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Home , Abrahadabra, Apostasy, Holy Guardian Angel, Ordo Templi Orientis, Rites of Eleusis

V i va 4 1 8 Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the Law.

It is my pleasure to announce the resurrection of our 418 newsletter. 418 is the official newsletter of Oasis, the local body of the . One of the goals of this publication is to offer a forum to express Thelemic thought, whether it be in the form of poetry, art, or as an informational article. Please send your submissions to [email protected].

So what does 418 stand for? The qabalistic number of the word Abrahadabra is 418. Abrahadabra is also referred to as the “Word of Double Power.” More specifically, it represents the uniting of the Microcosm with the Macrocosm—represented by the and Photograph taken by the , the rose and the cross, the circle and the square, the 5 Gwendolyn Beaulieu and the 6, etc.—also called the attainment of the Knowledge and Conversation of one's . You can see the importance of the number 418 to

those of us who practice .

Abrahadabra is a word that appears in , the central sacred text of

Thelema. Its author, , described it as “the Word of the Æon”, which signifieth the accomplished. My hope is that this newsletter can serve as a medium for us all to accomplish the Great Work of our local body.

Love is the law, love under will.

In this issue M ay 2 0 1 2 418 About Ordo Templi Orientis 2 Special points of interest:

 Original Art by

Alphonse Louis Constant 3 Abrahadabra Oasis Nicholas “The Barbarian” Kelley Upcoming Event Descriptions 4-5  Calendar of Events on back page.

A b o u t u s

Abrahadabra Oasis is an advancement in Light, Wisdom, on the Abrahadabra website. official body of the Ordo Templi Understanding, Knowledge, and Submissions are accepted on an Orientis located in Portland, Power through Beauty, ongoing basis. We are currently Maine. Courage, and Wit, on the seeking submissions: , foundation of Universal poetry, essays, artwork, and Ordo Templi Orientis is an Brotherhood. other original creative outer Thelemic Order, which is expressions are welcome. dedicated to the high purpose of 418 is the official journal of securing the Liberty of the Abrahadabra Oasis. It is available Please send submissions to: Individual in his or her for downloading in PDF format [email protected]

About Ordo Templi Orientis

Ordo Templi Orientis is the first of the great Old Æon orders U.S. Grand Lodge is not a Lodge in the above sense; rather, to accept the Book of the Law, received by Aleister Crowley in it is the name of the entire national section of Ordo Templi 1904 e.v. This book proclaims a New Æon in human thought, Orientis in the United States, comprising all the local bodies culture and . The Æon arises from a single supreme and members in the U.S., together with the administrative injunction: the Law of Thelema, which is Do what thou wilt. officers and governing bodies responsible for its operation. As a nonprofit corporate entity, U.S. Grand Lodge is known This Law is not to be interpreted as a license to indulge every as “O.T.O. U.S.A.” Our program synopsis and mission passing whim, but rather as the mandate to discover one’s True statement provide a summary of the purpose and activities of Will and accomplish it; leaving others to do the same in their U.S. Grand Lodge. own unique ways. “Every man and every woman is a star.” The Law of Thelema can ultimately be fulfilled only through the If you wish to become a member of O.T.O., many re- individual efforts of each person. Nevertheless, many worthy sources are available to assist you in locating and aspirants to the Great Work of Thelema have a genuine contacting a local body to apply for . need for information, guidance, fellowship, or the op- See the membership page (and the pages to portunity to assist their fellow aspirants and serve hu- which it refers) for details. It should be clearly manity. Such aspirants will find welcome in O.T.O. understood that initiate membership in O.T.O. requires a physical ceremony, and that we offer O.T.O. was originally affiliated with European Mason- no formal correspondence courses or other re- ry but is no longer a Masonic organization, though it mote services, though informal correspondence shares some terminology and traditions with Masonry. with members is welcome. The complex but intriguing history of O.T.O. may be of interest for the light it sheds on the origins of our O.T.O. is a California nonprofit corporation and current organization and goals. a federally recognized tax-exempt religious enti- ty under IRS section 501c(3). We have proven The O.T.O. operates local bodies throughout the ourselves to be the genuine O.T.O. of Aleister world; most members participate directly in one or more of Crowley, both in the U.S. Federal Courts, and them. There are three levels of local bodies within the O.T.O.: more importantly by our demonstrated success Camps, Oases, and Lodges, in order of increasing importance in faithfully promulgating practical Thelemic philosophy and services available. Most local bodies offer classes on mag- through a careful implementation of Crowley’s vision of the ick, , cabala, and other topics of interest to practicing The- mission of the Order. lemites. Many bodies perform the EGC Gnostic Mass on a reg- ular basis. Other common local activities include performance All material © 1996-2011 by Ordo Templi Orientis. of group rituals (for example, the ), publication Ordo Templi Orientis, O.T.O., and the O.T.O. Lamen are regis- of a newsletter or journal, and cooperative activities with other tered trademarks of Ordo Templi Orientis. local alternative-religious groups. To find a local body near you, see the US local bodies or international contacts listings. Ecclesia Gnostica Catholica is a registered trademark of Ordo Templi Orientis USA.

Please visit the U.S. Grand Lodge website at www.oto-usa.org

2 Alphonse Louis Constant Noémi Cadiot, who left him seven years later.

(1810-1875 e.v.) In 1852, Constant met the messianic mathematician Jozef Ma- ria Hoëhne-Wronski (1778-1853), whose brilliant attempts at by T. Apiryon fusing philosophy, religion, and mathematics provided Con- stant with the impetus towards synthesizing the disparate ele- Copyright © 1995, 1997 ments of his own life: , utopian idealism, mysti- Ordo Templi Orientis. All rights reserved. cism, and rationalism. This synthesis manifested as occultism, whose tenets Constant set forth in a treatise called Dogme de Usually known by his pseudonym “Eliphas la magie, written under the pen name Eliphas Lévi. The trea- Lévi Zahed,” which is a translation of his tise was later developed into Lévi's most famous work, Dogme name into Hebrew, this Parisian was almost single-handedly re- et rituel de la haute magie. sponsible for the popular resurgence of the Secret Traditions in the 19th Century. Lévi synthesized Christianity, , , After Noémi had left him, he moved for a short time to Eng- Qabalism, , Masonry, , Alchemy, Tarot, land, where he met with Sir Edward Bulwer (later Lord) Lyt- Mesmerism, , along with the writings of Boehme, Swe- ton, and where he performed his famous of Apollo- denborg, Paracelsus, and Knorr von Rosenroth into what we know nius of Tyana. He returned to Paris, took on a number of pu- today as “occultism.” pils, and became increasingly famous and influential through his unique writings on philosophy and scientific theurgy, as Constant was born the son of a poor shoemaker in Paris. He at- well as his personal charm. tended a Catholic school for poor children, where he showed a great aptitude for religion. At 15, he entered the seminary of Saint Aleister Crowley considered him to have been an Adeptus Ma- Nicolas du Chardonnet to study for the priesthood, where he jor, as well as his own immediately previous incarnation. learned, among other religious matters, the . The Crowley translated his La Clé des Grandes Mystéres (“The Key master of this seminary, Abbé Frère-Colonna, taught the young of the Mysteries” 1861), which Crowley considered to be his Constant that humanity, fallen from the bosom of through own Adeptus Exemptus thesis. Lévi’s Dogme et Rituel de la original sin, must return towards Him by a process which tears haute magie (1855-56 & 61, translated into English by A. E. him away from matter and gradually spiritualizes him. He also Waite under the title “Transcendental ”) is included in taught the boy that history was divided into four great eras of pro- the Liber E reading list and is required reading for entry to the gressively greater spiritualization: the first began with Adam; the probationer level of A ∴ A ∴ second began with Abraham; the third began with ; and the His other major published works include: Histoire de la magie fourth was to begin with the advent of the Paraclete, the Holy (1860), La Mystéres de la qabalah (Ms. 1861, publ. 1920), Spirit. Abbé Frère was deposed for his views while Constant was Legendes et symboles (1862), La Science des esprits (1865), still attending the seminary. Constant always remained faithful to Paradoxes of the Highest Science (1883), Livre des splendeurs the basic tenets of Catholicism, but he never forgave the Ecclesias- (1894), Clés majeurs et clavicules de Salomon (1895), Le Livre tical authorities for disgracing his beloved teacher. des sages (1912) and The Magical Ritual of the Sanctum Reg- In 1832, he entered the theological college of Saint-Sulplice and num (1970). was ordained Deacon in 1835. His years at Saint-Sulplice were References: dreary and disillusioning, as the students vied for the favor of the Crowley, Aleister; The Book of Thoth [1944], Samuel Weiser, New directors who manipulated and coerced them. He was scheduled York 1969/74 to be ordained Priest in 1836, but he had met and fallen in love King, Francis and Isabel Sutherland; The Rebirth of Magic, Corgi, with a young girl. Although nothing ever came of the relationship, Aylesbury 1982 McIntosh, Christopher; Eliphas Lévi and the French Revival, he realized that he could not live without human affection and Rider & Co., London 1972 abandoned his vows before his . Webb, James; The Occult Underground, Library Press, LaSalle, Illinois 1974 After hearing of his apostasy, his mother committed suicide. After 2/1/97 Saint-Sulplice, Constant spent a period associating with revolu- Originally published in Red Flame No. 2 - Mystery of Mystery: A Primer of Thelemic Ecclesiastical Gnosticism by Tau Apiryon and tionary socialists, including Flora Tristan, grandmother of Paul Helena; Berkeley, CA 1995 e.v. Gauguin and M. Ganneau, the “Mapah.” He spent three short

3 Upcoming Event Descriptions

The Philosophical Furnace Ritual/ Night Transforming Ideas into Experiences through Practical Shortly after we started (actually, restarted) Tarot Night and I am the Magician and the Exorcist. I am the axle of the wheel, the Philosophical Furnace, we saw a need for additional learn- and the cube in the circle. “Come unto me” is a foolish word: for ing opportunities, so we began holding Ritual Night on the it is I that go. second Thursday of the month. This was an opportunity for individuals to learn – or learn more about – the various rituals —Liber AL vel Legis II:7 that were going to be used during the Furnace. The Philosophical Furnace was originally brought into manifesta- After one session, we decided to expand this night to include tion by Frater Eparisteros several years ago and has gone through the study of Astrology as well. This added focus complements its own alchemical process. It is still a very fluid operation that nicely the Qabalistic emphasis of our Tarot study, as we see has yet to stabilize and in many ways seems to take on a life of its the multiple interactions among different aspects of magical own. practice. The Philosophical Furnace, like Tarot Night, is open to both The first half of each class will consist of learning a new ritual members and non-members alike, and there is no charge or fee to – we started, for example, with the Lesser Ritual of attend, though donations are very the Pentagram. We discuss much appreciated. The Furnace both the how and the is held once a month on the Please visit our website: why, and then after each fourth Thursday from 6:30 to part of the ritual is 8:30. www.abrahadabra-oto.org demonstrated, all of us Each session is broken down into have the opportunity to two parts. The first part is a general discussion of the philosophy practice that part. Finally we put it all together, and each of us or idea behind what we will be doing, as well as simple instruc- gets to practice the entire ritual. tion in a particular ritual and or technique. In the second part, The second half is devoted to studying an element of astrolo- we put what we have learned into practice. gy, starting with the signs of the zodiac. Once we are familiar We ask that each participant keep a personal journal. We also with the planets and the signs and the houses, we will start appoint a Scribe to keep a group journal. examining the natal charts of well-known individuals to see how the various aspects of astrology work together. Eventual- Currently we are working our way through the Sephiroth of the ly, we will all get a chance to examine our own natal charts Tree of Life, setting up temples in each one. We contact the and find out how astrology can help us to see ourselves more Archangels, angels, intelligences and magical images appropriate clearly. to each level, thereby gaining a broader understanding of the forces that operate within. From there we plan on using the These sessions assume no prior knowledge, although experi- knowledge gained to begin producing Talismans and Amulets. enced magicians are certainly welcome. All our Thursday Then … only the spirits know where we will go. night classes are open to the public. There is no fee for the classes, although donations are always gratefully accepted. So The Furnace is a magical night in the Temple. Please join us for come on down to the Temple on the second Thursday of the this unique experience. month from 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm, and join us as we explore new rituals and learn new aspects of astrology.

Frater Ne’reus Soror Lilith

4 Tarot Night

Come! all ye, and learn the secret that hath not yet been revealed. From gold forge steel! I, , am the complement of Nu, my bride. I am not extended, and Khabs is the name of my House.

—Liber Al vel Legis II:2

Tarot Night was resurrected in January 2012 e.v. and is slowly building into that which it will become. Only time and the dedica- tion of those who seek to understand what is hidden within the cards have any chance of shaping its future.

Twice a month, we invite everyone – members and non-members alike – to our Temple to practice working with the Tarot. The forum is open and all ideas are welcome. We set our library up with several tables and chairs and invite all to come, alone or with friends, to read Tarot for others and to have others read for you. There is no charge or fee associated with Tarot Night, but dona- tions are welcome.

The night begins with a short introduction into the system of the Tarot itself, and the floor is open to all who might want to add their understanding of a certain card or suit of cards. Currently we are working with the Atus or Trumps, starting with the elemental cards associated with the three mother letters of the Hebrew al- Original Art by phabet, and the unfolding of the rose in the symbol of the Rosy Cross. We have put together posters with enlarged images of each Nicholas “The Barbarian” Kelley card and its correspondences, as well as its location upon the glyph of the Qabalistic Tree of Life. We plan to move from there to the planetary and zodiacal Trumps and finally the individual suits. But your holy place shall be untouched We hang large posters on the walls of the library with details of throughout the centuries: though with fire and various spreads, their layout and instructions for reading them. The idea is to help each other learn and become comfortable read- sword it be burnt down & shattered, yet an in- ing for each other in an atmosphere of friendship and equality. Of visible house there standeth, and shall stand un- course we teach, but at the same time we are all learning. til the fall of the Great Equinox; when Hruma- chis shall arise and the double-wanded one as- Originally Tarot Night was to be held only once a month, but very sume my throne and place. Another prophet quickly it became popular and those attending asked for more. We shall arise, and bring fresh fever from the skies; currently hold Tarot Night twice a month (the first and third another woman shall awakethe lust & Thursday night from 6:30 to 8:30), and at this time we are seri- ously considering a weekend seminar in early June. of the Snake; another of God and beast shall mingle in the globed priest; another sacri- fice shall stain the tomb; another king shall Frater Ne’reus reign; and blessing no longer be poured To the Hawk-headed mystical Lord! Soror Lilith Liber AL vel Legis

5 Abrahadabra Upcoming events Oasis Thursday, May 3, 6:30 pm- Tarot Night

Thursday, May 10, 6:30 pm- Ritual/Astrology Workshop

Thursday, May 17, 6:30 pm- Tarot Night

991 Forest Avenue, Suite #203 Sunday, May 20, 10:00 am- Gnostic Mass Portland, Maine 04103 12:00 pm- Class: Liber XV: The Gnostic Mass

P.O. Box 10468 Thursday, May 24, 6:30 pm- Philosophical Furnace Portland, Maine 04104 Sunday, June 10, 10:00 am- Gnostic Mass

Thursday, June 14, 6:30 pm- Ritual/Astrology Workshop Editor: Gwendolyn Beaulieu Thursday, June 21, 6:30 pm- Tarot Night

© 2012 Abrahadabra Oasis Thursday, June 28, 6:30 pm- Philosophical Furnace

All Rights Reserved.

No portion of this publication may be copied, reposted, duplicated or otherwise used without the express written permission of Abrahadabra Oasis.

The viewpoints and opinions expressed herein are Attending the Gnostic Mass the responsibility of the contributing Authors. The Gnostic Mass was written by Aleister principles of Thelema. It is quite a formal Crowley in 1913 and is the central public ritual and can be a very beautiful one. and private ceremony of O.T.O. The Gnostic Mass is a group participatory Gnostic Masses are held regularly at many ritual and you are therefore expected to O.T.O. bodies. They are performed participate fully if you wish to attend. under the auspices of Ecclesia Gnostic There are a few things to be read out, for Catholica, the Gnostic , which you will be provided a missal to which is the ecclesiastical arm of O.T.O. read from, and a few gestures to perform A copy of the text of the ritual is available with the rest of the congregation. with annotations online. More details about E.G.C. are available on the E.G.C. Guests are welcome. There are no specific website. requirements of dress for those attending the mass. Public Masses at Abrahadabra The Gnostic Mass is similar in structure to Oasis are open to all adults who wish to the Mass of the . attend. However, the comparison ends there, as the Gnostic Mass is a celebration of the Sunday, May 20th at 10:00am Original Art by Nicholas “The Barbarian” Kelley

For complete calendar listings please visit our website at www.abrahadabra-oto.org 6