ORDO TEMPLI ORIENTIS




PEACE, TOLERANCE, TRUTH;
SALUTATION ON ALL POINTS OF THE TRIANGLE;
RESPECT TO THE ORDER.

TO ALL WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:  GREETING AND HEALTH.


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


The letters O.T.O. stand for Ordo Templi Orientis, the Order of Oriental 
Templars, or Order of the Temple of the East.  The O.T.O. is an Outer Thelemic 
Order which is dedicated to the high purpose of securing the Liberty of the 
Individual and his or her advancement in Light, Wisdom, Understanding, 
Knowledge, and Power; through Beauty, Courage, and Wit; on the Foundation of 
Universal Brotherhood.

The O.T.O. is the first of the Old Aeon orders to accept The Book of the Law, 
received by Aleister Crowley in 1904, with its message of a revolution in human
thought, culture and religion based upon a single supreme injunction: the Law 
of Thelema, which is Do what thou wilt.  This Law is not to be interpreted as 
a license to indulge every passing whim, but rather as the mandate to discover 
one's True Will and accomplish it; leaving others to do the same in their own 
unique ways.  "Every man and every woman is a star."

The Law of Thelema can ultimately be fulfilled only through the individual 
efforts of each person.  Nevertheless, many worthy aspirants to the Great Work 
of Thelema have a genuine need for information, guidance, fellowship, or the 
opportunity to assist their fellow aspirants and serve humanity. Such aspirants
will find welcome in the O.T.O.

We hold papers of direct and unbroken descent in the leadership of the O.T.O. 
from Aleister Crowley to the present head of the Order.  We are incorporated as
a tax-exempt religious entity in California and the United States, and have 
been judged to be the genuine O.T.O. of Aleister Crowley by the US Federal 
Court.  Upon request, we will gladly provide photocopies of the documents which
establish our legitimacy.

INITIATION AND INSTRUCTION

The structure of the O.T.O., like that of Freemasonry and the ancient mystery 
schools, is based on a staged series of initiations or Degrees, most of which 
are conferred ceremonially.  In the Rituals of these Degrees, the O.T.O. seeks 
to instruct the individual by allegory and symbol in the profound mysteries of 
Existence, and thereby to assist each to discover his or her own true Nature.

Every man and woman of full age, free, and of good report, has an indefeasible 
right to the first three Degrees of O.T.O.  These "first three Degrees" 
actually include the Minerval, First, Second, Third, Fourth and P:I: Degrees; 
as the Minerval is considered an antecedent to the First Degree, and the Fourth 
and P:I: Degrees are considered extrapolations of the Third Degree.

These early degrees follow a pattern based on the symbolism of the Chakras and 
the rising of the Kundalini; and represent, in dramatic form, the Individual's 
Path in Eternity.  In the 0ø, the Ego is attracted to the Solar System.  In the 
Iø, the Child experiences Birth.  In the IIø, the Man or Woman experiences Life.  
The IIIø represents Death of the Individual, and the IVø represents the world 
beyond Death.  In the P:I: Degree, the entire cycle is withdrawn into 
Annihilation.

Of these Events or Stations upon the Path, all but the IIø represent single 
critical experiences.  We, however, are concerned mostly with the varied 
experiences of Life.  All subsequent degrees are therefore elaborations of the 
IIø, since in a single ceremony it is hardly possible to sketch, even in the 
briefest outline, the Teaching of Initiates with regard to Life.

The Vø - IXø rituals and teachings are therefore instructions to the Initiate 
in the Mastery of Life; there is instruction in Hermetic Philosophy, Qabalah, 
Magick and Yoga, all aimed at preparing the Initiate for the revelation and 
application of one Supreme Secret.

In addition to the official O.T.O. instructions, many of the local O.T.O. 
Lodges, Oases, Camps and Profess Houses offer supplementary instruction to 
their members; and to a lesser extent, to the general public.  The particular 
form of this supplementary instruction depends on the character and 
capabilities of the particular local body; it may be provided in the form of 
classes, seminars, study programs, or publications.


MEMBERSHIP

At this writing, O.T.O. has approximately 1500 members, and is active to 
varying extents in about 17 countries.  Membership in O.T.O. is private in the 
sense that names and addresses are not released to anyone, including O.T.O. 
officers lacking need to know, without prior express or implied consent of the 
individual members concerned.

Membership is divided into two primary categories: associate membership and 
initiate membership.  Associate membership can be strictly a correspondence 
matter, with no physical presence required.  Associate members receive a 
subscription to The Magical Link (see below), have access to other membership 
publications, and may attend many O.T.O. local activities if a local body is 
nearby.  Otherwise, associate members have the opportunity to correspond with 
other O.T.O. members in the U.S.A. and other countries, by mail or by one of 
several computer-based networks.

Initiate membership can be conferred only in a physical ceremony by a properly 
chartered initiator.  Initiate membership is subdivided by Degree.  There are 
a total of 16 Initiate Degrees in the O.T.O., including eleven numbered Degrees 
and five un-numbered, intermediate Degrees.  The numbered Degrees include the 
Minerval Degree (0ø) and the Degrees designated by the Roman Numerals Iø 
through Xø.

The Minerval Degree (0ø) is an introductory Initiate Degree, designed to allow 
the aspirant to decide whether or not to become a full member.  The First 
Degree (Iø) bestows full membership upon the initiate.  A First Degree 
initiate may retire from active participation in O.T.O., but the spiritual 
link forged between the initiate and the Order during the ceremony of the First 
Degree will remain throughout the initiate's physical life.

Beyond the Degree of P:I:, advancement is by invitation only.  The Tenth Degree 
(Xø) is honorary, and designates the National Grand Master General of the 
O.T.O. in a particular country. In addition to the Degrees previously mentioned, 
there is traditionally an Eleventh Degree (XIø), which is entirely independent 
of the O.T.O. initiatory, governmental, and administrative structures.  Further 
information may be provided to qualified individuals interested in this Degree.

Progress of the O.T.O. initiate toward the Fourth and P:I: Degrees is usually a 
matter of years.  A certain amount of time is usually required to allow full 
maturation of the effects of the O.T.O. initiations.  Although the Minerval and 
First Degrees may be taken on the same occasion if the candidate so wills; a 
nine month "attunement" period between these degrees is usually recommended.


SUBSIDIARY ORGANIZATIONS

The O.T.O. encompasses several subsidiary organizations for the study of facets 
of Thelemic culture not specifically available within the O.T.O. initiatory 
structure.  These currently include:

The Gnostic Catholic Church

Ecclesia Gnostica Catholica, the Gnostic Catholic Church, was brought to the 
O.T.O. by Dr. Gerard Encausse (Papus).  The E.G.C. is a Thelemic religious 
environment, dedicated to the advancement of Light, Life, Love, and Liberty 
through alignment with the Law of Thelema.  The central activity of the E.G.C. 
is the celebration of the Gnostic Mass, as set forth in Liber XV.  Membership 
in E.G.C. is available through baptism, confirmation, and (after a period of 
training) orders.  Many O.T.O. local bodies celebrate the Gnostic Mass on a 
regular basis, and in most locations, no formal affiliation is required to 
attend the Mass.

The Knights of Baphomet

Originally formed as an elite guard in service to the Caliph, the Knights of 
Baphomet is now a organization dedicated to the study and practice of Chivalry 
as it applies to life in the Aeon of Horus.  Membership is by invitation only.


PUBLICATIONS

Ordo Templi Orientis publishes a number of periodicals, from Grand Lodge and 
from individual Lodges, Oases and Camps.  The three primary Grand Lodge 
periodicals are:

The Equinox

This is not a re-printing of the original Volumes I to III, but a never-before 
published continuation of the original series.  The first issue in this 
continuation, The Equinox, Vol. III, No. 10, was published in 1986.  This issue 
contains the O.T.O. Constitution, most of Crowley's writings on the O.T.O., and 
important instructional documents of interest to O.T.O. members and other 
Thelemites.  A second printing is currently in preparation.  Please write to 
the publisher at the following address for details:

Samuel Weiser, Inc.
P.O. Box 612
York Beach, Maine  03910


The Magical Link

This is a quarterly newsletter for members only, currently in its ninth year 
of publication. The Magical Link is delivered free of additional charge to 
dues-current associate and initiate members of the Order.  Each issue of The 
Magical Link contains an updated address list of all O.T.O. local bodies and 
reports of O.T.O. activites worldwide.


The Oriflamme

This quarterly journal will soon be available to members free of charge and to 
the general public by subscription, or at most occult and metaphysical book 
stores.

We are very interested in expanding the number of Crowley's works in print.  
For a nonmonetary consideration (copyright protection), we will usually be 
willing to provide small publishers with a letter of release to print almost 
any of Crowley's written works.



DUES AND FEES

The O.T.O. operates primarily on dues and fees collected from the membership.  
Annual dues are established by the Order as a minimum contribution.  Fees (one 
time only) are set for each initiation to defer the costs of the initiation 
itself.  The annual dues are sent, in their entirety, to Grand Lodge for the 
general operating fund of the Order.  Fees remain with the local bodies.

The current schedule of dues and fees for associate membership and the initial 
series of Initiate Degrees is listed here:

MEMBERSHIP ANNUAL INITIATION
CATEGORY   DUES   FEE   TOTAL

ASSOCIATE  $10    --- = $10
0ø         $20    $20 = $40
Iø         $20    $20 = $40
IIø        $40    $20 = $60
IIIø       $60    $20 = $80
IVø        $80    $40 = $120
P:I:              $20 = $20

Additionally, the local body itself may charge its own dues or initiation fees, 
to help cover its own operating costs.  Dues are payable upon applying for a 
new initiation, or after one year, whichever comes first.  Fees are payable 
upon applying for a new initiation.

In addition to dues and fees, members (and non-members) are welcome to make 
whatever contributions they may wish from time to time.  Unlike dues and fees, 
contributions may be applied toward an income tax deduction, subject to any 
limitations and restrictions set forth in current State and Federal income tax 
laws.


ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Specific questions may be addressed to:

Ordo Templi Orientis
Grand Secretary General
P.O. Box 32
Riverside, CA  92502

To become an associate member of O.T.O. and receive more detailed information 
on initiate membership, complete and return the attached form, enclosing a 
check or money order for U.S. $10.00 to cover one year's associate dues.


Love is the law, love under will.


APPLICATION FOR ASSOCIATE MEMBERSHIP IN ORDO TEMPLI ORIENTIS
Please complete this form and return to:
  
Ordo Templi Orientis
Grand Treasurer General
P.O. Box 430
Fairfax, CA 94930
U. S. A.

Please enclose a check or money order for U.S. $10.00 for one    
year's associate dues.

Full Civil Name ..................................................

Mailing Address:
                 .................................................

                 .................................................

                 .................................................

                 .................................................

                 .................................................

Age............. Sex............

I certify that the above information is correct to the best of my knowledge, 
and hereby apply for associate membership in Ordo Templi Orientis.

Signature.....................................  Date..............