Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All the United States California Oakland Bay Area Thelemic Temple

Bay Area Thelemic Temple

A temple devoted to inner esoteric mysteries located in a California commercial strip.

Oakland, California

Added By
Cynthia Pelayo
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
CAPTION
The altar in the temple.   Bay Area Thelemic Temple on Facebook
The innocuous exterior.   Bay Area Thelemic Temple on Facebook
One of the rites being performed.   Bay Area Thelemic Temple on Facebook
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

Located behind a nondescript modern storefront, the Bay Area Thelemic Temple keeps alive the secretive traditions of the Ordo Templi Orientis. 

The Ordo Templi Orientis or "Order of the Temple of the East" is a secretive religious organization founded by Carl Kellner in the early 1900s to act as a sort of masonic organization and later refined by famed occultist Aleister Crowley. Hundreds of the order's temples can be found around the world, but actually obtaining their addresses can be tricky. Most temples like to remain anonymous to the general population, locating themselves behind innocuous exteriors.

The Bay Area Temple is a smaller space, but less hidden. They still hold magical ritual rites such as a Gnostic Mass and can assist interested individuals with steps on initiation through the order's mysteries. Initiation rites are highly secretive, as well as their practices, but it is rumored that members of the OTO practice astral projection and perform rituals to invoke angels and demons. 

However despite the groups secretive nature, the Bay Area Thelemic Temple is surprisingly inviting.

Related Tags

Secret Society Churches Magic Occult Cults Secret Hidden Sacred Spaces

Community Contributors

Added By

cinapelayo

Edited By

Rachel, Martin, josephboyle, EricGrundhauser

  • Rachel
  • Martin
  • josephboyle
  • EricGrundhauser

Published

October 28, 2013

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Sources
  • http://blazingstar-oto.org/about-us/bay-area-thelemic-temple/
  • https://www.facebook.com/pages/Bay-Area-Thelemic-Temple/245513742167798
  • http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ordo_Templi_Orientis
  • http://cotnorcal.org/classes/berkeley-campus/
  • http://blazingstar-oto.org/about-us/bay-area-thelemic-temple/
Bay Area Thelemic Temple
77 8th St
Oakland, California, 94607
United States
37.796521, -122.265079
Visit Website
Get Directions

Nearby Places

Kaiser Convention Center

Oakland, California

miles away

Gnomes of Lake Merritt

Oakland, California

miles away

Heinold's First and Last Chance Saloon

Oakland, California

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Oakland

Oakland

California

Places 30
Stories 7

Nearby Places

Kaiser Convention Center

Oakland, California

miles away

Gnomes of Lake Merritt

Oakland, California

miles away

Heinold's First and Last Chance Saloon

Oakland, California

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Oakland

Oakland

California

Places 30
Stories 7

Related Stories and Lists

7 Not-So-Secret Homes of Super Secret Societies

cults

By Cynthia Pelayo

Related Places

  • Hermitage of Poggio Conte, dug in the tuff.

    Ischia di Castro, Italy

    Eremo di Poggio Conte (Poggio Conte Hermitage)

    A dreamlike medieval church dug into the tuff rock, with unusual carvings and possible traces of the Templar knights.

  • The Indecent Little Man of St James Church

    Brno, Czechia

    The Indecent Little Man on the Church of St. James

    A cheeky architectural easter egg.

  • Our Lord in the Attic

    Amsterdam, Netherlands

    Our Lord in the Attic

    The attic of a four-century-old canal house hides a clandestine church.

  • Known to Rosicrucians as the Meditation Garden

    Quakertown, Pennsylvania

    Rosicrucian Pyramids of Bucks County

    The headquarters of the Fraternitas Rosae Crucis, complete with Rosicrucian pyramids, all in the Pennsylvania woods.

  • The abbey exterior, featuring the rose window.

    Sermoneta, Italy

    Abbazia di Valvisciolo (Valvisciolo Abbey)

    Knights Templar are visible inside this stunning Cistercian abbey.

  • Interior of the church.

    Naples, Italy

    Church of Santa Luciella ai Librai

    An unusual "skull with ears" sits in the crypt of this small church tucked away at the end of a narrow alley.

  • New York, New York

    Streecha

    A Ukrainian church canteen doles out hearty fare in an East Village basement.

  • The runestone in the church wall.

    Uppsala, Sweden

    Runestone in Gamla Uppsala Church

    This mysterious runestone embedded in a church wall is linked to the medieval cult of Saint Erik.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.