∮ ordo templi orientis ∮

-..a group of people united by certain convictions and strong common interests..-

The Ordo Templi Orientis (OTO) is an occult organization/secret society bound by secrecy, deception, pleasure, and divine wisdom. It is because of this secrecy that I consider them a family united in ‘privileged’ knowledge about the universe, and a belief that magick is simply the name for science not yet understood. And yet, they are not entirely a secret. Their infamous leader Aleister Crowly created a school of thought that has influenced thousands inside and out of the society. They have found a place in religion and philosophy, pop culture and counterculture, our conscious and subconscious.

The OTO was founded in Germany at the turn of the 20th century by Carl Kellner, a Freemason scientist with a particular interest in magic and the occult. He, along with several others, created the OTO as the ultimate secret society, a hodgepodge of Freemason ideology, other schools of thought, and of course, magic. The OTO’s secrets were, obviously, unknown for a very long time. But word on the street was that they practiced sex magic, a practice so powerful that only those members most devoted to the family reached those ceremonies.

OTO ideology began to spread across Europe and eventually made its way to none other than Aleister Crowley. At the time he was most known for his Book of the Law, which he claimed was dictated to him by a preternatural being named Aiwass. The main idea of this otherwise convoluted text is as follows: “Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the Law.” In other words, devote yourself to seeking what brings you joy and pleasure, consequences be damned. Crowley became the leader of the OTO and brought with him a perception of the society clouded in mystery and twisted curiosity.

In 1973, some of the society’s secrets were finally revealed; most notably, The Minerval Degree. This is their ceremony of initiation, the first step along your long journey to uncovering the secrets of the universe. Nothing too crazy happens here. You are essentially given multiple titles, from Minerval (human of earth and seeker of the hidden wisdom, to prisoner, to soldier, and asked to take an oath binding you to the OTO. But when all is said and done, you are officially welcomed into your new family and devoted to the universal brotherhood.

I would say that all secret societies and cults are designated family units, but I chose this particular one because of their infamy thanks to Aleister Crowley, their shared belief that magic is science not yet understood, and most importantly, because of their secrecy. The podcast I listened to that first introduced me to the OTO brought up the idea that detecting deception through connecting to another’s thoughts and intentions might sound like magic, but can actually be possible if you have access to the right knowledge. I am fascinated by the idea of a family bound by lies, deception, and exclusivity due to secrecy.