Terry Taylor's life after Thee Satanic Church

I've posted a few times before regarding local figure Terry Taylor, who was behind the local Satanic organization Thee Satanic Church during the 1970s (also known as The Orthodox Satanic Church, and Thee Orthodox Satanic Church of the Nethilim Rite).  Taylor also ran the esoteric bookstore House of the Occult.  After splitting with his partner in the church, Dr. Evelyn Paglini, Taylor seemed to have disappeared. 

I'd searched for information on Taylor regularly and never had any luck until finding his obituary this week.  It looks as though Taylor passed away in 2009.  He turned from Satanism in the late 1970s and moved on to hypnosis, spiritual psychology and past life regression.

Terry Taylor of Schaumburg A memorial service for Terry Taylor, 64, will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, at Willow Creek Community Church, 67 E. Algonquin Road, Barrington. Cremation was private for the family at the Countryside Crematory. Born Oct. 3, 1944, the son of Walter and Hazel (nee Dennis), he died Sunday, Aug. 30, 2009, in Schaumburg. Terry owned Spiritual Awakening Center, where he helped to change many lives. Survivors include his former wife, Janice; children, Suzie (Andrew) Hofer, Myles and Brittany; grandchildren, Jessie and Justin; sister, Pamela; and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents. - See more at: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/dailyherald/obituary.aspx?n=terry-taylor&pid=132908914#sthash.5V9TM3LL.dpuf

Terry Taylor of Schaumburg A memorial service for Terry Taylor, 64, will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, at Willow Creek Community Church, 67 E. Algonquin Road, Barrington. Cremation was private for the family at the Countryside Crematory. Born Oct. 3, 1944, the son of Walter and Hazel (nee Dennis), he died Sunday, Aug. 30, 2009, in Schaumburg. Terry owned Spiritual Awakening Center, where he helped to change many lives. Survivors include his former wife, Janice; children, Suzie (Andrew) Hofer, Myles and Brittany; grandchildren, Jessie and Justin; sister, Pamela; and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents. For information, 630-529-5751 or www.countrysidefuneralhomes.com. - See more at: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/dailyherald/obituary.aspx?n=terry-taylor&pid=132908914#sthash.5V9TM3LL.dpuf

Terry Taylor of Schaumburg A memorial service for Terry Taylor, 64, will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, at Willow Creek Community Church, 67 E. Algonquin Road, Barrington. Cremation was private for the family at the Countryside Crematory. Born Oct. 3, 1944, the son of Walter and Hazel (nee Dennis), he died Sunday, Aug. 30, 2009, in Schaumburg. Terry owned Spiritual Awakening Center, where he helped to change many lives. Survivors include his former wife, Janice; children, Suzie (Andrew) Hofer, Myles and Brittany; grandchildren, Jessie and Justin; sister, Pamela; and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents. For information, 630-529-5751 or www.countrysidefuneralhomes.com. - See more at: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/dailyherald/obituary.aspx?n=terry-taylor&pid=132908914#sthash.5V9TM3LL.dpuf

Terry Taylor's Obituary

Terry Taylor, 64, of Schaumburg died Sunday, August 30, 2009 in Schaumburg. Born October 3, 1944. He was the son of Walter and Hazel, nee Dennis. Terry owned Spiritual Awakening Center where he helped to change many lives.

Survivors include former wife Janice; children Suzie (Andrew) Hofer, Myles and Brittany; grandchildren Jessie and Justin; sister Pamela and several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

A memorial service will be Friday, September 18, 2009 at 11 a.m. at Willow Creek, 67 E Algonquin Rd, Barrington. Cremation was private for the family at the Countryside Crematory.

erry Taylor of Schaumburg A memorial service for Terry Taylor, 64, will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, at Willow Creek Community Church, 67 E. Algonquin Road, Barrington. Cremation was private for the family at the Countryside Crematory. Born Oct. 3, 1944, the son of Walter and Hazel (nee Dennis), he died Sunday, Aug. 30, 2009, in Schaumburg. Terry owned Spiritual Awakening Center, where he helped to change many lives. Survivors include his former wife, Janice; children, Suzie (Andrew) Hofer, Myles and Brittany; grandchildren, Jessie and Justin; sister, Pamela; and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents. - See more at: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/dailyherald/obituary.aspx?n=terry-taylor&pid=132908914#sthash.ZxptxWhD.dpuf

After learning this, it was much easier to learn of Taylor's activities over the years.  Some of his writing can be found online, including an essay on the Spirit of Ma'at website:  What is Ascension? The Pathway To Your Next Consciousness

Terry Taylor of Schaumburg A memorial service for Terry Taylor, 64, will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, at Willow Creek Community Church, 67 E. Algonquin Road, Barrington. Cremation was private for the family at the Countryside Crematory. Born Oct. 3, 1944, the son of Walter and Hazel (nee Dennis), he died Sunday, Aug. 30, 2009, in Schaumburg. Terry owned Spiritual Awakening Center, where he helped to change many lives. Survivors include his former wife, Janice; children, Suzie (Andrew) Hofer, Myles and Brittany; grandchildren, Jessie and Justin; sister, Pamela; and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents. For information, 630-529-5751 or www.countrysidefuneralhomes.com. - See more at: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/dailyherald/obituary.aspx?n=terry-taylor&pid=132908914#sthash.5V9TM3LL.dpuf

Terry Taylor of Schaumburg A memorial service for Terry Taylor, 64, will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, at Willow Creek Community Church, 67 E. Algonquin Road, Barrington. Cremation was private for the family at the Countryside Crematory. Born Oct. 3, 1944, the son of Walter and Hazel (nee Dennis), he died Sunday, Aug. 30, 2009, in Schaumburg. Terry owned Spiritual Awakening Center, where he helped to change many lives. Survivors include his former wife, Janice; children, Suzie (Andrew) Hofer, Myles and Brittany; grandchildren, Jessie and Justin; sister, Pamela; and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents. For information, 630-529-5751 or www.countrysidefuneralhomes.com. - See more at: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/dailyherald/obituary.aspx?n=terry-taylor&pid=132908914#sthash.5V9TM3LL.dpuf

Terry Taylor's biograpy read:
Terry has worked in the Spiritual Community for 35 years, owning two metaphysical Bookstores and the School of Advanced Esoteric Studies. Degreed in Clinical Psychology, he has operated within a private and group practice since 1975. His residencies consist of Madden Mental Health Center, Phobicare Group Practice, Garret's Wellness Center, Mel Doerr's Health and Holistic Center and now the Spiritual Awakening Center. Terry Taylor's practice is an integration of psychotherapy, clinical hypnosis and spiritual psychology leading towards your ascension into your next level of consciousness. He can be reached at: TerryTaylor@Ameritech.net, www.SpiritualAwakeningCenter.com.

While the Spiritual Awakening Center website is no longer active, it is archived on the archive.org site.  Many PDFs of his writing can be found in the archive of the Spiritual Awakening Center's "Archives" page: 

https://web.archive.org/web/20080702223438/http://www.spiritualawakeningcenter.com/archives.html

While Taylor publicly moved away from Satanism during his later years, that doesn't mean that he avoided controversy.  One exposé on CBS2, as archived on the website "Cult Education Institute" is particularly damning. 


Critics also worry that Taylor's technique could result in false memories being implanted in the minds of his clients -- like those who now believe they had relatives in a past life who sexually abused them.
"The danger is that they believe these things and they may carry some of these feelings into the current life," says Stephen Kahn.
Taylor says he's qualified to handle possible dangers telling potential clients, "You have to make sure you are with a hypnotist who knows how to work with that. Remember I am also a psychologist too."
But he's not. Taylor only has a Master's degree in psychology -- but no Doctorate degree and no state license. Both are required for Taylor to legally call himself a psychologist.
"I'm told you can't say that," Zekman says.
"No probably not," he replies.
In brochures, Taylor calls himself a transformational psychotherapist.
"Is that a name you made up?" asks Zekman.
"Yes, yes. That's the name I put out there to show what I'm doing," says Taylor.

Like many other Chicago occultists (such as L.W. de Laurence) Terry Taylor seems to have walked the line between being an influential leader and shameless huckster.  As always, I would love to have more information about Terry Taylor, to learn more of his work.

Pagan Time Relived, 1985

Local Psychotherapist / Astrotherapist Alan Salmi ( website / Facebook ) recently posted this image to the Chicago Pagans group on Facebook. 

 

Alan says:

"For those of you who think Pagans are recent in Chicago: this is from Feb. of 1985. My teacher, Althea had been initiated more than ten years before that in Chicago. She's left of center and is now coming on 40 years of magickal practice. Before that occult revival, there were Theosophists, new thought practitioners, magickal lodges, masonic groups, spiritualists and groups with contacts to inner plane masters. Chicago has been a center for the esoteric community for years and years!"

Another location related to the Process

In going through previous posts, it occurred to me that I had accidentally omitted one location that had previously been home to the Process.  The previous post regarding the presence of the Process in Chicago is located here.

Located just down the block from the other locations associated with the Process and related groups, this Deming street home (associated with the Process in 1976) is yet another beautiful home in another affluent area.

Historical locations related to L.W. de Laurence - Edited!

On Halloween I decided to stop by some locations of interest regarding L.W. de Laurence. De Laurence was a local publisher, hypnotist, mail order innovator, swindler and the head of at least two local magical orders. For more information, follow this link to previous posts regarding de Laurence.

Due to a typo on my part, I originally visited an incorrect location.  Many thanks to David Metcalfe for pointing this out to me.  The post and accompanying photographs have now been corrected.

The first location, at 3340 S. Michigan Ave., was listed in 1915 as being the home of de Laurence's Order of the Black Rose.  That same year the Order's address was also listed as being on Wabash.  Whether the Order moved, or whether the local press confused de Laurence's organization with his publishing headquarters is unclear.  Unfortunately the original building no longer stands, and this location is now occupied by a generic building on the Illinois Institute of Technology campus.

Also in 1915, this location on E. 47th St. is listed as his home address. 

Satanism in the Suburbs: Exploring previous locations of Thee Satanic Church

Terry Taylor's Thee Satanic Church operated in and around Chicago in between 1971 and 1974, under a variety of incarnations including The Orthodox Satanic Church, and Thee Orthodox Satanic Church of the Nethilim Rite.  Previously I've posted an introduction with newspaper articles (including the involvement of Dr. Evelyn Paglini), and a magazine advertisement for the organization.  Thee Satanic Church was operated in conjunction with Taylor's bookstore, House of Occult (not to be confused with the Occult Bookstore, as many books and websites erroneously report).

I was curious as to the locations that these entities inhabited, and made a trek to the various houses and storefronts that used to house this local Satanic group.  One of the more interesting aspects was the incredibly quaint suburban surroundings where Taylor, Paglini & company continued to place their diabolical organizations.

This Edgewater building was listed as the home of Terry Taylor's bookstore, House of the Occult, in 1972.  Advertisements for the bookstore featured a design that included the logo of Taylor's

 This Oak Park residence was home to Thee Satanic Church, according to various advertisements and other sources around 1974.

This western Chicago ice cream shop sits on the 1974 location of Taylor's House of Occult bookshop.

This is the location in Melrose Park, listed in various sources as late as 1976 as being home to both Thee Satanic Church and the International Psychic Center (the organization which Paglini directed Thee Satanic Church into after the split with Taylor - some sources make this sound like an offshoot, some consider Thee Satanic Church to be a rival organization to Taylor's).

Dr. Evelyn Paglini, just a few years after her split from Taylor, on television advising regarding the "Curse of the Evil Devil Stone."


Dr. Evelyn Paglini has remained in the public eye, but I can find no trace of Taylor.  If anyone has any further information, it would be greatly appreciated!

Tubal Cain and the White City

Ray Johnson tracked down the whereabouts of a statue of Tubal Cain which was a part of the Columbian Exhibition of 1893.  Long thought missing, it turns out Tubal Cain is safe and sound in Peotone, IL.

Please read more at:  http://www.chicagonow.com/chicago-strange-haunted-history/2013/01/tubal-cain-left-the-white-city-with-no-forwarding-address/

The Second City, witchcraft and comedy

Many thanks to Chas Clifton for forwarding this article to me.  Taki's Magazine details the mysterious figure of Del Close and his connection to both the national comedy scene and witchcraft.

"From the late 1960s until his death in 1999, Close taught long form at Second City Toronto and Chicago and served as SNL’s “house metaphysician.” No wonder the names of his other devoted disciples read like a comedy hall of fame: Dan Aykroyd, John Belushi, John Candy, Andy Dick, Chris Farley, Shelley Long, and Gilda Radner, to name a very few."

 

 

 http://takimag.com/article/comedy_for_the_devil_kathy_shaidle/print#ixzz2WleB8gib

Sabaen Order photograph

Without a doubt, the most popular subject here on Occult Chicago is the Sabean Religious Order. 

I've recently come across some more information about Odun Arechaga and the Sabaens, and a few people have emailed me with their personal involvement with the group.  I'll share some of this once I have a chance, but for now enjoy this photograph.

Advertisement for Thee Satanic Chuch, 1974

I recently came across this 1974 advertisement for Thee Satanic Church.

Not to be confused with the Church of Satan, Thee Satanic Church (at various times / incarnations known as Thee Satanic Orthodox Church of Nethilim Rite, among other things) was run locally by Terry Taylor.

For more information, see the previous post about Terry Taylor and Satanism in Chicago.

Does anyone know if Terry Taylor is still around? 

Dr. Bronner, public crucifixion and Chicago

In honor of Easter, a Chicago story related to a crucifixion.

I'd always assumed that Dr. Bronner's religious essays on the side of soap bottles was somehow related to an extremely right-wing Christian sect.  To be honest, I'd never thought much of it.

Image courtesy Wikipedia.

Recently we have been moving toward more natural products in our home, and Jane purchased a gigantic bottle of Bronner's 18-in-1 soap.  I started reading the bottle and noticed an interestingly singular amalgamation of various belief systems - Christianity, Judaism and references to authors such as Rudyard Kipling.

Bronner it seems has a much more fascinating background than one might anticipate. 

Not surprisingly, a bit of research brings Bronner's antics directly through Chicago.

Three are Sought in Crucifixion of Chicago Man - The Evening Independent, March 10, 1945

An escape from a mental institution in Elgin immediately followed this incident.

Choronzon Club on Facebook?

Interestingly enough, the Choronzon Club appears to now be represented on Facebook.

Tau Choronzon I (1897-1987), from Choronzon Club on Facebook

Hermetic Brotherhood of Light, the Hermetic Brotherhood of Luxor, the OTO and Chicago

There is a bit of confusion surrounding the Hermetic Brotherhood of Light.  What was it, and what was its connection to the Hermetic Brotherhood of Luxor?  Were they one and the same?  Many seem to be under the impression that they were, and it's an easy enough conclusion to jump to. 

There are rumors of a Hermetic Brotherhood of Light operating early enough for Paschal Beverly Randolph to have been a member, and persisting long enough to eventually transform into the OTO.  There are rumors that the highly influential Hermetic Brotherhood of Luxor had ties to Chicago.  The whole situation is quite confusing, and it doesn't make matters easier when considering that many of these organizations had habits that included claiming a lineage of over 4000 years, associating themselves with names of those long dead.

Here is what I have been able to determine.  Of course, I would love to hear from anyone with more information.

The Hermetic Brotherhood of Luxor was founded in 1870 and premiered publicly in 1884.  The H.B.L. was heavily inspired by the teachings of Paschal Beverly Randolph, though they later drew a bit of distance from him after deeming his suicide to be unsavory.  They also had a bit of a rivalry with the Theosophical Society - despite sharing many similar beliefs, approaches and even members, the two organizations had a bit of a public sparring match.

Despite rumors, I have yet to find any information linking the H.B.L. to Chicago.  The Theosophical Society was already firmly established here, and I have to wonder if they had a mutual understanding to keep their distance.  Still the influence of the Hermetic Brotherhood of Luxor was felt in Chicago, with several splinter groups arising here.

"Dr. W.P. Phelon and his wife, both of whom were prominent Theosophists and members of the H.B. of L., founded and ran the curiously named "Hermetic Brotherhood of Atlantis, Luxor and Elephantae," first in Chicago and then in San Francisco, and published a variety of "Hermetic Manuscripts" and a Hermetic Journal." -The Hermetic Brotherhood of Luxor, Initiatic and Historical Documents of an Order of Practical Occultism, Jocelyn Godwin, Christian Chanel and John P Deveny.

After moving to San Francisco, the Phelons apparently shortened their organization's name to simply "the Hermetic Brotherhood," with their publishing company being the "Hermetic Book Concern."  Their chosen symbolism is interesting in that it employs an ouroboros lifted directly from the Hermetic Brotherhood of Luxor, with a winged swastika, combining symbolism from both the H.B. of L. and the Theosophical Society.

Another organization following the H.B. of L. with links to Chicago was the Hermetic Brotherhood of Light:
"Finally, there was the Hermetic Brotherhood of Light, founded or reorganized in Chicago or in Boston in 1895, whose teachings fed the streams of sexual practice flowing into the Ordo Templi Orientis of Theodor Reuss and eventually into the works of Aleister Crowley." -The Hermetic Brotherhood of Luxor, Initiatic and Historical Documents of an Order of Practical Occultism, Jocelyn Godwin, Christian Chanel and John P Deveny.

Information regarding the Hermetic Brotherhood of Light is scarce.  Even authorities on the subject seem unsure as to its origins - was it a group inspired by the Hermetic Brotherhood of Luxor, or was it the other way around?  What is known is that the teachings of the Hermetic Brotherhood of Light went on to inspire, if not itself become, the Ordo Templi Orientis.

From the 1917 constitution of the OTO, by Theodor Reuss:
"While numberless societies, associations, orders, groups, etc., have been founded during the last thirty years in all parts of the civilised world, all following some line of occult study, yet there is but ONE ancient organization of genuine Mystics which shows to the seeker after truth a Royal Road to discover the Lost Mysteries of Antiquity and to the Unveiling of the One Hermetic Truth.
This organization is known at the present time as the:
Ancient Order of Oriental Templars
Ordo Templi Orientis
Otherwise: The Hermetic Brotherhood of Light."

 Did a Chicago organization have a hand in the eventual organization of the OTO?  Perhaps it shouldn't be too surprising, considering the fact that both Aleister Crowley and Charles Stansfeld Jones (Frater Achad) lived here at one point.

supplemental materials for a recent lecture

I was kindly asked to speak yesterday at DePaul University.  I gave a presentation for Jason Winslade's class, regarding the history of the occult in Chicago.  I discussed personalities, publications and organizations.  After my lecture, the students went on a brief walking tour to spot some locations of interest.  When they returned, I had a few publications sitting on the table to spark a bit of conversation.

Chicago, Satan's Sanctum

Unfortunately this 1899 book is about local crime.  Still, the cover is charming enough. 
The entire book is available to download as PDF from archive.orghttp://archive.org/details/chicagosatanssan00curo

The Nature of Ghosts and the Human Spirit

Speaking of Leadbeater, he's mentioned in this offer to make some cash in exchange for proving that ghosts exist.  Take a look at this wonderful artwork!

Chicago Examiner, 1908

And for even more amazing artwork...  "After You Are Dead."

Also from the Chicago Examiner, 1908. 

Steinway Hall

Built in 1896, Steinway Hall was located at 64 E Van Buren St.  The building went through a variety of name changes over the years and also housed a number of activities of interest to readers here.

Image courtesy the Steinway Hall Wikipedia page.

In its early days, the 11-story office building housed a number of architects, including Frank Lloyd Wright (who remained in the building until 1908). During this time, Steinway Hall was briefly being advertised as a "Temple of Magic."

Image courtesy the Chicago Magic blog.  While focusing on stage magic, there is definitely information of interest.

Image of the theater during it's run as the "Punch and Judy Theater" courtesy the Cinema Treasures website.


The 850-seat theater in the building originally was a branch of Ziegfeld's theaters (while the Follies were taking off in New York, Flo Ziegfeld was originally from Chicago).  The theater was home to acts such as Sophie Tucker and Fatty Arbuckle.  In 1915 the theater's name was changed and Shakespearean plays were produced.

The same theater was rented out by the Theosophical Society, who secured every Sunday for a six month period of time.  During this time, Charles Leadbeater lectured on a variety of subjects relating to the occult and Theosophy.  Leadbeater, having just arrived from England, packed the theater to the extent that would-be listeners regularly had to be turned away at the door.  His lectures here in Chicago would be published as the book Some Glimpses of Occultism Ancient and Modern.

In 1941, after the schism of C.F. Russell's Choronzon Club, one of the splinter groups housed itself at Steinway Hall (practically around the corner from the Fine Arts Building where they had previously met).  They would remain here until the 1960s, when they would return to the Fine Arts Building.    For more information on this, please visit my previous post regarding C.F. Russell and the Fine Arts Building.

Around this time the theater was being used to show adult movies.  Public sentiment had swayed against the building, and it was demolished on April 5, 1970.  Apparently it was written in the Chicago Tribune that “Few, if any, will mourn it.”

In its place, we now have a parking lot.

readings regarding the Ordo Adeptorum Invisiblum

Since the last post regarding the OAI received so much attention, I thought that I would post a follow-up with some additional readings.

Firstly:
 

O.A.I. MANIFESTO: ORIGIN, HISTORY, ORGANIZATION.

BY

PERSONA SKIA

of the

Ordo Adeptorum Invisiblum

(1982)TRANSCRIBED AND EDITED BY

Don Karr

(2008)
(Readable online or download)
http://www.scribd.com/doc/47462148/OAI-Manifesto


The website Digital Brilliance hosts several PDFs of interest, written by Don Karr, 416 and others associated with OAI.
Liber Samekh He, The Process of Initiation and many more.
http://www.digital-brilliance.com/contributed/Karr/Maat/index.php


The Hermetic Library elaborated on my post, filling in many gaps.  Thanks to them I learned that Nema is still around, and her writings are to be found in a number of places.  While not from Chicago, her writings influenced the OAI, and will no doubt be of interest to many readers here.  She authored the book Maat Magic, A Guide to Self Initiation, which was published by Weiser.


Official Transcript of the Incoming of the Aeon of Maat
http://hermetic.com/wisdom/pennae_praenumbra.html

Beta:  A Comment on Communications From the Aeon of Maat

http://hermetic.com/wisdom/beta.html

Interview with Nema
http://hermetic.com/beastbay/956557509/


An interview with Nema on the now defunct Thelema Coast to Coast podcast.  I am about to listen to this so can't fully comment, but it appears that her portion is a small bit of a much larger show.
http://hermetic.com/tctc/archives/31

William Walker Atkinson, the Kyballion and the Yogi Publication Society

I've been putting off posting about William Walker Atkinson due to the fact that there is such a wealth of information that I honestly don't know where to begin.  Simply put, Atkinson was a writer, publisher and major player in the New Thought Movement.  The full story is much more complicated than that.

Atkinson (1862 - 1932) worked in a variety of professions, settling into the role of lawyer while in Pennsylvania.  After a variety of ups and downs in his personal life, he disappeared for six weeks around the turn of the century with a renewed passion for life and interest in the occult.  At this point he immediately moved to Chicago and began writing articles under his own name and a variety of pseudonyms, including Theron Q. Dumont and Yogi Ramacharaka.

In Chicago he also founded the Yogi Publication Society, which was located in the  Masonic Temple building - the name sounded great for the publishing company, but there was actually no Masonic affiliation with the Yogi Publication Society.  The Masonic Temple was the city's first skyscraper - the Masons met on the top floors, the rest were rented to a variety of different businesses.

The Yogi Publication Society published the Kyballion, a book of Hermetic teachings which was compiled by "Three Initiates."  Shrouded in mystery, it is now accepted that Atkinson himself wrote this book.

The Chicago Examiner, in 1910, with an article introducing yoga to the general public via Atkinson's pseudonym, Yogi Ramacharaka (here spelled Ramachakra).

The Yogi Publication Society still exists, though their website leaves a bit to be desired. 

Luckily for us, Philip Deslippe has dedicated himself to unraveling the mysteries surround Atkinson's life and abundant literary output.  He has recently released a definitive edition of the Kyballion.

For an excellent interview with Deslippe regarding Atkinson, visit this podcast on Occult of Personality.  After you listen to that interview, listen to all of the remaining on the site, as they are all excellent.

Of note to those paying attention, Atkinson co-authored one book with infamous local L.W. de Laurence entitled Psychomancy and Crystal Gazing.

the advertisements of L.W. de Laurence

I've held off posting more about Lauren de Laurence, as I assumed that others were probably getting tired of hearing about my personal favorite local dubious historical publisher.  After some positive feedback, I'm giving in and posting a few things that I've come across.

Firstly, Michael Nowicki has posted several images from de Laurence's catalogs, along with an amusing story on Rosicrucians.org.

 

 According to Nowicki, the de Laurence company was still in business in the 1960s (despite the fact that de Laurence himself died in 1936).  Rather than post his story here, I'm just going to suggest that you visit the website to read his anecdote about visiting the de Laurence company.

A Tarot website at http://home.comcast.net/~vilex includes many images regarding the de Laurence Company's Tarot deck (a blatant copy of the Ryder-Waite deck).  The author goes into great detail regarding different printings of de Laurence's deck and related books.

"The Key to the Tarot: Oracles Behind the Veil, by Dr. L.W. de Laurence. It is, or should be, common knowledge that this book is AE Waite's Pictorial Key to the Tarot word for word!"

A very interesting read for those interested in the history of occult literature.  Start here for several pages of scans and information:  http://home.comcast.net/~vilex/Adverts.html


Website Church of Good Luck includes scans of de Laurence's catalogs.  Follow the link to see several advertisements.

"Artist's Conception of de Laurence Wearing a Turban and a Tunic"

"De Laurence wrote a lot of his own material in addition to his habit of "borrowing", and what he wrote best was ad copy.  He managed to fill over 500 pages in his 1931 catalog, and it stands to this day as a monument to bombast."

And so that I am able to contribute something of my own, here is a snapshot of the back page of an issue of Occult Digest from 1933 (three years before de Laurence would pass away).  Included are ads for Practical Lessons in Hypnotism and Magnetism, and The Great Book of Magical Art, Hindu Magic and East Indian Occultism.  The latter, you may recall, was found in a local bookstore (with alternate "Hindoo" spelling).

Ordo Adeptorum Invisiblum

While the Ordo Adeptorum Invisiblum was originally founded in England in 1979, their United States headquarters were established in Chicago in 1981.

From what I can determine, the OAI practiced a form of feminist Thelema.

The OAI also adopts feminist principles and practices—not the anti-male separatist variety—but in its non-sexist androgynous philosophy. Women are not the vehicle of a male seed, a male High Priest. They are magickal people in their own right. The history of female magickal energy is far older than that of the male, but it has been overshadowed by the masculine principle. The OAI seeks to rectify this by balancing the imbalance through women seeking to rediscover and reassert themselves, while male members minimize as far as possible their aggressiveness and dominance. In turn, this will lead to a more directly  visible equality and non-hierarchical structure within the group and in rituals.


The OAI teachings followed Aleister Crowley, Jack Parsons and an Ohio woman known as Nema, following a Maatian Current. 

From Western Esoteric Family III: Magick:

The Ordo Adeptorum Invisiblum (OAI) is a British-based thelemicist order aligned
to the Maatian magical “current.” It grew out of the proclamation of the magical
Aeon of Ma (or Maat) proclaimed in 1948 by Frater Achad (Charles Stansfeld
Jones). Maat is the ancient Egyptian goddess of Truth and Justice. The order looks
toward a planetary manifestation of the presence of Maat, whose coming has been
heralded by three twentieth-century trends: the great liberation movements lead-
ing to the recognition of human rights; the attempts to balance male-dominated
Western magic; and the nonelitist androgynous approach to magic practiced by
Maatian groups. In recognition of their acceptance of feminist liberation concerns
and the nonsexist nature of their magical workings, members of the OAI have
dropped the use of common designations of male and female members as frater
and soror in favor of the single designation persona.
 
The OAI began in England in 1979 in the informal workings of three Thelemic
magicians (two women and one man). In 1980 they made a formal alignment to
the Aeon of Maat and thus the OAI came into existence. At the end of the year, the
three original members separated. One went to Fez, Morocco, and the following
year, one came to Chicago, where the first members of the OAI were received.
 
The order has developed as a very loose confederation of otherwise independ-
ent magicians pursuing their own magical experiments in alignment to the
Maatian Aeon. Periodically, members will gather for group rituals. New initiates are
received after their successful performance of Liber Samekh He, a revised version of
Liber Samekh, a Thelemic ritual designed to promote conversation with one’s Holy
Guardian Angel (higher self). The order is nonhierarchical. Leadership can be exer-
cised by any member and teaching is a matter of sharing the results of individual
ritual workings with the larger membership. All members have access to all mate-
rials possessed by the order.
 
Membership: In 1985 members of the order, reported to number less than 100,
could be found in England, the Chicago metropolitan area, and California.
 



While their history and manifesto is easily found online as a PDF, their many other writings are much more difficult to find.  I've yet to find a listing for their Chicago headquarters, or any other information for that matter.  As always, those with information are encouraged to make contact.