Liber al vel legis is the central sacred text of thelema, written by aleister crowley in cairo, egypt in the year 1904. Crowley for the first time, to clear up some of the complexity of his publishing schemes, and to address the matter of multiple editions of the same book. Therions female counterpart is babalon, another thelemic deity. Commentaries on the corrected version of the book of the law. However, the law is for all explained away all those little things that had confused me or led me to believe that the book of the law was just crowleys personal writings. There is an engaging story in the book chapter 5, pages 2025 about how this connection lead crowley into taking the information channeled by his wife, rose, seriously, which in turn acted as a catalyst for a. True will is generally explained as the force or energy that you embody, that you are meant to express in this lifetime or longer. Denounced by the press as the wickedest man in the world, aleister crowley 18751947 was a towering figure among 20thcentury occultists. The book of the law and the book of lies by aleister. Those familiar with the writings of aleister crowley will recognise sixtyone as, ain. The authorized popular commentary of liber al vel legis sub figura ccxx, the book of the law by aleister crowley, edited by louis wilkinson and hymenaeus beta, the 2002 softcover third printing of the first edition from new falcon publications, is part of the collection at the reading room it is worth noting that in this edition, on page 192, a paraphrase of the. The number 93 is of great significance in thelema, founded by english author and occultist aleister crowley in 1904 with the writing of the book of the law also known as liber al vel legis. He, as a thelemic personage, evolved from that of the beast of the book of revelation see the beast bible, whom crowley intuitively identified himself with.
He is a necessary unit of the universe, equal and opposite to the sum total of all. This book was dictated in cairo between noon and 1 p. Its full title is liber al vel legis, sub figura ccxx, as delivered by xciii418 to dclxvi, and it is commonly referred to as the book of the law. His bible, the book of the law, liber legis, an automatic writing scripted in cairo by crowley in 1904, is said to be a transmission from the gods through an entity named aiwass, or aiwaz, depending on the numerological significance, which crowley on other occasions referred to. The book of the law or liber al vel legis is the central sacred text of the occult. My scribe ankhafnakhonsu, the priest of the princes, shall not in one letter change this book.
Aleister crowley frater perdurabo, the book of the law. Aleister crowley the book of the law chapter 1 nuit. Who calls us thelemites will do no wrong, if he look but close into the word. The book of lies, first published in london in 19, aleister crowley s little master work, has long been out of print. Central to crowley s system is a curious and enigmatic book known as the book of the law, also called liber al, liber legis, liber l, or ccxx 220. His long and notable career encompassed countless writings and the creation of his own religion, thelema, the chief precept of which was do what thou wilt. Aleister crowley 18751947 was the most widely read author in 20thcentury occultism. John dee among others, lived in england from 1875 through 1947. Crowley said it was revealed to him during his 1904 vacation with his wife rose in the boulaq neighborhood of. It was written down by aleister crowley in cairo, egypt in the year 1904. In the book of the law there is hidden the lost word, and there is also another kind of sublime kabbalah the secret doctrine hidden in there. His long and notable career encompassed countless writings and the creation of his own religion, thelema, the. He singlehandedly redefined magic as a field of inquiry and endeavor through his books and the order that he ledthe a.
He, my prophet, hath chosen, knowing the law of the fortress, and the great mystery of the house of god. Its reissue with the authors own commentary gives occasion for a few notes. Allegedly dictated to crowley in cairo, egypt between noon and 1 pm on three successive days in april 1904, the book of the law is the source book and key for crowleys philosophy andor religion, this oftmisunderstood phrase, which forms the basis for crowleys practice of. In 1902 he kept part of his magical diary in cipher, and he went on to use cryptography in a number of his most popular texts. In the new comment on liber legis, crowley says true will is the reason of ones incarnation. This that thou writest is the threefold book of law. The commentaries, old, new, and derivative, on the book of the law, liber al vel legis, featuring a holograph comparison, notes from numerous editors through time, and the consolidation of the qabalistic appendix which had been intended from the first by the beast.
The book of lies, first published in london in 19, aleister crowleys little master work, has long been out of print. Allegedly dictated to crowley in cairo, egypt between noon and 1 pm on three successive days in april 1904, the book of the law is the source book and key for crowley s philosophy andor religion, this oftmisunderstood phrase, which forms the basis for crowley s practice of magick, is found in the book of the law. The number is of prominent significance in the system of thelema. It is a lengthy treatise on magick, his system of western occult practice, synthesised from many sources, including eastern yoga, hermeticism, medieval grimoires, contemporary magical theories from writers like eliphas levi and helena blavatsky, and his own. The commentaries, old, new, and derivative, on the book of the law, liber al vel. The khabs is in the khu this essay is also available in printed form, and you can also download the pdf. This oftmisunderstood phrase, which forms the basis for crowley s practice of magick, is found in the book of the law.
The book of the law is by definition beyond reason. The stele of revealing bore the catalogue number 666 at the time when crowley discovered it, which was one of the events that lead to the writing of the book of the law. For there are therein three grades, the hermit, and the lover, and the man of earth. Collected pdfs by aleister crowley internet archive. Crowley s beliefs included pursuing the great work, which included gaining selfknowledge and uniting with the larger universe. Can someone explain the comment in the book of the law. Aiwass dictated the book of the law, which crowley wrote down and published, becoming the central thelemic text. Central to crowleys system is a curious and enigmatic book known as the book of the law, also called liber al, liber legis, liber l, or ccxx 220. Crowley said he wrote the book of the law on 8, 9 and 10 april 1904. Crowleys beliefs included pursuing the great work, which included gaining selfknowledge and uniting with the larger universe. The book of the law aleister crowley download free pdf. Crowley was a prolific writer and defined true will in various ways throughout his 72 years on earth. Aleister crowley 18751947, who claimed to be the reincarnation of dr. This oftmisunderstood phrase, which forms the basis for crowleys practice of magick, is found in the book of the law.
Contains some of the deepest secrets of initiation, with a clear solution of many cosmic and ethical problems. Aleister crowley comments his short work with his usual sense of darkness and secrecy. All of my conclusions regarding the keys can be verified with a copy of 777 and other qabalistic writings of aleister crowley and the book of thoth. Crowley asks nuit to reveal the ordeals which is hard to explain, the rituals. Like who calls us thelemites will do no wrong, if he look but close into the word. The wanderings or falsifications of the one thought of frater perdurabo, which thought is itself untrue. Liber al vel legis by aleister crowley, rose edith. Aleister crowley, liber al vel legis the book of the law truth be told. Other articles where the book of the law is discussed.
It is fairly short and has often been issued in pamphlet form. To ask other readers questions about the book of the law, please sign up. Jul 26, 2011 this third installment of thelema quotes deals with liber legis or the book of the law as being the rule of life for thelemites. Before book fourmagickliber aba the matter was even more confused, of course, one had to piece magick in theory and practice with magick and book four and liber 777, but that doesnt include gems from the equinox or all of the holy books let alone any of the commentaries on the book of the law, which i personally think are perhaps the 2nd. You are certainly able to attempt to study the book by various means gematria, linguistically, theologically etc but you wont reach the core, true meaning of this work by any of these means. Aleister crowley the book of the law liber al vel legis. The ethics of thelema a collection of essays, featuring the law of liberty a tract of to mega qherion 666 that is a magus 9 2 a a the message of the master therion duty by aleister crowley liber libr.
Magick is the science and art of causing change to occur in conformity with will. He was a poet, mountaineer, secret agent, magus, libertine, and prophet was dubbed by. When i started looking into all this, i was a firm believer that crowley was the man i had read about from colin wilsons perspective and nevill drurys perspective, etc. The author called himself aiwass, and claimed to be the minister of hoorpaarkraat. Corrected version of the book of the law commentaries notes. Allegedly dictated to crowley in cairo, egypt between noon and 1 pm on three successive days in april. The words do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the law. There is, however, a hidden meaning to the entire text.
The mystery of the glad word chapter ii verse 76 of the book of the law. He, as a thelemic personage, evolved from that of the beast of the book of revelation see the beast bible, whom crowley intuitively identified himself. Magick, liber aba, book 4 is widely considered to be the magnum opus of 20thcentury occultist aleister crowley, the founder of thelema. Liber cccxxxiii book 333 was written by english occultist and teacher aleister crowley using the pen name of frater perdurabo and first published in 1912 or 19 see explanation below. The book of the law, the book of lies, liber ararita, liber b vel magi to name but a. Temple of thelema view topic numbers in the book of. In the new comment on liber legis, crowley says true will is. She pointed out stele 666 in the boulaq museum, which has since come to have a meaning in thelemic mythology as an alternate form of the book of the law. Its probably an intended mystery why these two sums are switched in. It is the sum of the numbers inside the 6by6 magic square, which is associated with the sun by some kabbalists, astrologists, and numerologists, who still use it today. I despise the thing to such an extent that i can hardly. For example, hadit says, in verse 2 of his chapter 2 in the book of the law. Jan 09, 2008 crowley recognised aiwass as his holy guardian angel and the book of the law itself as a bible for the new age.
Crowley claimed it was dictated to him by a preternatural. The book of the law or liber al vel legis is the central sacred text of the occult tradition of thelema. The secret keys of the book of the law arcane archive. The book of the law kindle edition by crowley, aleister. Having rejected democracy and other mass movements as innately alien to the royal art, crowley sought to develop the political and social aspects of thelema, writing an uncharacteristically clear commentary on his bible, the law is for all.
The number 93 is of great significance in thelema, founded by english author and occultist aleister crowley in 1904 with the writing of the book of the law the. Aleister crowley once referred to himself as an expert in cipher. Need i add that, as the book itself demonstrates beyond all doubt. The numerations of the letters associated with nuits houses sum to 90.
Crowley encrypted the ancient merkabah of the seven palaces in liber al vel legis, and it is this which is the key to all the other holy books. Aleister crowley as political theorist, part 1 counter. The stele of revealing has a wonderful connection with the formation of crowleys work liber al vel legis the book of the law. This is liber al vel legis, also known as the book of the law. All quotations are from the book of the law and aleister crowley the beast 666. The authorized popular commentary of liber al vel legis sub figura ccxx, the book of the law by aleister crowley, edited by louis wilkinson and hymenaeus beta, the 2002 softcover third printing of the first edition from new falcon publications, is part of the collection at the reading room. Liber cccxxxiii the book of lies falsely so called. When the comment speaks of studying liber al being forbidden.
Crowley explained that while the yellow school stands aloof, the black school and the white are always more or less in active conflict. The stele of revealing has a wonderful connection with the formation of crowley s work liber al vel legis the book of the law. The book of the law liber al vel legis aleister crowley. The sin which is unpardonable is knowingly and wilfully to reject truth, to fear knowledge lest that knowledge pander not to thy prejudices. Commentaries on the corrected version of the book of the law, old. Liber al vel legis commonly known as the book of the law, is the central sacred text of. He also encouraged seeking out ones ultimate destiny or purpose, commonly referred to as ones true will.
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