Geoffrey Ashe's "Do What You Will: A History of Anti-Morality" (London:
W.H. Allen, 1974) you will find it very illuminating. Perhaps you have
heard of Medmenham Abbey already?

(TMaroney)
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From: Jeff Marshall <jeff@infocomm.net>
Newsgroups: alt.magick.tyagi,alt.magick,alt.thelema,talk.religion.misc
Subject: Re: Basics of Thelema (was 'Who's a Thelemite?')
Date: Wed, 26 Mar 1997 05:42:25 -0500
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nigris (333) wrote:
> 
> identified with the Cult of Thelema (does anyone know
> if this is the *same* thing as the 'Cult of the Star and Snake' and
> from where this latter phrase originates?), resident within Crowleyanity,
> what is regarded by some as a 'religion' (it is not so to us all) takes
> on the qualities of many other 'religions of the book' (an echo of both
> Judeochristian and Masonic influences).


Check out Yarker's work.  He discusses the Star and the Snake and links
it to both Sumer and the Druids.  FWIW, I think it has to do with the
interplay of Aquarius and Scorpio.

AOI
Jeff

$       a Rule for a Thelemic Abbey should consist of what is
$       necessary for the allowance of the "monks" to exist
$       within the spiritual retreat and contain the necessary
$       elements of discipline which allow for a "religious
$       vocation."
$
$       There should be a separate administrative rule which
$       allows for the operation of the abbey and its continued
$       sustanance. These do not necessarily conflict in nature.
$       The allowance of a Rule is for the spiritual nature of
$       the monks and the rule is for the operation of the abbey
$       itself.
$
$       The Rule should contain such elements of:
$       1) personal managment of the spiritual/philosophical pursuits;
$       2) group interaction;
$       3) outside influences and their allowance or control;
$       4) obligations of the individual to the abbey; and
$       5) protection of the group from the egos of the individual.
$
$       The rule should contain:
$       1) practical and financial necessities of sustaning the abbey;
$       2) admission and dismissal procedures;
$       3) standard operational and routine structures; and
$       4) governmental policies in regards to internal and external conflicts.