The Order of the Oriental Templars (OTO) is also known as the Order of the Temple of the East or the Order of the Temple of the East.
- Karl Kellner, a German Freemason and occultist, founded a magical organization and metaphysical society in the early 1900s.
- OTO was created as a contemporary version of Templarism, based on the historical Knights Templar.
- Kellner traveled to India to study Tantra and was influenced by American occult master Pascal Beverly Randolph's followers.
- Randolph claimed to have traveled extensively across the Eastern Hemisphere and had the key to all Hermetic and Masonic secrets via holy sexual magic and Templar occult techniques.
- The OTO was founded on the concept of utilizing sexual energy in ritual magic. Trained adepts use the sexual excitement energy for transformative purposes.
- Kellner died in 1905, and Theodor Reuss became the Order's new head.
- In 1912, he asked Aleister Crowley to establish an English chapter of the Order.
- Crowley became the Order's head when Reuss resigned in 1922.
- OTO branches are presently operating in a number of countries.
You may also want to read more about Paganism here.
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