Part of Series
This issue of The Equinox is a companion volume to The Holy Books of Thelema (also published by Samuel Weiser). It is, however, a coherent text book in it's own right. It covers the essentials of the A∴A∴ system of initiation, from the preliminary stage of Student to the attainment of the Knowledge and Conversion of the Holy Guardian Angel. For the first time it makes available practical details that will be of immense value to students of Thelema. Beginning with Crowley's unpublished essay "Occultism," it offers several of the foundation papers of the A∴A∴, including Liber 185, Liber Collegii Sancti, which describes the oaths and tasks of each grade in its Outer College. A new paper presents the correct designs (with color illustrations) for the corresponding robes of each grade. This book's lengthy color section includes General J.F.C. Fuller's paintings for the Temple of A∴A∴ and Crowley's illuminated manuscript of an A∴A∴ Ritual for the Neophyte, Liber 671 vel Pyramidos. The central feature of this book is the Master Therion's lengthy and penetrating commentary to the inspired writing, The Book of the Heart Girt with a Serpent (Liber LXV). While Liber LXV gives the best account available of the attainment of the Knowledge and Conversation of the Holy Guardian Angel, it is couched in the language of mystical poetry. Crowley's commentary gives a more easily understood exposition, and it is some of his most lucid writing on magick and mysticism. Crowley's shorter commentaries to seven others of The Holy Books of Thelema are also included. This book also contains Madame Blavatsky's inspired text, The Voice of the Silence, with a commentary by Crowley that explores the various stages of consciousness in Mahayana Buddhist mysticism and their correspondences to Holy Qabalah.
Author
Writings of British mystic Aleister Crowley on occult practices influenced the development of Neopaganism, various religious movements that arose chiefly in the United Kingdom and the United States in the late 1900s and that combine worship of pagan nature deities, particularly of the earth, with benign witchcraft. Born Edward Alexander Crowley, this mountaineer, philosopher, and poet joined as an member in several organizations, including the Golden Dawn, the A∴A∴, and Ordo Templi Orientis (O.T.O.), and people best know today especially his The Book of the Law , the central sacred text of Thelema. Infamously dubbed "the wickedest man in the World," he gained much notoriety during his lifetime. Crowley additionally played chess, painted, experimented with drugs, criticized society and practiced astrology, hedonism, bisexuality. Crowley also claimed a Freemason, but people dispute the regularity of his initiations with the United Grand Lodge of England. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aleiste...
