Editing Order of the Solar Temple (section)

=== Ascended Masters and Sirius ===
[[File:Close-up of Sirius.jpg|alt=The star Sirius. It is shown as blue and is significantly larger and brighter than surrounding stars.|thumb|The star [[Sirius]]]]
In OTS theology, the star [[Sirius]] was a focal point, as the "Blue Star" that had appeared roughly 26,000 years ago.{{sfn|Chryssides|2006|p=119}} Following the appearance of the star, the [[universe]]'s history could be divided into several "ages", viewing the present moment as being one in which the world was moving from the [[Age of Pisces]] to the [[Age of Aquarius]]; this belief in the astrological ages was shared with several other New Age and occult groups.{{sfn|Chryssides|2006|p=120}} In the OTS's view, the arrival of the Age of Aquarius would result in the [[apocalypse]], with the Earth being consumed by fire.{{sfn|Chryssides|2006|p=120}} The OTS then aimed to create a group of souls dedicated to surviving this apocalypse.{{sfn|Chryssides|2006|p=120}}

The OTS believed Sirius to be the home of the "Ascended Masters" (also called the Great White Brotherhood).{{sfn|Chryssides|2006|p=119}} The OTS conceived of the Ascended Masters as having arrived on earth, where they inhabited [[Agartha]] (an underground spiritual realm popular in esoteric thought).{{sfn|Chryssides|2006|p=119}}{{sfn|Palmer|1996|p=311}} Their belief in the Ascended Masters was shared by the [[Theosophical Society]].{{sfn|Chryssides|2006|p=122}} The Masters were, in the OTS's conception, effectively souls with the ability to manifest in physical form; both the Masters and human beings were perceived as souls who were merely temporarily occupying their bodies, and at the time of death would move on to another.{{sfn|Chryssides|2006|p=119}} The OTS believed that advanced or elite members could, at will, "de-corporealize", in accordance with their degree of initiation into the OTS.{{sfn|Palmer|1996|p=315}}{{sfn|Chryssides|2006|p=120}}