Temple of Set

Overview

The Temple of Set is an occult organization founded in 1975 by Lt. Col. Michael Aquino, a U.S. Army intelligence officer and psychological operations specialist. The Temple emerged from a schism with Anton LaVey's Church of Satan and established itself as a distinct left-hand path organization with a sophisticated corporate and magical governance structure centered around the Council of Nine.

Origins and Founding

Break from the Church of Satan

The Temple of Set was founded on the Summer Solstice of 1975 when Michael Aquino and several other high-ranking members of the Church of Satan performed a ritual to contact the ancient Egyptian deity Set. According to Aquino, Set revealed that LaVey's Church had become a materialistic organization that failed to fulfill its spiritual potential.

The "Book of Coming Forth by Night"

Following this ritual, Aquino claimed to receive a text called the "Book of Coming Forth by Night," which became the foundational scripture of the Temple. The text established:

• Set as the only true deity
• Individual self-deification as the goal of initiates
• The principle of "Xeper" (becoming)
• The structure of the Temple organization

Organizational Structure

The Council of Nine

The Temple is governed by the Council of Nine, a board of nine initiates (III° or higher) who serve as:

• Corporate board of directors
• Magical legislative body
• Ultimate authority with power to remove the High Priest

The Council holds seats for nine-year terms and functions as the organization's supreme governing body.

Degrees of Initiation

The Temple operates a degree system:

• I° (Setian) - Entry level
• II° (Adept) - Advanced practitioner
• III° (Priest/Priestess) - Can serve on Council of Nine
• IV° (Magister/Magistra) - Higher recognition
• V°+ - Reserved for exceptional achievements

Pylons and Orders

The Temple structure includes:

• Pylons - Local groups and congregations
• Orders - Specialized working groups focused on specific magical or research areas

Core Philosophy

Xeper and Remanifest

The central philosophy centers on "Xeper" (pronounced "kheffer"), an Egyptian word meaning "to become" or "to come into being." This represents:

• Continuous self-creation and evolution
• Individual sovereignty
• Separation from the natural order (represented by the "Black Flame")

Setian Theology

Unlike Satanism which worships a Christian adversary figure, Setians claim to worship:

• The ancient Egyptian god Set
• The "Eternal Isolate" - consciousness separate from nature
• The bringer of the "Black Flame" of self-awareness to humanity

Military Intelligence Connections

Aquino's Background

Michael Aquino's career in U.S. Army Intelligence and Psychological Operations raises significant questions about the Temple's potential intelligence functions:

• PSYOP expertise - Aquino specialized in psychological warfare
• Intelligence connections - Military intelligence network access
• Timing - Founded during the height of MK-ULTRA and related programs

Alleged Mind Control Operations

According to whistleblowers and researchers, the Temple has been linked to:

Project GREENSTAR

Former intelligence officer Julianne McKinney and MONARCH survivor Paul Bonacci alleged that Aquino headed Project GREENSTAR, involving:

• Programming "UFO abductees" with false memories
• Using occult organizations as cover for military mind control
• Creating "screen memories" of extraterrestrial encounters

Connection to MONARCH

Paul Bonacci positively identified Aquino as one of his programmers, testifying about:

• Satanic ritual abuse programming
• Programming on military installations
• Underground facilities with mock spacecraft

The "Aquarius Group"

Documents cited by researcher Walter Bowart alleged that an "Aquarius Group" connected to Aquino:

• Conducted extensive mind control programming
• Created programmed assassins
• Used cults as operational covers

The Council of Nine and Intelligence Structure

The Temple's Council of Nine mirrors structures found in:

• Military command hierarchies
• Intelligence agency governance
• Corporate boards with executive removal powers
• Traditional secret societies

This organizational sophistication is unusual for occult groups and suggests potential institutional backing.

Controversies and Allegations

Presidio Scandal

In the 1980s, Aquino was investigated in connection with child abuse allegations at the Presidio military base daycare center. While never convicted, the allegations included:

• Ritual abuse of children
• Use of military facilities for occult activities
• Connection to broader child abuse networks

Franklin Cover-Up

Aquino's name emerged in connection with the Franklin Credit Union scandal in Omaha, Nebraska, involving:

• Child abuse allegations
• Elite political connections
• Claims of ritual abuse

McMartin Preschool

Some researchers have connected Aquino to the McMartin preschool scandal, though direct evidence remains contested.

Comparison to Church of Satan

Legacy and Current Status

After Aquino's Death

Michael Aquino died in 2019. The Temple continues to operate under new leadership, though with reduced public profile.

Significance in Conspiracy Research

The Temple of Set remains significant for researchers investigating:

• Military-intelligence use of occult organizations
• Connections between Satanism and mind control
• High-level child abuse networks
• UFO phenomenon as psychological operation

Related Topics

• Council of Nine (Temple of Set) - The governing body
• Michael Aquino - Founder and intelligence officer
• Project GREENSTAR - Alleged UFO abduction programming
• Project MONARCH - Mind control program connections