A Guest Post by Sister Lita-Luise Chappell
[This post was provided to me by Sister Lita at my request. I will be hosting guest posts here from time to time. If you would like to provide content, please reach out and let me know! -editor]
In early 2015, an email of inquiry went out to all O.T.O. Grand Masters, Frater Superior Representatives, and as many Masters and Secretaries of each local body around the world. Had they or any of their predecessors presented the Rites of Eleusis? If so, please respond. All the information about those rites would contribute to our Order’s overall knowledge of how well Crowley’s works had stimulated his inheritors. The response received was nothing short of amazing, and that information was presented at the Centennial Conference in Vancouver, Canada, in May of 2015.
As the information came flooding back, an Excel was produced, listing each country, the name of the local body, the date performed, which rite was presented, and any commentary about the event. The total number of performances came in at just over 600! A copy of the presentation can be found in the last chapter of the centennial celebration volume of Success is Your Proof.
Most Thelemites who have read about Aleister Crowley’s Rites of Eleusis, know that those first seven performances were held at Caxton Hall in London in 1910. However, the rites would not gain the attention they deserved for almost seventy years. That is, until 1979 when Agape Lodge No. 2 in Hollywood, introduced their members to Crowley’s Eleusis series, by informally doing readings of the rites. Thereafter, interest widely spread around the world.
What the presentation and chapter on the Rites did not include, due to time and space constraints, were some of the additional comments offered when these rites were reported. Some of the comments spoke of interesting people that participated, and some of them were anecdotes of fun and scary things that happened. It is some of those comments which I found most fascinating and will herein share a few of them. For instance, Grady McMurtry served as Magister Templi for the Rite of Saturn for Thelema Lodge in October of 1982. Lola de Wolfe hosted a Rite of Saturn in June of 1983 at her home near Mt. Diablo. An original cast member from the Broadway production of Hair acted in the Rite of Saturn, sponsored by Thelema Lodge in 1985. Even Hymenaeus Beta contributed some original poetry of Harry Crosby, for a Rite of Sol.
There were mishaps, too. At a Rite of Mars presented by Camp 23 in the U.S. in 1980, they reported that they had placed a cauldron on stage for a burning fire, but during the presentation the cauldron tipped over and sent up dramatic tall flames. It wildly impressed the audience, who thought it was part of the play, but it was not. The fire did not last long, but the floor got pretty burned. Another Mars fire story happened at Apep Lodge in Australia in 2010. It was a 1970’s theme, held outdoors around a fire pit, with red velvet curtains all around, and a sexy funky soundtrack. Everyone began drinking early, and sometime shortly after the rite, someone got too drunk, too close, and caught fire. Fortunately the fire on his clothing was quickly put out and he did not get hurt. Athene Lodge of Denmark in the mid 1990s, presented a Rite of Saturn. They had rented a community building, but they had to keep their celebration secret. They had fun smuggling in the wine, which was otherwise outlawed on the premises.
Also in the early 1990s, 93 Lodge in San Clemente, California, presented the Rite of Luna in their garage with the rafters full of pine branches and cricket noise, but what really wowed the crowd was the use of a blue laser light cone that shown down upon Luna, until that veil was broken. In 1996, 93 Lodge put on the Rite of Sol. Jesus on the cross wore sunglasses, and Brother Lon Duquette led a Mexican hat dance around huge sombreros on the floor. The Lodge also offered a synchronized swimming presentation in a pool for a Rite of Venus. In Los Angeles, Blue Horizon Oasis in 2009, presented the Rite of Saturn with a Krishna motif, and that same year, LVX Oasis had a punk rock theme for the Rite of Mars, a Rite of Saturn with an Andy Warhol theme, and a Rite of Sol with a Templar setting.
Scarlet Woman Lodge in Austin, Texas, presented many rites with fun themes from 1997 through 2000. Saturn was set in an asylum with the mental illness of Saturn, one Rite of Mars had a gangster setting and another Mars had the cast dress as chimps, gorillas, and bonobos, but only one character was human. In the Rite of Mercury, that character was a carnival circus clown. A Jupiter rite had an Indian Ganesh theme, and a Venus rite had a Shakespearean Midsummer setting.
In 1990, Albion Lodge in London presented all seven rites at Conway Hall to celebrate Crowley’s works. It was only the second time the rites had been presented in their original city since 1910. They even included original musical pieces with a live violin player. As well, there is Eleusyve Productions located in Seattle, Washington, which has successfully produced all the rites in the form of rock operas, with great success.
Every one of the rites has had its character’s words remain intact, but in how the stories are presented is left wide open to its readers, and each rite will fit well in almost any historical setting or theme. Each modern presentation continues to stand as a strong testament to the power of Crowley’s writings. These iconic rites are an important part of Crowley’s legacy, and with their ongoing presentations, they will continue to inspire future generations. If your local body decides to do theatrical readings or live performances, no matter where in the world they take place, please let your Eleusis Historian know. The historian keeps track of all Crowley’s Rites of Eleusis presentations produced worldwide. This reporting is voluntary, but when done, becomes a part of our historical files. Please include the name of the local body, which rite was produced, the date and place of presentation, copies of any fliers, programs, or pictures, and any comments on a particular theme. Please email to: eleusis@oto-usa.org Thank you for helping to keep these rites alive and inspiring.
Sister Lita-Luise Chappell has been an O.T.O. member since January of 1991, is the founding Master of Golden Lotus Lodge, a Bishop in the Order, and serves as the International Rites of Eleusis Historian. She has a Masters in Psychology and a Doctorate in Human Sexuality. Dr. Chappell is also a published author of The Thelemic Cookbook, two books of poetry, and three books of international murder mysteries; all available on Amazon.com. Her social commentary on sex in sports, Sticks & Balls, and her spy novel, Hiding in Paradise, will be out later this year.