Magical organization
A magical organization is an organization created for the practice of magic or to further the knowledge of magic among its members. "Magic" in this case refers to occult, metaphysical and paranormal activities, not to the performance of stage magic. Magical organizations can include hermetic orders, Wiccan covens or Wiccan circles, esoteric societies, arcane colleges, witches' covens, and other groups which may utilize different terminology
Significant orders and organizations
The Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn has been credited with a vast revival of occult literature and practices and was founded in 1887 or 1888 by William Wynn Westcott, Samuel Liddell MacGregor Mathers and William Robert Woodman. The teachings of the Order include Enochian magic, Christian mysticism, Qabalah, Hermeticism, the paganism of ancient Egypt, theurgy, and alchemy.[1]
Ordo Templi Orientis was founded by Carl Kellner in 1895. The Order was reworked by Aleister Crowley after he took control of the Order in the early 1920s.
Ordo Aurum Solis, founded in 1897, is a Western Mystery Tradition group teaching Hermetic Qabalah. Its rituals and system are different from the more popular Golden Dawn, this is because the group follows the ogdoadic tradition instead of rosicrucianism.
The A∴A∴ was created in 1907 by Aleister Crowley and also teaches magick and Thelema. Their main text is the The Book of the Law.
Builders of the Adytum (or B.O.T.A.) was created in 1922 by Paul Foster Case and was extended by Dr. Ann Davies. It teaches Hermetic Qabalah, astrology and occult tarot.
Other magical organizations
Some (in many cases, equally notable) organizations.
Organizations founded prior to the 19th century
- The Illuminati and related orders
- Fraternitas Rosae Crucis
Organizations founded in the 19th century
Organizations founded in the 20th century or after
- Ancient Mystical Order Rosae Crucis
- Cultus Sabbati
- Fraternitas Saturni
- Fraternity of the Inner Light
- FUDOSI and FUDOFSI
- Illuminates of Thanateros
- Omni Modus
- Ophite Cultus Satanas
- Ordo Infintus Orbis
- Ordo Templi Orientis
- Sangreal Sodality
- Servants of the Light
- Stella Matutina
- Thee Temple ov Psychick Youth
- Temple of Set
- Typhonian Order (previously Typhonian O.T.O)
References
- ↑ Smoley, Richard; Kinney, Jay (1999). Hidden Wisdom: A Guide to the Western Inner Traditions. Quest Books, 2006. pp. 102–103. ISBN 978-0-8356-0844-2.
Founded in 1888, the Golden Dawn lasted a mere twelve years before it was shattered by personal conflicts. At its height it probably had no more than a hundred members. Yet its influence on magic and esoteric thought in the English-speaking world would be hard to overestimate