18 Jun 2000 NFulford@aol.com

There can be no mistaking the author's religious biases in his presentation through his: "Letter to Witches". Many of his comments about "magick" apply equally well if one simply replaces the word with "prayer" (of the type you have described.)

What is obvious from reading his letter is that Morey has confused the Golden Dawn and O.T.O. traditions and rituals with those of other alternate religions. That said: I have seen numerous examples of Neo-Pagan/O.T.O./Golden Dawn hybrid beliefs. I understand how the author has come to group these together, while at the same time recognizing the error of doing so. As an example consider the creed: "And it harm none, 'Do as thou wilt, shall be the whole of the law' ". Crowley first mentions this in his: "The Book of Thoth". In there it appears without the qualifier. Now to go back further, there was a eutopian essay called 'Thelema' which was written much earlier than the creation of O.T.O. or The Golden Dawn, and it was from this that it appears that he cribbed both the expression and his ideas for Thelema. Hence, I see where Morey has either through intent or ignorance failed to separate Wicca/Pagani from O.T.O./G.D.

Ritual, including the binding rituals of the Greater and Lesser Pentagrams are of Golden Dawn and O.T.O origins (or at least they appear to have been borrowed and been attributed to these groups.) Israel Regardie, who was Crowley's private secretary, went to some length in creating a book which described rituals and systems of magick of the Golden Dawn. The degree to which what he wrote was of his own contrivance, or a mixture, or of uncertain origins is difficult to say. Not having studied the emergence of Hermetic orders in late 19th and early 20th century England, I am not in a position to make historical claims in this regard.

What I can see is a mix of derivations from numerous backgrounds including the Tree of Life from the 10 sephirof of the Kabbalah, and the use of the Tarot deck (including the assignment of the letters of the Hebrew alphabet to the paths between the sephirof via the 22 major arcana.) While the Tarot is significantly older than the O.T.O. and G.D., these organisations have integrated it into their traditions.

One need only see that three different tarot decks came about (Rider-Waite (G.D.), Golden Dawn (G.D.), and Thoth (Crowley/O.T.O.) ) to see the significance of kabbalistic influences upon these organisations.) G.D. and O.T.O. appear to be largely derivative and they attempt to establish "lineage" through appeals to Rosicrusianism, Knights Templar, et cetera. The parallelism to "shadow" Christianity and Judaism is present and observable in much of the material I have seen. What is regrettable is the fact that the path of Kabbalah has been abused (by numerous groups of which G.D. and O.T.O. are only the most clear examples) to become a magickal form, when it has been a legitimate mystical path.

Magick is a degenerative form where an individual attempts to bring about direct affect upon matter or people via a religious form (E.G. ritual, prayer, et cetera.). As you so rightly pointed out, some Christians are not above this, and it appears that Morey can be counted among them, based upon his admissions.

What is really fascinating about Morey's letter is what it tells the reader about Morey. It is an excellent example of projection, and propaganda. As you point out, the target audience can hardly have been Wiccan's and Pagani followers, and was almost assuredly a sub-set of Christian.

His attack on moral relativism is one of the more obvious examples of fear projection. Since some forms of Christianity claim exclusive and absolute domain over Truth (and it appears strongly that he is this form of Christian), his attack on moral relativism is a shot not only at Wiccans, but at any religious form that does not fall into Christianity as believed and practiced by Morey. The danger of absolutism lies in its inability to admit falsity of any aspect of doctrine. It is for this reason that a large segment of Christians cannot resolve scientific theory and discovery with their beliefs. The literalist/absolutist has tied himself to his beliefs in such a fashion that any attack upon or threats to the belief(s) are experienced as a personal attack and threat to his existence.

In conclusion, there can be no denying that Morey is engaged in gross stereotyping, and is relying upon tying the "shadow" forms of Christianity/Judaism as found in parts of G.D. and O.T.O. with other religious groups (Wicca and Pagani) as a basis for his attack. It is also, unfortunate and understandable that he could tie these groups together by means of the symbol of the pentagram. And lastly, and most regrettably, is the simple fact that letters such as: "A Letter to Witches"; does nothing to decrease religious strife and intolerance, but rather fans the flames of hatred and fear.