Aleister Crowley - Magic Without Tears (1954)
Magick Without Tears, a series of letters, was the last book written by English occultist Aleister Crowley (1875–1947), although it was not published until after his death. It was written in the mid-1940s and published in 1954 with a forward by its editor, Karl Germer.
The book consists of 80 letters to various students of magick. Originally to be titled Aleister Explains Everything, the letters offer his insights into both magick and Thelema ~ Crowley's religious and ethical system ~ with a clarity and wit often absent in his earlier writings. The individual topics are widely varied, addressing the orders O.T.O. and A∴A∴, Qabalah, Thelemic morality, Yoga, astrology, various magical techniques, religion, death, spiritual visions, the Holy Guardian Angel, and other issues such as marriage, property, certainty, and meanness. The book is considered by many as evidence that Crowley remained lucid and mentally capable at the end of his life, despite his addiction to heroin.
Magick Without Tears, a series of letters, was the last book written by English occultist Aleister Crowley (1875–1947), although it was not published until after his death. It was written in the mid-1940s and published in 1954 with a forward by its editor, Karl Germer.
The book consists of 80 letters to various students of magick. Originally to be titled Aleister Explains Everything, the letters offer his insights into both magick and Thelema ~ Crowley's religious and ethical system ~ with a clarity and wit often absent in his earlier writings. The individual topics are widely varied, addressing the orders O.T.O. and A∴A∴, Qabalah, Thelemic morality, Yoga, astrology, various magical techniques, religion, death, spiritual visions, the Holy Guardian Angel, and other issues such as marriage, property, certainty, and meanness. The book is considered by many as evidence that Crowley remained lucid and mentally capable at the end of his life, despite his addiction to heroin.
Aleister Crowley: The Equinox Vol. 1 Numbers 1-10
The Equinox, also called The Review of Scientific Illuminism, has become the standard for English language esotericism, aptly termed the "Encyclopedia of Initiation" by its principal editor and contributor, Aleister Crowley. The remarkable variety, depth, and utility of its contents encompass Qabalah, tarot, yoga, and the essential papers of Crowley's teaching order, A. A. The new edition is supplemented by Crowley's serialized biography along with excerpts from his many diaries, an overview of the Golden Dawn System, a book-length special section of the Qabalistic dictionary Sepher Sephiroth, fiction, poetry, book reviews, and extracts from The Vision and the Voice and The Rites of Eleusis as well as important works by other noted authors such as The Key of the Mysteries by Eliphas Levi. Crowley's extensive annotations from his personal copies have been collected at the end of the set, along with biographies of the contributors. Begun in 1909, it remains one of the definitive works on occultism and magik.
Aleister Crowley (1875-1947) combined scholarly rigor with a sense of humor and great literary ability to become the most widely read author in 20th-century occultism. He single-handedly redefined magick as a field of inquiry and endeavor through his books and the orders that he led--the A.A. and the O.T.O. In the 2002 BBC Great Britons poll in which over one million people voted, Crowley ranked 73 among the hundred most influential Britons of all time.
The Equinox, also called The Review of Scientific Illuminism, has become the standard for English language esotericism, aptly termed the "Encyclopedia of Initiation" by its principal editor and contributor, Aleister Crowley. The remarkable variety, depth, and utility of its contents encompass Qabalah, tarot, yoga, and the essential papers of Crowley's teaching order, A. A. The new edition is supplemented by Crowley's serialized biography along with excerpts from his many diaries, an overview of the Golden Dawn System, a book-length special section of the Qabalistic dictionary Sepher Sephiroth, fiction, poetry, book reviews, and extracts from The Vision and the Voice and The Rites of Eleusis as well as important works by other noted authors such as The Key of the Mysteries by Eliphas Levi. Crowley's extensive annotations from his personal copies have been collected at the end of the set, along with biographies of the contributors. Begun in 1909, it remains one of the definitive works on occultism and magik.
Aleister Crowley (1875-1947) combined scholarly rigor with a sense of humor and great literary ability to become the most widely read author in 20th-century occultism. He single-handedly redefined magick as a field of inquiry and endeavor through his books and the orders that he led--the A.A. and the O.T.O. In the 2002 BBC Great Britons poll in which over one million people voted, Crowley ranked 73 among the hundred most influential Britons of all time.
Aleister Crowley: Liber L vel Legis (1904)
Scans of the Original Manuscript from 1904
Liber AL vel Legis is the central sacred text of Thelema, written by Aleister Crowley in Cairo, Egypt in the year 1904. Its full title is Liber AL vel Legis, sub figura CCXX, as delivered by XCIII=418 to DCLXVI, and it is commonly referred to as The Book of the Law.
Liber AL vel Legis contains three chapters, each of which was written down in one hour, beginning at noon, on 8 April, 9 April, and 10 April. Crowley says that the author was an entity named Aiwass, whom he later referred to as his personal Holy Guardian Angel (analagous to but not identical with "Higher Self"). Biographer Lawrence Sutin quotes private diaries that fit this story, and writes that "if ever Crowley uttered the truth of his relation to the Book," his public account accurately describes what he remembered on this point.
Crowley's drawing of LAM (Aiwass?)
The original title of the book was Liber L vel Legis. Crowley retitled it Liber AL vel Legis in 1921, when he also gave the handwritten manuscript the title Liber XXXI. The book is often referred to simply as Liber AL, Liber Legis or just AL, though technically the latter two refer only to the manuscript.
"Love is the law, love under will."
Scans of the Original Manuscript from 1904
Liber AL vel Legis is the central sacred text of Thelema, written by Aleister Crowley in Cairo, Egypt in the year 1904. Its full title is Liber AL vel Legis, sub figura CCXX, as delivered by XCIII=418 to DCLXVI, and it is commonly referred to as The Book of the Law.
Liber AL vel Legis contains three chapters, each of which was written down in one hour, beginning at noon, on 8 April, 9 April, and 10 April. Crowley says that the author was an entity named Aiwass, whom he later referred to as his personal Holy Guardian Angel (analagous to but not identical with "Higher Self"). Biographer Lawrence Sutin quotes private diaries that fit this story, and writes that "if ever Crowley uttered the truth of his relation to the Book," his public account accurately describes what he remembered on this point.
Crowley's drawing of LAM (Aiwass?)
The original title of the book was Liber L vel Legis. Crowley retitled it Liber AL vel Legis in 1921, when he also gave the handwritten manuscript the title Liber XXXI. The book is often referred to simply as Liber AL, Liber Legis or just AL, though technically the latter two refer only to the manuscript.
"Love is the law, love under will."
Aleister Crowley: The Great Beast Speaks (c.1920)
Crowley thoroughly explored many aspects of spirituality, the occult, and the physical world during his lifetime. He gained a notorious reputation for his occult writings, drug use, and hedonism. However, unbeknownst to many people, he was also an accomplished mountaineer, poet, yogi, chess player, painter, and astrologer. Due to his notoriety the title of "The Wickedest Man in the World" was bestowed upon him by British tabloids, and even his own mother proclaimed him to be "The Beast", a nickname that he would eventually readily adopt.
"The Great Beast Speaks" collects early 20th century recordings of Aleister Crowley. The claim that this collection features every Crowley recording in existence is false. Though they are very few in number, there are Crowley recordings which aren't featured on this album. Opinions vary on the year that this was recorded, but most experts agree that it was recorded circa 1920, which would have made Crowley close to 45 years old at the time. These were originally recorded on wax cylinders, and later digitally transferred. The quality is still very poor despite the digital transfer, but if you want to hear Crowley this is the only option that you have.
Crowley thoroughly explored many aspects of spirituality, the occult, and the physical world during his lifetime. He gained a notorious reputation for his occult writings, drug use, and hedonism. However, unbeknownst to many people, he was also an accomplished mountaineer, poet, yogi, chess player, painter, and astrologer. Due to his notoriety the title of "The Wickedest Man in the World" was bestowed upon him by British tabloids, and even his own mother proclaimed him to be "The Beast", a nickname that he would eventually readily adopt.
"The Great Beast Speaks" collects early 20th century recordings of Aleister Crowley. The claim that this collection features every Crowley recording in existence is false. Though they are very few in number, there are Crowley recordings which aren't featured on this album. Opinions vary on the year that this was recorded, but most experts agree that it was recorded circa 1920, which would have made Crowley close to 45 years old at the time. These were originally recorded on wax cylinders, and later digitally transferred. The quality is still very poor despite the digital transfer, but if you want to hear Crowley this is the only option that you have.
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