Structure
The order organizes itself along the somewhat "traditional" lines of a fraternal occult order, with initiations into progressive degrees denoting magickal skill, administrative responsibility and leadership within the group. It is notable that unlike other occult societies with a degree system, the order rewards progression in degree with hardly any privileges, but "punishes" it with added duties and responsibilities.
| No. | Title | Description |
| / | Novice | not considered a member, undergoes novitiate and prepares for initiation |
| 4° | Neophyte | gets to know the group from inside, not given any instructions, may leave or be expelled without explanation |
| 3° | Initiate | full member, offers magical abilities to the IOT, departure or expulsion requires explanation |
| 2° | Adept | required to actively endeavor for the group, inspire others, organize and lead |
| 1° | Magus | required to also coordinate the IOT internationally |
There is a "side-degree" called Priest/Priestess of Chaos that involves social and magical service to others, including outside the IOT. It may be undertaken as an addition to the 3°; all holders of the 2° and 1° are expected to be able to fill the role. There are also two special degrees, 0°=5° and Elder for 2° and 1° members who retire from their duties, described as identical to the 3° and retirement respectively.
There also are several offices which may be taken, most notably including the Insubordinate, a low-ranking (4° or 3°) member who ideally is to be informed about all work of a high-ranking member he or she is assigned to, and charged to criticize and ridicule it, channel feedback from others concerning it, and will veto it if necessary. Every Adept, Magus, and Magister Templi (leader of a Temple) has an Insubordinate.
The IOT does not charge membership or initiation fees. This is a difference from many other international magical orders, and indeed from most fraternal organizations. Unlike such groups as the OTO or various offshoots of the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn, the IOT is a non-incorporated society, rather than a legal entity or non-profit corporation.
Members are obliged to keep silent on internal affairs and the identities of their fellows. The latter rule does not seem to apply to deceased persons, as it is not a secret William S. Burroughs, Timothy Leary, and Robert Anton Wilson have been members.
The order consists mostly of largely autonomous Temples arranged into autonomous geographical Sections or Satrapies, e.g. Austria, United Kingdom, USA, Germany, Brazil etc. The individual temples exchange results and inspirations through newsletters, magazines, e-mails, inter-temple visits and the annual Pact meeting.
Read more about this topic: Illuminates Of Thanateros
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—Donald Davidson (b. 1917)
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“There is no such thing as a language, not if a language is anything like what many philosophers and linguists have supposed. There is therefore no such thing to be learned, mastered, or born with. We must give up the idea of a clearly defined shared structure which language-users acquire and then apply to cases.”
—Donald Davidson (b. 1917)