Magical organization
Encyclopedia
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, Wicca
n coven
s or Wiccan circles, esoteric societies, arcane colleges, witches' covens, and other groups which may utilize different terminology
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
.
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 is strangely different to the more popular one of the 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
.
Magic (paranormal)
Magic is the claimed art of manipulating aspects of reality either by supernatural means or through knowledge of occult laws unknown to science. It is in contrast to science, in that science does not accept anything not subject to either direct or indirect observation, and subject to logical...
or to further the knowledge of magic among its members. "Magic" in this case refers to occult
Occult
The word occult comes from the Latin word occultus , referring to "knowledge of the hidden". In the medical sense it is used to refer to a structure or process that is hidden, e.g...
, metaphysical
Metaphysics
Metaphysics is a branch of philosophy concerned with explaining the fundamental nature of being and the world, although the term is not easily defined. Traditionally, metaphysics attempts to answer two basic questions in the broadest possible terms:...
and paranormal
Paranormal
Paranormal is a general term that designates experiences that lie outside "the range of normal experience or scientific explanation" or that indicates phenomena understood to be outside of science's current ability to explain or measure...
activities, not to the performance of stage magic. Magical organizations can include hermetic
Ceremonial magic
Ceremonial magic, also referred to as high magic and as learned magic, is a broad term used in the context of Hermeticism or Western esotericism to encompass a wide variety of long, elaborate, and complex rituals of magic. It is named as such because the works included are characterized by...
orders, Wicca
Wicca
Wicca , is a modern Pagan religious movement. Developing in England in the first half of the 20th century, Wicca was popularised in the 1950s and early 1960s by a Wiccan High Priest named Gerald Gardner, who at the time called it the "witch cult" and "witchcraft," and its adherents "the Wica."...
n coven
Coven
A coven or covan is a name used to describe a gathering of witches or in some cases vampires. Due to the word's association with witches, a gathering of Wiccans, followers of the witchcraft-based neopagan religion of Wicca, is also described as a coven....
s 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 DawnHermetic Order of the Golden Dawn
The Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn was a magical order active in Great Britain during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, which practiced theurgy and spiritual development...
has been credited with a vast revival of occult literature and practices and was founded in 1887 or 1888 by William Wynn Westcott
William Wynn Westcott
William Wynn Westcott was a coroner, ceremonial magician, and Freemason born in Leamington, Warwickshire, England...
, Samuel Liddell MacGregor Mathers
Samuel Liddell MacGregor Mathers
Samuel Liddell MacGregor Mathers , born Samuel Liddell Mathers, was one of the most influential figures in modern Occultism...
and William Robert Woodman
William Robert Woodman
Dr. William Robert Woodman , one of three co-founders of the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn.-Early years:Woodman was born in England in 1828. He studied medicine and was licensed in...
. The teachings of the Order include Enochian magic
Enochian magic
Enochian magic is a system of ceremonial magic based on the evocation and commanding of various spirits. It is based on the 16th-century writings of Dr. John Dee and Edward Kelley, who claimed that their information was delivered to them directly by various angels. Dee's journals contained the...
, Christian mysticism
Christian mysticism
Christian mysticism refers to the development of mystical practices and theory within Christianity. It has often been connected to mystical theology, especially in the Catholic and Eastern Orthodox traditions...
, Qabalah
Hermetic Qabalah
Hermetic Qabalah is a Western esoteric and mystical tradition...
, Hermeticism
Hermeticism
Hermeticism or the Western Hermetic Tradition is a set of philosophical and religious beliefs based primarily upon the pseudepigraphical writings attributed to Hermes Trismegistus...
, the paganism
Paganism
Paganism is a blanket term, typically used to refer to non-Abrahamic, indigenous polytheistic religious traditions....
of ancient Egypt
Ancient Egypt
Ancient Egypt was an ancient civilization of Northeastern Africa, concentrated along the lower reaches of the Nile River in what is now the modern country of Egypt. Egyptian civilization coalesced around 3150 BC with the political unification of Upper and Lower Egypt under the first pharaoh...
, theurgy
Theurgy
Theurgy describes the practice of rituals, sometimes seen as magical in nature, performed with the intention of invoking the action or evoking the presence of one or more gods, especially with the goal of uniting with the divine, achieving henosis, and perfecting oneself.- Definitions :*Proclus...
, and alchemy
Alchemy
Alchemy is an influential philosophical tradition whose early practitioners’ claims to profound powers were known from antiquity. The defining objectives of alchemy are varied; these include the creation of the fabled philosopher's stone possessing powers including the capability of turning base...
.
Ordo Templi Orientis
Ordo Templi Orientis
Ordo Templi Orientis is an international fraternal and religious organization founded at the beginning of the 20th century...
was founded by Carl Kellner
Carl Kellner (Ordo Templi Orientis)
Carl Kellner was a wealthy chemist, inventor, industrialist, and putative founder of Ordo Templi Orientis. He was a student of Freemasonry, Rosicrucianism and Eastern mysticism.-Freemasonry & Esotericism:...
in 1895. The Order was reworked by Aleister Crowley
Aleister Crowley
Aleister Crowley , born Edward Alexander Crowley, and also known as both Frater Perdurabo and The Great Beast, was an influential English occultist, astrologer, mystic and ceremonial magician, responsible for founding the religious philosophy of Thelema. He was also successful in various other...
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 is strangely different to the more popular one of the 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
The Book of the Law
Liber AL vel Legis is the central sacred text of Thelema, written by Aleister Crowley in Cairo, Egypt in the year 1904. Its full title is Liber AL vel Legis, sub figura CCXX, as delivered by XCIII=418 to DCLXVI, and it is commonly referred to as The Book of the Law.Liber AL vel Legis contains three...
.
Builders of the Adytum
Builders of the Adytum
The Builders of the Adytum is a school of the Western mystery tradition based in Los Angeles which is registered as a non-profit tax-exempt religious organization. It was founded by Paul Foster Case and has its roots in both the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn and the Masonic blue lodge system....
(or B.O.T.A.) was created in 1922 by Paul Foster Case
Paul Foster Case
Paul Foster Case was an American occultist of the early 20th century and author of numerous books on occult tarot and Qabalah. Perhaps his greatest contributions to the field of occultism were the lessons he wrote for associate members of Builders of the Adytum. The Knowledge Lectures given to...
and was extended by Dr. Ann Davies. It teaches Hermetic Qabalah
Hermetic Qabalah
Hermetic Qabalah is a Western esoteric and mystical tradition...
, astrology
Astrology
Astrology consists of a number of belief systems which hold that there is a relationship between astronomical phenomena and events in the human world...
and occult tarot
Tarot
The tarot |trionfi]] and later as tarocchi, tarock, and others) is a pack of cards , used from the mid-15th century in various parts of Europe to play a group of card games such as Italian tarocchini and French tarot...
.
Organizations founded prior to the 19th century
- The IlluminatiIlluminatiThe Illuminati is a name given to several groups, both real and fictitious. Historically the name refers to the Bavarian Illuminati, an Enlightenment-era secret society founded on May 1, 1776...
and related orders - Fraternitas Rosae CrucisFraternitas Rosae CrucisFraternitas Rosae Crucis is a Rosicrucian fraternal organization founded by Paschal Beverly Randolph in 1858, and is the oldest Rosicrucian Order in the US...
Organizations founded in the 20th century or after
- Ancient Mystical Order Rosae CrucisAncient Mystical Order Rosae CrucisThe Ancient and Mystical Order Rosæ Crucis , also called Rosicrucian Order, is a philosophical and humanist worldwide fraternal organization. Members are known as students...
- Cultus Sabbati
- Fraternitas Saturni
- Fraternity of the Inner LightFraternity of the Inner LightThe Fraternity of the Inner Light is a magical society and Western Mystery School.-History:In 1922, after a falling out with Moina Mathers and with Moina's consent, Dion Fortune left the Alpha and Omega and formed the Fraternity of the Inner Light as an offshoot of the Alpha et Omega. This brought...
- FUDOSIFUDOSIFUDOSI or FUDOESI , founded on August 14, 1934, in Brussels , was a federation of autonomous esoteric orders and societies.-Background:FUDOSI was an attempt to create a federation of mystical orders with the...
and FUDOFSIFUDOFSIFUDOFSI , headed by Constant Chevillon , was a federation of independent esoteric orders similar to FUDOSI, but strongly opposed to the other group.-History:... - Illuminates of ThanaterosIlluminates of ThanaterosThe Illuminates of Thanateros is an international magical organization founded in 1978, focusing on practical group work in chaos magic. This fraternal magical society has been an important influence on some forms of modern occultism.- Name :...
- Ophite Cultus Satanas
- Sangreal Sodality
- Servants of the LightServants of the LightServants of the Light is a modern-day Western Mystery School which teaches the esoteric sciences through correspondence. These sciences, which in their true form constitute the Yoga of the West, have previously been secret, but nowadays they can be taught in a more open fashion.SOL was founded in...
- Thee Temple ov Psychick YouthThee Temple ov Psychick YouthThee Temple ov Psychick Youth or TOPY was a fellowship founded in 1981 by members of Psychic TV, Coil, Current 93, and a number of other individuals...
- Temple of SetTemple of SetThe Temple of Set is an initiatory occult society claiming to be the world's leading left-hand path religious organization. It professes Setian philosophy and magical practice.-History:...
- Typhonian Order (previously Typhonian O.T.O)