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Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the Law.

The Psychology Guild of Ordo Templi Orientis was founded in 1999, pursuant to Section 21 of Liber 194, as a body of O.T.O. members who are professionals or graduate students in psychology and related fields.

In addition to serving as a means of networking and communication among its members, the Guild has in the past presented the Pastoral Counseling Workshop. Currently the Guild is offering occasional online classes and workshops and creating distributable content for memebers and local bodies of the Order.  The guild has also published an occasional journal, Neshamah.  

For more information about Neshamah, including online ordering and the contents of all available issues,  please click here.

To view the Guild’s official Bylaws, click here.

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Copyright 2010-2020
Ordo Templi Orientis
All rights reserved.

CONTACT:

Email:  Psychology Guild

Love is the law, love under will.

Bylaws

By-Laws of The Psychology Guild of Ordo Templi Orientis

(adopted on August 1, 1999 e.v. following approval by the Areopagus and Sovereign Sanctuary of O.T.O.)

version 1.1–July 19, 2000 e.v.

version 2.0—January 27, 2002 e.v.

1. Name and Purpose

1. The name of this international association is “The Psychology Guild of Ordo Templi Orientis” (hereinafter referred to as “the Guild”).

2.  The purpose of the Guild is not to practice medicine, psychology or any regulated profession, but to provide a means of communication and cooperation among professionals of the psychological sciences, in order to promote scholarly research, discussion, and dissemination on any and all issues relevant to psychology and Magick.  No Guild members shall practice or purport to practice medicine, psychology or any related profession under the auspices of the OTO, its name, logo or legal personality. Guild activities shall include, but are not limited to, the following:

a. The Guild may create a Board of Review of five (5) members, whose task it shall be to administer the policies of the Guild, to maintain standards of high scholarly and practical value in the works produced by the Guild  and to serve as an editorial board for Guild publications.

b. The Guild shall foster the creation of contacts and the mutual exchange of experience between members in different disciplines, nations, and geographic regions.

c. The Guild shall publish an electronic newsletter comprised of the works of its members.  Printed publications will be distributed as interest and resources allow.

3.  Pursuant to Section 21 of Liber CXCIV, the Guild chooses the person most eminent in it to represent it before the Areopagus of the Eighth Degree in person or in writing at the election of the Areopagus.  The procedures for this appointment will be decided through debate among all active Guild members, at the first membership meeting, to be held after due notification to the OTO general membership of the formation of the Guild.

4.  The Guild shall hold an annual meeting, to be announced and coordinated by the Board of Review.  All members in good standing shall be notified of the time, place, and agenda of the meeting in a timely fashion and are eligible to attend.

2. Membership.

1. Basic membership in the Guild is open to any initiated member in good standing of at least the I* of O.T.O., willing to uphold the principles pursuant to Section 21 of Liber CXCIV, abide by the by-laws of the Guild, and who signs a waiver releasing OTO of all liability for the Guild and meets the requirements of basic membership.

2. Basic membership in the Guild is restricted to those who possess, or are in the process of completing, graduate degrees in any field of psychology or psychiatry.  (This includes clinical as well as academic and research-oriented sub-fields.) Membership is also open to practicing psychotherapists who possess a graduate degree in their particular discipline (including licensed clinical social workers and licensed marriage and family therapists).  Licensure and training requirements will, by necessity, vary according to the law of the jurisdiction in which the Guild is operating.

3. O.T.O. initiates who apply and are accepted for Guild membership shall receive a Certificate of Guild Membership.

4. It is the responsibility of every member of the Guild to be familiar with Liber CXCIV and the by-laws of the Guild. Any member may be expelled from the Guild for breach of the by-laws of the Guild. No member shall be expelled from the Guild without having first had an opportunity to correct, explain, or defend the breach.  Expulsion from the Guild shall be at the discretion of the Board of Review.

3.  The Board of Review.

1.  The Guild is administered by the Board of Review, as described above, (and hereinafter referred to as “the Board”).

2.  Unless otherwise provided, decisions of the Board of Review shall be made by a four-fifths majority vote of its members, and shall be announced to all members of the Guild by electronic or surface mail upon enactment. {Revised 7/19/00}

3.  All active Guild members in good standing shall be eligible to vote in the election of Board members.

4.  All active Guild members in good standing shall be eligible to sit as a member of the Board.

4.  Use of the Name or Logo of the Guild.

1.  The Guild has the exclusive right to use and authorize the Name, or Logo of the Guild.

2.  No individual or entity may use the name, or logo of the Guild to create the impression that a product, service, or any other material or activity is endorsed, recommended or supported by the Guild.

3.  No Guild member may publicly advertise their membership in the Guild or in O.T.O. for business or other commercial purposes, or use the seal or logo of O.T.O. or the Guild for such purposes.

4.  The Frater Superior of O.T.O. shall have final authority for approval of any Guild logo, seal, certificate, or emblem.

5.  Oversight, Implementation and Amendment of By-Laws.

1.  Amendments to these by-laws, subsequent to their initial promulgation, may be proposed by vote of 2/3 of the Guild membership.

2.  Proposed amendments shall be made available to the Guild membership for a comment period of 30 days.

3.  Amendments to these by-laws shall be adopted after due deliberation by the Board of Review, taking into consideration any comments made by Guild members during the comment period. The Board will revise the proposed amendments as they deem necessary and appropriate and submit them to the Areopagus for approval.

4.  The by-laws, once amended, shall be promulgated not more than seven days after the comment period has passed.

5.  The Areopagus and the Frater Superior shall have final authority over all the by-laws of the Guild.

6.  O.T.O. assumes no responsibility for the works of or views expressed by Guild members, and makes no representation of any kind concerning the validity of any publication of any Guild member.

7. These by-laws shall be considered inoperative within a jurisdiction if they conflict in any way with the laws of that jurisdiction.  Such conflicts will be resolved through direct consultation between Guild members, the Areopagus, the Frater Superior, and legal authorities in the country in question.

8. The Guild is required to report on its activities to the Areopagus in person or in writing (at the election of  the Areopagus) at each annual Areopagus meeting.

Training and Content for Local Leaders

The O.T.O. Psychology Guild has in the past offered a “Pastoral Counseling Workshop (PCW)”, and is currently offering occasional online workshops, modules and distributable content related to topics covered in the Pastoral Counseling Workshop. The purpose of these modules is to trail local body officers, clergy, and OTO members in basic counseling knowledge and skills. 

We approached the development of the PCW and subsequent content from a pragmatic point of view.  That is, we were cognizant that those serving as E.G.C. clergy and as O.T.O. body masters are already in the position of being viewed by local members as sources of guidance and aid. Anyone in such a position of leadership will eventually be approached for such aid—as a trusted senior in the Order, as a visible symbol of spiritual authority, or simply as someone who seems to know a little bit more about what’s going on in the group!  Accordingly, it is in the interests of the Order and the E.G.C.  to fortify our local leaders with the basic information and training necessary to serve in these roles.

These are the guidelines for individuals engaging in providing assistance in the area of mental health support in the context of OTO and give a sense of the purpose of our trainings and materials:

  1. We DO listen attentively,  and give feedback, comfort and support
  2. We DO provide spiritual guidance within a Thelemic context, while being respectful of our members’ autonomy and self-determination.
  3. We DO provide resources for referrals beyond the scope of our pastoral counseling  duties
  4. We do NOT provide psychological assessment and diagnosis
  5. We do NOT provide professional emergency services
One of the most common concerns about the Pastoral Counseling workshops and other trainings has been that it is impossible to train someone to be a fully-fledged pastoral counselor in a weekend.  This is a completely valid concern.  These workshops emphatically do not qualify attendees to function as professional counselors of any sort. Professional pastoral counseling accrediting agencies require graduate degrees in Divinity, or similar fields, with prior licensing/credentialing for independent therapy practice.  These qualifications are obviously far beyond our present training.  
Topics of the Pastoral Counseling Workshop and other trainings include:
  1. Basic counseling skills and techniques of intervention
  2. The basics of Family/Group Dynamics and related social/psychological theories, as applied to Thelemic communities
  3. Ethical and legal issues in Thelemic pastoral counseling
  4. Psychiatric diagnosic categories, and basic approaches to assistance for mental illness and chemical dependency issues
  5. Tools for working with Crisis Intervention, Grief Counseling, Conflict Resolution, and other issues
  6. Training in the use of appropriate referrals to outside sources of assistance
Our individual trainings and workshops as well as distributable modules have different criteria for eligibility for attendance and distribution. Please inquire at our contact below with specific questions.
***NOTE: Offerings of the in person Pastoral Counseling Workshop have been delayed indefinitely.  It is the opinion of the Guild that these workshops are best delivered in person, and they may be resumed at such a time as we have the human resources to do so. In the mean time the Guild is offering briefer occasional online trainings and materials.  For information on other offerings from the guild such as other online workshops during this time, please use the below email contact*** 
NOTE: Many of the past volumes of Neshamah consists of articles drawn from the Pastoral Counseling Workshop, and addressing many of the key content areas presented in a live context.  While the materials presented in Neshamah certainly do not replace the experience of attending a live workshop, it is hoped that they will serve as a valuable resource for those who have not yet had a chance to attend.  Additionally, for those who have already attended, the articles may be useful to have on hand as a summary of much of the material.

Neshamah

BACK ISSUES

Volume I, Number 3 (Fall 2010 E.V.)

ORDER HERE

Contents

  • For Those Who Are Left Behind. Frater Harmateus
  • Psychotherapy and the Ceremonial Magician.  David R. Hill
  • 21st Century Alchemy: The Science and Art of Mystery.  David G.Shoemaker
  • Franz Bardon and the Elemental Aspect of Character.  Lita-Luise Chappell
  • The Method of Science: Ten Steps toward Scientific Illuminism. Richard Kaczynski
  • Mindfulness in Psychology and the Path from Yesod to Tiferet.  Soror Rosasophia

Volume I, Number 1 (August 2003 E.V.)

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Contents

  • Kabbalah and Psychology. David G. Shoemaker
  • Passing Through the Halls. Sapphire Ravensong
  • The Satanic Ritual Abuse Controversy: A Case of Groupthink? Richard Kaczynski
  • New Identity. Sapphire Ravensong
  • “The Ship”:  An Alchemical Story by Aleister Crowley. A Mystery Play Revealed. Lita-Luise Chappell
  • Baptism. Sapphire Ravensong
  • Self-Efficacy and Paranormal Beliefs among University Students and Members of a Non-Traditional Religious Co-Fraternity. Gloria J. Galasso, Ernest Harrell and Debra Cox
  • Wod and Woe: An Exploration of the Relationships between Mysticism, Art and Mental Illness. Alexandra     Wellington
  • To Know An Angel. Sapphire Ravensong
  • Metaphysical Belief Correlates in a Behaviorally Committed Sample. Richard Kaczynski
  • The Final Hour. Sapphire Ravensong

Volume I, Number 2 (March 2008 E.V.)

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Contents

  • An Introduction to Pastoral Counseling in E.G.C./O.T.O. Settings. David G. Shoemaker
  • Important Dimensions of Basic Counseling Interactions: Assessment—Listening Skills—Feedback—Outcomes. Lita-Luise Chappell
  • Crisis Intervention. Frater Harmateus
  • Conflict Resolution and Mediation. Frater Harmateus
  • Sexuality Issues in Pastoral Counseling. Vere Chappell
  • Grief Counseling. Frater Harmateus
  • Perceptions of the Availability of Spiritually Appropriate Mental Health Counseling in an Alternative Spirituality Population: A Qualitative Pilot Study. Keith Cates and John Nance
  • Findings from a Survey of O.T.O. Members. Vere Chappell
  • Development, Identity and the Magician. Soror Rosasophia