Der Ordo Templi Orientis, oder kurz O.T.O. ist ein esoterisch-okkultistischer Geheimbund, der 1904 vom Wiener Industriellen Karl Kellner, Heinrich Klein und vom deutschen Theosophen Dr. Franz Hartmann gegründet und von Theodor Reuss maßgeblich weiterentwickelt wurde. 1912 wurde der Orden mit dem Astrum Argentum von Aleister Crowley vereinigt was zu einer großen Reform im Orden führte. Der O.T.O erlangte in der ersten Hälfte des 20. Jahrhunderts nicht zuletzt durch die schillernden Provokateur Crowley eine hohe Popularität, da sich zu der Zeit Geheimgesellschaften als Modeerscheinung besonders in den gesellschaftlichen Oberschichten großer Beliebtheit erfreuten. Ursprünglich waren die Rituale des Ordo Templi Orientis freimaurerisch mit starker Betonung der Esoterik, was allerdings durch Crowley und seine Einflüsse durch den Golden Dawn sowie von anderen Orden stark verändert wurde. Der Geheimbund strebt nun die Vervollkommnung des Menschen durch esoterische Riten an. Dabei spielt die Vervollkommnung und Vereinigung von Thelema (Wille) und Agape (Liebe) eine zentrale Rolle, weshalb auch die 93 als Symbol Verwendung findet. Seit 1985 ist Frater Hymenaeus (bürgerlich William Breeze) Caliph des Caliphat, der rechtlich legitimen Nachfolge des O.T.O. Außerhalb der USA hat die Gruppe auch Logen in Kontinentaleuropa, zur Zeit drei (1 Loge in Berlin, 2 Oasen in Hamburg und Stuttgart) in Deutschland. Weltweit hat sie etwa 3.000 Mitglieder, davon 100 in Deutschland.
The Ordo Templi Orientis, or short O.T.O. is an esoteric and occult secret society that was founded by the Viennese industrialist Karl Kellner, Heinrich Klein and the German theosophist Dr. Franz Hartmann in 1904 and significantly developed by Theodor Reuss. 1912, the Order was united with the Astrum Argentum by Aleister Crowley which led to a major reform in the Order. The O.T.O gained in the first half of the 20th Century, not least due to the Crowley provocateur dazzling high popularity since enjoyed secret societies than fad especially in the upper classes of society very popular at the time. Originally, the rituals of the Ordo Templi Orientis were Masonic ("irregular" kind of instruction Memphis-Mizraim) with a strong emphasis on esotericism, which was, however, heavily modified by Crowley and his influences by the Golden Dawn, as well as of other orders. The Secret Society are now aiming at the perfection of man through esoteric rites. The improvement and unification of Thelema (Will) and Agape (Love) plays a central role, which is why the 93 is used as a symbol. Since 1985, Frater Hymenaeus is (born William Breeze) Caliph of the Caliphate, the legally legitimate successor of the OTO Outside the U.S., the group has also lodges in continental Europe, currently three (1 Lodge in Berlin, two oases in Hamburg and Stuttgart) in Germany. Worldwide it has about 3,000 members, including 100 in Germany.
The Ordo Templi Orientis, or short O.T.O. is an esoteric and occult secret society that was founded by the Viennese industrialist Karl Kellner, Heinrich Klein and the German theosophist Dr. Franz Hartmann in 1904 and significantly developed by Theodor Reuss. 1912, the Order was united with the Astrum Argentum by Aleister Crowley which led to a major reform in the Order. The O.T.O gained in the first half of the 20th Century, not least due to the Crowley provocateur dazzling high popularity since enjoyed secret societies than fad especially in the upper classes of society very popular at the time. Originally, the rituals of the Ordo Templi Orientis were Masonic ("irregular" kind of instruction Memphis-Mizraim) with a strong emphasis on esotericism, which was, however, heavily modified by Crowley and his influences by the Golden Dawn, as well as of other orders. The Secret Society are now aiming at the perfection of man through esoteric rites. The improvement and unification of Thelema (Will) and Agape (Love) plays a central role, which is why the 93 is used as a symbol. Since 1985, Frater Hymenaeus is (born William Breeze) Caliph of the Caliphate, the legally legitimate successor of the OTO Outside the U.S., the group has also lodges in continental Europe, currently three (1 Lodge in Berlin, two oases in Hamburg and Stuttgart) in Germany. Worldwide it has about 3,000 members, including 100 in Germany.