I don’t mean to sound abrasive - just genuinely curious here. Reading your post, I find myself wondering: why would you want to take something as organic and self-directed as witchcraft and run it through the lens of Crowley’s O.T.O./A∴A∴ system (93/93/93)?
You said you’re proficient in Left Hand Path witchcraft - that already tells me you’re navigating waters that prize spontaneity, freedom of spirit, and direct contact with your own power. That’s a current that moves - not one that waits for formal permission, ritual regalia, or a long list of borrowed god-names.
My personal view of Thelema? It’s fine as a philosophy - "
Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the Law" is potent when understood as self-actualization, not hierarchy. But Thelema as a system is
message-turned-method - a codified structure born from Crowley’s
Liber AL vel Legis, complete with the man’s own brilliance and baggage.
It’s also worth being honest about the history. Some O.T.O. and related Thelemic groups have, over the years, developed cultures that mix sexuality and initiation in ways that aren’t always healthy or transparent. Not every lodge operates that way - many are ethical, scholarly, and sincere - but it’s fair to be cautious. The structure can attract both genuine mystics and people who misuse power.
None of what you mentioned - Enochian, Ars Goetia, Solomonic - actually requires a Thelemic filter. You can study and work with those systems directly. The Left Hand Path, in many ways, stands in productive tension
against the 93-current - because it values individuation over cosmic alignment, and direct experience over transmitted authority.
If your aim is spiritual expansion rather than adherence, you might find more resonance in approaching those traditions experimentally - keeping what proves true in practice and discarding what feels like another man’s scaffolding.
I’m genuinely curious what draws you most to Thelema itself - the philosophy, the ritual current, or perhaps the mythic structure behind it? That might help clarify whether the solitary path or a group experience would serve you best.
Respectfully,
-
I don’t mean to sound abrasive - just genuinely curious here. Reading your post, I find myself wondering: why would you want to take something as organic and self-directed as witchcraft and run it through the lens of Crowley’s O.T.O./A∴A∴ system (93/93/93)?
You said you’re proficient in Left Hand Path witchcraft - that already tells me you’re navigating waters that prize spontaneity, freedom of spirit, and direct contact with your own power. That’s a current that moves - not one that waits for formal permission, ritual regalia, or a long list of borrowed god-names.
My personal view of Thelema? It’s fine as a philosophy - "Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the Law" is potent when understood as self-actualization, not hierarchy. But Thelema as a system is message-turned-method - a codified structure born from Crowley’s Liber AL vel Legis, complete with the man’s own brilliance and baggage.
It’s also worth being honest about the history. Some O.T.O. and related Thelemic groups have, over the years, developed cultures that mix sexuality and initiation in ways that aren’t always healthy or transparent. Not every lodge operates that way - many are ethical, scholarly, and sincere - but it’s fair to be cautious. The structure can attract both genuine mystics and people who misuse power.
None of what you mentioned - Enochian, Ars Goetia, Solomonic - actually requires a Thelemic filter. You can study and work with those systems directly. The Left Hand Path, in many ways, stands in productive tension against the 93-current - because it values individuation over cosmic alignment, and direct experience over transmitted authority.
If your aim is spiritual expansion rather than adherence, you might find more resonance in approaching those traditions experimentally - keeping what proves true in practice and discarding what feels like another man’s scaffolding.
I’m genuinely curious what draws you most to Thelema itself - the philosophy, the ritual current, or perhaps the mythic structure behind it? That might help clarify whether the solitary path or a group experience would serve you best.
Respectfully,
-J
Thank you for your insight ! I suppose i'm not necessarily drawn to thelema
specifically, I'm more so drawn to learning about " western esoterica" as a whole. I suppose to challenge myself as a practitioner. I feel like I already know what there is to know when it comes to my current practice (ATR , and Indigenous mysticsm). And there's certain techniques that I want to strengthen and expand upon when it comes alchemy and angelic/ goetic working. In Vodou / Hoodoo we do use surface level "hermeticism". More specifically surface level solomonic
consecration and evocation of angels. Creating solomonic talismans , and writing enochian lettered petitions in gris gris bags.
I just want to be more intentional and thoughtful when using solomonic magick in my practice, if that makes sense. Actually taking the time to study it deeply and give more reverence to the spiritual tools I'm using in my craft. Scrying with angels also deeply fascinates me and I would be interested in being more knowledgeable about.
From what I gathered Crowley explored both of the invocation and evocation techniques into one philosophy that I'm interested in learning more of. To me it's kinda a "two birds, one stone" in my first impression outlook. How to balance between scrying with angels into the Aethers and evocation with goetia.
. However I can separate the founder from the craft If I need. Im a complete novice when it comes to actual sitting down and studying anything western esoterica outside of my very surface level knowledge, Im doing a lot of research rn to learn the differences in each philosophy so forgive me if I sound silly in my first post. Being in a temple does intrigue me to some degree because I really do enjoy community and group learning . And as of right now in the PNW, orders are very few and far between. There is a local OTO temple that's rather small. I asked the local witch shop if the members were cool and I was told yes. So... Idk. I'm really interested in learning more hermeticism, but I'm using that as the skeleton to me deepening my understanding with Enochian and Solomonic magick.