A.'.A.'. and O.T.O. complementing one another

For the last few years, I have been actively immersed in the practices of the O.T.O. system. I perceive the whole system as rather elaborate, offering an inspired beginner a solid structure to advance life. In my case, I see the path entwined with the O.T.O. degrees as an excellent opportunity to complete a specific task from my current A.'.A.'. attainment.

Using my head and meekly bowing to no one, however, I see certain aspects of the said system as downright ridiculous and very much old-aeon-like (the general feeling of theocracy, taking the vows of obedience to the head of the Order or something or someone on the outside, waiting to be invited to higher degrees for long years and similar nonsense). Maybe (or obviously) these things work for some, but not for me.

And, all the drama around the "great and wonderful O.T.O. Order" higher initiates' ego trips is quite useless to me. Also, I need no community to fill the inner need for belonging and acceptance...

...so I aligned my time and efforts with a sister Krumm-Heller lineage, which welcomes individual creativity, supports freedom of choice, and does not inhibit the progress of an actively involved student in any way.

Reflecting on the whole O.T.O. system, I think the first three degrees' practices must be a real challenge to a newcomer to the Thelema. Nevertheless, the meditations and other exercises are intriguing and can indeed contribute so much, I have to say.

Again, in my case, being quite familiar with the Thelema practices, I breezed through the degrees (ignoring the old aeon notions from Freemasonry as they have got nothing whatsoever to do with the Thelema spiritual current, in my opinion), with one major crisis that lasted around nine months. 

Lesson learned: the O.T.O. meditations and other practices of the system are efficient enough. There is no need to combine them with anything else (the Mahamudra empowerments in my case).

The jackpot or the process that contributed to my current initiation level the most thus far, however, was the P.I. annihilation.

Part of the diary entry after the ritual:

“The immediate result is that I have no inclination whatsoever towards our Prophet anymore, either way, for example. I see now that everything I did up to this point (in the O.T.O. and A.'.A.'.) was only a mental projection, and what he did was just as unreal as anything else”.

Freedom, independence, less drama, more Understanding, Wisdom, Strenght, etc. - that is what the O.T.O. meditations and other practices have delivered. And the best is yet to come!

I find the A.'.A.'. system very useful, but demanding considering the tasks after the abyss. That's where the practical and down-to-earth approach of O.T.O. comes in handy and can contribute a lot.

The O.T.O. is an effective and brilliant system.

I see both Orders, the A.'.A.'. and the O.T.O., as two sides of the same coin, complementing each other both in practices and manifestations, sharing but one ground reality:

"There is no law beyond Do what thou wilt."
Liber AL, III-60

Fr. 418 .'.

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Order A.'.A.'.

A.’.A.’. beyond human structures

I share these words of one of the S.’.S.’. Adepts, Grady McMurtry, with the intention of contributing to the clarity of this one fact:
A.’.A.’. Order is beyond political and personal human projections, hopes and dreams. Only inner and intimate transpersonal realizations can link one with this one Inner Order, no outside authority can do that.

"...I am Ra-Hoor-Khuit; and I am powerful to protect my servant. 
Success is thy proof: argue not; convert not; talk not over much!..."

Liber AL, III:42

Here we go:


A.’.A.’. or,
WHO HAS THE RIGHT TO THE STAR ?

Over the past several years there have been a number of attempts to politicize A.’. A.’. . Most of these have either taken the form of public advertising or private pressure tactics. It seems an opportune time to make a few statements on the nature of this great order.

First of all, just who is a member of A.’. A.’.? In as much as this is an Inner Order, there can be only one person who can answer such a question in a particular case the claimant herself. When someone tells me that he or she (“she" is the traditional pronoun in this instance-for either a Frater or a Soror) is a member of A.’. A.’., I believe it. I also often wonder what business it is of mine. A.’. A.’. is not a school of outer initiation, like O.T.O. in some of its aspects.

A.’. A.’. is a body of individuals who have attained particular grades of self-initiation in accordance with particular standards. Those standards are described by Crowley in "One Star in Sight" and in Liber CLXXXV. Some persons have direct lineage from Crowley as proctors for A.’. A.’. work. The basic texts are all in print. Anyone of sufficient judgment and intelligence can apply themselves diligently to the Great Work along this course. An Inner Order should be free from politics.

Grady McMurtry

If an aspirant to A.’. A.’. would enter one of the several surviving direct lines of instruction, they can be found only through great effort. One of these is operative through O.T.O. valid through special provisions in Crowley's letters and through magical sign. Another line is operative through Soror M, with valid CLXXXV lineage only. A reconstruction is to be had from Fr. A, based on personal attainment. Another Fr. A. looms near with whispered rumors of CLXXXV lineage. Fr. P. has representation in the American South and East Coast, but a propensity to make more of his papers than wood-pulp ever saw. Another Frater P. has declared that A.’. A.’. is now replaced by the Bavarian Illuminati - and his claim is not to be laughed out of consideration for all the oddness of it. These are only a few of many.

So, what is to be made of this? Will a claimant come forth with court decision and papers of authorization, as has actually happened with C.T.O.? Will the matter at last be laid to rest? Not that way! O.T.O. is an Outer Order. Its governance is public knowledge, subject to legal proof. A.’. A.’. is an Inner Order. The Law of Man has no dominion.

Crowley deliberately designed A.’.A.’. on the cell system, modified for one-on-one communication. Division of branches is therefore inevitable on the death of the Frater or Soror linking particular series of members. One of the obligations for advanced members is the establishment of independent systems, religions and orders.

The Outer Grade recognition ends for all major purposes at Tiphareth. Beyond Tiphareth the advancement is by the Knowledge and Conversation of the Angel. The Inner Head of A.’. A.’. is not in the ordinary sense a corporeal being. Who is a Magister Templi? That person who can do the work of the Grade. It makes no difference whether her Oath is witnessed by Therion or by the Neteru. The Grade itself is as real as the blast that tore Jack Parsons from the world of men. To argue mightily that one is of such a grade is as near as may be to proving that one is not! One may simply say it by the way. One may not even mention it at all.

To set one claim to A.’. A.’. against another is to fight as brothers -- political exercise. But, the Brothers of A.’. A.’. are Sisters! Be done with politics at the sanctuary of NU!

There are many people in the world who have attained. In like manner, there are many who have not attained, but who have prepared. For some, one trail leads to the Star. For others another path. Let those who would take to the narrow road that widens in the Empyrean prepare themselves by discipline and diligence. The voice of the dove will be heard. The Angel will come in the right time.

What to take until the Angel arrives? A good look at "One Star in Sight." Call in the redness of the morning.

From the O.T.O. Newsletter, Berkeley, California Vol. II, #7&8 [Double Issue] Winter-Spring, May 1979, pgs. 104-105:

Source: Frater Orpheus >>

Path of the Adepts

"It is impossible to tell you of the splendours of that to which they have attained. Little by little, as your eyes grow stronger, will we unveil to you the ineffable glory of the Path of the Adepts, and its nameless goal.

Even as a man ascending a steep mountain is lost to sight of his friends in the valley, so must the adept seem. They shall say: He is lost in the clouds. But he shall rejoice in the sunlight above them, and come to the eternal snows.

Or as a scholar may learn some secret language of the ancients, his friends shall say: «Look! he pretends to read this book. But it is unintelligible—it is nonsense.» Yet he delights in the Odyssey, while they read vain and vulgar things.

We shall bring you to Absolute Truth, Absolute Light, Absolute Bliss.

Many adepts throughout the ages have sought to do this; but their words have been perverted by their successors, and again and again the Veil has fallen upon the Holy of Holies.

To you who yet wander in the Court of the Profane we cannot yet reveal all; but you will easily understand that the religions of the world are but symbols and veils of the Absolute Truth. So also are the philosophies. To the adept, seeing all these things from above, there seems nothing to choose between Buddha and Mohammed, between Atheism and Theism."
- Liber Porta Lucis (14-19)