The letters O.T.O. stand for Ordo Templi Orientis, the Order of the Oriental Templars, or Order of the Temple of the East. The O.T.O. is a serious and esoteric religious Order, dedicated to securing the Liberty of the Individual, and his or her advancement in Light, Wisdom, Understanding, Knowledge, and Power. This is accomplished through Beauty, Courage, and Wit, on the Foundation of Universal Brotherhood. The O.T.O. is in sympathy with the traditional ideals of Freemasonry, and was the first of the Old Aeon orders to accept The Book of the Law.
Many aspirants to the Great Work have a genuine need for information, guidance, fellowship, or the opportunity to assist their fellow aspirants and serve humanity. Such aspirants will find welcome in the O.T.O.
The structure of the O.T.O., like that of Freemasonry and the ancient mystery schools, is based on a graded series of initiations, or Degrees. In these Degrees, the O.T.O. seeks to instruct the Individual by allegory and symbol in the profound mysteries of Existence, and thereby to assist each to discover his or her own true Nature.
The O.T.O. also includes the Gnostic Catholic Church (Ecclesia Gnostica Catholica), whose central public and private rite is “Liber XV,” the Gnostic Mass.
The O.T.O. has active branches around the world. In addition to the official O.T.O. instructions and the celebrations of the Gnostic Mass, many national and regional O.T.O. Lodges, Oases and Camps offer classes and study programs to its members.