Thee Temple ov Psychick Youth
Encyclopedia
Thee Temple ov Psychick Youth or TOPY was a fellowship founded in 1981 by members of Psychic TV
, Coil
, Current 93
, and a number of other individuals. The ever-evolving network is a loosely federated group of people operating as a unique blend of artistic collective, and practitioners of magic.
Throughout its existence, TOPY has been an influential group in the underground chaos magic
scene and in the wider western occult
tradition.
or the worship of gods. The group focuses on the psychic and magical aspects of the human brain linked with "guiltless sexuality". TOPY's research has covered both left hand and right hand ritual magic and elements of psychology
, art
and music
. Brion Gysin
, the Process Church of the Final Judgement, William S. Burroughs
, Aleister Crowley
and Austin Osman Spare
have stood out as major influences.
On the 23rd hour (11:00pm) of the 23rd day of each month TOPY members were encouraged to make magical sigils
. If an individual chose to do so, they were invited to mail their sigils to a central location where the magical energy in them could be used to enhance each other.
The reason for the use of "TOPY cant", such as the spelling of "thee" and "ov" in the network's name, derives from the writings of Genesis P-Orridge
, which advocate a deconstruction of 'normal' or consensus modes of communication in order to achieve a more integrated understanding of the Self.
of Psychic TV
, one of the few founding members still involved at that time, and probably the most famous public face of TOPY during the 1980s, announced his departure from the organization. This was later exacerbated when he later claimed that he had shut down the network upon his leaving. The remaining members of the network chose not to go along with this and carried on with their activities. TOPY continued to grow and evolve throughout the 1990s and into the 21st century while Genesis P-Orridge
moved on to other projects such as The Process
, as well as a similar project to TOPY called Topi.
In 2008, TOPY underwent its biggest change as it evolved into the Autonomous Individuals Network (AIN). The new organisation was built on the foundations of the TOPY network and "all the history and knowledge that community has gathered since its creation in the 1980s".
In December, 2010, Genesis P-Orridge activated the One True Topi Tribe ning, a reactivation of sorts of the original Temple Ov Psychick Youth, this time with focus on creating an intentional artist's community.
Psychic TV
Psychic TV or PTV, is a video art and music group that primarily performs psychedelic, punk, electronic and experimental music...
, Coil
Coil (band)
Coil were an English cross-genre, experimental music group formed in 1982 by John Balance—later credited as "Jhonn Balance"—and his partner Peter Christopherson, aka "Sleazy". The duo worked together on a series of releases before Balance chose the name Coil, which he claimed to be...
, Current 93
Current 93
Current 93 is an eclectic British experimental music group, working since the early 1980s in folk-based musical forms. The band was founded in 1982 by David Tibet .-Background:Tibet has been the only constant in the group, though Steven Stapleton has appeared on...
, and a number of other individuals. The ever-evolving network is a loosely federated group of people operating as a unique blend of artistic collective, and practitioners of magic.
Creation and influence
The early network consisted of a number of 'stations' worldwide including TOPY-CHAOS for Australia, TOPYNA for North America and TOPY Station 23 for the United Kingdom and Europe. Smaller, "grass-roots"-level sub-stations called Access Points were located throughout America and Europe.Throughout its existence, TOPY has been an influential group in the underground chaos magic
Chaos magic
Chaos magic is a school of the modern magical tradition which emphasizes the pragmatic use of belief systems and the creation of new and unorthodox methods.-General principles:...
scene and in the wider western occult
Occult
The word occult comes from the Latin word occultus , referring to "knowledge of the hidden". In the medical sense it is used to refer to a structure or process that is hidden, e.g...
tradition.
Theory and praxis
TOPY is dedicated to the manifestation of magical concepts lacking mysticismMysticism
Mysticism is the knowledge of, and especially the personal experience of, states of consciousness, i.e. levels of being, beyond normal human perception, including experience and even communion with a supreme being.-Classical origins:...
or the worship of gods. The group focuses on the psychic and magical aspects of the human brain linked with "guiltless sexuality". TOPY's research has covered both left hand and right hand ritual magic and elements of psychology
Psychology
Psychology is the study of the mind and behavior. Its immediate goal is to understand individuals and groups by both establishing general principles and researching specific cases. For many, the ultimate goal of psychology is to benefit society...
, art
Art
Art is the product or process of deliberately arranging items in a way that influences and affects one or more of the senses, emotions, and intellect....
and music
Music
Music is an art form whose medium is sound and silence. Its common elements are pitch , rhythm , dynamics, and the sonic qualities of timbre and texture...
. Brion Gysin
Brion Gysin
Brion Gysin was a painter, writer, sound poet, and performance artist born in Taplow, Buckinghamshire.He is best known for his discovery of the cut-up technique, used by his friend, the novelist William S. Burroughs...
, the Process Church of the Final Judgement, William S. Burroughs
William S. Burroughs
William Seward Burroughs II was an American novelist, poet, essayist and spoken word performer. A primary figure of the Beat Generation and a major postmodernist author, he is considered to be "one of the most politically trenchant, culturally influential, and innovative artists of the 20th...
, Aleister Crowley
Aleister Crowley
Aleister Crowley , born Edward Alexander Crowley, and also known as both Frater Perdurabo and The Great Beast, was an influential English occultist, astrologer, mystic and ceremonial magician, responsible for founding the religious philosophy of Thelema. He was also successful in various other...
and Austin Osman Spare
Austin Osman Spare
Austin Osman Spare was an English artist who developed idiosyncratic magical techniques including automatic writing, automatic drawing and sigilization based on his theories of the relationship between the conscious and unconscious self...
have stood out as major influences.
On the 23rd hour (11:00pm) of the 23rd day of each month TOPY members were encouraged to make magical sigils
Sigil (magic)
A sigil is a symbol created for a specific magical purpose. A sigil is usually made up of a complex combination of several specific symbols or geometric figures, each with a specific meaning or intent.- Name and origin :...
. If an individual chose to do so, they were invited to mail their sigils to a central location where the magical energy in them could be used to enhance each other.
The reason for the use of "TOPY cant", such as the spelling of "thee" and "ov" in the network's name, derives from the writings of Genesis P-Orridge
Genesis P-Orridge
Genesis Breyer P-Orridge is an English singer-songwriter, musician, writer and artist. P-Orridge's early confrontational performance work in COUM Transmissions in the late 1960s and early 1970s along with the industrial band Throbbing Gristle, which dealt with subjects such as prostitution,...
, which advocate a deconstruction of 'normal' or consensus modes of communication in order to achieve a more integrated understanding of the Self.
Schisms
In the early 1990s a "rift" occurred within the network when Genesis P-OrridgeGenesis P-Orridge
Genesis Breyer P-Orridge is an English singer-songwriter, musician, writer and artist. P-Orridge's early confrontational performance work in COUM Transmissions in the late 1960s and early 1970s along with the industrial band Throbbing Gristle, which dealt with subjects such as prostitution,...
of Psychic TV
Psychic TV
Psychic TV or PTV, is a video art and music group that primarily performs psychedelic, punk, electronic and experimental music...
, one of the few founding members still involved at that time, and probably the most famous public face of TOPY during the 1980s, announced his departure from the organization. This was later exacerbated when he later claimed that he had shut down the network upon his leaving. The remaining members of the network chose not to go along with this and carried on with their activities. TOPY continued to grow and evolve throughout the 1990s and into the 21st century while Genesis P-Orridge
Genesis P-Orridge
Genesis Breyer P-Orridge is an English singer-songwriter, musician, writer and artist. P-Orridge's early confrontational performance work in COUM Transmissions in the late 1960s and early 1970s along with the industrial band Throbbing Gristle, which dealt with subjects such as prostitution,...
moved on to other projects such as The Process
The Process (collective)
The Process is an art and philosophy collective formed in the early 1990s. The idea was initially birthed at the same time as, and with a subset of the same people from, the studio work for the Skinny Puppy album The Process, though the direct interrelation ends there. Some of the early...
, as well as a similar project to TOPY called Topi.
In 2008, TOPY underwent its biggest change as it evolved into the Autonomous Individuals Network (AIN). The new organisation was built on the foundations of the TOPY network and "all the history and knowledge that community has gathered since its creation in the 1980s".
In December, 2010, Genesis P-Orridge activated the One True Topi Tribe ning, a reactivation of sorts of the original Temple Ov Psychick Youth, this time with focus on creating an intentional artist's community.
Key Texts
There have been a number of texts produced by Thee Temple ov Psychick Youth to expound its philosophies, many of which can be found on their website. Some of the key texts produced over the years have been:- Nexis
- Thee Sigilizers Handbook
- Thee Grey Book (which was important during the 1980s but is no longer distributed by TOPY)
- Thee Black Book
- Broadcast (the journal of TOPY)
- Thee Psychick Bible is a culmination of all past copies of TOPY literature, as well as containing updates and personal additions by Genesis P-Orridge.