lashtal.com :: View topic - Albion O.T.O. Statement.

lashtal.com

Introductions - Albion O.T.O. Statement.

RobCurley - Jul 06, 2008 - 06:15 PM
Post subject: Albion O.T.O. Statement.

Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the Law.

Due to the recent TM Case appeal ruling I have decided to disband the Albion O.T.O. My personal decision was easily made the instant upon reading about the ruling; and legally it also sets a precedent, that although debatable (like all COTO wins) yet makes it very likely that future cases would go their way. Having now had the time to discuss my decision with those involved, I thought I would put it up in this place as a general and last statement (also as some of it relates to the Caliphate business, and some of their members may be watching… Shocked

) Of course it doesn’t mean as an Order we think it the right decision, or that it is justified in any way magickally. But decided it is. The Aeon of Maat is some way off – despite claims to the contrary.

www.oto.org.uk – Although we acquired this domain name in the normal business way (contrary to the erroneous allegations of Breeze in his TM deposition – reams of it) and still legally own it (contrary to what some of his minions have also stated) - I have nevertheless decided to pass this domain on to the Caliphate. Although I find them thoroughly objectionable in practically every way possible - it is as well they have this recognisable domain than some other party, or non-related business. It may be a karmic gesture on my part: break the bonds. Either way it feels pleasant to shed the "OTO skin". Avante! It is also well not to stoop to their level as regards politics, of course. As Wilde said; “Forgive your enemies – nothing annoys them so much.” So there are two simple conditions re. this domain transfer: a) no money is to change hands, and b) whoever contacts me to arrange this – I don’t care who in the slightest - will be at least civil (utterly charming would be nice; but we are what we are I suppose). But if they relapse into legalese, or are less than charming; they can ‘sling their hook’ as we say here in Blighty, and the domain will be sold on elsewhere. Otherwise, they may contact me on the enquiries address, and I will transfer it to them. That is, after any time we decide necessary to “wind down” the various components and paraphernalia of the Order i.e. PO Boxes, bank accounts, companies etc. (all of which I shall miss terribly Smile

). It will take as long as it takes, and so will we. (I will only add that previous remarks have been made by some here re. the business side of this Order whilst under my care. If my replies are then misinterpreted, wilfully or otherwise, it is no matter to me. It is also not my business if someone on “my side” or “the other” (as they see it) presumes to defend or attack me. Both are ridiculous, and vulgar. The reason for the suggestion for this person to approach me privately was of course that any such public suggestion could be, and certainly would be, treated as libel. It’s as well to note that the laws of libel apply to the internet, and both the poster and the site-owner would be liable, as I understand it. So to those concerned, I suggest it would be wiser to hold your peace. If not I will pursue any such matter, and will do so as necessary. But I’m sure that will not be necessary, now the position is clearly understood.)

As to the ramifications of the legal decision; well it’s funny to need a lawyer to prove to oneself you are “The OTO” to begin with. Magickally; well, as a prominent member of this site privately put their view to me: “The ‘OTO well’ is poisoned”. An apt analogy (considering the MOE initiations) - the only pity being they didn’t put their view publicly. But it’s not like we’re expecting an outbreak of honesty here. My personal views I have put in another post. I would only add that as far as the Caliphate O.T.O. are concerned: “The fish rots from the head down.”

Love is the law, love under will.

Fr.’. Phaeton. X'.
Albion O.T.O.

rzk - Jul 06, 2008 - 06:28 PM
Post subject:

I hope that the Work in your group continues, under whichever name you may or may not choose.

Good luck!

lashtal - Jul 06, 2008 - 06:34 PM
Post subject: RE: Albion O.T.O. Statement.

Thanks for your post, Rob.

RobCurley - Jul 06, 2008 - 06:39 PM
Post subject: Albion OTO: Personal Statement.

One final muse is perhaps allowable after all these years in one OTO or another; what is wrong with the US OTO in particular, as an Order? This may be instructive; or I hope it is, to those looking for – ‘instruction’ from this Order. Something obviously "is" wrong with the COTO, to put on such a consistently bad show, and to evoke such constant bad feeling. Leaving aside issues of incompetency, we can cut to the root of the problem. There are (from experience) three structural problems in that Order:

1) It has “suggested reading” instead of a Curriculum,
2) It has “sponsors” instead of initiated Instructors assessing students’ Magickal Records, and
3) It has “invite only” higher degrees instead of all such degrees being earned upon merit.

All three invite nepotism, abuse of power, and a lack of real (or tested) learning in its membership. Until those three things change, nothing will of course. Those who have only the knee-jerk response of “disaffected former member” or “sour grapes” in their armoury, nevertheless cannot justify or explain this gaping hole - where one would normally put “instruction” or “teaching”. It’s as if you walked into a garage, and were informed it had nothing to do with automobiles. How does such a set-up inform, educate, nurture or develop the souls within this “Order”? There are of course many other issues I’m aware of in that Order, but space (and libel laws) forbid further mention. So instead of ‘meritocracy’, or Kingship, we have “the old army game from here to Eternity – he gets there furthest with the brownest nose.”

The Albion O.T.O.’s foundation was, on the other hand, sound; that may therefore be transferred to another group should that occur. Indeed a new group will apparently spring out of the ashes – I have suggested a complete break from OTO in name sysytem, and everything else – but that is their business. Although I will not be involved in this group in any formal way (or indeed any other group - unless it’s a musical one - some harmony for a change) I wish them well. I may be involved in the future, who knows. Albion O.T.O.’s foundations were sound because it was based upon 1) a Curriculum, 2) the Magickal Record, and 3) a Current that initiates. Few groups are based upon such things, because the former two mean an awful lot of work, and the latter a more than awful commitment. Albion O.T.O. was also sound in that it threw out the “bathwater” of Masonry, and kept the Baby Horus (as it threw out the scandalous “oath” to Breeze, and kept the real Oath to Baphomet). ‘Baphomet’ in the context of ‘OTO’ is a tangible Current – it is not Aleister Crowley – it is certainly not someone pretending to be his successor.

The lesson learned from the Caliphate is how “not” to run an Order. The lesson learned from the Albion OTO (in my view, admittedly) is the OTO system cannot be “rehabilitated” (Crowley said much the same, after all). All experiments are nevertheless useful. Yet the fact remains: the rigidity of the OTO system is inherent and inbuilt - therefore as a ‘system’ it is definitely fixed in the past. I suppose, in part, it explains the present impasse of the Caliphate.

I think the Caliphate’s role – as their legal victories prove - is simply to be the “book-keepers” of the various MS (the MS of AL – even if they are its temporary custodians - can look after itself no doubt). Someone’s got to do it. The TM Case was really fought as a battle between two publishing companies. The lack of any meaningful lineage or teaching within the US OTO did not come into it. If such a thing was possible in the courts they would of course have failed. So what is “success” in these terms – and “proof” come to that? After many decades of buying MS and copyrights, and a long legacy of litigation, the Caliphate have succeeded in levelling out to (roughly) 2,000 members worldwide, and probably 70 (max) members in UK. All very ‘small potatoes’; and ultimately a tarnished and devalued ‘brand’. Not good for a commercial venture. This reality, plus fading copyrights and a lack of authorship of new and original writings, does not spell out a bright future for OTO Inc. The OTO is “dead” or is “dying”. Amen.

I have no need to denigrate the Caliphate – their reputation precedes them. The puerile gossip on Keonig’s site is as objectionable as they are – indeed their “children” are the source of most of it. The Caliphate has a curious consistency in presenting itself very badly indeed (this is the valid objection to them representing Thelema in any public way). Just as one example, we have its incessant and almost paranoid web-presence: where people are ‘parachuted in’ to forums, to put forward the ‘party line’. How pathetic. (In that context I will leave this forum – my only reason for being here was to defend Albion O.T.O. from such – besides, it’s unhealthy to live long in cyberspace. But I may reappear under a ‘less conspicuous form’, you never know.) But “fear not”: the youngsters will read (through) the threads like the ones on this forum, see the ludicrous self-importance of some of the Caliphate’s ‘representative members’, and run a country mile. Their legal dept. is very on the ball and no doubt very well paid - (though they got a fright at least in Albion) - I think an equally obsessive marketing side is their only hope. May I suggest Saatchi – he might have a Crowley painting you could buy at the same time? So, as the Tao Te Ching reminds us, it doesn’t matter in the end. And I am as indifferent as the general public seem to be on the matter.

With gladness (and, it must be said, a curious relief) I can now free myself of any connection to what is now known as “OTO” in the outer – the politics can be easily discarded. On a more important magickal point: the IX’ Current and gnosis cannot be discarded & stay with you – this being after all the only useful magickal component of that particular system. This Current may inform future groups therefore that arise from the ashes of Albion O.T.O. - even if I am only involved informally or magickally. So last OTO testament aside: well done upon another legal win in that case – at least now we will now know who to blame for the OTO’s demise. The Caliphate attack-poodles can be called back to their kennels, and the lawyers may have another free slap up lunch off their backs. Of course their problem now is that as they claim to be the only OTO, they will be the sole focus for all that criticism. Perhaps we will now therefore see the critical Spirit of Samael, so prevelant in that Order, turn itself inwards.

“Then we came out into the Third (or Eighth, it depends which way you count them, because there are ten) House, and that was so splendid you can't imagine…It was all lighted by a tiny, weeny, shy little planet, sparkling and silvery, and now and then a wave of fiery chariots filled with eager spearmen blazed through the sky, and my Fairy Prince said: "Isn't it all fine?" But I knew he didn't really mean it, so I said: "Kiss me!" and he kissed me, and we went on. He said: "Good little girl of mine, there's many a one stays there all his life." I forgot to say that the whole place was just one mass of books, and people reading them till they were so silly, they didn't know what they were doing. And there were cheats, and doctors, and thieves; I was really very glad to go away.” – The Wake World.

Fraternally,

Fr.’. Phaeton.

“The last act of the IX’ OTO is to give up the OTO.”