really Simple Tutorial (tidbits)

2007-04-25T01:11:12Z

Ash:

<div style="border:3px solid #666;padding:3px;margin-top:10px;"><div style="padding:8px;background-color:#FAE92D;position:relative;top:0;left:0;margin-bottom:3px;text-align:center;font-size:12px;border:1px solid #666;">'''[[Thelemapedia:Really Simple Tutorial|Introduction]]''' | '''[[Thelemapedia:Really Simple Tutorial (the basics)|The Basics]]''' | '''[[Thelemapedia:Really Simple Tutorial (more formatting)|More Formatting]]''' | '''[[Thelemapedia:Really Simple Tutorial (content)|Content]]''' | '''[[Thelemapedia:Really Simple Tutorial (tidbits)|Tidbits]]'''</div><div style="border:1px solid #666;padding:15px;">Here are a few final items to get you on your way...
__NOTOC__
==Write something in your user page==

Let others know who you are, or at least what you are like and what interests you have. Just click on your name in the top right box, and start editing (now that you know how!).

==Join the conversation==

Right now, there are four ways to interact with other Thelemapedians:

#'''Discussion pages.''' Every article has a corresponding "talk" page. Just click on the "discussion" link in the grey bar. This is the best place to discuss individual articles and for proposing major changes or asking questions. Also, if you leave a message on a user's discussion page (not the main user page), then that user will get a notice that a message is waiting. Remember to sign your name on talk pages with three or four tildas (<nowiki>~~~~</nowiki>).
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==Thelemapedia government==
There are three main areas of power within Thelemapedia: content, policy, and function. '''Content''' is created by the editors, and in this area, no editor has any more authority than any other.

See also: [[Thelemapedia:Power structure]]

==The Zen of Wiki==

Being a Thelemapedia editor is an exercise in emotional detachment. Always keep in mind that everything you add is open to editing, changing, mangling, and even deletion. This is the nature of a wiki, and if you take too much ownership of what you write here, you will end up angry or disappointed. However, if you can get into the groove of knowledge evolution as you watch articles take on a life of their own, then you can expect to be quite happy here.
</div><div style="padding:8px;background-color:#FAE92D;position:relative;bottom:0;left:0;margin-top:3px;text-align:center;font-size:12px;border:1px solid #666;">'''[[Thelemapedia:Really Simple Tutorial|Introduction]]''' | '''[[Thelemapedia:Really Simple Tutorial (the basics)|The Basics]]''' | '''[[Thelemapedia:Really Simple Tutorial (more formatting)|More Formatting]]''' | '''[[Thelemapedia:Really Simple Tutorial (content)|Content]]''' | '''[[Thelemapedia:Really Simple Tutorial (tidbits)|Tidbits]]'''</div></div>
[[Category:Thelemapedia]]

The Book of the Law

2006-09-20T15:19:26Z

Ash:

{{partial}}

The full title of this book is

'''Liber AL vel Legis'''<BR>
'''sub figura CCXX'''<BR>
'''The Book of the Law'''<BR>
'''as delivered by XCIII=418 to DCLXVI'''
{{93}}
The religion known as [[Thelema]] was established with the writing of '''The Book of the Law'''. It was written (or received) by [[Aleister Crowley]] in Cairo, Egypt in the year 1904. It contains three chapters, each of which was written down in one hour, beginning at noon, on April 8th, 9th, and 10th. Crowley claims that the author was an entity named [[Aiwass]], whom he later identified as his own [[Holy Guardian Angel]]. The teachings within this small book are clearly expressed in the Law of Thelema, expressed by these two phrases:

*"Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the Law" (AL I:40) and
*"Love is the law, love under will" (AL I:57)

Interpretation of this book is considered a matter for the individual, and openly promoting personal ideas about its meaning is strongly discouraged. Although Crowley expressed the desire to see the Law of Thelema promulgated in all areas of society, success in this endeavor is to be based on others willfully following the the good example of Thelemites rather than by evangelization or direct attempts to convert others. "Success is thy proof: argue not; convert not; talk not over much!" (AL III:42)

==The Writing of Liber Legis==

===The Summons===

According to Crowley, the story begins on March 16, 1904, when he tries to “shew the Sylphs” by means of a ritual to his wife, [[Rose Kelly|Rose]]. Although she could see nothing, she did seem to enter into a light trance and repeatedly said, "They're waiting for you!" Since Rose had no interest in [[magick]] or mysticism, he took little interest. However, on the 18th, after invoking [[Thoth]] (the god of knowledge), she mentions [[Horus]] by name as the one waiting for him. Crowley, still skeptical, asks her numerous questions about Horus, which she answers accurately—without having any prior study of the subject. The final proof was Rose’s identification of Horus in the [[Stele of Revealing]], then housed in the Boulak museum, with the exhibit number [[666]].

On March 20, Crowley invokes Horus, “with great success.” Between March 23 and April 8, Crowley has the hieroglyphs on the Stele translated. Also, Rose reveals that her “informant” was not Horus himself, but his messenger, [[Aiwass]]. Finally, on April 7, Rose gives Crowley his instructions—for three days he is to enter the “temple” and write down what he heard between noon and 1:00pm.

===The Writing===

Crowley wrote the Book of the Law on April 8, 9, and 10, between the hours of noon and 1:00pm. He describes the “Voice of Aiwass” as coming from over his left shoulder, as if the speaker were standing in the corner of the room. The voice was said to be passionate, of deep timbre, and musical, without any recognizable accent.

Although he did not look around the room, Crowley had the impression that Aiwass was a body of “fine matter” like a “veil of gauze.” He further describes Aiwass as a “tall, dark man in his thirties, well-knit, active and strong, with the face of a savage king, and eyes veiled lest their gaze should destroy what they saw” (Crowley, 1997).

Crowley also makes it very clear that it was not “automatic writing,” but that the experience was exactly like an actual voice speaking to him. This is evidenced by several errors that the scribe actually had to inquire about. He does admit to the possibility that Aiwass was a manifestation of his own subconscious. But even were this so, he claimed that the message imparted by Aiwass was so beyond human experience or knowledge that it necessitated a praeternatural intelligence that only a god could possess.

==See also==
*[[Reception of Liber Legis]]
*[[Thelema]]
*[[Aleister Crowley]]
*[[True Will]]
*[[Holy Books of Thelema]]
*[[Aiwass]]

==External Links==

*[http://oto-usa.org/l220.html Text version of The Book of the Law]
*[http://oto-usa.org/l31.html Manuscript version of The Book of the Law]
*[http://www.ashami.com/eidolons/A_Transcription_of_Liber_Legis A Transcription of Liber Legis]—an attempt to transcribe the manuscript of Liber Legis, including original punctuation, sentence breaks, additional notes, and script revisions made on the actual document.

===Comments on The Book of the Law===

*[http://www.hermetic.com/220/crowley-comment.html The Old and New Commentaries to Liber AL] by Aleister Crowley
*[http://www.ashami.com/eidolons/The_Djeridensis_Working The Djeridensis Working (The Comment Called D)], Crowley's 1923 Commentary on Liber Legis.

[[Category:Thelema]]
[[Category:Sacred Texts]]
[[Category:AL vel Legis]]
[[Category:Holy Books of Thelema]]

The Book of the Law

2006-09-20T15:18:54Z

Ash:

The Book of the Law

2006-09-16T00:11:59Z

Ash:

{{partial}}

The full title of this book is

'''Liber AL vel Legis'''<BR>
'''sub figura CCXX'''<BR>
'''The Book of the Law'''<BR>
'''as delivered by XCIII=418 to DCLXVI'''
{{93}}
The religion known as [[Thelema]] was established with the writing of '''The Book of the Law'''. It was written (or received) by [[Aleister Crowley]] in Cairo, Egypt in the year 1904. It contains three chapters, each of which was written down in one hour, beginning at noon, on April 8th, 9th, and 10th. Crowley claims that the author was an entity named [[Aiwass]], whom he later identified as his own [[Holy Guardian Angel]]. The teachings within this small book are clearly expressed in the Law of Thelema, expressed by these two phrases:

*"Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the Law" (AL I:40) and
*"Love is the law, love under will" (AL I:57)

Interpretation of this book is considered a matter for the individual, and openly promoting personal ideas about its meaning is strongly discouraged. Although Crowley expressed the desire to see the Law of Thelema promulgated in all areas of society, success in this endeavor is to be based on others willfully following the the good example of Thelemites rather than by evangelization or direct attempts to convert others. "Success is thy proof: argue not; convert not; talk not over much!" (AL III:42)

==The Writing of Liber Legis==

===The Summons===

According to Crowley, the story begins on March 16, 1904, when he tries to “shew the Sylphs” by means of a ritual to his wife, [[Rose Kelly|Rose]]. Although she could see nothing, she did seem to enter into a light trance and repeatedly said, "They're waiting for you!" Since Rose had no interest in [[magick]] or mysticism, he took little interest. However, on the 18th, after invoking [[Thoth]] (the god of knowledge), she mentions [[Horus]] by name as the one waiting for him. Crowley, still skeptical, asks her numerous questions about Horus, which she answers accurately—without having any prior study of the subject. The final proof was Rose’s identification of Horus in the [[Stele of Revealing]], then housed in the Boulak museum, with the exhibit number [[666]].

On March 20, Crowley invokes Horus, “with great success.” Between March 23 and April 8, Crowley has the hieroglyphs on the Stele translated. Also, Rose reveals that her “informant” was not Horus himself, but his messenger, [[Aiwass]]. Finally, on April 7, Rose gives Crowley his instructions—for three days he is to enter the “temple” and write down what he heard between noon and 1:00pm.

===The Writing===

Crowley wrote the Book of the Law on April 8, 9, and 10, between the hours of noon and 1:00pm. He describes the “Voice of Aiwass” as coming from over his left shoulder, as if the speaker were standing in the corner of the room. The voice was said to be passionate, of deep timbre, and musical, without any recognizable accent.

Although he did not look around the room, Crowley had the impression that Aiwass was a body of “fine matter” like a “veil of gauze.” He further describes Aiwass as a “tall, dark man in his thirties, well-knit, active and strong, with the face of a savage king, and eyes veiled lest their gaze should destroy what they saw” (Crowley, 1997).

Crowley also makes it very clear that it was not “automatic writing,” but that the experience was exactly like an actual voice speaking to him. This is evidenced by several errors that the scribe actually had to inquire about. He does admit to the possibility that Aiwass was a manifestation of his own subconscious. But even were this so, he claimed that the message imparted by Aiwass was so beyond human experience or knowledge that it necessitated a praeternatural intelligence that only a god could possess.

==See also==
*[[Reception of Liber Legis]]
*[[Thelema]]
*[[Aleister Crowley]]
*[[True Will]]
*[[Holy Books of Thelema]]
*[[Aiwass]]

==External Links==

*[http://oto-usa.org/l220.html Text version of The Book of the Law]
*[http://oto-usa.org/l31.html Manuscript version of The Book of the Law]
*[http://www.ashami.com/eidolons/A_Transcription_of_Liber_Legis A Transcription of Liber Legis]—an attempt to transcribe the manuscript of Liber Legis, including original punctuation, sentence breaks, additional notes, and script revisions made on the actual document.

===Comments on The Book of the Law===

*[http://www.hermetic.com/220/crowley-comment.html The Old and New Commentaries to Liber AL] by Aleister Crowley
*[http://www.geocities.com/nu_isis/dcomment.pdf The Comment Called D -The Djeridensis Working] (PDF format) by Aleister Crowley

[[Category:Thelema]]
[[Category:Sacred Texts]]
[[Category:AL vel Legis]]
[[Category:Holy Books of Thelema]]

Ordo Templi Orientis

2006-09-16T00:07:51Z

Ash:

'''Ordo Templi Orientis''' (O.T.O.) can be translated as ''Order of Oriental Templars,'' or ''Order of the Temple of the East.'' It is a secret, fraternal organization similar to that of [[Freemasonry]], with a series of graded [[Initiation|initations]]. For its teachings and principles of organization, it has accepted the Law of [[Thelema]], which is expressed as “Do what thou wilt.” Thelemites believe that this Law was established with the writing of [[the Book of the Law]] by [[Aleister Crowley]] in 1904 in Cairo, Egypt.
<BR/>

==Philosophy & Goals==

According to Crowley, O.T.O. is "the first of the great religious Societies to accept the Law." The rituals of O.T.O. have been entirely revised by Crowley and his successors in light of the Law of Thelema. Both within its private ceremonies and in the world at large, the Order seeks to promote the Law as the ultimate standard of human conduct and understanding.

O.T.O. was also designated as the Crowley estate, and maintains possession of Crowley's intellectual property and literary remains. As the custodian of these materials, the Order seeks to make them available to the public in definitive editions.

Even before accepting the Law, the Sovereign Sanctuary of the O.T.O. was a body that maintained a Supreme Secret, which is said to be of inestimable magical power. This secret still reposes in the Sovereign Sanctuary of the Ninth Degree, and its nature is indicated gradually by hints in the initiatory ceremonies of the Order.

In common with Freemasonry, the [[Theosophical Society]], and many other esoteric bodies, O.T.O. espouses an ethic of [[Universal Brotherhood]].

Of the entire system of O.T.O., Crowley wrote in ''Confessions:''

:It offers a rational basis for universal brotherhood and for universal religion. It puts forward a scientific statement which is a summary of all that is at present known about the universe by means of a simple, yet sublime symbolism, artistically arranged. It also enables each man to discover for himself his personal destiny, indicates the moral and intellectual qualities which he requires in order to fulfil it freely, and finally puts in his hands an unimaginably powerful weapon which he may use to develop in himself every faculty which he may need in his work.

The mission of O.T.O. U.S. Grand Lodge, which can largely be applied to the Order as a whole:

:Ordo Templi Orientis U.S.A. is the U.S. Grand Lodge (National Section) of Ordo Templi Orientis, a hierarchical, religious membership organization. Our mission is to effect and promote the doctrines and practices of the philosophical and religious system known as Thelema, with particular emphasis on cultivating the ideals of individual liberty, self-discipline, self-knowledge, and universal brotherhood. To this end, we conduct sacramental and initiatory rites, offer guidance and instruction to our members, organize social events, and engage in educational and community service activities at locations throughout the United States.

==Activities==

O.T.O. has two core areas of ritual activity: initiation into the [[Mystery|Mysteries]], and the celebration of Liber XV, the [[The Gnostic Mass|Gnostic Mass]]. In addition, the Order organizes lectures, classes, social events, theatrical productions and artistic exhibitions, and publishes books, journals, and newsletters.

===Initiation===

Within O.T.O., the process of initiation is unlike that of many college fraternities or the military, the goal of which is to bond the individual to the group by means of ego-collapse, often via methods of pain, exhaustion, and degredation. Within O.T.O., the rituals are designed to be challenging, but in a way that honors the candidate. If bonding does occur, it does so through a conscious and willed effort on the part of the initiate. The ultimate goal of initiation in O.T.O. is "to instruct the individual by allegory and symbol in the profound mysteries of Nature, and thereby to assist each to discover his or her own true Identity."[http://oto-usa.org/init.html]

O.T.O. uses a graded system, similar to that of Freemasonry. There are thirteen numbered degrees and twelve un-numbered. They are divided into three grades or "triads": the Hermit, the Lover, and the Man of Earth. The entire system is as follows:

*'''The Man of Earth Triad'''
**0°—Minerval
**I°—Man & Brother / Woman & Sister
**II°—Magician
**III°—Master Magician
**IV°—Perfect Magician & companion of the Holy Royal Arch of Enoch
**P.I.—Perfect Initiate, or Prince of Jerusalem

*'''Outside all Triads'''
**Knight of the East & West

*'''The Lover Triad'''
**V°—
***Sovereign Prince Rose-Croix, and Knight of the Pelican & Eagle
***Knight of the Red Eagle, and Member of the Senate of Knight Hermetic Philosophers
**VI°—
***Illustrious Knight (Templar) of the Order of Kadosch, and Companion of the Holy Graal
***Grand Inquisitor Commander, and Member of the Grand Tribunal
***Prince of the Royal Secret
**VII°—
***Theoreticus, and Very Illustrious Sovereign Grand Inspector General
***Magus of Light, and Bishop of Ecclesia Gnostica Catholica
***Grandmaster of Light, and Inspector of Rites & Degrees

*'''The Hermit Triad'''
**VIII°—
***Perfect Pontiff of the Illuminati
***Epopt of the Illuminati
**IX°—Initiate of the Sanctuary of the Gnosis
**X°—Rex Summus Sanctissimus
**XI°—Initiate of the Eleventh Degree (This degree is technical, and has no relation to the general plan of the Order)
**XII°—Frater Superior, [[Caliph]], and Outer Head of the Order

===The Gnostic Catholic Church===

The '''[[Ecclesia Gnostica Catholica]]''', or Gnostic Catholic Church, is the ecclesiastical arm of O.T.O. Its cental activity is the celebration of Liber XV, [[the Gnostic Mass]]. In recent years, other rites have been written and approved for use within the church. These include Baptism, Confirmation (into the Laity), and Ordination (for Deacons, Priests & Priestesses, and Bishops), and Last Rites. There are also several "unofficial" rituals that are celebrated within the context of E.G.C., including Weddings, Visitation and Administration of the Virtues to the Sick, [[Exorcism]], and Rites for [[Life]] and [[Greater Feast]]s. Clergy in local sanctuaries can also choose to celebrate original rituals, such as "[http://www.hermetic.com/dionysos/liturgy93.htm Liturgy 93]" or the "[http://www.hermetic.com/dionysos/xquart.htm Feasts of the Cross-Quarters]."

See also: [[E.G.C. Ceremonies]]

====Membership in E.G.C.====

#'''The Clergy'''
#*'''The Father/Mother of the Church''' (The Patriarch or Matriarch)
#*'''The Primate''' (or Presiding Bishop, and is the National Grand Master General)
#*'''Bishops''' (The Episcopate)
#*'''Priests & Priestesses''' (The Priesthood)
#*'''Deacons''' (The Diaconate)
#*'''Novices''' (The Novitiate)
#'''Lay members''' (The Laity)
#'''Bishops in Amity''' (Advisory membership)

===Cultural Events===

Other than initiations and ecclesiastical work, there are many activities that O.T.O. members can engage in. The U.S. Grand Lodge has hosted national conferences since 2000. On the local level, bodies host a wide range of events, including ritual theatre, classes & workshops, original rituals, publication of journals and books, creation of a web presence, study groups, and informal social gatherings. Some lodges have hosted smaller conferences on topics such as business aspects of O.T.O., women in Thelema, and other subjects of interest.

==Structure==

The Structure of O.T.O. is outlined in several historical documents, principally the ''Constitution of O.T.O.'' (1906, revised 1917), the ''Constitution of M.'.M.'.M.'.'' (1913), and ''Liber 194: An Intimation With Reference to the Constitution of the Order'' (1919).

The governing bodies of O.T.O. include:

#'''International Headquarters'''
#*Presided over by the '''Outer Head of the Order''' XII° (OHO—also known as Frater Superior)
#*'''Supreme Council''' (Administrative Body)
#*The '''Sovereign Sanctuary of the Gnosis''' of the IX°
#*The '''Secret Areopagus of the Illuminati''' of the VIII°
#'''National Sections''' or '''Grand Lodges'''
#*Presided over by a '''National Grand Master''' X°
#*'''Executive Council''' (Administrative Body)
#*The '''Supreme Grand Council'''
#*The '''Grand Tribunal''' of the VI°
#*The '''Electoral College '''

===International===

1. '''International Headquarters''' (IHQ) is the body that governs O.T.O. worldwide. IHQ is presided over by the '''Outer Head of the Order''' (OHO—also known as Frater Superior), who possesses the XII°. Since the time of [[Grady McMurtry]], the office of Outer Head of the Order has been associated with the title of [[Caliph]].

2. IHQ is administered by the International '''Supreme Council''', which consists of the Outer Head of the Order, the Secretary General, and the Treasurer General.

3. The '''Sovereign Sanctuary of the Gnosis''' consists of members who have reached the IX°. Their prime duty is to study and practice the theurgy and thaumaturgy of the degree, consisting of the Supreme Secret of the Order. The Sovereign Sanctuary is not technically a governing body, however, as a collective, it has the authority to:
*ratify and overturn the rulings of the Areopagus
*act as representitives of the OHO and National Grand Masters when need arises
*fill the office of Revolutionary
*vote within the Secret Areopagus
*have some powers over the installation and removal of the OHO and National Grand Masters

4. The '''Secret Areopagus of the Illuminati''' is a philosophical Governing Body comprised of those who have reached the VIII°. It has the authority to reverse the decisions of the Grand Tribunal. It’s duties are:
*compose and resolve all conflicts between any of the governing bodies of the Order
*Draft and approve all Amendments to the Bylaws of the Order
*Resolve disputes between the various Guilds

5. In addition to the above-listed bodies, IHQ includes a number of administrative offices including:
*Revolutionaries (2)
*International Initiation Secretary
*EGC Secretary
*Quartermasters for Asia and Europe
*Rights & Permissions for the Estate of Aleister Crowley
*International Archivist

The International Headquarters of O.T.O. is incorporated in California as a non-profit, tax-exempt, religious corporation under the name '''Ordo Templi Orientis''' (O.T.O.). The Board of Directors of O.T.O. U.S.A. is constituted by the Supreme Council.

===National===

1. International Headquarters has the power to charter '''National Sections''' or '''Grand Lodges''', with their own Officers and Administrative and Governing Bodies, in countries that have developed an organization large enough to support independent operations. Each Grand Lodge is presided over by a '''National Grand Master General''', who possesses the Tenth Degree (X°).

2. A Grand Lodge is administered by an '''Executive Council''', or '''Executive,''' which consists of the National Grand Master General, the Grand Secretary General, and the Grand Treasurer General.

3. The '''Supreme Grand Council''' consists of nine members of the VII° appointed by the National Grand Master General. It is charged with:
*the government of the whole of the Lovers Grade
*Hearing and deciding appeals of the decisions of the Electoral College
*Hearing reports of the Sovereign Grand Inspectors General VII° as to the affairs of the Initiate members of the Lovers Grade

The National Grand Master General, the Grand Secretary General, and the Grand Treasurer General are ''ex officio'' members of the Supreme Grand Council, and consititute its Executive Committee.

4. The '''Grand Tribunal''' is composed of members of the degree of Grand Inquisitor Commander (a sub-degree of the VI°). Their primary duty is to hear and arbitrate disputes and complains not resolved at the level of Chapters and Lodges. They may also grant exemption from any consequences within O.T.O. for pursuing a civil case. They may also rule in cases of abuse of authority and membership privileges. The Grand Tribunal is technically a Governing Body at the National level, due to the degree of its members. However, even members of higher grades are subject to the decisions of the Grand Tribunal.

5. The '''Electoral College''' consists of eleven members of the V° appointed by the National Grand Master General. Its primary duty is to oversee the affairs of the Man of Earth Grade. It has the authority to:
*appoint and remove Camp, Oasis, and Lodge Masters
*authorize invitations for initiate members to take the V° and enter the Lover Grade
*give full hearings to reports from initiate members of the degree of Sovereign Grand Inspector General VII° as to the condition of affairs of the members of the Man of Earth Triad

====Current Grand Lodges====

The '''U.S. Grand Lodge''' is the National Section of O.T.O. in the United States of America. The U.S. National Grand Master General is Fr. Sabazius X°, who was appointed on 30 March 1996. The U.S. Grand Lodge is incorporated in California as a non-profit, tax-exempt, religious organization named '''Ordo Templi Orientis U.S.A.''' (O.T.O. U.S.A.). The Board of Directors of O.T.O. U.S.A. is constituted by the Executive.

The '''UK Grand Lodge''' is the National Section of O.T.O. in the United Kingdom. The U.K. National Grand Master General is Fr. Hyperion X°, who was appointed on 1 May 2005 (93 years after the last Grand Master for the UK, Aleister Crowley, was elevated to that office).

===O.T.O. Bodies===

At the Man of Earth level, there are three levels of Local Body, which are Camps, Oases, and Lodges.

1. '''Camps''' tend to be the smallest and are not required to perform intiations. They are encouraged to celebrate the Gnostic Mass.

2. '''Oases''' are the next largest, and should be able to initiate through the III°.

3. '''Lodges''' are the largest local body within the Man of Earth Grade, and are expected to celebrate the Gnostic Mass on a regular basis, work towards establishing a permenant temple, and have the ability to initiate through IV°/P.I.

'''Chapters of Rose Croix''' are bodies established by members of the Lover Grade. A Chapter is headed by a Most Wise Sovereign and a High Priestess. They are generally charged with arranging social activities, such as plays, banquets, and dances. They also work to promote harmony among the members by tact and friendliness.

'''Guilds''' are groups recognized by IHQ that are designed to promote a profession, trade, science or craft. Subject to approval by the Areopagus, they make their own regulations and coordinate their own efforts. There are currently three Guilds recognized by the Areopagus: the Psychology Guild, the Translators' Guild, and the Information Technology Guild.

The term '''Sanctuary''' is sometimes used to indicate a group of initiates organized for E.G.C. activities. This designation currently reflects no formal chartering process or official standing within the Order.

==History==

The founding of Ordo Templi Orientis began with a wealthy paper chemist, [[Carl Kellner]] (1851-1905). A student of the occult and familiar with several modern secret organizations, he had come to believe that he had discovered a “Key” to the symbolism of Freemasonry and to the Mysteries of Nature itself. He then aspired to create an ''[[Academia Masonica]]'' that would unifiy the various systems of Masonry. Kellner, along with an associate, [[Theodor Reuss]] (1855-1923), decided to call it the ''Oriental Templar Order.'' In 1902, Reuss, along with Franz Hartmann and Henry Klein, purchased the right to perform the Scottish, Memphis and Mizraim rites of Freemasonry, the authority of which was confirmed in 1904 and again in 1905. These rites, along with the Swedenborgian Rite, formed the core of the newly established Order. When Kellner died in 1905, Reuss assumed full control, becoming the first Outer Head of the Order.

Ruess met Aleister Crowley and in 1910 admitted him to the three degrees of O.T.O. Only two years later Crowley was placed in charge of Great Britain and Ireland, and advanced to the X°. The appointment included the operation of the Masonic degrees of O.T.O., which were called ''Mysteria Mystica Maxima''. Within the year Crowley had written the Manifesto of the M.'.M.'.M.'. which described the basic ten-degree system—which was still principally Masonic—with Kellner’s three degree ''Academia Masonica'' forming the VII°, VIII° and IX°.

In 1913, Crowley composed the Gnostic Mass while in Moscow, which he described as being the Order’s “central ceremony of its public and private celebration.” In 1914, soon after World War I broke out, he moved to America. It was around this time that he decided to integrate Thelema into the O.T.O. system, and in 1915 had revised rituals prepared for use in his M.'.M.'.M.'.. He revised them again in 1918, and in so doing removed the ritual's ties to Masonry.

In 1921, Reuss issued a charter to [[Charles Stansfeld Jones]] as X° for the U.S. The very next year, Crowley proclaimed himself as Outer Head of the Order of O.T.O. based on the claim that Reuss (who might have suffered a stroke) had become incapable of running the Order. Reuss died in 1923.

In 1933, Agape Lodge #2 was formed in Los Angeles, California under the leadership of [[Wilfred Talbot Smith]] (1885-1957). He and [[Regina Kahl]] celebrated the first public performance of the Gnostic Mass. Smith was advanced to the X° for the U.S. in 1935. Soon after, the Lodge moved to Pasadena where it was run by [[Jack Parsons]] (1914-1952), a founder of the JPL.

During WWII, the European branches of O.T.O. were either destroyed or driven underground. By the end of the war, the only surviving O.T.O. body was Agapé Lodge, although there were various initiates in different countries. Very few initiations were being performed. At this time, [[Karl Germer]], who had been Crowley’s representitive in Germany, came over to America after being released from Nazi confinement. In 1942, Crowley appointed him as his successor as OHO.

In that same year, Crowley personally conferred the IX° to [[Grady McMurtry]] (1918-1985), a member of Agapé Lodge. It was then that he assumed his new Magical Name, ''Hymenaeus Alpha''. McMurtry received several letters from Crowley in 1944 stating his desire to have McMurtry assume the role of [[Caliph]] and to be in line for succession to OHO. In 1946, McMurtry was entrusted with documents of emergency authorization to operate O.T.O. within California (the location of the only operational Lodge), along with the appointment of being Crowley’s personal representitive within the U.S., second only to Germer.

Crowley died on December 1, 1947 and Karl Germer became OHO. He served from 1947 until his death in 1962. During his time as OHO, O.T.O. activity came to a standstill, with no new initiations being performed. An O.T.O. camp was chartered in England to [[Kenneth Grant]], but he was expelled in 1955 for modifying the initiation rituals and claiming that the body was under joint leadership with another organization, ''[[Fraternitas Saturni]].''

Germer died in 1962 without himself naming a successor. In 1969, Grady McMurtry invoked his emergency authorization from Crowley and assumed the title of [[Caliph]], which Crowley had granted him. He began performing intiations in 1970. Growth was very slow for the first few years, although McMurtry did pick up on the publishing front, such as issuing Crowely’s ''[[Tarot|Thoth Tarot]]'' deck. Grady McMurtry died in 1985.

McMurtry requested that members of the Sovereign Sanctuary elect the next OHO, which they did in 1985. Frater [[Hymenaeus Beta]] was elected to become the next OHO and he continues in that office today. In 1996, [[Sabazius]] X° was appointed as National Grand Master General for the U.S. Grand Lodge. Since McMurtry's time, O.T.O. has greatly expanded its publishing activities, initiated thousands of men and women into its ranks, and become an international organization with groups in dozens of countries around the world.

==Legalities==

*1976: the Superior Court in Calaveras County, California recognizes Grady McMurtry as the authorized representative of O.T.O.
*1979: O.T.O. is incorporated under the laws of the State of California
*1982: The corporation attains Federal Tax exemption as a religious entity under IRS Code 501(c)3
*1985: in the 9th Federal District Court in San Francisco, McMurtry is found to be the legitimate head of O.T.O. within the United States, and that O.T.O. under McMurtry is the continuation of the O.T.O. of Aleister Crowley, and the exclusive owner of the names, trademarks, copyrights and other assets of O.T.O. This decision is appealed and upheld.
*1996: The existing corporation reorganizes as International Headquarters of O.T.O. and a new corporation is founded for U.S. Grand Lodge.
*2002: The United Kingdom High Court finds that O.T.O. is the sole owner of the copyrights for all of the works of Aleister Crowley.

==Challenges to Leadership & Legitimacy==

One of the dramatic aspects of Ordo Templi Orientis is the continuing issue of legitimacy. Over the years, several individuals and groups have claimed the title of OHO or to be the ‘true’ O.T.O.

*'''[[Hermann Metzger]]''', who had been a member of the early Swiss O.T.O. under Reuss, made the claim soon after Germer’s death in 1962. Supposedly there had been an election there which appointed him OHO. However, it was later shown that Germer had not considered Metzger a regularized member of O.T.O. as it had developed under Crowley. No one recognized his claim outside of his own group. Metzger died in 1990.

*'''[[Kenneth Grant]]''', who had been expelled from O.T.O. in 1955, also made the claim to OHO after Germer’s passing. Grant does not provide any factual basis or evidence for his claim except to say he had a correspondence with Crowley, that Germer had never actually been OHO, and that McMurtry was not the legitimate OHO. He calls his ogranization ''Ordo Templi Orientis;'' others call it the [[Typhonian O.T.O.]]

*'''[[Marcelo Ramos Motta]]''' tried to assume control of the Order under the name "[[Society Ordo Templi Orientis]]." His claim was based on his story that Germer’s wife, Sasha, told him that Karl’s last words stated that Motta was “the follower.” Although Motta had been an [[A.'.A.'.]] student under Germer, he had never actually been initiated into O.T.O. He also sued for ownership of Crowley’s copyrights, which were denied to him by the U.S. District Court in Maine. Motta died in 1987, although various small groups calling themselves S.O.T.O. continue to exist.

Other groups that make use of the O.T.O. name are:

*'''Albion O.T.O.''', located in London, England, which claims to unify all the different “branches” of O.T.O. [http://www.uk-oto.org/oto_main.htm]

*The '''Parzival XI° O.T.O. Foundation''', which claims to support and legitimize Motta’s Society O.T.O. [http://members.ozemail.com.au/~realoto/pf.html]

*'''Ur-O.T.O.''', whose main goals are to “manifest A.M.I.C.I.T.I.A. (Amity, Magia, Inspiration, Companionship, Inclusion, Truth, Individuality, Agape) and to make this a living power in the Life of all Beings.” [http://members.aol.com/UROTO/index.html]

==Links of Interest==

*[http://oto-usa.org/ O.T.O. U.S. Grand Lodge]
*[http://www.hermetic.com/sabazius/main.html The Invisible Basilica of Sabazius]—site of the current Grand Master of U.S. Grand Lodge
*[http://www.ashami.com/eidolons/Main_Page Eidolons of Ash]—includes OTO-related original essays and seminal texts

Oto

2006-09-16T00:06:24Z

Ash:

#REDIRECT [[Ordo Templi Orientis]]

Thelema

2006-08-21T01:31:25Z

Ash:

{{93}}
'''Thelema''', Θελημα in Greek, means ''will''.

==A brief summary of Thelema==

'''Thelema''' is the name of the philosophical school and religious matrix established in 1904 with the writing of [[Liber AL vel Legis]] ([[The Book of the Law]]) by [[Aleister Crowley]] (1875-1947). The Law is summed up in two phrases from the Book:
*“Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the Law” (AL I:40) and
*“Love is the law, love under will” (AL I:57).
The central goal of a Thelemite (as adherents refer to themselves) is to discover and perform his or her [[True Will]], which is generally defined as the innermost Nature or proper life course of the individual. The techniques used to achieve this goal fall under the heading of [[Magick]].

There are also strong political, ethical, aesthetic, and cultural aspects to Thelema. Although there is no strict literal doctrine concerning these matters, Aleister Crowley wrote many articles and essays regarding his ideas about the proper behavior of individual Thelemites and for an ideal Thelemic society. These ideas have continued to develop into modern times. However, the primary themes involve personal freedom, a recognition that men and women have an inherent divine nature, and that Love is the basis of the [[Great Work]].

*See the article on [[Religion]] for an examination of the "religiosity" of Thelema.

===Different views of Thelema===

Not all adherents of Thelema consider it a religion or subscribe to the philosophy of True Will as outlined in Aleister Crowley's writings. Thelemites may or may not believe in the necessity of Canon or Theology as outlined in this article. Many require nothing more than an acceptance of the message of The Book of the Law as interpreted by the individual, each for him/herself.

*See also: [[Arguments against Thelema being a religion]]

==Doctrines==
{{partial}}
The following is a list of various non-obligatory doctrines that are found in the Thelemic literature. First among these is the doctrine which describes the "Holy Books" of Thelema, where many of the other doctrines can be found.
*[[Holy Books of Thelema]]
*[[Thelemic Godforms]]
*[[Holy Guardian Angel]]
*[[Body of Light]]

===Cosmology===

''The Book of the Law'' establishes a model of reality that combines two elementary forces: the infinite extension of space, which is personified by the Egyptian sky-goddess [[Nuit]], and the infinitely contracted point, personified by the Egyptian god [[Hadit]]. It is the interaction of these two forces that results in manifested reality. Crowley often described this interaction in sexual terms: "Nuit is the centripetal energy, infinitely elastic because it must fit over the hard thrust directed against it; Hadit, the centrifugal, ever seeking to penetrate the unknown" (''Magick Without Tears,'' Ch.38). The union of these two opposites results in the new current of the present [[Aeon]], represented by [[Ra-Hoor-Khuit]] (lit. Horus of Two Horizons), also called the Crowned and Conquering Child.

This cosmology is interpreted literally by some Thelemites, and by others it is seen as metaphor. For others, it is a key or set of obscure instructions for practices leading to personal attainment or other change of state. Crowley himself admitted that ''The Book of the Law'' had many elements that were beyond his own comprehension.

===Personalities found within Thelema===

The following list represents godforms or other significant personalities that have prominent roles within the structure of Thelema (most are found in Liber AL), and especially the writings of Aleister Crowley. How one interprets and interacts with these beings, if at all, is up to the individual.

'''The three primary speakers from Liber AL'''<br/>
#'''[[Nuit]]''' (Nu) is the speaker in Chapter I. She is the eternally-extended Egyptian goddess of the night sky and the Queen of Space. Nuit is the complement of Hadit.
#'''[[Hadit]]''' (Had) is presented in Chapter II. He is the winged disk, the infinitely contracted point, and the source of Life. Hadit is the complement of Nuit.
#'''[[Ra-Hoor-Khuit]]''' (Horus) speaks in Chapter III. He is the Hawk-Headed Lord of the current [[Aeon]], also called the Crowned and Conquering Child. ([[Ra]] is the Egyptian sun god).

'''Other personalities:'''<br/>
*'''[[Aiwass]]'''—This is the being that dictated Liber Legis according to Aleister Crowley—he considered Aiwass to be his personal [[Holy Guardian Angel]].
*'''[[Heru-ra-ha]]''' (Heru is another name for Horus)— a composite deity composed of [[Ra-Hoor-Khuit]] and Hoor-par-kraat.
*'''[[Hoor-par-kraat]]''' (also Heru-pa-kraath, and the Greek god [[Harpocrates]])—Identified as [[Horus]] in his form as a young child. Egyptian statues represent him as a naked boy with his finger on his mouth, a hieroglyph for "child" and the later notion of “silence.” He is also known as the [[Babe in the Egg]]. He is representative of the “silent self” and an individual’s [[Holy Guardian Angel]].
*'''[[Babalon]]'''—The Scarlet Woman, the Great Whore, and the Mother of Abominations. She is the Yoni, the archetypical Womb of all Life, the provider of material flesh to clothe our manifested Spirit, Mother Earth, and the Great Sea. Her consort is:
*'''[[Chaos]]'''—the universal generative drive, unrestrained creative power, the primal unformulated substance from which all manifested matter is made, the Fire of the Life Force found in each of us.
*'''[[The Beast]]'''—upon whom the Scarlet Woman rideth, alternatively identified as Aleister Crowley, the whole of Mankind, the [[Phallus]] (both masculine and feminine), and the Vehicle of Life.
*'''[[Ankh-af-na-khonsu]]'''—an actual Priest who lived in Thebes during the late XXVth dynasty of ancient Egypt, around 725 b.c.e. Aleister Crowley assumed the magical identity of this Priest as the living Prophet of the Aeon of Horus, the deliverer of ''The Book of the Law'' (Sabazius, 1998).
*'''The Prince-Priest / The Prophet''' —Aleister Crowley
*'''The Prophet and his Bride'''—Aleister and [[Rose Kelly Crowley Gormley|Rose Crowley]].
*'''Asar and Isa'''—Asar is [[Osiris]], the “adorant” and Isa is the [[Islam|Muslim]] form of [[Jesus]], the “sufferer” and a prophet (though not a messiah).
*'''[[Tahuti]]''' (the Greek [[Thoth]])—the god of knowledge, writing, language, music, the Moon, [[magick]], and occult wisdom.
*'''Because'''— "Now a curse upon Because and his kin!...Enough of Because! Be he damned for a dog!" (AL II, 28-33).
*'''[[Hrumachis]]'''—the Dawning Sun, another name of Horus.

==Ethics==
Just as interpretation of Liber AL is a task left to the individual, so is the ethical system of Thelema a matter of personal choice. That being said, there are some common themes within the writings of Crowley and other Thelemic philosophers. Arguably the central Thelemic ethic is one of individual liberty and the personal freedom to fulfill one's Will. Social restriction—such as laws that make illegal certain sex acts between consenting adults—is generally seen in a negative light by most Thelemites.

Two documents in particular help to define Thelemic ethics for most adherents: Oz and Duty.

===Liber Oz===

[[Liber Oz]] establishes the rights of the individual. For each person, these include the right to: live by one's own law; live in the way that one wills to do; work, play, and rest as one will; die when and how one will; eat and drink what one will; live where one will; move about as one will; think, speak, write, dress, love, paint, carve (etc.) as one will; and kill those who would thwart these rights. The rights established in Oz are often considered to be complimented by the obligations given in Duty.

===Duty===

[[Duty]] is described as "A note on the chief rules of practical conduct to be observed by those who accept the Law of Thelema." There are four sections:

#'''Duty to Self:''' essentially describes the self as the center of the universe, with a call to learn about one's inner nature. Further, every Thelemite is to develop every faculty in a balanced way, establish one's autonomy, and to learn and do one's True Will.
#'''Duty to Others:''' A Thelemite is called to eliminate the illusion of separateness between oneself and all others, to fight when necessary, to avoid interfering with the Wills of others, to enlighten others when needed, and to recognize the divine nature of all other beings. Further, it is noble to relieve the suffering of others, but pity (seen as condescending) should be avoided.
#'''Duty to Mankind:''' Thelemites should try to establish the Law of Thelema as the sole basis of conduct. Further, the laws of the land should have the aim of securing the greatest liberty for all individuals. Crime is viewed from the point of view of violating one's True Will ("Thus, murder restricts his right to live; robbery, his right to enjoy the fruits of his labour; coining, his right to the guarantee of the state that he shall barter in security; etc.").
#'''Duty to All Other Beings and Things:''' Quite simply: "It is a violation of the Law of Thelema to abuse the natural qualities of any animal or object by diverting it from its proper function" and "The Law of Thelema is to be applied unflinchingly to decide every question of conduct."

==Practices==
Although there are communal ceremonies informed by Thelema, and organizations to support them (of which [[Ordo Templi Orientis]] is the most visible and extensive), Thelemic "religious" practice is a mainly individual affair. Crowley composed a few guidelines to the cardinal observances and programs. In ''Liber Aleph'' he lists the following "Means prescribed in our Holy Books" for constant observance:
:*Neglect never the fourfold Adoration of the Sun in his four Stations, for thereby thou dost affirm thy Place in Nature and her Harmonies. ([[Liber Resh]])
:*Neglect not the Performance of the Ritual of the Pentagram, and of the Assumption of the Form of Hoor-pa-Kraat. (Liber O)
:*Neglect not the daily Miracle of the Mass, either by the Rite of the [[Gnostic Catholic Church]] ([[The Gnostic Mass|Liber XV]]), or that of the Phoenix (Mass of the Phoenix).
:*Neglect not the Performance of the Mass of the Holy Ghost, as Nature Herself prompteth thee.
:*Travel much also in the Empyrean in thy [[Body of Light]], seeking ever Abodes more fiery and lucid.
:*Finally, exercise the Eight Limbs of [[Yoga]].

In ''Magick in Theory and Practice'', there is a similar regimen with slightly different emphasis. First he recommends yoga, with the method explained in "Part I" of ''Book Four''. Then he lists "the most important drill practices" of magick, as follows:
:*The fortification of the Body of Light by the constant use of rituals, or by the assumption of God-forms, and by the right use of the [[Eucharist]].
:*The [[purification]] and [[consecration]] and exaltation of that Body by the use of rituals of [[invocation]].
:*The education of that Body by experience. It must learn to travel on every plane; to break down every obstacle which may confront it. This experience must be as systematic and regular as possible; for it is of no use merely to travel to the spheres of [[The Planets:Jupiter|Jupiter]] and [[The Planets:Venus|Venus]], or even to explore the 30 [[Aethyr]]s, neglecting unattractive meridians.

In addition to these programs, there are some other basic practices usually involved in Thelema. The first of these is the [[magical record]] or diary. "Verily, it is better to fail in the magical ceremony than to fail in writing down an accurate record of it." (''Book Four'') The second is the recital of the formula of "Will" prior to the main meal of the day. This practice consists of a simple set of statements (sometimes presented as a dialog with others) declaring that it is the individual's will to eat and drink, in order to fortify his body, in order to accomplish the [[Great Work]]. Variants on this recital exist for initiates in different circumstances (see Liber 185).

==Antecedents of Thelema==

Although the modern Thelemic movement traces its origins to the work of Aleister Crowley, he pointed to important antecedents to his use of the term, and other instances are apparent from research. The word is of some consequence in the original Greek Christian scriptures. Crowley also acknowledged Saint Augustine's "Love, and do what thou wilt" as a premonition of the Law of Thelema. In the Renaissance, a character named "Thelemia" represents will or desire in the ''Hypnerotomachia Poliphili'' of the Dominican monk Francesco Colonna. Colonna's work was, in turn, a great influence on the Franciscan monk Francois Rabelais, whose ''Gargantua and Pantagruel'' includes an "Abbey of Theleme" which Crowley embraced as a direct precursor to modern Thelema.

===Thelema in the Bible===

Thelema appears in the [[Holy Bible]] referring to divine will, human will, and even the will of the [[Satan|Devil]]. One well-known example is from “The Lord’s Prayer” in Matthew 6:10, “Your kingdom come. Your will (Θελημα) be done, On earth as it is in heaven.” Some other quotes from the Bible are:

:“He went away again a second time and prayed, saying, "My Father, if this cannot pass away unless I drink it, Your will be done.” —Matthew 26:42

:“But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.” —John 1:12-13

:“And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.” —Romans 12:2

:"Worthy are You, our Lord and our God, to receive glory and honor and power; for You created all things, and because of Your will they existed, and were created." —Revelation 4:11

:"…and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, having been held captive by him to do his will.” —2 Timothy 2:26

===François Rabelais===

The next well-known usage of the word was by [[Rabelais|François Rabelais]], a Franciscan and later a Benedictine monk of the 16th century. Eventually he left the monastery to study medicine, and so moved to Lyons in 1532. It was there that he wrote ''Gargantua'' and ''Pantagruel'', a connected series of books. They tell the story of two giants—a father (Gargantua) and his son (Pantagruel) and their adventures—written in an amusing, extravagant, and satirical vein.

It is in the second book where Rabelais writes of the Abbey of Theleme, built by the giant Gargantua. It pokes fun at the monastic institutions, since his abbey has a swimming pool, maid service, and no clocks in sight.

One of the verses of the [[Abbey of Thelema Gate Inscription|inscription]] on the gate to the Abbey of Theleme says:

<blockquote>
Grace, honour, praise, delight,<BR>
   Here sojourn day and night.<BR>
      Sound bodies lined<BR>
      With a good mind,<BR>
   Do here pursue with might<BR>
   Grace, honour, praise, delight.<BR>
</blockquote>

But below the humor was a very real concept of utopia and the ideal society. Rabelais gives us a description of how the Thelemites of the Abbey lived and the rules they lived by:

<blockquote>All their life was spent not in laws, statutes, or rules, but according to
their own free will and pleasure. They rose out of their beds when they
thought good; they did eat, drink, labour, sleep, when they had a mind to
it and were disposed for it. None did awake them, none did offer to
constrain them to eat, drink, nor to do any other thing; for so had
Gargantua established it. In all their rule and strictest tie of their
order there was but this one clause to be observed,<br>
<br>
''Do What Thou Wilt;''<br>
<br>
because men that are free, well-born, well-bred, and conversant in honest
companies, have naturally an instinct and spur that prompteth them unto
virtuous actions, and withdraws them from vice, which is called honour.
Those same men, when by base subjection and constraint they are brought
under and kept down, turn aside from that noble disposition by which they
formerly were inclined to virtue, to shake off and break that bond of
servitude wherein they are so tyrannously enslaved; for it is agreeable
with the nature of man to long after things forbidden and to desire what is
denied us.</blockquote>

==See also==

*[[The Book of the Law]]
*[[Aleister Crowley]]
*[[Svecchachara]]
*[[Religion]]
*[[Arguments for Thelema being a religion]]

==External Links==

*[http://www.thelemicknights.org/ootmc/rabelais/rabelais.html Rabelais: The First Thelemite]
*[http://www.gutenberg.net/etext98/ggpnt10.txt ''Gargantua and Pantagruel,'' by Rabelais]
*[http://mitpress.mit.edu/e-books/HP/index.htm ''Hypnerotomachia Poliphili,'' by Francesco Colonna]
*[http://www.ashami.com/eidolons/Thelema_101 Thelema 101], a good introduction to Thelema
*[http://www.thelema101.com Thelema Homepage]
*[http://oto-usa.org/about_thelema.html About Thelema], from O.T.O. U.S. Grand Lodge

==References==

* Crowley, Aleister. (1997). ''Magick Without Tears.'' Tempe: New Falcon Publications.
* Sabazius (1998).'' [http://www.hermetic.com/sabazius/kiblah.htm The Kiblah].'' Retrieved June 9, 2004.
* Thriambos, Dionysos. ''[http://www.hermetic.com/dionysos/bible.htm The Utility of the Bible to the Student of Thelema].'' Retrieved Sept. 17, 2004.
* Weinberg, Florence M. (1972) ''The Wine and the Will: Rabelais's Bacchic Christianity.'' Detroit: Wayne State University Press.
* Wikipedia (2004). ''[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gargantua_and_Pantagruel Gargantua and Pantagruel].'' Retrieved Sept. 17, 2004.

[[Category:Thelema]][[Category:Formulae]][[Category:Religion]]

Links

2006-08-21T01:03:00Z

Ash:

Here are links to sites that our editors recommend. If you are not an editor (learn how to become one [[Thelemapedia:Tutorial_%28Account%29|here]]) and want a link to your site on this page, please [mailto:editor@thelemapedia.org email the managing editor] with your request. If you would like to link to this site, check out our page of [[Thelemapedia:Promotion|banners]].

'''See also:''' [[Thelemapedia:Promotion|Promoting Thelemapedia]]

==Thelema==

*[http://thelema101.com Thelema Home Page]—a very good intro to the world of Thelema
*[http://www.babalon.net/ Babalon.net]—dedicated to the Holy Whore
*[http://93current.de/ Current 93]—numerous links and resources
*[http://www.lashtal.com/ LAShTAL.COM]—home of The Aleister Crowley Society

==Online Communities==

*[http://www.thelema.nu/ Thelema.nu]—a community for the new Aeon
*[http://www.scarletwoman.org/lounge/ The Lounge]—discussion forum of Scarlet Woman Lodge
*[http://www.occultforums.com/ Occult Forums]—kinda what it sounds like
*[http://groups-beta.google.com/group/Thelema Thelema@googlegroups] A Thelema e-list on Google's groups.

==Libraries & Thelemic Texts==

*[http://www.hermetic.com/ Hermetic.com]—A fantastic site with tons of Thelemic documents
*[http://www.sacred-texts.com The Internet Sacred Text Archive]—Incredible archive of sacred texts, including those of Thelema
*[http://www.rahoorkhuit.net/ Ra-Hoor-Khuit Network]—another huge library of Thelemic material
*[http://www.sacred-magick.com/ Sacred Magick]—Highly informative and very beautiful
*[http://www.gnosis.org/library.html The Gnostic Society Library]
*[http://www.gnosis.org/naghamm/nhl.html Nag Hammadi Library]
*[http://www.esotericarchives.com/ Twilit Grotto]—Archives of Western Esoterica
*[http://www.the-equinox.org/ The Equinox]
*[http://larabell.org/Hanuman/ The Ape of Thoth]—search engine of Thelemic Holy Books and other verse-based works by Crowley
*[http://www.scarletwoman.org/scarletletter/ The Scarlet Letter]—archive of the journal of Scarlet Woman Lodge
*[http://www.sekhetmaat.com/journal/ Lion & Serpent]—archive of the journal of Sekhet-Maat Lodge
*[http://www.sekhetmaat.com/library Sekhet-Maat Lodge Library]—Information about this body's library including the OTO & Yorke archives and selected Sloane manuscripts on microfilm, and over 350 books in circulation.
*[http://larabell.org/Hanuman/Hanuman.cgi?input=liber999 The Book of the Inlaws] —A parody of the Book of the Law

==Individual voices==

*[http://www.hermetic.com/sabazius/main.html The Invisible Basilica of Sabazius]
*[http://www.ashami.com/eidolons/ Eidolons of Ash]
*[http://www.hermetic.com/dionysos/main2.htm Vigorous Food & Divine Madness, the site of T. Polyphilus]
*[http://www.abrasax.net/ The Enlightenment of Fr. Abrasax]
*[http://lionserpent.com/ Homepage of Frater M.S.]
*[http://tim.maroney.org/ Archived materials of Tim Maroney]
*[http://www.LilyTears.com Brian Berge's LilyTears.com]

==OTO==

*[http://oto-usa.org/ U.S. Grand Lodge, OTO]
*[http://oto-usa.org/history.html OTO History]
*[http://oto-usa.org/egc.html Ecclesia Gnostica Catholica]
*[http://oto-usa.org/faq.html OTO Frequently Asked Questions]
*[http://oto-usa.org/about_thelema.html About Thelema]

==Organizations and Orders==

*[http://www.thelemicknights.org/ Order of Thelemic Knights]—The first charitable chivalric knighthood to accept the Law of Thelema
*[http://corlucis.org/ Cor Lucis]—A Thelemic initiatory order based in Los Angeles
*[http://www.thelemicgoldendawn.org/ Thelemic Order of the Golden Dawn]
*[http://www.golden-dawn.com/ Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn]
*[http://www.osogd.org/ Open Source Order of the Golden Dawn] - Magical teaching order working the Golden Dawn and Thelemic esoteric systems.
*[http://www.thelema.net/ Hermetic Alchemical Order of the QBLH]
*[http://www.bota.org Builders of the Adytum]
*[http://www.amorc.org/ The Rosicrucian Order]—The Ancient Mystical Order Rosae Crucis (AMORC)
*[http://www.thelema.org/ College of Thelema]
*[http://www.outercol.org/ The A.'.A.'.]
*[http://www.astrumargentum.org.br/ A brazilian lineage of A.'.A.'. (under Frater QVIF orientation]
*[http://www.hoor.org/ H.O.O.R.]—The Holy Order Of Ra-Hoor-Khuit
*[http://geocities.com/theototo/ One True Official Thelemic Organization]—just go there, okay?

==Encyclopedias==

*[http://www.occultopedia.com/ Occultopedia]
*[http://sourceryforge.org SourceryForge]

==Other traditions==
*[http://www.wicca-chat.com Wicca Chat]
*[http://www.magick.com.au/community/ Magick]—Tradition of Witchcraft online community
*[http://www.ecauldron.com The Cauldron: A Pagan Forum]—an active, friendly virtual community for members of Pagan religions

==Other links of interest==

*[http://www.chaosmagic.com/ ChaosMagic.com]—insane
*[http://heavenshell.net HeavensHell.net]—goth, fetish, occult, cool
*[http://www.spiritandsky.com Spirit And Sky]—"The Definitive Spiritual Directory"
*[http://www.aumara.com/ Aumara Light & Healing Circle]—A Place for Healing & Inspiration
*[http://www.SelfGrowth.com SelfGrowth.com]—Self Improvement, Personal Development and Natural Health.

===Search Engines & Directories===
<small>
[http://www.addpro.com Search Engine Submission & Optimization]<BR/>
[http://paraseek.com/ PARAseek]<br/>
[http://www.about-society.com AboutSociety.com]<br/>
[http://www.searchpixie.com Search Pixie]—a cost-effective way to reach lots of targeted customers<br/>
[http://www.spiritualminds.com SpiritualMinds.com]
</small>

Thelemic mysticism

2006-04-21T17:57:57Z

Ash:

{{93}}
Within the modern system of [[Thelema]], developed by [[Aleister Crowley]] in the first half of the 20th century, is a complex '''mystical path''' designed to do two interrelated things: to learn one's unique [[True Will]] and to achieve union with the All. The set of techniques for doing so falls under Crowley's term [[Magick]], which draws upon various existing disciplines and mystical models, including [[Yoga]], Western ceremonial ritual (especially [[invocation]]s and [[eucharist]]ic ceremony), the [[Qabalah]], and several [[divination]] systems, especially the [[Thoth Tarot|tarot]] and [[astrology]].

The path to mystical attainment or [[enlightenment]] was initially developed by Crowley largely based on the meditation/mystical techniques found in [[Buddhism]] and also the [[Tree of Life]], especially as it was examined by [[Eliphas Levi]] in the 19th century and later by various members in the occult society, [[Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn|the Golden Dawn]]. In 1904, Crowley wrote [[The Book of the Law]], which was eventually considered to be the central sacred text of [[Thelema]], heralding a new [[Aeon]] for mankind. Between 1907 and 1911, Crowley wrote a series of small texts which he considered to be "inspired" in that they were written ''through'' him rather than ''by'' him, which were afterwards collected together and termed the [[Holy Books of Thelema|Holy Books]]. The final text added to the list was ''The Vision and the Voice'', a vivid account of Crowley's astral travels through the thirty [[Enochian]] Aethyrs. These texts formed the final mystical backbone of Crowley's system.

==Essential practices==

The system developed by Crowley is at once incredibly simple and complex. The core task for the adept is the discovery and manifestation of [[True Will|Will]], defined at times as a grand destiny and at other times as a moment to moment path of action that operates in perfect harmony with Nature. This Will does not spring from conscious intent, but from the interplay between the deepest Self and the entire Universe. Therefore, the enlightened Thelemite is one who is able to eliminate or bypass the consciousness-created desires, conflicts, and habits, and tap directly into the Self/Universe nexus. Theoretically, at this point, the Thelemite acts in alignment with Nature, just as the stream flows downhill, with neither resistance nor "lust of result."

The ability to accomplish this [[Great Work]] requires a great deal of preparation and effort, according to Crowley's system. The program consists of several key elements, including a thorough knowledge of the [[Qabalah]] (especially the [[Tree of Life]]), disciplined concentratration (i.e. [[meditation]]), the development of one's Body of Light (or astral body) in order to experience other spiritual realms, and the consistent and regular invocation of certain deities or spiritual beings.

===Learning the Tree of Life===

The Tree of Life is a tool used to categorize and organize various mystical concepts. At its most simple level, it is composed of ten spheres, or emanations, called [[sephiroth]] (sing. "sephira") which are connected by twenty two paths. The sephiroth are represented by the planets and the paths by the characters of the [[Hebrew alphabet]], which are subdivided by the five elements, the seven classical planets, and the twelve signs of the [[Zodiac]].

Within the western magical tradition, the Tree is used as a kind of conceptual filing cabinet. Each sephira and path is assigned various ideas, such as gods, cards of the Tarot, astrological planets and signs, elements, etc. Within Thelema, the seminal book which defines all these correspondences is Crowley's [[Liber 777]], although there have been other influential writers on the topic, including [[Israel Regardie]] and [[Eliphas Levi]].

The path of attainment is largely defined by the Tree of Life. The adept begins in [[Malkuth]], which is the every-day material world of phenomena, with the ultimate goal being at [[Kether]], the sphere of Unity with the All. Through various exercises and practices, he or she attains certain spiritual and mental states that are characterized by the various sephiroth. Crowley considered a deep understanding of the Qabalah to be essential to the Thelemite:
:"The Tree of Life has got to be learnt by heart; you must know it backwards, forwards, sideways, and upside down; it must become the automatic background of all your thinking. You must keep on hanging everything that comes your way upon its proper bough." (Crowley, ''Magick Without Tears'', ch. IV) [http://www.hermetic.com/crowley/mwt/mwt_04.html]

And,

:"The art of using it consists principally in referring all our ideas to it, discovering thus the common nature of certain things and the essential differences between others, so that ultimately one obtains a simple view of the incalculably vast complexity of the Universe.

:The whole subject must be studied in the Book 777, and the main attributions committed to memory: then when by constant use the system is at last understood—as opposed to being merely memorised—the student will find fresh light break in on him at every turn as he continues to measure every item of new knowledge that he attains by this Standard. For to him the Universe will then begin to appear as a coherent and a necessary Whole." (Crowley, ''Little Essays Towards Truth,'' "Man").[http://www.hermetic.com/crowley/littleessays/man.html]

Part of the reason why the Qabalah is so important is that it is the key to understanding the Holy Books. Most of them, including [[The Book of the Law]], are written in abstract, poetic, and ofttimes obscure language. Through the use of the Qabalah, and especially the function of [[gematria]] (a form of numerology), the normally opaque meaning of the texts can be made clear. Thelemites can also make use of gematria to link words and concepts and to validate revelations given to them in magical operations, such as in visions during astral travel.

===Concentration===

Another key element to Thelemic mysticism is the ability to concentrate. This skill has two modalities: the first is the rapid, accurate, and efficient movement of thought (which is the realm of magick) and the other is the stopping of thought altogether (which is accomplished in Yoga). In the first, it is the manipulation of all ideas into one idea, and in the second is the taking of that one thought and reducing it to nothing. Of this skill, Crowley writes:

:"For concentration does indeed unlock all doors; it lies at the heart of every practice as it is of the essence of all theory; and almost all the various rules and regulations are aimed at securing adeptship in this matter. All the subsidiary work—awareness, one-pointedness, mindfulness and the rest—is intended to train you to this" (''Magick Without Tears,'' ch. XVI) [http://www.hermetic.com/crowley/mwt/mwt_16.html]

Concentration is essenially the prerequisite for all sustained success, not only in spiritual practices, but in day to day life as well. The general program for developing concentration is borrowed almost completely from the practice of Yoga within the [[Hindu]] and [[Buddhist]] systems. Crowley gives a general overview of the techniques in two books: ''Eight Lectures on Yoga'' [http://www.hermetic.com/crowley/yoga/] and in the section called "Mysticism" in his opus, ''Magick, Book 4.'' [http://www.hermetic.com/crowley/aba/aba1.html]

===Body of Light and astral travel===

The Body of Light—Crowley's term for the [[subtle body]]—is the theoretical part of a person that can leave the corporeal body and carry one's senses and consciousness during [[Astral_projection|astral travels]]. Crowley writes of it in ''Book 4'': "The work of the Body of Light—with the technique of [[Yoga]]—is the foundation of [Magick]." [http://www.hermetic.com/crowley/aba/app3.html] In the same book (ch. 21):

:"[The Body of Light] must be developed and trained with exactly the same rigid discipline as the brain in the case of mysticism. The essence of the technique of Magick is the development of the Body of Light, which must be extended to include all members of the organism, and indeed of the cosmos [...] The object is to possess a Body which is capable of doing easily any particular task that may lie before it. There must be no selection of special experience which appeals to one's immediate desire. One must go steadily through all possible pylons." [http://www.hermetic.com/crowley/aba/chap21.html]

Crowley explains that the most important practices for developing the Body of Light are:

# The fortification of the Body of Light by the constant use of rituals, by the assumption of god-forms, and by the right use of the Eucharist.
# The purification and consecration and exaltation of that Body by the use of rituals of invocation.
# The education of that Body by experience. It must learn to travel on every plane; to break down every obstacle which may confront it.

The benefit of astral travel is essentially one of education...it is akin to exploring one's own spiritual universe ("Every Magician possesses an Astral Universe peculiar to himself" [http://www.hermetic.com/crowley/aba/app3.html]) and understanding the fundamental components, so that the adept can eventually master it. The general object is the "control of the Astral Plane, the ability to find one's way about it, to penetrate such sanctuaries as are guarded from the profane, [and] to make such relations with its inhabitants as may avail to acquire knowledge and power, or to command service" (''Book 4,'' Apx. 3) [http://www.hermetic.com/crowley/aba/app3.html]. Also, "one's apprehension of the Astral Plane must be accurate, for Angels, Archangels, and Gods are derived therefrom by analysis. One must have pure materials if one wishes to brew pure beer." [http://www.hermetic.com/crowley/aba/app3.html] It is vital to understand that all this must be in service to the [[Great Work]] of discovering one's [[True Will]]:

:"Let the Magician therefore adventure himself upon the Astral Plane with the declared design to penetrate to a sanctuary of discarnate Beings such as are able to instruct and fortify him, also to prove their identity by testimony beyond rebuttal. All explanations other than these are of value only as extending and equilibrating Knowledge, or possibly as supplying Energy to such Magicians as may have found their way to the Sources of Strength. In all cases, naught is worth an obol save as it serve to help the One Great Work" (''Book 4,'' Apx. 3).[http://www.hermetic.com/crowley/aba/app3.html].

Crowley was also willing to admit that what was experienced during "astral travel" was not relevant in terms of what is "real" or "unreal." Ultimately, the only value to this practice is in the utility it provides to the adept. Again from ''Book 4'' (Apx. 3):

:"The 'reality' or 'objectivity' of these symbols is not pertinent to the discussion. [...] The Magician must not accept [my] account of the Astral Plane, [my] Qabalistic discoveries, [my] instructions in Magick. They may be correct in the main for most men; yet they cannot be wholly true for any save [myself], even as no two artists can make identical pictures of the same subject [...] What one sees and hears is 'real' in its way, whether it be itself, or distorted by one's desires, or created by one's personality [...] The true, the final test, of the Truth of one's visions is their Value. The most glorious experience on the Astral plane, let it dazzle and thrill as it may, is not necessarily in accordance with the True Will of the seer; if not, though it be never so true objectively, it is not true for him, because not useful for him." [http://www.hermetic.com/crowley/aba/app3.html]

Finally, the Body of Light is more important than simply for astral travel—it is the storehouse of all experiences. From ''Magick Without Tears'' (Ch. 81):

:"In Magick, on the contrary, one passes through the veil of the exterior world (which, as in Yoga, but in another sense, becomes "unreal" by comparison as one passes beyond) one creates a subtle body (instrument is a better term) called the Body of Light; this one develops and controls; it gains new powers as one progresses, usually by means of what is called 'initiation': finally, one carries on almost one's whole life in this Body of Light, and achieves in its own way the mastery of the Universe." [http://www.hermetic.com/crowley/mwt/mwt_81.html]

===Magick ritual===

According to Crowley, there is only one ethical purpose for ritual magick: to achieve Union with God through "the uniting of the Microcosm with the Macrocosm." [http://www.hermetic.com/crowley/aba/chap1.html] Since this process is so arduous, it is also acceptable to use magick to develop the self (i.e. one's Body of Light) or to create ideal circumstances for the Work (e.g. having access to a place in which to do ritual undisturbed). There are many kinds of magick, but the categories of ritual that are recommended by Crowey include (all quotes are from ''Book 4''):

# '''Banishing'''—the elimination of unwanted forces. "The Magician must therefore take the utmost care in the matter of purification, firstly, of himself, secondly, of his instruments, thirdly, of the place of working."
# '''Invocation''', where the magician identifies with the Deity invoked. There are three methods:
#* ''Devotion'' —where "identity with the God is attained by love and by surrender, by giving up or suppressing all irrelevant (and illusionary) parts of yourself." (e.g. Liber Astarte [http://www.hermetic.com/crowley/libers/lib175.html])
#* ''Calling forth''—where "identity is attained by paying special attention to the desired part of yourself: positive, as the first method is negative." (e.g. assumption of god-forms)
#* ''Drama''—where "identity is attained by sympathy. It is very difficult for the ordinary man to lose himself completely in the subject of a play or of a novel; but for those who can do so, this method is unquestionably the best." (e.g. many [[initiation]]s and the [[Gnostic Mass]])
# '''Evocation'''—which is bringing a spiritual being ''before'', not ''into'', the magician (e.g. [[Goetia]])
# '''Eucharistic ritual'''—which "consists in taking common things, transmuting them into things divine, and consuming them." (e.g. The Mass of the Phoenix [http://www.hermetic.com/crowley/libers/lib44.html])
# '''Consecration'''—"the active dedication of a thing to a single purpose."
# '''Divinations'''—such as the use of the [[Thoth Tarot|Tarot]] or other tools used to gather information.

==Mystical milestones==

Although Crowley often wrote that every adept's path will be unique, he did insist on some major milestones that are fundamental to Thelemic mysticism. Aruguably the two most important are achieving what Crowley called knowledge and conversion with one's Holy Guardian Angel and the crossing of the Abyss, thereafter taking a place in the City of the Pyramids under the Night of Pan.

===The Holy Guardian Angel===

Even though the Holy Guardian Angel (or HGA) is, in a sense, the “higher self”, it is often experienced as a separate being, independent from the adept. In the system of Thelema, the single most important goal is to consciously connect with one’s HGA, a process termed “Knowledge and Conversation.” By doing so, the magician becomes fully aware of his own [[True Will]]. For Crowley, this event was the single most important goal of any adept:

:"It should never be forgotten for a single moment that the central and essential work of the Magician is the attainment of the Knowledge and Conversation of the Holy Guardian Angel. Once he has achieved this he must of course be left entirely in the hands of that Angel, who can be invariably and inevitably relied upon to lead him to the further great step—crossing of the Abyss and the attainment of the grade of Master of the Temple" (Crowley, ''Magick Without Tears,'' Ch.83) [http://www.hermetic.com/crowley/mwt/mwt_83.html]

In most of his writings, Crowley described the HGA as one's "Silent Self", at times equitable with one's deepest unconscious. In later writings, he insisted that the HGA is an entirely separate and objective being. Whichever position is taken, the object remains the same—to gain an intimate spiritual connection so that one's True Will can become fully known and manifested. When using the Tree of Life as a guide, this event occurs in the Sphere of [[Tiphareth]].

Crowley wrote Liber Samekh [http://www.hermetic.com/crowley/libers/lib800.html], a ritual designed specifically for attaining the Knowledge and Conversation with one’s HGA. In his notes to this ritual, Crowley sums up the key to success: “INVOKE OFTEN.” Another detailed description of the general operation is given in ''The Vision and the Voice,'' Aethyr 8 [http://www.hermetic.com/crowley/libers/lib8.html].

===Crossing the Abyss===

After one attains K&C of the HGA, the adept may choose to then reach the next major milestone: the crossing of the Abyss, the great gulf or void between the phenomenal world of manifestation and its noumenal source, that great spiritual wilderness which must be crossed by the adept to attain mastery.

:This doctrine is extremely difficult to explain; but it corresponds more or less to the gap in thought between the Real, which is ideal, and the Unreal, which is actual. In the Abyss all things exist, indeed, at least ''in posse'', but are without any possible meaning; for they lack the substratum of spiritual Reality. They are appearances without Law. They are thus ''Insane Delusions''. (Crowley, ''Little Essays Towards Truth'') [http://www.hermetic.com/crowley/littleessays/man.html]

[[Choronzon]] is the Dweller in the Abyss; he is there as the final obstruction. If he is met with the proper preparation, then he is there to destroy the ego, which allows the adept to move beyond the Abyss. If unprepared, then the unfortunate traveller will be utterly dispersed into annihilation. Both Choronzon and the Abyss are discussed in Crowley's ''Confessions'' (ch. 66):

:"The name of the Dweller in the Abyss is Choronzon, but he is not really an individual. The Abyss is empty of being; it is filled with all possible forms, each equally inane, each therefore evil in the only true sense of the word—that is, meaningless but malignant, in so far as it craves to become real. These forms swirl senselessly into haphazard heaps like dust devils, and each such chance aggregation asserts itself to be an individual and shrieks, "I am I!" though aware all the time that its elements have no true bond; so that the slightest disturbance dissipates the delusion just as a horseman, meeting a dust devil, brings it in showers of sand to the earth." [http://www.hermetic.com/crowley/confess/chapter66.html]

However, just on the other side of the Abyss awaits [[Babalon]]. She calls the adept to surrender completely, so that he or she may cross over.

===Babalon, the City of the Pyramids, and the Night of Pan===

Choronzon is the dweller within the Abyss, and his job is to trap the traveler in his meaningless world of illusion. However, '''[[Babalon]]''' is on just the other side, beckoning (in the sphere of [[Binah]] on the Tree of Life). If the adept gives himself to her—the symbol of this act is the pouring of the adept’s blood into her [[graal]]—he becomes impregnated in her (a state called "Babe of the Abyss"), then to be reborn as a master and a saint that dwells in the City of the Pyramids.

The '''City of the Pyramids''' is the home to those adepts that have crossed the great [[Abyss (Thelema)|Abyss]], having spilled all their blood in the [[Graal]] of [[Babalon]]. They have destroyed their earthly ego-identities, becoming nothing more than piles of dust (i.e. the remaining aspects of their True Selves without the self-sense of "I"). Within, they take on the name or title of Saint or Nemo (Latin for ''No-Man''). In the system of [[A.'.A.'.]] they are called Masters of the Temple. It is a step along the path of spiritual purification, and a spiritual resting place for those who have successfully shed their attachments to the mundane world.

Of these adepts, it is written in ''The Vision and the Voice'' (Aethyr 14):

:''These adepts seem like Pyramids—their hoods and robes are like Pyramids [...] And the Beatific Vision is no more, and the glory of the Most High is no more. There is no more knowledge. There is no more bliss. There is no more power. There is no more beauty. For this is the Palace of Understanding: for thou art one with the Primeval things.'' [http://www.ehostarea.com/liber/L_418.txt]

And in ''Confessions'' (ch.21):

:"The Master of the Temple accordingly interferes not with the scheme of things except just so far as he is doing the Work which he is sent to do. Why should he struggle against imprisonment, banishment, death? [...] The Master of the Temple is so far from the man in whom He manifests that all these matters are of no importance to Him. It may be of importance to His Work that man shall sit upon a throne, or be hanged." [http://www.hermetic.com/crowley/aba/chap21.html]

In his ''Confessions'' (ch. 66), Crowley describes his vision of entering the City of the Pyramids:

:''I was instantly blotted in blackness. Mine Angel whispered the secret words whereby one partakes of the Mysteries of the Masters of the Temple. Presently my eyes beheld (what first seemed shapes of rocks) the Masters, veiled in motionless majesty, shrouded in silence. Each one was exactly like the other. Then the Angel bade me understand whereto my aspiration led: all powers, all ecstasies, ended in this—I understood. He then told me that now my name was Nemo, seated among the other silent shapes in the City of the Pyramids under the Night of Pan; those other parts of me that I had left for ever below the Abyss must serve as a vehicle for the energies which had been created by my act. My mind and body, deprived of the ego which they had hitherto obeyed, were now free to manifest according to their nature in the world, to devote themselves to aid mankind in its evolution. In my case I was to be cast out into the [[Chesed|Sphere of Jupiter]]. My mortal part was to help humanity by Jupiterian work, such a governing, teaching, creating, exhorting men to aspire to become nobler, holier, worthier, kinglier, kindlier and more generous.'' [http://www.hermetic.com/crowley/confess/chapter66.html]

The City exists under the '''Night of Pan''', or N.O.X. The playful and lecherous [[Pan]] is the [[Greek god]] of nature, lust, and the masculine generative power. The Greek word ''Pan'' also translates as ''All'', and so he is “a symbol of the Universal, a personification of Nature; both Pangenetor, "all-begetter," and Panphage, "all-devourer" (Sabazius, 1995). Therefore, Pan is both the giver and the taker of life, and his Night is that time of symbolic death where the adept experiences unification with the All through the ecstatic destruction of the ego-self. In a more general sense, it is the state where one transcends all limitations and experiences oneness with the universe.

===Magus and Ipsissimus===

The final two milestones are reached only by a very few. The penultimate is the becoming of a Magus (symbolized by entering [[Chokmah]] on the Tree of Life), whose essential duty is to communicate a new Truth to mankind. Of the Magi, Crowley writes:
:"There are many magical teachers but in recorded history we have scarcely had a dozen Magi in the technical sense of the word. They may be recognized by the fact that their message may be formulated as a single word, which word must be such that it overturns all existing beliefs and codes. We may take as instances the Word of Buddha—''Anatta'' (absence of an atman or soul) [...] Mohammed, again, with the single word ''Allah'' [...] Similarly, Aiwass, uttering the word ''Thelema'' (with all its implications), destroys completely the formula of the Dying God." (''Confessions,'' ch. 49) [http://www.hermetic.com/crowley/confess/chapter49.html]

The state of being a Magus is described in Crowley's ''Liber B vel Magi''. [http://www.hermetic.com/crowley/libers/lib1.html]

The state of Ipsissimus is the very highest possible (symbolized by the sphere of [[Kether]] on the Tree of Life). Relatively little is openly written of this grade of attainment, but Crowley does touch on it in ''Book 4'' (apx. II):
:"The Ipsissimus is wholly free from all limitations soever, existing in the nature of all things without discriminations of quantity or quality between them. He has identified Being and not-Being and Becoming, action and non-action and tendency to action, with all other such triplicities, not distinguishing between them in respect of any conditions, or between any one thing and any other thing as to whether it is with or without conditions."

:"He is sworn to accept this Grade in the presence of a witness, and to express its nature in word and deed, but to withdraw Himself at once within the veils of his natural manifestation as a man, and to keep silence during his human life as to the fact of his attainment, even to the other members of the Order.

:"The Ipsissimus is pre-eminently the Master of all modes of existence; that is, his being is entirely free from internal or external necessity. His work is to destroy all tendencies to construct or to cancel such necessities. He is the Master of the Law of Unsubstantiality (Anatta)."

:"The Ipsissimus has no relation as such with any Being: He has no will in any direction, and no Consciousness of any kind involving duality, for in Him all is accomplished; as it is written 'beyond the Word and the Fool, yea, beyond the Word and the Fool'."[http://www.hermetic.com/crowley/aba/app2.html]

==References==

*Sabazius. (1995). ''[http://www.hermetic.com/sabazius/pan.htm Pan]''. Retrieved on Sept. 27, 2004.
*Crowley, Aleister. (1997). ''Magick: Book 4.'' 2nd ed. York Beach, Me. : S. Weiser.
*___. (1979). ''The Confessions of Aleister Crowley.'' London;Boston : Routledge & Kegan Paul.
*___. (1998). ''The Vision & the Voice : the Equinox, IV(2).'' York Beach, Me. : Samuel Weiser.
*___. (1995). ''The Book of Lies.'' York Beach, Me. : S. Weiser.
*___. (1982). ''Magick Without Tears.'' Phoenix, AZ : Falcon Press
*___. (1996). ''Little Essays Towards Truth.'' Tempe, AZ : New Falcon Pub.
*___. (1982). ''777 and Other Qabalistic Writings.'' York Beach, Me. : S. Weiser.

==External links==

* [http://www.thelemapedia.org/index.php/Main_Page Thelemapedia, the encyclopedia of Thelema and Magick]
* [http://www.hermetic.com/crowley/ The Libri of Aleister Crowley], including ''Book 4'', ''Magick Without Tears'', and others
* [http://outercol.org/ The A.'.A.'.]

[[Category:Thelema]]
[[Category:Magick]]

Allan Bennett

2006-04-17T02:12:58Z

Ash:

'''Charles Henry Allan Bennett''' ([[1872]]-[[1923]]), was member of the [[Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn]]. He was a friend and associate of [[Aleister Crowley]].

Bennett received the name '''Bikkhu Ananda Metteyya''' at his [[ordination]] as a Buddhist monk and spent years studying and practicing Buddhism in the East. He was the first Englishman to be ordained as a Buddhist monk ([[Bhikkhu]]) of the Theravada tradition and was instrumental in introducing [[Buddhism]] in England. He established the first Buddhist Mission in the [[United Kingdom]].

Bennett was, along with [[George Cecil Jones]], Crowley’s primary teacher during his days in the Golden Dawn. Bennett was educated at Hollesly College, and scraped by as an analytical chemist. Bennett was initiated into the G.D. in 1894, taking the motto Iehi Aour, “let there be light.” He was always very poor and tormented by illness, but still made a strong impression on other occultists of the time. He was one of the more brilliant minds in the order, and favored mysticism and white magic; he was almost wholly concerned with enlightenment rather than [[siddhi]]s (magical powers). Bennett had high regard for [[Samuel Liddell MacGregor Mathers|Mathers]], and with him began working on a book of correspondences that Crowley would later expand upon as ''Liber 777''.

Soon after meeting, Crowley invited Bennett to come stay with him, as Bennett was living in a dilapidated shared apartment. Bennett trained Crowley in the basics of [[magick]] and tried to instill a devotion to white magick. Bennett was very ascetic and sexually chaste, a marked contrast to Crowley’s libertine attitude. Crowley once remarked concerning Bennett’s powers: Bennett had constructed a magical [[wand]] out of glass, which he carried with him. As it so happened, Crowley and Bennett were walking along one day and came across a group of [[Theosophy|theosophists]] who were ridiculing the use of wands. “Allan promptly produced his and blasted one of them. It took fourteen hours to restore the incredulous individual to the use of his mind and his muscles."

In 1900, at the age of 28, Bennett traveled to Asia to relieve his [[asthma]], and to dedicate himself to [[Buddhism]]. First he traveled to [[Ceylon]] where he studied [[Hatha Yoga]] under the yogi Shri Parananda. In 1902 Crowley came to visit him there, and was instructed in Hatha Yoga. During this time both men agreed as to the truth of Buddhism. Later, in Burma, Bennett took the vows of a Buddhist monk, under the name Bhikku Ananda Metteya, “bliss of loving kindness.” In 1903 he founded the World Buddhist Society. He later began a periodical called ''The Buddhist Review''.

Back in England in 1908, Bennett attempted to spread the study of Buddhism on his native soil. He published “The Training of the Mind” in ''[[The Equinox]]''. Crowley tried to rekindle the friendship that the two had known, but to no avail. By this time Crowley had rejected Buddhism and embraced [[Thelema]]; Bennett had done the exact opposite. He remarked, “No Buddhist would consider it worth while to pass from the crystalline clearness of his own religion to this involved obscurity” (Sutin 193). It is hard to say what really caused the break between them. Perhaps their visions of the divine really had grown too far apart. It would not be the only dear friend that Crowley would lose.

Some sources say that Bennett intended to travel on to California due to health reasons. But with the outbreak of World War I he found himself stranded, and forced to live in poverty and illness. He died on his native English soil at the age of 51. He wrote two books during his life: ''The Wisdom of the Aryes'' and ''The Religion of Burma''.

==External links==
*Fernando, Tilak S. [http://www.egnu.org/saints/bennett/ World Buddhist Foundation in London Celebrates the United Kingdom Buddhist Day].

==References==
*Wikipedia. (2006). ''[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Henry_Allan_Bennett Charles Henry Allan Bennett].'' Retrieved April 16, 2006.

Allan Bennett

2006-04-17T02:10:56Z

Ash:

:'' '''Allan Bennett''' redirects here. You may also be looking for [[Alan Bennett]], the English writer and actor.''

'''Charles Henry Allan Bennett''' ([[1872]]-[[1923]]), was member of the [[Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn]]. He was a friend and associate of [[Aleister Crowley]].

Bennett received the name '''Bikkhu Ananda Metteyya''' at his [[ordination]] as a Buddhist monk and spent years studying and practicing Buddhism in the East. He was the first Englishman to be ordained as a Buddhist monk ([[Bhikkhu]]) of the [[Theravada]] tradition and was instrumental in introducing [[Buddhism]] in [[England]]. He established the first Buddhist Mission in the [[United Kingdom]].

Bennett was, along with [[George Cecil Jones]], Crowley’s primary teacher during his days in the Golden Dawn. Bennett was educated at Hollesly College, and scraped by as an analytical chemist. Bennett was initiated into the G.D. in 1894, taking the motto Iehi Aour, “let there be light.” He was always very poor and tormented by illness, but still made a strong impression on other occultists of the time. He was one of the more brilliant minds in the order, and favored mysticism and white magic; he was almost wholly concerned with [[Enlightenment (concept)|enlightenment]] rather than [[siddhi]]s (magical powers). Bennett had high regard for [[Samuel Liddell MacGregor Mathers|Mathers]], and with him began working on a book of correspondences that Crowley would later expand upon as ''[[Liber 777]]''.

Soon after meeting, Crowley invited Bennett to come stay with him, as Bennett was living in a dilapidated shared apartment. Bennett trained Crowley in the basics of [[magick]] and tried to instill a devotion to [[white magick]]. Bennett was very ascetic and sexually chaste, a marked contrast to Crowley’s libertine attitude. Crowley once remarked concerning Bennett’s powers: Bennett had constructed a magical [[wand]] out of glass, which he carried with him. As it so happened, Crowley and Bennett were walking along one day and came across a group of [[theosophists]] who were ridiculing the use of wands. “Allan promptly produced his and blasted one of them. It took fourteen hours to restore the incredulous individual to the use of his mind and his muscles."

In [[1900]], at the age of 28, Bennett traveled to Asia to relieve his [[asthma]], and to dedicate himself to [[Buddhism]]. First he traveled to [[Ceylon]] where he studied [[Hatha Yoga]] under the [[yogi]] [[Shri Parananda]]. In 1902 Crowley came to visit him there, and was instructed in Hatha Yoga. During this time both men agreed as to the truth of Buddhism. Later, in [[Burma]], Bennett took the vows of a Buddhist monk, under the name Bhikku Ananda Metteya, “bliss of loving kindness.” In [[1903]] he founded the [[World Buddhist Society]]. He later began a periodical called ''The Buddhist Review''.

Back in England in [[1908]], Bennett attempted to spread the study of Buddhism on his native soil. He published “The Training of the Mind” in ''[[The Equinox]]''. Crowley tried to rekindle the friendship that the two had known, but to no avail. By this time Crowley had rejected Buddhism and embraced [[Thelema]]; Bennett had done the exact opposite. He remarked, “No Buddhist would consider it worth while to pass from the crystalline clearness of his own religion to this involved obscurity” (Sutin 193). It is hard to say what really caused the break between them. Perhaps their visions of the divine really had grown too far apart. It would not be the only dear friend that Crowley would lose.

Some sources say that Bennett intended to travel on to California due to health reasons. But with the outbreak of [[World War I]] he found himself stranded, and forced to live in poverty and illness. He died on his native English soil at the age of 51. He wrote two books during his life: ''The Wisdom of the Aryes'' and ''The Religion of Burma''.

==External links==
*Fernando, Tilak S. [http://www.egnu.org/saints/bennett/ World Buddhist Foundation in London Celebrates the United Kingdom Buddhist Day].

==References==
*Wikipedia. (2006). ''[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Henry_Allan_Bennett Charles Henry Allan Bennett].'' Retrieved April 16, 2006.

User talk:Ash

2005-12-28T05:30:12Z

Ash:

Please feel free to leave me a note if you have any comments or questions about Thelemapedia or myself. [[User:Ash|Fr. Ash]]

----
==page removal==
I'd like your input on the deletion idea here [[Talk:Christopher_Knight]]. I'm leaning to removing the 3 pages in question as way off topic. Thanks, [[User:Frater C.U.G.|Frater C.U.G.]] 23:54, 9 Jul 2005 (CDT)

----

The awards are great, love the names! [[User:Frater C.U.G.|Frater C.U.G.]] 00:14, 6 Jul 2005 (CDT)

== re: your note ==

I read the "how to contribute" and the tutorial before I attempted to mess with anything -- I just process stuff like that *really* slowly, unfortunately, so I'm making lots of mistakes. I'm used to working with pen on paper and I'm easily intimidated by brackets and the like :-). I hope to be up to speed on getting stuff to look good very soon. I friended you on lj btw -- I'm karma_sue.

== (note to self -- tilda) ==

"Please don't take what I said as criticism."

Oh, it's cool, sorry if I sounded defensive. I appreciate your comments, and the more I explore the site the more astounded I am by 1. the idea itself, 2. the way it's growing, 3. the amount of work you have done and continue to do, and 4. the encouraging attitude/tone of the other editors and the "approachable" feel of the tutorials. This is just an amazing site. I have been a geographically isolated Thelemite for over a decade now, and on top of that I'm a geek about spelling and grammar and a crappy ceremonial magickian, so I'm excited to finally be able to put what I *am* good at in service to the promulgation of the Law and the Order, since long-distance grammar Nazis are not in high demand in most bodies in my geographical area. ;-p

[[User:Karma|Karma]]

woohoo, I remembered!

----

Hey Ash -- I can't find your comment now, but you said something about using some specific place to leave messages. I wasn't clear if you were referring to this discussion page, so you would receive notice, or somewhere else. Please let me know if this is the right place for you to get notification of messages. Obviously no rush :)

::Yeah, this is the place :)

Regarding the religion article... I guess it just seems to me that given the intense scrutiny that topic has been under, perhaps some warning and discussion about the change you intended to make would have been useful. I am not all pissed off about it, and your explanation made sense, but I just had wished that the explanation could have been found in the discussion page of the article, rather than having to pry it forth from you. FWIW, YMMV.

::You're right, it would have been better of me. I guess I didn't because at the time, there was almost no activity on the site at all. I had started to believe that none of the original authors were paying attention at all. I was obviously in error, and won't make that mistake again.

Hey thanks for the award and the honor of the Order of Udjat!

::You've totally earned them. You are now qualified to induct members into the Order.
::[[User:Ash|Fr. Ash]] 03:35, 18 Jul 2005 (CDT)

Thanks for the corrections brother, I've kept them in mind for future edits. :) [[User:Jachin|Jachin]] 15:16, 19 Jul 2005 (CDT)

----
The Wicca article -- if I'm reading the history thing right (and I may not be), you wrote/imported that article? The citations fell off and it's screaming for them imho. Advice? [[User:Karma|Karma]] 03:52, 26 Dec 2005 (CST)

:Yeah, I did a straight import, although the refences must have fell off. By all means go pick them up from the Wikipedia article...be sure to go the the history version that coresponds to the date of the import. Thanks for keeping an eye open...you're doing great work. [[User:Ash|Fr. Ash]] 23:29, 27 Dec 2005 (CST)

User talk:Ash

2005-12-28T05:29:46Z

Ash:

Please feel free to leave me a note if you have any comments or questions about Thelemapedia or myself. [[User:Ash|Fr. Ash]]

----
==page removal==
I'd like your input on the deletion idea here [[Talk:Christopher_Knight]]. I'm leaning to removing the 3 pages in question as way off topic. Thanks, [[User:Frater C.U.G.|Frater C.U.G.]] 23:54, 9 Jul 2005 (CDT)

----

The awards are great, love the names! [[User:Frater C.U.G.|Frater C.U.G.]] 00:14, 6 Jul 2005 (CDT)

== re: your note ==

I read the "how to contribute" and the tutorial before I attempted to mess with anything -- I just process stuff like that *really* slowly, unfortunately, so I'm making lots of mistakes. I'm used to working with pen on paper and I'm easily intimidated by brackets and the like :-). I hope to be up to speed on getting stuff to look good very soon. I friended you on lj btw -- I'm karma_sue.

== (note to self -- tilda) ==

"Please don't take what I said as criticism."

Oh, it's cool, sorry if I sounded defensive. I appreciate your comments, and the more I explore the site the more astounded I am by 1. the idea itself, 2. the way it's growing, 3. the amount of work you have done and continue to do, and 4. the encouraging attitude/tone of the other editors and the "approachable" feel of the tutorials. This is just an amazing site. I have been a geographically isolated Thelemite for over a decade now, and on top of that I'm a geek about spelling and grammar and a crappy ceremonial magickian, so I'm excited to finally be able to put what I *am* good at in service to the promulgation of the Law and the Order, since long-distance grammar Nazis are not in high demand in most bodies in my geographical area. ;-p

[[User:Karma|Karma]]

woohoo, I remembered!

----

Hey Ash -- I can't find your comment now, but you said something about using some specific place to leave messages. I wasn't clear if you were referring to this discussion page, so you would receive notice, or somewhere else. Please let me know if this is the right place for you to get notification of messages. Obviously no rush :)

::Yeah, this is the place :)

Regarding the religion article... I guess it just seems to me that given the intense scrutiny that topic has been under, perhaps some warning and discussion about the change you intended to make would have been useful. I am not all pissed off about it, and your explanation made sense, but I just had wished that the explanation could have been found in the discussion page of the article, rather than having to pry it forth from you. FWIW, YMMV.

::You're right, it would have been better of me. I guess I didn't because at the time, there was almost no activity on the site at all. I had started to believe that none of the original authors were paying attention at all. I was obviously in error, and won't make that mistake again.

Hey thanks for the award and the honor of the Order of Udjat!

::You've totally earned them. You are now qualified to induct members into the Order.
::[[User:Ash|Fr. Ash]] 03:35, 18 Jul 2005 (CDT)

Thanks for the corrections brother, I've kept them in mind for future edits. :) [[User:Jachin|Jachin]] 15:16, 19 Jul 2005 (CDT)

----
The Wicca article -- if I'm reading the history thing right (and I may not be), you wrote/imported that article? The citations fell off and it's screaming for them imho. Advice? [[User:Karma|Karma]] 03:52, 26 Dec 2005 (CST)

:Yeah, I did a straight import, although the refences must have falled off. By all means go pick them up from the Wikipedia article...be sure to go the the history version that coresponds to the date of the import. Thanks for keeping an eye open...you're doing great work. [[User:Ash|Fr. Ash]] 23:29, 27 Dec 2005 (CST)

File talk:Pelican.gif

2005-11-21T18:21:19Z

Ash:

source info please!

No source...it's from a 16th century tapestry [[User:Ash|Fr. Ash]] 18:23, 20 Nov 2005 (CST)

:It was published somewhere or did you photograph the tapestry yourself? [[User:Thiebes|Joseph Thiebes]] 20:31, 20 Nov 2005 (CST)

:: It was from a book printed before the 1940s...don't worry, it's PD. [[User:Ash|Fr. Ash]]

::: It would be great if we could have the source info. I can tell you any number of things that were published before 1940 that are not PD. It sounds like you know where it came from... why not share this info? [[User:Thiebes|Joseph Thiebes]] 04:49, 21 Nov 2005 (CST)

::::Because it's been over a year since I got it. It wasn't a private photo someone took...it was a reproduction, which doesn't copyright it. If someone reproduces the Mona Lisa and prints it in a book, I don't have to credit the book if I scan the image and reproduce it somewhere else. The vast majority of similar historical images on Wikipedia fall into this category...they were scanned from books or taken from websites who scanned them from books...it is legal and aboveboard. I appreciate your attention to detail, but there is no legal reason to worry about having reproductions of historical artwork on the site. [[User:Ash|Fr. Ash]] 12:21, 21 Nov 2005 (CST)

File talk:Pelican.gif

2005-11-21T02:48:15Z

Ash:

File talk:Masstemple.jpg

2005-11-21T00:24:27Z

Ash: mine

who made this image please?

: It's mine. [[User:Ash|Fr. Ash]] 18:24, 20 Nov 2005 (CST)

File talk:Pelican.gif

2005-11-21T00:23:31Z

Ash:

source info please!

No source...it's from a 16th century tapestry [[User:Ash|Fr. Ash]] 18:23, 20 Nov 2005 (CST)

File talk:Treeoflife0.gif

2005-11-21T00:22:49Z

Ash: I did

Who made this image? If it was made specifically for T'Pedia we should at least have the authorship info.

: I made all the Tree of Life images [[User:Ash|Fr. Ash]] 18:22, 20 Nov 2005 (CST)

Talk:Main Page

2005-11-20T18:24:57Z

Ash:

Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the law.

I find this new website to be very well organized (So far in its young life) and comprehensive. Hopefully everyone can add good and accurate material to the site. My main expertise is in Sufism, Arabic, and Islam - and of course some things dealing with Thelema. Thanks for this great website Scarlet Women Lodge - your fruits are proof of your success.

Love is the law, love under will.

Frater Jihad

:Well, you are certainly welcome here. Thanks for jumping in and contributing! Just so you know, our socializing is usually done in the [[Thelemapedia_talk:Community_Portal|Community Portal]] area.—[[User:Ash|Ash]]

----

I would like to propose removing the web ring links. I just tried to use them and they didn't work. also, we have no way of knowing what other sites are out there on these rings. I would suggest instead of rings that we solicit reciprocal links from quality websites. --[[User:Thiebes|Thiebes]] 04:04, 17 Nov 2005 (CST)

:I agree, webrings always remind me of amateur or hobby sites. [[User:Frater C.U.G.|Frater C.U.G.]] 23:43, 17 Nov 2005 (CST)

:Just to know, I set up a relationship with the ring owner. I think being on their rings list is a good thing...it gets a few hits and ups our Google ranking a bit. However, if you still want them gone, you might consider dropping a note to the owner, who is a nice woman, Asiya (asiya@asiya.org). She specifically refused FET on her rings, although he applied. ANyway, something to consider... [[User:Ash|Fr. Ash]]

Thelemapedia talk:Stewards

2005-11-20T18:14:34Z

Ash: Opinion: Stewardship should be open to dedicated editors

=For consideration=

I still maintain that OTO membership should not be needed for Stewardship. There are times when non-initiates can have positions of authority in OTO activites. For example, at SWL we had non-initiates involved in important jobs during our Rites. As long as the final authority is an OTO initiate, Stewardship should be open to any person who has shown dedication, fidelity, and competence. [[User:Ash|Fr. Ash]] 12:14, 20 Nov 2005 (CST)

Main Page

2005-11-07T07:37:47Z

Ash: webring

<div style="position:absolute;top:119px;right:25px;font-size:10px;text-align: right;line-height:14px;color:#444444;">New to Thelemapedia? Read the [[Thelemapedia:Introduction|Introduction]]<br/>Ready to edit? Read the [[Thelemapedia:Really Simple Tutorial|Really Simple Tutorial]]</div>

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<td width=50% style="padding-right:10px;">Welcome to <b>Thelemapedia</b>, the original open-source encyclopedia of '''Thelema''' and '''Magick''', including topics on '''Qabalah''', '''astrology''', '''yoga''', '''godforms''', '''biographies''', and the works of '''Aleister Crowley'''. Our goal is to make ''Thelemapedia'' the single best, most comprehensive source for information on Thelema and magick.

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===[[Thelema]]===

'''Thelema''', Θελημα in Greek, means ''will''.

=====A brief summary of Thelema=====

'''Thelema''' is the name of the philosophical school and religious matrix established in 1904 with the writing of [[Liber AL vel Legis]] ([[The Book of the Law]]) by [[Aleister Crowley]] (1875-1947). The Law is summed up in two phrases from the Book:
*“Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the Law” (AL I:40) and
*“Love is the law, love under will” (AL I:57).
The central goal of a Thelemite (as adherents refer to themselves) is to discover and perform his or her [[True Will]], which is generally defined as the innermost Nature or proper life course of the individual. The techniques used to achieve this goal fall under the heading of [[Magick]].

There are also strong political, ethical, aesthetic, and cultural aspects to Thelema. Although there is no strict literal doctrine concerning these matters, Aleister Crowley wrote many articles and essays regarding his ideas about the proper behavior of individual Thelemites and for an ideal Thelemic society. These ideas have continued to develop into modern times. However, the primary themes involve personal freedom, a recognition that men and women have an inherent divine nature, and that Love is the basis of the [[Great Work]].

*See the article on [[Religion]] for an examination of the "religiosity" of Thelema.

'''[[Thelema|Read more...]]'''
</div>
</td>
</tr>
</table>

<table width=100% style="font-size:10px;line-height:14px;text-align:center;color:#333333;"><tr>
<td nobreak><i><b>Channel93 Webring:</b></i> <BR/>[http://J.webring.com/wrman?ring=93pathring&addsite Join] | [http://J.webring.com/hub?ring=93pathring&id=68&hub Ring Hub] | [http://J.webring.com/go?ring=93pathring&id=68&random Random] | [http://J.webring.com/go?ring=93pathring&id=68&prev Prev] | [http://J.webring.com/go?ring=93pathring&id=68&next Next]</td>
<td nobreak><i><b>Thelema Webring:</b></i> <BR/>[http://Q.webring.com/wrman?ring=thelema&addsite Join] | [http://Q.webring.com/hub?ring=thelema&id=6&hub Ring Hub] | [http://Q.webring.com/go?ring=thelema&id=6&random Random] | [http://Q.webring.com/go?ring=thelema&id=6&prev Prev] | [http://Q.webring.com/go?ring=thelema&id=6&next Next]</td><td nobreak><i><b>Babalon Webring:</b></i> <BR/>[http://Q.webring.com/wrman?ring=babalon&addsite Join] | [http://Q.webring.com/hub?ring=babalon&id=9&hub Ring Hub] | [http://Q.webring.com/go?ring=babalon&id=9&random Random] | [http://Q.webring.com/go?ring=babalon&id=9&prev Prev] | [http://Q.webring.com/go?ring=babalon&id=9&next Next]</td><td><td nobreak>'''''Aiwaz Thelema Webring:''''' <BR/>[http://Q.webring.com/wrman?ring=aiwazthelema&addsite Join] | [http://Q.webring.com/hub?ring=aiwazthelema&id=9&hub Ring Hub] | [http://Q.webring.com/go?ring=aiwazthelema&id=9&random Random] | [http://Q.webring.com/go?ring=aiwazthelema&id=9&prev Prev] | [http://Q.webring.com/go?ring=aiwazthelema&id=9&next Next]</td></tr></table>

Thelemapedia:Apply for Stewardship

2005-11-06T17:57:34Z

Ash:

On this page you can '''apply for Stewardship''' on Thelemapedia. See the [[Thelemapedia:Stewards|Stewardship]] page for a description of responsibilities and privileges of Thelemapedia Stewards.

Stewardship is generally granted to trusted members of the community who are familiar with Thelemapedia policies and have a substantial history of contributing to the site. They should be able to discuss issues without becoming personal. Even in the face of abuse and irrationality, a Steward should show patience and a willingness to listen and compromise. Finally, a Steward must be willing to do admin chores, such as making good wiki links, correcting errors, improving the category system, and maintaining the integrity of the various sections.
__NOTOC__

==Application process==

As the site grows, it is expected that the process for choosing new Stewards will change over time. However, at this time, the currect process is as follows:

1) Copy the data exactly as you see it inside the box below (copy the code here on the page, not in the editing field). Then edit this page and paste it under the section "Current Applications":
<div style="border:1px solid #333;background-color:#ccc;margin-left:40px;padding:15px;width:200px;font-size:10px;">
<nowiki>===~~~===</nowiki>

<nowiki>'''Why I would make a good Steward:'''</nowiki>

<nowiki>'''Support'''</nowiki>

<nowiki>'''Oppose'''</nowiki>

<nowiki>'''Neutral'''</nowiki>

<nowiki>'''Questions for the candidate'''</nowiki>

<nowiki>----</nowiki></div>

''When you paste the code, it should look like this:''

===[[USer:Ash|Ash]]===

'''Why I would make a good Steward:'''

'''Support'''

'''Oppose'''

'''Neutral'''

'''Questions for the candidate'''

----

2) Write in why you think you would make a good steward.

3) You may choose to answer any questions people pose.

'''All users are invited to participate.''' Any editor may have a say in the process by making a comment in the appropriate section (support, oppose, neutral) or by asking a question. If you do make a comment or question, be sure to begin it with an * and sign your name (with three or four tildas: <nowiki>~~~~</nowiki>).

The final decision will be made by the current Stewards, who will certainly take all comments under consideration.

==Current Applications==

===[[User:Frater C.U.G.|Frater C.U.G.]]===
Approved. [[User:Ash|—Fr. Ash—]] 11:03, 2 Jul 2005 (CDT)
----
===[[User:Thiebes|Thiebes]]===

'''Why I would make a good Steward:'''
I have been a longtime contributor to Thelemapedia, and a member of Thelemapedia's Order of the Udjat, and I care deeply about its continued existence and growth. As an OTO member I am also sensitive to the interests of our members, who do not wish to see secrets posted to this site, or links posted to sites containing, or purporting to contain, our secrets.

'''Support'''
*[[User:Frater C.U.G.|Frater C.U.G.]] 01:13, 6 Nov 2005 (CST)
*[[User:Ash|Fr. Ash]]: Duh, he would be excellent.

'''Oppose'''

'''Neutral'''

'''Questions for the candidate'''
----

[[Category:Thelemapedia]]

Thelemapedia:Apply for Stewardship

2005-11-06T17:57:12Z

Ash: yup

On this page you can '''apply for Stewardship''' on Thelemapedia. See the [[Thelemapedia:Stewards|Stewardship]] page for a description of responsibilities and privileges of Thelemapedia Stewards.

Stewardship is generally granted to trusted members of the community who are familiar with Thelemapedia policies and have a substantial history of contributing to the site. They should be able to discuss issues without becoming personal. Even in the face of abuse and irrationality, a Steward should show patience and a willingness to listen and compromise. Finally, a Steward must be willing to do admin chores, such as making good wiki links, correcting errors, improving the category system, and maintaining the integrity of the various sections.
__NOTOC__

==Application process==

As the site grows, it is expected that the process for choosing new Stewards will change over time. However, at this time, the currect process is as follows:

1) Copy the data exactly as you see it inside the box below (copy the code here on the page, not in the editing field). Then edit this page and paste it under the section "Current Applications":
<div style="border:1px solid #333;background-color:#ccc;margin-left:40px;padding:15px;width:200px;font-size:10px;">
<nowiki>===~~~===</nowiki>

<nowiki>'''Why I would make a good Steward:'''</nowiki>

<nowiki>'''Support'''</nowiki>

<nowiki>'''Oppose'''</nowiki>

<nowiki>'''Neutral'''</nowiki>

<nowiki>'''Questions for the candidate'''</nowiki>

<nowiki>----</nowiki></div>

''When you paste the code, it should look like this:''

===[[USer:Ash|Ash]]===

'''Why I would make a good Steward:'''

'''Support'''

'''Oppose'''

'''Neutral'''

'''Questions for the candidate'''

----

2) Write in why you think you would make a good steward.

3) You may choose to answer any questions people pose.

'''All users are invited to participate.''' Any editor may have a say in the process by making a comment in the appropriate section (support, oppose, neutral) or by asking a question. If you do make a comment or question, be sure to begin it with an * and sign your name (with three or four tildas: <nowiki>~~~~</nowiki>).

The final decision will be made by the current Stewards, who will certainly take all comments under consideration.

==Current Applications==

===[[User:Frater C.U.G.|Frater C.U.G.]]===
Approved. [[User:Ash|—Fr. Ash—]] 11:03, 2 Jul 2005 (CDT)
----
===[[User:Thiebes|Thiebes]]===

'''Why I would make a good Steward:'''
I have been a longtime contributor to Thelemapedia, and a member of Thelemapedia's Order of the Udjat, and I care deeply about its continued existence and growth. As an OTO member I am also sensitive to the interests of our members, who do not wish to see secrets posted to this site, or links posted to sites containing, or purporting to contain, our secrets.

'''Support'''
[[User:Frater C.U.G.|Frater C.U.G.]] 01:13, 6 Nov 2005 (CST)
[[User:Ash|Fr. Ash]]: Duh, he would be excellent.

'''Oppose'''

'''Neutral'''

'''Questions for the candidate'''
----

[[Category:Thelemapedia]]

Obeah and Wanga

2005-11-03T22:11:24Z

Ash: added wanga

The terms '''Obeah''' and '''Wanga''' come from the following line in [[The Book of the Law]]: ''Also the mantras and spells; the obeah and the wanga; the work of the wand and the work of the sword; these he shall learn and teach.'' (AL I:37).

In his ''Commentaries'', Crowley explains:

:The obeah is the [[magick]] of the Secret Light with special reference to acts; the wanga is the verbal or mental correspondence of the same. [...] The "obeah" being the acts, and the "wanga" the words, proper to Magick, the two cover the whole world of external expression.

He goes on to say:

:Magick is the management of all we say and do, so that the effect is to change that part of our environment which dissatisfies us, until it does so no longer. We "remould it nearer to the heart's desire."

:Magick ceremonies proper are merely organized and concentrated attempts to impose our Will on certain parts of the Cosmos. They are only particular cases of the general law.

:But all we say and do, however casually, adds up to more, far more, than our most strenuous Operations. "Take care of the pence, and the pounds will take care of themselves." Your daily drippings fill a bigger bucket than your geysers of magical effort. [...] Remember that every word and deed is a witness to thought, that therefore your mind must be perfectly organized, its sole duty to interpret circumstances in terms of the Will so that speech and action may be rightly directed to express the Will appropriately to the occasion. Remember that every word and deed which is not a definite expression of your Will counts against it, indifference worse than hostility. Your enemy is at least interested in you: you may make him your friend as you never can do with a neutral. Remember that Magick is the Art of Life, therefore of causing change in accordance with Will; therefore its law is "love under will", and its every movement is an act of love.

==In Afro-American practice==

===Obeah===
The Obeah refers to the Jamaican afro-american religion related to Brazilian [[Candomblé]], the Caribean [[Santeria]] or the Haitian [[Voodoo]].

In the Jamaican patois the term "Obeah Mon", or "Obeah Man" means "Father of the Saints", where the "Saints" are the gods and other spiritual entities.

The Obeah is an initiatory and secret religion, practiced onlu by a selected few. To an Obeah Mon is alowed the use of any religious or magic system fueled by the powers of the Obeah but, depending of the case, he may concern to the repercutions from the gods and the natural order of the things caused by his acts.

===Wanga===

Wanga (or Mare Wanga) is one of the magical practicises of the [[Voodoo]], related to the [[patuá]] of Brazilian [[Candomblé]]. It´s made of certain materials (the exact nature of them varies form Wanga to Wanga, according the desired results) that are conected inside bootle or pocket. The recipient is then closed and carried by protection, healing or luck.

Each Wanga is dedicated do a certain [[Lwa]], being closed by a certain tie knew as the [[Lwa]]'s "point". The point brings the energy of that Lwa to inside the Wanga. Specialy powerfull Wangas may need also a full ritual to accomplish, with songs and dances related to that [[Lwa]].

==References==
*Crowley, Aleister. (1996). ''The Law is for All.'' Tempe, AZ : New Falcon Publications.

Wanga

2005-11-03T22:10:37Z

Ash:

#REDIRECT [[Obeah and Wanga]]

Magick

2005-11-03T22:09:07Z

Ash:

{{93}}
In the broadest sense, '''Magick''' is any act designed to cause intentional change. This term is often spelled with a terminal "k" to differentiate it from other practices, such as "stage magic". Magick is not capable of producing "miracles" or violating the physical laws of the universe (i.e. it cannot cause a solar eclipse), although "it is theoretically possible to cause in any object any change of which that object is capable by nature" (Book 4). [[Aleister Crowley]] saw magick as the essential method for a person to reach true understanding of the self and to act according to one's [[True Will]]. Crowley describes this process:

:''One must find out for oneself, and make sure beyond doubt, "who" one is, "what" one is, "why" one is...Being thus conscious of the proper course to pursue, the next thing is to understand the conditions necessary to following it out. After that, one must eliminate from oneself every element alien or hostile to success, and develop those parts of oneself which are specially needed to control the aforesaid conditions.'' (Book 4)

Crowley also provides us with some fundamental statements about the nature of magick (also from ''Book 4''):
*"Magick is the Science and Art of causing Change to occur in conformity with Will"
*"Every intentional (Willed) act is a Magical act."
*"Magick is the Science of understanding oneself and one's conditions. It is the Art of applying that understanding in action."

For Crowley, the practice of magick—although it equally applies to mundane things, like balancing the checkbook—is essentially to be used for attaining the Knowledge and Conversation of one's [[Holy Guardian Angel]]. Since achieving this state with one's 'Silent Self' can be extremely arduous, magick can be used not only to reach that particular goal, but to clear the way for it as well. For example, if one needed a particular dwelling to perform the operation, one could use magick to obtain a suitable home. Crowley stated that magick that did not have one of these goals as its aim was 'Black Magick' and should be avoided.

==Traditional definitions==

King Solomon, in his ''Lesser Key'' of the Goetia, says:
:"Magic is the Highest, most Absolute, and most Divine Knowledge of Natural Philosophy, advanced in its works and wonderful operations by a right understanding of the inward and occult virtue of things; so that true Agents being applied to proper Patients, strange and admirable effects will thereby be produced. Whence magicians are profound and diligent searchers into Nature; they, because of their skill, know how to anticipate an effect, the which to the vulgar shall seem to be a miracle."

==Modern definitions==

In ''The Magick of Thelema,'' Lon Milo DuQuette expands on Crowley's definition of magick by saying that "conversely, any unwilled action is an unmagical act: reaching for a cigarette; ordering that fourth Martini; or any habitual or reactive behavior that overrides the momentum of one's life focus." He goes on to say that "magick also postulates a universal order—call it God, Nature, the Supreme Being, the Grand Architect of the Universe, the Tao, or just the-way-things-are. But the Magician knows that the pure Will of every man and every woman is already in perfect harmony with the divine Will; in fact they are one and the same. It is the Magician's Great Work to endeavor to remove the obstacles that hinder his or her perfect realization of that Will and then proceed to execute it."

==Magick as ritual==

Besides those willed acts that are of a mundane kind, such as balancing checkbooks, many instances of applied magick involve the use of [[ritual]]s. Most magical rituals involve work with non-human beings (generally gods, but also demons, spirits, saints, Loa, etc.) and/or achieving non-normal psychological states (such as trance). There are many different purposes for conducting a magical ritual, including:

*[[Initiation]]
*[[Banishing]]
*[[Consecration]]
*[[Devotion]]
*[[Celebratory ritual|Celebration]]
*[[Evocation]]
*[[Invocation]]
*[[Purification]]
*[[Visions|Vision seeking]]
*[[Practical magick|Practical purposes]]

==Systems of magick==

Almost all cultures have developed some form of magic, although definitions and purposes have been highly variable. There is evidence of sophisticated systems of magic in many ancient civilizations, including the Greeks, Chinese, Egyptians, Jews, and even Christians. The following list includes systems of magick that are relatively modern, even if they have their roots in ancient systems.

*[[Chaos magick]]
*[[Enochian magick]]
*[[Goetia|Goetic magick]]
*[[Ceremonial magick]]
*[[Shamanism]]
*[[Witchcraft]]
*[[Voudon]]

== History of Western European magic ==
=== Magical beliefs in Western Europe ===
Belief in various magical practices has waxed and waned in European and Western history, under pressure from either organized monotheistic religions or from skepticism about the reality of magic, and the ascendancy of scientism. The time of the Emperor Julian of Rome, marked by a reaction against the influence of Christianity, saw a revival of magical practices associated with [[neo-Platonism]] under the guise of [[theurgy]].

=== In the Middle Ages ===
Mediæval authors, under the control of the Church, confined their magic to compilations of wonderlore and collections of spells. [[Albertus Magnus]] was credited, rightly or wrongly, with a number of such compilations. Specifically Christianized varieties of magic were devised at this period. During the early Middle Ages, the cult of [[relic]]s as objects not only of veneration but also of supernatural power arose. Miraculous tales were told of the power of relics of the saints to work [[miracle]]s, not only to heal the sick, but for purposes like swaying the outcome of a battle. The relics had become [[amulet]]s, and various churches strove to purchase scarce or valuable examples, hoping to become places of pilgrimage. As in any other economic endeavor, demand gave rise to supply. Tales of the miracle-working relics of the saints were compiled later into quite popular collections like the ''[[Golden Legend]]'' of [[Jacobus de Voragine]] or the ''Dialogus miraculorum'' of [[Caesar of Heisterbach]].

There were other, officially proscribed varieties of Christianized magic. The [[demonology]] and [[angel]]ology contained in the earliest [[grimoire]]s assume a life surrounded by Christian implements and sacred rituals. The underlying [[theology]] in these works of Christian demonology encourages the magician to fortify himself with fasting, [[prayer]]s, and [[sacrament]]s, so that by using the holy names of [[God]], he can use divine power to coerce [[demon]]s into appearing and serving his usually lustful or avaricious magical goals. Not surprisingly, the church disapproved of these rites; they are nonetheless Christianized for all that, and assume a theology of mechanical sacramentalism.

=== Magic in the Renaissance ===
Renaissance humanism saw a resurgence in [[hermeticism]] and other Neo-Platonic varieties of ceremonial magic. The Renaissance and the Industrial Revolution, on the other hand, saw the rise of [[scientism]], in such forms as the substitution of chemistry for alchemy, the dethronement of the [[Ptolemaic theory]] of the universe assumed by astrology, the development of the germ theory of disease, that restricted the scope of applied magic and threatened the belief systems it relied on. Tensions roused by the Protestant Reformation led to an upswing in witch-hunting, especially in Germany, England, and Scotland; but ultimately, the new [[theology]] of Protestantism proved a worse foe to magic by undermining belief in the sort of [[ritual]]ism that allowed religious rites to be re-purposed towards earthly, magical ends. Scientism, more than religion, proved to be magic's deadliest foe.

Alongside the ceremonial magic followed by the better educated was the everyday activities of folk practitioners of magic across Europe, typified by the [[cunning folk]] found in Great Britain. In their magical practices astrology, folklore, and distorted versions of Christian ritual magic worked alongside each other to answer customer demand.

=== Magic and Romanticism ===
More recent periods of renewed interest in magic occurred around the end of the nineteenth century [[EV]], where [[Symbolism]] and other offshoots of Romanticism cultivated a renewed interest in exotic spiritualities. European colonialism, which put Westerners in contact with India and Egypt, re-introduced exotic beliefs to Europeans at this time. [[Hinduism]] and [[Egyptian mythology]] frequently feature in nineteenth century magical texts. The late 19th and early 20th centuries EV spawned a large number of [[magical organization]]s, including the [[Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn]], the [[Theosophical Society]], and specifically magical variants on [[Freemasonry]] including [[Ordo Templi Orientis]]. The Golden Dawn represented perhaps the peak of this wave of magic, attracting cultural celebrities like [[Aleister Crowley]], [[William Butler Yeats]], [[Algernon Blackwood]], and [[Arthur Machen]] to its banner.

=== Magic in the twentieth century ===
A further revival of interest in magic was heralded by the repeal, in England, of the last [[Witchcraft Act]] in 1951 EV. This was the cue for [[Gerald Gardner]], now recognized as the ''founder'' of [[Wicca]], to publish his first non-fiction book ''Witchcraft Today'', in which he claimed to reveal the existence of a [[witch]]-cult that dated back to pre-Christian Europe. Gardner's new religion combined magic and [[religion]] in a way that was later to cause people to question the Enlightenment's boundaries between the two subjects.

Gardner's new religion, and many imitators, took off in the atmosphere of the 1960s and 1970s, when the counterculture of the hippies also spawned another period of renewed interest in magic, divination, and other occult practices. The various branches of [[neo-paganism]] and other new [[earth religion]]s that have sprung up in Gardner's wake tend to follow his lead in combining the practice of magic and religion. The trend was continued by some heirs to the counterculture; feminists led the way when some launched an independent revival of goddess worship. This brought them into contact with the Gardnerian tradition of magical religion, and deeply influenced that tradition in return.

==See also==
*[[Magick in Theory & Practice]]
*[[Obeah and Wanga]]

==References==

*Crowley, Aleister. (1997). ''Magick: Book 4.'' 2nd ed. York Beach, Me. : S. Weiser.
*DuQuette, Lon Milo. (1993). ''The Magick of Thelema.'' York Beach, Me. : S. Weiser.
*Wikipedia (2004). ''[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magic_%28paranormal%29 Magic (paranormal)].'' Retrieved March 3, 2005.

[[Category:Systems]]

Obeah and Wanga

2005-11-03T21:54:21Z

Ash:

The terms '''Obeah''' and '''Wanga''' come from the following line in [[The Book of the Law]]: ''Also the mantras and spells; the obeah and the wanga; the work of the wand and the work of the sword; these he shall learn and teach.'' (AL I:37).

In his ''Commentaries'', Crowley explains:

:The obeah is the [[magick]] of the Secret Light with special reference to acts; the wanga is the verbal or mental correspondence of the same. [...] The "obeah" being the acts, and the "wanga" the words, proper to Magick, the two cover the whole world of external expression.

He goes on to say:

:Magick is the management of all we say and do, so that the effect is to change that part of our environment which dissatisfies us, until it does so no longer. We "remould it nearer to the heart's desire."

:Magick ceremonies proper are merely organized and concentrated attempts to impose our Will on certain parts of the Cosmos. They are only particular cases of the general law.

:But all we say and do, however casually, adds up to more, far more, than our most strenuous Operations. "Take care of the pence, and the pounds will take care of themselves." Your daily drippings fill a bigger bucket than your geysers of magical effort. [...] Remember that every word and deed is a witness to thought, that therefore your mind must be perfectly organized, its sole duty to interpret circumstances in terms of the Will so that speech and action may be rightly directed to express the Will appropriately to the occasion. Remember that every word and deed which is not a definite expression of your Will counts against it, indifference worse than hostility. Your enemy is at least interested in you: you may make him your friend as you never can do with a neutral. Remember that Magick is the Art of Life, therefore of causing change in accordance with Will; therefore its law is "love under will", and its every movement is an act of love.

==Obeah in Afro-American practice==

The Obeah refers to the Jamaican afro-american religion related to Brazilian [[Candomblé]], the Caribean [[Santeria]] or the Haitian [[Voodoo]].

In the Jamaican patois the term "Obeah Mon", or "Obeah Man" means "Father of the Saints", where the "Saints" are the gods and other spiritual entities.

The Obeah is an initiatory and secret religion, practiced onlu by a selected few. To an Obeah Mon is alowed the use of any religious or magic system fueled by the powers of the Obeah but, depending of the case, he may concern to the repercutions from the gods and the natural order of the things caused by his acts.

==References==
*Crowley, Aleister. (1996). ''The Law is for All.'' Tempe, AZ : New Falcon Publications.

Obeah

2005-11-03T21:31:40Z

Ash: Redirect to "Obeah and Wanga" since they really go together

#REDIRECT [[Obeah and Wanga]]

Talk:Obeah

2005-11-03T21:26:39Z

Ash: Needs references

This article desperately needs references. Is the name coinicdental, did Crowley know about these connections, did Crowley define it as something very different? Please flesh it out. [[User:Ash|Fr. Ash]] 15:26, 3 Nov 2005 (CST)

Glossary of Thelema

2005-11-03T21:25:09Z

Ash:

This is a glossary of terms found within the religion and philosophy of [[Thelema]].

With only a few exceptions, please refrain from listing terms found within the field of [[magick]], which should instead be listed in the [[Glossary of Magick]].
__NOTOC__
{| id="toc" border="0"
| [[#top|Top]] - [[#0-9|0-9]] [[#A|A]] [[#B|B]] [[#C|C]] [[#D|D]] [[#E|E]] [[#F|F]] [[#G|G]] [[#H|H]] [[#I|I]] [[#J|J]] [[#K|K]] [[#L|L]] [[#M|M]] [[#N|N]] [[#O|O]] [[#P|P]] [[#Q|Q]] [[#R|R]] [[#S|S]] [[#T|T]] [[#U|U]] [[#V|V]] [[#W|W]] [[#X|X]] [[#Y|Y]] [[#Z|Z]]
|}

==0-9==
*'''[[0=2]].'''
*'''[[Numbers in Thelema|11]].'''
*'''[[Numbers in Thelema|31]].'''
*'''[[Numbers in Thelema|56]].'''
*'''[[93]].''' A number which symbolizes "Thelema" and "Agape". Often used as a shorthand for the Law of Thelema, and used as an informal greeting between Thelemites.
*'''[[Numbers in Thelema|418]].'''
*'''[[Numbers in Thelema|666]].'''
==A==
*'''[[A.'.A.'.]].'''
*'''[[Abrahadabra]].'''
*'''[[Abramelin]].'''
*'''[[Abyss]].'''
*'''[[Aeon]].'''
*'''[[Agape]].'''
*'''[[Aiwass]].'''
*'''[[Ankh-af-na-khonsu]].'''
*'''[[AUMGN]].'''

==B==
*'''[[Babalon]].'''
*'''[[Baphomet]].'''
*'''The Beast.'''
*'''Black Brothers.'''
*'''[[Body of Light]].'''
*'''[[Boleskine]].'''
*'''[[The Book of the Law]].'''
*'''[[Book of Thoth]].'''
==C==
*'''[[Cake of Light]].'''
*'''[[Cefalu]].'''
*'''[[City of the Pyramids]].'''
*'''[[Chaos]].'''
*'''[[Aleister Crowley|Crowley, Aleister]].'''
==D==

==E==
*'''[[Ecclesia Gnostica Catholica]].'''
*'''[[Equinox of the Gods]].'''
==F==

==G==
*'''[[Genius]].'''
*'''[[Gnosis]].'''
*'''[[Godform]].'''
*'''[[Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn|Golden Dawn]].'''
*'''[[The Gnostic Mass|Gnostic Mass]].'''
*'''Grade.'''
*'''[[The Great Work|Great Work]].'''
==H==
*'''[[Hadit]].'''
*'''[[Holy Guardian Angel]].'''
*'''[[Horus]].'''
==I==
*'''[[IAO]].'''
*'''[[IHVH]].'''
*'''Imperator.'''
*'''[[INRI]].'''
==J==

==K==
*'''[[Khabs]].'''
*'''[[Khu]].'''
*'''[[Kiblah]].'''
==L==
*'''[[Lamen]].'''
*'''Law of Thelema.'''
*'''Liber.'''
*'''[[The Book of the Law|Liber AL]].'''
*'''[[The Book of the Law|Liber Legis]].'''
*'''[[LVX]].'''
==M==
*'''[[Macrocosm]].'''
*'''[[Magick]].'''
*'''[[Microcosm]].'''
*'''[[M.'.M.'.M.'.]].'''
==N==
*'''[[Night of Pan]].'''
*'''[[NOX]].'''
*'''[[Nuit]].'''
==O==
*'''[[Obeah]].'''
*'''[[Ordo Templi Orientis]].'''
==P==
*'''[[Pax Templi]].'''
*'''Praemonstrator.'''
==Q==
*'''[[Qabalah]].'''
==R==
*'''[[Ra-Hoor-Khuit]].'''
*'''[[Rood]].'''
*'''[[Rosy Cross]].'''
==S==
*'''[[Secret Chiefs]].'''
*'''[[Stele of Revealing]].'''
==T==
*'''[[Tetragrammaton]].'''
*'''[[Thelema]].'''
*'''Thelemite.'''
*'''[[To Mega Therion]].'''
*'''[[Tree of Life]].'''
*'''[[True Will]].'''
==U==

==V==

==W==
*'''[[Wanga]].'''
*'''[[Will]].'''
==X==

==Y==

==Z==

[[Category:Thelema]][[Category:Glossaries]]

User talk:Ash

2005-10-30T01:49:58Z

Ash:

Talk:William Bernard Crow

2005-10-29T05:24:46Z

Ash:

This article should be blanked and written from scratch. The article has been copied over from FET, which site contains degree secrets of OTO. As a project of OTO, it is inappropriate for Thelemapedia to link to FET; and any content originating from that site must be cited with a link back; therefore, we should not copy or derive articles from FET. [[User:Thiebes|Thiebes]] 04:57, 28 Oct 2005 (CDT)

:Isn't that censorship? --[[User:Ahavah veemet|Ahavah veemet]]

::No, it is a request for total rewrite. [[User:Thiebes|Thiebes]]

:Motivated solely by a desire to censor out a link to a particular website. Censorship isn't restricted soley to content. Restricting the publication of information based on its source is still [[censorship]]. --[[User:Ahavah veemet|Ahavah veemet]]

:: Call it what you like, it is in accordance with our oaths and there is noting in the policy which forbids selective editing, except in the specific case of censoring content for minors. [[User:Thiebes|Thiebes]]

:Hmm, I went over there and read the oaths. There doesn't seem to be anything about Internet linking in them. Nor anything about controlling or censoring other people. As long as you personally keep your oaths, there would appear to be no problem here. Unless the oaths about Internet linking are in Degrees higher than the Fifth?? --[[User:Ahavah veemet|Ahavah veemet]]

I would have no problem with a rewrite. All information from FET regarding this article was taken from other sources anyway, so all we'd be doing is gitting rid of the "middle man".

AV--I believe you are not understanding Thiebes' problem. There are articles on FET that reveal oaths that we in OTO are sworn to keep secret. By linking to FET, we are doing two things: providing a link to a site that contains our secret oaths and supporting a site that is willing to do so. I consider their revelations of the oaths to be in bad taste, and Thelemapedia has no obligation to support them or acknowledge their existance. Moreover, rewriting this article wouldn't be censorship, since the intention is not to eliminate information from this article regarding the topic at hand (in fact, an intrepid writer might dig up even more useful data). The point is to eliminate a link which is currently required by the license, since somwhere in here, the original writer referenced FET.

[[User:Ash|Fr. Ash]] 20:41, 28 Oct 2005 (CDT)

:No, I don't believe that I am misunderstanding at all. You both seem to want to censor a link for political purposes. But thank you for making that and the political purposes explicit. It's quite illuminating. --[[User:Ahavah veemet|Ahavah veemet]]

::For anyone still interested in this "conversation", Thelemapedia has only one purpose: creating a great resource for people who want information about Thelema and magick. Period. [[User:Ash|Fr. Ash]]

:Oh, and please feel free to delete my account. I won't be participating in this twisted charade and caricature of free and open communication any longer. -[[User:Ahavah veemet|Ahavah veemet]]

::Your wish is my command. [[User:Ash|Fr. Ash]] 00:03, 29 Oct 2005 (CDT)

"... twisted charade and caricature of free and open communication?" What planet is this guy from? FET continually rips off original articles from this site ''daily'' without properly citing that the works originated with this site. I noticed pretty much every one of my entries are up on FET in the short time I've been actively working with Thelemapedia.

The entries presented on this Site are written by Thelemites who have chosen to take oaths which they place in the highest regard. And if not written by Thelemites, then the sources are at least cited properly. [[User:Hierophag(e)|Hierophag(e)]]

:I suspect "Ahavah veemet" is a sockpuppet for Adityanath. My best guess is that once he reared his head, it would become obvious, and I'd just kill his account anyway, since he's permanently banned from Thelemapedia for severe vandalism, outing of degree material, insulting other members, and generally tending to create a ruckus. I figured he had a sockpuppet account here, and that it would just take a little time for him to find a reason to make some noise. Killing a link to his site did it. Or, perhaps I'm wrong and he's just an ideologue who loves FET beyond the point of rationality. I guess we'll never know. [[User:Ash|Fr. Ash]] 00:03, 29 Oct 2005 (CDT)

Talk:William Bernard Crow

2005-10-29T05:24:23Z

Ash:

This article should be blanked and written from scratch. The article has been copied over from FET, which site contains degree secrets of OTO. As a project of OTO, it is inappropriate for Thelemapedia to link to FET; and any content originating from that site must be cited with a link back; therefore, we should not copy or derive articles from FET. [[User:Thiebes|Thiebes]] 04:57, 28 Oct 2005 (CDT)

:Isn't that censorship? --[[User:Ahavah veemet|Ahavah veemet]]

::No, it is a request for total rewrite. [[User:Thiebes|Thiebes]]

:Motivated solely by a desire to censor out a link to a particular website. Censorship isn't restricted soley to content. Restricting the publication of information based on its source is still [[censorship]]. --[[User:Ahavah veemet|Ahavah veemet]]

:: Call it what you like, it is in accordance with our oaths and there is noting in the policy which forbids selective editing, except in the specific case of censoring content for minors. [[User:Thiebes|Thiebes]]

:Hmm, I went over there and read the oaths. There doesn't seem to be anything about Internet linking in them. Nor anything about controlling or censoring other people. As long as you personally keep your oaths, there would appear to be no problem here. Unless the oaths about Internet linking are in Degrees higher than the Fifth?? --[[User:Ahavah veemet|Ahavah veemet]]

I would have no problem with a rewrite. All information from FET regarding this article was taken from other sources anyway, so all we'd be doing is gitting rid of the "middle man".

AV--I believe you are not understanding Thiebes' problem. There are articles on FET that reveal oaths that we in OTO are sworn to keep secret. By linking to FET, we are doing two things: providing a link to a site that contains our secret oaths and supporting a site that is willing to do so. I consider their revelations of the oaths to be in bad taste, and Thelemapedia has no obligation to support them or acknowledge their existance. Moreover, rewriting this article wouldn't be censorship, since the intention is not to eliminate information from this article regarding the topic at hand (in fact, an intrepid writer might dig up even more useful data). The point is to eliminate a link which is currently required by the license, since somwhere in here, the original writer referenced FET.

[[User:Ash|Fr. Ash]] 20:41, 28 Oct 2005 (CDT)

:No, I don't believe that I am misunderstanding at all. You both seem to want to censor a link for political purposes. But thank you for making that and the political purposes explicit. It's quite illuminating. --[[User:Ahavah veemet|Ahavah veemet]]

::For anyone still interested in this "conversation", Thelemapedia has only one purpose: creating a great resource for people who want information about Thelema and magick. Period.

:Oh, and please feel free to delete my account. I won't be participating in this twisted charade and caricature of free and open communication any longer. -[[User:Ahavah veemet|Ahavah veemet]]

::Your wish is my command. [[User:Ash|Fr. Ash]] 00:03, 29 Oct 2005 (CDT)

"... twisted charade and caricature of free and open communication?" What planet is this guy from? FET continually rips off original articles from this site ''daily'' without properly citing that the works originated with this site. I noticed pretty much every one of my entries are up on FET in the short time I've been actively working with Thelemapedia.

The entries presented on this Site are written by Thelemites who have chosen to take oaths which they place in the highest regard. And if not written by Thelemites, then the sources are at least cited properly. [[User:Hierophag(e)|Hierophag(e)]]

:I suspect "Ahavah veemet" is a sockpuppet for Adityanath. My best guess is that once he reared his head, it would become obvious, and I'd just kill his account anyway, since he's permanently banned from Thelemapedia for severe vandalism, outing of degree material, insulting other members, and generally tending to create a ruckus. I figured he had a sockpuppet account here, and that it would just take a little time for him to find a reason to make some noise. Killing a link to his site did it. Or, perhaps I'm wrong and he's just an ideologue who loves FET beyond the point of rationality. I guess we'll never know. [[User:Ash|Fr. Ash]] 00:03, 29 Oct 2005 (CDT)

User:Ahavah veemet

2005-10-29T05:04:52Z

Ash: Account deleted

Account deleted Oct. 28, 2005 at the request of the user: ''Oh, and please feel free to delete my account.''

Talk:William Bernard Crow

2005-10-29T05:03:46Z

Ash:

This article should be blanked and written from scratch. The article has been copied over from FET, which site contains degree secrets of OTO. As a project of OTO, it is inappropriate for Thelemapedia to link to FET; and any content originating from that site must be cited with a link back; therefore, we should not copy or derive articles from FET. [[User:Thiebes|Thiebes]] 04:57, 28 Oct 2005 (CDT)

:Isn't that censorship? --[[User:Ahavah veemet|Ahavah veemet]]

::No, it is a request for total rewrite. [[User:Thiebes|Thiebes]]

:Motivated solely by a desire to censor out a link to a particular website. Censorship isn't restricted soley to content. Restricting the publication of information based on its source is still [[censorship]]. --[[User:Ahavah veemet|Ahavah veemet]]

:: Call it what you like, it is in accordance with our oaths and there is noting in the policy which forbids selective editing, except in the specific case of censoring content for minors. [[User:Thiebes|Thiebes]]

:Hmm, I went over there and read the oaths. There doesn't seem to be anything about Internet linking in them. Nor anything about controlling or censoring other people. As long as you personally keep your oaths, there would appear to be no problem here. Unless the oaths about Internet linking are in Degrees higher than the Fifth?? --[[User:Ahavah veemet|Ahavah veemet]]

I would have no problem with a rewrite. All information from FET regarding this article was taken from other sources anyway, so all we'd be doing is gitting rid of the "middle man".

AV--I believe you are not understanding Thiebes' problem. There are articles on FET that reveal oaths that we in OTO are sworn to keep secret. By linking to FET, we are doing two things: providing a link to a site that contains our secret oaths and supporting a site that is willing to do so. I consider their revelations of the oaths to be in bad taste, and Thelemapedia has no obligation to support them or acknowledge their existance. Moreover, rewriting this article wouldn't be censorship, since the intention is not to eliminate information from this article regarding the topic at hand (in fact, an intrepid writer might dig up even more useful data). The point is to eliminate a link which is currently required by the license, since somwhere in here, the original writer referenced FET.

[[User:Ash|Fr. Ash]] 20:41, 28 Oct 2005 (CDT)

:No, I don't believe that I am misunderstanding at all. You both seem to want to censor a link for political purposes. But thank you for making that and the political purposes explicit. It's quite illuminating. --[[User:Ahavah veemet|Ahavah veemet]]

:Oh, and please feel free to delete my account. I won't be participating in this twisted charade and caricature of free and open communication any longer. -[[User:Ahavah veemet|Ahavah veemet]]

::Your wish is my command. [[User:Ash|Fr. Ash]] 00:03, 29 Oct 2005 (CDT)

"... twisted charade and caricature of free and open communication?" What planet is this guy from? FET continually rips off original articles from this site ''daily'' without properly citing that the works originated with this site. I noticed pretty much every one of my entries are up on FET in the short time I've been actively working with Thelemapedia.

The entries presented on this Site are written by Thelemites who have chosen to take oaths which they place in the highest regard. And if not written by Thelemites, then the sources are at least cited properly. [[User:Hierophag(e)|Hierophag(e)]]

:I suspect "Ahavah veemet" is a sockpuppet for Adityanath. My best guess is that once he reared his head, it would become obvious, and I'd just kill his account anyway, since he's permanently banned from Thelemapedia for severe vandalism, outing of degree material, insulting other members, and generally tending to create a ruckus. I figured he had a sockpuppet account here, and that it would just take a little time for him to find a reason to make some noise. Killing a link to his site did it. Or, perhaps I'm wrong and he's just an ideologue who loves FET beyond the point of rationality. I guess we'll never know. [[User:Ash|Fr. Ash]] 00:03, 29 Oct 2005 (CDT)

Talk:Non-religious Thelemites and their views

2005-10-29T01:50:50Z

Ash:

Talk:Non-religious Thelemites and their views/archive

2005-10-29T01:49:01Z

Ash: archive

----

Aleph, I know you and I have some strain between us (to put it politely), but I wanted to say I appreciate the language of your disclaimer. As usual, any hamfisted injuries done by me were not intentional... I'm only interested in creating the best articles possible. So, thanks again. [[User:Ash|--Fr. Ash--]] 17:40, 13 Jun 2005 (CDT)

----

I would like to offer an edit of the section [[Non-religious_Thelemites_and_their_views#The_Method_of_Science.E2.80.94the_Aim_of_Religion|The Method of Science--The Aim of Religion]]. I leave it here for your consideration, and you may use as much or as little as you like...

:Please read all of the previous discussion below. It states that the article is not intended to get into the question of whether Thelema is a religion or not. That can be and has been covered in other articles. It takes the existence of non-religious Thelemites as a given, and reports on their varied beliefs based on published writings and substantial web articles. It is intended to be descriptive of a certain subset of people and beliefs while avoiding defending or engaging in contention about its premises.

:So, no, none of that is appropriate for the article. It simply opens up an argument better argued in [[Thelema & Religion]] or wherever you have arbitrarily moved it. [[User:Aleph|Aleph]] 19:02, 13 Jun 2005 (CDT)

I thoughtfully moved it to [[Religion]], since "and Thelema" is redundant on this site. I still maintain that there has to be some explanation as to ''why'' some Thelemites consider themselves to be "non-religious", and what the varieties of such Thelemites are. One of my original problems with the article is that it presents the group as a unified whole, and it so isn't. [[User:Ash|--Fr. Ash--]] 19:31, 13 Jun 2005 (CDT)

:That would be a lack of reading comprehesion on your part. The explanation of "why" is the reason for the "Method of Science-Aim of Religion" section, which gives many of the relevent passages in Crowley which are quoted by non-religious Thelemites in defense of their position.

:In addition, the words "many", "some", "tend to" and other qualifiers are used throughout the article in such a way that the careful reader would in no way assume that all non-religious Thelemites present a unified whole. Also, the section on "Other Contempory Opinions" states "Non-religious views of Thelema are a part of the cultural landscape of contemporary Thelema. Non-religious Thelemites may or may not agree on the reasons why they do not consider Thelema a religion. They may also change their opinions over the course of their lifetimes." Isn't that plus the fucking disclaimer enough for you? You persist in beating what I consider to be a '''dead horse'''. [[User:Aleph|Aleph]] 20:10, 13 Jun 2005 (CDT)

----

==Is Thelema a religion?==

If one refers to Crowley, it is possible to say "yes and no". In ''Magick without Tears'', (Ch.XXXI)'' Crowley writes:

::True, [religion is] a slogan of [[A.'.A.'.]]: "The method of science--the aim of religion." Here the word 'aim' and the context help the definition; it must mean the attainment of Knowledge and Power in spiritual matters [...] But then there is the sense in which Frazer (and I) often use the word: as in opposition to "Science" or "Magic." Here the point is that religious people attribute phenomena to the will of some postulated Being or Beings, placable and moveable by virtue of sacrifice, devotion, or appeal.

::... our system is a religion just so far as a religion means an enthusiastic putting-together of a series of doctrines, no one of which must in any way clash with Science or Magick.

::Call it a new religion, then, if it so please your Gracious Majesty; but I confess that I fail to see what you will have gained by so doing, and I feel bound to add that you might easily cause a great deal of misunderstanding, and work a rather stupid kind of mischief.

So, Crowley seemed to think (at least in the above passage) that the label of "religion" in regards to Thelema was strictly optional. He has even more to say on religion in chapter VI:

::It is particularly to be noted that Magick, so often mixed up in the popular idea of a religion, has nothing to do with it. It is, in fact, the exact opposite of religion; it is, even more than Physical Science, its irreconcilable enemy.

::Let us define this difference clearly.

::Magick investigates the laws of Nature with the idea of making use of them. It only differs from 'profane' science by always keeping ahead of it. As Fraser has shown, Magick is science in the tentative stage; but it may be, and often is, more than this. It is science which, for one reason or another, cannot be declared to the profane.

::Religion, on the contrary, seeks to ignore the laws of Nature, or to escape them by appeal to a postulated power which is assumed to have laid them down. The religious man is, as such, incapable of understanding what the laws of Nature really are. (They are generalizations from the order of observed fact.)"

Of course, Crowley also wrote [[The Gnostic Mass]] which is largely based the Liturgy of St. Basil. He was also the Patriarch of the [[Gnostic Catholic Church]] (within [[Ordo Templi Orientis|OTO]]), and often refered to Thelema in religious terms and contexts in many of his writings [http://www.scarletwoman.org/docs/docs_lege.html] [http://www.scarletwoman.org/docs/docs_liberty.html] (see also: [[Issues_regarding_Thelema_as_a_religion#Crowley_on_Thelema_.26_Religion|Crowley on Religion and Thelema]]). So, Crowley provides viewpoints on both sides and provides no clear answer.

So, when looking to Crowley, the answer to the riddle often depends on one's point of view, personal inclination, and even how one defines "religion" (See: [[Religion#Defining_.22religion.22|Defining religion]]). Many Thelemites, however, do not depend on Crowley for this issue, and see Thelema as things other than religious.

==Non-religious ways of interpreting Thelema==
''intro...''
===Thelema as philosophy===
''info...''
===Thelema as an ethical system===
''info...''
===Thelema as a science of enlightenment===
''info...''

----

==POV edits==

I would like to respectfully suggest that those who are biased toward Thelema as a religion to the extent that they feel the need to put "non-religious" in quotes, add material to the article about Thelema being a religion, and otherwise add to the article in ways that subtlely and not so subtlely treat non-religious Thelemites in a derogotory way by adding digs, etc., please refrain from editting this article at all. How can someone who does not accept or even understand the non-religious point of view represent it accurately? [[User:Aleph|Aleph]] 10:10, 12 Jun 2005 (CDT)

:The problem is that there are two things going on in this article: non-religious views and non-religious Thelemites. The first is the topic and even the name of the article. The second is misleading and vague. For example, I myself agree with some non-religious views of Thelema...but that doesn't make me a "non-religious Thelemite". But I also don't label myself a "religious" Thelemite. I'm a Thelemite, and I happen to define it as a religion. By using such language, it makes it seem like there are two branches of Thelema...those who are religious and those who aren't. But this isn't an accurate description of reality. I think the majority of Thelemites fall somewhere in the middle. That's why I think it might make for a better article if it sticks to ideas and loses the religious/non-religious Thelemite theme. [[User:Ash|--Fr. Ash--]] 12:02, 12 Jun 2005 (CDT)

:And yes, I am able to understand non-religious views, very easily. I used to be an avowed athiest, and I know exactly what it means to shun anything smacking of religion. Also, there are lots of things missing from this article, such as the philosophy, ethics, and practices of Thelema...things that are not strictly religious. Believe it or not, I pretty well understand those things and can speak of them outside of a religious framework. Just because I don't ''agree'' that Thelema isn't a religion doesn't mean I don't ''understand'' why some people take a non-religion stance. [[User:Ash|--Fr. Ash--]] 12:06, 12 Jun 2005 (CDT)

Why the quotes then around "non-religious"? You are projecting your opinions about what is and is not religious onto an article about the non-religious viewpoint of non-religious Thelemites. That's how the article starts out, as an observation that there are comtemporary non-religious Thelemites and an attempt to describe their beliefs. Since you are NOT one, you cannot presume to describe their "philopsophy, ethics and practices." I severely disagree with your statement "it might make for a better article if it sticks to ideas and loses the religious/non-religious Thelemite theme." That intentionally '''subverts''' the original intent of the article. Which is exactly what you set out to do to the two sentences in Thelema that led to the writing of this article. Clearly, you don't agree with this article. Tough! You state that all Thelemites regardless of belief are welcome to contribute to this encyclopedia. Regardless of your denial, there ''are'' non-religious Thelemites and we demand representation in this venue without your attempting to alter our portrayal of our approach to Thelema, to marginalize or belittle us by "losing" the very distinction we are trying to describe. The whole point of this article was to separate these very concepts and let non-religous Thelemites present their own view. If you wish to write a more comprehensive [[Sociology of Thelema]], by all means do, but please stop trying to force your viewpoint onto this article. [[User:Aleph|Aleph]] 14:05, 12 Jun 2005 (CDT)

:The quotes are there because it is a casual term...it doesn't strictly define any group of people. For example, one could say: OTO Thelemites vs. SOTO Thelemites, because those are distinct groups of people with clear definitions. In contrast, what exactly is a "non-religious Thelemite"? It is inherently vague. The vagueness continues: ''Since you are NOT one, you cannot presume to describe their "philopsophy, ethics and practices"''... This is where you are making your biggest error: this article is about presenting various viewpoints regarding aspects of Thelema that are not ecclesiastical. It cannot be about trying to summarize the opinions of all "non-religious Thelemites" as if they were an organized group of people with a manifesto, because no such group or manifesto exists. You are no more qualified to speak for this "group" than I am.

:This site is supposed to reflect the knowledge base and common knowledge, not Aleph's personal beliefs (you can post on your brother's site for that). Furthermore, no one is banned from editing an article because they are not "qualified" enough. Editing "Non-religious Views of Thelema" is not limited to self-professed "non-religious Thelemites". I'm sorry if you thought this article was exclusive to you, but it isn't. [[User:Ash|--Fr. Ash--]] 14:24, 12 Jun 2005 (CDT)

Yes, but there is still such a thing as the original intent of the article; the intellectually honest acknowledge that and collaborate with the the original author to better understand that intent and maintain the integrity of the article. That original intent, bolded where it occurs below, was stated as follows: "It is intended to be a description of the varying attitudes and beliefs with a specific non-religious cultural segment which includes itself under the banner of Thelema." [[User:Aleph|Aleph]] 14:56, 12 Jun 2005 (CDT)

==Two takes==
'''[[User:Ash|Fr. Ash]] :''' Something to consider: this article might be made more neutral if it were split into two main sections:
#It is possible to define Thelema as something other than a religion, offering various example definitions found in the literature or common enough to be considered common knowledge.
#A focus on components of Thelema that are not overtly religous, such as philosophy/practice/ethics/lifestyle/etc. This section would not be about refuting the religious label, but detailing aspects that many might not label as religious.
This article is currently more of an ''argument'' for the non-religious view, rather that an encyclopedic source of knowledge, which falls out of the scope of Thelemapedia. Naturally there will be some support for the view needed, but the tone is somewhat defensive and combative, and it doesn't need to be that way. By splitting up the article into two major sections as outlined above, the piece might become more neutrally informative than argumentitive. Remember, the goal is not to ''convince'' the reader, but to ''inform''.

::I don't think it comes off as an argument. I consider it informational about contemporary Thelemic culture. In any case, it is under development. Give it a few weeks. [[User:Aleph|Aleph]]

==Discussion of one article vs. two==
Use this article to discuss unorthodox interpretations of Thelema or its various off-shoots. Again, please try to stick with either the knowledge base or common knowledge. In other words, please limit entries to views or practices held by reasonably substantial numbers of people. Examples might be a focus on satanism or the various cults of Babalon. [[User:Ash|Fr. Ash]]

:This is a, IMO, a much better way to allow for expansion than simply moving the section around in a much longer article. [[User:Aleph|Aleph]]

::I thought so too. I really hope editors add a lot of great material here. [[User:Ash|Fr. Ash]]

The question remains: Alternative to what? By placing these nonreligious views in this article instead of the "Thelema & Religion" article, all that is being accomplished is to ghettoize the contemporary perspectives. Why not include this stuff in the section in [[Thelema & Religion]] where the question of differentiating between the religious and nonreligious is directly discussed?? This is what was proposed by myself and Paradoxos Alpha, and you said you wanted to see how it turned out. Why are you now, before it has been completed, trying to have it both ways? It makes for a very confusing presentation of the material and reduces the possibility that the material which you have included here will be found by those who are examining the question. --[[User:Thiebes|Thiebes]] 00:37, 9 Mar 2005 (CST)

::I disagree. I feel that forcing non-religious views of Thelema into an article about "Thelema & Religion" is ghettoizing it. You are hiding the views down at the end of an article no one is going to read through. I am open to changes to the title of this article. I don't want my discussion at the end of your article. Thanks. [[User:Aleph|Aleph]]

:::You haven't even looked at it if you think it's at the end. --[[User:Thiebes|Thiebes]] 10:01, 9 Mar 2005 (CST) Nevertheless I think the solution of calling your separate article non-religious and using that within the main article as a template could work.

::::The point is that it is essentially hidden is a large article mostly discussing religion. I did look at it. It hides and qualifies my views in a way that I don't agree with. As I said before, the topic deserves two viewpoints and two articles. Please simply link to the [[Non-religious Views of Thelema]] rather than attempting to copy or source this article into [[Thelema & Religion]]. This is an article that stands on its own, and it is not finished. I intend to expand it significantly. The whole point of trying to force me to put my material into [[Thelema & Religion]] seems to be to pre-qualify the idea of Thelema as "not a religion" with a "but it really is" context. I don't agree that that accurately reflects the views that I am attempting to document. [[User:Aleph|Aleph]]

:::::You wrote: ''The whole point of trying to force me to put my material into [[Thelema & Religion]] seems to be to pre-qualify the idea of Thelema as "not a religion" with a "but it really is" context''

:::::No, the point is to present the facts of both views together with traditional means to examine the question. Like you would find done in an encyclopedia, as opposed to an editorial article where one opinion is presented. --[[User:Thiebes|Thiebes]] 10:20, 9 Mar 2005 (CST)

::::::Look, if you and Ash and P.A. and the other O.T.O editors are intending to force me to do it your way, just say so. I will go elsewhere and stop wasting my time trying to discuss the issue with you. [[User:Aleph|Aleph]] 10:26, 9 Mar 2005 (CST)

::::::: I have no doubt that is what you'd rather believe, than to simply confront, with logical argument, the question of what it is that ''you'' are trying to do. Instead you resort to these kinds of veiled accusations. --[[User:Thiebes|Thiebes]] 10:28, 9 Mar 2005 (CST)

:::::::: '''Time will tell, I guess.''' I am not ''trying'' to do anything other than write an article in the way I believe the information in it will be presented most clearly. It is typical on Wikipedia to break an article into sections when it gets too long or the presentation is trying to cover multiple viewpoints or schools of thought. I have added ''up front'' the distinguishing feature of this article and a pointer to the involved discussion of Thelema & Religion. I'm sorry you disagree with me, but can't we agree to disagree? [[User:Aleph|Aleph]] 10:38, 9 Mar 2005 (CST)

:::::::::Fine. I wish you would have given me a chance to complete my work before reverting my edits, or at least discussed your reservations rather than simply "giving up" as you put it. But whatever. --[[User:Thiebes|Thiebes]] 10:41, 9 Mar 2005 (CST)

:::::::::I genuinely feel fine about the two articles they way they ended up. My concern was actually that the nonreligious view would be marginalized by being separated into a different article (especially by the name "Alternative"), but the way you have implemented it avoids the problem fairly well and works out better in the end. One thought I had was that the nonreligious article could potentially cite the definition of religion in the thelema & religion article that gives the model by which Thelema is considered nonreligious (the "Greek Thought" bit I mentioned above). --[[User:Thiebes|Thiebes]] 12:56, 9 Mar 2005 (CST)

===Moved from Aleph's talk page===
I'm not sure what the best way is for us to have a discussion on here. I don't like the interface for discussion. Anyhow, you wrote:

:I want a place to discuss Thelema outside the context of religion completely. Why can't you understand that? What precisely is wrong with that?

::What's wrong with that is that an encyclopedia isn't a place where we get to create little blinders where the real world doesn't exist. [[User:Thiebes|Thiebes]]

:::Um, that is not what I am doing. I am trying to accurately report on how a specific community of Thelemites view Thelema. That school of interpretation doesn not even care how religion is defined or feel that there is any need to justify their view in the context of religion. [[User:Aleph|Aleph]]

::::I don't understand why they wouldn't care, since those very definitions can form the basis for a rational argument about the idea that Thelema is nonreligious. (The "Greek Thought" sections, I think, would be especially applicable.) --[[User:Thiebes|Thiebes]] 12:48, 9 Mar 2005 (CST)

:::::My article is not intended as a rational argument about whether or not Thelema is a religion. '''It is intended to be a description of the varying attitudes and beliefs with a specific non-religious cultural segment which includes itself under the banner of Thelema.''' That's why I don't think it belongs in [[Thelema & Religion]]. [[User:Aleph|Aleph]]

::::::The quote you have there written by myself is a rational argument along the "Greek Thought" line that Thelema is not a religion. Crowley's quote is also a rational argument to that end. In any case, I think that the argument that Thelema is not a religion should be presented, whether in your article or the [[Thelema & Religion]] one. [[User:Thiebes|Thiebes]]

::What's wrong with that is that by saying Thelema is nonreligious, that automatically puts it in a religious context because you are discussing religiosity (in this case, the lack thereof). [[User:Thiebes|Thiebes]]

:::No, because it is not the main article on Thelema. It is a secondary article, is ''clearly'' a secondary article, and points both to the main article and to [[Thelema & Religion]]. I am doing everything I can to make sure that I do not impede those who wish to write about Thelema as a Religion. Why do those who do view Thelema as a religion get so upset about my writing about a different view that they feel the need to impede my work with all this rigamarole? [[User:Aleph|Aleph]]

::::I do not think of it as an impedence, but as a more effective way of presenting the information. I have been upset because you did not discuss it with me after the change was made, but simply reverted and got upset yourself. Then you couch your arguments in prejudicial language about how me and the OTO minions are conspiring against you. This is frustrating when I am only trying to show why I think my presentation of the information is more effective. I also did not know, at the beginning, that you had planned to change the title or add links in the way that you have. What I reacted to was what appeared to be a simple reversion along with the explanatory comment, "I give up." don't you see why that might be upsetting? --[[User:Thiebes|Thiebes]] 12:48, 9 Mar 2005 (CST)

:::::Yes, but you persist in misunderstanding what I am doing and why I don't think it belongs in the context of your article. [[User:Aleph|Aleph]]

::::::*I understand the argument that the information is more effectively presented this way.
::::::*I did not think it made any sense to call it "alternative."
::::::*I do not understand how you can say it's not a rational argument against the idea of Thelema being religious, since that's basically what it is. Maybe it will be different when it is done, but either way this does not affect my opinion, which by the way is that I like it separate better anyway.
::::::*I did not understand your action of reverting back to the old format and saying the T&R article was bull and saying you give up. With the further edits and discussion, I understand much better now. [[User:Thiebes|Thiebes]]

::Finally, what's wrong with discussing Thelema without talking about religious concepts at all would be a disingenuous and false representation of Thelema. [[User:Thiebes]]

::: Why do you think so? Isn't it enough that there are already ''two'' articles discussing it as religion, the main article and Thelema & Religion?? I can't help but feel that there are some unspoken agendas here. I am not trying to in any way delete or excise the view of Thelema as religion. I haven't blanked your articles or taken anything out of them. Why do you feel so threatened by my point of view and my accurately reporting on the similar views of others? [[User:Aleph|Aleph]]

::::The implication that my arguments are motivated by "feeling threatened" or that there are unspoken agendas is incorrect. You seem very quick to come to that conclusion, despite that you have yourself pointed out where Ash and I disagreed about this article. I genuinely feel fine about the two articles they way they ended up. My concern was actually that the nonreligious view would be marginalized by being separated into a different article (especially by the name "Alternative"), but the way you have implemented it avoids the problem fairly well and works out better in the end. One thought I had was that the nonreligious article could potentially cite the definition of religion in the thelema & religion article that gives the model by which Thelema is considered nonreligious (the "Greek Thought" bit I mentioned above). --[[User:Thiebes|Thiebes]] 12:48, 9 Mar 2005 (CST)

:::::Ok, I just realized that you don't really understand my point of view or what I am trying to write about or the pov from which I am writing.

::::::See above. [[User:Thiebes|Thiebes]]

::::: Cultural differences and different schools of thought within a movement are certainly valid topics for encylopediac description. [[User:Aleph|Aleph]]

::::::I realize that. [[User:Thiebes|Thiebes]]

==Contemporary Opinions==
The section called "Contemporary Opinions" ... I'm not sure whether we want those, do we? There is a question of credibility of contemporaries, and that they may well change their minds. We can study Crowley's opinions and decide which of them seem fairly persistant throughout his life, etc. But we cannot do this with contemporaries so much. I should add that I'm quoted there, something I wrote years ago which I now find narrow-minded -- not to mention I hardly consider myself an authority worthy of quotation in a scholarly encyclopedia, which is the point that I'm trying to bring up here. --[[User:Thiebes|Thiebes]] 10:41, 9 Mar 2005 (CST)

Talk:Non-religious Thelemites and their views

2005-10-29T01:47:33Z

Ash:

Talk:William Bernard Crow

2005-10-29T01:41:31Z

Ash:

Thelemapedia:Power structure

2005-10-26T22:13:22Z

Ash:

The '''power structure''' of Thelemapedia is in an early phase. There are three main areas of power: content, policy, and function.

==Content==
'''Content''' refers to Thelemapedia articles. With almost no exceptions, every single member of Thelemapedia has equal editorial power within this domain. As long as content fits within site policy, no editor has any more authority than any other editor. This means that articles should result from the process of consensus building. Sometimes, only one or two people work on an article, and little consensus-building is needed. When several editors are working on a page, some disagreement becomes likely. In such cases, disagreements should be solved with polite discussion (although this is more of a guideline than a policy...sometimes it is better to go ahead and edit. Just use your common sense to know the difference and please be polite). Just remember the golden rule: the object is to create a great encyclopedia article, not to win arguments or force a belief into the site.

When it comes to editorial policy that guides content, pretty much all Thelemapedia rules and guidelines fall under the '''Primary Editorial Principles''':

#Articles should be sympathetic with the principles, culture, practices, and beliefs of Thelema whenever possible.
#Articles should promote clarity, accuracy, and the will to inform without distortion or fabrication.
#Articles should reflect knowledge that is generally accepted in the Thelemic community, drawing from expert sources or common knowledge.

See also: [[Thelemapedia:Editorial Policy|Thelemapedia Editorial Policy]] | [[Thelemapedia:Common Sources|Common Sources and Citing guidelines]]
==Policy==
'''Policy''' refers to the overall conceptual parameters and objectives of Thelemapedia and the rules and guidelines developed to manifest them. Stewards are Thelemapedians who have "administrator" rights. Their primary responsibility is to care for the welfare and integrity of the site. Editorially, they have no more authority than any other site member, and are equally bound to Thelemapedia editorial policies. At the same time, they do have special security privileges which they use to enforce policy when necessary. For example, they have the ability to protect and delete pages, block and ban users, and delete obvious vandalism. More than that, they are available for dispute mediation and as a source of assistance, essentially providing guidance and leadership within the Thelemapedia community. (See: [[Special:Listadmins|List of Stewards]], which are technically called Admins).

Since Thelemapedia is a project of [[Ordo Templi Orientis]], there are those who are in a position to make certain high level decisions. The Lodgemaster of Scarlet Woman Lodge and the Grand Master of U.S. Grand Lodge may institute changes when content or policies might interfere with Order policy or general wellbeing.

==Function==
'''Function''' refers to the general mechanics of the site. This includes code, visual design, wiki functionality, and all elements that affect the general user experience (such as the design of the main page, promotional efforts, etc.). The site is hosted on a server by [[User:Omega|Fr. Omega]], who donates his time and expertise in server maintenance.

==Where to go next==
{{help}}

[[Category:Thelemapedia]]

User:Ash

2005-10-26T22:05:13Z

Ash:

<div style="border:3px solid #666;padding:3px;margin-top:10px;"><div style="padding:8px;background-color:#ccc;position:relative;top:0;left:0;margin-bottom:3px;text-align:center;font-size:11px;">'''[http://www.thelemapedia.org/index.php?title=User_talk:Ash&action=edit&section=new Leave me a message]''' | [mailto:ash@ashami.com email me] | [http://www.livejournal.com/userinfo.bml?user=ash93 my blog] | [http://www.ashami.com my website] | [[User:Ash/My Philosophy|my philosophy on Thelemapedia]]</div><div style="border:1px solid #666;padding:15px;">
<center>''Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the Law.''</center>

<br/>[[Image:Ash_thefool2.jpg|right|frame|Fr. Ash, OTO zealot & future psychologist]]

Greetings! My name is '''Frater Ash''' (A.K.A. John Bowie, but really, everyone except my mother calls me Ash, so I hope you do, too). I am the founder of [http://www.thelemapedia.org/about_thelemapedia/index.html Thelemapedia], which started in early 2004 and finally came online on September 18 of that year. I worked as its Managing Director until oct. 26, 2005.

Thelemapedia is a project of [http://www.scarletwoman.org Scarlet Woman Lodge], a chartered local body of [[Ordo Templi Orientis|O.T.O.]], of which I have been a proud member since 1995. During my time in O.T.O., I have earned a charter to [[initiation|initiate]] members into the degrees 0 through III, and I've taken Orders of Ordination into the Priesthood of [[Ecclesia Gnostica Catholica]], the church arm of the Order.

==Other stuff==

Professionally, I was a graphic designer from 1989 (when I graduated from The Art Institute of Atlanta) until 2002. Within that time, I won several national awards for design excellence, and had some pretty big clients. However, with the combination of extreme burnout and a recession, I decided to give up designing for a living and return to college. So, at the age of 34 I enrolled back into the University of Texas at Austin (I had gone for 2 years in the early 90s), with only a vague notion of what I wanted to do. At first I considered anthropology. But I soon gave that up after taking some psychology courses...I had found my path.

However, I still had to earn a bachelors degree. I knew that I wanted to persue a clinical education, and the psychology department at UT was ''waaay'' too research-focused for me. So, I instead decided to enter the UT School of Social Work, which offered far more by the way of clinical knowledge. I am pleased to say that in May of 2005, I graduated with my Bachelors of Social Work. ''Whew!''

Of course, the bachelors was only half the battle. I knew from the get go that I would need graduate work. So, after a grueling process of applications, studying and taking the GRE, writing long heart-felt essays, and flying to go to interviews, I was accepted into my school of first choice! In August of 2005 I started the doctoral program in Clinical Psychology (PsyD) at the [http://www.ciis.edu California Institute of Integral Studies], located in San Francisco. It has been an amazing (and frustrating and tiring and scary) experience moving to this fantastic city.

==Personal tidbits==

* I am married to the lovely and talented [http://www.livejournal.com/userinfo.bml?user=alethea93 Sr. Alethea]
* I was in the Boy Scouts before it became evil, and made it to Life Scout (just one rank before Eagle)
*I grew up in Houston, TX, and also have lived in New Orleans (Slidell to be precise), Atlanta, Austin, and now San Francisco
* I grew up [[Unitarian Universalism|Unitarian]]
* In high school I was a big time tennis player and was working my way towards going on tour until I broke my wrist during practice, and that was that
* I love to play AD&D, and wish I had time to indulge in it anymore
* I am a Macintosh freak

==Contact==

If you would like to contact me, feel free to send me an '''[mailto:ash@ashami.com email]'''.

You can also check out my sporadic blog on LiveJournal, where I go by the username '''[http://www.livejournal.com/userinfo.bml?user=ash93 Ash93]'''.
----
<center>''Love is the law, love under will.''</center>
</div></div>

Thelemapedia:Stewards

2005-10-26T22:01:00Z

Ash:

'''Stewards''' are Thelemapedians who have "administrator" rights. Their primary responsibility is to care for the welfare and integrity of the site. Editorially, they have no more authority than any other site member, and are equally bound to Thelemapedia [[Thelemapedia:Editorial_Policy|editorial policies]]. At the same time, they do have special security privileges which they use to enforce policy when necessary. For example, they have the ability to protect and delete pages, block and ban users, and delete obvious vandalism. More than that, they are available for dispute mediation and as a source of assistance, essentially providing guidance and leadership within the Thelemapedia community.
__NOTOC__
==Current Stewards==

*[[User:Frater C.U.G.|Frater C.U.G.]]
*[[User:Omega|Omega]]

==Responsibilities==

Stewards are expected to be familiar with Thelemapedia policies and guidelines. They should be courteous, and should exercise good judgment and patience in dealing with others. The central concern of a Steward should be the welfare of the site. Moreover, Stewards are expected to help expand the site, both in terms of adding new materials and in extending its profile within the greater Thelemic community. Here is a detailed list of Steward duties:

* Mediate content disputes
* Protect pages from editing when necessary (this is rare)
* Block or ban users who consistantly disregard Thelemapedia guidelines or vandalize the site
* Help refine and enforce site policies
* Help keep Thelemapedia within its intended scope
* Try to see that copyrights are protected
* Promote the site
* Encourage people to join as editors
* Help new users with the site
* Expand the site with new materials

==Privileges==

Stewards have certain security-based priviledges to help them fulfill their duties. These include:

* '''Protect and unprotect pages'''. Pages are only protected in certain rare circumstances.
* '''Delete (and undelete) pages and their history'''. This is also a rare event. Sometimes deletion is a technical matter, in which a redirection page has to be removed to make way for renaming an article, or a page whose history has been broken up has to be deleted and the pieces recombined. Other times it's a matter of cleaning up simple junk edits on pages with no actual content, or removing material that has been pasted in from another site and infringes copyright.
* '''Reversion'''. Stewards have a faster, automated reversion tool to help them revert vandalism or edits that clearly violate site policy.
*'''Block and unblock'''. Block and unblock IP addresses, IP ranges, and user accounts, for a specific time, or indefinitely.

==Becoming a Steward==

Stewardship is granted to trusted members of the community who are familiar with Thelemapedia policies and have a substantial history of contributing to the site. They should be able to discuss issues without becoming personal. Even in the face of abuse and irrationality, a Steward should show patience and a willingness to listen and compromise. Finally, a Steward must be willing to do admin chores, such as making good wiki links, correcting errors, improving the category system, and maintaining the integrity of the various sections.

===Applying for Stewardship===

Any member can become a Steward. If you would like to apply for Stewardship, follow the directions on the following page: '''[[Thelemapedia:Apply for Stewardship]]'''.
[[Category:Thelemapedia]]

Thelemapedia:What Thelemapedia is not

2005-10-26T21:41:50Z

Ash:

Thelemapedia is an online encyclopedia and, as a means to that end, also an online community. Therefore, there are certain things that Thelemapedia is not.

==What Thelemapedia is not==

===Thelemapedia is not a soapbox===
Thelemapedia is '''not a soapbox''', a chatroom, discussion forum, or vehicle for propaganda and advertising. Therefore, Thelemapedia articles are not:
# '''Personal essays''' that state your particular opinions about a topic. Thelemapedia is supposed to compile human knowledge. It is not a vehicle to make personal opinions become part of human knowledge. In the unusual situation where the opinions of a single individual are important enough to discuss, it is preferable to let other people write about them.
# '''Primary (original) research''' such as proposing theories and solutions, original ideas, defining terms, coining new words, etc. If you have done primary research on a topic, publish your results in other venues such as peer-reviewed journals, other printed forms, or respected online sites. Thelemapedia will report about your work once it becomes part of accepted human knowledge. Not all information added to Thelemapedia has to be from peer-reviewed journals; but strive to make that information no less reliable and verifiable. For example, citing book, print, or reliable web resources demonstrates that the material is verifiable and is not the editor's opinion.
#'''Propaganda or advocacy''' of any kind. Of course, an article can report objectively ''about'' such things, as long as an attempt is made to approach a neutral point of view (within a pro-Thelema frame). You might wish to go to Usenet or start a blog if you want to convince people of the merits of your favorite views.
# '''Discussion forums'''. You can chat with folks on their user talk pages, and should resolve problems with articles on the relevant talk pages, but please do not take discussion into articles.
# '''Critical reviews'''. Of course, critical analysis of art ''is'' welcome, if grounded in direct observations of outside parties.
#'''Self-promotion'''. While you are free to write about yourself or projects you have a strong personal involvement in, remember that the standards for encyclopedic articles apply to such pages just like any other.

===Thelemapedia is not a dictionary===
Thelemapedia is not a dictionary, or a usage or jargon guide.
#'''Dictionary definitions.''' Because Thelemapedia is not a dictionary, please do not create an entry merely to define a term. Sometimes an article ''can and should begin with a good definition;'' If you come across an article that is nothing more than a definition, see if there is information you can add that would be appropriate for an encyclopedia. An exception to this rule is for articles about the cultural meanings of individual numbers.
#'''Lists of such definitions.''' There are, however, disambiguation pages consisting of pointers to other pages; these are used to clarify differing meanings of a word. Thelemapedia also includes [http://www.thelemapedia.org/index.php/Category:Glossaries glossary pages] for various specialized fields.

===Thelemapedia is not a mirror or a repository of links, images, or media files===
Thelemapedia is neither a mirror nor a repository of links (other than our one [[Links]] page), images, or media files. By submitting any content, you agree to release it for free use under the GNU FDL. Thelemapedia articles are not:
# Mere '''collections of external links''' or '''Internet directories'''. There is nothing wrong with adding to an article a list of content-relevant links; however, excessive lists can dwarf articles and detract from the purpose of Thelemapedia.
# Mere '''collections of internal links''', except for disambiguation pages when an article title is ambiguous, and for topical lists to assist with the organisation of articles.
# Mere '''collections of public domain or other source material''' such as entire books or source code, original historical documents, letters, laws, proclamations, and other source material that are only useful when presented with their original, un-modified wording.
# '''Collections of photographs or media files''' with no text to go with the articles. If you are interested in presenting a picture, please provide an encyclopedic context.

===Thelemapedia is not censored for the protection of minors===
Thelemapedia may contain content that some readers consider objectionable or offensive. Anyone reading Thelemapedia can edit an article and the changes are displayed instantaneously without any checking to ensure appropriateness, so Thelemapedia cannot guarantee that articles or images are appropriate for children or adhere to specific social norms.

==What the Thelemapedia community is not==

===Thelemapedia is not an anarchy===
Thelemapedia is free and open, but restricts both freedom and openness where they interfere with the purpose of creating an encyclopedia. Accordingly, '''Thelemapedia is not a forum for unregulated free speech.''' The fact that Thelemapedia is an open, self-governing project does not mean that any part of its purpose is to explore the viability of anarchistic communities. Our purpose is to build an encyclopedia, not to test the limits of anarchism. (See: [[Thelemapedia:Power_structure|Thelemapedia Power structure]])

===Thelemapedia is not a battleground===
Every user is expected to interact with others civilly, calmly, and in a spirit of cooperation. Do not insult, harass or intimidate those with whom you have a disagreement. Rather, approach the matter in an intelligent manner, and engage in polite discussion. Do not create or modify articles just to prove a point. Do not make legal or other threats against Thelemapedia, Thelemapedians, Scarlet Woman Lodge, or Ordo Templi Orientis. Threats are not tolerated and may result in a [[Thelemapedia:Banning policy|ban]]. See also [[Thelemapedia:Dispute_Resolution|Dispute resolution]].

===Thelemapedia is not a democracy===
Thelemapedia is not an experiment in democracy. Its primary method of finding consensus is discussion, not voting. That is, majority opinion does not necessarily rule in Thelemapedia.

===Thelemapedia is not a bureaucracy===
Disagreements should be resolved through consensual discussion, rather than through tightly sticking to rules and procedures. Follow the spirit, not the letter, of any rules, policies and guidelines.

==Where to go next==
{{help}}

==References==
*Wikipedia. (2005). ''[http://en.Thelemapedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:What_Wikipedia_is_not What Wikipedia is not].'' Retrieved June 30, 2005.
[[Category:Thelemapedia]]

William Bernard Crow

2005-10-26T21:31:20Z

Ash:

'''William Bernard Crow''' (b. Sept. 11, 1895, d. June 26, 1976), was a biology teacher, a Bishop of the [[Liberal Catholic Church]].

In August 1944, he wrote two documents. One was the [[Ecclesia Gnostica Catholica]] manifesto:

:The world has entered the New Æon, the Age of the Crowned and Conquering Child. The predominance of the Mother (Æon of Isis) and of the Father (Æon of Osiris) are of the past. Many people have not completely fulfilled these formulæ, and they are still valid in their limited spheres; but the Masters have decided that the time has come for the administration of the Sacraments of the Æon of Horus to those capable of comprehension. The sexes are equal and complementary. “Every man and every woman is a star.”–AL 1:3. The priestess must now function as well as the priest.

:The expression of the above thesis in public ritual has begun with the establishment of the Gnostic Mass which, while adhering to the vital elements of the most ancient and true tradition, fixes its attention on, and aims most firmly in, the Future.

:The organizational vehicle of the Gnostic Mass is the Ecclesia Gnostica Catholica, or Gnostic Catholic Church. The E.G.C. is a component of the O.T.O.

Crowley signed this document and it became the official manifesto of EGC.

The other document is called "Sovereign Patriarch of the Gnostic Catholic Church and Vicar of Salomon". It does not exist in the OTO archives and is mentioned nowhere in Crowley's personal or official writings. It is assumed that either he never saw it or he refused to sign it (as he did the Manifesto). The document states:

:Whereas the Gnostic Catholic Church, adhering to the vital elements of the most ancient true tradition, fixes its intentions and its aims most firmly on the future. And whereas the world has entered the New Aeon, the Age of the Crowned and Conquering Child, and the Masters have decided that the time has come for High Initiates to administer the Sacraments of the Age of Horus. Now, therefore, We, by virtue of the Supreme authority vested in us do hereby nominate and appoint our very dear brother and most reverend father in God William Bernard Crow by the name and title of [Mahoran Mar] Basilius Abdullah [III.] a Sovereign Patriarch of the Gnostic Catholic Church and Vicar of Salomon with full right, power and authority to administer the said Church and to consecrate, ordein, appoint hyrarchs, priests, priestesses, deacons and other necessary Officers therein, to work the Gnostic Catholic Mass, and to take charge of all ceremonials, organisational, and financial affairs in connection therewith.

He later consecrated the following as Bishops:

*Henry George Brook: Sept. 3, 1944.
*Kermit William Poling: April 4, 1972. Also known as Mar Titus, Patriarch of the [[Orthodox Catholic Church of America]].

Crow died on June 26, 1976.

==References==
*Sabazius. (2005). ''[http://www.hermetic.com/sabazius/mfstnotes.htm#manifesto The Manifesto of the Gnostic Catholic Church]''.
*Free Encyclopedia of Thelema. ''William Bernard Crow.'' Retrieved June 12, 2005.
** Koenig, Peter. ''[http://user.cyberlink.ch/~koenig/bishops.htm Stranded Bishops].'' Retrieved June 12, 2005.

[[Category:Ecclesia Gnostica Catholica]]

Main Page

2005-10-26T16:46:43Z

Ash: new featured article

<div style="position:absolute;top:119px;right:25px;font-size:10px;text-align: right;line-height:14px;color:#444444;">New to Thelemapedia? Read the [[Thelemapedia:Introduction|Introduction]]<br/>Ready to edit? Read the [[Thelemapedia:Really Simple Tutorial|Really Simple Tutorial]]</div>

<table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0 style="margin-bottom:20px;"><tr>
<td>[[Image:Logo300pxmarks.gif]]</td>
<td><center><h3 style="font-size:15px;line-height:20px;padding-left:15px;">Thelemapedia is the original encyclopedia of Thelema and Magick focusing on the works and philosophy of Aleister Crowley</h3></center></td></tr></table>

<table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="8" cellpadding="0" style="font-size:10px;line-height:14px;margin-bottom:25px;">
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<td style="padding:5px; border:2px solid #DEE3DC;" valign=middle align=center bgcolor="#F2FFE7" style="color:#666666;"><div style="font-size:14px;color:#666666;line-height:20px;">'''Browse over<br/>[[Special:Allpages/%21|{{NUMBEROFARTICLES}}]] articles on<br/>Thelemapedia'''</div><br/>
''Want to add more?''<br/>[[Special:Userlogin|Become an editor.]]</td>
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<table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" style="font-size:12px;line-height:14px">
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<td colspan="4" align=center style="padding-bottom:10px;"><b style="font-size:14px;color:#666666;">Featured Sections</b></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align=center>[[Image:Featured_unicursal.gif]]<br/>'''[[Thelema]]'''</td>
<td align=center style="padding:0px 10px 0px 10px;">[[Image:Featured_saints.gif]]<br/>'''[[Gnostic Saints]]'''</td>
<td align=center>[[Image:Featured_tree.gif]]<br/>'''[[Tree of Life]]'''</td>
<td align=center style="padding:0px 0px 0px 10px;">[[Image:Featured_astro.jpg]]<br/>'''[[Astrology]]'''</td>
</tr>
</table>
</td>
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=====A brief summary of Thelema=====

'''Thelema''' is the name of the philosophical school and religious matrix established in 1904 with the writing of [[Liber AL vel Legis]] ([[The Book of the Law]]) by [[Aleister Crowley]] (1875-1947). The Law is summed up in two phrases from the Book:
*“Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the Law” (AL I:40) and
*“Love is the law, love under will” (AL I:57).
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User talk:Nothus

2005-10-26T16:39:31Z

Ash: Welcome!

Talk:Greater Feast

2005-10-24T04:42:15Z

Ash: Good article

A nice article...thanks for the submission! [[User:Ash|Fr. Ash]] 23:42, 23 Oct 2005 (CDT)

Greater Feast

2005-10-24T04:41:37Z

Ash: links, categories

A '''Greater Feast''' is the Thelemic celebration of the death of an individual or individuals. Its designation as ''greater'' is derived from the understanding that Death is the crowning achivement of a life and reunites the [[Had]] of the [[Thelemite]] with the body of the goddess, [[Nuit]].

It is listed as one of the "feasts of the times" mentioned in the [[calendar]] verse of Chapter II of [[the Book of the Law]].

==Methods of Celebration==
The methods of celebrating a Greater Feast are as numerous as the souls who inavariably will have one. Crowley mentions in ''The Law is for All'' that the Feast should be "merry, so as to train people to take the proper view of death. The fear of death is one of the great weapons of tyrants, as well as their scourge; and it distorts our whole outlook upon the Universe." He also composed ''Liber CVI(106): Concerning Death'' to be read to the dying or the recently dead much in the same way as the Tibetan Book of the Dead is used by practitioners of Tibetan-style [[Mahayana Buddhism]].

The current Primate of the [[EGC]], Sabazius X°, has also composed a formal Greater Feast rite for use by [[EGC]] clergy.

==Greater Feasts Within the EGC==
In addition to celebrations of Greater Feasts that occur to individual members of the Thelemic community, a Thelemite may also celebrate the anniversaries of Greater Feasts for notable historical figures who have made significant contributions to [[Thelema]].

Such figures may include, but are not especially limited to:

* The [[Gnostic Saints]]
* Past Outer Heads of the [[OTO]] and Patriarchates of the [[EGC]]
* Members of the [[Order of the Lion and the Eagle]].

===Calendar of Greater Feast Anniversary Dates===
Below is a calendar of dates which mark the anniversaries of the Greater Feasts for many individuals who meet the above criteria.

*'''March 22''' – The Greater Feast of Saint [[Wolfgang von Goethe]]

*'''April 9''' – The Greater Feasts of Saints [[Rabelais]] and [[Francis Bacon|Francis Bacon Lord Verulam]]

*'''April 10''' - The Greater Feast of Saint [[Swinburne]]

*'''April 23''' – The Greater Feast of Saint [[Richard Payne Knight]]

*'''May 8''' - The Greater Feast of Dame [[Helena Blavatsky|Helena Petrovna Blavatsky]]

*'''May 9''' – The Greater Feast of Saint [[Paul Gaugin]]

*'''May 18''' - The Greater Feast of Saint [[Elias Ashmole]]

*'''May 31''' – The Greater Feast of Saint [[Alphonse Louis Constant]]

*'''June 7''' - The Greater Feast of Co-Founder of [[OTO]], Saint [[Carl Kellner]]

*'''June 8''' – The Greater Feast of Prophet and Saint [[Mohammed]]

*'''June 13''' - The Greater Feast of Saint [[Ludovicus Rex Bavariae]]

*'''June 27''' - The Greater Feast of Saint [[Andrea]]

*'''July 12''' – The Greater Feast of Frater Superior and Saint [[Grady McMurtry]]

*'''July 29''' - The Greater Feast of Sir [[Paschal Beverly Randolph]]

*'''August 12''' – The Greater Feast of Saint [[William Blake]]

*'''August 18''' – The Greater Feast of Saint [[Roderic Borgia|Roderic Borgia Pope Alexander the Sixth]]

*'''August 25''' - The Greater Feast of Saint [[Friedrich Nietzsche]]

*'''August 29''' – The Greater Feast of Saint [[Ulrich von Hutten]]

*'''September 8''' – The Greater Feast of Saint [[Robertus de Fluctibus]]

*'''September 24''' – The Greater Feast of Saint [[Paracelsus]]

*'''October 2''' - The Greater Feast of Dame [[Emma Hardinge Britten]]

*'''October 16''' - The Greater Feast of Dame [[Ida Craddock]]

*'''October 19''' - The Greater Feast of Saint [[Richard Francis Burton|Sir Richard Francis Burton]]

*'''October 25''' - The Greater Feasts of Saint [[Gerard Encausse]] and Frater Superior Saint [[Karl Germer]]

*'''October 28''' – The Greater Feast of Co-Founder of the [[OTO]] Saint [[Theodor Reuss]]

*'''November 17''' - The Greater Feast of Saint [[Jacob Boehme]]

*'''November 18''' – The Greater Feast of Saint [[Adam Weishaupt]]

*'''December 2''' – The Greater Feast of the Prophet, Saint and Frater Superior, [[To Mega Therion]], Sir [[Aleister Crowley]]

*'''December 13''' - The Greater Feast of Saint [[Frederick of Hohenstaufen]]

*'''December 28''' – The Greater Feast of Saint [[Molinos]]

*'''January 28''' - The Greater Feast of Saint [[Carolus Magnus]]

*'''February 13''' – The Greater Feast of Saint [[Richard Wagner]]

*'''March 4''' (varies)– The Greater Feast of the Prophet and Saint [[Siddhartha]] ''(Parinirvana Day – The second full moon day of the Lunar Calendar)''

*'''March 18''' – The Greater Feast of Saint [[Jacobus Burgundus Molensis|Jacobus Burgundus Molensis the Martyr]]

==External Links==
* The ritual for the [http://www.hermetic.com/sabazius/greater_feast.htm ''Greater Feast for Death''] at the Invisible Basilica of Sabazius

==References==
* Crowley, Aleister. (1996). ''The Law is for All''. Thelema Media
* ____, et al. (1990). ''The Equinox: The Review of Scientific Illuminism: The Official Organ of the O.T.O. Number 10''. Weiser Books
[[Category:Gnostic Mass]] [[Category:Ecclesia Gnostica Catholica]]

Greater Feast

2005-10-24T04:39:28Z

Ash: don't need first headline

A '''Greater Feast''' is the Thelemic celebration of the death of an individual or individuals. Its designation as ''greater'' is derived from the understanding that Death is the crowning achivement of a life and reunites the [[Had]] of the [[Thelemite]] with the body of the goddess, [[Nuit]].

It is listed as one of the "feasts of the times" mentioned in the [[calendar]] verse of Chapter II of [[the Book of the Law]].

==Methods of Celebration==
The methods of celebrating a Greater Feast are as numerous as the souls who inavariably will have one. Crowley mentions in ''The Law is for All'' that the Feast should be "merry, so as to train people to take the proper view of death. The fear of death is one of the great weapons of tyrants, as well as their scourge; and it distorts our whole outlook upon the Universe." He also composed ''Liber CVI(106): Concerning Death'' to be read to the dying or the recently dead much in the same way as the Tibetan Book of the Dead is used by practitioners of Tibetan-style [[Mahayana Buddhism]].

The current Primate of the [[EGC]], Sabazius X°, has also composed a formal Greater Feast rite for use by [[EGC]] clergy.

==Greater Feasts Within the EGC==
In addition to celebrations of Greater Feasts that occur to individual members of the Thelemic community, a Thelemite may also celebrate the anniversaries of Greater Feasts for notable historical figures who have made significant contributions to [[Thelema]].

Such figures may include, but are not especially limited to:

* The [[Gnostic Saints]]
* Past Outer Heads of the [[OTO]] and Patriarchates of the [[EGC]]
* Members of the [[Order of the Lion and the Eagle]].

===Calendar of Greater Feast Anniversary Dates===
Below is a calendar of dates which mark the anniversaries of the Greater Feasts for many individuals who meet the above criteria.

*'''March 22''' – The Greater Feast of Saint [[Wolfgang von Goethe]]

*'''April 9''' – The Greater Feasts of Saints [[Rabelais]] and [[Francis Bacon|Francis Bacon Lord Verulam]]

*'''April 10''' - The Greater Feast of Saint [[Swinburne]]

*'''April 23''' – The Greater Feast of Saint [[Richard Payne Knight]]

*'''May 8''' - The Greater Feast of Dame [[Helena Petrovna Blavatsky]]

*'''May 9''' – The Greater Feast of Saint [[Paul Gaugin]]

*'''May 18''' - The Greater Feast of Saint [[Elias Ashmole]]

*'''May 31''' – The Greater Feast of Saint [[Alphonse Louis Constant]]

*'''June 7''' - The Greater Feast of Co-Founder of [[OTO]], Saint [[Carl Kellner]]

*'''June 8''' – The Greater Feast of Prophet and Saint [[Mohammed]]

*'''June 13''' - The Greater Feast of Saint [[Ludovicus Rex Bavariae]]

*'''June 27''' - The Greater Feast of Saint [[Andrea]]

*'''July 12''' – The Greater Feast of Frater Superior and Saint [[Grady McMurtry]]

*'''July 29''' - The Greater Feast of Sir [[Paschal Beverly Randolph]]

*'''August 12''' – The Greater Feast of Saint [[William Blake]]

*'''August 18''' – The Greater Feast of Saint [[Roderic Borgia|Roderic Borgia Pope Alexander the Sixth]]

*'''August 25''' - The Greater Feast of Saint [[Friedrich Nietzsche]]

*'''August 29''' – The Greater Feast of Saint [[Ulrich von Hutten]]

*'''September 8''' – The Greater Feast of Saint [[Robertus de Fluctibus]]

*'''September 24''' – The Greater Feast of Saint [[Paracelsus]]

*'''October 2''' - The Greater Feast of Dame [[Emma Hardinge Britten]]

*'''October 16''' - The Greater Feast of Dame [[Ida Craddock]]

*'''October 19''' - The Greater Feast of Saint [[Richard Francis Burton|Sir Richard Francis Burton]]

*'''October 25''' - The Greater Feasts of Saint [[Gerard Encausse]] and Frater Superior Saint [[Karl Germer]]

*'''October 28''' – The Greater Feast of Co-Founder of the [[OTO]] Saint [[Theodor Reuss]]

*'''November 17''' - The Greater Feast of Saint [[Jacob Boehme]]

*'''November 18''' – The Greater Feast of Saint [[Adam Weishaupt]]

*'''December 2''' – The Greater Feast of the Prophet, Saint and Frater Superior, [[To Mega Therion]], Sir [[Aleister Crowley]]

*'''December 13''' - The Greater Feast of Saint [[Frederick of Hohenstaufen]]

*'''December 28''' – The Greater Feast of Saint [[Molinos]]

*'''January 28''' - The Greater Feast of Saint [[Carolus Magnus]]

*'''February 13''' – The Greater Feast of Saint [[Richard Wagner]]

*'''March 4''' (varies)– The Greater Feast of the Prophet and Saint [[Siddhartha]] ''(Parinirvana Day – The second full moon day of the Lunar Calendar)''

*'''March 18''' – The Greater Feast of Saint [[Jacobus Burgundus Molensis|Jacobus Burgundus Molensis the Martyr]]

==External Links==
* The ritual for the [http://www.hermetic.com/sabazius/greater_feast.htm ''Greater Feast for Death''] at the Invisible Basilica of Sabazius

==References==
* Crowley, Aleister. (1996). ''The Law is for All''. Thelema Media
* ____, et al. (1990). ''The Equinox: The Review of Scientific Illuminism: The Official Organ of the O.T.O. Number 10''. Weiser Books