To: alt.magick
From: bheidrick@aol.com (B Heidrick)
Subject: Re: The Pact & the OTO
Date: 31 Oct 1994 10:23:35 GMT
Quoting: > Tim Maroney (tim@toad.com) 

93

>Thelema is an individualistic and free-thinking tradition, and so it
>seems very odd to many people that its organized forms are strictly
>hierarchical and even authoritarian.

Individualistic, yes.  Free-thinking, no.  The theory is that there is one
exactly right way to think, and only one --- but it is unique to each
individual and only the individual can learn it for him or herself.  The
hierarchical and limited authoritarian model comes from practical factors.
 Anarchic movements automatically mutate into fascistic one-person-rules
organizations in time.  To preserve the necessary independence of Thelema,
a structure and rules need to be imposed early.  Most rules in a Thelemic
order are intended to define and limit the authority of the officers and
prevent internal dominance games between members going too far.  That is
no easy thing to set up and maintain --- usually requires continual
experiment to see how much control is necessary to prevent problems and
still keep from stifling.

>accurately reflect the ideal of the Abbey of
>Thelema in Rabelais than the O.T.O. structure.

A red-neck bar brawl?  That's Rabelais' Abbey, IMHO.

>Then again, initiation imposes certain constraints on the type
>of structure which make it hard to see how one could have a
>non-hierarchical initiatory group.

Yep.

>Then there's the model of the O.T.O. which holds it not
>to be the Abbey of Thelema in itself, but a way of training
>the aspirant how to hold the Abbey (or the Temple of Solomon?)
>within themselves despite the distractions and interferences
>of a corrupt society, which is accurately reflected in the Order.

Too elaborate.  Sounds like someone's working for words.
On the off chance that I said it:  Sounds ok in part tho'

93 93/93
Bill Heidrick