Promoting and Advancing the Western Esoteric Tradition Since 1971
OTA Calendar for 2024
Hear Ye All!
Ye Olde O.T.A.
will be holden its annual
Winter Solstice
ceremony on
December 21st, 2024
at Rivendell in Silverado. Please arrive before dark and park snugly. Pot luck so bring a food and drink offering. Bring robes and masks.
This is an invitational event so clear any guests you want to bring with us first, by phone or email: kingsword@aol.com.
Tanit:
"Prince of Earth,
hast thou forgotten
That my rising rules the tide,
By my cycle time is reckoned
Are not my phases Nature's guide?
Only I may master Lotan Hold Him in his natural course,
All thy Solar Fire and Fury
Come to naught,
without my Force!"
The Ordo Templi Astartes announces the 50th consecutive performance of
The Ancient
Festival of Seven Gates
on the evening of
September 21st, 2024
at Rivendell in Silverado. Please arrive before dark and park snugly. Pot luck so bring a food and drink offering. Bring robes and masks.
This is an invitational event so clear any guests you want to bring with us first, by phone or email: kingsword@aol.com.
Astarte to Mot:
Seven Veils I left behind me,
In the Gates through which I passed,
Seven treasures given dearly; but I freely
yield the last!
For my hidden veil is darkness,
Where the final secrets lie...
In your pride, you have forgotten:
Even Death must surly Die!
Inquire for Thursday classes at 6pm at:
Posted by Zandria on January 14, 2025 at 1:45pm 0 Comments 4 Likes
Posted by Poke Runyon on December 3, 2024 at 4:00pm 0 Comments 3 Likes
On the evening of November 30th, 2024 Agrippa Lodge of the O.T.A., V.H. Frater Balthazar, Max Paul, Master, held the yearly Crata Repoa banquet, now dubbed "The Feast of the Gods" in the dining hall at Culver City Foshay Masonic Lodge, no. 467 attended by 30 members and guests. This was a spectacular event featuring a menu of ancient…
Posted by Poke Runyon on December 2, 2024 at 4:00pm 2 Comments 6 Likes
On the afternoon of November 23rd, 2024, the Church of the Hermetic Sciences hosted and officiated the wedding of Frater Dumuzi-Chris Machiran and his lady Rebecca Councilman. The ceremony took place out in the Henge. V.H. Soror Zandria, Lawren Runyon was Priestess and VH Frater Thabion Poke Runyon, was Hierophant. The…
ContinuePosted by Brian Lee on December 1, 2024 at 5:37pm 0 Comments 1 Like
Nosce te Ipsum
The Church of the Hermetic Sciences was founded in 1970 and incorporated in the State of California in 1971 as a religious philosophical organization dedicated to preserving and continuing the Western Esoteric Tradition through the process of ceremonial initiation and practical instruction in the Hermetic Art-Sciences of Magick, Qabalah, Alchemy, and Astrology. We follow the teachings of Hermes Trismegistus whose ancient vision is compatible with the deepest esoteric expressions of the three major Biblical religions and Freemasonry and Rosicrucianism. Our Seasonal Rites and Yoga System are based on the pre-Biblical myth cycle of ancient Canaan and the traditions of Melchizedek and King Solomon. To implement this program the Church sponsors a religious-fraternal Order, The Order of the Temple of Astarte, which is initiatory and follows the Seven Degrees of Crata Repoa, an 18th century European outline of degrees in the ancient Hermetic Tradition. To learn more about our teaching and work please visit The Hermetic Hour website and listen to our archived podcasts on all aspects of the Hermetic Arts. Each lecture is introduced by an abstract describing the subject covered. We also call your attention to our journal The Seventh Ray which is available on Amazon.com.
We offer an online Associate Member program for worthy aspirants who live beyond the reach of our Temples. This is a graduated program of instruction that parallels and compliments the initiatory sequence without actually conferring or communicating the degrees. However, with study and mentoring, the online student may earn letters of entitlement to receive the degrees. The program includes most of our regular instruction and is open to active initiates and inactive members who have moved away from our temple locations.
To be considered for Associate Membership the applicant should be over 18 years of age, and a free, law-abiding citizen of his/her country (U.S., U.K., and Canada.) You must write us a letter telling us about yourself and your reasons for wanting to join us. After we receive and evaluate your letter we may send you our Membership Application form which includes a membership agreement. You will fill this out providing the information required, sign the agreement and enclose a check or money order for thirty-five dollars $35.00 if you live in the U.S. Forty-five $45.00 if in Canada or U.K. All funds must be in USD checks and money orders made out to: The Church of the Hermetic Sciences. Send the application with payment to: The Church of the Hermetic Sciences, Dept. AM, P.O. Box 403, Silverado, CA 92676, U.S.A.
After receiving and approving your application we will send you your membership package which will include: a membership certificate suitable for framing, a yearly identification card, an updated copy of The Book of Solomon's Magick and The Magick of Solomon DVD (your course text), The Rites of Magick DVD, 20% discount coupons for all other CHS/OTA and Maelstrom publications and productions, and a gift certificate for a free copy of Beyond Lemuria 2nd Edition with your first coupon order. You will also receive the access code to this website where you will find your lessons and can interact with other members and keep up with Church and Order news and activities.
Tu es Deus
Thabion VIIo
by Brian Lee Added December 1, 2024 at 5:22pm
by Frater Laetus Added December 23, 2022 at 1:37pm
by Maciej Langner Added September 8, 2021 at 7:11am
by Abc123 Added January 26, 2021 at 2:50pm
by George Paul Luttmann Added January 2, 2021 at 10:06pm
by Robert Added April 16, 2020 at 10:44pm
This site is for Associate and Active Members of The Church of the Hermetic Sciences.
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The Hermetic Hour with host Poke Runyon will present a discussion on the vast Central Asian kingdom of Tartaria and the medieval legend of Prester John, the mysterious Christian monarch who was said to have ruled a huge empire West of China and to have written letters to the Pope and kings in Europe. Mentioned by Marco Polo and other European travelers to the Orient Prester John was a political Holy Grail quest for Crusaders seeking allies against the Muslims. But John and his kingdom was never found -- and yet there may have been a Christian king and warlord in Central Asia in medieval times as new historical research and archeology are discovering. In Medieval times the boundaries of Tartaria stretched from China to Eastern Europe; an area defined by the conquests of Genghis Khan and his sons. Only recently have we come to realize that Europeans have been living in Central Asia for thousands of years. Many of the Central Asian tribes and even nations riding under Mongol banners in the middle ages were actually Caucasian Christians descendants of the ancient Scythians, Armenians and Indo-Europeans. The real history of Central Asia has been suppressed and mistranslated. We will suggest who the real Prester John might have been. So put on your fedora, snap your bullwhip and lets follow the Silk Road to adventure.
Be captivated by the myths and suppressed histories that connect the Scythians, Armenians, and Indo-Europeans to a Euro-Caucasian presence in these ancient lands. Uncover the historical and archaeological discoveries that challenge traditional narratives, and embark on a journey to restore the lost truths about Prester John and the influence of Western civilization in Central Asia.
This is the Hermetic Hour for Thursday February 6th, 2025 -- featuring a dramatic reading of chapters Seven, Eight and Nine of "The Tomb of Prester John" a magical adventure novel by Hermetic Hour host Poke Runyon. The protagonist of the story is the same Indiana Jonesish anthropologist Poke created and portrayed in his film "Beyond Lemuria" where we saw Doc Roland exploring the ruined city of Nan Modal. In this new adventure Roland and his beautiful belly-dancing lady archaeologist Sophie Iskandar, go in search of the fabulous tomb of the legendary medieval priest-king Prester John. They have a 12th century letter written by Prester John to emperor Frederick Barbarossa and an antique magic lantern to decode the script. They know the tomb is located somewhere in eastern Turkey but Sophie must evoke the prophetess Jezebel in a full moon ritual dance. Throughout their adventure they are stalked by Sophie's former lover Khalil ibn Iblis, a terrorist who believes he is the reincarnation of Hassan Sabbah and has revived Sabbah’s medieval cult of the Assassins. The first six chapters are already recorded in our archives and will be continuing this year on the Hermetic Hour
Mailing Address:
C.H.S., Inc.
P.O. Box 403
Silverado, CA 92676
Email:
Frater Thabion:
pokerunyon@gmail.com
Soror Zandria:
hermeticmagick@gmail.com