From: mimir@hardy.u.washington.edu (Al Billings)
Newsgroups: alt.magick
Subject: The Chthonic-Auranian OTO by Bill Siebert
Date: 12 Jan 1993 08:45:05 GMT
Organization: The Friends of Loki Society
NNTP-Posting-Host: hardy.u.washington.edu

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                        The Chthonic-Auranian OTO:
                       Origins, Purpose, & Structure
                                        
                              by Bill Siebert
                                        
                                        
                                Background 
    
   The Chthonic-Auranian OTO is a branch of our illustrious Order founded
on the premise that the OTO is not only a pyramid of Knight Monks <as em-
phasized by the Caliphate OTO>,or a highly specialized Magical Engine <as
emphasized by Grant's Typhonian OTO >, but is also a family/tribe/net-
work/fraternity of magickians who are each doing his/her Will as best as
each of us is able, and who are each fully responsible for our actions/-
stillnesses, thoughts/trances/channelings, and speech/silence.  We feel
that each Thelemite by doing his/her will, has access to the Fountainhead
of the Order.  It is from here that true initiation flows.

   The Chthonic-Auranian OTO was founded just prior to the September Full
Moon in 1985 at the Southern Pagan Lunarfest <SPiRaL> by myself, Cliff
Pollick, & Sam Webster.  Each of us had been active members of more tra-
ditional branches of the Order during our magickal apprenticeships. Cliff
was a III member of the Caliphate OTO, and co-founder of Hadit Chapter
in Philadelphia. Sam was a II member of the Caliphate, & founder of Aum.
Ha. Camp in Boston.

   I was once a Minerval in the Caliphate OTO (now lapsed for going on a
dues strike during the year-&-a-half it took them to recognize my initia-
tion).  I was also a member of Grant's Typhonian OTO for about a decade,
during which time I worked my way from probationer to V.  When I began
to evince symptoms of knowing my Will & reifying it, Grant informed me
that the OTO was designed for those who were not yet ready to manifest
their Wills.  According to Grant, those who know their Will and are doing
it, have no need of the OTO.  Once I grasped the significance of what he
was saying, I most certainly agreed that I had no real need of the Ty-
phonian OTO. Synthesizing my personal links with the Fountainhead of the
Order, and accepting similar links which Grant & others were formulating
within themselves is not always an easy task for me, but it is one which
I find to be well worth my effort.  So I remained within the orbit of the
Typhonian OTO until Grant expelled me in 1986.

   The light of Gnosis extends outward from each of us. In previous ons,
Magickal Orders, Religions, and Yogic Schools were formulated by individ-
uals who had tapped-into the gnosis, & set-about sharing their wealth
with others of like aspiration.  Illumination extended outward thru cat-
ena of initiation to those individuals who had not yet discovered the
light of gnosis within themselves.  Some disciples became dependent upon
the light emmanating from their Master, thus blinding themselves to the
light which emmanates from within themselves.  As gnostics died, or went
on to other endeavors, Schools Religions & Magickal Orders in which they
worked their Will did not simply close-up shop or evaporate into thin
air.  Mystery schools may be headed by Fools or charlatans as well as by
gnostic saints. In many ways, Secrecy & respect for tradition encourage
Hanumann & the Ape of Thoth to stand in the spotlight, while the work of
the inner Order goes on un-noticed, save by those few who understand that
gnosis comes from within.
   
   Although there are many gnostics who prefer to work solitary & away
from formal groups, I much prefer to work/play/grow within a Sovereign
Sanctuary of the Gnosis whose members see themselves & each other as
operating within a free-form ever-shifting network of Anarchistic Kings.
From my perspective, the core of the OTO is not based upon pyramidal pol-
itics.  It is a multi-dimensional self-luminous spider web with no single
spider-god architect, & no fixed center around which the universe orbits.
We whose will is to function as Sovereigns of the OTO are both weavers &
web <see Book of Lies>. Individually & collectively, we gleefully follow
stimulating strands which others have woven, as we add our own personal
embellishments to what others have woven before us. We each cherish those
inspiring patterns in the web which helped us to access our present level
of illumination.  As the Knights Templar did before us, we keep all roads
safe for pilgrims -- I warn others away from those individuals &/or prac-
tices which I have found to be dangerous, or seductively sedating.  Yet I
have no desire to compel anyone to follow my advice.  How can I possibly
determine another's Will for him/her, or judge his/her ability to flour-
ish under circumstances which I find stiffling?  All I can do is advise.
We each repair the fabric of the web, inasmuch as each of us feels it is
need of repair <if it ain't broke, don't fix it!>.  And we <individually
& collectively> create new & interesting patterns, by which we entertain
ourseves, each other, & mayhaps increase the general level of gnostic
illumination throughout the multiverse.

Our charter <inasmuch as we can be said to have one!> is an outgrowth
of our True Wills.  It depends neither from nor upon any catena of initi-
ation from any other group.  We make no claim of being chartered by Crow-
ley, Germer, Soror Sprengel, or any secret chiefs outside of ourselves.
We are bar-Sinister Mad Wand spawn of Babalon the Whore & To-Mega-
Therion--666.  Choronzon mid-wifed our birth.  We are indeed heirs to
Crowley's legacy, but we are most certainly not claiming legitimacy!



                         Grade Structure 
                                
   From my perspective, our Order has 3 grades which I attribute to Her-
mit Lover & Wo/Man of Earth, but each Sovereign is free to create and
manifest his/her own unique system <even if some systems may appear to be
contradictory to others>.

Our innermost grade is the first to be encountered.  To me, a Hermit
is one who has sought the gnosis within him/her-self and has made his/her
own personal links with the Fountainhead of the Order independent from
any external organizations/beings.  I am ever-working & ever-playing to
reify this grade in my day-to-day life.

   The Grade of Lovers is the province of those whose Will is to work
within the community, fraternity, and fellowship of our Order.  I impose
no dues, duties, or hazing rituals upon those who seek our fellowship --
but I speak only for myself.  It is up to each Sovereign to work this out
forhim/her-self! --"teach ye must, but .. ." I assume that all candidates
for initiation into the Grade of Lovers consider themselves to be Masters
of the Temple, or whatever they deem to be the equivalent in whatever
system of internal initiation they are working. When working with other
Masters, I see no need for hoodwinks, dire oaths, or stodgy 19th Century
Egypto-Victorian Masonic ritual forms. For me, Love, Will, & Personal Re-
sponsibility have always been keywords for this Grade.
                                                                         
   Initiation comes in many forms. Mutual initiation is<to me> the ideal,
as no karma accrues thereby.  I see initiation into the Chthonic-Auranian
OTO as a process of mutual recognition between a representative of our
Order & the candidate.  <I see you. Do you see me? Fine!  Now lets inter-
face our Great Works!> Usually, but not always, this recognition culmi-
nates in a ritual to welcome the Candidate into our Order as 1-of-us --
not as some illusory equal, but as an individual beyond considerations of
hierarchy or equality.

   Local groups are free to charge dues, set up grand temples, or what-
ever else they feel may benefit their work.  But no local group can in-
sist that any member-at-large of the Chthonic-Auranian OTO join their
temple, pay dues, or swear fealty to the local hierarch.  Conversly, no
member of the Chthonic-Auranian OTO has any right to expect services from
the Order at large, or from any temple of which s/he is not an active
supporting member.
                               TANSTAAFL! 
              <There Ain't No Such Thing As A Free Lunch!> 
                              <Do you grok?>

      In contrast with many manifestations of the OTO, we who embrace the
grade of Wo/Man of Earth <the outermost grade of our Order> comprise
our Sovereign Sanctuary. For me, the Sovereign Sanctuary of the Gnosis is
not an inner Hermetic contemplative grade, but rather, an outward mani-
festation of Gnostic-Hermeticism into the world at large.

   To me, a Sovereign is one whose personal Will is inexorably inter--
twined with the ever-evolving Will of our Order. In essence, a Sovereign
is dedicated in body/mind/spirit to the essence of the OTO. S/He nurtures
its growth, enriches its function, & when <in any particular Sovereign's
judgement> the Chthonic-Auranian OTO has outlived its purpose, s/he be-
comes the executor of that portion of our Order's Estates which come un-
der his/her self-chosen and self-regulated jurisdiction --to distribute,
shroud, destroy, or inter our Order's Wealth, Mysteries, & Wisdom in ac-
cord with Will.

   Citizen of the World is my friend Arian's name for this grade --
wherein each Sovereign is a living embodiment of the essence our Order in
his/her every contact with each-&-every being s/he encounters. Not only
with those who view themselves as magickians, shamans, witches, mystics,
sufis, or other practitioners of High Art, but also those with more down-
to-earth titles of office, such as neighbor, stranger, friend, traveler,
person, or individual.

   For me, embodiment of the essence of the OTO does not imply preaching,
nor does it even necessarily connote mentioning the Chthonic-Auranian OTO
by name.  It simply means being a Thelemite <which, to me, simply means
that I take Joy in doing my Will> 24 hours a day, each & every day of my
life --not just when I am in a ritual Circle, or surrounded by other con-
scious Thelemites.

   Yet, this commitment to embody the essence of the OTO does not neces-
sitate becoming a slave to consistency.  How I behave as a Thelemite var-
ies from day to day, & from situation to situation. To me, Thelema is not
a static code of morals, but an ever-expansive inter-active flowering of
my Will in relationship with the Multiverse at large, and all beings con-
tained therein.

  The Sovereign Sanctuary can also be viewed as a context for interaction
and networking by which the Will of us Sovereigns <all of us together, or
any sub-set of us> become united in acts of Love under Will to create/-
tune/activate various magickal engines for any purpose whatsoever.

   Sovereigns are just that.  We are beholden to no person or governing
body beyond our own personal interpretation of Will.  The only way I know
to remove a sovereign from office is to slay him or her <as per Lib-
er Oz and scholia--especially, the Sothic Comment>.  A Sovereign cannot
be put on bad-report, expelled, removed from active duty, or any other
euphemism for hierarchal censure, censorship, or muzzling.  I abhore the
practice of Coventry, in any form.

   The other side of that coin is also incontestable. No sovereign can be
obligated to endorse or condone any conduct of any other sovereign or
group of sovereigns.  No member can be compelled to associate with any
other member. Love, Will, & feelings of strong-&-abiding kinship adjudi-
cate association, not rank or office.

   A Sovereign is any member of our Order <i.e., any initiate of the
Grade of Lovers> who asserts him/her-self as a Sovereign, & who is subse-
quently embraced as a fellow Sovereign by any 2 or more Wo/Men of Earth.
We did it this way to ensure that the Chthonic-Auranian OTO could easily
grow beyond our founders' individual foci of vision.




                      Chthonia and Auranos
                                
   Chthonic means of the underworld, or mysterious, with intimations of
qliphothic.  We emphasize the meeting/acceptance/fusion of dark and light
within each of us individually, & within all of us collectively --see
Liber Tzaddi. Chthonic also means spurious --we openly acknowledge our
bastard roots.> Auranian derives from Auranos, a specialized ortho-
graphy of Uranus.  Auranos is an extra-telluric counterpart of Chthonia,
the dark hidden aspect of Gaia. In our spelling of Auranos, we imply both
gold<latin: Aurum> & light<hebrew: AUR> as well as the more traditional
fertile rain, symbol for the jizm of Uranus, fertilizer of earth's inner-
most mysteries.

   To me, Chthonic-Auranian invokes the serpent & the dove.  On a micro-
cosmic level, I embrace with passion my recognition that I am the product
of extra-terrestrial DNA (mainly of viral origin) which has successfully
combined with terrestrial genetic material to form the being who perceiv-
es itself as being I.  From my perspective, we are a co-mingling of the
mysteries of Heaven & Earth within the concurbit of the OTO/AA.

   Some OTO's are structured so as to teach or impart various techniques
to their members.  Others seem to focus their energy into setting tasks,
then judging success or failure by evaluating each member's lab notebook
(magickal record).  In my experience, top-down imposed curricula can very
easily become onerous.  I see no point creating/imposing strictures which
may be restrictive to a particular member's Will. I see required programs
of study, &/or external accounting of an individual's progress along a
self-chosen Path as having little place within the Chthonic-Auranian OTO,
aside from mutually agreeable 1-on-1 voluntary covenants.

   As a self-directed Thelemite, I set my own course curriculum for un-
folding my Will, & I assume others are willing-&-able to do likewise.  If
anyone is interested in my Work, I am generally eager to share my know-
ledge, techniques, & speculations --gratis to friends, & at a fair price
to strangers.  Likewise, as I discover interesting people whose knowl-
edge, techniques, &/or ideas stimulate me, I ask each of them if & under
what conditions they would consider sharing their expertise with me.

   The Chthonic-Auranian OTO is still quite small <23 members worldwide:
2 in Australia, 1 in the Caribbean, & the rest in the US>, 5 of us <thus-
far> functioning in the Sovereign Sanctuary, with three additional mem-
bers asserting their Will as Citizens of the World.

   Does my philosophy/approach strike any euphonious chords with what you
are doing?  I am interested in networking information & energy, regard-
less of whether we share initiatory links within the same organization!