418 the official newsletter of Oasis of O.T.O.

Anno IV:xv Sol 0° Aries, Luna The Editor’s Quill 26° Aries Dies Martis Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the Law. March 20, 2007 e.v. Volume 2, Number 1 This issue marks the beginning of our second year of publication. In addition to A Word From the Master and our regular column IN THIS ISSUE on the Gnostic Mass, you’ll find an original ritual, plus two poems. The Editor’s Quill 1 Sr. Lilith Don’t forget to check the schedule on the A Word From the Master 1 last page. We hope to see you at future events. Fr. Eparisteros, Master Love is the law, love under will. Agape 2 Fr. Kalin Soror Lilith Liber OZ Ritual 3 Abrahadabra Oasis Fr. Azazel Alephomen ~~~ Mass Waggery 4 A Word From the Master Fr. Hippokleides the mantras and spells 5 Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the Law. Fr. Kalin On March 20, we passed into the new Events Calendar 6 Thelemic year of IV:xv, this date being commemorative of the of that

forth the motions culminating in the reception of . While most Thelemites recognize and celebrate both of the Copyright © 2007 equinoxes and solstices, the Vernal Equinox is Abrahadabra Oasis, of special significance since it is the anniversary and the individual authors. of of the Gods – the date on which the Æon of ended and the Æon of the The viewpoints and opinions expressed Crowned and Conquering Child, Horus, began herein are the responsibility of the in 1904 ev. April 8, 9, and 10 represent the contributing authors. culmination of the work with the Three Days of the Writing of the Book of the Law. In total, the 22 days between the Thelemic new year and the Page 2 Vernal Equinox, 2007 e.v. 418—Abrahadabra Encampment final day of the writing of the Book of the Law first place. Each year, I see more and more represent the “high holy days” of the Thelemic individuals come into contact with calendar. through the O.T.O. and find the same joy that I have found. In this, I find perhaps my most It is at this time of year that I take a moment singular happiness and continuity in The Work. to consider what events brought me into contact with Thelema and the profound affect it has had Crowley defined as “The Science on my life. In so doing, it is also a time to and Art of causing Change to occur in consider what I have seen it do for others. If conformity with Will.” (This simple phrase nothing more, the law of Thelema is becomes more brilliant every time I read it.) empowering in a world that is content with – With respect to the present topic, I feel perhaps even insistent on – the rank and file, compelled to say that when the subject of that commonplace, and conformity. While “the Law Change is your Self, and the Will is truly your is for all,” it is a difficult path to follow, and one own – what magick, indeed! that requires a great deal of courage, self- discipline, introspection and honesty. It was the Love is the law, love under will. fact that a great number of people were attempting – and succeeding at – this very aim Fr. Eparisteros that prompted my journey into the O.T.O. in the Master, Abrahadabra Oasis

Agape

“I love you,” empty words from empty men Said to satisfy selfish desires And fear of being alone now and then Unable to see anything higher.

“I love you,” says God. The world is made new For us to be with the light of the sun And drink deep of each other, me and you Burned up in ecstasy to become none.

A reply of silence is all that’s right To acknowledge the name profaned by fear And known best by kisses in Luna’s light Held long and tight till the Angels appear.

For this is the creation of the world To which the Goddess danced and swayed and twirled

Frater Kalin Abrahadabra Oasis

418—Abrahadabra Encampment Vernal Equinox, 2007 e.v. Page 3 LIBER OZ RITUAL A CIRCLE DRAWN INTO THE EARTH WITH A UNICURSAL DRAWN WITHIN. CANDLES CAN BE PLACED AT EACH OF THE SIX POINTS. Four ritualists stand at the four points of the and hold above their heads the elemental weapons, while one stands in the center holding aloft a copy of Liber AL vel Legis. All face direction of elemental tide that corresponds to whatever time of day the Ritual is being performed. Ideally this is to be done once for each station of the sun during a 24-hour period. This ritual was created specifically for use at our annual OZ Fest celebration. However, it is encouraged for any group of people to do at any time. FIVE PARTICIPANTS: East (Sword); South (Wand); West (Cup); North (Disk); Center (Liber AL vel Legis)

LIBER AL VEL LEGIS: WAND: “The law of Man has the right to think what he will: to the strong: speak what he will: this is our law to write what he will: and the joy to draw, paint, carve, etch, mould, build of the world.” as he will: to dress as he will. “Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the Law.” “Thou has no right but to do thy will. Do CUP: that, and no other shall say nay.” Man has the right to love as he will:— “Every man and every woman is a star.” “take your fill and will of love as ye will, when, where, and with whom ye will.” There is no god but man.

SWORD: DISK: Man has the right to kill those who would Man has the right to live by his own law— thwart these rights. to live in the way that he wills to do: to work as he will: “the slaves shall serve.” to play as he will: to rest as he will: to die when and how he will. LIBER AL VEL LEGIS: Man has the right to eat what he will: “the slaves shall serve.” to drink what he will: to dwell where he will: “Love is the law love under will.” to move as he will on the face of the earth. Frater Azazel Alephomen Knights Templar Oasis Page 4 Vernal Equinox, 2007 e.v. 418—Abrahadabra Encampment

Mass Waggery Priest, Priestess and Deacon are the main figures Whose Mass Is It, Anyway? of the ritual, since they are the three main Officers (the ones who may be ordained). Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the Law. Maybe the Priest, Priestess, Deacon and “I’d really like to start participating in the Children, since they are all identified as Officers Mass.” Many (hopefully most, and ideally all) in Part II? Or maybe it is the Officers and the newer members of an O.T.O. body sooner or People too, since the People do have a role in later express such an interest; it is always a the ceremony, and in fact “communicate as did wonderful and welcome thing to hear. Such the Priest.” members have typically been attending Masses In one sense, I think that each of the answers as members of the congregation for some time proposed above is an improvement on the one before deciding they are ready to get more before it, becoming less and less cramped and involved – to “participate.” By this, of course, narrow and limited. (To suggest, for instance, they mean they wish to begin learning and that only the Priest is really performing the performing one or more of the Officer roles set Mass strikes this Priest as absurd.) But I also forth in Part II of Liber XV (Priest, Priestess, think that the Mass presents us with some Deacon, Children). But haven’t they already rather explicit hints that all of these answers are been participating in the Mass, as members of somehow missing the fundamental point of the the congregation? The congregation is no mere Mass. To begin to understand that point, let’s audience at a play, after all; they have lines to consider for a moment Part III, “Of the speak, steps and signs to give, and cakes of light Ceremony of the Introit” (“Introit” meaning and cups of wine to consume. “entrance,” of course). The entrance of the My point here is certainly not to quibble Priest, the last of the Officers to make his with the phrasing of newer members’ requests appearance, occurs only about halfway through for greater involvement in the Mass. My point Part III. Why does the Ceremony of the Introit is to explore the assumption which underlies continue on for so long after everybody has requests to “start participating” in the Mass entered? The answer, of course, is that there is from those who have already taken part in many one more entrance to be made, which occurs at Masses as members of the Congregation: the very end of the Ceremony of the Introit and namely, that it is only the Officers – the “Mass is its climax and purpose. The last words of Part team” – who are really performing the Mass. III: Nor do I wish to seem to be picking on newer The PRIESTESS: members, as this assumption is by no means Be the LORD present among us! unique to them. I have heard (probably from my All give the Hailing Sign. own lips, even) statements along the lines of The PEOPLE: “I’m not in the Mass this weekend; I’ll just be So mote it be. in the congregation.” Or, “I’ve been doing so Only when the Lord is present is the Introit many Masses recently; it was really nice to just complete. So who’s performing the Mass? attend one as a congregant.” Here’s a clue: Whose Mass is it, anyway? Who’s really not Thee do we adore, for that performing the Mass? which adoreth is also Thou Is it the Priest alone, since he alone of the This line is just one among several that Officers communicates? Or how about the Priest suggest that it is the Lord – invoked by the and Priestess together, since they are the ones Priestess as quoted above, and by the Priest in who perform the Mystic Marriage? Perhaps the 418—Abrahadabra Encampment Vernal Equinox, 2007 e.v. Page 5 his first words after being vested and crowned, moment to tear aside the veil of illusion, in each of his three successive speeches as he transcend the separate self and perceive our mounts the steps, and in the Anthem – who is fundamental unity with Godhead – Thou art ultimately performing the Mass, in a sense. That, and That am I – we understand at once There is a repeated emphasis throughout the that the question “Who’s performing the ceremony on the role of the celebrants as Mass?” is meaningless. When the ritual representatives or vehicles of the Lord. succeeds, no one in particular is performing the In his Confessions, Crowley suggests that Mass. The Mass is performed, is perhaps the the point of the Mass is for its celebrants to most we can say (if we do not have the good consummate the union of their individual souls sense to simply keep silent altogether). As with the universal soul, which calls to mind the Crowley writes in the Book of Lies (in another, opening words of Chapter I of Magick and intimately related, context): “Let this go free, Theory in Practice: “There is a single main even as It will; thou art not its master, but the definition of the object of all magical Ritual. It is vehicle of It.” the uniting of the Microcosm with the By all means, those who are interested in Macrocosm. The Supreme and Complete Ritual becoming more involved in the Mass are heartily is therefore the Invocation of the Holy Guardian encouraged to do so! But remember, whether Angel; or, in the language of Mysticism, Union you are Priest, or Priestess, or Deacon, or Child, with God.” or member of the congregation, the question to Union with God – identification of the ask will always be “Did you see the Light?” celebrant with the Lord – this is what we aim to And if you did, the Mass will have been achieve in the Mass. This is, for me, the point of performed. That is all. it all. (As a friend and mentor puts it, the only Love is the law, love under will. question to ask after the Mass is “Did you see Frater Hippokleides the Light?”) To the extent that we are able for a Abrahadabra Oasis

The mantras and spells Skies divided for dissolution All, for you the serpent does burn Azure daughter of sunset Aum! Ho! Put on the wings Arouse the coiled splendour within Unto me! Sing the rapturous love-song unto me! To me! Consciousness of continuity Swooning under the starry sky, come to me Long are your kisses through the rising of To the outermost rises the Ka I, Naught! Infinite now Frater Kalin Ecstasy Abrahadabra Oasis

Page 6 Vernal Equinox, 2007 e.v. 418—Abrahadabra Encampment

EVENTS CALENDAR ABRAHADABRA OASIS April . Thursday, April 5, 6:30 pm Abrahadabra Oasis is a local body of O.T.O. Class—The Element of Air (), located in Portland, Gorham, ME Maine. . Sunday, April 8, 3:00 pm Visit us on the web! Gnostic Mass* www.abrahadabra-oto.org . Tuesday, April 10, 6:00 pm Body Master ...... Frater Eparisteros To ! Social Hour [email protected] Upstairs at Bull Feeney’s, Portland, ME Secretary...... Frater Spyral . Thursday, April 19, 6:30 pm [email protected] Class—The Element of Water Treasurer...... Soror Lilith Old Orchard Beach, ME [email protected] . Sunday, April 22, 1:00 pm Gnostic Mass Cooordinator...... Soror Zephyra Gnostic Mass* [email protected] Newsletter Editor ...... Soror Lilith . Tuesday, April 24, 6:30 pm [email protected]

Movie Night Old Orchard Beach, ME

May 418 . Thursday, May 3, 6:30 pm Class—The Element of Fire 418 is the official journal of Abrahadabra Gorham, ME Oasis, Ordo Templi Orientis. It is available for . Sunday, May 6, 3:00 pm downloading in PDF format on the Abrahadabra Gnostic Mass* website. . Tuesday, May 8, 6:00 pm Submissions accepted on an ongoing basis. To Hadit! Social Hour All submissions and questions should emailed Upstairs at Bull Feeney’s, Portland, ME to: [email protected] . Thursday, May 17, 6:30 pm Rituals, poetry, essays, black-and-white Class—The Element of Spirit artwork, cartoons—we want it all! Old Orchard Beach, ME . Sunday, May 20, 3:00 pm Gnostic Mass* . Tuesday, May 29, 6:30 pm ORDO TEMPLI ORIENTIS Movie Night Old Orchard Beach, ME The O.T.O. is an Outer Thelemic Order, which is dedicated to the high purpose of *Gnostic Masses are open to initiates, EGC securing the Liberty of the Individual and his or laity, and invited guests only. If you would like her advancement in Light, Wisdom, to attend a Gnostic Mass, please contact the Understanding, Knowledge, and Power through Gnostic Mass Coordinator. Beauty, Courage, and Wit, on the Foundation of For schedule changes and updates, please Universal Brotherhood. refer to our website: www.abrahadabra-oto.org. On the web at: www.oto-usa.org