Peaches Geldof has signed up to Aleister Crowley's sex cult OTO

The celebrity tweeted a picture of one of the cult's books, and has inked the initials on her body too. But what do we know about OTO?
Peaches Geldof: believes in a thing called Thelema.
Peaches Geldof: believes in a thing called Thelema. Photograph: Michael Bowles/Rex Features

Age: Founded in Germany in 1904. So 109.

Appearance: Daft tattoos on daft people.

What does OTO stand for? Ordo Templi Orientis.

Meaning? The Order of the Oriental Templars.

And what does the Order of the Oriental Templars stand for? The "wisdom and knowledge" of, among many others, the Gnostic Catholic Church; the Rite of Memphis; the Order of the Sat Bhai; the Hermetic Brotherhood of Light; and the Illuminati.



So why is it in the news? Why are stupid cults ever in the news?

Ah. Because of a famous stupid cultist? Bingo. In this case, Peaches Geldof.

Daughter of Bob? Yes, that Peaches Geldof, former dabbler in Scientology and present owner-operator of a heart-shaped "OTO" tattoo.

What has she done? Tweeted a picture from one of the cult's books to her 148,000 followers with the message: "#93 #Thelema #o.t.o for all my fellow Thelemites on instagram!"

And what exactly is a Thelemite? A believer in Thelema.

Which is? The religion created by occultist, practitioner of "sex magic", "wickedest man in the world" and former head of the Order of the Oriental Templars, Aleister Crowley, based on the central tenet: "Do what thou wilt."

Meaning? Meaning, in practice, rituals based around sexual exhaustion and, for the highest level members of the Order of the Oriental Templars, instruction in secret techniques for masturbation, heterosexual and homosexual sex. Crowley wrote the religion's founding text, The Book of the Law, in 1904, after an angel and messenger of the Egyptian gods named Aiwass appeared to him while he was on holiday in Cairo with his wife. Although obviously that didn't happen.

I think she may have been better off with the Scientologists. Now there's a sad state of affairs.

Do say: "Why does anyone follow this utter charlatan?"

Don't say: "Her tweets aren't even good."