......O.T.O.
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 the Oriental Templars, or The Order of the Temple of the East. It is an Outer Thelemic Order dedicated to the high purpose of securing the Liberty of the Individual and his or her advancement in Light, Wisdom, Understanding, Knowledge, and Power. This is accomplished though 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 ev, with its message of a revolution in human thought, culture and religion, based upon a single supreme injunction: the Law of Thelema - Do what thou wilt. This law is not to be interpreted as a licence to indulge one’s every passing whine, but rather as a mandate to discover and accomplish one’s True Will, 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 efforts of each individual. 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.
The structure of the O.T.O., like that of Freemasonry and the ancient mystery schools, is based on a graded series of initiations, or degrees. In these Degrees, the O.T.O. seeks to instruct the individual by allegory and symbol in the profound mysteries of existence, and thereby assist each to discover his or her own true nature. The degrees are as follows:-
MAN OF EARTH, 1st TRIAD
O° Minerval.
I° Man and Brother/ Woman and Sister.
II° Magician.
III° Master Magician.
IV° Companion of the Holy Royal Arch of Enoch. } ..........Pendents
P.I. Perfect Initiate - Prince of Jerusalem..........o...}
..............to III°
Knight of the East and of the West. (Bridge between 1st and 2nd Triads)
LOVERS, 2nd TRIAD
V° Sovereign Prince of Rose Croix. Knight of the Red Eagle.
VI° Illustrious knight (Templar) of the Order of Kadosch,
Companion of the Holy Graal.
..... Grand Inquisitor Commander. Prince of the
Royal Secret.
VII° Sovereign Grand Inspector General.
HERMIT, 3rd TRIAD
VIII° Perfect Pontiff of the Illuminati.
IX° Initiate of the Sanctuary of the Gnosis.
X° Rex Summus Sanctissimus.
The introductory Degrees of the O.T.O. progressively activate the psychic body of the Initiate. Every man and woman of full age (18 years), free, and of good report, has and indefeasible right to the introductory degrees of the O. T. O.
The O.T.O. has active branches in countries around the world and issues several periodicals, journals and bulletins from International Headquarters, including The Equinox, The Oriflamme and The Magical Link. Local bodies around the world also produce treasure troves of information. The interested are invited to write to the Official Local Body nearest for further information on activities, functions, regional publications or Ecclesiastic ceremonies.
Love is the law, love under will.
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