Kristin T. Schnider: Buying a stairway to heaven



    O.T.O Rituals and Sex Magick, by Theodor Reuss & Aleister Crowley
    Issued by order of the literary executor for Aleister Crowley
    Edited and compiled by A R Naylor, Introduction by Peter-R. Koenig
    I-H-O Books 1999, ISBN 1-872189-93-8


    Scattered On The Floor
    Browsing Through The Rituals


    Buying a Stairway to Heaven, a Review

    Kristin T. Schnider
    President of the Swiss German PEN Centre and board member of PEN International

    As this document is an internet publication and the book reviewed, apart from the short introduction by Mr. Koenig, is a self explanatory presentation of documents open to scrutiny by anyone, I refrain from inserting footnotes and annotations aimed at readers who, having strayed towards the looking glass presented by The O.T.O Phenomenon page, are not familiar with terms such as Thelema, Thelemites and other trade marks of the Crowleyverse. True to the standard set by the book itself, leaving it up to the curious and interested to think for themselves, that is, I advise the readers of this article to make use of the several links embedded in the abovementioned website; furthermore, on the web, the number of the sites where the inhabitants of planet Thelema define their beliefs, aims, use of terms themselves, are legion. Naturally, there remains a lot more to be said and in more detail about several venues of thought the published documents might open up for the busy mind. I have chosen to concentrate on some aspects of the use and language of the presented rituals, which are obviously at the core of the O.T.O teachings, and allow insights into the intentions, obsessions and techniques of their inventors. I have limited my remarks to those rituals invented by Aleister Crowley.

    Rituals and instructions alone clearly will not do for followers of the O.T.O; they are obliged to study further works of MC Aleister, such as "The Book of The Law" etc., which enable them to put some more doubtful meaning into and around the little dramas enacted whenever they pro- or regress? - within the grading system of the order. Crowley has been a prolific writer, alas, but I daresay that even without further perusal of his output, the writings at hand should suffice to put those who still are in full possession of their marbles off his specific brand of "spirituality" once and for all, this being not the least reason for which they are not mentioned here.

    ...all that glitter...

    In spite of the the ever enticing promise of something or other about sex, Sex "Magick", no less, of its title, there is nothing of the so often encountered conspicuous, lurid or heavily "esoteric" about the cover of the book, which rather signals austerity and seriousness. Quite rightly, too, as it is only the name of one Aleister Crowley which, and by default at that, endows a book of 498 pages with the little glitter the promise of an introduction to mysterious rituals just cannot make good. His is a name, in contrast to Theodor Reuss', an awful lot of people have come across, usually connecting it with debauchery, libertine spirituality and all sorts of exciting and blasphemous and (don't you know!) satanistic goings on. The Tarot Cards Lady Harris painted for Mr.C and even the accompanying book might also be known to some, and in general he is - most likely during the more mystifying phases of puberty under heavy influx of hormones so far unknown - mistaken for a rebel, an exotic outsider, an enemy of the then much hated establishment most of said juvenile admirers have happily joined in the meantime. It is neither to those nor to the truly profane, even though known for incidental fits of mutual fortunetelling, table tipping, wifeswapping and participation in the odd wild sex party down the road, the book at hand addresses itself. Its evident concept is to offer as much material on the subject of the O.T.O and its founders, mercifully letting them speak for themselves by way of the published documents. It is only Mr. Koenig's foreword which constitutes a background against which parts of the O.T.O's history unfold rather dismayingly.

    Scholars, however, enabled to analyse some as yet unpublished original writings of two self-styled religious leaders, will indeed strike gold; would-be Thelemites, ambitious and sufficiently self-reliant to derive their own set of rules and beliefs from the words of the Master will be happy about this addition to their collection; the supposed lady or gentleman though, forever buying the Brooklyn Bridge or that stairway to heaven, will sadly be stuck with a load of yellow mica.

    As to the impact on the professed true followers of either Reuss or Crowley or both, the staunch defenders of copyrights, keepers of the grail, guards of the oh so dark secret of the order, owners of the One Truth, I can only speculate. Assuming that they do face problems on various levels, I dare say they might try injunctions and other ways (more magical perhaps?) to stop what they perceive to be their very own "Sex Magick for sale"...

    In the profane world they face the question of royalties lost, appeal lost, loss of power over ignorant novices, and, for the US-American pretenders to the title of true O.T.O, considering the openly sexual practices prescribed by Mr. C. there is the danger of falling foul of some laws still valid in this or the other state in the land of the brave, who truly and often solely excell in prudery and sexual hypocrisy. For a registered group of thelemitic zealots the publication must constitute a huge embarrassement, and a dilemma, neither can they deny the contents of the now published instructions, nor can they simply drop the pivotal point of Mr. C's teachings without selfdestructing. There is no appeasing those parts of the profane world which, if taking any notice, will oppose the O.T.O, deprive their offshoots of e.g. tax privileges and take them to court.

    Practice in hiding, retreat into martyrdom and total secrecy, a very palatable and fortifying fantasy often used by the righteous of any calling, would annihilate the rights to royalties. Imagining the effects of the book, switching to a more spiritual level one is left to wonder whether the publication has rendered the rituals and lectures useless by profanisation, and if not, how the several supposedly genuine O.T.Os will fare in the game of "secretopoly", now that the "BIG" secret, i.e. the sexual nature of thelemic rites, is out in the open. In that situation, the statement, that "the real secrets are incommunicable" (First Degree, MAN, by A.C.) must come in like the lucky card drawn from the mysterious heap, enabling them to move two squares forward without even having to cast the dice.

    There remains the interested layperson, such as I for instance. Neither academic nor Thelemite nor inclined to invest in stairways. Regarding spiritual search as a legitimate endeavour, I warily notice the proliferation of new religious movements on the planet, try keeping track of discussions concerning religion and sects and the sparring between protagonists of institutionalised belief and heroes of would be anarchic movements, let the often incredulous eye graze the wide field where rituals sprout and UFOs land. No wonder that there are those days when even the most rational person suddenly succumbs to the surprising urge if not to dabble in some "Magic", to at least take a close peek into the abyss of the mildly or, in this case, wildly irrational. Wise people know that anywhere in the rapidly accumulating heap of information amidst rubble and decay a little jewel might be found. A quotable line, a tiny private insight, a joke, a poetical moment brightening up an otherwise not bad but slightly dull day, that rare flash reanimating the almost discarded sentimental notion that mankind can't possibly be as completely bereft of any tendencies moving towards enlightenment rather than to the supermarket as every day observations insinuate.

    But be warned, profane reader and layperson, waste not your precious time with this book. Taking it all in even kindly you will find not a single quotable line, unless you don't mind to crack horrible jokes entirely at the protagonists' expense, whose writings are proof of their total lack of humour. There is not a trace of a sincere wish to reach a higher plane, let alone of poetical illumination. Reading on and on a certain unkind mood towards mankind and its follies, foibles, hybris and quaintly ludicrous ways will spread throughout the actually once merely interested mind.

    And my spirit is crying for leaving...

    Anything typically detestable about any group of people professing to be on the right way to the light is just so easily found, that one ends up, no matter with what amount of respect one approached the matter, completely unable and unwilling to even pick up on the odd sentence actually making sense in a load of what one has come to perceive as utter drivel.

    Penalties

    There are the gruesome punishments initiates have to envision on breaking their oaths, rather colorful, yet becoming more and more threatening as they progress in the grading system of the Order:

    It could be argued that all the vivid pictures of stabbing and cutting and sawing are meant to be taken metaphorically, intended to influence the initiates on a mainly psychological level. However, the deeper one is introduced into the "secrets", the more realistic the threats become. And in the Sixth Degree, the possibility to be factually pursued and harassed by the Order, i.e. the idea that measures could be taken by its members, takes on a rather concrete shape.

    "...If you break this oath, you will ever be pursued by the unsleeping vengeance of the Order; nay, the avenger shall arise, even from the Tomb." (p. 252, Sixth Degree)

    Submission

    In spite of the idealistic tinge of Reuss' as well as Crowley's constitutions for their Orders, the talk of brotherhood and mutual assistance which in aspiring acolytes might raise hopes for equality and justice within a friendly communitarian group maintaining to better humanity, it is obvious that as in any other Order there is a strict hierarchy, in which the total power is seen as rightfully held by the one on top of the heap. Thus the pledges for obedience and surrender, which usually go hand in hand with the necessary surrender of one's brains.

    The pressure inherent in the oaths is again in the Sixth Degree stepped up, as the force of the pledge is enhanced by the candidate having to repetitively answer to the demands, -in the imperative mood -, of the figure of the S.B. i.e. Sword Bearer.

    ".. swear to break the bondage of vulgar error. - Swear unconditional and unswerving obedience to the G(rand) M(aster)) B(aphomet). - Swear to serve the Order to the last moment of your time. - Swear to defend the Order with the last drop of your blood. - Swear to aid the Order with the last penny of your purse. - Swear to love the Order with Body and Soul in the p(erson) of any D(ame) or K(night) who d(emands) it! - Swear to devote your whole energies to the Will of the Order and the Dominion of T(he) S(acred) L(aw)." (p. 252, Sixth Degree)

    Brothers in arms

    The use of military paraphernalia, metaphors and language obviously going along nicely with the ideas of being in battle against the profane world, the heathens, whatever enemy religious groups perceive to be out there beyond their own bubble of righteousness. Thus the brethren of the early non-thelemic Crowley 1° duly mutate to fellow soldiers, manly guarding the camp, playing with daggers real and swords metaphorical, which, transmuted into real ones, are to be drawn every now and then either to impress initiates or to underscore the will to do battle in the name of the Master whose weapon is LIGHT.

    Here comes the Übermensch

    Without wasting too much attention on the accessory symptoms of megalomania one cannot but notice that Reuss as well as Crowley exhibited the usual disdain for the "weak", which fits their personal resentments and aspirations to be Gods, and again goes rather less well with their pretense of working for the good of mankind. Even just snorting at the common male blather, still very much en vogue amongst the unenlightened anyway, of women being "passive" and just good enough to serve as vessels for the superior male excretions of any sort, I cannot but feel serious disgust at A.C's arrogant attitude towards human beings in general. Excluding "deformed people" from participating in openly sexual rites for "aesthetic" reasons is not only deeply vulgar but reveals an affinity to well known, fascist dreams having come true in our own times. On the breeding of genius Crowley advises "to restore the rites of Bacchus, Aphrodite and Apollo to their proper place. They should not be open to every one, and manhood should be the reward of ordeal and initiation. The physical tests should be severe, and weaklings should be killed out rather than artificially preserved." His further explanations as to how these geniuses to be should be tested are quite hilarious, as one realises how he talks his way out of the possibility of not measuring up to his own fantasies. (Energized Enthusiasm, IX p. 327)

    Oh maybe he has a problem with...

    Creeds tend to carry traces or even the stamp of their instigators' characters as well as inscriptions of the customs of the time and place they lived in. Arguments as to whether to separate those traits from the wiser words of the Masters or to take every single uttering straight from the horse's mouth and accept it as unchangeable word of God no less, keep disciples of many faiths busy. In the case of the teachings of the fathers of O.T.O I am inclined to regard most of their instructions, even those which are evident as severely tainted by their altogether all too human attitudes.

    Whereas Reuss' reaction to the carnage of World War One is understandable, his more Germanic leanings come across not only as ludicrous considering his endeavours to find the light but as downright nationalistic.

    To maintain that mankind needs a new faith and at the same time to whine that: "... (The belief in mankind (belief in brotherliness) was completely destroyed by the peace of Versailles more than by the events themselves.)..." seems rather preposterous (p. 131 Programme of Construction and guiding principles of the Gnostic Neo-Christians, O.T.O 1920).

    There is no need to really go into Reuss' interpretation of Wagner's stage play Parsifal, the introduction to which he aimed at the German people. His admonishing them to beware of dangerous sexual ascetics, because he fears no less than "(Death of State!)", if they obey alleged proclamations of sexual abstinence, speaks for itself. (p. 296 ff. Parsifal and the Secret of the Graal unveiled (Secret Instruction for the Initiates of the O.T.O. 1914))

    As for Crowley's numerous quirks, resentments and contradictions - there is just not enough room in this article to list them one by one. Even Thelemites have not only taken note of e.g. his misogyny but also the pain to distance themselves from that aspect of his writings.

    (see at: hoor.org: "We are a Thelemic group working the lesser and greater mysteries of the Western tradition as these mysteries have been influenced by the Book of the Law.
    We accept all traditions except those whose dogma teaches eternal damnation or the subjugation of women or other groups based on race or creed    ."

    or: thelema.org: " ...The old grade ceremonies of the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn have been recrafted to conform to Thelemic symbols and principles, but remain true to the original patterns called the "Cipher Manuscript Formulae." Nomenclature has, in places, been changed so as not to cause confusion with certain other terminology. A tremendous amount of residual sexism some overt, some exceedingly subtle, has been weeded out of the system." )

    His lesser shortcomings certainly include resentments against academics as well as rivals in the God inventing sector, as is discernible in sentences such as "... foul and tangled cobwebs of metaphysics spun by emasculate spiderprofessors in sunless cloisters, bubbles blown by idiots and mad-men, ..." etc. etc..

    (p. 271, Of the Nature of the Gods A Secret Instruction of the Seventh Degree, De Deis Phantasticis).

    And if so inclined one is actually capable of disregarding the torture and devouring of a frog as one of his sillier invectives against Christ whom he needs and uses as a model as much as an object of competitive jealousy, since "He" has topped the religious charts for well nigh 2'000 years already .(Liber LXXX, p. 260 ff).

    After all, the topic as such is not uncommonly used to highlight the mostly puerile interest in science as also expressed by ripping off flies' wings, blowing up toads, trapping and playing around with mice etc. And for those unfamiliar with frogs as such, suddenly becoming mindful of possibly sinister rites celebrated by the French and related to their fame as gourmets or gourmands: no, they are completely non-thelemic; they do not bother to crucify their frogs before gobbling them up.

    Gary Glitter

    Even acknowledging a certain predilection for fancy names and other adornments of clubs and organisations setting themselves clearly apart and by the use of pompous nicknames hopefully above everyday formulae of greeting and adressing, the veritable amassment of titles plucked from obsolete aristocratic systems makes one gradually feel more and more sick of all these Rex'. Viceroys, Princes, Knights, Dames, Ladies, Masters, Grand this, Sovereign that, etc. etc..

    This practice goes well with the pretentious namedropping in the list of celebrities as well known and often fictitious as dead, all men allegedly having taken part in the "constituent originating assemblies of the O.T.O" , ranging from Lao Tse to Friedrich Nietzsche, happily including Odysseus as well as Krishna and Osiris. (p. 102 LIBER LII, Manifesto of the O.T.O)

    Since "The names of women members are never divulged" for reasons I do not even want to speculate on, we are, although we might suspect their influence, spared the news that Boudicca, Inanna, Mary Poppins and Mata Hari have also been instrumental to the revival of the O.T.O.

    In keeping with the other endeavours to dazzle and impress, the appealing features of a mostly imaginary orient, home of Aladdin and his lamps, are trotted out. (especially in: "The tale of Mansur el-Hallaj", p. 213, Third Degree, Master Magician)

    After meeting with Wazir, Emir, tents, tassels, turbans as textile containers of God, the double qs of mysticalised Arabian words, one begins to look for just that camel to take one far away from it all. It is quite state of the art for self-appointed mystics to plunder Ali Baba's coffers, and the effect of those accessories has become rather less than exciting in spite of George Russell's (AE) remark in "The living Torch": " ... our own words to each other bring us no surprise. It is only when a voice comes from India or China or Arabia that we get the thrill of strangeness from the beauty, and we feel that it might inspire another of the great cultural passions of humanity." The paraphernalia Crowley brought forth from darkish Arabian Nights hardly surpass the piece of cloth "trans-veiling" Jane Doe gazing into the crystal ball to Fatma the soothsayer. In this case as in most of his writings an original thought would have come as a huge relief, a cool breeze wafting over the cluttered up desert of his creation.

    On the general use of pompous and obsolete language to incite the holy fervour, I shall comment more amply in the paragraph "and you know some words have two meanings".

    The most wondrous of wonders

    In approximately the middle of the book, p. 269, Of the Nature of the Gods, A Secret Instruction of the Seventh Degree, the cat is let out of the bag, and one faces the last possible irritation which on top of all the afore mentioned traits of the Order might tempt one to finally shelve the book. The true nature of the cult is revealed, the Graal unveiled, one is made to understand as "no fabrications of knavish priests, ..., can hide from the sane this one fact" that in the macrocosmos the Sun is God, and in the microcosmos which is Man, male and fully equipped, of course, there the deity raising its pinkish head is the dumbstick, the maypole, the phallus, to be worshipped, sanity notwithstanding. In my eyes the real wonder of "the riddle of generation" (Reuss) consists mainly in the never ending navel and genital gazing of mainly or at least outwardly heterosexual people, who just cannot seem to cope with the fact, that there is a lot of fun to be had with "Sword Nothung" and "the golden apples from Freia's garden" (Reuss) but that, if they are not careful they will end up on a long way on which the changing of nappies is but the quaint beginning.

    And it does not make me wonder

    Although one might be taken aback or, even angered by these findings, there is always the possibility of adopting the so called liberal position, maintaining that one has to let people live and die as they chose and mind one's own business. Personally I really do not care as long as all those myriads of worshippers refrain from missionarising, spare mankind from absurd and dictatorial manifestations of their beliefs, such as forced circumcisions on the male or even worse on the female, veils, orders on how and when to procreate and/or fornicate, and most emphatically: do not use and abuse children mentally and physically. I do take exception at worshippers who profess to search for some light or another yet do not respect life as such, animal, mineral, vegetable. But as far as I'm concerned the oft quoted consenting adult can worship a muffin and marry his or her favourite goat, hamster or holy figurine. If it takes that to infuse daily life with "something somewhat" spiritual, which makes life especially in the affluent west between trips to the office, supermarket and television set that more bearable and meaningful, who am I to protest it.

    In a world where religion (luckily, as opposed to many other amenities, such as "public" transport in general, watersupply, electricity and the like, which should remain nationalised), has undergone privatization, the traditional and institutionalised churches losing more and more of their followers, the O.T.O takes its place as another splintergroup of hailseekers which keeps one aware of the different ways people choose to worship, and lets one, if not join, at least participate as a reader in the discussion as to how they, too, will affect society at large.

    Suprisingly, the O.T.O as such being a teeny weeny conglomeration of individuals, judged by official membership statistics or compared to bigger outfits of a slightly different calling as for instance the infamous Scientologists, Moonies etc., it bears looking into as an occult fringe group sporting the Aleister Crowley icon. Not to forget of course, many other occult and esoteric clubs and even individuals purporting to continue the great work of Thelema according to their own interpretations of Crowley 's publicly available writings.

    ...and you know sometimes words have two meanings

    Ritualese

    The Secrets of the Wise, so Crowley says, are not to be expressed in the language of common men. Even for those having become somewhat uncommon by having risen to the 6th Grade, the One Truth might sound strange, he insinuates. This reasoning prompts at least for me some understanding of why the language he uses in his rituals is just so obtuse and convoluted. Initiates' minds are dazed and emptied until at having reached the pertinent Grade, those Knights and Princes are incapable of being shocked at hearing a phallus being called a phallus at long last.

    Quite apart from that, it is of course old hat that whoever, be they wise or not, cannot divulge their precious secrets in the language of the common men. The hat gets older by the minute, remembering the Christians' infights, the squabbles about the use or non-use of Latin in celebrating the Mass etc., finally leading to reformation. But it proves that obsolete and, to the lesser children of any God, often incomprehensible language is a fine tool in the powerplay of religious leaders. Furthermore it caters to the need of the faithful, to partake of a secret, to find everything extremely mysterious and exciting and far above them. Thus they happily converge to that necessary flock of lambs gladly following those who purportedly know how to decipher and interpret the words ascribed to God or Ghost or Ancient Sage. The fact that Christianity permeates the occident, in whose religious and political rites contents of the bible or merely its stilted language are used for reference, has instilled in even the staunchest heathen the almost pavlovian reflex of however vaguely associating words such as "Ye, thou, thee, unto thee, etc." with matters religious and holy, ancient and wise.

    Obvious then that "Ritualese" must make ample use of words and phrases gleaned from the Bible, the Q'uran, the Bhagavad Gita, any old handed down myth, secular texts from any cultural background using the said sources for mostly artistical reasons, thus instilling whatever trivial utterance with a "holiness" solely brought about by form and style triggering associations and the afore mentioned reflex. Never mind content.

    From a literary point of view and considering simple questions of style and dignity, I must admit that I do not appreciate many modern translations and transcriptions of e.g. the bible accosting me with the vernacular habitually used by the friendly neighbour of a Friday evening after one joint too many on top of some pints. When contemplating the existence of a "Higher Being", the thought that it might holler down from the heavens or from whatever place it choses to dwell in, no less: "Oy luv, awroight? " fills me with slight despair, whereas I might just display a lighthearted non-reaction to a deep voice droning: "Come hither ye faithless one", most likely thinking that it was high time to have a word with the neighbour politely enquiring after the quantites involved in her or his drug intake.

    Along the same lines, I also will concede to the "magic" ascribed some ancient verse, which then have to be incantated in their original version. Who knows, maybe all those devils or angels supposed to appear are simply not up to date with our language just as they, appearing somewhat dimmer than their worshippers even, are supposedly incapable of understanding their names or any other "holy" words, when pronounced in reverse.

    Crowley ritualese, and what is in some circles mistakenly termed his poetry, as encountered in the published texts of the book, thrive on wild eclecticism, a veritable plundering not only of ancient sacred texts but also of the works of more talented writers. (Rabelais, of course, is soon detected.) This is clearly no crime in itself, but he did not manage to inform those concoctions of his, far from being genuine and recognisable montages, and thus a possible work of art, with a spark of wit, intelligence or imagination of his own. There is no elegance in his prose which at its most demure (A Note on Theurgy, Energized Enthusiasm) displays the simplicity of one confiding to his diary what he knows might be published; when employed for instructions (De Natura Deorum, of the secret of freemasonry, de Arte magica ) it is by necessity (s. above) hopelessly weighed down with the jumble of words and phrases meant to instill an atmosphere of wisdom and holiness. In this book, his discourse on "The Elixir of Life " is the only text anyone should be able to read without being either stricken dumb with awe or being racked with convulsions. That Crowley actually managed to make use of different styles, merely proves his knowledge of their existence and purpose. Unfortunately he indulged in producing plays, poetical prose, poems. Has no one ever told him that insistent rhyming does not make a poem? Has no one ever told him that only thanks to the English language which virtually overflows with offers for rhymes he was able to bend any old sentence into a "poem"? I say, He who rhymeth "goeth" with "knoweth" and "sheweth" with "youth" thall incur the wrath of the heaventh.

    As in his own time and day at least, those excretions apparently were regarded as what they are, scribblings which fall short of any artistical standard, he took the opportunity to "change" his vain attempts into integral parts of rituals, which also have flown rather freely from his feather, thereby actually inflicting his "poetry" on initiates bound to revere texts, which otherwise would have been mercifully consigned to oblivion. The very cheek, with which he makes the congregation read his texts aloud, allowing only Swinburne beside himself, is appalling (p. 203, Second Degree, MAGICIAN).

    The implications are, strangely enough, supported by offhand remarks of the Master himself, when refering to having "..let loose those floods of verse which have disgraced my career", or admitting: "I did no work whatever, barring very few odd lyrics,..."

    He would have been well advised to shape his thoughts and concoct his "holy writs" in a language he actually mastered, be it as simple, straightforward (and maybe then even recognisably "heartfelt" perhaps) as might be. Pomposity employed for the sake of it usually speaks of ambition rather than of holy fervour. It is regrettable that intellectuals of our times seek refuge in proclaiming Crowley's writings to be of poetical value, in order, I suspect, to find a presentable excuse for having been caught reading the stuff.

    ... there's a bustle in the hedgerow

    It is no news that rituals are not godgiven but have been invented and are performed on special occasions for special purposes.

    It is no secret either, that Mr. C was not only dabbling in poetry but also in drama, and he freely expressed in his notes, also to be found in the book, that here he dashed off a Gnostic Mass and there he wrote some verse, some of which he later incorporated into his rituals. Failing to comment upon the contents and purpose of his rituals there are again those, who for much the same reasons as mentioned above, find exquisiteness in what they call the dramaturgical structure of the rites he finally turned his rhyming as well as his literary booty into. Interesting as it would be, there is not enough room in this article to discuss whether these creations merit to be counted with what has come to be perceived as "ritual art".

    But that the little dramas we find outlined in this book, complete with stage directions, can in fact pass as rituals shall remain undisputed. Technically, they do fulfill the criteria by which they can be discerned from common artistical or theatrical performances as well as from neurotic little habits, so often mis-termed "rituals" in everyday speech.

    Having established that, the rituals bear looking into as the manifestation of the disposition of their authors' minds which reveal themselves all too clearly in the choice of symbols, symbolic actions, their commentaries as to be found in accompanying instructions, lectures, and the very structure of the grading system the rituals are integral parts of.

    Mr. C. as well as Mr. Reuss have dutifully utilized the necessary modules needed to put together a decent ritual. There is first and foremost the religious connotation, emphasized by the mention of Gods, enacting of myths, there are the different techniques of setting off the dramolette from everday proceedings by the use of ritualese, formal and specified greeting and discharging procedures, special clothing, several accessories such as altars, swords, candles, effigies. To enhance the binding character of a ritual there is of course the statement of intention, the oath; the transitory aspect is given by the elevation in rank of the individual undergoing the ritual. The argument that one further condition for a definition of a ritual as a socially pertinent act is its public nature, is not fulfilled can be disregarded happily, as the logic of a secret society asks for its members to be an audience unto itself. Without secrecy the "Brotherhood" ceases to be "Hermetic".

    Although rituals are repetitive by nature, their modules can be exchanged, enhanced, abbreviated, rehashed and re-interpreted, as serves the purpose of those using them within a specified, and in this case evidently closed, system of belief. Both Reuss and Crowley have designed, rewritten their own rituals, and followers of Thelema, O.T.O, etc. being embarassed at the sexist and racist tendencies of Aleister's concoctions have seen the necessity of reinterpreting amazingly main points of his rituals, therefore engendering changes within his teachings which are about as godgiven as Crowley's illuminations to start with.

    At first sight the rituals up to and including the initiation to the 6th grade seem pretty harmless to the layperson, who however cannot help noticing the psychological pressure the initaties might experience as they progress step by step towards the ritual in which they finally will be introduced to the "One Truth". Intimidation is a much used ingredient of rituals performed within groups, religious bodies, social strata, in which power structures and hierarchies have to be enforced and confirmed in order to perpetuate the groups, creeds, society as such, or simply the "good life" of the leaders. Therefore some of the contents of the rituals stand in blatant contradiction to the pretended ultimate aims of such bodies usually professing to be for the good not only of their members but for mankind at large. In this respect neither Reuss' nor Crowley's stated intentions, instructions, charters or initiatory rituals differ in technique much from any other groups' endeavours to instill awe, fear, belief in their followers.

    Insofar as both of the would be religious leaders perceive themselves as antagonists, as avant garde versus an established background of a Christian society, they are forced to emphasise the difference, the improvements in the direction and content of their writings. Instead of inventing or syncretising successfully - which Crowley not only approved of but regarded as the only justifiable means to invent new religions - something possibly new or truly advanced in spirit, they appear to remain stuck with the graceless task of "being against", "knowing better than", exaggerating the myths they find; and, as fits their tempers, they hit on what ails themselves as individuals most. In this light neither the coupling of sexual libertinism with the sorely needed procreation of the German race lest it should vanish nor the torture of frogs in order to exorcize and defile Christ, who appears as the greatest rival of the selfstyled Beast, nor the mandatory contemplation of rumours and prejudices such as the several examples of obscure ritual infanticides undertaken preferably in Russia or ancient Greece can be taken as serious attempts to reach a higher level of consciousness or insight by any attentive reader of said writings who is of sound mind.

    The ritual modules constituting the whole grading system of initiation into the O.T.O hierarchy leave me as a resident of the "pons asinorum of the intellect" (Crowley) with the impression that not only are the acolytes thoroughly initiated into the secret brotherhood but enticed with wondrous titles, promises of wealth and success, subdued by threats into a system in which they will be ensconced so much that there is no way out when they reach the stage of being let in on the supreme secret, i.e. are cordially invited to join, or if not delectable enough so at least to witness the orgy.

    ...it's just a sprinkling for the May Queen

    The alarming bustle in the bushes does indeed stem from the goings on one usually envisions when passing strangely bobbing and rustling hedges. And the "May Queen" for whom the ritual sprinklings are performed turns out, as has been made obvious by the liberal publication of the sex magickal instructions and essays by Crowley and Reuss, to be the eternal maypole thinly disguised by a veil of the above mentioned "arabesque" language, which is torn only after the suffering of different stages of several performances associated with holiness and spirituality by those who choose or are persuaded to be awed and cowed as soon as people they perceive to be more powerful than themselves start wearing funny hats through which they talk in deep voices, brandishing the odd sword or dagger from their collection, the scene taking place in Grandma's cellar solely illuminated by a few candles.

    Thus the O.T.O of Crowleyan derivation is revealed as meeting place for worshippers of the phallus, performers of holified copulations, ingestors of sperm and vaginal secretions and masturbators to boot. That in itself does not truly matter, it is the denial of the One Truth, the practice of misleading the acolytes by only opening up as to the true symbolism of the initiations they underwent when after years of studies and dues paid they reach the 8th, which is contemptible. If the true secrets of Gnosis are only to be revealed to oneself by following a path of search step by step, how can the concealment of the true nature of the Thelemitic credo constitute a secret if not for ulterior reasons, sheer hypocrisy. The various steps, the initiations into the several degrees is revealed as a game, trickery, literally by the sly admission in the ceremony for the Fourth Degree: "p. 229: Brother P.M. at your initiation you were hoodwinked to find the light of earthly life, only to close in the 3° in the darkness of death." From which, eventually one is raised ritualistically to the the light of the OneTruth. Of course, it is common knowledge that wise leaders stage such things only for the good of their disciples, parents for their children, heads of state for "the people". Betrayal on that level is paraded as educational.

    A short commentary on a possible "four letter" word

    The late Quentin Crisp termed love a four letter word. As appealing as this quip might be at the first moment of hearing, there is of course, more to the use of that word. It does appear as a curse though, considering how many people fall off their rockers, worse the cliff, after having followed the promise of "love" invariably uttered by protagonists of religions as the ultimate lure.

    "If your parents, your partner, your boss, your dog don't love you: God will. And if this stupid neighbour of yours doesn't show signs of loving you, don't worry. He hasn't seen the light yet. But the group you have finally found to embrace you will. The Brethren and Sistren will love you. I, as your leader will. Come closer, dear."

    Surely the motto of the O.T.O "Love is the law, love under the will" can be regarded as falling into that category. The arrogance, megalomania, pomposity, hypocrisy, the demands for obedience, the elitist attitudes, Crowley's egocentricity displayed in these documents do not speak of love. Love as used in the texts, appears as "agape" as "the law". It is but a mere construction, the most common one, a lure so haughtily shown off that love as "shown" by C. is just another weighty word, dripping with implications, kindling imagination, longings, in almost any human being. Crowley puts it prominently on the shield of his incredible hybris and those, afflicted by its curse will, as he most likely is aware, not notice, that at close scrutiny the law he preaches does not even inform his own writings. At the end of the lecture "love" as put forth as law even does not look any more appealing than Majestix wobbling on his shield, held aloft by those two underlings of his, who more often than not drop this fat and inebriated figure onto the ground in the at least comic world of Asterix and Obelix.

    Excuse me?

    Where again was that stairway to heaven?

    The question as to whether something gnostic this way comes I cannot and will not aspire to answer. I have my very personal doubts as to any good which could come of the application of the so called thelemic religion. As mentioned before, I do not mind or judge contents or practices of religious groups as such. To each his and her own stairway to whatever heaven imaginable. It is the aura of profound ludicrousness inherent in the choice and combination of tidbits found in the rich treasure of world religions, the language and imagery used, coupled with the inventors' obvious megalomania, misanthropical and common mysoginist attitude, (to be found in the average male next door, of course, who although a pain at least does not transform his socially induced misgivings into a religion), which in my eyes demean any endeavour to reach true gnosis by employing and implementing this specific collection of recepies. I fail to kindly separate the purportedly holy words of Crowley's teachings and Reuss' instructions from the innuendos; furthermore, taking a peek at Crowley's career as presented by several biographies and at the behaviour of those desperately trying to prove to be his true successors and followers of Thelema, I feel carelessly disgusted. Their deeds, as do the published documents truly speak for themselves.

    Thus I am inclined to dismiss this brand of hailseeking as it presents itself now, as a tangle of genuine search and helplessness, a red thread for egos lost in the maze of their desires, an undertaking - if under the wings of the Masters tainted by their idiosyncrasies from the very beginning - doomed to fail. To faithfully follow the instructions, initiations, rituals, separates one deeply from the very world the O.T.O is purportedly trying to better, to enlighten, to "save". To distort the words and leave out bits one balks at swallowing means to individually concoct the next step in syncretisation of a private sort of worship, which renders the necessity of calling oneself Thelemite, let alone of joining a "thelemitic" group wasting time on fighting about true successions, copyrights and the like, useless. As denotations and groupings go, it does not matter so much, as nowadays one can be a member of as many different, disparaging groups as one likes without incurring the wrath of any of the imagined Gods. There is a little spot for any ego, any aspect of the ego in the vast playground of hailseekers; and if the gnosis of how to play it for one's own comfort without having to walk around in robes denouncing the wealth of life as such and the validity of other people's way of living, finally unfurls inside - why, this might be a step towards a stairway leading to yet another exciting and interesting place to explore.


    Bücher und Werke von Kristin T. Schnider

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           Andreas Huettl und Peter-R. König: SATAN - Jünger, Jäger und Justiz

    		Andreas Huettl und Peter-R. König: SATAN - Jünger, Jäger und Justiz

     



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