How to Join (or Avoid) a Secret Society Today

Introduction: The Seeker's Dilemma

So you've read about the Golden Dawn, been intrigued by Freemasonry, or felt called to esoteric study. Now what? How do you actually join a secret society in the 21st century? Which organizations are legitimate? Which are cults? And if you can't find the right group—or don't want to join one—how do you pursue esoteric knowledge on your own?

This is the final article in our Secret Societies series. We now provide practical guidance: which organizations are still recruiting, how to evaluate them, red flags for dangerous groups, and how to create your own esoteric study circle. Whether you're seeking initiation or simply knowledge, this guide will help you navigate the landscape of modern secret societies.

Which Organizations Are Still Recruiting?

Freemasonry

Status: Actively recruiting (membership declining, needs new members)

How to join:

1. Find local lodge (Grand Lodge website for your state/country)
2. Attend open house or public event
3. Meet members, express interest
4. Submit petition (requires two Mason sponsors)
5. Interview and vote by lodge
6. If accepted, receive Entered Apprentice initiation

Requirements:

• Male (mainstream lodges; Co-Masonry and Women's Grand Lodges accept women)
• 18+ years old (varies by jurisdiction)
• Belief in Supreme Being (atheists not admitted)
• Good moral character

Costs: Initiation fees + annual dues (~$200-500/year total)

Time commitment: Monthly meetings, degree work, social events

Ordo Templi Orientis (O.T.O.)

Status: Actively recruiting

How to join:

1. Attend Gnostic Mass or public event
2. Meet members, learn about Thelema
3. Apply for Minerval (0°) initiation
4. If accepted, receive initiation
5. Progress through degrees over years

Requirements:

• 18+ years old
• Accept The Book of the Law as central text
• No other requirements (any gender, religion, orientation)

Costs: Annual dues (~$100-200) + initiation fees

Find local body: oto.org

AMORC (Ancient Mystical Order Rosae Crucis)

Status: Actively recruiting

How to join:

1. Visit website (rosicrucian.org)
2. Order introductory materials
3. Apply for membership
4. Receive home study course (monographs mailed monthly)
5. Optional: Attend local lodge meetings

Requirements: 18+ years old, open mind

Costs: Membership dues (~$10-15/month)

Format: Primarily home study, optional in-person meetings

Golden Dawn Offshoots

Status: Various groups, some recruiting

Examples:

• Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn (Ciceros)
• Open Source Order of the Golden Dawn
• Various independent temples

How to join: Varies by group (some online, some in-person)

Caution: Quality varies widely; research carefully

Wiccan Covens and Witchcraft Traditions

Status: Many groups, varying openness

How to find:

• Witchvox.com (directory, though less active now)
• Local metaphysical shops
• Pagan Pride events
• Social media groups

Traditions:

• Gardnerian/Alexandrian (initiatory, degree system)
• Dianic (women-only, feminist)
• Eclectic (non-traditional, flexible)
• Solitary (practice alone)

How to Evaluate a Secret Society

Green Flags (Legitimate Organization)

Transparency about existence:

• Website explaining (some) teachings
• Public events and open houses
• Clear about what they are (even if rituals are secret)

Reasonable costs:

• Fees cover actual expenses (rent, materials, etc.)
• No pressure to donate large sums
• Financial transparency

Voluntary membership:

• Free to join, free to leave
• No punishment for leaving
• Respects members' outside lives

Ethical foundation:

• Promotes virtue, service, self-improvement
• Clear ethical guidelines
• Accountability for misconduct

Intellectual freedom:

• Encourages questioning and study
• Multiple sources of knowledge
• Critical thinking valued

Democratic structure:

• Elected leadership
• Term limits
• Accountability mechanisms

Red Flags (Dangerous Cult)

Charismatic leader:

• One person with absolute authority
• Leader claims special divine status
• Leader above rules that apply to members
• Criticism of leader forbidden

Isolation:

• Cuts members off from family and friends
• Discourages outside relationships
• Members must live together or in commune
• "Us vs. them" mentality

Financial exploitation:

• Demands all money or property
• Excessive fees for advancement
• Unpaid labor required
• Leader lives lavishly while members struggle

Thought control:

• Forbids questioning or critical thinking
• Loaded language and thought-stopping
• Information control (no outside sources)
• Rewriting personal history

Fear and guilt:

• Phobia indoctrination (leaving = disaster)
• Shame and guilt manipulation
• Threats of spiritual or physical harm
• Punishment for disobedience

Sexual abuse:

• Leader has sexual access to members
• Sexual rituals required
• Coercion or manipulation for sex
• Abuse covered up or justified

Apocalyptic urgency:

• End times imminent
• Only we will be saved
• Must act now or lose salvation
• Creates pressure and fear

The BITE Model (Steven Hassan)

Cult control tactics:

• Behavior control: Dictating actions, dress, diet, sleep
• Information control: Limiting outside sources, controlling media
• Thought control: Loaded language, black-white thinking
• Emotional control: Phobia indoctrination, guilt, fear

If organization uses all four systematically: RUN.

Questions to Ask Before Joining

About the Organization

1. How long has it existed?
2. How many members?
3. What is the leadership structure?
4. How are leaders chosen?
5. What are the financial obligations?
6. Can I see financial records?
7. What happens if I want to leave?
8. Are there any former members I can talk to?

About the Teachings

1. What is the core philosophy?
2. What will I learn?
3. How long does it take to progress?
4. Are teachings available in books, or only through initiation?
5. Can I study other systems simultaneously?
6. What is expected of members?

About Your Fit

1. Do I resonate with the philosophy?
2. Can I afford the time and money?
3. Do I trust the leadership?
4. Do current members seem healthy and happy?
5. Does this align with my values?
6. Am I joining for the right reasons?

DIY: Creating Your Own Esoteric Study Group

Why Create Your Own?

• No suitable organization in your area
• Want to study specific topics
• Prefer peer learning to hierarchical structure
• Enjoy autonomy and creativity

How to Start

1. Define purpose and focus:

• What will you study? (Kabbalah, tarot, alchemy, etc.)
• What's the goal? (Knowledge, practice, community)
• What's the format? (Book club, ritual practice, both)

2. Find like-minded people:

• Friends interested in esotericism
• Metaphysical shop bulletin boards
• Meetup.com or social media
• Start small (3-5 people ideal)

3. Establish structure:

• How often will you meet? (Weekly, monthly)
• Where? (Rotate homes, rent space)
• Who leads? (Rotate, or designated facilitator)
• What's the format? (Discussion, practice, both)

4. Create agreements:

• Confidentiality (what's shared stays in group)
• Respect (no judgment, active listening)
• Commitment (regular attendance)
• Boundaries (no proselytizing, no drama)

5. Choose curriculum:

• Books to read together
• Practices to try (meditation, ritual, divination)
• Guest speakers or workshops
• Field trips (museums, sacred sites)

Suggested Resources

Books for group study:

• The Kybalion (Hermetic principles)
• The Mystical Qabalah by Dion Fortune
• Seventy-Eight Degrees of Wisdom by Rachel Pollack (tarot)
• The Golden Dawn by Israel Regardie
• Real Magic by Isaac Bonewits

Online resources:

• Sacred-texts.com (free esoteric texts)
• Hermetic Library (hermetic.com)
• YouTube channels (Esoterica, Angela's Symposium)

Rituals for Your Group

Opening:

• Light candle
• Moment of silence
• Statement of intention

Closing:

• Gratitude circle
• Extinguish candle
• "So mote it be" or similar

Optional: Create your own rituals, symbols, traditions

Online vs. In-Person

Online Secret Societies

Advantages:

• Access from anywhere
• Flexible scheduling
• Lower cost
• Anonymity if desired

Disadvantages:

• Less personal connection
• Harder to verify legitimacy
• Ritual experience limited
• Screen fatigue

Examples:

• Open Source Order of the Golden Dawn
• Online Wiccan training
• Virtual lodges (emerged during COVID)

In-Person Groups

Advantages:

• Deeper bonding
• Full ritual experience
• Energetic presence
• Community support

Disadvantages:

• Geographic limitations
• Scheduling challenges
• Higher costs (travel, space)

Hybrid Model

• Monthly in-person meetings
• Weekly online check-ins
• Best of both worlds

Conclusion: Your Path, Your Choice

Secret societies are not for everyone. Some seekers thrive in structured orders with degrees and initiations. Others prefer solitary study or informal groups. There is no "right" path—only the path that serves your growth.

If you join an organization, choose wisely. Look for green flags, run from red flags, and trust your intuition. If you create your own group, do it with intention, respect, and clear boundaries. And if you walk alone, know that the mysteries are available to all who seek with sincerity.

This concludes our Secret Societies series. We've explored the history, structure, symbols, and practices of esoteric orders from the Knights Templar to modern Wicca. We've separated fact from conspiracy, examined why secrecy was necessary, and learned how to navigate the landscape of modern mysticism.

The door to the lodge is before you. Will you knock? Will you create your own door? Or will you find the mysteries within yourself?

The choice is yours. The path is open. The work awaits.

For all seekers of truth. For those who knock and those who build. For the mysteries that transform. So mote it be.