The Law Is for All: The Authorized Popular Commentary of Liber Al Vel Legis Sub Figura Ccxx, the Book of the Law

Rating:
Summary: Comprehensive Guide to "The Book of The Law" (Holy Book-A.C)
Review: "The Law is For All" was recommended to me, by an On-Line Friend. I had read "Then Book of The Law," Online, several times & was not quite sure what to make of it. I could not quite understand what the fuss was all about. However, "The Law is For All" explained-away all those little things that had confused me or led me to believe that "The Book of The Law" was just Crowley's personal writings. When I started looking into all this, I was a firm believer that Crowley was the man I had read about from Colin Wilson's perspective and Nevill Drury's perspective, etc. In other words, my opinions were formed by the Research of others.... Yet, when I actually took the time to sit-down and read Crowley's works--well, I was amazed at his Genius and his Anthropological views of Humanity. I never expected to gain Anthropology lessons from his works--but, he was truly an Observer of the Human Condition....all of which adds to this "Commentary" on the "Book of The Law."

What amazed me, until I realized that this book was written in the same way as all other "Holy Books," was the fact that it is, in fact, a "Holy Book." This book was written in the same fashion as "The Book of Mormon" or any other "Holy Book."

Aliester Crowley served as The Prophet, and the book was written Through him (even if he was not exactly happy to be the Writer of the Work).

"The Law is For All" has awakened me to the validity of certain religions that I had never really considered as such, previously. I think this book is a good example of why we should ALL be respectful of each-other's religions and "Holy Books," because they are ALL written in the exact same fashion. Regardless of whether or not you agree with "The Book of The Law," one cannot deny it is a "Holy Book" to many people.

Rating:
Summary: Comprehensive Guide to "The Book of The Law" (Holy Book-A.C)
Review: "The Law is For All" was recommended to me, by an On-Line Friend. I had read "Then Book of The Law," Online, several times & was not quite sure what to make of it. I could not quite understand what the fuss was all about. However, "The Law is For All" explained-away all those little things that had confused me or led me to believe that "The Book of The Law" was just Crowley's personal writings. When I started looking into all this, I was a firm believer that Crowley was the man I had read about from Colin Wilson's perspective and Nevill Drury's perspective, etc. In other words, my opinions were formed by the Research of others.... Yet, when I actually took the time to sit-down and read Crowley's works--well, I was amazed at his Genius and his Anthropological views of Humanity. I never expected to gain Anthropology lessons from his works--but, he was truly an Observer of the Human Condition....all of which adds to this "Commentary" on the "Book of The Law."

What amazed me, until I realized that this book was written in the same way as all other "Holy Books," was the fact that it is, in fact, a "Holy Book." This book was written in the same fashion as "The Book of Mormon" or any other "Holy Book."

Aliester Crowley served as The Prophet, and the book was written Through him (even if he was not exactly happy to be the Writer of the Work).

"The Law is For All" has awakened me to the validity of certain religions that I had never really considered as such, previously. I think this book is a good example of why we should ALL be respectful of each-other's religions and "Holy Books," because they are ALL written in the exact same fashion. Regardless of whether or not you agree with "The Book of The Law," one cannot deny it is a "Holy Book" to many people.

Rating:
Summary: The Law is for Sum, not All
Review: Crowley is perhaps giving an aphoristic title to his work in a similar manner as McLuhan and Leary has done in more recent times. An evocative slogan that can spin many ideas and interpretations. The question then being, "Who is All?" Also, "What is the Law?" And if you get that far, then you might ask, "Who's Law?" One might answer very literally and find that not All people agree with Crowley's thinking. Also, if this is Crowley's own Laws, then they are for him and not me. Another might answer in an equally esoteric manner and say "You" to all questions.

This book is a commentary by Crowley himself on his own worshipped book "Liber Legis", better known as "The Book of the Law." For those that study Crowley with seriousness, intensity and repetitiously will find "The Book of the Law" in almost every text bearing Crowley's name to the point of exhaustion. While "The Book of the Law" is an important book in uncovering many of Crowley's meanings and points of view, it would appear he was creating a fellowship around something that should have been more personal.

"The Law is For All", however, offers select insight into "The Book of the Law." The rest of it is work for the reader. It is not something in plain English for one to say "ohhhh!" after they are done reading it. It is still kept in the traditional kabbalistic coded framework for those that have already done their homework or is willing to put forth the work.

"The Law is For All" is not an esssential guide to understanding "The Book of the Law", yet, can aid towards understanding Crowley's take on his experience, but I would believe that interpretation does not stop at Crowley's word. For me performing the rituals offered in other books has given me the greatest insight to "The Book of the Law" while "The Law is For All" only gives partial intellectual clues.

"The Law is For All" then is really not for "All", at least in the literal sense. I believe he was saying "All" meaning everyone should adhere to what was written in "The Book of the Law", however, I also believe he was referring to the "All" as in the "You" or, rather, "All of You." The "Law" is what is written on your heart. This book is for those that are interested in Crowley more than in Magick, in my opinion.

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Summary: Words of Wisdom
Review: May this surprise not: the book does contain chunks of most genuine wisdom of government. Some of the material would pertain to the present elections very well.

Rating:
Summary: Essential for an understanding of The Book of the Law
Review: Reading the Liber AL can be frustrating if you actually expect to understand the thing. (foolish Mortal!) This volume of Crowley's own commentaries clears up most of the confusion. You find Uncle Al's contridictions made plain, so if complexity in a human being disturbs you, stay away. Crowley was a Master Therion, not a simple Fool. The very real anarchism expressed here is libereating in and of itself. To be read after the Liber AL has had time to sink in.

Rating:
Summary: Must have along with The Book of the Law
Review: This is a must have to understand The Book of the Law. This book has given me a new outlook on life. It has helped me change my thinking for the better and has helped me find my path. I highly reccommend reading this over and over again if you have read The Book of the Law. Something is sure to appeal to you. I am sure if you open yourself to the words in this book that it will do you a great deal of good. I only wish this was as popular as the bible is today. Maybe if it was more well known the world would truely be heaven on earth.

Rating:
Summary: Abysmal
Review: What an abyss exists between the potency of the Book of the Law and Crowley's cheap shot commentaries, welcome to the Tawdry New Age. But this is perhaps the best pointer to the profundity of the original, even Crowley seems to have finally understood the stink of all this, and thus the short comment, but it takes years to really understand, pearls before swine, and this case of poo before swine

Rating:
Summary: Be Careful: but still lots of enlightening fun ...
Review: When I first read the Israel Regardie edition of THE LAW IS FOR ALL, my mind was essentially exploding in every direction. I was relatively inexperienced with reading (what were to me) such exciting pyrotechnics.

However, this stuff can be a little TOO exciting. One can't guarantee what such things do to an average mind -and life- like mine was (is ?) Just like one can have initial disasters from playing around with Tarot cards, or magick and occultism in general, read Aleister Crowley with caution! (I.e., W E Butler writes in his book 'The Magician,' that those interested in studying magic read rather alot of other books first (he gives a list.) Then he asserts, one may be able to "deal selectively" with Crowley's writings.

Take it from one who has been reading Crowley for 20-plus years: Butler's is good advice !!! Israel Regardie, Dion Fortune, Franz Hartmann and others are to be recommended before soaking oneself in too much Crowley, too quickly.

In any event, I suspect this volume to be rather sanitized, if it is as edited as people say. Fortunately, much of it can be read online, from another edition. And it is still useful and convenient to have some of the Commentary in this bound form.

What I personally did, was get a hold of a copy of a larger edition of the same material, edited by Kenneth Grant and John Symonds. I photocopied this rare (hardcover)edition from a friend, and added the missing pages from my Regardie edition of 'Law is for All', as published by Falcon Press in the early 80s. I might recommend that those interested, do the same, if they can, to make sure they get as much of the Commentary as might be authentic.

Rating:
Summary: Divine, Human, and Beast
Review: _The Law is for All_ offers a rare glimpse into the inner workings of the mind of Aleister Crowley, revealing "the Great Beast" at his best -- and worst. To date it is the only "authorized" commentary upon Liber AL vel Legis (the Book of the Law), the core "sacred text" of Thelema reputed to have been communicated to Crowley in 1904 in Cairo, Egypt by an entity called Aiwass. Here we see Crowley, man and magickian, offering a quasi-ecclesiastical (and often disarmingly personal) commentary upon the very "sacred text" he was "chosen" to "deliver."

_The Law is for All_ displays an amazing juxtaposition of the divine, human, and beastly trains of thought all contending for the title of the definition of Aleister Crowley. Glimpses of his reputed "misogynistic" tendencies turn up side-by-side with his ardent appreciation for, and devotion to, the divine glory of the feminine. His triple cry of "the Christians to the lions!" parades beside his obvious respect for the figure of Christ Himself. His social solutions for illiteracy and demotivation, "a contented slave class," seem shocking at first until the reader delves into the fuller explanation of the careful responsibilities of his envisioned "elite" toward their less-fortunate fellows.

All in all, some of the best and worst of Crowley's mind is inscribed upon these pages for the world to see. At times his commentary takes a decidedly personal, almost solipsistic slant, as he himself endeavors to make sense of confounding passages in the very text which was delivered through the vehicle of his own being. These moments offer fascinating insights into the man who would later turn his back upon and denounce such adept students of his as Frater Achad and Jack Parsons for far less supposed folly of thought or course than he, Crowley, exhibited himself. In his "autohagiography" _Confessions_, Crowley attempted to be candid to some degree, yet it is obvious therein that he had given more conscious forethought to his self-representation. That level of conscious deliberation is absent in the scattered vulnerable insights within _The Law is for All_, making this an even more candid look into the mind of one of the Twentieth Century's most infamous enigmas, Aleister Crowley.

--Shedona Chevalier--

Rating:
Summary: Divine, Human, and Beast
Review: _The Law is for All_ offers a rare glimpse into the inner workings of the mind of Aleister Crowley, revealing "the Great Beast" at his best -- and worst. To date it is the only "authorized" commentary upon Liber AL vel Legis (the Book of the Law), the core "sacred text" of Thelema reputed to have been communicated to Crowley in 1904 in Cairo, Egypt by an entity called Aiwass. Here we see Crowley, man and magickian, offering a quasi-ecclesiastical (and often disarmingly personal) commentary upon the very "sacred text" he was "chosen" to "deliver."

_The Law is for All_ displays an amazing juxtaposition of the divine, human, and beastly trains of thought all contending for the title of the definition of Aleister Crowley. Glimpses of his reputed "misogynistic" tendencies turn up side-by-side with his ardent appreciation for, and devotion to, the divine glory of the feminine. His triple cry of "the Christians to the lions!" parades beside his obvious respect for the figure of Christ Himself. His social solutions for illiteracy and demotivation, "a contented slave class," seem shocking at first until the reader delves into the fuller explanation of the careful responsibilities of his envisioned "elite" toward their less-fortunate fellows.

All in all, some of the best and worst of Crowley's mind is inscribed upon these pages for the world to see. At times his commentary takes a decidedly personal, almost solipsistic slant, as he himself endeavors to make sense of confounding passages in the very text which was delivered through the vehicle of his own being. These moments offer fascinating insights into the man who would later turn his back upon and denounce such adept students of his as Frater Achad and Jack Parsons for far less supposed folly of thought or course than he, Crowley, exhibited himself. In his "autohagiography" _Confessions_, Crowley attempted to be candid to some degree, yet it is obvious therein that he had given more conscious forethought to his self-representation. That level of conscious deliberation is absent in the scattered vulnerable insights within _The Law is for All_, making this an even more candid look into the mind of one of the Twentieth Century's most infamous enigmas, Aleister Crowley.

--Shedona Chevalier--