Introduction to Thelema 2 - Miscellaneous - http://maxpages.com/thelemicmagick/Intro_to_Thelema

The Thelemic Calendar
The Thelemic calendar counts years from 1904 e.v. (the year Liber AL was
received). Each year starts on March 20th of the civil calendar, at
(approximately) the northern-hemisphere Vernal Equinox.
Rather than simply giving the year count from 1904, the Thelemic calendar uses a
two-tiered system. The "upper" level gives a count of twenty-two year periods
since 1904; the "lower" level gives the years since the start of the current
twenty-two year period. Both are zero-based, with nonzero numbers being
represented as upper and lower case Roman numerals, respectively. So, for
example, the civil year 1996 is (after March 20) Thelemic year IViv (because
1904 + (4 * 22) + 4 equals 1996).
Some Thelemites assign the twenty-two years of each cycle to the twenty-two
trumps of the Tarot, and also to the 22-year period numbers themselves. Hence,
1996 is doubly linked to Trump IV of the Tarot, the Emperor.
Within each year, dates and times are often expressed by the positions of Sun
and Moon in the Tropical zodiac. For example, May 12, 1996 e.v. at 6pm PST would
be expressed as "IViv, Sol 22° Taurus, Luna 29° Pisces." This specifies the
precise date and time to within about two hours.
When giving dates in the civil calendar, Thelemites will often append "e.v."
This is an abbreviation of the Latin phrase "era vulgaris," or "common era."
Thelemic Observed Holy Days
The official holy days of Thelema are set forth in The Book of the Law, Ch. II,
v. 36-41. The specific dates attributed to them are given in Crowley's
commentaries, and are summarized below:
The Rituals of the Elements and Feasts of the Times are observed at the
Equinoxes and Solstices.
The Feast for the First Night of the Prophet and His Bride is observed on
August 12.
The Feast for the Three Days of the Writing of the Book of the Law is
observed on April 8, 9 and 10, beginning at noon on each day.
The Feast for the Supreme Ritual (the Invocation of Horus) is observed on
March 20, and represents the opening of the Thelemic new year.
The Feast for the Equinox of the Gods is held on the Vernal Equinox of each
year to commemorate the founding of Thelema in 1904.
Three points of passage in the life of each Thelemite are observed. Birth is
celebrated in a Feast for Life; puberty is celebrated in a Feast for Fire (for a
boy), or a Feast for Water (for a girl); and the death of the individual is
commemorated in a Greater Feast for Death.
Various anniversaries commemorating major events and figures in the history of
Thelema and O.T.O. are also celebrated informally by some Thelemic groups.
Characteristic Customs
Nearly all Thelemites keep a record of their personal practices, and their
progress therein, in a "Magical Diary". Most Thelemites also practice a
particular form of prayer four times per day, which is specified in a book
called Liber Resh vel Helios (included in reference 11, below). Thelemites often
take mystic names or "magical mottoes" for themselves as a sign of commitment;
and customarily greet each other with the phrase, "Do what thou wilt shall be
the whole of the Law"; to which the customary response is, "Love is the law,
love under will". Sometimes these phrases are abbreviated by the simple
statement of the number "ninety-three", which number signifies both "Will" and
"Love" through a particular form of numerology of significance within Thelema.
Thelemic Organizations
Ordo Templi Orientis (O.T.O.) is incorporated in the U.S.A. and in the State of
California as a not-for-profit religious organization under Section 501(c)(3) of
the Internal Revenue Code. O.T.O. currently operates in 17 countries around the
world and has approximately 2300 active members. Within the broad context of
Thelema, O.T.O. functions as a fraternal, initiatory, social, and educational
organization of a religious nature.
O.T.O. includes a specifically liturgical arm which is called Ecclesia Gnostica
Catholica (E.G.C.), the Gnostic Catholic Church, which was originally brought
into relations with O.T.O. by Dr. Gerard Encausse (Papus) in 1908. The principal
ritual of E.G.C. is called the Gnostic Mass (included in references 6, 9 and 11
below). Membership in E.G.C. is available through baptism and confirmation.
Members of O.T.O. in good standing are eligible for clerical ordination in
E.G.C. Members of II° and higher (or even I°, in some situations) are eligible
for ordination as Deacon, and those who have reached K.E.W. are eligible for
ordination as Priest or Priestess. E.G.C. also celebrates seasonal festivals,
commemorations of life passage events and other religious functions. Many O.T.O.
local bodies celebrate the Gnostic Mass on a regular basis, and in most
locations, no formal affiliation is required to attend the Mass.
O.T.O. has long worked in close alliance with the AA, which first proclaimed the
Law of Thelema to the world. The AA is a teaching and initiatory structure
dedicated to the personal spiritual advancement of its individual members.
Within AA all services are rendered free of charge, and no social activities are
held. O.T.O. and AA have jointly issued the journal The Equinox since 1912 e.v.,
now entering its fourth volume. Although they are distinctly separate
organizations, O.T.O. has historically assisted AA with practical matters that
lie outside its primary mission, which is purely spiritual in nature. Aspirants
to the AA may write to:
The Cancellarius of AA
c/o The Equinox
JAF Box 7666
New York, NY 10116

References
1. Crowley, Aleister; Eight Lectures on Yoga [1939], New Falcon Publications,
Scottsdale, Arizona 1991
2. Crowley, Aleister; The Heart of the Master [1938], New Falcon Publications,
Scottsdale, Arizona 1992
3. Crowley, Aleister, edited by Israel Regardie; The Law is for All, Llewellyn
Publications, St. Paul, Minnesota 1975
4. Crowley, Aleister; Liber Aleph vel CXI: The Book of Wisdom or Folly [1962],
Samuel Weiser, York Beach, Maine, 1991
5. Crowley, Aleister; Little Essays Toward Truth [1938], New Falcon
Publications, Scottsdale, Arizona 1991
6. Crowley, Aleister; Magick in Theory and Practice [1929], in Magick: Book IV,
Parts I-IV, edited, annotated and introduced by Hymenaeus Beta, Samuel Weiser,
York Beach, Maine 1994
7. Crowley, Aleister; Magick Without Tears [1954], Falcon Press, Phoenix,
Arizona 1982
8. Hymenaeus Alpha (ed.); The Holy Books of Thelema, Samuel Weiser, York Beach,
Maine, 1983
9. Hymenaeus Beta (ed.); The Equinox, Vol. III, No. 10, Thelema Publications, NY
1986
10. Melton, J. Gordon; Encyclopedia of American Religions, 4th Edition, Gale
Research Publishing, Detroit, Michigan 1993. O.T.O. is discussed specifically
under entry no. 1310.
11. Regardie, Israel (ed.); Gems from the Equinox, Falcon Press, Phoenix,
Arizona 1982
All material copyright 1996 by Ordo Templi Orientis

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