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Page 1 of 51996 · PDF PAGE 14
…est 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 for the layman to approach this Book is to regard it as a letter written directly to himself. Even though he may not be ab…
1996 · PDF PAGE 6
… 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 the first of which was published in his lifetime.1 The rest, including the “new” or “long” commentary that comprises the present book — remained unedited i…
1996 · PDF PAGE 133
…es, o prophet, a light undesired, most desirable. 62. I am uplifted in thine heart; and the kisses of the stars rain hard upon thy body. Commentary: “uplifted in thine heart”:—compare “The Book of the Heart Girt with a Serpent.”1 1 [“Liber Cordis Cincti Serpente sub figura LXV.”] See Equinox III(l) [(1919), and The Holy Books ofThelema (Equinox 111(9)) (1983).] 63. Thou art exhaust in the voluptuous fullness of the inspiration; the expiration is sweeter than death, more rapid and laughterful than a caress of Hell’s own worm. Commentary: This ve…
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 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 2
Aleister LCrowley The LAW is for ALL The Authorized Popular Commentary on Liber AL vel Legis subfigura CCXX The Hook of the Law edited by Louis Wilkinson and Hymenaeus Beta NEW FALCON PUBLICATIONS
1996 · PDF PAGE 8
…ext 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 anything to save them…
1996 · PDF PAGE 187
188 The Law is for All 68. Yet to all it shall seem beautiful. Its enemies who say not so, are mere Bars. 69. There is success. Commentary: My memory tells me that the word “there” was not emphasized. Read, then, “there is” as the French il y a-, it is a simple and apparently detached statement. It was spoken casually, carelessly, as if a quite unimportant point had been forgotten, and now mentioned as a concession to my weakness. 70. I am the Hawk-Headed Lord of Silence & of Strength; my nemyss shrouds the night-blue sky. 71. Hail! ye twin war…
1996 · PDF PAGE 45
46 The Law is for All 43. Do that, and no other shall say nay. Commentary: The general meaning of this verse is that so great is the power of asserting one’s right that it will not long be disputed. For by doing so one appeals to the Law. In practice it is found that people who are ready to fight for their rights are respected, and let alone. The slave-spirit invites oppression. 44. For pure will, unassuaged of purpose, delivered from the lust of result, is every way perfect. Commentary: This verse is best interpreted by defining “pure will” as…
1996 · PDF PAGE 88
Chapter II A Verses 2—5 89 3. In the sphere I am everywhere the centre, as she, the circumference, is nowhere found. Commentary: This is again interesting as throwing light on the thesis: “Every man and every woman is a star.” There is no place soever that is not a Centre of Light. This Truth is to be realized by direct perception, not merely by intellection. It is axiomatic; it cannot be demonstrated. It is to be assimilated by experience of the Vision of the “Star-Sponge.” 4. Yet she shall be known & I never. Commentary: See later, verse 13, …
1996 · PDF PAGE 123
…al, and a feast for the Equinox of the Gods. 41. A feast for fire and a feast for water; a feast for life and a greater feast for death! Commentary: The feasts of fire and water indicate rejoicings to be made at the puberty of boys and girls respectively. The feast for life is at a birth; and the feast for death at a death. It is of the utmost importance to make funerals merry, so as to train people to take the proper view of death. The fear of death is one of the great weapons of tyrants, as well as their scourge; and it distorts our whole out…
1996 · PDF PAGE 86
The Second Chapter 1. Nu! the hiding of Hadit. Commentary: We see again set forth the complementary character of Nuit and Hadit. Nu conceals Had because He is Everywhere in the Infinite, and She manifests Him for the same reason. (See verse 3.) Every Individual manifests the Whole; and the Whole conceals every Individual. The Soul interprets the Uni verse; and the Universe veils the Soul. Nature understands Herself by becoming self-conscious in Her units; and the Consciousness loses its sense of separateness by dissolution in Her. There has be…
1996 · PDF PAGE 4
Contents Works Cited Foreword 7 Introduction 13 Commentary on Title 21 The First Chapter 23 The Second Chapter 87 The Third Chapter 155 The Stèle of Revealing 191 Liber AL vel Legis sub figura CCXX 195 Chapter I 197 Chapter II 203 Chapter III 210 AL (Liber Legis) sub figura XXXI The Comment 284 285 General Index 293 Index of Liber AL Citations 302 5
1996 · PDF PAGE 100
…83), p. 45.] 18. These are dead, these fellows; they feel not. We are not for the poor and sad: the lords of the earth are our kinsfolk. Commentary: This idea is confirmed. Those who sorrow are not real people at all, not “stars”—for the time being. The fact of their being “poor and sad” proves them to be “shadows,” who “pass & are done.” The “lords of the earth” are those who are doing their Will. It does not necessarily mean people with coro nets and automobiles; there are plenty of such people who are the most sorrowful slaves in the world.…
1996 · PDF PAGE 290
…nox iv(l), spring 1996. Commentaries on the Holy Books and Other Papers. 9.v The Equinox iv(2), fall 1996. The Vision and the Voice with Commentary and Other Papers. 10 ------------ . The Equinox of the Gods. Book 4, Part iv. The Equinox iii(3). London, o.T.o.: 1936. Corrected facsimile edition (Scotts dale, az: New Falcon, 1991 and New York, 93 Publishing, 1992). 11 ------------ . Gems from the Equinox, ed. I. Regardie. St. Paul: Llewellyn, 1974, rpt. Las Vegas: Falcon, 1989. 12 ------------ . The Gospel According to St. Bernard Shaw, ed. Kar…
1996 · PDF PAGE 115
… Tao” appears in Konx Om Pax (1907); see Works Cited.] 2 [Lat., “secret rites”; Crowley’s usual definition was “works.”] 3 [Possibly the commentary to ch. II, v. 21, beginning on p. 105.] 26. I am the secret Serpent coiled about to spring: in my coiling there is joy. If I lift up my head, I and my Nuit are one. If I droop down mine head, and shoot forth venom, then is rapture of the earth, and I and the earth are one. Commentary: The Magical power is universal. The Free Man directs it as He Will. Leave Him alone, or He will make you sorry you t…
1996 · PDF PAGE 286
…d in (9.g), later appearing (with the “short” 1-page Comment) as (1) and in (10); it first appeared with new photography in (4). The Old Commentary first appeared in (9.g), and appears with the New Commentary in (19), (15), and in an abridged form in (8). Works by Aleister Crowley Cited These books and papers are cited or quoted by Crowley in the text of the abridged Commentaries to The Book of the Law; see the General Index for page references. They are listed here alphabetically or by their number in the A.’.A.’. and O.T.O. canon. Except wher…
1996 · PDF PAGE 134
…l be glad. Thy death shall be the seal of the promise of our agelong love. Come! lift up thine heart & rejoice! We are one; we are none. Commentary: The first part of this text appears to be a digression in the nature of a prophecy. The word “Come!” is a summons to reenter the full Trance. Its essence is declared in the last six words. Notice that the transition from one to none is instantaneous. 67. Hold! Hold! Bear up in thy rapture; fall not in swoon of the excellent kisses! Commentary: The instructions in the text of this and the next verse…
1996 · PDF PAGE 32
…des of initiation; but the above should suffice the average intelligence.) 9. Worship then the Khabs, and behold my light shed over you! Commentary: We are to pay attention to this Inmost Light; then comes the answering Light of Infinite Space. Note that the Light of Space is what men call Darkness; its nature is utterly incomprehensible to our uninitiated minds. It is the “veils” men tioned previously in this comment that obstruct the relation between Nuit and Hadit. We are not to worship the Khu, to fall in love with our Magi cal Image. To …
1996 · PDF PAGE 75
…duty. 54. Change not as much as the style of a letter; for behold! thou, o prophet, shalt not behold all these mysteries hidden therein. Commentary: The subject changes most abruptly, perhaps answering some unspoken comment of the scribe on the capital 1:53 T’s in “To me”. This injunction was most necessary, for had I been left to myself, I should have wanted to edit the Book ruthlessly. I find in it what I consider faults of style, and even of grammar; much of the matter was at the time of writing most antipathetic. But the Book proved itself …