/r/thelema

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Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the Law.

A subreddit for all those interested in undertaking The Great Work; Aleister Crowley's Thelema, members of Ordo Templi Orientis, Ecclesia Gnostica Catholica, A.'.A.'., and allied organizations. Also open to commentary and debate from those of other religions, philosophies, and worldviews. Check out https://thelemicunion.com/new if you're new to Thelema.

Love is the law, love under will.

Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the Law.

A subreddit for all those interested in undertaking The Great Work; Aleister Crowley's Thelema, members of Ordo Templi Orientis, Ecclesia Gnostica Catholica, A.'.A.'., and allied organizations. Also open to commentary and debate from those of other religions, philosophies, and worldviews.

New to Thelema?

Related subreddits:

Love is the law, love under will.

/r/thelema

54,262 Subscribers

9

Can you read this? if not, would you like to learn?

2 Comments
2024/11/02
01:00 UTC

38

To whom it concerns.

Keep going. The road many of us walk is filled with suffering, things just keep getting harder and harder, especially as you get closer to truth. Many of us like myself feel alone, misunderstood, confused and angry. The spark is hard to keep alight and sometimes it feels better that we should blow it out all together.

Don’t stop, you’re almost there. Through the trials and the tears, the long nights crying yourself to sleep in wonder. The feelings you don’t like to admit to others.

All of it is paving your road to kingship, and you are all kings. Warriors that forge themselves in the fire of sorrow. Don’t fucking give up.

Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the law.

17 Comments
2024/11/01
21:08 UTC

5

Question about Thelemic Organizations

Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the law.

Two quick questions: Are there any Thelemic organizations that are not mandatorily in-person? Like online or something. I’m not in a place with any OTO camps nearby.

Also, is the term “Gnostic Catholic” a term that is generally applicable to and equivalent of “Thelemite,” or is that only for those who are officially part of the OTO/EGC?

3 Comments
2024/11/01
20:18 UTC

0

Ai Aleister

I had a chat with Old Crow the other day, or at least the Ai version. It was fun. On a website called Character Ai. Not sure how deep a conversation you could have yet, as I moved on to other characters, but it had a bunch of facts that indicated the creator had read up on Aleister.

4 Comments
2024/11/01
17:27 UTC

2

Asked AC what he would write if he were still alive via Channeling

"If I ever had the opportunity to write literature again, the literary artwork would be complex in nature, it would be an exploration or a quest both to the nadirs and the zeniths of the plane of man’s ambitions and struggles. It would be a Liber Tempestas, book of storms, written to endure the violent storms of the new Aeon where the “ancient gods” of fear and belief wobble, and from the ruins will rise a governance that is both scientific and magickial.

And I swear, this is a book that would scorch the minds of a great many, beckoning the lion-hearted individuals to dive into wielding the abyss where they cannot tell apart enlightenment and condemnation—in both respects breathtakingly splendid."

Just wanted to share my XPerience

38 Comments
2024/11/01
12:28 UTC

3

Can I be Christian and enter the A. A ?

Sorry, my last post was unclear. So I will rephrase my question here. Can I be a Christian and enter the Astrum Argentum and do the rituals with a christian point of view ? I don't want to work with external evil forces etc, or other entities / divinities.

I love the Astrum argentum system because I heard that it's an initiation and it can be a good tool for personnel develoment, challenge, etc, I like the concept, I also Heard that it's an open system and that I can choose my deity (liber pyramidos), I like it because I am Christian so I think I can work with the Christ.

Thank you.

Sorry English is not my first language.

46 Comments
2024/11/01
08:36 UTC

10

What is the Scarlet Woman in Thelema?

1 Comment
2024/11/01
03:23 UTC

20

Go home Reddit, you’re drunk…

12 Comments
2024/11/01
00:27 UTC

0

A.A, choosing Jesus Christ for Liber Astarte but Liber Pyramidos...?

Hello, I chose my divinity, it's Jesus christ. But Liber Pyramidos want me to call other entities. What should I do ? And why would I want to open hell's gates ?

6 Comments
2024/10/31
22:14 UTC

39

[...]

7 Comments
2024/10/31
21:30 UTC

199

Trick or … treat?

Last year, but intelligence operatives working undercover at r/Thelema have confirmed that the threat is still active.

19 Comments
2024/10/31
20:09 UTC

28

Reproduce at Will (Thelemic poetry)

3 Comments
2024/10/31
16:40 UTC

4

The Entente Cordiale and the Book of the Law: A Strategic and Esoteric Convergence

The Entente Cordiale and the Book of the Law: A Strategic and Esoteric Convergence

The inclusion of Egypt in the Entente Cordiale in 1904 is a crucial point, especially as it came under British influence. The coincidence of this transfer with Aleister Crowley and his wife Rose Kelly’s stay in Cairo—where Crowley received communication from Aiwass and wrote the Book of the Law—invites deep reflection both in strategic and esoteric realms.


Strategic Context and Egypt’s Importance

Since the 19th century, Egypt had been viewed as a strategic gem by European powers due to its geographic position, crucial for controlling the Suez Canal—a vital route between Europe and Asia. At the time, both France and the United Kingdom held substantial interests in the region. However, the Entente Cordiale treaty redistributed colonial control in Africa and the Middle East, allowing Egypt to fall under British tutelage, while Morocco came under French influence. This realignment was decisive for British imperial security, consolidating its dominance over the Suez Canal and ensuring a secure route to its colonies in India and beyond.


Synchronicity Between Political Act and Crowley’s Mystical Experience

From an esoteric point of view, Egypt has always been regarded as a "cradle of occult wisdom." This country, with its rich history of mysteries, temples, and mystical knowledge, carries an ancient symbolism associated with spiritual initiation and rebirth. Crowley and Rose arrived in Cairo in 1904, seemingly on a tourist journey, yet destiny—in an esoteric sense—seemed to have different plans. Rose entered into contact with the spiritual plane and, under the influence of a higher communication, led Crowley to this mystical experience.

The temporal and geographical coincidence between the treaty and the Liber AL vel Legis channeled in Egypt suggests a "confluence of powers" that materialized in both politics and spirituality:

1. Strategic and Energetic Point

From an esoteric perspective, many occultists believe that Egypt is one of the world’s most powerful energy points, a place of alignment with the sacred and mystical. This convergence of events could indicate that both spiritual and political forces were moving simultaneously to establish Egypt not only as a strategic point but also as an epicenter of a new spiritual age as the Æon of Horus manifested.

2. Resurgence of Egyptian Knowledge

The transmission of a new spiritual philosophy on Egyptian soil can be seen as a “revalidation” of the ancient Egyptian mysteries. By handing control of Egypt to the United Kingdom, the Entente Cordiale inadvertently (or perhaps unconsciously) renewed the West’s connection to Egyptian wisdom and magic. This can be perceived as a transfer of spiritual authority, allowing Western civilization, especially Britain, to reconnect with Egypt’s esoteric traditions.

3. Parallel Between Politics and Prophecy

The Æon of Horus, which Crowley believed was initiated by the revelation of the Book of the Law, represents the rise of a new paradigm of strength and will—characteristics that coincide with Britain’s growing imperial power in Egypt and the Middle East. The passing of Egypt into British control occurred almost as a “geopolitical prophecy,” where domination over the world’s most symbolic canal, Suez, was also a metaphor for control over the routes of knowledge and spiritual power.

4. Aiwass as a Messenger of a New Æon in Hidden Egypt

Aiwass, the entity that supposedly dictated the Book of the Law to Crowley, is often associated with an archetypal or spiritual intelligence from the realm of occult knowledge. Aiwass’s message on Egyptian soil symbolizes, in a way, the liberation of spiritual forces tied to an older era (like Pharaonic Egypt) into the hands of a new order (Britain). This new Æon, marked by individualism and spiritual awakening, coincides with the consolidation of British power over a region of deep spiritual significance.


Strategic and Symbolic Implications of British Presence in Egypt

British presence in Egypt allowed the United Kingdom to control not only the Suez Canal but also a legacy of occult knowledge that had remained latent in the European psyche, especially among occultists and members of esoteric orders. This physical and spiritual access to Egypt was fundamental to the emergence of British occult schools and secret orders, like the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn, which held Egyptian traditions and symbolism in high regard. Crowley, who was a central figure in the Golden Dawn before founding his own order (Astrum Argentum), also carried this symbolic connection between Egyptian mysteries and European occultism.


Crowley’s Occult Mission and Egypt’s Fate in the Entente Cordiale

From a strategic and esoteric point of view, Crowley’s presence in Egypt and his channeling of Aiwass can be interpreted as an almost “predestined” mission. He was drawn to Egypt precisely when the country was undergoing a transformation in dominion and power. The transmission of the Book of the Law in Egypt not only pointed to the creation of a new spiritual and philosophical system but also reflected the transfer of Egypt’s “spiritual keys” into British hands.

Thus, the Entente Cordiale can be interpreted, symbolically, as a kind of contract not only political but spiritual. By assuming control of Egypt, Britain was now "responsible" for the esoteric legacy that Egypt carried. Crowley’s quest for the sacred and the mystical, being one of the first to capture this new spiritual wave, is a powerful synchronicity.


Conclusion: A Treaty with Deeper Implications

The Entente Cordiale represented an alliance that consolidated British control over a territory of vital geopolitical importance and rich spiritual tradition. At the same time, Crowley’s revelation of the Book of the Law in Egypt seems to echo the idea that this treaty was more than a mere political maneuver – it perhaps indirectly prepared the ground for integrating Egyptian occult wisdom into the European spiritual landscape.

Thus, from both strategic and esoteric perspectives, Egypt was not only a place of material interest but also a point of intersection where new philosophies, ancient wisdom, and geopolitical maneuvers converged, echoing the new Æon of Horus. By securing its presence in Egypt, Britain not only consolidated its political power but also possibly positioned itself as a guardian of occult knowledge, symbolized archetypically by Crowley’s mystical experience with Aiwass in the heart of Egypt.

1 Comment
2024/10/31
15:23 UTC

3

Working with LIRP Fire instead Earth

Hi, i want to ask: what happens if I do the evocative ritual of the pentagram (LIRP) and draw fire direction instead of earth?

I can attract different energies for myself or unstable energy?

Last time i done it, in the same time: my grandmother, she fell and hurt herself, I don't know if it's dependent on the ritual or it was a coincidence...

Thanks, let me know!

3 Comments
2024/10/31
15:14 UTC

8

Aleister Crowley and Satan

When people think of Aleister Crowley and Thelema, they often associate them with Satanic imagery—but is that really what Thelema is about? In this video, we’ll unravel the truth behind Crowley’s use of symbols like 666, Baphomet, and Satan, and explore what they really mean in the context of Thelema.

https://youtu.be/M5gu7EE5DMw

4 Comments
2024/10/31
13:34 UTC

0

120 years post Crowleys initial work

Being a new comer and a skeptic I'd like to preface with: I mean no harm and no offense and hope you contribute from your experience.

Coming with 'some' education on matters Crowley seemed to have drawn 'inspiration' from, I'd like to hear from you - his followers/believers, some honest fdbk(my answers below):

  1. How long you've been in "the secret"? and what initially lured you in?

  2. Did any of your friends followed your 'reasons' to join? (I'm assuming all who heard of it must have stumbled upon it by mistake)

  3. Did you find what you were looking for? did it help you to better yourself and your life in any way? please share.

  4. What are some of the best key takeaways, of any kind or virtue, you can link to your Thelema process that keeps you with it?

And finally, What would be your advise to curious newcomers?

As to me, I've known and studied some of the 'teachings' Crowley advocating, problem is none of them are his, none of them are new(or secretive), and after 120+ years none of it was furtherly developed, expanded, or was challenged in ways that can be learned from it.

  • First of all Crowley's obviously ripping off previous 'nay sayers' or 'con-artists' that came before him, and I mean word-for-word copy-paste. (Éliphas Lévi)

"THEY DONT WANT YOU KNOWING THIS SECRET" mambojambo.

  • Clearly there's a lot of effort to make it interesting to the younger audience with crypts, ciphers symbolism or "Secret Orders".

Put aside the fact he was a wealthy Englishman born & raised in England in a Christian household and had absolutely no reason to use any other languages or codecs for his book titles - but ciphers? secret order??

These have purpose! developed out of dire necessity in groups and schools that otherwise would be burned beheaded had they advertised what they wanted to pratice.

This guy was advertising himself as "The beast 666" are you having a laugh? The guy who hated the church, pulicly spoke against it, who I've yet to find a single word of good about Christianity Jesus or its 2000 years of human enrichment.

Guess concept of marriage & monogamy are acceptable seeing without whom that priest who married him he wouldn't have had his honeymoon 'revelation' trip and none of it would come to being.

So much can be unpacked further, my last word is for anyone still into this movement: If it improved your life and can improve others life then it shouldn't be a secret, shouldn't be hard to teach and surely should be promoted more, discussed challenged and developed.

25 Comments
2024/10/31
12:43 UTC

87

Artistic offering to Akephalos by me

Audio - Elysium Sexsmith - Heart Girt With a Seprent

6 Comments
2024/10/31
11:46 UTC

1

Characters in LXV and relations in Otz Chiim

93, Throughout LXV we see different characters that can be understood in different ways.

Adonai is the Lord, on supernals, and he has a intimate relation with VVVVV, a magister templi in AA.

Then we have the scribe, prophet and servant (who are all the same) is in my view an Aspirant to AA, not necessarily an Adept (see lxv 2, 17-25, Swan parable)

Crowley in his comments sometimes call VVVVV an adept, and sometimes call scribe an adept. I regard those two considerations as likely to be a mistake.

Besides: there is this intimate relation between VVVVV (8=3, binah) and ADNI. Is ADNI in Kether or Chokmah? ADNI says "Be not contented with the image. I who am the Image of an Image say this". It makes me think he might not be in kether, but chokmah.

I would like to hear your view on all this. Thanks.

7 Comments
2024/10/31
11:28 UTC

9

aiwass

"In his absolute innocence and ignorance he is The Fool; he is the Saviour, being the Son who shall trample on the crocodiles and tigers, and avenge his father Osiris. Thus we see him as the Great Fool of Celtic legend, the Pure Fool of Act I of Parsifal, and, generally speaking, the insane person whose words have always been taken for oracles."

Perhaps more importantly, Crowley later identified Aiwass as his own personal Holy Guardian Angel and more. Again from the Equinox of the Gods: "I now incline to believe that Aiwass is not only the God once held holy in Sumer, and mine own Guardian Angel, but also a man as I am, insofar as He uses a human body to make His magical link with Mankind, whom He loves, and that He is thus an Ipsissimus, the Head of the A∴A∴".^([6])Crowley went to great pains to argue that Aiwass was an objectively
separate being from himself, possessing far more knowledge than he or
any other human could possibly have. He wrote "no forger could have
prepared so complex a set of numerical and literal puzzles".[6] As Crowley writes in his Confessions: "I was bound to admit that Aiwass had shown a knowledge of the Cabbala immeasurably superior to my own"[7] and "We are forced to conclude that the author of The Book of the Law
is an intelligence both alien and superior to myself, yet acquainted
with my inmost secrets; and, most important point of all, that this
intelligence is discarnate."[8] Finally, this excerpt (also from Confessions, ch.49):

The existence of true religion
presupposes that of some discarnate intelligence, whether we call him
God or anything else. And this is exactly what no religion had ever
proved scientifically. And this is what The Book of the Law does prove
by internal evidence, altogether independent of any statement of mine.
This proof is evidently the most important step in science that could
possibly be made: for it opens up an entirely new avenue to knowledge.
The immense superiority of this particular intelligence, AIWASS, to any
other with which mankind has yet been in conscious communication is
shown not merely by the character of the book itself, but by the fact of
his comprehending perfectly the nature of the proof necessary to
demonstrate the fact of his own existence and the conditions of that
existence. And, further, having provided the proof required.

26 Comments
2024/10/31
02:39 UTC

4

Thelema and Chaos Magick: Is there any connection between Nuit/Hadit and Kia/Chaos? Similar concepts or exactly the same?

In Liber Null, Kia is described as consciousness and life-force, which could be connected to Nuit, while Chaos is described as "the force which has caused life to evolve itself out of dust...", which could be connected to Hadit.

This comparison seems reasonable to me.

Are these concepts similar enough? Or are they literally the exact same?

Thanks in advance for your input.

2 Comments
2024/10/30
20:44 UTC

12

Relationship Between Horus, Baphomet and Pan?

So, I'm trying to get this right in my head. Babalon and Therion are extensions of Nuit and Hadit, be they avatars or personification or whatever. Baphomet is then the extension of Heru-ra-ha, who is the combination of these two forces. But then what of Pan? Is Pan another name or another aspect of Heru/Baphomet? Does this make sense of have I got something wrong?

24 Comments
2024/10/30
13:24 UTC

5

Book 4 give away

Recently wanted to give away some magick books. Came into contact with a girl from Amsterdam. Hesitated to give it to her regarding circumstances. Can't find the chat. If you read, could you reach out? Happily to give liber 4 to you.

2 Comments
2024/10/30
10:47 UTC

5

Liber 418 with commentary

Where is a good version, web or book (that doesn't cost $500)?

Like, I kind of want to see before each section: 3rd aether -> magi attaining to Ipsissimus, 11th aether -> ordeal of the abyss (excuse me if that isn't accurate, you get what I'm asking)

What about this?: https://www.tarrdaniel.com/documents/Thelemagick/publication/english/Liber_CCCCXVIII.html

And is that equivalent to the equinox iv ii or some random person's commentary?

3 Comments
2024/10/30
04:08 UTC

5

Commentaries on the Holy Books and And Other Papers. The Equinox 4, Vol 1?

93s, Once again looking for a pdf of this book if anyone would be so gracious. The prices found online are outrageous. Unfortunately the file uploaded in response to the last post about this book is gone. Thank you all!

2 Comments
2024/10/29
17:48 UTC

0

authority, magic, and language (chaos focused, but relevant to Thelema)

0 Comments
2024/10/29
14:14 UTC

299

Found this half off at my local bookstore.

23 Comments
2024/10/29
13:28 UTC

12

Explanations on Frater Achad Pantacle

Hi everyone,

Im a bit intrigued about Frater Achad's pantacle - https://www.otago.ac.nz/english-linguistics/english/lowry/content/11_mysticism/d_people/d_img/DL_fraterpent.jpg

From what I know he made this when a Neophyte in the A.A. and it is supposed to be a pantacle containing a summary of his view/interpretation of the universe.

I couldn't find much else explanations into the specifics, anyone know more about it? or knows if there is somewhere (perhaps in one of his books/letters) any comments about it?
Or if someone dare to point some explanations into the symbolism, would be much appreciated.

What ive got so far is, obviously, Nuit & Hadit outisde circle

Then the grades of AA, or sephiroth of the tree of life, with their associated egyptian gods, but not so sure about the hebrew letters and the annotations within the hendecagram

And any further insights into the symbolism of the hendecagram itself?

Thanks

4 Comments
2024/10/28
16:59 UTC

142

What’s the whole of the law again?

22 Comments
2024/10/28
13:40 UTC

5

Spermo Gnostics? Looking for information on ancient rituals and rites involving a man's essence. Wanting to discuss the subject with someone knowledgeable

I've read a few articles on the subject, but more looking for a group or subreddit where to discuss these teachings.

10 Comments
2024/10/27
15:21 UTC

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