ThelemaCon
A Symposium on Thelemic Magick and Mysticism
Dr. David Shoemaker is a clinical psychologist in private practice, specializing in Jungian and cognitive-behavioral psychotherapy. David is the Chancellor and Prolocutor of the Temple of the Silver Star. He has been a member of O.T.O. and a student of A∴A∴ since 1993, and he has more than twenty years of experience supervising students in these traditions.
He is the Master of 418 Lodge, O.T.O. in Sacramento, having succeeded Soror Meral (Phyllis Seckler), his friend and teacher. He also serves as a Sovereign Grand Inspector General of the Order. David was the founding President of the O.T.O. Psychology Guild and a founding member of the Advanced Initiation Training team, and is a frequent speaker at NOTOCON. A consecrated Bishop of Ecclesia Gnostica Catholica, David led the team that developed the O.T.O. Pastoral Counseling Workshops.
David was a co-editor of the journals Neshamah (Psychology Guild) and Cheth (418 Lodge). In addition to his essays in these publications, his writings have been published in the journals Mezlim and Black Pearl, and his chapter on Kabbalistic Psychology was included in the Instructor’s Manual of Fadiman and Frager’s Personality and Personal Growth, an undergraduate psychology textbook. He was the compiler of the TOTSS publication, Jane Wolfe: The Cefalu Diaries 1920-1923, and a co-editor of the collections of the writings of Phyllis Seckler (Soror Meral), The Thoth Tarot, Astrology, & Other Selected Writings, The Kabbalah, Magick, and Thelema. Selected Writings Volume II, and Collected Poems 1946-1996. He was also the co-editor of the collection of correspondence published as Karl Germer: Selected Letters 1928-1962. His popular book Living Thelema: A Practical Guide to Attainment in Aleister Crowley’s System of Magick, followed on the success of the podcast of the same name. His latest book, The Winds of Wisdom, which presents the results of David’s scrying the 30 Aethyrs of the Enochian system, was published in 2016.
In addition to his work in magick and psychology, David is a composer and musician. He lives in Sacramento, California.
Dr. David Shoemaker is a clinical psychologist in private practice, specializing in Jungian and cognitive-behavioral psychotherapy. David is the Chancellor and Prolocutor of the Temple of the Silver Star. He has been a member of O.T.O. and a student of A∴A∴ since 1993, and he has more than twenty years of experience supervising students in these traditions.
He is the Master of 418 Lodge, O.T.O. in Sacramento, having succeeded Soror Meral (Phyllis Seckler), his friend and teacher. He also serves as a Sovereign Grand Inspector General of the Order. David was the founding President of the O.T.O. Psychology Guild and a founding member of the Advanced Initiation Training team, and is a frequent speaker at NOTOCON. A consecrated Bishop of Ecclesia Gnostica Catholica, David led the team that developed the O.T.O. Pastoral Counseling Workshops.
David was a co-editor of the journals Neshamah (Psychology Guild) and Cheth (418 Lodge). In addition to his essays in these publications, his writings have been published in the journals Mezlim and Black Pearl, and his chapter on Kabbalistic Psychology was included in the Instructor’s Manual of Fadiman and Frager’s Personality and Personal Growth, an undergraduate psychology textbook. He was the compiler of the TOTSS publication, Jane Wolfe: The Cefalu Diaries 1920-1923, and a co-editor of the collections of the writings of Phyllis Seckler (Soror Meral), The Thoth Tarot, Astrology, & Other Selected Writings, The Kabbalah, Magick, and Thelema. Selected Writings Volume II, and Collected Poems 1946-1996. He was also the co-editor of the collection of correspondence published as Karl Germer: Selected Letters 1928-1962. His popular book Living Thelema: A Practical Guide to Attainment in Aleister Crowley’s System of Magick, followed on the success of the podcast of the same name. His latest book, The Winds of Wisdom, which presents the results of David’s scrying the 30 Aethyrs of the Enochian system, was published in 2016.
In addition to his work in magick and psychology, David is a composer and musician. He lives in Sacramento, California.
Dr. Lauren Gardner works as a counselor, educator and psychotherapist in private practice in Chapel Hill, NC. Her esoteric background encompasses over a decade of study, practice, and teaching within the Golden Dawn and A∴A ∴ systems.
Professionally, she has been published in academic, peer-reviewed journals, including Journal of Humanistic Counseling. Her esoteric writing includes contributions to Commentaries on the Golden Dawn Flying Rolls, as well as numerous essays and other writings available in print and online. Most recently, she co-edited Phyllis Seckler: Collected Poems 1946-1996.
Lauren has presented workshops at Babalon Rising, NOTOCON, and the O.T.O. Women’s Symposium, where her presentation on the feminine archetype in historic and modern formative literature changed the perspectives of attendees, resulting in experiences unexpected and much appreciated. She has also presented professionally on Pagan advocacy at conferences at both regional and national levels.
Her doctoral dissertation is a phenomenological study of the experiences of Pagans in psychotherapy. She enjoys fun conversations by the pool, dark spiced rum and ginger beer, and decent human beings with interesting experiences worth comparing notes.
Lauren recharges by spending solitary time in the wilderness. She lives in Raleigh, NC, and has been known to write under the name “Soror Madimi.”
Dr. Lauren Gardner works as a counselor, educator and psychotherapist in private practice in Chapel Hill, NC. Her esoteric background encompasses over a decade of study, practice, and teaching within the Golden Dawn and A∴A ∴ systems.
Professionally, she has been published in academic, peer-reviewed journals, including Journal of Humanistic Counseling. Her esoteric writing includes contributions to Commentaries on the Golden Dawn Flying Rolls, as well as numerous essays and other writings available in print and online. Most recently, she co-edited Phyllis Seckler: Collected Poems 1946-1996.
Lauren has presented workshops at Babalon Rising, NOTOCON, and the O.T.O. Women’s Symposium, where her presentation on the feminine archetype in historic and modern formative literature changed the perspectives of attendees, resulting in experiences unexpected and much appreciated. She has also presented professionally on Pagan advocacy at conferences at both regional and national levels.
Her doctoral dissertation is a phenomenological study of the experiences of Pagans in psychotherapy. She enjoys fun conversations by the pool, dark spiced rum and ginger beer, and decent human beings with interesting experiences worth comparing notes.
Lauren recharges by spending solitary time in the wilderness. She lives in Raleigh, NC, and has been known to write under the name “Soror Madimi.”
Lon Milo DuQuette is the author of 17 books that have been translated into 12 languages. He is also an award-winning singer-songwriter and recording artist whose musical career has spanned over 50 years. Lon is also an internationally recognized authority on tarot, Qabalah, and ceremonial magick and has written extensively about the life and work of Aleister Crowley. He is currently the US Deputy Grand Master of Ordo Templi Orientis, and his most recent publication is Son of Chicken Qabalah: Rabbi Lamed Ben Clifford's (Mostly Painless) Practical Qabalah Course.
Lon Milo DuQuette is the author of 17 books that have been translated into 12 languages. He is also an award-winning singer-songwriter and recording artist whose musical career has spanned over 50 years. Lon is also an internationally recognized authority on tarot, Qabalah, and ceremonial magick and has written extensively about the life and work of Aleister Crowley. He is currently the US Deputy Grand Master of Ordo Templi Orientis, and his most recent publication is Son of Chicken Qabalah: Rabbi Lamed Ben Clifford's (Mostly Painless) Practical Qabalah Course.
Harper Feist has been interested in the intersection of magick and science for most of her life. She has a history in feri/faeri workings and facilitating large public rituals in the flavor of the Reclaiming witchcraft tradition. She is interested in the scrying role of ceremonial magick, having taking part in many workings involving both chthonic and celestial spirits. More recently, Harper has become engaged with Thelemic practice, including serving in the Gnostic Mass and other rituals, and is highly inspired to further develop her skills by way of her personal practice.
In her mundane life, Harper is a Ph.D. scientist, mother and a martial artist specializing in
koryu Japanese weapons work
Harper Feist has been interested in the intersection of magick and science for most of her life. She has a history in feri/faeri workings and facilitating large public rituals in the flavor of the Reclaiming witchcraft tradition. She is interested in the scrying role of ceremonial magick, having taking part in many workings involving both chthonic and celestial spirits. More recently, Harper has become engaged with Thelemic practice, including serving in the Gnostic Mass and other rituals, and is highly inspired to further develop her skills by way of her personal practice.
In her mundane life, Harper is a Ph.D. scientist, mother and a martial artist specializing in
koryu Japanese weapons work
Andrew Ferrell is Vice-Chancellor and Grand Praemonstrator of the Temple of the Silver Star. As Librarian and Archivist for that Order, he is dedicated to preserving and publishing the teachings and printed legacy of Karl Germer, Jane Wolfe, and Phyllis Seckler. He currently resides in Sacramento with his partner and their three dogs, “The Secret Chiefs."
Andrew Ferrell is Vice-Chancellor and Grand Praemonstrator of the Temple of the Silver Star. As Librarian and Archivist for that Order, he is dedicated to preserving and publishing the teachings and printed legacy of Karl Germer, Jane Wolfe, and Phyllis Seckler. He currently resides in Sacramento with his partner and their three dogs, “The Secret Chiefs."
Dr. Richard Kaczynski is the author of Perdurabo: The Life of Aleister Crowley (2010), which the Times Literary Supplement deemed “the major biography to date” of the Beast. He has also written Panic in Detroit: The Magician and the Motor City (2019), Forgotten Templars: The Untold Origins of Ordo Templi Orientis (2012), The Weiser Concise Guide to Aleister Crowley (2009), and the novel The Billionth Monkey (2015), among others. His writing has also appeared in anthologies such as Trans-States: The Art of Crossing Over (2019), The Art and Science of Initiation (2019), Success Is Your Proof (2016), Tarot in Culture (2014), Aleister Crowley and Western Esotericism (2012), and Mathematics in Popular Culture (2012). Most recently, Richard has edited, annotated, and introduced the first modern edition of Aleister Crowley’s Sword of Song (2020).
Since 1990, he has lectured internationally on these and other topics and has been featured in the documentaries Secrets of the Occult (2006) and Aleister Crowley: The Beast 666 (2007). He has been a member of Ordo Templi Orientis since 1987, currently serves U.S. Grand Lodge as a Bishop and Sovereign Grand Inspector General, and is Secretary of Academia Ordo Templi Orientis. By day, Richard is a social psychologist, biostatistician and research scientist whose 1993 doctoral dissertation examined metaphysical beliefs and experiences among occult practitioners.
Dr. Richard Kaczynski is the author of Perdurabo: The Life of Aleister Crowley (2010), which the Times Literary Supplement deemed “the major biography to date” of the Beast. He has also written Panic in Detroit: The Magician and the Motor City (2019), Forgotten Templars: The Untold Origins of Ordo Templi Orientis (2012), The Weiser Concise Guide to Aleister Crowley (2009), and the novel The Billionth Monkey (2015), among others. His writing has also appeared in anthologies such as Trans-States: The Art of Crossing Over (2019), The Art and Science of Initiation (2019), Success Is Your Proof (2016), Tarot in Culture (2014), Aleister Crowley and Western Esotericism (2012), and Mathematics in Popular Culture (2012). Most recently, Richard has edited, annotated, and introduced the first modern edition of Aleister Crowley’s Sword of Song (2020).
Since 1990, he has lectured internationally on these and other topics and has been featured in the documentaries Secrets of the Occult (2006) and Aleister Crowley: The Beast 666 (2007). He has been a member of Ordo Templi Orientis since 1987, currently serves U.S. Grand Lodge as a Bishop and Sovereign Grand Inspector General, and is Secretary of Academia Ordo Templi Orientis. By day, Richard is a social psychologist, biostatistician and research scientist whose 1993 doctoral dissertation examined metaphysical beliefs and experiences among occult practitioners.