September 2012
1 post
5 tags
Crowley's Politics →
Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the Law.
Keith Preston, of AlternativeRight.com (an online magazine for radical traditionalism), recently wrote a good summary of Crowley’s political perspective. I have been asked on a few occasions about the political philosophy of Thelema. However, I have not spent much time on the political philosophy of Crowley himself as his personal philosophy...
June 2012
2 posts
4 tags
Anonymous asked: You mentioned that Kaczynski's work is flawed because of his biases. Can you give me an example of what you're talking about?
4 tags
Anonymous asked: why do you call magic and practicing magic silly? do you honestly think people who practice magic are silly? how does name calling prove anything?
May 2012
1 post
9 tags
Biographies of Crowley
Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the Law.
Several times over the past year, when people have asked for more information on the man himself, I have recommend a few biographies to read. It may seem strange to some, but I don’t particular find Crowley’s Confessions to be terribly helpful. The main problem they suffer from is the same that Crowley suffered from, namely a myopia...
April 2012
3 posts
peptoattack asked: Thelema has always been an individual path. However, man is a social being... so is there a particular perception of society? Is there a way of caring about others within Thelema? Thank you once again for caring enough about others to keep this blog =)
real-as-rainbows asked: Hi, I started time ago to be interested in the Law of Thelema and Aleister Crowley's docrtine. There's so much information and it's kind of difficult to handle and grasp all of this. I read random articles and stuff about Crowley but I would really love to get into the philosphy, I've read the Book of the Law, and I'm trying to find Diary of a Drug Fiend. any books,...
4 tags
peptoattack asked: Within the material I've read, I haven't found anything clear on love (eros). Is there a particular vision of love in Thelema? Thank you!
March 2012
9 posts
7 tags
Anonymous asked: Crowley talks of the bisexual (androgynous) as being the perfect being. Does that mean a Thelemite should be bisexual to become Divine or in harmony with their Higher Self? Personally, that would make me uncomfortable. I wouldn't want to be anything but heterosexual, but Crowley puts so much emphasis on bisexuality and sex magick. Is this because Crowley himself was a bisexual? Please...
5 tags
Anonymous asked: I have an OCD, called HOCD or Sexuality Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. It deals with the fear of being or becoming homosexual (straight, bisexual). Even though the fears are false and over-thought, I fear that discovering my True Will, will cause these fears to become reality. Aleister Crowley has said somewhere along the line that the discovery of the True Will shall be done with a healthy mind,...
5 tags
Anonymous asked: What is sex magick? And, are there any resources that would be helpful in learning more about it? Thanks.
5 tags
“EXISTENCE, as we know it, is full of sorrow. To mention only one minor point:...”
– Aleister Crowley
7 tags
Anonymous asked: While Resh is a typical ritual one might be pointed towards for starting out, but I think it would never hurt to start with an even more basic ritual. Why not tell people to begin with the Qabalistic Cross?
5 tags
solyarik-deactivated20121011 asked: Are there any beginners rituals of Crowley that can be tried out, preferably without much effort or bloodshed?
3 tags
Administrative Note
Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the Law.
I have recently updated the Quick Reference Guide for this blog with all the pertinent questions I have received over the past several months. I enjoy answering your questions pertaining to Aleister Crowley and Thelema. The goal of this blog is to provide a clear exposition, devoid of all occultic silliness, of this philosophy and your questions...
4 tags
peptoattack asked: Fist, I want to congratulate you for this blog, it's really helpful. Now, my question is: What is the role of Babalon in Thelema beyond symbolism?
Anonymous asked: Why should one follow his will?
January 2012
2 posts
5 tags
Anonymous asked: How does one go about finding their true will? What are some good resources for a beginner?
5 tags
Anonymous asked: How drastic of a change can discovering your True Will cause? If it's just realizing your most natural path through life, it shouldn't be much right? Also, can it change or end a relationship that someone cherishes very much?
December 2011
1 post
5 tags
diabolatry-deactivated20130314 asked: A question relating to the birth of Thelema from Aleister Crowley. Could Crowley's drug use have been the reason for Thelema? Was it his mind on drugs that lead to Aiwass appearing to him along with Nuit, Hadit and Horus' manifestations?
October 2011
1 post
Anonymous asked: What if one has to thwart the rights of others in order to fulfill his will?
September 2011
4 posts
5 tags
marcelgomes asked: In "On Religion" Joseph Smith is described as a "megolomaniac and a petty thief". I find this funny. Like Crowley he gets a new scripture, "correcting" the wrong thinking of previous religion cited to him from a supernatural source (writing it in 3 days), calls himself a "prophet" and founds a religion full of fringe masonry. Besides, have you seen any gold...
5 tags
diabolatry-deactivated20130314 asked: Once I aquire a copy of Liber AL, where do I go next? How exactly do I start my path with Thelema?
5 tags
indigosound asked: i've just descovered aleistor crowley. i think he's brilliant (when i can understand what he's talking about....) i already have an extensive background of astrology and tarot. i have a question. i got a pentacle that has te tra gram ma ton on it, the four tarot suits, the caduceus, mars and venus glyphs, and some other planets too. it reminded me of what i've been reading and...
7 tags
diabolatry-deactivated20130314 asked: Christianity has Jehova and Jesus as it's central Gods, Satanism of course takes Satan as it's central God. My question is, who is the central God of Thelema? Horus, Hadit and Nuit are the prominent three. Are they the ones worship (if any) is aimed towards?
August 2011
7 posts
5 tags
interruptions asked: I read your response to a question (from about two months ago) regarding stripping out the occult bits from Thelema. I'm just starting to read the Thelemic literature, but I was reminded of a passage (which, of course, I can't locate now) from Crowley's writings where he advises against naive belief in the "real" existence of things like demons, gods, the kabbalistic...
5 tags
Anonymous asked: Why is Liber LXV regarded as "secret" & what meaning does it convey?
3 tags
taxicabmessiah-deactivated20111 asked: I just wanted to let you know that I am so happy this blog exists.
<3.
<3.
3 tags
Anonymous asked: So if you don't mind me asking, you claim to be a former member of the A.'.A.'.. How long were you involved? And since you had little interest in occult practices, what exactly did you do, and what did it offer you in terms of personal growth?
4 tags
Anonymous asked: Seeing that you often stress the character flaws of Crowley in your posts (which i applaud anyone on, considering that it prevents one from falling into the "Cult of Personality")
While i understand that the law of Thelema is seen as something outside the boundaries of Crowley as a person..
I do have to ask why it is that you still regard him as a prophet? Keeping...
While i understand that the law of Thelema is seen as something outside the boundaries of Crowley as a person..
I do have to ask why it is that you still regard him as a prophet? Keeping...
4 tags
Anonymous asked: I stumbled across a few (christian) websites that label Crowley as a pedophile, murderer & rapist. I couldn't find anything about this "side" of him and it sounds like propaganda, but I have to ask, is some of this true?
3 tags
“The essence of my Word is to declare woman to be Herself, of, to, and for...”
– Aleister Crowley
July 2011
12 posts
4 tags
“We must not suppose for an instant that the Book of the Law is opposed to...”
– Aleister Crowley
4 tags
Anonymous asked: Was Crowley the only person who thought of Thelema? Did he have other influences? Are there any other people with similar thoughts?
4 tags
Discover the True Will
Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the Law.
This treatment should be considered a kind of sequel to the one posted about a week ago titled On True Will & the Self. In that short essay, I outlined as clearly as possible the basic concepts of Crowley’s psychology. Crowley essentially equated a person’s True Self and its Will with the Transcendental Ego and the Freudian das Es....
5 tags
Anonymous asked: you are from portland? do you know anything about the larson at sekhet maat lodge?
3 tags
Administrative Note
Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the Law.
As you may have noticed, posting as slowed down recently on the blog. The fault lies with a serious case of summer fever. It is in full swing throughout Portland. There is simply too many wonderful things to do outdoors. I’m going to continue to work to update the blog content but the delay and sparsity will likely continue for another couple...
4 tags
Anonymous asked: What is meant by "the slaves shall serve?" Does the world that Crowley desired for operate under a harsh, socially darwinistic stratification?
5 tags
“It is Pure Chance that rules the Universe; therefore, and only therefore, life...”
– Aleister Crowley
4 tags
Anonymous asked: How does the unicursal hexagram and symbolism in general play a role in Crowley's work?
6 tags
On True Will & the Self
Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the Law.
Probably one of the most enigmatic parts of Crowley’s philosophy are his concepts of the True Will and the True Self. Most of the confusion surrounding these two concepts come from Crowley’s own obfuscation, due in part to they’re development over a period of years and Crowley’s less than systematic writing, and the...
3 tags
diabolatry-deactivated20130314 asked: My confusion deals with 'The Comment'. I just recently purchased a copy of Liber AL, and I would like you to explain The Comment and what it actually means. Do I really have to destroy the book?
5 tags
“There shall be no property in human flesh. The sex-instinct is one of the most...”
– Aleister Crowley
5 tags
O.T.O. Phenomenon →
This “detailed historical field research on the psycho-sociology” of the O.T.O. by Peter Koenig is the best resource on the web (or anywhere else for that matter) for understanding this convoluted and enigmatic organization. Contained within its pages are all of the secrets, teachings and ideas espoused by both the organization as created by Reuss, with its evolution under Crowley, and...
June 2011
29 posts
5 tags
Anonymous asked: Does Thelema espouse polyamory?
3 tags
“It is a trite, and not quite true, saying that money can buy nothing worth...”
– Aleister Crowley
5 tags
Quick Reference Guide →
Out of a desire to make the philosophy of Aleister Crowley as easily accessible as possible, I’ve added a new page to the Enchiridion of Thelema. It is designed to be a quick reference guide to all of the questions that I have previously answered, posted essays and other comments. As I answer questions pertaining to the philosophy of Thelema or post an important comment or topical essay, they will...
4 tags
Anonymous asked: I am not an expert on Crowley, but to my understanding, he was born into a wealthy family. How do finances (i.e. industrialism, working, capitalism, etc.), if at all, play a role in his work and/or life?
4 tags
“All sanity, which is all Science, is founded upon Limit. We must be able to cut...”
– Aleister Crowley
6 tags
Jean-Paul Sartre (SEP) →
This entry for the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy by Thomas Flynn is a great introduction to one of the greatest thinkers in the history of Western philosophy. Sartre, like Crowley, was heavily influenced by Nietzsche’s conceptions of human freedom. And, in terms of existentialism, both men have much in common. It is highly likely that Crowley would have embraced Sartre’s system...
3 tags
Anonymous asked: Does Thelema have a "harm none" clause?
