New Order of Albion O.T.O.

Contents.

Part 1.) Order Structure (Initiation and Administration).
Part 2.) Functions of Degrees.
Part 3.) Albion O.T.O. Degree and Ritual revision.

Part 1.
Order Structure

Order Structure (Initiation).

I.H.O. (Inner Head of the Order)
O.H.O. XII°(Outer Head of the Order)

X°. National Grand Master.

XI°. Double-Headed Baphomet.
(Outside of Order.)

Sovereign Sanctuary.
(Hermit)
IX°. Sovereign Adept of Sanctuary of the Gnosis.
VIII°. Sovereign Initiate of the Sanctuary of the Gnosis.

Knight or Dame of the Graal.
(Outside of Order.)

Rose-Croix Chapter.
(Lover)
VII°. Sovereign of Rose-Croix.
VI°. Knight of Rose-Croix.
V°. Prince of Rose-Croix.

Lord or Lady of the Double Horizon.
(Outside of Order.)

Temple.
(Man of Earth)
P.I. (Perfect Initiate). Initiate of Babalon.
IV°. Initiate of Set.
III°. Initiate of Nuit/Hadit.
II°. Magician. Initiate of Ra-Hoor-Khuit.
I°. Child of Horus.
O°. Minerval.

Order Structure (Administration).

I.H.O. (Inner Head of the Order)
O.H.O. XII° (Outer Head of the Order)

X°. National Grand Master.

Triumvirate (Executive).
Imperator/ Cancellarius/ Quaestor.

International Grand Lodge (H.Q.).
Int. Grand Master/ Int. Grand Secretary/ Int. Grand Treasurer.

National Grand Lodge.
Nat. Grand Master/ Nat. Grand Secretary/ Nat. Grand Treasurer.

Lodge (Regional).
Grand Master/ Grand Secretary/ Grand Treasurer.

Temple (Local).
Temple Head/ Secretary/ Treasurer.

Part 2.
Function of Degrees.

Initiatory.

Albion O.T.O. has a definite Curriculum; its Initiates must pass the given "Tasks of Degree" in order to proceed. Otherwise they evidently cannot be shown to be truly "initiated". We have also abolished the idea of 'sponsorship' (which other O.T.O.s use - without a teaching curriculum) as this is both patronising and - as experience shows - riddled with the opportunity for abuse and nepotism. Therefore the candidate within the Man of Earth triad of Albion O.T.O. will find that progress is possible, and only possible, by working in a balanced way through the Curriculum. This is achieved under the guidance of their assigned Instructor, and by accomplishing the Tasks to a given standard. We hope by using this old-fashioned idea of  the candidate progressing through their own merit and hard work (unusual in many Magickal Orders admittedly) that the aspirant thus passed shall be of use to the aspirants 'coming through the grades' after them (a novel idea we accept; and the whole raison d'etre of the Order). Naturally, this also ensures that those in positions of authority within the Order are also thoroughly tested before becoming such. All members of whatever grade are also fully accountable - whether a O° or a X° degree - via the selfsame 'Complaints and Disciplinary Procedure'. This ensures the well-being of all Members of the Order.

The Three Triads.

The Man of Earth Triad is solely concerned with giving the aspirant a thorough grounding in the basics of Magickal technique and theory. If the candidate feels they already know this they will therefore pass all the quicker, whilst gaining the benefits of Albion O.T.O. initiation within the only O.T.O. worldwide to manifest the full O.T.O. Current. (See "The O.T.O. Family Tree".) If they need more time and help during their studies, their assigned Instuctor will be there to fulfil this function, and help them in their studies.

"The Lord or Lady of the Double Horizon" finds his or herself outside of the Order; a 'repose' after the Work of the Man of Earth Curriculum. The significance of this grade will be explained to the candidate at the time, and it is the point at which the aspirant's Will must begin to formulate and manifest, if it has not done so already. Of course further responsibility is implied by this.

The Lovers Triad is solely dedicated to the study of the Rose-Croix and all matters affecting this Work. By this time the initiate is supposed to have something to contribute to the Magickal life of the Order, and will themselves have much instruction available to pursue these ideas. They will also have access to various Orders and Magickal instruction of a diverse and higher nature, if it be their Will to do so. They may or may not decide to assist in the running of the Man of Earth Triad, as they Will.

The Hermit Triad is dedicated to the study of High Theurgy, by which is meant Tantric methods in the repository of the Sovereign Sanctuary, and original experiment with these methods. By this time the Adept is required to work for the benefit of all within the Order, though not necessarily on a personal level. "He gives only of his Light unto men"; "Success is your proof"; "Let not one know well the other".

The XI° degree of "The Double-Headed Baphomet" is also outside the Order, but "after another manner", and is not under the scrutiny of those below as regards initiation. The Work of this Degree is purely experimental and according to the Will of the Adept as they see fit. The "definitions" of what the XI° is or is not, are not set in stone, whatever some may believe, and are a matter for the XI° to set for themselves - "proof" is personal Truth, and only gained by experience. Your experience is not that of anothers. The XI° may use one method or many - hence the name of the Degree. Yet by definition they Will to be of use to the Order as having passed to this stage through that Will to help in the Great Work. This help in the Work is highly unlikely to be of a personal nature.

Administration.

The I.H.O. (Inner Head of the Order) is only known to the Initiates of the Sovereign Sanctuary.

The O.H.O. (Outer Head of the Order) is at present a defunct role. For two reasons; a) the fractious nature of the various O.T.O.s in the world today denies any such reality or even possibility of such a role in the present climate, and b) we do not happen to think such a role is necessary or even desirable within a Magickal Order that has accepted the Book of the Law. "Man is God" - ergo it is unlikely, if not amusing, to think one god would bow to another. Therefore the Albion O.T.O. has chosen the method of Triumvirate to rule the Order's affairs.

The Triumvirate. (The Executive) Members: Imperator/ Cancellarius/ Quaestor. The Imperator "chairs" the Triumvirate, and is the senior member of the three, and respected as such. Yet all three have an equal vote and say upon Order matters. Any two may overrule the remaining one. If there is a stalemate due to abstention or unresolved differences, the matter is referred to the I.H.O. It should be noted that all Ruling Bodies of any parts of the administration of the Order are in the form of a Triumvirate - thereby instilling in its Initiates the sole rule; "Every man and every woman is a star". This, aligned to the fact that every member of any grade whatsoever in the Order is subject to the Disciplinary Procedure, ensures the smooth running of the Order's business upon mutual agreement and understanding. All Officers of the Order in particular are expected to assimilate this idea of seperate yet equal sovereignty of its Members.

National Grand Master. The Head of the country or region. Although an administrative role, will be at least of Lover degree.
Lodges and Temples. Are operated upon the same principles as the Executive and Triumvirate.

Part 3.
Revision of the Rituals
& Renaming of Degrees.

Revision of the Rituals.

This revison was most necessary, as the old O.T.O. traditions and Orders are of course steeped in Masonry, which - while there may be some valid Magickal formulae in the Higher Degrees of Masonry - is totally redundant as regards Thelema and Thelemic Orders. Masonry is a relic of a bygone age - and those who wish to "cling to its aprons" are welcome to do so - but we would have to ask "to what end?" Masonry is built with a disregard, if not contempt for those in lower degrees (as shewn by the documents of Masonry, and the O.T.O.s who cling to it). The Book of the Law on the other hand states "Every man and every woman is a star". The two ideas - personal freedom and the lust for "Power" (over others) - do not acquiesce within the precints of a modern Thelemic Magickal Order. We are not to look "up", but within. For this same reason the rituals, particularly of the Man of Earth, have been re-orientated towards the great Myths of Albion, and not to heroes of the old Aeon, foreign gods, or the "Cult of Crowley". Like Blake, we do not have to travel far to see the Light. It follows of course that the formulae of these O.T.O. grades has also changed; whilst this includes such things as Words and Signs appropriate to our mythos, it is primarily geared towards making the Initiate of Albion O.T.O. fit to attain and progress within our system. We therefore have no affinity or magickal semblance with other Orders who claim to represent the "Church" (or Museum/Mausoleum) of the O.T.O. of yesteryear. Crowley recognised the need for a revision/revolution of the O.T.O. system - and the Albion O.T.O. works with foresight to fulfil this ambition within the present Aeon.

The Renaming of Degrees.

This was also most necessary; the old degree names are at once irrelevant (as Masonic) and ludicrous at the same time. To be called a "Prince of Jerusalem" might have been relevant at the time of the Templars; but only a misfit, fanatic, or fantasist would desire such a title now; or indeed any title come to that. Even considering, as with Blake, that Albion may be the "New Jerusalem" - even this cannot "gild the pill" of such pomposity. Thus each degree has a title relevant to the task and experience thereof under the zeitgiest of the Aeon of Horus. Let those who cling to the past cling to their titles and supposed privilege. Let those who aspire to Thelema and are willing and able to do its work in the world, move forward with high indifference to the past; excepting only the formulas thereof have been fulfilled. It may have pleased Adam to name the animals, but they were "none the wiser" or better off for it.

Man of Earth.

0º. Minerval.
Name kept; as peculiarly relevant to the attributes of the candidate setting out on this Path

Iº. Child of Horus.
Renamed as this represents more effectively the candidate's choice to be "born" consciously into the Aeon of Horus.

IIº. Magician/Initiate of Ra-Hoor-Khuit.
The term Magician is kept, as the candidate within Albion O.T.O. will become such, helped by the Work of this degree. Ra-Hoor-Khuit oversees and "guards" the initiate in the present Aeon.

IIIº. Initiate of Nuit/Hadit.
The 'Death' degree. Nuit/Hadit being two phases of One Thing, the aspirant learns also Death and Life are merely two phases of Being.

IVº. Initiate of Set.
This degree deals with any remaining obvious conflicts within the candidate - hence Set is a suitable figure to illustrate this, due to his conflict with Horus, the present ruling 'God'. The candidate is examined both intellectually and magickally at this stage re. their assimilation of their previous learning and the tenets, as far as we know them, of the present Aeon.

P.I. (Perfect Initiate). Initiate of Babalon.
Former title retained as the candidate must have perfected the lessons they have learned in the Man of Earth degrees before they can pass on to the Chapter of Rose Croix. This is self-evident as they would not otherwise be able to contribute to the work of the Lovers triad - a condition of membership of which in Albion O.T.O. is to teach their speciality; thereby reintroducing the idea of a Mystery School; a sharing of initiatory knowledge. Babalon is chosen as the presiding authority here, as this degree is also a foreshadowing of the ordeal of "Crossing the Abyss" between Illusion (the Universe or Thought) and Reality (the Supreme State). The Man of Earth (the world) is left behind, and the Lovers (Tiphareth/the Sun) is approached.

Lord of the Double Horizon.
Before the candidate moves forward towards the Lovers degree, they are deliberately placed "outside the Order". The reasons for this, and its implications for the aspirant are explained upon advancement. Suffice to say the candidate must stay in this degree for a certain period of time, and accomplish the work of this degree, which is not mentioned here. The title "Lord of the Double Horizon" is peculiarly apt, and should give the candidate some clue as to their predicament - they are "inbetween worlds" in an initiatory sense.

The work of the Lovers and Hermit degrees are not to be discussed here in detail. Suffice to say, as before, that the main requirements are these:

a) Lovers initiates should specialise in one form of esoteric teaching and become an authority within the Order on that subject. This reanimates the true idea of a modern Mystery School. By this means also the Brothers of the Lovers grade become a source of Light and fountain of knowledge for the Man of Earth degrees. It should be noted that many other Orders, their forms of teaching, and particular systems of initiation, quite outside the scope of the O.T.O. system, are at this stage made available to the Brother or Sister of the Lover degree.

b) The initiates of the Hermit degree are expected to keep a Record of their experiments within the fields of Higher Magick; i.e. tantric and sexual magick - thereby the Sovereign Sanctuary builds a true Library of Knowledge for its initiates. Only the VIII° and IX° degrees of the Order have access to this Library. Thereby a true Sanctuary of the Gnosis may be built for those who attain to this degree and for the future members of the Order.

By such means the Albion O.T.O.'s aim is to build an engine of Thelema to further the tenets and teachings of the Aeon into the future. And again we state openly; if the O.T.O. system proves unworthy of the future, the Order will simply adapt to a new form; more fitting to the needs of the Initiates of Albion, and the Aeon of Horus.