ABOUT OTO
Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the Law.
The Ordo Templi Orientis (O.T.O., Order of the Oriental Temple or Order of Oriental Templars) is an initiatory order devoted to the establishment of the Law of Thelema, that is at times referred as “Do what thou wilt” and some others as “Love is the law, love under will”. However, Thelema is not a license to indulge in caprices and whims of the moment, but rather a call to accomplish the individual Pure Will, also called the True Will, or Perfected Will, and therefore distinguished by the automatisms of the every day life. To do so, the Order promulgates the principles of individual freedom, self-knowledge and self-discipline, and Universal Brotherhood, whose principles are communicated through the Initiatory ceremonies.
The OTO was funded at the beginning of the 20th century by Karl Kellner and Theodor Reuss among others, and later reformed by Aleister Crowley to make it “the first of the great Old Aeon orders to accept ‘The Book of the Law’”, or Liber AL vel Legis.
OTO members operate as fellows for the comprehension of the Mysteries and the application of the Hermetic knowledge to Life. OTO is a social order that welcomes All, without distinction of race, sex, creed or any other social identifier, for as long as they hold tolerance dear. Every individual of legal age, free and of good repute has the right to the OTO’s introductory degrees.
Besides the Initiatory ceremonies, OTO official bodies often host meetings, workshops and group rituals, such as the Gnostic Mass (Liber XV). The structure, teachings and philosophy of the OTO as a social Order oriented to group activities are different from those of the A∴A∴, with which august body it is, however, in close alliance.
If you are interested in becoming a member of the Ordo Templi Orientis, you can contact our local body.
Love is the law, love under will.