(no subject)
October 9th, 1999 was one of the most important nights of my life, one that I will never forget. I rank it right up there in importance with the birth of my son. It was the night that I took the Minerval Degree in our beloved Order. I had thought at the time, that I had finally found the system that would help to create the change in the world that I had sought for so long and through several different organizations. I was under the impression that I had found the group that would help lead the world into one of individual freedom and liberty. Here we are a short seven years later and I have learned that I was completely wrong. I don't have the words to illustrate how disappointed I am.
Brother John Crow was the Master of the Camp that I took my Minerval with and as I got more involved in the Order, we became good friends. Over the years I've witnessed and participated in the fruits of Brother John's work. Under his leadership, Yggdrasil Camp (along with the help many other people in the other active Bodies at the time) performed numerous initiations and the Celebrations of the Gnostic Mass. It was under his leadership that the other active Bodies all closed to form Dove & Serpent Oasis in which we did even more initiations and the Mass. It was through his vision and strategic planning skills that the O.T.O. in Atlanta has become what it is today. His influence also has had a great effect on the O.T.O. in Florida. I took what I learned in Atlanta and started Nu Aeon Camp here in Tampa, which has spawned the other Camp in Orlando bringing the total to three camps in Florida. So in essence, Brother John's influence has effected the work of the Order in two different states. I wish I could say that I've done as good a job as a Bodymaster as he did but that is not the case.
Brother John's dedication to Thelema and our Order cannot be questioned. "Success is your proof" right? Yet USGL, rather than fulfill their two year old promise to develop strategic goals, rather than concentrate on publishing the work of our Prophet, rather than work toward building our Order to the point where we can be taken seriously on the international stage has decided to "investigate" Brother Crow for "unfraternal conduct" and "perjury" stemming from his criticism of these very same points.
I've been silent up to now because I've been dealing with the same type of nonsense from others who hold high ranks in our Order but the time has come for me to rise up and continue the fight that Brother John and Brother Keith have started. I held silent while my supervisory Bishop, T Allen Greenfield, was persecuted for pointing out the deficiencies of our present leadership, for that I'm sorry Allen. I've been silent because I was under the impression that I could change things from the bottom and show some of the same leadership qualities that John has. To no avail. I've been shunned here in Florida because of it. So time to change tactics.
I want to see our Order become a tool for change on a world wide level. Not the cult of personalities that it is today. But I have realized that this is not going to happen under our present leadership. Not when they continue to do things to make our Order weak rather strong. Not when they continue to work against the principles which we have all vowed to uphold.
I am greatly saddened by the fact that our Order isn't nearly as strong as it could be or should be during the years I've been an initiate. I've taken the lessons I learned within the MOE Triad and greatly changed my life as a result of them. Why is it that those who are reputed to be Initiates of the Sanctuary of the Gnosis haven't made those same changes within our Order?
I've quit jobs because the owners/managers did not know how to lead and/or had no desire to learn and let the business stagnate and I no longer wanted to serve someone who wasn't willing to do what was necessary for the betterment of their own business. But I won't quit the Order because through our Prophets writings (of which I'm not nearly as versed as Brother John or Brother Keith) I can see what our Order can and should be. Hopefully, I'll be around when we do have a change of leadership, and hopefully that will be for the better. Or maybe, like Brother John, I'll be investigated and eventually expelled from the Order. Either way, I'll still be a Thelemite and promulgating the Law. Either way, I shall not be silent any longer.
Brother John Crow was the Master of the Camp that I took my Minerval with and as I got more involved in the Order, we became good friends. Over the years I've witnessed and participated in the fruits of Brother John's work. Under his leadership, Yggdrasil Camp (along with the help many other people in the other active Bodies at the time) performed numerous initiations and the Celebrations of the Gnostic Mass. It was under his leadership that the other active Bodies all closed to form Dove & Serpent Oasis in which we did even more initiations and the Mass. It was through his vision and strategic planning skills that the O.T.O. in Atlanta has become what it is today. His influence also has had a great effect on the O.T.O. in Florida. I took what I learned in Atlanta and started Nu Aeon Camp here in Tampa, which has spawned the other Camp in Orlando bringing the total to three camps in Florida. So in essence, Brother John's influence has effected the work of the Order in two different states. I wish I could say that I've done as good a job as a Bodymaster as he did but that is not the case.
Brother John's dedication to Thelema and our Order cannot be questioned. "Success is your proof" right? Yet USGL, rather than fulfill their two year old promise to develop strategic goals, rather than concentrate on publishing the work of our Prophet, rather than work toward building our Order to the point where we can be taken seriously on the international stage has decided to "investigate" Brother Crow for "unfraternal conduct" and "perjury" stemming from his criticism of these very same points.
I've been silent up to now because I've been dealing with the same type of nonsense from others who hold high ranks in our Order but the time has come for me to rise up and continue the fight that Brother John and Brother Keith have started. I held silent while my supervisory Bishop, T Allen Greenfield, was persecuted for pointing out the deficiencies of our present leadership, for that I'm sorry Allen. I've been silent because I was under the impression that I could change things from the bottom and show some of the same leadership qualities that John has. To no avail. I've been shunned here in Florida because of it. So time to change tactics.
I want to see our Order become a tool for change on a world wide level. Not the cult of personalities that it is today. But I have realized that this is not going to happen under our present leadership. Not when they continue to do things to make our Order weak rather strong. Not when they continue to work against the principles which we have all vowed to uphold.
I am greatly saddened by the fact that our Order isn't nearly as strong as it could be or should be during the years I've been an initiate. I've taken the lessons I learned within the MOE Triad and greatly changed my life as a result of them. Why is it that those who are reputed to be Initiates of the Sanctuary of the Gnosis haven't made those same changes within our Order?
I've quit jobs because the owners/managers did not know how to lead and/or had no desire to learn and let the business stagnate and I no longer wanted to serve someone who wasn't willing to do what was necessary for the betterment of their own business. But I won't quit the Order because through our Prophets writings (of which I'm not nearly as versed as Brother John or Brother Keith) I can see what our Order can and should be. Hopefully, I'll be around when we do have a change of leadership, and hopefully that will be for the better. Or maybe, like Brother John, I'll be investigated and eventually expelled from the Order. Either way, I'll still be a Thelemite and promulgating the Law. Either way, I shall not be silent any longer.