Brendan Walls

The second volume of Ora et Labora picks right up where the first one left off. The first several essays seem to focus on the lesser known sources that influenced Crowley, Thelema, and the OTO. The heritage from Freemasonry, Egypt, Carl Kellner, and Sufism are all touched upon in unique ways.

Gordan Djurdjevic's 'The Birth of the New Aeon' is reprinted from the Fenris Wolf 8, with an updated introduction. I found this time around the read was much more palatable and pertinent to my interests, especially with how influential Nietzsche is to both Crowley and postmodern thought. This examination of Thelema through Mark C. Taylor's Postmodern A/Theology highlights just how different Thelema really is from philosophies and religions of the previous Aeon. Even deconstructionist approaches fall short of addressing certain important aspects of Thelema, and now serve to construct aspects of Thelema instead of tear them down. It's a great essay that shows how limited Christian theology and atheism rebuttals are when they are applied to such a different worldview.

The following essay 'Crowley, Conspiracy, Moral Panic, and The Media' from Brendan Walls is a good example of how unoriginal the anti-Crowley rhetoric is. With so much stemming from anti-Semitic blood libel and demonization of "others" throughout history repeating the same themes, you would think most humans wouldn't be so gullible. Yet as current conspiracy assholery verifies, it's still all too easy.

The last essay 'The Will of the Aeon' by Frater A.B.H.S. circles back to the content of volume one with a breakdown at A.'.A.'. and OTO interaction. This time with a focus on the Aeonic will versus the individual True Will of each star.

There are once again, niche, but really stimulating arguments to ponder, critique, and engage with for all Thelemites but especially those involved with the two largest Thelemic orders. Like the first volume, highly recommended.… (altro)

Ora et Labora is a creation of National Grand Lodge of Australia, in particular the National Grand Master General, Shiva X. The subtitle is "An OTO Research Journal", and features several essays from Thelemites around the world.

This first volume certainly starts off with a bang. While some topics, such as the tripartite structure of authority in the OTO and A.'.A.'. and the examination of the Electoral College in relation to Eros, will be over the head of non-OTO readers they are certainly worthwhile for a deeper examination of just how incredibly magically informed seemingly mundane aspects of the Order are.

While I am not a member of any A.'.A.'. lineage, the examination of the relationship between that organization and the OTO was very engaging. Other essays concerning the role of health in the OTO, the (excellent) Typology of Will, and so on, were incredibly well researched and dare I say, Illuminating.

This volume ends with Frater O.I.P.'s essay concerning BAPHOMET that takes up the last third of the journal. It is a sprawling essay with many poignant details and extrapolations thereof that further peel back the infinite layers of this complex figure. My only criticism is that with such a large and complex load of information, that some further structure would have benefitted the essay and made it more readable. This essay quickly became one of the most notated and pinned essays, and I am certain that I will revisit it soon.

Although this volume is over 300 pages, I read it quickly and easily. The topics covered might be a bit niche to most, but I was starving for this type of intellectual food. If you are a Thelemite who is somewhat bored with the plethora of beginner books and shallow parroting of the internet, pick this up and treat yourself to some juicy deep cuts.… (altro)