About Dr. Shoemaker

About Dr. David Shoemaker

Dr. David Shoemaker is a clinical psychologist in private practice, specializing in Jungian and cognitive-behavioral psychotherapy. David is the Chancellor and Prolocutor of the Temple of the Silver Star. He has been a member of O.T.O. and a student of A∴A∴ since 1993, and he has more than twenty years of experience supervising students in these traditions.

He is a Past Master of 418 Lodge, O.T.O. in Sacramento, having succeeded Soror Meral (Phyllis Seckler), his friend and teacher. He also serves as a Sovereign Grand Inspector General of the Order. David was the founding President of the O.T.O. Psychology Guild and a founding member of the Advanced Initiation Training team, and is a frequent speaker at NOTOCON.  A consecrated Bishop of Ecclesia Gnostica Catholica, David led the team that developed the O.T.O. Pastoral Counseling Workshops.

David was a co-editor of the journals Neshamah (Psychology Guild) and Cheth (418 Lodge). In addition to his essays in these publications, his writings have been published in the journals Mezlim and Black Pearl, and his chapter on Kabbalistic Psychology was included in the Instructor’s Manual of Fadiman and Frager’s Personality and Personal Growth, an undergraduate psychology textbook. He was the compiler of the TOTSS publication, Jane Wolfe: The Cefalu Diaries 1920-1923, and a co-editor of the collections of the writings of Phyllis Seckler (Soror Meral), The Thoth Tarot, Astrology, & Other Selected WritingsThe Kabbalah, Magick, and Thelema. Selected Writings Volume II, and Collected Poems 1946-1996.   He was also the co-editor of the collection of correspondence published as Karl Germer: Selected Letters 1928-1962, and Llewellyn’s Complete Book of Ceremonial Magick. His popular book Living Thelema:  A Practical Guide to Attainment in Aleister Crowley’s System of Magick,followed on the success of the podcast of the same name.  The Winds of Wisdomwhich presents David’s experiences with the 30 Aethyrs of the Enochian system, was published in 2016, and Llewellyn’s Complete Book of Ceremonial Magick (co-edited with Lon Milo DuQuette) followed in 2020.

In addition to his work in magick and psychology, David is a composer and musician. He lives in Raleigh, North Carolina.