The Holy Books of Thelema

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Summary: Holy Books Of Thelema
Review: Aleister Crowley no doubt impacted spirituality and mysticism profoundly, and this ever-lasting mark upon culture is no more experienced than in the Holy Books. Written in his highest of trances and clearest moments of truth, the Holy books are very complex. I loved the prose and flowing style trademark of Crowley, but his profundity and command of all things Magickal make these infinitely more complete and multi-layered than any student can imagine. Practical in essence, enlightened in style, and valuable to any true thelemite or magician, the Holy books are a must-read for anyone serious about taking up the path of truth.

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Summary: The Holy Books: Keystone to the Magick of Thelema
Review: Despite some typographical errors and the fact that the editors chose the earliest instead of the latest rescensions of several books, this book is a worthy addition to the library of anyone truly interested in comparative Spirituality, even if they are not especially interested in Aleister Crowley's Thelemic cultus. Aleister Crowley never surpassed his own Thelemic "holy books," about which he was uncharacteristically silent, especially the Book of the Heart Girt about by the Serpent and the Book of the Freed or the Blue Stone, which are as beautiful and profound as the greatest Spiritual literature of any time or people. Many will find some sections, especially the Book of the Law, disturbing, but closer scrutiny will reveal a deep penetration of many difficult Spiritual questions which are not satisfactorily resolved in many other religions, and a keen and penetrating insight into the brutalities of the 21st century, which mark the necessary Next Step in a transition to a new and a greater civilization. Now the Holy Books need to be reissued in a truly critical edition, with alternative readings, footnotes, appendices explaining all of the allusions, and a comprehensive book, chapter, and verse index.

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Summary: get enlightened
Review: Ever thousand years or so such a profound book is received on this plane. This book speaks to your uncounsious mind. Just by reading the beautiful prose of this wonderful book you will become enlightened. Guys, this is powerful stuff.Warning! Reading this book will lead to magical enlightenment.

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Summary: The Thelemic Book to Get
Review: I say this with hesitation, but this is the closest thing to a Bible (as in a "revealed book") that Thelemite will ever need. True the thelemic form you have just the source material, the works dictated to the Master Therion. What is left is the interpretations and revealations that are available to serious student of this work.

Inspirational, disturbing and ultimately, Liberating. 93!

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Summary: Babble-on
Review: The gullibility of those with overdeveloped imaginations and insufficient attention to history never ceases to amaze. Apparently all an author has to do is throw in a few magic symbols, a smattering of Greek, references to arcane gods and impenetrable mutterings from an allegedly channelled source -- and they're hooked. Even a superficial acquaintance with one or two volumes of serious comparative religious history -- for example, some Steven Runcimen in "Medieval Manichees" -- would expose Crowley for the intellectual snake-oil salesman that he is. Even the spurious, bloated "great white brotherhood" inventions of Baird Spalding's books exhibit more penetrating, more coherent, insights into the spiritual world. Crowley is religious "insight" for the easily impressed.

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Summary: Crowley's Legacy
Review: The Holy books of Thelema stand quite apart from the technical works Crowley wrote throughout his life. They were "received" or channeled if you will, rather than developed by Crowley's ego (by which I mean his mortal psyche). Every Liber is a gem, proving to anyone who reads them with an open mind that Crowley was a true prophet. Within you will find not only the Book of the Law, but the Liber Lapis Lazuli and the Book of the Heart Gird Round by the Serpent. The latter is a spiritual masterpiece equal to Liber AL. I reccomend that the Holy Books be read slowly, perhaps a passage at a time. That way, they'll sink in.

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Summary: "Inspired" writings of Aleister Crowley--aka, Master Therion
Review: These "Inspired" writings of Aleister Crowley--aka, Master Therion--are compiled into "The Holy Books of Thelema" for the studious Thelemite.

Most of this material will not make a lick of sense to anyone who is not a Thelemite, and doubtfully makes much sense to any Thelemite who hasn't read a stack or two of Crowley's other writings. However, once you have read a dozen or two Crowley books, "The Holy Books of Thelema" start to make some kind of sense.....

Fair warning, I have been informed that "The Uninitiated" won't "get it" until they have been Initiated into one of Crowley's various Magickal systems.

So, "The Holy Books of Thelema" is a great resource for Thelemites, but even Thelemites probably will not understand most of the material, until they have been "enlightened" by one of the Magickal groups (O.T.O., Thelemic Golden Dawn, etc.).

"The Holy Books of Thelema" contains all the "Inspired" (presumably by entities outside of Crowley's head) works of Thelema, and a break-down of the writings on "The Stele' of Revealing"--which is integral to the writing of "The Book of The Law").

"The Holy Books of Thelema" is a convenient resource, containing all the information prospective "Thelemites" need to get started on the Thelemic Path.

It has been suggested that a Thelemite should reread this material after each Initiation, to fully comprehend the material.

Rating:
Summary: "Inspired" writings of Aleister Crowley--aka, Master Therion
Review: These "Inspired" writings of Aleister Crowley--aka, Master Therion--are compiled into "The Holy Books of Thelema" for the studious Thelemite.

Most of this material will not make a lick of sense to anyone who is not a Thelemite, and doubtfully makes much sense to any Thelemite who hasn't read a stack or two of Crowley's other writings. However, once you have read a dozen or two Crowley books, "The Holy Books of Thelema" start to make some kind of sense.....

Fair warning, I have been informed that "The Uninitiated" won't "get it" until they have been Initiated into one of Crowley's various Magickal systems.

So, "The Holy Books of Thelema" is a great resource for Thelemites, but even Thelemites probably will not understand most of the material, until they have been "enlightened" by one of the Magickal groups (O.T.O., Thelemic Golden Dawn, etc.).

"The Holy Books of Thelema" contains all the "Inspired" (presumably by entities outside of Crowley's head) works of Thelema, and a break-down of the writings on "The Stele' of Revealing"--which is integral to the writing of "The Book of The Law").

"The Holy Books of Thelema" is a convenient resource, containing all the information prospective "Thelemites" need to get started on the Thelemic Path.

It has been suggested that a Thelemite should reread this material after each Initiation, to fully comprehend the material.

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Summary: The Canon of Thelema
Review: These essays are simply beyond rational criticism. They are Holy Books, which means (to those unfamiliar with Thelema) they are written through the Prophet (Crowley) by the Gods. They are written from Beyond the Abyss. They cannot be rationally understood.

The poetry, especially in Liber Cordis, is unbelievably brilliant. There is nothing in the whole of occult literature that matches it, except for Liber AL itself (which is of course included). The introduction by the late Frater Superior of the OTO gives those new to Thelema a detailed description of the history of the writing of the various compilations dubbed "The Holy Books", and a description of the circumstances surrounding the reception of "The Book of the Law". The book includes Liber Causae (which is not a Holy Book), describing the foundation story of the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn and its subsequent dissolution (it is, however, reincarnated in various forms these days).

If you have money to spend on a religious or mystical book, this is definately THE one to buy.

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Summary: The Heart of Liberty
Review: This book is the compelation of all the dictated books on the wonderous tradition of Thelema. For the Thelemite who just cannot collect every one of the books, this book is for you. With the exception of Liber Librea, this book gives great insight upon Thelema.