Greetings Ben,
On Feb 2, 2008, at 10:25 AM, Caduceus Books wrote:
> Crowley formulated his version of the OTO to express (and indulge?)
> his sexuality with degrees exploring masturbation, heterosexual sex
> and homosexual sex.
There is no homosexual degree in OTO. You may be thinking of a
specific meaning and technique attributed to V.I.T.R.I.O.L. . That is
not related to gender. In his journals, Crowley referred to himself
as the recipient and experimented with female and male partners.
Arguably, all these things most(?) of us who grew up during the sexual
revolution take for granted (exploring masturbation, PIV outside
marriage, cunnilingus, fellatio, anal penetration, PIV w/menstrual
blood) could be read into the Memphis and Mizraim long before Crowley's
arrival. But, I'm not certain that was Yarker's intention. Certainly
Reuss', however. That was the attraction for Crowley - that these
things were already present in OTO and that he could use it all with
the intention of overcoming his own repression/taboos much as the Panca
Tattvas might be used by a nice Brahmin young man.
> Garner formulated Wicca to do likewise. Nudity, a bit of bondage,
> flagellation and heterosexual sex
This was Aidan Kelly's assertion, hotly refuted by CalGards who insist
Gardner intended these methods to induce altered states of
consciousness perhaps much like the ecstatic state of "entheos" Maenads
go into at a modern Dionysia put on by Hellenic Reconers. But, perhaps
this is another post-1970s era accretion. Omnia mutantur.
> Grant in his version of the O.T.O., not being a fan of male gay sex,
> changed the 11th degree from homosexual to heterosexual sex when the
> woman is menstruating.
There is no homosexual degree in OTO. The XI* is a method not related
to gender.
Felicia Swayne-Heidrick
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