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Page 1 of 51996 · PDF PAGE 6
Foreword Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the Law. The Book of the Law was the foundation of Aleister Crowley’s life’s work, and its commentaries a problem that vexed him for most of his adult life, almost since the book’s reception in 1904 E.v. His basic difficulty with producing a commentary was a lack of objectivity. He was too close to The Book of the Law, on too many levels, to be able to easily write about it, let alone judge what other people might find helpful by way of commentary. He made numerous attempts over the years, only t…
1996 · PDF PAGE 14
Introduction 15 There is doubtless a further key to be found which will in the end elucidate the whole Book and make manifest the extremely elaborate nature of its pattern.1 1 [The source and authorship of this quotation is unknown.] 2 [Later termed the “Old Commentary”; published in The Equinox 1(7) (1912), pp. 387^00a.] 3 [Described by Crowley as the “New Commentary.”] The Book of the Law, however, is not only for mathematicians and mystics. In some one phrase or other of the Book there is a direct message for every human being. The best way …
1996 · PDF PAGE 20
Commentary on Title In the first edition this Book is called L.1 L is the sacred letter in the Holy Twelve-fold Table which forms the triangle that stabilizes the Universe. See Liber 418.1 2 L is the letter of Libra, Balance, and “Justice”3 in the Tarot. This title should probably be AL, “El,” as the “L” was heard of the Voice of Aiwaz, not seen. AL is the true name of the Book, for these letters, and their number 31, form the Master Key to its Mysteries. 1 [“Liber L vel Legis sub figura CCXX,” in OEAHMA [London: pri vately printed for initiat…
1996 · PDF PAGE 13
… numeration of thelema (Grk. deXrjgia, “will”) and agape (Grk. ayairr], “love”), as well as the name Aiwaz in Hebrew (FTP). See Crowley, Book 4, Parts I-IV, rev. ed., passim.] One of the first and most important points to be noted is that the whole Book of the Law rests upon a mathematical basis. It makes no partial appeal; it does not depend upon religious theory or racial tradition. One who knows far more than I do both of mathematics and of mysticism has thrown a clearer light than I could upon the evidence of the preternatural character of …
1996 · PDF PAGE 16
…e as the evil growths of the present century have been phenomenally swift and operative in their force of destruction. We today need The Book of the Law for our guidance, for our strength, for our happiness and fulfilment. It is because I am con vinced that we need it, and need it very badly, that I have made this attempt to abridge the Commentary upon it by removing passages likely to present obstructive difficulties to the general reader, to the layman like myself. I have aimed at making an abridgement that the general reader of intelligence…
1996 · PDF PAGE 12
Introduction In this Commentary on the Book of the Law it is told how the Book came to be written; or, rather, communicated to the man who wrote it down. There is a Being called Aiwaz, an intelligence discarnate, who wrote this Book of the Law, using my ears and hand. His mind is certainly superior to my own in knowledge and in power, for He has dominated me and taught me ever since.1 1 [Crowley, Commentary to AL 111:19, p. 161 below.] 2 [Quotations from Liber Legis are cited by chapter and verse in the margins throughout this edition, except w…
1996 · PDF PAGE 22
… must be studied in our other writings, nota bly Berashith, my own Magical Diaries, especially those of 1919, 1920 and 1921,1 2 and The Book of Wisdom or Folly.3 See also “The Soldier and the Hunchback.”4 Further information concern ing Nuit and Hadit is given in the course of this Book; but I must here mention that the Brother mentioned in connection with the “Wizard Amalantrah” etc. (Samuel bar Aiwaz)5 identifies them 1 The Proton and the Electron, in a metaphysical sense, suggest close analogies. 2 [Crowley’s diary for 1920 E.v. was publis…
1996 · PDF PAGE 285
The Comment Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the Law. The study of this Book is forbidden. It is wise to destroy this copy after the first reading. Whosoever disregards this does so at his own risk and peril. These are most dire. Those who discuss the contents of this Book are to be shunned by all, as centres of pestilence. All questions of the Law are to be decided only by appeal to my writings, each for himself. There is no law beyond Do what thou wilt. Love is the law, love under will. The priest of the princes, 284
1996 · PDF PAGE 15
… whole, however little aware the editor might be of the effect of his editing. In this vol ume I have allowed certain passages from The Book of the Law to stand by themselves without any comment; for it has some times seemed better to leave the reader to make what interpreta tion he can of his own than to risk confusing and delaying his apprehension of the message of the Book as a whole. The Book of the Law has already been published without a Commentary;1 but, if it is to reach and influence a wider public, a Commentary, which must often be…
1996 · PDF PAGE 305
$16.95 LIS• Esoteric Philosophy / Religion Aleister Crowley The Law is for All The Authorized Popular Commentary to The Book of the Law Edited by Louis Wilkinson and Hymenaeus Beta Aleister Crowley’s life and thought are inexorably linked with The Book of the Law (Liber AL velLegis sub figura CCXX). He was not the author of this short, prophetic text. He received this visionary work by direct-voice dictation from a preterhuman, possibly discarnate intelligence in Cairo in 1904. Crowley was an intelligent sceptic, and at first found this improba…
1996 · PDF PAGE 76
Chapter I a Verses 54—57 77 Temple. So I could not properly understand this Book; how then could I effectively promulgate it? I comprehended but dimly that it contained my Word; for the Grade of Magus then seemed to me unthinkably high above me. Also, let me say that the True Secrets of this Grade are unfathomable and awful beyond all expression;1 the process of initiation thereto was continuous over years, and contained the most sublime mystic experiences—beyond any yet recorded by man—as mere incidents in its terrific Pageant. 1 [This is trea…
1996 · PDF PAGE 10
…cis Israel Regardie produced a competing edition the fol lowing year that relied on a 1926 typescript entitled “An Extenu ation to the Book of the Law”; he was quietly assisted by Gerald Yorke in his work.1 Each edition had its merits, but neither addressed the many editorial inconsistencies that had accumu lated in such a complex and technical work, written over many years, especially one that had been shunned by its author. 1 The Law is for All (St. Paul: Llewellyn Publications, 1975); reprinted by New Falcon Publications. Regardie’s title…
1996 · PDF PAGE 290
… The Equinox of the Gods. See (10). 9.n The Equinox ni(4), spring 1939. Eight Lectures on Yoga.. 9.o The Equinox ni(5), spring 1944. The Book ofThoth. 9.p The Equinox in(6), 1961. Liber Aleph. See (18). 9.q The Equinox iii(7), 1971. Shih Yi [Shih /]. 9.r The Equinox ni(8), 1975. The Tao Teh King [Tao Te Ching]. See (28). 9.s The Equinox ni(9), 1983.0EAHMA [Thelema]: The Holy Books of Thelema. See (30). 9.t The Equinox ni(10), 1986. New York; rpt. 1990, Weiser. 9.u The Equinox iv(l), spring 1996. Commentaries on the Holy Books and Other Papers. …
1996 · PDF PAGE 26
…s what is meant when we say that woman has no soul. It explains fully the difference between the sexes.1 1 [Surviving fragment from “The Book of the Great Auk.” See also The Book ofThoth, pp. 15-16, and Part III of Book 4, Parts I-IV, rev. ed., p. 248n.] 2 [The “Star-Sponge” Vision was usually characterized by Crowley as “Nothingness with Twinkles”; see p. 79.] 3 [A lake in Bristol, New Hampshire.] 4 [A lengthy technical commentary to this verse, omitted by Dr. Wilkin son, is given as Appendix B in 777 Revised (1955); see Works Cited.] 4. Ever…
1996 · PDF PAGE 77
…, perfectly, flawlessly symmetrical.3 The fact of its so doing is a most convincing proof of the superhuman Wisdom of the author of this Book to those who have laboured for years, in vain, to elucidate the problems of the Tarot. 1 [Liber CXI vel Aleph, The Book of Wisdom or Folly, p. 142. See Works Cited.] 2 [The “Old Comment” was omitted in this abridgement. The relevant passage, from Equinox 1(7) (1912), p. 393, is “The fools (not here implying X fools, for 111:57 says ‘all fools despise’) may mistake. This love, then, should be the serpent l…
1996 · PDF PAGE 288
…f equilibrium on the intellectual plane.” In (9.a). [Liber 150, A.-.A.-..] “Liber CL, De Lege Libellum.” “A further explana tion of The Book of the Law, with special reference to the Powers and Privileges conferred by its acceptance.” In (9.k) and (9.t). [Liber 157, A.-. A.-..] Liber CLVII—The Tao Te Ching. “This is the most exalted and yet practical of the Chinese classics. Gives the initiated Chinese system of Mysticism.” As (28). [Liber 418, A.'.A.'..] “Liber XXX yErvm vel Sseculi Sub Figura CDXVIII. Being of the Angels of the Thirty /Ethyr…
1996 · PDF PAGE 287
…Jugorum.” “An instruction for the con trol of speech, action and thought.” In (4), (9.d), (11), and (21). [Liber 4, A/.A/..] Liber ABA. Book 4. “A general account in elementary terms of magical and mystical powers.” In four parts: 1. Mysticism. In (3) and (4). 2. Magick (Elementary Theory). In (3) and (4). 3. Magick in Theory and Practice. In (4) and as (21). 4. oeahma: The Law. In (4) and as (10). [Liber 7, A.-. A.-..] “Liber Liberi vel Lapidis Lazuli, Adumbratio Kabbalse TEgyptiorum sub figura VII.” “Gives in magical language an account of t…
1996 · PDF PAGE 8
…aries on the text from two different hands should be included.1 Again, the scholar’s point of view. Why not, for example, in a classical book, include commentary by Bentley and by Porson, or by half a dozen others, for that matter? Indeed, the scholar would be delighted; but no-one else would be. Another thing that Crowley has never realised is that readers are not, as a general rule, men and women of leisure and that they want things made reasonably quick and easy for them. He never troubles to condense for their benefit, he never does anythin…
1996 · PDF PAGE 24
…on of the independent godhead of every man and every woman! Further, as Khabs1 (see verse 8) is “Star,” there is a further meaning; this Book is to reveal the Secret Self of a man, i.e. to initiate him. 1 [Usually khaib in modern Egyptian transliteration.] 2 [A Crowley diary from 1919 e.v.; the relevant passage is quoted on p. 26.] 3. Every man and every woman is a star. Commentary: This thesis is fully treated in The Book of Wisdom or Folly. Its main statement is that each human being is an Element of the Cosmos, self-determined and supreme, c…
1996 · PDF PAGE 289
288 The Law is for All 4 ------------ (with Mary Desti and Leila Waddell). Magick. Book 4, Parts I-IV. Revised edition, ed. Hymenaeus Beta (York Beach, me: Weiser, 1994.) 5 ------------ (received by). [The Book of the Law]. Liber AL vel Legis sub figura CCXX. London: o.T.o., 1938; 2nd rev. ed., Pasadena, ca: Church of Thelema [1942]; corrected rpt. of London ed., with facsimile ms., New York: Weiser, 1976, 1979; rpt. York Beach, me: Weiser, 1993. 6 ------------ (received by). [The Book of the Latv]. Liber AL vel Legis sub figura CCXX. New York:…