PRIEST/ESS: In Advocacy of Queer Gnostic Mass

by Michael Effertz

Part pamphleteering and part scholarly exegesis, PRIEST/ESS harkens back to the "mirrors for princes" literary tradition and offers in-depth philosophical, magical, sociological and historical analyses of gender roles in the central ceremony of Ordo Templi Orientis with an aim toward motivating the reformation of O.T.O. policy to openly embrace queer celebrations of the Gnostic Mass. By raising the discourse, the author endeavors to raise the reader's expectations of what is possible within and through the Gnostic Mass while delineating what is lost when queer Gnostic Mass is restricted to the closet.

In addition to a series of original essays, PRIEST/ESS includes a robust and suggestive collection of citations from the source material, including the diaries of Aleister Crowley and the writings of Sabazius, current National Grand Master General of United States Grand Lodge O.T.O.

This privately issued edition of 44 numbered copies is hardbound in sapphire blue leatherette with gold foil stamp. 108 pages printed on 70 lb paper. Of the 44 copies, 30 were bound with gold ribbon markers, the remainder with red ribbon. This private edition was circulated within and without the O.T.O., with copies provided to each of the three principal officers of O.T.O. International, many key officers of U.S.G.L. O.T.O., and every O.T.O. Lodge in the United States.

Thelema NOW! is happy to announce its last podcast of 2012 EV.

Can Thelema NOW! interest you in a Thelemic rock opera?!  Of course we can!  Listen as Melissa Holm and Jon Sewell of Eleusyve Productions discuss what it's like to produce full-length stage productions of Aleister Crowley's Rites of Eleusis as musical theater. 

Listen and get inspired! 

Speech in the Silence is the official podcast of Blazing Star Oasis, O.T.O.

Episode 37, the third anniversary episode of the podcast, is now available for download at http://speechinthesilence.com

In this episode:

• Henrik Bodgan reads the Introduction from Aleister Crowley and Western Esotericism, the new anthology from Oxford University Press
• Brandon Jenkins offers two songs from his new album, due to be released on January 8
• An excerpt from Richard Kaczynski's presentation on the history of the individuals and groups which led to the development of Ordo Templi Orientis 
• Announcements and News about the Thelemic Community 

A Thelema NOW! favorite, Richard Kaczynski, discusses his latest book Forgotten Templars: The Untold Origin of Ordo Templi Orientis.  Chock full of juicy details - meticulously researched - this book would make a great stocking stuffer for anyone on your list.  Especially if they've been naughty.