What is Thelema?

By Frater Phaeton X°.

Thelema is the name given to the system of Magick and Yoga as put forth by Aleister Crowley (1875-1947 e.v.). A Mystic, mountaineer and poet, Crowley is perhaps best known as the most notorious Magician of the 20th century e.v. He was recently voted the 73rd Greatest Briton in a nationwide poll in the U.K., and his portrait may be found in the National Portrait Gallery in Central London on permanent display (appropriately enough in Room 31).

Crowley, the Prophet of Thelema, received The Book of the Law from a praeter-human Intelligence called Aiwaz in 1904 e.v. The main tenet of this Holy Book is "Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the Law" - which means that each man and woman is to find their True Will, their purpose and meaning in life, and to do that and nothing else. This Book, also known as Liber AL vel Legis or Liber AL, is to be studied with patience and intuition, "each for himself". The Comment to this Book states that no-one can interpret the Book (or someone else's Will) for anyone else. This puts an end to the idea of a traditional priesthood which presumes to mediate between 'God' and Man ("There is no god but man") and the endless religious controversies which have dogged humanity through the Ages. "…thou hast no right but to do thy will. Do that, and no other shall say nay."(AL, I: 42 & 43.)

Crowley of course was not the first person to put forward the idea of Thelema (Will) as of paramount importance in one's life. Rabelais (c. 1484-1583 e.v.) is perhaps the most famous example of Thelema before Crowley; cf. his "Abbey of the Thelemites". Just as famous an example is that of Dr. John Dee (1527-1608 e.v.), astrologer to Elizabeth I, who performed magickal workings with Edward Kelly (1555-1595 e.v. - whom Crowley claimed as a previous incarnation) which became known as the Enochian or Angelic system of Magick. During one of these workings, on May 23rd 1597 e.v., these men received a transmission which was an uncanny foreshadowing of the Goddess in Chapter I of Liber AL, received over 300 years later; this is known as "The Daughter of Fortitude". Indeed this Angelic message frightened Kelly so much that he refused to go on (the Angels claimed that "Jesus was not God", "there is no sin", and affirmed reincarnation as true. From these two examples alone we can see Thelema is not a new idea, no more than Magick is. The modern interpretation of Thelema, as given to humanity by Aiwass, is a Science and Art of Magick whereby each man and woman may free themselves from restrictions, both internal and external. ("The word of Sin is Restriction." AL, I: 41.) It demands study, as all else, but thereby each may come to the Law of Life, Love and Liberty.

Thelema is the Greek for Will, and in that Gematria adds to 93. Agape is the Greek word for Love, and by the same system adds also to 93. Therefore there is seen an identity between the two ideas, and so; "Love is the law, love under will" (AL, I: 57). AL (God) in Hebrew adds to 31, as does therefore LA (Not), so again there is an identity between these two. (Consider also 31x3=93, and therefore the idea of Trinity within 93.) Again, ALBION in the Hebrew adds to 813, as does ARARITA (a name of God), and so the two ideas correlate. These matters must be studied "each for themselves", and such study takes many years (and lifetimes!). Crowley's writings assist in understanding these ideas, as do others, for instance Frater Achad's Liber 31.

But only through experiment, experience and initiation will the Understanding of Thelema flower in the aspirant's own life, whereby he or she can apply the principles of The Book of the Law in their daily life. The aspirant must first banish the elements in their life which interfere with their True Will; as Crowley said, "the waste employments and enjoyments", whether these be people, habits or upbringing. They must then embark upon a magickal course of discipline and initiation. This can be either self-initiation (or with the help of a Correspondence Course), or via the benefits of initiation within the temple of a Magickal Order, being the encouragement, experience and support of their fellow Brethren of a like mind. (See our Membership page.) "Every man and every woman is a star" (AL, I: 3). The Law of Thelema leads to the Freedom of the Goddess, Nuit, who does not demand "aught in sacrifice". Through such a course of action will the aspirant come to the realisation of their True Will, their own inherent divinity, and the Way of Thelema.