Course led by Marcus Katz.
Weekend of 5th-6th of July, 9.45am arrival for 10.00 am start, finishing 4.30 pm both days.
£93 course fee (must be paid in advance).
Location: Treadwells, 34 Tavistock St, Covent Garden, London.
Never before offered in London, this course offers a serious yet highly approachable introduction to Thelema and Aleister Crowley.

I've long considered Jack Parsons to have been one of the most underrated Thelemic writers and so I'm very pleased to present news of two important books, including one by the man himself. It's great to see books being published under the Teitan Press imprint once more...

Three Essays on Freedom by Jack Parsons


With an Introduction by Hymenaeus Beta

&

A Complete Book of Magic Science, Transcribed by Frederick Hockley


With an Introduction by Dietrich Bergman

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

Parsival Krumm-Heller died peacefully on Tuesday 17th June in Sydney, Australia, after an ongoing illness.

The son of noted German author, occultist and mystic Arnoldo Krumm-Heller (Frater Huiracocha, 1876-1949, founder of the F.R.A. or Fraternitas Rosicruciana Antiqua), Parsival quite literally grew up in the European occult scene of the early 20th century, getting to know many of its historically important figures – his 'Uncles' and 'Aunts' - such as Karl Germer, Martha Kuntzel, Peryt-Shou, Hermann Metzger and Friedrich Levke, amongst others.

Wonderful stuff - as always - in the latest two catalogues from Weiser Antiquarian...

Catalog Thirty Eight: Aleister Crowley

The catalog starts with signed copies of two important recent releases: Richard T. Cole's fascinating and humorous anecdotal history of Crowley's Abbey of Thelema at Cefalu, Thelema Revisited, and Professor Richard B. Spence's authoratative account of Crowley's involvement with the British intelligence services, Secret Agent 666. The second section of the catalog comprises a selection of rare and unusual books by and about Crowley. It include's Grady McMurtry's copy of the single volume edition of The [Collected] Works of Aleister Crowley, a rare American issue of the First Edition of Eight Lectures on Yoga, the First Edition of The Gospel According to St. Bernard Shaw (1953), a First Edition of Mortadello (1912), Crowley's own copy of C. E. M. Joad's, Guide to Philosophy with his ownership inscription and annotations, Crowley's personal copy of his friend J. W. N. Sullivan's The Bases of Modern Science (1929), with numerous annotations by Crowley, and various other rarities including several unusual signed works by Crowley's former student and biographer Israel Regardie

The third section of the catalog comprises a small collection of books published by or associated with Helen Parsons-Smith, ex-wife of Jack Parsons, widow of Wilfred Talbot Smith, and long time member of Agape Lodge of the OTO who published under the Thelema Publications imprint from the 1970s onwards. The following section contains an interesting group of letters from Karl Germer to Perry Martin Tull, a Chicago bookseller who was accepted into the A .'. A .'. by W. T. Smith, and was recognized by Germer as a IX degree member of the O.T.O.. Section five contains more letters from Aleister Crowley to W. Dawson Sadler, a conventional Freemason, with esoteric leanings, with whom Crowley was in regular contact from 1944 though 1946. Sadler initially contacted Crowley about purchasing copies of The Book of Thoth, and an acquaintance developed. Crowley clearly regarded him as a potential candidate for membership in the O.T.O., and although not certain, it seems likely that Crowley initiated him into the Order during one of their meetings. He certainly put considerable effort into answering Sadlier's questions, and the letters are amongst the more interesting of Crowley's to emerge in recent years. The sixth and final section of the catalog lists a small selection of used and out-of-print books by and about Crowley.

Catalog Thirty Nine: Marcelo Ramos Motta: A Miscellany of Used and Rare Books

Devoted to books and ephemera relating to Marcelo Ramos Motta (1931-1987), his Society Ordo Templi Orientis, and related organizations. The collection is particularly unusual in that it is near complete, containing copies of most Motta's works that were published during his lifetime, as well as a number of posthumous editions. It includes a number of rarities such as the supressed Brazilian edition of Chamando Os Filhos Do Sol [Calling the Children of the Sun], and several works signed by Motta. Most of the books in the catalog are from the collection of Thelemic scholar Martin P. Starr, who was, for a time in his youth, an associate of Motta's. Some of the works that are from Martin's collection have his ownership signature, some do not. In either case it is noted in the catalog. If no mention is made, then they were not a part of his collection. Martin has also kindly provided a short Preface, to help put the books in context.

My thanks to Frater HB for this important news item which I reproduce in its entirety...

News from International Headquarters

June 17, 2008 e.v.

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

We have legal news on two fronts to report.

UK TRADEMARK CASE

I am happy to report that OTO has prevailed against Starfire Publishing Ltd.'s opposition to our trademarks for "OTO" and "O.T.O." in the United Kingdom. In her decision of June 8, Anna Carbone, the Appointed Person hearing OTO's appeal, found in favor of OTO, overturning a previous decision in favor of Starfire. OTO's registrations of the marks "OTO" and "O.T.O." are now proceeding normally in the UK, joining our previous registrations of "Ordo Templi Orientis" and the OTO Lamen. Under UK law, there can be no further appeal of a decision by an Appointed Person, in either the Trademark Registry or High Court.

Ms. Carbone overturned the previous decision on the necessary points of law, as is required for any successful appeal. She also rejected the opposition's argument that "OTO" was a descriptive term for a religion that was in widespread use. She accepted our position that "OTO" was merely the initials of the name of a religious organization. She found our prior use of the mark "OTO" on publications to be brand and mark of origin use compatible with trade mark use. She clearly understood that our steps to protect our trademark through registration came from our belief that we are the only legitimate organization entitled to do so. Her decision was made on technical points of law and not evidence, though she did read all of our evidence and had recourse to it from time to time. She did not, therefore, rule on the validity of our historical legitimacy, but she did cite our belief respectfully more than once.

This litigation was not one we initiated -- these were proceedings brought against us by Starfire acting on behalf of Kenneth Grant's spurious OTO organization, with support from organizations led or founded by other expelled or resigned OTO members, such as Albion OTO and OTO Foundation. These groups would be well advised to find another name. We were merely filing a routine maintenance trademark. Now, having provoked us, they can reasonably expect enforcement proceedings from us if they do not stop appropriating our name, initials and lamen.

All that said, I bear no personal animus against the opposition. I consider Michael Staley, in other circumstances, to be a friend of long standing.

US COPYRIGHT CASE

OTO filed suit in US Federal Court in Southern California against Focus Features, NBC Universal and Vivendi for copyright infringement in connection with the appropriation of images from the Thoth Tarot cards to promote the Woody Allen film "Scoop," where they were used on the poster, DVD packaging and in the press kits. The case has been resolved to the satisfaction of all parties. Under the terms of the agreement, the details of the settlement are confidential. This was a significant legal case, since OTO took on the world's largest media conglomerate, represented by the best law firm in Hollywood. We have long taken on corporations many times our size before, e.g. Simon and Schuster, Doubleday and Harper and Row, but NBC Universal Vivendi is many, many times larger and more powerful than all these combined.

THANKS

I would like to thank everyone, inside and outside OTO, who helped with these cases. The late James Garvey VI° of Tahuti Lodge in New York City made a generous and especially timely donation of $31,000 to assist with the UK case; Jim was the gentlest soul I've ever known, but he was an Irish fighter at heart. US Grand Lodge was of assistance more times than I can mention; thanks must go to Sabazius X° and Hank Hadeed for treasury support. I would like to thank Vere Chappell, for skillfully managing the necessary legal financing; Clive Harper for sane counsel and support in the hearings; UK Grand Lodge for support, and in particular Hyperion X° for hospitality during case development; Secretary General Aion and J.-M. Kleeman of OTO Italia for translation assistance; Bill Heidrick for help with evidence development; Ian Rons for his spontaneous public relations assistance as well as attendance at the last hearing; Paul Feazey of Lashtal.com for providing a forum for ventilating the issues arising from the case; and Prof. Bradford Verter for his independent expert opinion. Thanks must also go to our brilliant legal teams: in the UK, our solicitor Nigel Parnell, and our barristers Fiona Clark and Andrew Nichol QC, and in the US, Alan Harris and Dave Zelenski of Harris and Ruble. Many others helped in other ways; you know who you are.

NOW, WHERE WERE WE?

With these two decisions, OTO is again litigation free. We continue -- now with fewer distractions -- our publications program. The completely restored "Confessions" is approximately half complete. Other books that rely on "Confessions" (i.e. cite it extensively) are being held until it is finished. For a foretaste of the revaluation of Crowley's life this new edition will produce, I suggest reading Richard B. Spence's Secret Agent 666: Aleister Crowley, British Intelligence and the Occult (Feral House). I made the extensive and numerous sections of "Confessions" deleted by Symonds and Grant available to Prof. Spence, and they clearly helped him to weave his fascinating account of Crowley's career. In other publishing-related news, Stephen J. King of Australia has been appointed editor of the unabridged Magick Without Tears. He proved his considerable editorial abilities with his recent authorized second edition of P. R. Stephensen's The Legend of Aleister Crowley.

Love is the law, love under will.
Hymenaeus Beta
Frater Superior OTO

My thanks to the_real_simon_iff for uploading a high quality copy of this 1920 Aleister Crowley self-portrait, as exhibited in Paris recently...


From the "Traces du Sacré" exhibition. Please note that this image is reproduced with kind permission of the copyright holder and the representative of the owner of the painting - further reproduction in any media is forbidden without written permission. If you wish to reproduce this image please write in the first instance to clearance@lashtal.com. All rights reserved.

Yet more evidence of the increasing status of Crowley's legacy is present in a fascinating article in today's The Independent (UK) newspaper...

Portugal angry over sale of papers 'vital to nation's literary heritage'
By Elizabeth Nash in Madrid
Saturday, 14 June 2008

A row has broken out in Portugal's literary world over plans by heirs of the nation's most famous modern poet, Fernando Pessoa, to auction his unpublished manuscripts and letters.

When the poet died in obscurity in 1935, he left a trunk full of documents that included extensive correspondence with the eccentric English astrologist and magician Aleister Crowley, a practitioner of the occult said to have inspired satanism in Britain.

Portugal's National Library fiercely opposes the private sale of documents considered vital to the nation's literary heritage, and warns it will take all legal measures to stop the sale and dispersal of the archive, the Lisbon daily Publico reports.

Pessoa's nephews favour selling the material, piece by piece. Scholars say that would make a definitive study of the poet's unpublished work impossible. The government has declared no formal interest, apparently reluctant to inflame the market, Publico says.

The angst-ridden poet died in 1935 of cirrhosis of the liver, aged 47, leaving his papers in turmoil. His best known work, The Book of Disquiet, the tormented fictional diary of an accountant, was – like most of his output – published posthumously.

But collectors have long coveted the so-called Crowley Papers – whose value one expert said this week was "incalculable" – to illuminate the friendship between these two odd characters.

21 June 2008 (Saturday) Midday
Champagne Book Launch: The Red Goddess
The History of Babalon, the Holy Whore
Hosted by Scarlet Imprint
Free, but advance booking required to be added to the guest list

Scarlet Imprint cordially invite you to the launch of The Red Goddess.
We will be meeting at the famous Atlantis Bookshop in Museum Street at midday and then proceeding to the British Museum for a reading at the John Dee exhibit.
It is fitting that we can evoke BABALON in the presence of the Sigillum Dei Aemeth and the shewstone of Dr Dee.
Then we will return to Atlantis bookshop for blood red champagne cocktails.

My thanks to davidh for this item...

In Search of Lovecraft is a feature horror motion picture shot in San Francisco. Based upon the Mythos of H.P. Lovecraft, but keeping a completely original story, we take the audience on a nightmarish trip blending reality and science fiction. An intense, mysterious plot, outstanding special effects, and a top notch cast create an exciting, heartstopping energy in the picture. Consultants also brought something to the project that has never been done to our knowledge: An actual occult ritual is performed within the picture, one that is absolutely authentic. Perhaps it let something into our world during filming!

Scream Queen Rachael Robbins plays the sexy occultist Keja, and Renee Sweet plays the sceptic reporter Rebecca Marsh. This is a true delight for all horror and Lovecraft fans. Talk has already started on the net anticipating its release.

My thanks to the good people at Fulgur for permitting me to give this item some publicity...

Fulgur are delighted to announce the availability of a limited quantity of rare Fulgur material by Austin Spare, Kenneth Grant, Andrew Chumbley, and others, including proof copies, inscribed works and scarce limited editions from our archives. For more information, please click here.

Those of you interested in original works by Austin Spare will find a number of items from a London collection here.

We are also pleased to finally announce The Valley of Fear will be available on July 15th.