XXVI 
republishing selected writings from The Equinox, entitled 
Gems from The Equinox, which falls within a price range 
that is compatible with the pocketbook of most students. 
But what are these books? Between 1909 and 1914, 
Aleister Crowley published in England a large, beautifully 
printed periodical. The masthead on the cover bore two 
phrases: "The Aim of Religion" and "The Method of 
Science." This periodical contained a wide assortment of 
verse, plays, short stories and miscellaneous occult material. 
One issue appeared every six months, at the Spring and 
Autumnal Equinoxes, of that five year period. Ten enormous 
issues appeared in all. 
After 1914 there was a hiatus of five years, corresponding 
to World War I, when Crowley was domiciled in the U.S. He 
called it a five year period of silence, which was ultimately 
broken by the appearance of another large volume bound in 
blue cloth-called colloquially the Blue Equinox. No others 
were published; there was no more money available. 
By students of occultism, these volumes were regarded as a 
veritable gold mine of occult lore. Most who bought them 
were far less interested in the wide literary assortment 
offered. Yoga and Magick were what these books stood for, 
and this is where The Equinox excelled. 
There was simply nothing like them elsewhere. In these 
instructions about the occult arts, Crowley used superb 
prose, and clarified the subject matter by eliminating all the 
superstition, dross and fantasy that had been attached to 
these topics. They were masterpieces of instruction. It was 
for these reasons that the eleven volumes of The Equinox 
were so zealously sought after throughout the years. 
In letter 75, Crowley has written a word or two about 
what he intended to accomplish in these books. What he has 
to say is so interesting that the following is quoted from that 
letter. 
My special job was to preserve the Sacred Tradition, so 
that a new Renaissance might in due season rekindle the 
hidden Light. I was accordingly to make a Quintessence