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Cults to Consciousness: OTO
- Thread starter Morell
- Start date
Well ... as usual , I speak from my own experience . The intro was pretty good until the 'they protect predators ' part ( again, not in my experience , at all ) .
But then from 5:50 ... ummmm , well, I suppose she is just the 'host' , or the 'presenter' . The first 20 minutes I could relate to .
23:00 ... the AA , the rave starts to get a bit negative but AA is not OTO ,,, they are very different . The he broaches an interesting subject ; 'the ark' ( 25:00 ) - a vehicle to preserve mysteries within a rapidly degenerating society ... but then he goes off that subject . Students of 'magical history' might know of this phase - 'The Secret Conference ' where the collective and eclectic nature of the early OTO was first formed ( and not so much the 'last bastion of civilization' (as he claims ) but preserving the last bastion of a giant collection of obscure magical orders that were rapidly dying out ( see 'The Weida Conference Aug. 1925 - ) .
and ;
Then there is a fairly standard intro to Thelema . ... with that woman continually interrupting and being amazed at rather basic stuff .
The at 29:18 ... oh dear ! 'Its kinda like eveyone becomes like Jesus Christ ' ummm no . He would be better looking at the origins of the 'true will' concept in ancient Zoroastrianism and the concept of Khavarenah ( where Crowley probably lifted the idea from ) .... but then again , no one does this ( that I know of ) and the whole teaching, in context, nowadays seems lost , so I dont suppose I can blame him struggling to explain the concept ... but 'kinda like everyone becomes like Jesus Christ ' ... ugh !
30:40 is a great example of her wrongly understanding and trying to lead the conversation that way ( fortunately he says 'no , its not ' ) .
31:33 I must protest ! of course people tell you what 'Thelema' means ... there are a heap of writings on that . 'No one tells you what the Gnostic Mass means ' ehh ? Its put up as a thing to study and there are discourses on it . If you are in the church , you would get instruction off your priest and priestess what it means . 'No one tells you what the initiations mean ' ... oh dear ! Every initiate is encouraged to review their initiation with their initiator and review and study its symbolism . I cant imagine , if what he says is true, what sort of group he was in . .... No 'First degree study sessions ' ? No reviews and training for initiation officers ???
The he claims ''If you criticize the theological views of someone who is high ranking you will be branded a troublemaker .'' Obscure ... 'theological views ' ? In this context he must mean Thelema and also The Book of the Law . Thelema and OTO teach that each persons 'theological' view of the Book of the Law is upo to them and no one is allowed to dictate what it even means and even to the point that officially ( by one of Crowleys 'comments' ) discussing such is even forbidden . A strange group of OTO that theologically dictates to people what Thelema means ? Never heard of that before .
32:30 we start getting to the negatives . 'Drama .... its sorta like a theatre troop or a high school click ' ... exactly ! As I have said in a few places , every group regardless of who or what , IS going to have that !
Try this one ;
and , unless you have a way of dealing with that, expect chaos and all that 'human stuff' . I note that nowadays, many organisations are required to have to address this in place - a friends housing co-op could not form until they put procedures for conflict resolution in place ... it is now being required in all sorts of organisations .
34:12 ... she tries it again - he says no. The 'some co-habited ad that is .... kinda ... interesting '' ... Ooooo scandal !
The he talks about 'back to back events ' like he is suggesting some constant events and some sort of ... ? programming or something ' Friday solstice ritual with a Saturday initiation, then next weekend another initiation then a few weeks later another initiation ... '' Doesnt sound too serious to me ... a football team would have more contact training and games than that over the period he talks about . At this stage they seem to be struggling to find ANYTHING controversial .
35:20 ; Then this shocker ; someone needed to move and everyone helped them... loaded the truck .... WOW ! Dude! Its supposed to be a fraternity ! MY friends would do that and they are not even in a magical order together . And then he says , in retrospect that it was ''kinda swallowing up and mounding myself .'' I and she says '' Yaaaa! ''
Then he talks about moving though degrees , which sounds accurate and he reports no issues , even saying fees were reasonable '' they are not laughing all the way to the bank'' .
'The Juice' ! from 40:00 onwards ... its what everyone was hoping to hear ... 'sex magick ' ? here he also says he got to 5th degree ( the level I got to ) I affirm what he says about OTO , up to this point is accurate - from 39:47 - 41:30
At 44:30 he admits he never had access to 'sex magic; ''There are books, you can read about '' ... sure, anyone can do that .
She seems to be struggling to find a controversy ... and he, although hinted he had a bitch about something , has not got to it ( at least so far )
46:20 ... finally, some controversy ! The case Of Adam . It does seem problematic. Something should have been done earlier . I note though that an internal investigation was held and further was uncovered , but then he says he was leaving and heard ( 'I dont know if its true or not' ) 'Adam' was back there being involved .
50:47, she makes an incorrect allegation ... he falters but then admits 'Adam' is not the degree that practices sex magic, thus refuting her claim .
Then he claims 'all men in OTO have access to woemn '' really ? I had 'access to women' in many jobs I had . Including nursing .
I need a break from these two. more later ... or maybe not .
But then from 5:50 ... ummmm , well, I suppose she is just the 'host' , or the 'presenter' . The first 20 minutes I could relate to .
23:00 ... the AA , the rave starts to get a bit negative but AA is not OTO ,,, they are very different . The he broaches an interesting subject ; 'the ark' ( 25:00 ) - a vehicle to preserve mysteries within a rapidly degenerating society ... but then he goes off that subject . Students of 'magical history' might know of this phase - 'The Secret Conference ' where the collective and eclectic nature of the early OTO was first formed ( and not so much the 'last bastion of civilization' (as he claims ) but preserving the last bastion of a giant collection of obscure magical orders that were rapidly dying out ( see 'The Weida Conference Aug. 1925 - ) .
and ;
AI Overview
The Weida Conference (also known as the Conference of Grand Masters), took place in August 1925 in Hohenleuben near Weida, Germany. [, ]
The Context of the Conference
The meeting was organized by Heinrich Tränker, the head of the Rosicrucian occult order known as the Collegium Pansophicum (Pansophic Lodge), who also served as a high-ranking National Grand Master of the German Ordo Templi Orientis (O.T.O.). Following the death of O.T.O.’s previous leader, Theodor Reuss, in 1923, the international occult community faced a crisis of succession and continuity. [, , , , ]
The primary goals of the conference were:
The Outcome and Factional Split
While attendees like Karl Germer (who financed Crowley's travel), Martha Küntzel, and Eugen Grosche initially sought alignment, the conference did not result in a harmonious or total consensus. Crowley's intense personality and radical doctrines—particularly regarding sexual magic—sparked a significant ideological schism. [, , , , , ]
The Weida Conference (also known as the Conference of Grand Masters), took place in August 1925 in Hohenleuben near Weida, Germany. [, ]
The Context of the Conference
The meeting was organized by Heinrich Tränker, the head of the Rosicrucian occult order known as the Collegium Pansophicum (Pansophic Lodge), who also served as a high-ranking National Grand Master of the German Ordo Templi Orientis (O.T.O.). Following the death of O.T.O.’s previous leader, Theodor Reuss, in 1923, the international occult community faced a crisis of succession and continuity. [, , , , ]
The primary goals of the conference were:
- Ensuring Spiritual Continuity: Uniting various fractured esoteric orders, Rosicrucian groups, and Hermetic thinkers under a unified governance to carry the Western esoteric tradition into the modern era.
- Evaluating Aleister Crowley's Leadership: Deciding whether to officially recognize Aleister Crowley as the Outer Head of the Order (O.H.O.) and the spiritual "World Teacher".
- Voting on the Law of Thelema: Evaluating Crowley's newly received Book of the Law to see if his philosophy of Thelema should serve as the core vehicle for the tradition's future. [, , , ]
The Outcome and Factional Split
While attendees like Karl Germer (who financed Crowley's travel), Martha Küntzel, and Eugen Grosche initially sought alignment, the conference did not result in a harmonious or total consensus. Crowley's intense personality and radical doctrines—particularly regarding sexual magic—sparked a significant ideological schism. [, , , , , ]
- The Pro-Crowley Faction: Administrative heads who recognized Crowley's authority officially elected him as the Outer Head of the Order. They agreed that the O.T.O., restructured around the Law of Thelema, was the absolute best vehicle to carry the mysteries into the "New Aeon".
- The Anti-Crowley Faction: Tränker and several other traditionalists ultimately withdrew their support, refusing to adopt Thelema. The Pansophic Lodge dissolved shortly after in 1926. [, , , , ]
Then there is a fairly standard intro to Thelema . ... with that woman continually interrupting and being amazed at rather basic stuff .
The at 29:18 ... oh dear ! 'Its kinda like eveyone becomes like Jesus Christ ' ummm no . He would be better looking at the origins of the 'true will' concept in ancient Zoroastrianism and the concept of Khavarenah ( where Crowley probably lifted the idea from ) .... but then again , no one does this ( that I know of ) and the whole teaching, in context, nowadays seems lost , so I dont suppose I can blame him struggling to explain the concept ... but 'kinda like everyone becomes like Jesus Christ ' ... ugh !
30:40 is a great example of her wrongly understanding and trying to lead the conversation that way ( fortunately he says 'no , its not ' ) .
31:33 I must protest ! of course people tell you what 'Thelema' means ... there are a heap of writings on that . 'No one tells you what the Gnostic Mass means ' ehh ? Its put up as a thing to study and there are discourses on it . If you are in the church , you would get instruction off your priest and priestess what it means . 'No one tells you what the initiations mean ' ... oh dear ! Every initiate is encouraged to review their initiation with their initiator and review and study its symbolism . I cant imagine , if what he says is true, what sort of group he was in . .... No 'First degree study sessions ' ? No reviews and training for initiation officers ???
The he claims ''If you criticize the theological views of someone who is high ranking you will be branded a troublemaker .'' Obscure ... 'theological views ' ? In this context he must mean Thelema and also The Book of the Law . Thelema and OTO teach that each persons 'theological' view of the Book of the Law is upo to them and no one is allowed to dictate what it even means and even to the point that officially ( by one of Crowleys 'comments' ) discussing such is even forbidden . A strange group of OTO that theologically dictates to people what Thelema means ? Never heard of that before .
32:30 we start getting to the negatives . 'Drama .... its sorta like a theatre troop or a high school click ' ... exactly ! As I have said in a few places , every group regardless of who or what , IS going to have that !
Try this one ;
and , unless you have a way of dealing with that, expect chaos and all that 'human stuff' . I note that nowadays, many organisations are required to have to address this in place - a friends housing co-op could not form until they put procedures for conflict resolution in place ... it is now being required in all sorts of organisations .
34:12 ... she tries it again - he says no. The 'some co-habited ad that is .... kinda ... interesting '' ... Ooooo scandal !
The he talks about 'back to back events ' like he is suggesting some constant events and some sort of ... ? programming or something ' Friday solstice ritual with a Saturday initiation, then next weekend another initiation then a few weeks later another initiation ... '' Doesnt sound too serious to me ... a football team would have more contact training and games than that over the period he talks about . At this stage they seem to be struggling to find ANYTHING controversial .
35:20 ; Then this shocker ; someone needed to move and everyone helped them... loaded the truck .... WOW ! Dude! Its supposed to be a fraternity ! MY friends would do that and they are not even in a magical order together . And then he says , in retrospect that it was ''kinda swallowing up and mounding myself .'' I and she says '' Yaaaa! ''
Then he talks about moving though degrees , which sounds accurate and he reports no issues , even saying fees were reasonable '' they are not laughing all the way to the bank'' .
'The Juice' ! from 40:00 onwards ... its what everyone was hoping to hear ... 'sex magick ' ? here he also says he got to 5th degree ( the level I got to ) I affirm what he says about OTO , up to this point is accurate - from 39:47 - 41:30
At 44:30 he admits he never had access to 'sex magic; ''There are books, you can read about '' ... sure, anyone can do that .
She seems to be struggling to find a controversy ... and he, although hinted he had a bitch about something , has not got to it ( at least so far )
46:20 ... finally, some controversy ! The case Of Adam . It does seem problematic. Something should have been done earlier . I note though that an internal investigation was held and further was uncovered , but then he says he was leaving and heard ( 'I dont know if its true or not' ) 'Adam' was back there being involved .
50:47, she makes an incorrect allegation ... he falters but then admits 'Adam' is not the degree that practices sex magic, thus refuting her claim .
Then he claims 'all men in OTO have access to woemn ''
really ? I had 'access to women' in many jobs I had . Including nursing .I need a break from these two. more later ... or maybe not .
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An hour of annoying voice whining. About 8 of 10 former OTO people have way better dirt to share.
As a non-initiate, I have heard tons of things about OTO from members at all levels that have thoroughly convinced me to avoid their organization. Where's all the drug talk? Where's the human trafficking? Why is this guy even upset?
But the thing that really strikes me is that all those disgruntled members tend to follow certain patterns, ways of talking about the OTO and expressing what went wrong. Most especially, naming the people and what they did to make it wrong. I don't see any of that here.
I'm not really even sure what he's warning people against here. Sex? FFS look at the Main Page photos for each of the lodges and oases, and you'll see what fate awaits you there. At this point the whole thing gives off massive "alternative lifestyle safe space" vibes, hardly a scandal.
As a non-initiate, I have heard tons of things about OTO from members at all levels that have thoroughly convinced me to avoid their organization. Where's all the drug talk? Where's the human trafficking? Why is this guy even upset?
But the thing that really strikes me is that all those disgruntled members tend to follow certain patterns, ways of talking about the OTO and expressing what went wrong. Most especially, naming the people and what they did to make it wrong. I don't see any of that here.
I'm not really even sure what he's warning people against here. Sex? FFS look at the Main Page photos for each of the lodges and oases, and you'll see what fate awaits you there. At this point the whole thing gives off massive "alternative lifestyle safe space" vibes, hardly a scandal.
Well .... he did 'have' to help some of his fraternal 'Brothers and Sisters' move their stuff when they changed addresses .....
''Ohhhh the pain ....... the pain ! ''
at 53:00 he explains how a person with the 6th degree thumb ring could shoot someone in the street and get away with it .
Oh dear .....
Let's have a look into the 'other side' of Lucerno ... why was he considered unpopular with OTO , why did they ( as he said ) criticize his 'marketing business ' 'unfairly ( which he didnt detail what it was ) .
According to Google AI ;
''
The primary and most widely cited published response to James Luceno's (Frater Entelecheia) departure from the O.T.O. comes from an essay titled "Practical Thelema: Toward an End of the Era of Grifting", published by Thelemic writer Johnathon Victor Reese on his Substack newsletter, Integral Thelema. []
The essay reacts directly to Luceno throwing out his membership cards and severing ties with both the O.T.O. and the broader philosophy of Thelema. Reese's commentary outlines the core arguments and criticisms that active members hold against Luceno: []
1. Characterisation of His Career and Exit
Reese sharply dismisses Luceno’s public departure, describing it as an predictable outcome rather than a shocking or principled stand. He writes that Luceno’s exit was: []
2. Critique of His Analysis and Theology
The essay targets the intellectual and theological validity of Luceno's whistleblowing, accusing him of lacking a rigorous grasp of the system he spent over a decade practicing. Reese critiques both Luceno's parting arguments and his overarching worldview, stating: []
3. Accusations of "Amway Thelema" and Commercialisation
In a follow-up essay on Integral Thelema titled "Reclaiming the Mind," Reese contextualises Luceno's behavior within a broader trend he labels "Amway Thelema." []
James Luceno (also known as "Jim" Luceno or Frater Entelecheia), a former fifth-degree member of the Ordo Templi Orientis (O.T.O.), created a paid spiritual program termed the "$400 'True Will Discovery'" after publicly distancing himself from the occult organization. [, ]
The program and its marketing strategy became a subject of controversy within the esoteric community, drawing prominent criticism from alternative occult commentators:
''Ohhhh the pain ....... the pain ! ''
Post automatically merged:
at 53:00 he explains how a person with the 6th degree thumb ring could shoot someone in the street and get away with it .
Oh dear .....
Post automatically merged:
Let's have a look into the 'other side' of Lucerno ... why was he considered unpopular with OTO , why did they ( as he said ) criticize his 'marketing business ' 'unfairly ( which he didnt detail what it was ) .
According to Google AI ;
''
The primary and most widely cited published response to James Luceno's (Frater Entelecheia) departure from the O.T.O. comes from an essay titled "Practical Thelema: Toward an End of the Era of Grifting", published by Thelemic writer Johnathon Victor Reese on his Substack newsletter, Integral Thelema. []
The essay reacts directly to Luceno throwing out his membership cards and severing ties with both the O.T.O. and the broader philosophy of Thelema. Reese's commentary outlines the core arguments and criticisms that active members hold against Luceno: []
1. Characterisation of His Career and Exit
Reese sharply dismisses Luceno’s public departure, describing it as an predictable outcome rather than a shocking or principled stand. He writes that Luceno’s exit was: []
2. Critique of His Analysis and Theology
The essay targets the intellectual and theological validity of Luceno's whistleblowing, accusing him of lacking a rigorous grasp of the system he spent over a decade practicing. Reese critiques both Luceno's parting arguments and his overarching worldview, stating: []
- "Sloppy guesswork": Reese claims that Luceno’s public explanations and historical assertions about the order are factually weak and misinformed. [1]
- "Pseudo-Calvinistic" fatalism: He argues that Luceno's modern perspective on the world and his criticisms of Crowley's system rely on a deterministic, doom-laden framework that fundamentally contradicts the active spiritual liberty championed by true Thelema. [1]
3. Accusations of "Amway Thelema" and Commercialisation
In a follow-up essay on Integral Thelema titled "Reclaiming the Mind," Reese contextualises Luceno's behavior within a broader trend he labels "Amway Thelema." []
- Reese accuses Luceno of trying to commodify and commercialise the spiritual path.
- Specifically, he points to Luceno's online marketing of a "$400 'True Will Discovery' plan," arguing that Luceno’s public transition into an online coach/whistleblower feeds into an opportunistic marketplace built on the vulnerabilities and insecurities of people online. []
James Luceno (also known as "Jim" Luceno or Frater Entelecheia), a former fifth-degree member of the Ordo Templi Orientis (O.T.O.), created a paid spiritual program termed the "$400 'True Will Discovery'" after publicly distancing himself from the occult organization. [, ]
The program and its marketing strategy became a subject of controversy within the esoteric community, drawing prominent criticism from alternative occult commentators:
- The Core Critique: In a heavily cited critique titled "Reclaiming the Mind" on the platform , occult writer Johnathon Victor Reese characterized Luceno’s program as a commercialized "grifting mashup of New Age pseudo-psychology and Scientology-like babble". Critics viewed the $400 pricing model as part of a "long line of charlatans" attempting to commodify the deeply personal Thelemic spiritual concept of finding one's "True Will". [, ]
- The Background Context: Luceno spent 11 years rising through the ranks of the O.T.O. before leaving and speaking out against the organization as a whistleblower on platforms like Cults to Consciousness. His subsequent pivot to selling private spiritual development packages sparked a debate about the ethics of online marketing and the commercialization of independent occultism
Last edited:
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Besides deflection and minimizing of events by the insular group shown in the earlier parts of the video, the last part of the video was interesting as it showed how character assassination was a tactic.
It's a common, blatantly obvious tactic among people that are attracted to insular highly controlled groups when they perceive the group they're enmeshed in as threatened. Then, since valid factual defense of the group's position isn't possible a cognitive trap closes them in a loop that defaults to other defenses.
These defenses are possibly a common factor of the personalities who find identity and a sense of security in the group and see these very mechanisms they've cultural learned and share as successful in their experience to counter the perceived threat. Including deflection from the groups flaws to focus on personal attacks on others.
It'll be interesting to see if members will continue to go on and on and on in this way about this person if he's still seen by them as a threat to their identity.
It's a common, blatantly obvious tactic among people that are attracted to insular highly controlled groups when they perceive the group they're enmeshed in as threatened. Then, since valid factual defense of the group's position isn't possible a cognitive trap closes them in a loop that defaults to other defenses.
These defenses are possibly a common factor of the personalities who find identity and a sense of security in the group and see these very mechanisms they've cultural learned and share as successful in their experience to counter the perceived threat. Including deflection from the groups flaws to focus on personal attacks on others.
It'll be interesting to see if members will continue to go on and on and on in this way about this person if he's still seen by them as a threat to their identity.
In a group like the OTO one has to deal with all sorts . Even in the current membership , let alone 'disgruntled ex-members' . In my experience there were more people that 'didn't get it ' . By that I mean ; they might have found the symbolism in the rites * obscure or they misinterpreted them . Yet they were all encouraged to review stuff with their initiator , or come to 'Degree study nights' ... did they do that ? Nope .
I found those nights great and I learned so much from them , even though I hosted them . One can not learn everything - some in our group had focused on astrology, history , certain characters from mythology and ... as suggested ( and again, not many did ) read up and study on a wide eclectic range of subjects including Comparative Religion , psychology etc . this lead to a greater and deeper understanding shared by all .
But some , like in every group, some ( and again perhaps more) were 'self centered' , had personal agendas, big egos, wanted to make money out of teaching , essentially, what others in the group taught them . Sometimes big egos get offended and go off 'butt hurt' and then start saying all sorts of things about their experience. I also found the whole 'sex thing' amusing ... I have also been in a Wiccan Coven ... those guys were so much more ' having sexual dynamics' than any group I was in
Some would even 'delight' when people left the Order , seeing that as a failure ; ''What about ( let's call him ' John Smith ' ), he joined up did his MInerval , then did his first degree and said it wasn't what he wanted to do , now he has gone off and become a Park Ranger and is finally happy ! ''
It can be all how one understands and perceives these things . Success is not having lots of 'obedient members ' . It is very clear and is stated in the first initiation rituals, that the order is there to help people find their True Will ... that's it ! 'John Smith' was a bit lost and didnt know where he was going or what he should be doing . The fact that he found his 'calling' and went off to do that and found satisfaction and happiness , I considered a success ... maybe he found his 'True Will ' ? Maybe we had something to do with that or nothing at all ... don't matter IMO , HE is happy , and I hear, his life took off on a more successful path after that ... and I dare say , we now have another dedicated ranger out there .
However I am sure there are some crap sub groups out there in OTO ... and some suspect 'leaders' ... I know that as I have had to be part of investigating them , shutting them down , and in some cases, ensuring the protection and safety of others in the group while this happens . ( There is also an officer and assistants for this very purpose ; 'SGIG ' an inspector to ensure things are running correctly ) .
My main bitch about 'higher politics' in the order calling shots , would be the opposite ; a guy got kicked out , and so he should have ! Some time later he appealed to 'higher authority' and apologized and they let him back in. I NEVER would have . He didnt last long and quit . So my bitch is a bit 'the other way ' .... but hey , I am just a guy saying stuff on a wizard forum ... not making 'significant youtubes of whistle blowing' with a shocked and concerned looking interviewer
Also I have met and spent some time with 'Sabazius' (that Lucerno named and criticized and made out he was a little crazy ) and his family , I cant support Lucerno's 2nd hand ( meaning he was not there to see it ) account of him , I found him very much the opposite .
Then again, my experience in OTO was mostly regional and national , I had little to do with 'International level ' so I am basing things on that . Who knows how some of those other groups operated ? ATM there are 5 Grand Lodges and 157 local bodies .
* These can be on three levels ; the private or public liturgical level of the Gnostic Mass. The private rituals of initiation . The public or private rituals of 'The Rites of Eleusis ' . At first a lot of the Rites of Eleusis seemed gobbledegook ... yet the attached study group bought extra and varied information in and over time we began to understand the complexity, depth and wit embedded in them . These types of things don't get achieved by 'waving your hands around in the air and saying stuff' , a bit more is required than that ... and that also is clearly indicated .
I found those nights great and I learned so much from them , even though I hosted them . One can not learn everything - some in our group had focused on astrology, history , certain characters from mythology and ... as suggested ( and again, not many did ) read up and study on a wide eclectic range of subjects including Comparative Religion , psychology etc . this lead to a greater and deeper understanding shared by all .
But some , like in every group, some ( and again perhaps more) were 'self centered' , had personal agendas, big egos, wanted to make money out of teaching , essentially, what others in the group taught them . Sometimes big egos get offended and go off 'butt hurt' and then start saying all sorts of things about their experience. I also found the whole 'sex thing' amusing ... I have also been in a Wiccan Coven ... those guys were so much more ' having sexual dynamics' than any group I was in
Some would even 'delight' when people left the Order , seeing that as a failure ; ''What about ( let's call him ' John Smith ' ), he joined up did his MInerval , then did his first degree and said it wasn't what he wanted to do , now he has gone off and become a Park Ranger and is finally happy ! ''
It can be all how one understands and perceives these things . Success is not having lots of 'obedient members ' . It is very clear and is stated in the first initiation rituals, that the order is there to help people find their True Will ... that's it ! 'John Smith' was a bit lost and didnt know where he was going or what he should be doing . The fact that he found his 'calling' and went off to do that and found satisfaction and happiness , I considered a success ... maybe he found his 'True Will ' ? Maybe we had something to do with that or nothing at all ... don't matter IMO , HE is happy , and I hear, his life took off on a more successful path after that ... and I dare say , we now have another dedicated ranger out there .
However I am sure there are some crap sub groups out there in OTO ... and some suspect 'leaders' ... I know that as I have had to be part of investigating them , shutting them down , and in some cases, ensuring the protection and safety of others in the group while this happens . ( There is also an officer and assistants for this very purpose ; 'SGIG ' an inspector to ensure things are running correctly ) .
My main bitch about 'higher politics' in the order calling shots , would be the opposite ; a guy got kicked out , and so he should have ! Some time later he appealed to 'higher authority' and apologized and they let him back in. I NEVER would have . He didnt last long and quit . So my bitch is a bit 'the other way ' .... but hey , I am just a guy saying stuff on a wizard forum ... not making 'significant youtubes of whistle blowing' with a shocked and concerned looking interviewer
Also I have met and spent some time with 'Sabazius' (that Lucerno named and criticized and made out he was a little crazy ) and his family , I cant support Lucerno's 2nd hand ( meaning he was not there to see it ) account of him , I found him very much the opposite .
Then again, my experience in OTO was mostly regional and national , I had little to do with 'International level ' so I am basing things on that . Who knows how some of those other groups operated ? ATM there are 5 Grand Lodges and 157 local bodies .
* These can be on three levels ; the private or public liturgical level of the Gnostic Mass. The private rituals of initiation . The public or private rituals of 'The Rites of Eleusis ' . At first a lot of the Rites of Eleusis seemed gobbledegook ... yet the attached study group bought extra and varied information in and over time we began to understand the complexity, depth and wit embedded in them . These types of things don't get achieved by 'waving your hands around in the air and saying stuff' , a bit more is required than that ... and that also is clearly indicated .