Getting Back On Path

I have been off path for quite some time when it comes to my Thelemic studies. This is due to the birth of my daughter who is now 10 months old. Now that Leota is getting a little bit older I have been returning to my studies in the arena of ceremonial magick and Hermetics. 

There has been a visit to Pyramid Lodge in Buffalo, New York over the past while. Then I visited a Thelema study group in Syracuse, New York a couple of weeks ago. I am beginning to get back on track. I seems like my memory is finally returning to me as I begin practising the Lesser Banishing Ritual of the Pentagram once again. 

On Saturday I visited a Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn lodge. Chic Cicero and his wife Sandra Tabatha Cicero were visiting Toronto. They gave some lectures. It was a most enjoyable experience. In the morning Chic discussed magick squares. I made a few notes so I can study this subject further in the future. 

Tabatha discussed using tarot cards as talismans in the afternoon for her discussion. Then we had a discussion from Chic about his friendships with Grady McMurtry and Israel Regardie. It was an event which was well worth the $65. 

In the upcoming future I will be taking part in a study group on Magick In Theory and Practice by Aleister Crowley. 

Head For the Red: If you're happy with the LBRP...

Today I have been researching the origin of the Lesser Banishing Ritual of the Pentagram. This article was one which I came across. 



Head For the Red: If you're happy with the LBRP...: ...then chances are pretty good this blog will, at times, offend you. I do not like it, Sam I am, I do not like lame rites in a can. That ...

Path of Initiation

This is the path of initiation for the Ordo Templi Orientis.

1/ The Ego is attracted to the solar system.
2/ The child experiences birth.
3/ The man experiences life.
4/ He experiences death.
5/ He experiences the world beyond death.
6/ This entire cycle of Point-Events is withdrawn into annihilation.

0 degrees - Minerval
I degree - Initiation
II degree - Consecration
III degree - Devotion
IV degree - Perfection or Exhaltation
P.I. Perfect Initiate

The Book of Lies and OTO

Aleister Crowley wrote the Book of Lies in 1912. This is an exercise in writing which is made up of 93 chapters. The information is in no way related to anything else in the book. Each chapter is a magickal exercise. The contents of each exercise are dictated by the number of the chapter. This book was written a couple years after Aleister Crowley was appointed the British Head of the Oriental Templars.

Crowley met Theodor Reuss in the year 1910. Reuss was much impressed by Aleister Crowley. Crowley chose the magickal name Baphomet after his appointment in the OTO. The rituals which were in English were all revised to conform with the teaching of The Book of The Law. Crowley succeeded Reuss as the Outer Head of the OTO upon Reuss Death in 1923.  

The Book of Lies

Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn

In the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn there is a sequence of grades which the aspirant will progress through. Each grade is associated with a different spiritual principle. There will be a planetary correspondence for each grade. The grades of the 1st order are associated with Earth, Moon, Mercury, and Venus. This order is called the 'Outer Order'.

The next order of grades are the 'Inner Order'. This is also called the Rosicrucian order. There is a ceremony to initiate aspirants into the Inner Order. Here they attain the status of Adeptship. The planetary attributions for the grade of adeptus minor is identified Kabbalistically as the 5=6 grade This confirms an entry into the Inner Order. This is associated with the Sun. 

The object of the Inner Order is to bring into your consciousness the experience of your own divine nature. 

Here is more information in a book by Chic Cicero on the HOGD:

 The Essential Golden Dawn: An Introduction to High Magic

The Book of Law

The Book of Law was dictated to Aleister Crowley in Cairo between noon and 1PM on 3 successive days. This occurred on April 8, 9, and 10th of 1904. This was dictated by Aiwass who described himself as the minister of Hoor-paar-kraat. He showed knowledge by the use of cipher or cryptogram.

Here is a link to purchase the Book of Law:
Book of the Law

Theodor Reuss

Theodor Reuss was an Anglo-German tantric occultist, freemason, police spy, journalist, singer, and head of the Ordo Templie Orientis. In 1885 he joined the Socialist League. There were tensions with anarcho-communist Josef Peukert and Bakunist Victor Dave. Theodor Reuss became acquainted with Aleister Crowley in 1910. He made Crowley a 7th degree initiate of the OTO. In 1912 he appointed Aleister Crowley as national Grand master General of the 10th degree for the OTO.