8 Sep 2000: Removed the text of "Oracle of the Tarot" by PFC (1933). BOTA's lawyers proved to my satisfaction that OOT is under copyright until 2028.
5 Feb 2000: I have stopped maintaining this page.
4 Feb 2000: These are my own opinions, which do not speak for BOTA, the local BOTA study group, or anyone else.

Builders of the Adytum

BOTA was one of the splinter groups to come from the Golden Dawn. Paul Foster Case was the driving force. (In case you were wondering, an adytum is the innermost temple, a Holy of Holies reference. The members of my BOTA study group joke that we have so many lunches and other food related get-togethers that it really means Builders of the Abdomen. :)

In contrast to its somewhat cheesy website, BOTA is a sober and intelligent framework to learn Kabalah and Tarot. The BOTA pack and Crowley's Thoth pack are frequently regarded as the most "serious" of esoteric packs.

BOTA transmits the teaching in a series of coursework. I don't know much about the higher levels as I've just been a member since July 1997 or thereabouts. The course study so far has been heavy on "practical occultism" via tarot, a setup that fits me perfectly.

If you are interested, you may sit in on a study group meeting near your town. The sessions I've sat in on have been light on ritual and heavy on discussion. A wonderful group of people. Here's a blurb from my BOTA study group:

The Study Group comes together to study the wisdom of the Holy Kabalah and the Sacred Tarot.
Tarot has been called one of the foremost aids to spiritual transmutation. The series of Tarot Keys is a record of the inner knowledge of the Western Sages in picture form. The particular potency of this system lies in its use of symbols. Symbols are a universal language that directly instruct subconsciousness with its pictorial wisdom, regardless of language differences. As an instrument of mind training, the Tarot is designed in accordance with basic laws of human psychology.
Qabalah, the secret Wisdom of Israel, and the pictorial language of the Tarot are tested and proven keys to personal and spiritual unfoldment taught for centuries in Western Mystery Schools. The practical work of the group includes study, meditation and imagery. This initiates a series of subtle but important changes in your inner world, not the least of which is an expansion of your conscious awareness. No matter what your present history, if your aspiration is sincere, the right use of Tarot and Qabalah can bring a change for the better in your life.
Meetings are held on the third Saturday of each Month. The schedule looks something like this:

10:00am - study group (open to all)
noonish - lunch, usually pot luck
2:30pm - Pronaos (Pronaos members only)
Location is the Odd Fellows Hall, 1808 South Hampton, Dallas Tx. On these city-level and street-level maps the red star marks the spot. Wear comfortable clothes. For more information call (972) 994-1146.

If you feel called, I'd love to see you there.

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