Ordo Templi Orientis

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 dedicated to security the Liberty of the Individual, and his or her advancement in Light, Wisdom, Understanding, Knowledge, and Power. This is accomplished through Beauty, Courage, and Wit, on the Foundation of Universal Brotherhood. The O.T.O.is in sympathy with the traditional ideals of Freemasonry, and was the first of the Old Æon orders to accept The Book of the Law.

Many aspirants to the Great Work 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 O.T.O.

The structure of the O.T.O., like that of Freemasonry and the ancient mystery school, 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 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 introductory Degrees of O.T.O.

The O.T.O. also includes the Gnostic Catholic Church (Ecclesia Gnostica Catholica), whose central public and private rite is “Liber XV,” the Gnostic Mass.

• Bye-laws with Reference to the Profess-Houses of the Order and its Colleges of the Holy Ghost (1914)
  
• A Memorandum on O.T.O. Policy
  
• Magick Without Tears, Chapter XIII: System of the O.T.O.
  
• Confessions, Chapter 72 (Beginning with “What is Freemasonry?”)
  
• Pre-Crowley Pronunciamenti: Original translations into English of papers by Theodor Reuss and Carl Kellner.
  
• An Account of O.T.O.: By the Chevalier de Seingalt, now revised and rewritten in the Universal Cipher.

And there is much more at the library in the Libri of Aleister Crowley section.

The Ecclesia Gnostica Catholica, or Gnostic Catholic Church, is the ecclesiastical arm of O.T.O. Its central activity is the celebration of Liber XV, The Gnostic Mass.

There are three versions of the Gnostic Mass that were published during Crowley's lifetime

• The International (1918)
• Equinox III i (1919)
• Magick in Theory and Practice (1923)

And, there is additional material of interest

• Liber XV, hybrid version
• Annotations and Commentary at The Invisible Basilica of Sabazius

Read further about the central rite of OTO and E.G.C., the Gnostic Mass, also called Liber XV

• THE GNOSTIC MASS: An Appreciation by A.T. Dennis
• Masonic Legacy: Craft Symbolism in the Gnostic Mass by Frater S∴N∴B∴
• An Analysis of the Gnostic Mass by Fr. V.I.T.R.I.O.L. & Sr. A.R.G.M.
• Introduction to the Gnostic Mass by T. Apiryon

And there is much more at The Invisible Basilica of Sabazius, T Polyphilus: Vigorous Food & Divine Madness and E.G.C. Materials

The Sovereign Sanctuary of the Gnosis consists of members who have reached the IX°. Their prime duty is to study and to practice the theurgy and thaumaturgy of the degree, consisting of the Supreme Secret of the Order. However, as a ruling body, they have the authority to: ratify and overturn the rulings of the Areopagus; act as representatives of the O.H.O. 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 O.H.O. and National Grand Masters.

The Secret Areopagus of the Illuminati is a philosophical Governing Body composed of those who have reached the VIII°. It has the authority to reverse the decisions of the Grand Tribunal.

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 complaints not resolved at the level of Chapters and Lodges.

“Before the face of the Areopagus stands an independent Parliament of the Guilds. Within the Order, irrespective of grade, the members of each craft, trade, science, or profession form themselves into a Guild, make their own laws, and prosecute their own good, in all matters pertaining to their labour and means of livelihood. Each Guild chooses the man most eminent in it to represent it before the Areopagus of the Eighth Degree; and all disputes between the various Guilds are argued before that Body, which will decide according to the grand principles of the Order. Its decisions pass for ratification to the Sanctuary of the Gnosis, and thence to the Throne.”

Read about the initial meeting of Theodor Reuss and Aleister Crowley in Magick Without Tears, Chapter 25 and The Confessions of Aleister Crowley, Chapter 72. See if you can find the IX^○ secret Reuss accused Crowley of publishing in the Book of Lies, or Liber 333.

Read the documents in the important “Blue Equinox”, Equinox III i

Read more about OTO elsewhere on Hermetic.com
Ordo Templi Orientis: a brief historical review By Bill Heidrick
O.T.O., M∴M∴M∴, and E.G.C. by Sabazius X^○

Some works on Ordo Templi Orientis which may be of interest to you are

• Equinox IIIi
• Equinox IIIx
• Forgotten Templars by Richard Kaczynski
• In the Center of the Fire: A Memoir of the Occult 1966-1989 by James Wasserman