Thank you for your recent inquiry about the Ordo Templi Orientis (O.T.O.). The enclosed information package will provide you with some introductory material about our Order in general.

Ordo Templi Orientis is a religious and magical initiatory fraternity open to both men and women, with local bodies in 26 countries, including 50 local bodies in 26 states of the United States. It was founded in the early part of the 20th century, and was incorporated as a non-profit 501c(3) organization in California in 1979.

Ordo Templi Orientis is the first of the traditional esoteric fraternities to accept the Law of Thelema, the religious revelation obtained by Aleister Crowley in 1904. Crowley served as the second worldwide head of O.T.O., from 1922 through his death in 1947. One of the principal functions of O.T.O. is to advance the magico-religious system of Thelema.

Each local O.T.O. body is designated as either a Camp, Oasis, or Lodge depending on its size and level of activities. Although there is often much interrelating between local bodies, each operates independently yet answers directly to the national or international government of the Order.

Specific local bodies (Oases and Lodges) can also provide ceremonial initiation into the first three degrees of our Order. The O.T.O. degrees can only be conferred by ceremonial initiation and performed by an initiator who has been properly trained and issued a charter by the Grand Master of the Order.

Most local bodies also regularly perform an O.T.O. ritual called the Gnostic Mass. This ritual is described in our system as “the central ritual of the O.T.O. both public and private”, and is presented under the auspices of the Ecclessia Gnostica Catholica, the Gnostic Catholic Church, which is the ecclesiastical aspect of O.T.O.

Most local bodies also offer public classes, workshops and book studies that usually cover a wide range of esoteric/occult subject matter. Some of these may include Qabalah, Yoga, Ceremonial Magick, Hermetic Science, Tarot, Astrology, Alchemy as well as various Thelemic celebrations, rituals, rites and holidays that assist and support the development of Thelemic community.

The material contained in this introductory package should provide you with any information that you may need concerning our Order. Should you find that you require more detailed information please refer to the reference and contact page provided, see our website at: www.oto-usa.org or feel free to contact our Public Information Officer directly at: PIO@oto-usa.org. Thank you once again for your interest.