AMeTh Lodge was formally Chartered by the Supreme Council of OTO on 15th February 2004.e.v. to take over the work of the Order in London from the previous Body, Tabula Rasa Lodge. Under the Mastership of Fr Spiritus, the Lodge has grown considerably, continuing with a regular initiation program while increasing celebrations of the Gnostic Mass and workshops for the Membership. We now meet several times a month, providing Man of Earth initiations, Gnostic Masses, ritual workshops, literature classes and training sessions. Most recently, following the establishment of the UK Grand Lodge of OTO under the National Grand Master General, Fr Hyperion, the UK Electoral College formally granted a continued Charter for the Body on 14th July 2005e.v.

The naming of the Lodge required careful consideration. "Tabula Rasa" means blank canvas or clean slate, and the primary OTO Body in London had been so named for some years. It was felt that the OTO Lodge had been a 'clean slate' for long enough. It was time to write something on this blank canvas, and what better thing to write than words of Truth (AMeTh being Hebrew for Truth).

The Lodge has certain obligations: to provide initiations from 0° to III°, to provide instruction in the form of classes and/or written materials, and to celebrate the Gnostic Mass as often as possible. We have all the facilities required to perform IV° and PI initiations and produce manuscripts, periodicals, and other publications or creations for the advancement of Thelemic studies. It is our duty to provide these things, and we relish this duty.

One of the first things done following the Installation of the new Master was to request that the membership design a symbol to represent the Lodge. Fr Al Khadir provided the image that was chosen to best represent the Lodge and what follows is his interpretation of the symbolism contained within it.

The Ameth Lamen Explained by Frater Al Khadir

The symbolism that encompasses the Lamen of AMeTh lodge has been formulated and constructed to exemplify the Lodge’s ideals (both esoteric and exoteric). AMeTh means, or equates towards, TRUTH and all that this notion entails. It is certainly worth reflecting upon this, regardless of what Grade or Degree one is in. After all this truth is the precise foundation of any organisation that considers itself fraternal.

The main theme and inspiration for me, creatively, came from ATU VIII. I have also realised since then that Frater Achad’s personal lamen bears a very striking similarity to it although certain aspects appear reversed within my version! Basically, the original AMeTh lamen can be stripped-down into 5 component parts. All of which have an ambiguous theme for the erstwhile magickian to explore and express via their own experience. I continue to refuse the influence of the mind-set of my brothers and sisters. Make of my findings as you will.

The Vesica

The Structure and inherent power relating to the ‘vesica’ is huge. A mainstay of Catholicism over the centuries, as well as xtianity, but the general universal symbolism has ‘missed-the-point’ due to the ‘hang-over’ of the Osirian aeon.

It is one of the most pure emblems of geometry ever constructed but so consistently ignored by the laity as to be shameful. Here, within the symbol, the patriarchy of the last, now dead, Aeon has managed to usurp the feminine in favour of the masculine. The Xtians forgot one aspect that has let them down ever since. As above, so below.

The Catholics have had this in their favour yet, due to aeons of dis-information and bad PR their ‘masters’ are now mis-guided and unfortunate parodies of their former-selves. The term ‘primate’ could not be more true in this case.

Initially the Vesica was explored by the Gnostics as a cipher for Christ (IchThUS) during the Aeon of the father. The majority of religions then were incorporating the ‘cross’ in some fashion or other. Sol Invictus, the Svastika, the Celtic sun wheel etc. This was quite a radical (and dangerous) thing to do at the time: exemplifying the female within the paternal Aeon. But, through its shape and suggestibility it would remain a secret symbol of the feminine ‘enclosure’. Mary or Sophia. The womb, the chalice or grail from which the seed or the ‘yod’ would issue forth new life. Have a glance at the OTO lamen if you are in doubt of this.

Within the AMeTh Lamen, it becomes ‘Shekinah’, the Female counterpart to ‘YHVH’, the sacred yoni that contains the strain of all possibilities. All manner of individual and sacred existence must issue forth within a cuntick force field. The vaginal-vortex par-excellence of the most ecstatic empowerment. An ‘astral’ mechanism that attracts the ‘truth’ rather than lip service. Blatant honesty, rather than pretentious posturing.

So, here ‘Truth’ or AMeTh resides.

The Sword

The sword strikes a downward path within the AMeTh lamen. This is wholly correct as all forms of thought and inspiration must inevitably die.
At this stage, the sword pierces the Rose, through its centre and into the cup.

Kether to Yesod, all aspects that can achieve understanding without having material form. And also the intellect’s power to overcome obstacles if directed via the purest of Will. An enactment of pure divine inspiration, the fullest potential prior to actual manifestation.

The sword, or the cross in another form, is here presented in this obtuse manner. It acts towards (or is aroused by) the ‘desire’ of the Rose, represented by the circle, as a magnet. The Yoni and Phallus symbolism here needs not be stressed further.

The sword is stultified and ‘over-come’, or intoxicated, by its attraction within the universal construct of ‘making’. As the cross conjoins the circle, and with absolute and precise deliberation, so a new babe becomes born, metaphorically speaking.

After a fashion, this is the ‘Great Work complete’.

Within the AMeTh lamen the sword not only pierces the Rose but enters the chalice. This is a symbol of Union with the Divine. Just like the Yod released by the dove on the OTO lamen. God’s phlegm hitting the Malkuthian bucket of existence so to speak. It becomes a direct influence from above and beyond. A simple and base construct giving rise to existence.

The Rose

So here within the emblem of the Rose we have the divine cup through which all alchemical transferences occur. This is the female counterpart of the sword.

The Rose is a yoni, a vagina and a cornucopia from which issues forth the birth of the universe.

Initially for the design I incorporated 30 petals in order to construct this flower. This further equates with the number of the Hebrew letter Lamed which basically represents Libra, Scales of Justice, balance etc. Interestingly the Hebrew word ChIIB, which means “A party to an action at law”, “defendant” or “plaintiff” equals 30 also. So, again, we have more ATU VIII symbolism. This also connects with the 12 rays (representing the zodiac) emanating from behind the Rose.

It may also be worth noting that I consider the Rose as resembling the element of earth in this instance. It has grown in and from the earth and flowers forth as a representation of the abundance of life on earth. It decays and dies and returns to earth as fertiliser. The cycle then repeats itself.

The Scales

Here is the Balance. It is Equilibrium. It is Truth. AMeTh. And this has been fully explained earlier.

Upon the scales are the heart and the feather of the ancient Egyptians, of which was used to weigh the souls of the dead as they journeyed forth to Amenta. Luckily for us both are in perfect equilibrium. No being devoured by crocodiles for us!

As the Scales are a perfect and universally accepted logo of Law, we may also draw comparisons with Liber AL or the Book of the Law too and, of course, the letters OTO.

Here we also have Alpha & Omega represented. A beginning and an end.

Nuit & Hadit. A circumference, a loop. It will always be around, and a round. So…IAO! 8 (or ATU VIII) on its side, which equals infinity.

The scales within the lamen are ALWAYS there to explore the balance between NOT and IS (NoTice). The beginning and the end, the here and now, the matter and anti-matter, white and black and love & hate.

The Chalice

The Holy Grail, the Lapis, the Stone of the Wise.

The cup here is the vessel within which is distilled the alchemical elixir par excellence. The final result of the divine union of the cross and the circle and the divine potential within us all. The result of intellect mixed with physical action in its purest sense: “Love under will”. The phoenix engraved upon the chalice declares this result of the alchemical marriage, as do the flames heating the vessel to burn off ‘impurities’. One can certainly draw parallels with the process of “The Knowledge and Conversation of the Holy Guardian Angel” too.

Of the chalice I say no more.

Afterwords

The Lamen is basically a magickal device that symbolises the aspirations of the magickian. I hope that this explanation has shed some light upon not only what the AMeTh lamen symbolises but also how it was constructed. In a way it may also serve as a pentacle as it is, at least to me, a map of the universe. It contains all of the elements in one form or another after all!