Horizon enjoys the support of both initiate and affiliate members, and a broad community of like minded friends. While formal O.T.O. membership is not required in order to attend most Horizon events, membership in the Oasis is encouraged, and brings with it many benefits.
To join Horizon Oasis, signify your intention by contacting the Body Master, pay your dues to the Oasis Treasurer, and sign our membership role.
For those who wish to join our fraternity, O.T.O. offers a staged series of initiations, or degrees. These are physical ceremonies performed at local Lodges and Oasis. In the rituals of these degrees, O.T.O. seeks to instruct the individual by allegory and symbol in the profound mysteries of nature, and thereby to assist each initiate in discovering his or her own true identity.
Your journey with the O.T.O. begins with the Minerval, or 0 degree initiation. This is an introductory, probationary Degree, which does not establish any permanent fraternal bonds with our Order. It offers the participant a chance to experience our mysteries as a guest without any long-term membership commitment. Information on the complete degree structure of O.T.O. can be found on the Grand Lodge website: http://oto-usa.org/init.html.
Initiate membership is available to every man and woman who is free (that is, not incarcerated), at least 18 years old, and of good report. In order to establish "good report", your application must be signed by two sponsors who are already I° initiates of O.T.O. Prospective sponsors will generally want to get to know you before signing your application, which may involve your attendance with them at several local body events, or time spent with them privately.
For more information about O.T.O. initiation and membership, see Grand Lodge's member and initiation pages.
To request initiation through Horizon, contact the Horizon initiation secretary at initiations@seattle-oto.org. They will provide you with an application and instructions.
All applications must be filled out using your full civil name, including your middle name. No magical names, mottos, or nicknames may be used. An application is good for one year from the date of the candidate's signature, and cannot be transferred to another local body.
All information on your application is kept strictly confidential. In turn, we request that the potential candidate keep these forms private and confidential. In particular, under no circumstances copy or distribute these forms.
Return your completed application and signed indemnity form to the Horizon Initiation Secretary. you can give the application to the Initiation Secretary in person, or mail it to:
Horizon Oasis
PO Box 95183
Seattle, WA 98145-2183
Horizon must receive your completed application at least 40 calendar days prior to the date of the initiation in order to meet Grand Lodge deadlines for processing an application. Payment of initiation fees are are made to Horizon, and should be included with your completed initiation application. Information on initiation fees are at the bottom of this page.
Once your application has been submitted, the Horizon Initiation Secretary will contact you to let you know the date, time and location of the next scheduled initiation for that degree.
Initiation fees can be paid to the Horizon Initiation Secretary, the Horizon Treasurer, or through PayPal. The Treasurer can be contacted at treasurer@seattle-oto.org. To pay your fees via PayPal, go to www.paypal.com. Our account email (where you will send the money) is horizon@seattle-oto.org.
Payment of initiation fees are are made to Horizon, and should be included with your completed initiation application. If you prefer, payment can be made via PayPal:
Your initiation fees cover a year's dues to Grand Lodge, as well as helping to cover the cost of the initiation itself. As of January 1, 2008, the dues and fees for initiation through Horizon are:
| Degree |
Grand Lodge Dues |
Grand Lodge Initiation Fee |
Horizon Initiation Fee |
Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0° | $42.00 | $42.00 | $21.00 | $105.00 |
| I° | $42.00 | $42.00 | $21.00 | $105.00 |
| II° | $84.00 | $42.00 | $22.00 | $148.00 |
| III° | $126.00 | $84.00 | $33.00 | $243.00 |
| IV° | $168.00 | $120.00 | $33.00 | |
| P'I' | (No increase) | $36.00 | --- | $357.00 |
Initiation requires the sponsorship of two members in good standing, who are of at least first degree, and of the degree being sponsored or higher. It is their responsibility as sponsors to familiarize themselves with the background, character, sense of honor, and mental and emotional stability of the candidates they sponsor.
For more on sponsorship, see Sabazius' essay on sponsorship.