[Opinion] Cakes of Light

[Faria]

Thelema as an organized religion revolves around the performance of the Gnostic Mass, featuring sacramental "cakes of light."

The description of these in The Book of the Law includes a simple recipe of meal, honey, a mixture of several oils, and blood. The book gives several different options for which kinds of blood to use.

Best is menstrual blood, followed by "that falling from the host of heaven," next that of children, next those of the celebrants, and lastly any kind of animal blood.

If you have ever eaten one at a Gnostic Mass, you are also eating semen, which is almost universally included in these. But why? It's not in the recipe. It has no place in the cakes of light.

So why is it used? The answer is that "hosts of heaven" line. Supposedly that is the justification for using semen. But to me, that is in error. The hosts of heaven might be martyrs, angels, maybe even space aliens, but there is no reason to see this as an instruction to make spooge cookies.

Anyone wishing to subvert the OTO and practice a form of organized Thelema that is not just a sub-political sex and drugs trafficking platform, consider using the original recipe and observe the difference in effect.

 

[Yazata]

The website of Peter König is a treasure trove for anyone interested in anything (absolutely anything) related to the OTO. According to several things I've read on there they consider semen to be the universal medicine and this was already so in the days of Reuss

 

[silencewaits]

Remind me to never attend one of those then! As for why they would include semen, it's probably because they also put menstrual blood in there. But I don't understand consuming it. And the blood of children line is surely a jest, no? No idiot would seriously believe that.

 

[Faria]

Remind me to never attend one of those then! As for why they would include semen, it's probably because they also put menstrual blood in there. But I don't understand consuming it. And the blood of children line is surely a jest, no? No idiot would seriously believe that.

The original recipe is clear that the blood choice is an either-or. There is no mention of using two types. It is included to cater to the sexual perversions of the organizers and is completely absent in the Book of the Law formula.

The cakes have several uses besides eating. If they are kept and attract bugs, the insects are named after enemies while squashing them. They can also be burned, or in the Mass of the Phoenix, used as a band-aid.

Children's blood is meant to be just that. When your kid has an injury, instead of seeing it as a setback, they make a cookie and get to make a wish, teaching the children to grow stronger and make the most of their troubles. Children are an important part of the Gnostic Mass, and are also universally absent in OTO rituals.

 

[silencewaits]

The original recipe is clear that the blood choice is an either-or. There is no mention of using two types. It is included to cater to the sexual perversions of the organizers and is completely absent in the Book of the Law formula.

The cakes have several uses besides eating. If they are kept and attract bugs, the insects are named after enemies while squashing them. They can also be burned, or in the Mass of the Phoenix, used as a band-aid.

Children's blood is meant to be just that. When your kid has an injury, instead of seeing it as a setback, they make a cookie and get to make a wish, teaching the children to grow stronger and make the most of their troubles. Children are an important part of the Gnostic Mass, and are also universally absent in OTO rituals.

Oh I see, thank you for enlightening me on the subject. I would also say they are catering to their fetishes in light of that. Have you ever asked one of these organizers why they do it?

 

[Faria]

Have you ever asked one of these organizers why they do it?

Yes, see the original post in this thread.

 

[Rowena]

Remind me to never attend one of those then! As for why they would include semen, it's probably because they also put menstrual blood in there. But I don't understand consuming it.

I don't know what the current practice is - but when I attended a few Gnostic Masses in the UK back in the 90s, only menstrual blood was used, and congregants had a choice of 'live' cakes (with the blood) & 'dead' cakes without it.

And the blood of children line is surely a jest, no? No idiot would seriously believe that.

Well, since it is a matter of record that Crowley elsewhere referred to wanking as 'child sacrifice' - mostly to trigger people - I would interpret that as semen, and the 'droppings from the host of heaven' as female sexual fluids. I've no idea what the current official OTO line is - but back in the 90s that was also the opinion of the UK OTO members that I knew.

 

[Libra.Libera]

Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the Law. Love is the law, love under will. This principle trumps every other convention in a healthy Thelemite order. This is to say, anybody can use their own recipe for Cakes of Light.. for better or for worse. That also means anybody can decide whether they want to take part in the communion or even participate in the mass at all.

Before attending a Gnostic Mass hopefully hosted by the EGC, I encourage you to ask the OTO lodgemaster (usually) what they use for Cakes of Light. They will be upfront about it. If you don't like the answer, you can make and bring your own Cakes of Light for Mass... at least this is how our local lodge does it.

And although I did say anybody can make their Cakes of Light however they want it, technically, it does not make sense for Cakes of Light to have semen in there. The union of the feminine and the masculine in the Mass happens AFTER consuming the cake AND the wine, not before.

Look, I'm sorry if any of you encountered people who claimed to be Thelemites but are actually crappy and gross human beings. But one or two people do not represent the whole, especially in a decentralized, libertarian religion such as Thelema. HOWEVER, if you have not done the due diligence to meet and talk with actual practicing Thelemites and you're just spouting what you see in Reddit, this reply is to counter such nonsense.

 

[Faria]

HOWEVER, if you have not done the due diligence to meet and talk with actual practicing Thelemites and you're just spouting what you see in Reddit, this reply is to counter such nonsense.

I have read and am very familiar with the content of everything magick related published by Crowley, some of his fiction and poetry, and most of the relevant commentary available in English. I have much of it memorized. I've spoken to many Thelemites and attended OTO events in several states over a roughly twenty year period, and have had many discussions about this and related topics. I say this to shed some light on where I'm coming from in making this discussion.

 

[Yazata]

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It's a fascinating read whether or not you are a Thelemite and whatever your opinion or knowledge of the OTO is. König has been initiated in several OTO groups and offshoots (though from his writings he appears to hold a grudge) . The website is vast and a true maze with biographies and background info.

 

[silencewaits]

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It's a fascinating read whether or not you are a Thelemite and whatever your opinion or knowledge of the OTO is. König has been initiated in several OTO groups and offshoots (though from his writings he appears to hold a grudge) . The website is vast and a true maze with biographies and background info.

My opinion (whatever it was before) has definitely hit rock bottom as far as opinions can go. Banger article. Thank you.