Abbey of Thelema (group)

The Abbey of Thelema is an independent group of practitioners of magick whose structure is patterned after the Argenteum Astrum which follows the magical practices of the group's founder, Aleister Crowley. The current leader of the abbey is Gregory von Seewald, who also serves as the head of the A∴A∴ and outer head of the order for its inner circle, which is referred to as the Sovereign Penetralia of the Gnosis.

Von Seewald was initiated into magic in 1975, nine years later, in 1984, founding the Abbey. Von Seewald later said that his group established links with an older A∴A∴ group through a line of magicians which ran from Crowley to Karl Germer to Marcelo Ramos Motta to R. Eales and later himself.

The group is also a part of the Order of Thelema, and works closely with both the Holy Order of RaHoorKhuit and the Holy Gnostic Catholic Church. It also created the Headland Press to publish works on Thelema and related subjects.

The Abbey has different ways of practicing the sex magic Crowley established than the Ordo Templi Orientis, which is taught in the eighth and ninth grades of that group's eleven-grade system. In the Abbey's system, any student who reaches the grade of Zelator studies the formulae for these practices, which are the essence of the next grade of the Abbey, the Sovereign Penetralia of the Gnosis. Members at this level are also offered the opportunity to join the Order of Thelemites.

The Abbey's teachings and practices are not revealed to the public. It has been reported as having less than 50 members, scattered in the United States, Canada, Europe, and Australia.

References

*Lewis, James R. "The Encyclopedia of Cults, Sects, and New Religions". Amherst, NY: Prometheus Books, 1998. ISBN 1-57392-222-6.