This book was dictated in cairo between noon and 1 p. The book of the law, or liber al vel legis thelema. The complete text and manuscript of liber al vel legis, the book of the law, including the commentaries by aleister crowley, information about the stele of revealing, and crowley elaborations of the book. He offered a libertine education for the children, allowing them to play all day and witness acts of sex magic. Further, as khabs see verse 8 is star, there is a further meaning. 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. Aleister crowley, liber al vel legis the book of the law truth be told. Top quotes by aleister crowley on bible, evil, life, wisdom and other things. Its full title is liber al vel legis, sub figura ccxx, as delivered by xciii418 to dclxvi,1 and it is commonly referred to as the book of the law. L is the sacred letter in the holy twelvefold table which forms the triangle that stabilizes the universe. He was convinced that he was the reincarnation of the magician eliphas levi, who died the year crowley was born. Liber 220 al vel legis the book of the law commentaries by.
Crowley wrote and published a great deal about magick, including many rituals, and much of it is in this indispensible book. To ask other readers questions about the book of the law, please sign up. It was written down by aleister crowley in cairo, egypt in the year 1904. It contains honey, oil, and particular bodily fluids, and is usually cooked in the shape of a small, flat wafer.
This book therefore consists of statements as nearly true as is possible to human language. Aleister crowley comments his short work with his usual sense of darkness and secrecy. This is crowley s revelation, and it shaped everything he did after receiving it. The introduction is not actually a part of the book, and is. In crowleys writing, the law of thelema is explained in terms of true will, the ultimate spiritual core or quintessence of each person, which has a divinely selfordained path through the world of experience. In aleister crowley reported mystical experiences and wrote the book of the law, a prose poem which he claimed had been dictated to him by a discarnate being called aiwass. The book of the law is by definition beyond reason. The book of the law or liber al vel legis is the central sacred text of the occult. Commentaries on the corrected version of the book of the law, old. Those who discuss the contents of this book are to be shunned by all, as centres of pestilence.
They read from the book of the law of god and clearly explained the meaning of what was being read, helping the people understand each passage. Jan 05, 2018 do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the law. Fdr was so impressed with the teachings of crowley he put an image crowley designed on the back of the dollar bill. This third installment of thelema quotes deals with liber legis or the book of the law as being the rule of life for thelemites. Thelema is based on the writings of aleister crowley, particularly the book of the law, which was dictated to crowley in 1904 by a holy guardian angel called aiwass. The book of the law or liber al vel legis is the central sacred text of the occult tradition of thelema. It contains three chapters, each of which was written down in one hour, beginning at noon, on april 8th, 9th, and 10th. 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. The commentaries, old, new, and derivative, on the book of the law, liber al vel. The verse from tennyson is inserted partly because of the pun on the word break.
Crowley claims that the author was an entity named aiwass, whom he later identified as his own holy guardian angel. Aiwass dictated the book of the law, which crowley wrote down and published, becoming the central thelemic text. The book of the law by aleister crowley, paperback. Crowley is considered a prophet, and his works are the only ones considered canonical. Corrected version of the book of the law commentaries notes. Edward alexander crowley, who came to be more popularly known as aleister crowlay, was a magician, occultist, painter, writer, active mountaineer and religious ideologue from england, who courted a lot of controversy during his lifetime but is still considered among. This recording is of the original 19 publication, and thus omits the further commentaries added by crowley for subsequent additions. Liber cccxxxiii the book of lies falsely so called. Another significant but typically overlooked passage in the introduction to the book of the law is crowleys statement that fascism and. Undertaking widespread correspondences, crowley continued to paint, wrote a commentary on the book of the law, and revised the third part of book 4. 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. Compassion is the vice of kings the book of the law, also known as liber al vel legis, is the text central to philosophical religious practice called thelema founded by aleister crowley. The result was a voluminous output of commentary and works relating to magick, mysticism, yoga, qabalah, and other occult subjects.
Other articles where the book of the law is discussed. The book of the law, the book of lies, liber ararita, liber b vel magi to name but a. The religion known as thelema was established with the writing of the book of the law. It was written or received by aleister crowley in cairo, egypt in the year 1904. 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.
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. There is no way i could fit these topics and describe them all in this video. 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. 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. For the religious or philosophical text displayed during a masonic lodge meeting, see volume of sacred law. The science and art of magick thelema 101 at thelema 101. Crowley, dionysus cults and rock music the vigilant. The intention of this book of the law is perfectly simple. Crowleys beliefs included pursuing the great work, which included gaining selfknowledge and uniting with the larger universe. 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. Jul 26, 2011 do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the law. Crowley spent the rest of his life developing the system of thelema as revealed by the book of the law. Aleister crowley 18751947, was an english occultist, ceremonial magician, poet, painter, novelist, and mountaineer.
My scribe ankhafna khonsu, the priest of the princes, shall not in one letter change this book. He, my prophet, hath chosen, knowing the law of the fortress, and the great mystery of the house of god. This is liber al vel legis, also known as the book of the law. Aleister crowley the book of the law chapter 1 nuit. May 30, 2011 this is liber al vel legis, also known as the book of the law.
It is fairly short and has often been issued in pamphlet form. The book of lies, or liber 333, is a holy book in the western occult tradition of thelema, consisting of 91 short chapters of poems, aphorisms, rituals, and metaphysics. Do what thou wilt refers not to the outer emotional and intellectual self but to this sacred inner core of personal divinity. Occultism as a whole would take days or even years of study. Crowley recognised aiwass as his holy guardian angel and the book of the law itself as a bible for the new age. Here you can download the book of the law by aleister crowley also known as liber al vel legis sub figura ccxx as delivered by xciii 418 to dclxvi. The law is for all is a collection of aleister crowleys commentary on the book of the law, the central sacred text of thelema. Aleister crowley once referred to himself as an expert in cipher. This that thou writest is the threefold book of law. English standard version they read from the book, from the law of god, clearly, and they gave the sense, so that the people understood the reading. The book includes crowleys liber al vel legis as well as two sets of reflective commentaries written at a later date. Whatever your sexual predilections may be, you are free, by the law of thelema, to the the star you are, to go your own way rejoicing. Liber al vel legis is the central text of thelema, written by aleister crowley in cairo, egypt in the year 1904. Crowley s beliefs included pursuing the great work, which included gaining selfknowledge and uniting with the larger universe.
Ordo templi orientis, the book of the law, crowley, pike. Crowley was the one who initially coined the term new age in his book the book of the law. Crowley claimed that dark powers gave him the words to his book of the law. Cake of light is the eucharistic host found within thelema, the religion founded by author and occultist aleister crowley in 1904. The book of the law, the holy text that forms the basis of thelema, was transmitted to crowley by the entity known as aiwass in cairo, on three successive days during april 1904. 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. All questions of the law are to be decided only by appeal to my writings, each for himself.
Tarot, possessed in her own right the essential spirit of the book. This article is about the book by aleister crowley. Towards a progressive interpretation of the message of aiwaz in the. 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. He wrote a chapter called the new aeon back in 1904. Together they bent their energies to the formidable task of preparing the 78 cards of the book of thoth. For the definitive explanation of magick, refer to aleister crowleys introduction to magick. As always, all quotes are from aleister crowley or the book of the law. Commentaries on the corrected version of the book of the law. Crowley also believed he had lived other lives, including that of pope alexander vi. Acting as a medium, crowley recorded the communications on hotel. The wanderings or falsifications of the one thought of frater perdurabo, which thought is itself untrue. Can someone explain the comment in the book of the law.
He also encouraged seeking out ones ultimate destiny or purpose, commonly referred to as ones true will. His original idea had been to execute a pack after the tradition of the mediaeval editors, corrected in the light of the descriptions given in the equinox i, vii and viii. Editions of the book of the law by aleister crowley. The book of the law, or liber al vel legis thelema for. The author called himself aiwass, and claimed to be the minister of hoorpaarkraat. Compassion is the vice of kings the book of the law, also known as liber al vel legis, is the text central to philosophical religious practice called thelema founded by aleister. Crowley says that the author was an entity named aiwass, whom he later referred to as his personal holy guardian angel. Jan 18, 2018 he was convinced that he was the reincarnation of the magician eliphas levi, who died the year crowley was born. I could not quite understand what the fuss was all about. An authoritative examination of the worlds most fascinating and magical tarot cards by suggesting that everyone who uses the thoth deck do themselves a favour and buy this book.
This is crowleys revelation, and it shaped everything he did after receiving it. Aleister crowleys thelemic state revealed by dr kerry bolton for those who believe the spiritual realm intersects with the mundane, there are a multitude of references across time and place that warn of a spiritual combat. Liber al vel legis sub figura ccxx as delivered by xciii 418 to dclxvi title. The first article, exhibition of playing cards the tarot book of thoth, 78 paintings is probably edited by lady frieda harris from crowleys cards, and the second article exhibition of 78 paintings of the tarot cards, written by lady frieda harris for an art exhibition at berkeley galleries. Interpretation of those texts is left up to individual believers. Crowley asks nuit to reveal the ordeals which is hard to explain, the. The book of the law aleister crowley download free pdf. The priest of the princes, ankhfnkhonsu the comment. 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.
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