0 of 0 people found the following review helpful:
Magick, 2008-04-18
This book is a must have for every student of the Ancient Mysteries. Buy it on Amazon- I saved $30 and received free shipping! :)
0 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
Do what you want ? Well..., 2008-03-12
An interesting mix of cabbal, Egyptian myths, hindouism, yoga, some mainstream (thus biased) info about awakening and a lot of ceremonial magic (er, magick).
From what I read, this guy spent most of his life studying and practising magical rituals dangerously close to dark magic. A. Crowley was initiated (free-mason style, obviously) and evolved into a "Magus" as a member of a cult (Golden Dawn). Do as you wish but this is potentially dangerous material as far as your soul is concerned, to be read and handled carefully. For example, his motto "Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the law" leaves room for practically anything. Remember, any magic you do comes back to you three times, and demons can haunt you way beyond your present life.
Well that's my point of view, I prefer ancient European magic (sorry, not Wicca) which is basically close to nature and clearly separates white magic (yes, good) from dark magic (no, no good).
This book and others by this prolific author (777, Thelema, Book of the Law, Moonchild) may help you understand some of his obsessions and provide some technical info but, again, beware.
Namaste
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
THE be all-end all Thelemic resource, 2006-03-20
I've owned this book for several years now, and I STILL learn from it everytime I pick it up. This is NOT the right book for someone new to Aleister Crowley's writings - if you're just starting to look into Thelema and Crowley's approach to Ceremonial Magick, buy Lon Milo Duquette's "The Magick of Thelema"(recently re-issued as "The Magick of Aleister Crowley"), or Crowley's own "Magick Without Tears", a compilation of letters between Crowley and a female student regarding various subjects in magickal/spiritual development. Crowley made the mistake of assuming his readership was at least as educated as he was - well, everytime I read either his or H.P. Blavatsky's work, I am reminded how poor the modern public education system has become! This massive tome is worth every penny it costs, and more... It takes time(maybe a lifetime) to absorb, but it is absolutely worth it. Just remember this: Crowley was constrained by the prevailing laws of his time, and as such, was not always LEGALLY able to come out and just say what he wanted. Alot of things are spoken of in allegory and symbolism; and alot of the time, Crowley had his tongue planted firmly in his cheek when making certain statements. The guy had a cRaZy sense of humor!! Crowley was NOT a baby sacrificing monster - he was a misunderstood genius.
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
Indispensible for Thelemic magicians, 2004-08-18
One cannot approach Thelemic magick without this book. I have editions of the various parts (Book 4, Magick in Theory and Practice) and they just don't work independently the way the whole volume does. It pulls all of the A.'.A.'. curriculum together and presents it, along with Crowley's examples and commentary, in such a way that a solo practioner might actually be able to make sense of it.
But it is not for beginners, or for light reading. If you want light reading about Thelemic magick, try Lon DuQuette or Gerald del Campo. Then come back to this book.
And if you don't accept the concept of "magick" don't bother with it.
31 of 40 people found the following review helpful:
Book 4 Parts I - IV, 2004-06-13
Having read the lively debate/reviews below, I think some important points have been missed through what appear to be fairly 'knee jerk' reactions.It should be noted that Crowley was one of the first 'Westerners' to bring the teachings of Yoga and Buddhism to the UK & USA during a time of strict formal religious discipline. He was the first to spend serious time and money investigating the mysteries of the mind and the subconscious, using drugs (then legal) and meditation, which was unheard of at that time (1900's). Just as 'The Beatles' (Crowley appears on the front cover of Sgt Peppers Lonely Hearst Club Band) and many other 'Society changing' bands experimented with mind altering drugs and alternative reality in the 1960's - he also wrote about his experiences with painful truth and applied his findings to the way we perceive existence.
Such people are rarely accepted by their social group. Anyone who breaks with convention (and he broke many) will be reviled and attract a certain amount of infamy. To disregard him entirely is wrong. To worship him is also wrong. His achievements create open debate on alternative religious belief systems - allowing people to question their own inherent faith and to explore others.
His greatest achievement is not so much 'Magick', but the fact that all spiritual belief should have the same overall goal, that of an infinite broader view of our own reality in life and death, and to attempt to achieve this without the hindrance of conditioned guilt/sin/love/hate/ego - as well as social/religious taboo's.
However, Crowley did attempt to increase his own wealth via magical practice and this failed. Crowley also wanted (at one point) to 'renounce his role as Magus' and stated he ..'could not go on with his work' due to lack of belief in his own powers, although he continued with his practice's for some time after this. But his ground breaking work in detailing Buddhism/Yoga (featured in this book) and creating open interest, and greater tolerance for, alternative belief systems is valid.
The book, like most of his output, is a product of its time. He did attempt to ritualise his beliefs and it shares the same instructional 'symbolic' style of the bible. A better read for those who have an interest in his work would be 'Do what thou wilt - A Life of Aleister Crowley' by Lawrence Sutin, also sold by Amazon. Its well written and researched - providing an objective view of his life and work.