Book of the Law

Rating:
Summary: Destroy This Book...
Review: ... Well not really :) Liber Al vel Legis can be viewed as an essay on the relationship of Man and "god". This book, "received" by Aleister Crowley on his honeymoon in 1904 is a powerfull work that can break through people's preconceptions (misconceptions?) of reality, religion and Man's place in the cosmos.

I have read this book more times than I can count, and always come away with new insights... not so much insights into the text, but insights into my own self. Reading this book is an agent of change, one cannot help being changed by reading this...be it for the better or the worse.

(Such is the reason for Crowley's famous Comment appended to the end of the text, and the joke in the title of this review.)

A previous reviewer blasts this book and paradigm for "borrowing" from other religions and beliefs, but to me this is the sublime beauty of it. Crowley or Aiwass (whomever you choose to think the author is), did steal and borrow from all religions, finding the common threads, and weaving a wonderfull web out of the best, and disposing of the rest.

Overall, even if one is not interested in Thelema, magick, or anything out of the "ordinary", I would recommend this short book just to challenge what you believe and what you hold to be true

Rating:
Summary: Every man and every WoMan is a Star
Review: Although I love Crowley's writing and enjoyed this book very much, I am hardly going to claim I understood The Book of the Law. Many curious phrases that were scryed by Crowley, or, dictated, in Cairo in 1904 stating that the author is Aiwass (which is why there is no author of this book) which took three nights to write. Whatever the other reviews below may say might be right, for I believe it is vague enough for anyone to gain something from it. If you like style in writing, then this book is a good reccomendation if you disregard the content as being literal. If you are curious what all the hoopla surrounding this book is, dont be shy, its not a long book (50pgs), so it wont take you out of your way in the course of your reading. Not a neccessity in everyones library, but certainly for the occultist. My favorite line: "He shall fall down into a pit called Because, and there he shall perish with the dogs of Reason." (p32)

Rating:
Summary: Wonderful new edition
Review: Whether you believe in what is written or not is no issue. This book delineates change that the world has no control over. Times up!
"There is the dove and there is the serpent. Choose ye well!"

Rating:
Summary: Fantastic imagery and prose.
Review: While I find this work to be great reading due to it's fantastic imagery, I find it to be just that and nothing more.

As a former Thelemite, I realize that Liber Al(Book of the Law) is considered to be a holy book in the same way that Christians regard the Bible. I don't mean to step on toes, but the story that Liber Al was dictated to Crowley by his holy guardian angel 'Aiwass' over a 3 day period is completely unbelieveable, and makes for an interesting story at best. No, for me, Liber Al is merely good reading for those who enjoy their entertainment real horrorshow in both theme and humor.

Rating:
Summary: Hmmm...
Review: THIS is the book.

Is "Aiwaz" talking about a Crowley, a coming prophet, prophets, or describing the universe itself? OR BOTH? That my friend is up to you to decide. This book is for most part a synthesis of the most important aspects of the spiritual systems and religions of the world... regardless of what else it is. This will keep you busy for a while.

Rating:
Summary: Holy Book of The New Aeon -- "received" by Aleister Crowley
Review: This Holy Book of The New Aeon -- "received" by Aleister Crowley, circa 1904 (ev: "era vulgara"--commonly known as "ce"), was created by Aleister Crowley under circumstances which may have been "automatic writing," "channeling" or direct communication from an entity named "Aiwas" (presumably Crowley's "Holy Guardian Angel" or a "Praeterhuman" entity).

There are many inconsistencies in the various telling and retelling of the story of the formation of this "Holy Book," yet this is the case with ALL "Holy Books" --so, each person is encouraged to investigate (think) for themselves and delve into the Mysteries of The Book of The Law, of their own Free Will and Accord.

The following books will clear things up a bit and allow an individual to research "The Book of The Law." I highly recommend these books:

"The Law Is for All : The Authorized Popular Commentary of Liber Al Vel Legis Sub Figura Ccxx, the Book of the Law," by Aleister Crowley, et al--which explains "The Book of The Law" (ISBN: 1561840904). See my review and other reviews for more information.

"The Holy Books of Thelema" by Aleister Crowley--a collection of "Inspired" writings about the Religion of Thelema. (ISBN: 0877286868). See my review and other reviews for more information.

"The Equinox of the Gods" by Aleister Crowley--the Creation and Evolution of the religion of Thelema. (ISBN: 1561840289). This book has also been republished in "Magick: Liber Aba: Book 4" (ISBN: 0877289190)--See my review and other reviews for more information.

Also, this one is handy for Thelemic Qabbalists:

"The Complete Concordance to Aleister Crowley's The Book of the Law (Liber AL vel Legis)" by Wolfgang Gregory Zeuner (ISBN: 1890109509). See my review and other reviews for more information.

Note: "Magick: Liber Aba: Book 4" (ISBN: 0877289190) and "The Holy Books of Thelema" (ISBN: 0877286868) would be a great starting point to comprehending "The Book of The Law" & "Thelema" --yet, I strongly suggest "The Law is for All"
(ISBN: 1561840904), as well.

"The Law is for All" is a great book to recommend to those who are scratching their heads about "The Book of The Law."

Rating:
Summary: The Greatest of All Modern Texts
Review: Perhaps you are querying me and the others floating about this particular little review to see whether this book is worth the little bit of money you would need to pay to buy it. Who knows? Maybe you're just killing time.

Either way the answer is an emphatic yes. There is nothing, NOTHING I tell you, like this book in all modern literature, regardless of genre.

To those who are unfamiliar with the history of the Book, I direct your attention to Aleister Crowley's "Equinox of the Gods" (clearly Crowley liked Wagner). Suffice it to say, the listing of Crowley as author is a bit misleading. Maybe he wrote it, but he wasn't the author.

This particular 1938 version is the last version which has been authorized for publication. The introductory essay by O.M. (Crowley) describes very basically the basis of the Book.

In a nutshell, the book is a poetic discourse describing the pantheon of Thelema. Within this book contains the key to all self-knowledge and self-growth capable in the current Aeon of 2,000 years. The elegant, beautiful poetry, which is even more intellectually demanding than the poetry of Crowley unaided, requires an extraordinarily large amount of insight and relevant knowledge. Most of the meaning of the Book is available to those familiar with the writings of Crowley, as he consistently referred back to it in his later discourses. However, the ultimate meaning of the book is entirely subjective.

There is absolutely no concievable reason why one should not buy and read this book. Regardless of your path, there is nothing like it in the world of the occult, it ought to be appreciated on its own merits.

I have read this book over and over, and am currently attempting to memorize the first of the three chapters, which is 66 verses long (this, incidentally, is considered a very good tool for practicing Thelemites such as myself). I cannot reccomend a single book more than this one.

Rating:
Summary: My opinion on the Book of the law
Review: Various belief systems are meshed together in the Book of the law. Around 400 or so years ago we find francois rabalais
envisioned an abby of thelema as noted below with Do as thou wilt as a part of it's philosophy. Was Aleister Crowley impressed with the concept to the point of borrowing it.
Or was the book really written by aiswass.

Well my opinion is that IF crowley's story is as he represents it that the book probably came from his unconscious mind. Chapter 3 disappointingly sounds alot like the old testament which wouyld probably appeal to Crowley's at times delusional / grandiose personality. Overall interesting but i'm far from envisioning this as a divine text and question if aiswass was anything more then a concept personified.

The Abbey of Theleme

As excerpted from The Portable Rabelais: The Uninhibited Adventures of Gargantua and Pantagruel, (Viking Press, 1960), in the lively modern version by Samuel Putnam and with his revealing introductory essay:

How Gargantua Had the Abbey of Theleme Built for the Monk

There remained the monk to provide for. Gargantua wanted to make him Abbot of Seuilly, but the friar refused. He wanted to give him the Abbey of Bourgueil or that of Saint-Florent, whichever might suit him best, or both, if he had a fancy for them. But the monk gave a peremptory reply to the effect that he would not take upon himself any office involving the government of others.

“For how,” he demanded, “could I govern others, who cannot even govern myself? If you are of the opinion that I have done you, or may be able to do you in the future, any worthy service, give me leave to found an abbey according to my own plan."

This request pleased Gargantua, and the latter offered his whole providence of Theleme, lying along the River Loire, at a distance of two leagues from the great Forest of Port-Huault. The monk then asked that he be permitted to found a convent that should be exactly the opposite of all other institutions of the sort.

“In the first place, then,” said Gargantua, “you don't want to build any walls around it; for all the other abbeys have plenty of those.”

“Right you are,” said the monk, “for where there is a wall in front and behind there is bound to be a lot of murmuring, jealousy and plotting on the inside.”

Moreover, in view of the fact that in certain convents in this world there is a custom, if any woman (by which, I mean any modest or respectable one) enters the place, to clean up thoroughly after her wherever she has been â€" in view of this fact, a regulation was drawn up to the effect that if any monk or nun should happen to enter this new convent, all the places they had set foot in were to be thoroughly scoured and scrubbed. And since, in other convents, everything is run, ruled, and fixed by hours, it was decreed that in this one there should not be any clock or dial of any sort, but that whatever work there was should be done whenever occasion offered. For, as Gargantua remarked, the greatest loss of time he knew was to watch the hands of the clock.

What good came of it? It was the greatest foolishness in the world to regulate one’s conduct by the tinkling of a timepiece, instead of by intelligence and good common sense.

Another feature: Since in those days women were not put into convents unless they were blind in one eye, lame, hunchbacked, ugly, misshapen, crazy, silly, deformed, and generally of no account, and since men did not enter a monastery unless they were snotty-nosed, underbred, dunces, and trouble-makers at home â€"

“Speaking of that,” said the monk, “of what use is a woman who is neither good nor good to look at?”

“Put her in a convent,” said Gargantua.

“Yes,” said the monk, “and set her to making shirts.”

And so, it was decided that in this convent they would receive only the pretty ones, the ones with good figures and sunny dispositions, and only the handsome, well set-up, good-natured men.

Item: Since in the convents of women, men never entered, except underhandedly and by stealth, it was provided that, in this one, there should be no women unless there were men also, and no men unless there were also women.

Item: Inasmuch as many men, as well as women, once received into a convent were forced and compelled, after a year of probation, to remain there all the rest of their natural lives -- in view of this, it was provided that, here, both men and women should be absolutely free to pick up and leave whenever they happened to feel like it.

Item: Whereas, ordinarily, the religious take three vows, namely, those of chastity, poverty and obedience, it was provided, that, in this abbey, one might honorably marry, that each one should be rich, and that all should live in utter freedom.

Rating:
Summary: A book worth two looks
Review: I highly recommend this work to any Magick and/or Crowley enthusiast. Many of Crowley's slogans have found their origin in this peculiar little book (such as "Do what thou wilt..."). The bulk consists of three chapters dictated over a period of three days by a 'higher intelligence'(Aiwass)through automatic writing. Though on-line versions are available, this is a nice little gem to hold on to. This hard-cover edition also includes a rare copy of the original manuscript.

I also recommend the reader approach this book with a serious mind and draw their own conclusion. And PLEASE disregard the bigots, for ye shall deny yourself a wealth of information!

Rating:
Summary: PURPLE PROSE FROM A PSEUDO SUMERIAN DEMON
Review: Aiwass sounds rather like the bad poet Crowley was. Also, the "Do what thou wilt" was done better by Rabelais in Gargantua and Pantagruel. Nothing really original here, but it never hurts to take strange drugs and drink wines that foam, and all of the other stuff Crowley did without having to become logos of the aeon. Crowley was a massive failure in three dimensions, so he cooked up some "credentials" for the credulous in the fourth dimension with the Book of the Law. Strange that this Sumerian demon just happens to speak English, with some Latin thrown in, and does it in the purple prose of the demon poet Crowley.
Every man and woman is a star? Ever been to a shopping mall, Aleister?
If you want the real deal in magick, get thee to Franz Bardon's Initiation into Hermetics, and P.E.I. Bonewitz's Real Magic.