Editing Temple of Set (section)

==Structure==

The internal structure of the Temple of Set is closely reminiscent of that of the Church of Satan as it existed in the 1970s.{{sfn|Introvigne|2016|p=348}}

===Degrees===
All members of the Temple must be affiliated with a pylon, and thus membership is by application, requiring contact with a Setian priestess or priest followed by an evaluation period.{{sfn|Petersen|2005|p=435}} The participation of non-initiated in the Temple's rituals are forbidden, due to the belief that their rituals would be dangerous in the wrong hands.{{sfn|Petersen|2005|p=436}}

The Temple of Set recognizes several stages or degrees of initiation. The degrees indicate the individual Setian's development and skill in magic.{{sfn|Granholm|2013|p=220}} The degree structure is based on that of the Church of Satan, which in turn was based on the degrees of a nineteenth-century occult group, the [[Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn]].{{sfn|Granholm|2013|p=222}} The Temple terms the progression through degrees as "recognitions", because the organization's philosophy sees that the individual member initiates themselves and that the Temple merely acknowledges this by granting the degree.{{sfn|Granholm|2013|p=221}} These degrees are:{{sfnm|1a1=La Fontaine|1y=1999|1p=103|2a1=Granholm|2y=2009|2p=91|3a1=Granholm|3y=2013|3p=220|4a1=Introvigne|4y=2016|4p=348}}
#Setian (First Degree)
#Adept (Second Degree)
#Priest / Priestess of Set (Third Degree)
#Magister / Magistra Templi (Fourth Degree)
#Magus / Maga (Fifth Degree)
#Ipsissimus / Ipsissima (Sixth Degree)

The priesthood of the Temple of Set consists of members holding the third degree or higher; those in the first and second degrees are considered "lay members" of the Temple.{{sfnm|1a1=Granholm|1y=2009|1p=91|2a1=Granholm|2y=2013|2p=221}} The first degree serves as a space for mutual evaluation, in which the Temple assesses whether the individual is appropriate for the group, and the individual decides whether they wish to further their involvement with it.{{sfn|Harvey|1995|p=286}} Full membership comes with recognition to the second degree.{{sfn|Granholm|2013|p=221}} Many members do not advance beyond the second degree, nor is this expected of them, as while the first and second degree members use the organization's teachings and tools for their own development, the priesthood involves greater responsibilities towards the organization, such as being its official representatives.{{sfnm|1a1=La Fontaine|1y=1999|1p=104|2a1=Granholm|2y=2013|2p=221}}

Recognition is performed by members of the priesthood.{{sfn|Granholm|2013|p=221}} The fourth degree, which is acknowledged by the high priest/priestess, entails that the individual is so advanced in their magical skills that they are able to found their own school of magic, represented in the different orders of the Temple.{{sfn|Granholm|2013|p=221}} The fifth degree can only be awarded by the unanimous decision of the Council of Nine and by the approval of the Temple's high priest/priestess.{{sfn|Granholm|2013|p=221}} A fifth degree member has the power to utter and define a concept which somehow affects the philosophy of the organization, such as the concept of ''Xeper'' defined by Aquino in 1975.{{sfn|Granholm|2013|p=221}} Only a handful of members have attained this degree and most "fifth-degree" concepts defined in such a manner are no longer studied in the organization.{{sfn|Granholm|2013|p=221}} The final sixth degree represents a Magus "whose Task is complete".{{sfn|Granholm|2013|p=221}} This degree is held by a very select few in the Temple, although any fifth-degree member can assume the sixth degree based on their own assessment.{{sfn|Granholm|2013|p=221}}

===Leadership===

The organization is led by a [[high priest]]/priestess, who is also the public face of the Temple.{{sfn|Granholm|2013|p=219}} The high priest is chosen among fourth or higher degree members by the chairman of the Council of Nine.{{sfn|Granholm|2013|p=219}} This ruling council has nine members chosen from the priesthood (third degree or higher), whose mandate lasts for nine years with a new member being elected every year.{{sfn|Granholm|2013|p=219}} The chairman of the council is chosen from among the council members each year.{{sfn|Granholm|2013|p=219}} The council has the ultimate ruling power in the Temple and even the high priest is responsible to it.{{sfn|Granholm|2013|p=219}} The Temple also has an executive director, whose task is to deal with administrative issues.{{sfn|Granholm|2013|p=219}}

Since its founding in 1975, the temple has had the following high priests/priestesses:{{sfn|Granholm|2013|p=219}}
* Michael A. Aquino (1975–1979, 1982–1996, 2002–2004)
* Ronald K. Barrett (1979–1982)
* [[Don Webb (writer)|Don Webb]] (1996–2002)
* [[Zeena Schreck]] (2002)
* Patricia Hardy (2004–2013)
* James Fitzsimmons (2013–present)

===Pylons, elements, and orders===

[[File:Isis temple Philae2.JPG|thumb|right|Setian groups, or ''pylons'', are named after the fortified gateways to ancient Egyptian temples (pictured here at the Isis Temple on [[Philae Island]]) ]]

In addition to the international organization, the Temple sponsors initiatory ''Orders'' and ''Elements'' and local groups called ''Pylons''. Pylons are intended to facilitate the initiatory work of the Temple's members by conducting meetings where discussions and magical works take place.{{sfn|Granholm|2013|p=222}} The purpose of a pylon is to provide a space in which the Setian can focus on their religion, aided by like-minded individuals.{{sfn|Drury|2003|p=198}} Pylons typically meet in a member's home.{{sfn|Drury|2003|p=198}} Members usually join the Pylon located geographically closest to them.{{sfn|Granholm|2013|p=222}} Correspondence- or Internet-based Pylons also exist,{{sfn|Granholm|2013|p=222}} with Harvey noting that this online networking is more common than in-person interaction.{{sfn|Harvey|2009|p=32}} A Pylon is led by a second-degree (or higher) member who is called a ''Sentinel''.{{sfn|Granholm|2013|p=222}}{{sfn|Drury|2003|p=198}} The term ''pylon'' derives from the architectural features which served as fortified gateways to ancient Egyptian temples.{{sfnm|1a1=Drury|1y=2003|1p=197|2a1=Harvey|2y=2009|2p=34}} One Finnish Setian informed Granholm that the relationship between the orders and the temple was like that of different departments in a university.{{sfn|Granholm|2013|p=222}}

''Elements'' are loosely structured interest groups, where specific themes and issues are addressed.{{sfn|Granholm|2013|p=222}} They can be open for non-members and are commonly in operation only for short periods.{{sfn|Granholm|2013|p=222}} Topics of interest include, for example, [[animal rights]], which was the subject of the Arkte element operated by Aquino's wife Lilith.{{sfn|Granholm|2013|p=222}}

There are sections of the Temple known as ''Orders'', each of which focus on a particular theme, for instance ancient Egypt, Norse culture, Tantric Hinduism, or vampirism.{{sfnm|1a1=Gardell|1y=2003|1p=292|2a1=Drury|2y=2003|2p=199}} Others focus on a particular skill, for instance the Order of Uart focuses on the visual arts and the Order of Taliesin on music.{{sfn|Introvigne|2016|p=350}} Orders can be understood as schools of different aspects of magic providing different paths of initiation.{{sfn|Granholm|2013|p=222}} Orders are led by grand masters, who will usually be the founder of the order.{{sfn|Granholm|2013|p=222}} In longer-lived orders the founder may have a successive grand master.{{sfn|Granholm|2013|p=222}} Orders are founded by members of the fourth degree.{{sfn|Granholm|2013|p=221}} When members reaches the second degree of initiation, they are expected to join an order of their own choosing.{{sfn|Granholm|2013|p=222}} In normal circumstances, a Setian is only permitted to join one order, however special dispensation can be obtained for a practitioner to join two.{{sfn|Granholm|2013|p=223}}

Setians also hold annual International Conclaves. First Degree Initiates who obtain sponsorship by a member of the Priesthood are permitted to attend the International Conclave and Regional Gatherings.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://xeper.org/pub/pub_structure.html|title=Structure|publisher=Temple of Set}}</ref>