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Priest/ess
Part pamphleteering and part scholarly exegesis, PRIEST/ESS harkens back to the "mirrors for princes" literary tradition and offers in-depth philosophical, magical, sociological and historical analyses of gender roles in the central ceremony of Ordo Templi Orientis with an aim toward motivating the reformation of O.T.O. policy to openly embrace queer celebrations of the Gnostic Mass. By raising the discourse, the author endeavors to raise the reader's expectations of what is possible within and through the Gnostic Mass while delineating what is lost when queer Gnostic Mass is restricted to the closet.
In addition to a series of original essays, PRIEST/ESS includes a robust and suggestive collection of citations from the source material, including the diaries of Aleister Crowley and the writings of Sabazius, current National Grand Master General of United States Grand Lodge O.T.O.
This privately issued edition of 44 numbered copies is hardbound in sapphire blue leatherette with gold foil stamp. 108 pages printed on 70 lb paper. Of the 44 copies, 30 were bound with gold ribbon markers, the remainder with red ribbon. This private edition was circulated within and without the O.T.O., with copies provided to each of the three principal officers of O.T.O. International, many key officers of U.S.G.L. O.T.O., and every O.T.O. Lodge in the United States.
While PRIEST/ESS directly addresses the O.T.O., its peerless exploration of gender and sexuality in the Gnostic Mass specifically and Thelema generally makes it an item of historical interest for Thelemites worldwide.
In addition to a series of original essays, PRIEST/ESS includes a robust and suggestive collection of citations from the source material, including the diaries of Aleister Crowley and the writings of Sabazius, current National Grand Master General of United States Grand Lodge O.T.O.
This privately issued edition of 44 numbered copies is hardbound in sapphire blue leatherette with gold foil stamp. 108 pages printed on 70 lb paper. Of the 44 copies, 30 were bound with gold ribbon markers, the remainder with red ribbon. This private edition was circulated within and without the O.T.O., with copies provided to each of the three principal officers of O.T.O. International, many key officers of U.S.G.L. O.T.O., and every O.T.O. Lodge in the United States.
While PRIEST/ESS directly addresses the O.T.O., its peerless exploration of gender and sexuality in the Gnostic Mass specifically and Thelema generally makes it an item of historical interest for Thelemites worldwide.
125 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2012
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
November 24, 2019
While only partially helpful in my purpose of reading (application towards other practices in which there are typically gender norms associated with ritual) this book more than makes up for what I desired. It's full of resources and comparisons between Gnostic Mass and societal views. The only reason I didn't give the full five is because the wider publication doesn't include the supplemental essay that comes with the deluxe version and is not available for sale separately.
August 6, 2013
I find myself not entirely sure where to start with a book like Priest/ess. At once I am both impressed at the depth of insight the author shows toward the Mass and various mysteries of the Order and thrilled to see such studies come out—no pun intended—into the open. This is not a new conversation. But it definitely just got all real up in here.
Priest/ess starts out with its Argūmentum. It's short, sweet, and to the point. It proposes a shift in the perception and policy of gender and sex in O.T.O./E.G.C. As someone who identifies as a non-preferential bisexual—and, once upon a time before O.T.O. and E.G.C. merged, was ordained as a Deacon and performed in the role of Priest multiple times—this is a subject that is very dear to my heart.
The book then moves quickly into the Apologia. This is a well researched and well argued presentation of the queer approach to the O.T.O. Gnostic Mass. I have seen many different arguments in favor of such a shift in perspective, but none as incredibly solid as this one. The author has positioned his argument from various angles and done his homework well. Pulling from enough sources to make Crowley jealous, he reaches in and demolishes all opposition to understanding the problems with current E.G.C. policy.
Granted, I think there are some places where the author stretches his own straw men, but in an effort to see even the illogical arguments of the opposition, I think certain allowances can be made to forgive those lapses. I am certainly more than willing to allow for a bit of hyperbole in exchange for seeing myths about the upper degrees of O.T.O. smashed against the solid rocks of evidence from Crowley's own work—and all without once quoting from any kind of "private" document. The opposition would be so lucky to do the same.
I would be happy if three-quarters of the numbskulls out there—both in and out of the Order—would just read the chapter, "Pleading the Ninth." The sheer amount of information putting the upper degrees into proper historical perspective is phenomenal all by itself.
The final section is the fabulous Auctōritās containing source material for reference and study.
Granted, anyone not invested in the queer debate may not find anything more here than some enlightening perspectives on the policies surrounding the O.T.O. Gnostic Mass and an introduction to Crowley's approach to the sexual degrees of our Order. For those who are interested in seeing progress in the Order and hoping that it can catch up to the 21st century, this is a vital addition to the repertoire of knowledge and wisdom.
My review of the follow-up piece, The Argument That Took the Wrong Turning: A Vindication of Priest/ess and Queer Gnostic Mass in Reply to T Polyphilus , can be found here.
Priest/ess starts out with its Argūmentum. It's short, sweet, and to the point. It proposes a shift in the perception and policy of gender and sex in O.T.O./E.G.C. As someone who identifies as a non-preferential bisexual—and, once upon a time before O.T.O. and E.G.C. merged, was ordained as a Deacon and performed in the role of Priest multiple times—this is a subject that is very dear to my heart.
The book then moves quickly into the Apologia. This is a well researched and well argued presentation of the queer approach to the O.T.O. Gnostic Mass. I have seen many different arguments in favor of such a shift in perspective, but none as incredibly solid as this one. The author has positioned his argument from various angles and done his homework well. Pulling from enough sources to make Crowley jealous, he reaches in and demolishes all opposition to understanding the problems with current E.G.C. policy.
Granted, I think there are some places where the author stretches his own straw men, but in an effort to see even the illogical arguments of the opposition, I think certain allowances can be made to forgive those lapses. I am certainly more than willing to allow for a bit of hyperbole in exchange for seeing myths about the upper degrees of O.T.O. smashed against the solid rocks of evidence from Crowley's own work—and all without once quoting from any kind of "private" document. The opposition would be so lucky to do the same.
I would be happy if three-quarters of the numbskulls out there—both in and out of the Order—would just read the chapter, "Pleading the Ninth." The sheer amount of information putting the upper degrees into proper historical perspective is phenomenal all by itself.
The final section is the fabulous Auctōritās containing source material for reference and study.
Granted, anyone not invested in the queer debate may not find anything more here than some enlightening perspectives on the policies surrounding the O.T.O. Gnostic Mass and an introduction to Crowley's approach to the sexual degrees of our Order. For those who are interested in seeing progress in the Order and hoping that it can catch up to the 21st century, this is a vital addition to the repertoire of knowledge and wisdom.
My review of the follow-up piece, The Argument That Took the Wrong Turning: A Vindication of Priest/ess and Queer Gnostic Mass in Reply to T Polyphilus , can be found here.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews