Phil Valentine-Somatic Death FULL

Phil Valentine-Somatic Death FULL

Founding of the Fraternitas Saturni

The Fraternitas Saturni (Brotherhood of Saturn) is a German magical order, founded on Easter 1928 by Eugen Grosche, (Gregor A. Gregorius) - 11th March 1888 - 5th January 1964 - (see left)

The Lodge made a formal acceptance of the 'Book of the Law' but they would not answer to Crowley.

The Fraternitas Saturni still thought of him as an important teacher and included the 'Law of Thelema' in most of its teachings, while divorcing itself from direct contact with him.

This resulted in the Fraternitas Saturni developing a different take on the idea of Thelema, which is reflected in the rituals and magical techniques of the Fraternitas Saturni.

The emphasis of the Fraternitas Saturni (see right) lies more on astrological and Luciferian teachings, rather than on Qabalah and Tarot compared to other western magical orders founded in the early 20th century. Because of its unique approach to modern occultism, the Fraternitas Saturni is considered by many modern authors to be the most influential German magical order.

Not surprisingly, in 1936, the Fraternitas Saturni was prohibited by the Nazi regime, although many of the teaching and practices, particularly the Luciferian teachings of the order, were amalgamated into the Ahnenerbe.

Gregorius as well as other leaders of the lodge emigrated in order to avoid imprisonment, but in the course of the war Grosche was arrested for a year by the Nazi government.

As an interesting sidelight, and an indication of how deeply occult matters penetrated German society between the two wars, Albin Grau (1884 - 1942) was an occultist, and member of Fraternitas Saturni.

He was also an artist, architect and the producer and production designer for F. W. Murnau's infamous and influential film 'Nosferatu' (see left).

He was largely responsible for the look and spirit of the film, including the sets, costumes, storyboards and promotional materials.

A lifelong student of the occult Grau was able to imbue Nosferatu with hermetic and mystical undertones.

One example in particular was the cryptic contract that Count Orlok and Knock exchanged, which was filled in Enochian, hermetic and alchemical symbols.

The influence of the Fraternitas Saturni did not fade with the coming of the Third Reich.

Ralph Tegtmeier (born November 1, 1952), also known as Ubique Daemon Ubique Deus, ("Demon (is) in all, God (is) in all"), is a German occultist, and a member of the Fraternitas Saturni.

Tegtmeier is often cited as the "founder of Pragmatic Magic" whose "works are characterized by an outstanding conciseness".

While residing in Bonn, Germany from 1979 to 1981, Tegtmeier ran an occult bookstore named 'Horus'.

In conjunction with the book store an experimental magical group that became informally known as "The Bonn Group" was formed.

During this time Peter J. Carroll's 'Liber Null and Psychonaut') (one of the finest contemporary texts on the theory and practice of magic), which attempted to define 'Chaos magic', was translated and published by Tegtmeier under his Edition Magus label.

In the late 1980s, during his active participation in the order, Tegtmeier developed the concept of 'Cyber Magic'.

He is notably the founder of 'Ice Magic'.

In the early 1990s Tegtmeier was involved with a schism from the 'Illuminates of Thanateros', practitioners of 'Chaos Magic', in an event known as "The Ice Magic War."

Tegtmeier has been uninvolved with the IOT since and has distanced himself from Chaos Magic as represented by Carroll.

Peter J Carrol, who inherited much from Crowley (see below), the OTO and the Fraternitas Saturni is, however, closest to the original German Occult Revival, and his magical 'Weltanschauung' has much in common with the Thule Gessellschaft and Hitler, particularly with regard to its emphasis on the 'True Will'.

Chaos magicians, rather like Eckart and Hitler, have frequently reacted to more traditional, religious or occult approaches to magic with scorn or derision.

This applies in particular to the IOT, which has been described as "the Order for 'serious' Chaos Magicians in the same way that the OTO exists for 'serious' Thelemites."

Still the IOT is commonly understood by outsiders to be an occult organization.