TBOS History

T.'.b.'.o.'.s, an historical note

The Brotherhood of SeTh existed briefly from the mid 1980's to mid 1990's. Little is known of its origins and most of the order's papers were lost subsequent to its dissolution. Except for its journal mektoub and a very few scattered papers that are in the possession of former members, nothing of their work or writing remains. What follows is a short note of what can be related about the order's origins and work. It is drawn from extent papers and the memories of those members that I am still in contact with.

TBOS was founded by a mysterious figure Frater Z. (Zoroaster?) sometime between 1984-1987e.v. Very little is known about the background of TBOS founder. He was connected to two other orders: 1) his own working group Le Club Z, a initiatic wine cult and 2) a shadowy order O.'.R.'. (Ordo Repositorium?) of which nothing else is known.

Excerpt "TBOS: History, Vicissitudes& Purpose" from mektoub II(10), 1991e.v:
"The Brotherhood of SeTh was founded several years ago by a preexisting small occult order that is now defunct [O.'.R.'.?]. Our founder Frater Z. created a magickal group with the expressed purpose of experimenting with homosexuality and sex magick [the scope was later broadened under D.A.69's tenure]. In his founding statement, he stated his desire that the order should one day be expanded to become a national/international repository for knowledge and practice. At that time he felt that such a group would be impractical and stated that during the interim there would be silence."

A complete list of founding members has been lost, but they were known to include Zen Ananael Sibsi AL VT (later "AL ST") and Jakal 3113. Ananael was an adept of the Order of the Temple of Rose+Cross (see photocopy at right) and claimed spiritual apostolic succession in the Gnosis (l'Église Francaise). Ananael served as interim director of the order briefly following the departure of Fr. Z.

Jakal had previously been a member of a lefthand path working group that experimented with a psychosexual Black Mass (from personal conversations).

Dark Apollo 69 succeeded Fr. Z and Ananael to the position of Magister in 1989e.v. He led the order as magister and administrative director until the order's dissolution in 1995e.v. During his tenure, he published the order's journal mektoub and established the Herui-fi Lodge in Portland, Maine. Apollo expanded the order opening its membership for the first time and expanding the focus of the order beyond homosexual magick. Prior to joining TBOS, Apollo received sannyas from his root guru in 1986e.v. and practiced with an Alexandrian coven 1983-1988e.v.

In 1990e.v. during meditation following The Mass of the Phoenix, D.A. 69 received direct communication relating to the direction of the order. "You already have your system... it is within, but you do not yet realize it."

At its apex the order was truly international and its membership rolls included independent adepts in Europe, Australasia and North America. Several small priories and commandries were established between 1990 and 1993e.v.

Members included: Aton 210, TBOS Chancellor from 1989-1995e.v; Jason T___ [whose initiated name has been lost] who served as First Counsel 1989-1991e.v.; and LD, First Counsel and designated successor 1992-1995e.v. Other key members included Fraters Belarion, A.V.H., and Ozz.

The order was structured traditionally as a hierarchical pyramid. The Outer College consisted of five Neophyte degrees; the Inner College three Adept degrees; and the Invisible College three Magus degrees. Three positions made up the tip of the pyramid: the Hegemon or Magister, the Chancellor and the Counsel. These three formed the Arcadian Council. The three grades of Adepts formed the Assembly, the governing body of TBOS. New adepts were selected from the Neophyte V° by the Assembly. All decisions of the Assembly were ratified by the Arcadian Council. The Assembly was also charged with protecting and caring for the hermits of the Magus I°-III°'s.

Dark Apollo departed the order in 1995e.v. choosing to become an itinerant bishop. The Herui-fi Lodge closed and the order disbanded soon thereafter.

The mapping of the Star Set Matrix is the legacy of TBOS. During the order's existence, the only published reference to the Matrix that remains is the illustration that adorns the cover of the final issue of mektoub. More detailed descriptions of the Matrix explication were later published in The New Aeon in 1987e.v. and Abrasax in 1988e.v.

A further note of clarification: The Brotherhood was never connected to The Temple of Set.