The Rites of Magick is a feature length (90 minute) dramatic documentary on the rites, ceremonies and meditative practices of America’s oldest continually operating Magical tradition: The Order of the Temple of Astarte in Southern California. The O.T.A. is the religious-fraternal order of The Church of the Hermetic Sciences incorporated in 1971. This production was filmed and video-recorded in temples, outdoor henges, and retreats of the Order from 1974 to the 21st century. It is divided into six chapters: Hermetic Yoga, Pathworkings, Seasonal Ceremonies, The Magical Eucharist, Enochian Watchtowers, and -- as a special bonus feature -- a surrealist Alchemical Fantasy from the talented avant-garde filmmaker Eric Bossick.

From the Producer

In The Rites of Magick we introduce the Western counterpart to Tantric yoga in which qabalistic-planetary spheres are developed within the body in a similar manner to the chakras of the East. In Pathworkings we take you through the Dark Mirror on an astral journey to one of these inner spheres. In Seasonal Ceremonies we show you one of our first performances (1974) of the Goddess Astarte’s journey to the underworld from the myths of ancient Canaan. The cast includes Pagan elder Joseph Wilson, and the original founders of the Neo-Pagan Movement in America, Frederick Adams and Lady Svetlana of Feraferia. Following this historical footage we present a (2004) dramatic torchlight rendition of our Summer Solstice rite in which the Green Man is slain by the Dark Lord in an ancient Phoenician myth drama.

In the Communion of the Elements we again return to 1974 for an early version of this rite, followed by a totally silent and masked presentation, accompanied by organ music, performed in 2003.

We believe we have the first visually recorded presentation of an Enochian Watchtower Opening ceremony. After a brief history and explanation of the system we enter the temple where all five Enochian Tablets are displayed. The operator opens each in turn, concluding with the Portal Call before the Tablet of Union.

Our bonus feature is a short fantasy about mad alchemist determined to create an elixir that will restore his disfigured face to its original appearance. It’s Hieronymus Bosch meets Salvador Dali on film.

In conclusion I explain that our particular school of magick is based on the 18th century rite of Crata Repoa and that we are of the ancient Hermetic Tradition.

We believe that this production will be of considerable interest to students of the occult, magick, Neo-Paganism, cultural anthropology and avant-garde religion.