About Shemesh Lodge

Shemesh Lodge is a chartered body of Ordo Templi Orientis based in the seaside town of Hastings, where Aleister Crowley spent the last years of his mortal life.

The Hebrew word ‘Shemesh’ (comprised of the three characters Shin, Mem, Shin) has many solar connotations. Given the pivotal role that the Sun plays in the cosmogony of Thelema, it is only right that Shemesh Lodge be so named, as during its history it has played a highly instrumental role in the formation of the O.T.O. in the United Kingdom.

It is the oldest continuously running initiating body of O.T.O. in the UK, having first been chartered by the Supreme Council IHQ in 1994 as an encampment under the mastership of Frater Caliburn. With his guidance we become first an Oasis early in 1995ev with initiatory responsibilities and eventually a Lodge in the Autumn of the same year 1995ev.

Soror Estella took over the role of Master of Shemesh Lodge on the 29th November 1997ev., on the occasion of the celebration of the 50th anniversary of Aleister Crowley’s Greater Feast.

On 29th November 2008ev, exactly eleven years to the day since Soror Estella became Master, the Mastership of Shemesh Lodge was transferred to Frater Lamogue, who was duly installed in a ceremony that took place on 6th December 2008ev.

Today, Shemesh Lodge operates as a centre of O.T.O. operations in the south east of England outside London, being responsible for the initiatory programme in that area. The Lodge meets regularly to perform Man of Earth initiations, celebrate the Gnostic Mass and observe the Thelemic feast days. Also, the Lodge holds group ritual meetings, workshops and social events for members.

The Lodge also privately publishes its journal, Sorath, which is now in its second volume, having been published continuously since the Lodge’s formation. For more information on Sorath, please click here.