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Aleister Crowley's Four Books of Magick
This is the masterpiece of occultist, magician and philosopher Aleister Crowley, introduced for the first time by one of the world's leading experts on Western esoteric traditions, Stephen Skinner.
"Do what thou wilt."
Written in the early twentieth century, the four books contained within this collection make up one of the most complete and groundbreaking works on the practice of magick ever written. They are considered to be the masterpiece of occultist, magician and philosopher Aleister Crowley and the core texts for the religion of Thelema. Their influence on alternative western thought and philosophy cannot be exaggerated.
Also known as Book Four, or Liber ABA, the four parts bring together many rituals, received texts, theorems and unequalled insights into the practice of magick, culminating in The Book of the Law, the central, sacred text dictated to Crowley by a preternatural entity. Anyone interested in yoga, ceremonial magic, esoteric thought, invocation, divination and beyond, or those looking to delve into the fascinating, playful and illuminating writings of a unique man, will find inspiration.
For the first time, one of the world's leading experts on Western esoteric traditions and magic, Dr. Stephen Skinner, introduces the text, sharing his insights into Crowley's take on yoga, ceremonial magick and Thelema. His long involvement with magick, both as an academic and as a practitioner, enabled Dr. Skinner to highlight the differences between the psychological and the spirit-orientated approaches to magick, and to show how that dilemma shaped Crowley's practice and his founding of Thelema, enlightening the reader to many previously unknown connections.
"Do what thou wilt."
Written in the early twentieth century, the four books contained within this collection make up one of the most complete and groundbreaking works on the practice of magick ever written. They are considered to be the masterpiece of occultist, magician and philosopher Aleister Crowley and the core texts for the religion of Thelema. Their influence on alternative western thought and philosophy cannot be exaggerated.
Also known as Book Four, or Liber ABA, the four parts bring together many rituals, received texts, theorems and unequalled insights into the practice of magick, culminating in The Book of the Law, the central, sacred text dictated to Crowley by a preternatural entity. Anyone interested in yoga, ceremonial magic, esoteric thought, invocation, divination and beyond, or those looking to delve into the fascinating, playful and illuminating writings of a unique man, will find inspiration.
For the first time, one of the world's leading experts on Western esoteric traditions and magic, Dr. Stephen Skinner, introduces the text, sharing his insights into Crowley's take on yoga, ceremonial magick and Thelema. His long involvement with magick, both as an academic and as a practitioner, enabled Dr. Skinner to highlight the differences between the psychological and the spirit-orientated approaches to magick, and to show how that dilemma shaped Crowley's practice and his founding of Thelema, enlightening the reader to many previously unknown connections.
748 pages, ebook
First published January 1, 1994
186 people are currently reading
3190 people want to read
About the author
Aleister Crowley
868 books1,875 followersAleister Crowley was an English occultist, ceremonial magician, poet, novelist, mountaineer, and painter. He founded the religion of Thelema, proclaiming himself as the prophet destined to guide humanity into the Æon of Horus in the early 20th century. A prolific writer, Crowley published extensively throughout his life.
Born Edward Alexander Crowley in Royal Leamington Spa, Warwickshire, he was raised in a wealthy family adhering to the fundamentalist Christian Plymouth Brethren faith. Crowley rejected his religious upbringing, developing an interest in Western esotericism. He attended Trinity College, Cambridge, focusing on mountaineering and poetry, and published several works during this period. In 1898, he joined the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn, receiving training in ceremonial magic from Samuel Liddell MacGregor Mathers and Allan Bennett. His travels took him to Mexico for mountaineering with Oscar Eckenstein and to India, where he studied Hindu and Buddhist practices.
In 1904, during a honeymoon in Cairo with his wife Rose Edith Kelly, Crowley claimed to have received "The Book of the Law" from a supernatural entity named Aiwass. This text became the foundation of Thelema, announcing the onset of the Æon of Horus and introducing the central tenet: "Do what thou wilt." Crowley emphasized that individuals should align with their True Will through ceremonial magic.
After an unsuccessful expedition to Kanchenjunga in 1905 and further travels in India and China, Crowley returned to Britain. There, he co-founded the esoteric order A∴A∴ with George Cecil Jones in 1907 to promote Thelema. In 1912, he joined the Ordo Templi Orientis (O.T.O.), eventually leading its British branch and reformulating it according to Thelemic principles. Crowley spent World War I in the United States, engaging in painting and writing pro-German propaganda, which biographers later suggested was a cover for British intelligence activities.
In 1920, Crowley established the Abbey of Thelema, a religious commune in Cefalù, Sicily. His libertine lifestyle attracted negative attention from the British press, leading to his expulsion by the Italian government in 1923. He spent subsequent years in France, Germany, and England, continuing to promote Thelema until his death in 1947.
Crowley's notoriety stemmed from his recreational drug use, bisexuality, and criticism of societal norms. Despite controversy, he significantly influenced Western esotericism and the 1960s counterculture, and remains a central figure in Thelema.
Born Edward Alexander Crowley in Royal Leamington Spa, Warwickshire, he was raised in a wealthy family adhering to the fundamentalist Christian Plymouth Brethren faith. Crowley rejected his religious upbringing, developing an interest in Western esotericism. He attended Trinity College, Cambridge, focusing on mountaineering and poetry, and published several works during this period. In 1898, he joined the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn, receiving training in ceremonial magic from Samuel Liddell MacGregor Mathers and Allan Bennett. His travels took him to Mexico for mountaineering with Oscar Eckenstein and to India, where he studied Hindu and Buddhist practices.
In 1904, during a honeymoon in Cairo with his wife Rose Edith Kelly, Crowley claimed to have received "The Book of the Law" from a supernatural entity named Aiwass. This text became the foundation of Thelema, announcing the onset of the Æon of Horus and introducing the central tenet: "Do what thou wilt." Crowley emphasized that individuals should align with their True Will through ceremonial magic.
After an unsuccessful expedition to Kanchenjunga in 1905 and further travels in India and China, Crowley returned to Britain. There, he co-founded the esoteric order A∴A∴ with George Cecil Jones in 1907 to promote Thelema. In 1912, he joined the Ordo Templi Orientis (O.T.O.), eventually leading its British branch and reformulating it according to Thelemic principles. Crowley spent World War I in the United States, engaging in painting and writing pro-German propaganda, which biographers later suggested was a cover for British intelligence activities.
In 1920, Crowley established the Abbey of Thelema, a religious commune in Cefalù, Sicily. His libertine lifestyle attracted negative attention from the British press, leading to his expulsion by the Italian government in 1923. He spent subsequent years in France, Germany, and England, continuing to promote Thelema until his death in 1947.
Crowley's notoriety stemmed from his recreational drug use, bisexuality, and criticism of societal norms. Despite controversy, he significantly influenced Western esotericism and the 1960s counterculture, and remains a central figure in Thelema.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews
January 9, 2008
Definitely NOT a beginner's treatise, but quite possibly the most exhaustive and illuminating book on post-Golden Dawn Hermetic ritual magick.
February 7, 2015
Essential for anyone seriously interested in 20th century (and beyond) occultism, Western Mystery tradition, and Western esoteric work. I consider it the "Old Testament" of the above, and although I've had it on my shelf for over 20 years, I still revisit it on occasion. It contains commentary and ideas touching on pretty much everything related to Eastern/Western metaphysics, spirituality, yoga, occultism etc. which was known (in the West) at the turn of the 20th century. Not all is correct (especially AC's take on Eastern philosophy, which is purely his own limited understanding and subjective experience- and which would change later on), and the wordiness and intellectual style of writing that Crowley uses makes it hard to penetrate for most beginners or less intellectual types. Still, there are some hidden gems scattered throughout, practical instructions/rituals for starting on the AA path, fundamental texts related to Thelema (Liber AL etc.), Qabalah correspondences tables, a good summary on (Raja) yoga, and some great conceptual diagrams.
As a consolation for those who find it complete babble, or unintelligent garbage- this heft volume will still look impressive on any bookshelf (and form a very effective paper weight or door stop).
As a consolation for those who find it complete babble, or unintelligent garbage- this heft volume will still look impressive on any bookshelf (and form a very effective paper weight or door stop).
March 3, 2011
Ever yearn for an occurrence in your brain characterized essentially by the uniting of the subject and object? Samadhi? Visions of God?
Want to step outside the myth of dialectics? Bound too fastly to your inherited metaphysics?
Well this is the place to start. I'm working on it.
Want to step outside the myth of dialectics? Bound too fastly to your inherited metaphysics?
Well this is the place to start. I'm working on it.
August 6, 2020
Oh, Uncle Al, you're not big enough to fit for your reputation.
I got this to read because a lot of people said it was important or helpful to understand magic and occultism. It's not, necessarily.
Crowley represents a stream of thought that is pretty garbled, which is a good representation of Western culture's relationship to ritual and spirit contact. I would really leave this alone, though. There is so much better material available to us English-speakers now than there was in Crowley's day, or to the Baby Boomers who rediscovered Crowley in the 60s-70s occult revival. The dude was wrong in a lot of things. Even in the most generous lights, his own personal mission for the world is better carried on without him, and we can have gratitude that we have moved on from needing to rely on his resources to do the work today. You'd be better served personally by reading a biography or two of him than by attempting to gain usable insights from his writings directly.
I got this to read because a lot of people said it was important or helpful to understand magic and occultism. It's not, necessarily.
Crowley represents a stream of thought that is pretty garbled, which is a good representation of Western culture's relationship to ritual and spirit contact. I would really leave this alone, though. There is so much better material available to us English-speakers now than there was in Crowley's day, or to the Baby Boomers who rediscovered Crowley in the 60s-70s occult revival. The dude was wrong in a lot of things. Even in the most generous lights, his own personal mission for the world is better carried on without him, and we can have gratitude that we have moved on from needing to rely on his resources to do the work today. You'd be better served personally by reading a biography or two of him than by attempting to gain usable insights from his writings directly.
January 4, 2010
Twaddle and blather. I read the whole thing. What do people see in this guy? I want my 80 bucks back.
April 17, 2014
The bible of Magick of the 20th Century. Indispensable resource for anyone studying and/or practicing the Western esoteric tradition.
August 23, 2010
Crowley's definitive magnum opus on magick and self-actualization, made even more valuable by HB's introduction and extensive footnotes. Must-have for Thelemites and magicians of all persuasions. Except perhaps fans of Lynn V. Andrews and Silver TreeRaven (or whatever her name is this week).
October 14, 2021
My thanks to Watkins Publishing for a digital review copy via NetGalley of ‘Aleister Crowley's Four Books of Magick Liber ABA’, edited by Stephen Skinner in exchange for an honest review. I have since ordered its hardback edition.
This collection of four books under the title of ‘Book Four/Liber ABA’ by occultist, magician and philosopher, Aleister Crowley, is a masterpiece and a foundation text of modern magick. It was written in the early twentieth century in collaboration with a number of his students/scarlet women, who were given coauthor credit by Crowley.
Its four books cover meditation/mysticism, elementary magick, magick in theory and practice, and finally the Book of the Law, the central sacred text of Thelema, the religion founded by Crowley.
Dr. Stephen Skinner was an excellent choice of editor for this collection as he has written extensively on the subject of magic(k) over the years and also served as the editor for Crowley’s magical diaries. He places Crowley’s life and work in context both during his lifetime as well as his continued influence upon modern occultism.
Dr. Skinner includes a number of additions to Crowley’s raw material; notably an excellent Introduction, a Crowley chronology, extensive annotations, and a bibliography. There are also photographs and illustrations scattered throughout the text.
As a result, this is a volume that I am certain will have a wide appeal to occultists and magicians of various levels of experience. I am looking forward to adding it to my home library.
Highly recommended.
This collection of four books under the title of ‘Book Four/Liber ABA’ by occultist, magician and philosopher, Aleister Crowley, is a masterpiece and a foundation text of modern magick. It was written in the early twentieth century in collaboration with a number of his students/scarlet women, who were given coauthor credit by Crowley.
Its four books cover meditation/mysticism, elementary magick, magick in theory and practice, and finally the Book of the Law, the central sacred text of Thelema, the religion founded by Crowley.
Dr. Stephen Skinner was an excellent choice of editor for this collection as he has written extensively on the subject of magic(k) over the years and also served as the editor for Crowley’s magical diaries. He places Crowley’s life and work in context both during his lifetime as well as his continued influence upon modern occultism.
Dr. Skinner includes a number of additions to Crowley’s raw material; notably an excellent Introduction, a Crowley chronology, extensive annotations, and a bibliography. There are also photographs and illustrations scattered throughout the text.
As a result, this is a volume that I am certain will have a wide appeal to occultists and magicians of various levels of experience. I am looking forward to adding it to my home library.
Highly recommended.
March 27, 2023
Crowley has a lot to say about occultism, and where the mundane meets occult. This is a convoluted guide to ceremonial magic and also some some pretty big jumps in thinking. It's interesting for anyone interested in the history of ceremonial magic, the golden dawn, etc. I would hate to try to practice anything from these instructions though - the insistence that of you can't you must be woefully unprepared and wrong minded is the first indicator that Crowley was as high and confused as the writing is obtuse.
April 1, 2009
Still, the one I'd save from a fire.
August 21, 2009
Quite possibly the most I have ever spent on a book but worth every penny! Fantastic collection of the knowledge of various ancient cultures and views on "magic"
June 5, 2019
Yes. This is a book I chose to read. It was weird. And fascinating, but not for reasons most would presume. I cant say I recommend this for anyone. I can though state. It is not as stupid as you might be told to presume it is. Here is an excerpt at the books end:
"At the conclusion of this part of this book, one may sum up the whole matter in these words:
There is no object whatever worthy of attainment but the regular development of the being of the Aspirant by steady scientific work; he should not attempt to run before he can walk; he should not wish to go somewhere until he knows for certain whither he wills to go."
In short:
Self help through the weirdest damn means. How can you make life closer to your liking.
"At the conclusion of this part of this book, one may sum up the whole matter in these words:
There is no object whatever worthy of attainment but the regular development of the being of the Aspirant by steady scientific work; he should not attempt to run before he can walk; he should not wish to go somewhere until he knows for certain whither he wills to go."
In short:
Self help through the weirdest damn means. How can you make life closer to your liking.
May 30, 2021
Absolute essential reading on magical and occult theory and instruction, placed perfectly through the lens of the New Aeon. Dense and articulate, it’s easy to get lost if you don’t understand every reference Crowley assumes you’ll already know. Fortunately, the extensively researched notes from Hymenaeus Beta make for incredible supplementary contextual information with additional useful trivia relating to associated publications. Truly a monumental work and an essential read for practitioners of the occult and adherents of Thelema.
November 1, 2019
Crowley's magnum opus. If you haven't read this book don't call yourself a Thelemite.
This is Crowley's Masterwork and covers all aspects of his system including the revalations of Aiwas Crowley's Holy Guardian Angel. An absolute must own for anyone interested in the occult, Magick, Thelema, Crowley, mystery schools, secret societies, the Golden Dawn, Free Masonry, etc.
This is Crowley's Masterwork and covers all aspects of his system including the revalations of Aiwas Crowley's Holy Guardian Angel. An absolute must own for anyone interested in the occult, Magick, Thelema, Crowley, mystery schools, secret societies, the Golden Dawn, Free Masonry, etc.
September 17, 2022
About as complete an encyclopedia of Crowley's magical and mystical philosophies and proposed practices as exists. Whether any of this has any value is another question. Full review: https://fakegeekboy.wordpress.com/202...
April 21, 2018
i love you
March 30, 2019
magnum opus
February 5, 2020
Establishes a practical theory of magick, a "how", but (disappointingly) no "why".
February 1, 2021
{PT I ONLY} Interesting take on religion, genius, and mysticism .
Read
April 12, 2021i think of it as a way to see and feel farther and deeper into one self and oneselfs true will
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 18, 2021
Skipping the last part, we don’t have the time for this madness sjeez. Brilliant though.
October 4, 2021
Fav quote: "The boy who prides himself on his school knowledge is in danger of becoming a college professor."
December 7, 2023
Not for begginers. Mind-Breaking, life altering.
December 16, 2023
Only for the initiated.
May 28, 2024
This might be the most impressive book I've ever read...
September 29, 2024
Crowley's most classic text, enjoyable and interesting read although many of Crowley's techniques relating to yoga are better taught and learnt from the Indian sources then by Crowley
November 3, 2022
“I found myself at a loss for a name to designate my work… Theosophy, Spiritualism, Occultism, Mysticism, all involved undesirable connotations. I chose therefore the name MAGICK as essentially the most sublime, and actually the most discredited, of all the available terms. I swore to rehabilitate MAGICK; to compel mankind to respect, love, and trust that which they scorned, hated and feared.”
It took me several months to read, but I -did- finish the entirety of “MAGICK: Book Four – Liber ABA” by Aleister Crowley. This is essentially a textbook. Beyond its main body (Introduction and Four parts), it has literally hundreds of pages of appendices (including many additional writings by Crowley, a curriculum, further reading, full Rituals with plentiful illustrations), as well as annotations throughout, a glossary, and more.
A breakdown of the four Books:
1 – “Mysticism” (1913) – This is Crowley’s discussion of Yoga postures, methods of Meditation that he deems essentially connected to Magick. It’s interesting to note that this was published substantially earlier than most of this knowledge becoming widely available to the West – we take for granted how mainstream/readily accessible Yoga-related teachings have become, but in 1913 it was not so. Crowley was here ahead of his time.
2 – “Elementary Theory” (1913) – This section is the one I see so often sold misleadingly on its own in the public-domain market as if it were the -entire- Book Four. If you think you are buying the complete “Book Four” it should be substantially more than just this. This is meant as a criticism of cheap public-domain copes though, and not of this section itself, which I actually quite enjoyed. ‘Elementary Theory’ details the tools and the setting to be used for ceremonial magick. My favorite part of this section is a breakdown of the 4 main tools of the magician (Wand, Sword, Cup, Pentacle) which correspond to the Tarot minor arcana suites and/or aspects of the psyche.
3 – “Magick in Theory and Practice” (1930) – A much more thorough approach to magick, including 28 Theorems, various formulae, and tons of detail. The longest of the sections, but probably most informative, too.
4 – “The Book of The Law” (received 1904 / first pub. 1909) – I still cannot say I fully understand it (this was my 3rd time reading specifically TBoTL). But the additions of the notes and “Genesis Libri Al” greatly expand its context and content. It’s even included in the original handwriting, which is a nice touch, along with color reproductions of the Stele of Revealing. This is the Holy Text of the Thelema religion, but can certainly be enjoyed as esoteric poetry on its own.
Beyond those, I especially enjoyed combing the appendices. Crowley just wrote -so much- material and even if it isn’t ALL perfectly consistent in quality, it’s at least all fascinating. The best stuff more than makes up for the weaker stuff. And there’s plenty of interesting material throughout – I liked one part where Crowley lists the reasons that he believes he is the reincarnation of Eliphas Levi (an influential occult writer from a prior time); what with both men’s focus on the Will, I can see the possibility, at very least. And with the included Rituals, a serious student could get a decent start, even if practicing alone rather than in any sort of organization.
This is a high-quality hardcover book that will hold up to the wear of frequent use over time. Weiser did a fantastic job. “MAGICK: Book Four – Liber ABA” may be a bit expensive or tough to find, but I would argue it is one of the best books to use to gain a genuine understanding of occult work. Even if you are not inclined to Thelema (I do not consider myself a Thelemite but respect their belief), I think that Aleister Crowley is worthwhile to read/study for anyone with serious interest in the occult. I can say confidently that I learned the Lesser Banishing Ritual of the Pentagram directly from this book (with a little help from the internet for pronunciation of Hebrew!) and when I am ready, it contains further, more complex rituals that I can more on to learning.
“Theorem 8 – A man whose conscious will is at odds with his True Will is wasting his strength. He cannot hope to influence his environment efficiently.”
“Theorem 9 – A man who is doing his True Will has the inertia of the Universe to assist him.”
--------------------------------------
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It took me several months to read, but I -did- finish the entirety of “MAGICK: Book Four – Liber ABA” by Aleister Crowley. This is essentially a textbook. Beyond its main body (Introduction and Four parts), it has literally hundreds of pages of appendices (including many additional writings by Crowley, a curriculum, further reading, full Rituals with plentiful illustrations), as well as annotations throughout, a glossary, and more.
A breakdown of the four Books:
1 – “Mysticism” (1913) – This is Crowley’s discussion of Yoga postures, methods of Meditation that he deems essentially connected to Magick. It’s interesting to note that this was published substantially earlier than most of this knowledge becoming widely available to the West – we take for granted how mainstream/readily accessible Yoga-related teachings have become, but in 1913 it was not so. Crowley was here ahead of his time.
2 – “Elementary Theory” (1913) – This section is the one I see so often sold misleadingly on its own in the public-domain market as if it were the -entire- Book Four. If you think you are buying the complete “Book Four” it should be substantially more than just this. This is meant as a criticism of cheap public-domain copes though, and not of this section itself, which I actually quite enjoyed. ‘Elementary Theory’ details the tools and the setting to be used for ceremonial magick. My favorite part of this section is a breakdown of the 4 main tools of the magician (Wand, Sword, Cup, Pentacle) which correspond to the Tarot minor arcana suites and/or aspects of the psyche.
3 – “Magick in Theory and Practice” (1930) – A much more thorough approach to magick, including 28 Theorems, various formulae, and tons of detail. The longest of the sections, but probably most informative, too.
4 – “The Book of The Law” (received 1904 / first pub. 1909) – I still cannot say I fully understand it (this was my 3rd time reading specifically TBoTL). But the additions of the notes and “Genesis Libri Al” greatly expand its context and content. It’s even included in the original handwriting, which is a nice touch, along with color reproductions of the Stele of Revealing. This is the Holy Text of the Thelema religion, but can certainly be enjoyed as esoteric poetry on its own.
Beyond those, I especially enjoyed combing the appendices. Crowley just wrote -so much- material and even if it isn’t ALL perfectly consistent in quality, it’s at least all fascinating. The best stuff more than makes up for the weaker stuff. And there’s plenty of interesting material throughout – I liked one part where Crowley lists the reasons that he believes he is the reincarnation of Eliphas Levi (an influential occult writer from a prior time); what with both men’s focus on the Will, I can see the possibility, at very least. And with the included Rituals, a serious student could get a decent start, even if practicing alone rather than in any sort of organization.
This is a high-quality hardcover book that will hold up to the wear of frequent use over time. Weiser did a fantastic job. “MAGICK: Book Four – Liber ABA” may be a bit expensive or tough to find, but I would argue it is one of the best books to use to gain a genuine understanding of occult work. Even if you are not inclined to Thelema (I do not consider myself a Thelemite but respect their belief), I think that Aleister Crowley is worthwhile to read/study for anyone with serious interest in the occult. I can say confidently that I learned the Lesser Banishing Ritual of the Pentagram directly from this book (with a little help from the internet for pronunciation of Hebrew!) and when I am ready, it contains further, more complex rituals that I can more on to learning.
“Theorem 8 – A man whose conscious will is at odds with his True Will is wasting his strength. He cannot hope to influence his environment efficiently.”
“Theorem 9 – A man who is doing his True Will has the inertia of the Universe to assist him.”
--------------------------------------
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July 14, 2021
“Mr. Crowley, what went on in your head?”
Show-off, womaniser, charmer, the wickedest man in England or just a bit of a prat? The jury on Aleister Crowley has been out for decades, but now this welcome collection of his work may help to rehabilitate him.
History has forgotten Crowley’s “distinctly original contributions” to the study of yoga in the West, and his many mountaineering records, some of which still stand today, in favour of the “sexier” stuff. Stephen Skinner’s excellent, lucid and often funny introduction to this definitive collection of the four Parts that make up Crowley’s “Book Four” magnum opus is worth the asking price alone. There is also a timeline of Crowley’s life which shows he packed in enough action to fill several lifetimes, but there is also a clear decline as age and hard times caught up with him. Skinner also examines how Crowley’s attempt to start his own religion, Thelema, and how it came to obsess him.
I’ve never swam so deep in AC’s world before so I appreciate the guiding hand of author Stephen Skinner; an expert in the world of magic and a Crowley admirer, but unafraid to be critical when needed. The four books are presented in their original form with new footnotes where necessary. The author has also moved certain original appendices around so that they are now grouped by type, rather than Crowley’s own often haphazard system. This collection is a welcome (and successful) attempt to simplify Crowley’s work and to present it as a coherent whole.
Crowley’s work is, to the uninitiated (and possibly even to the initiated) utterly impenetrable nonsense. True, some of it was Crowley’s own invention which he added in for show, and he was not averse to “fiddling the numbers” to make his Kabbalah calculations work better. But, as Skinner explains, Crowley’s desire was to modernise magic and to explain it in scientific terms, thus making it accessible to the masses.
I vividly recall buying a copy of “Magick” back in the early 90s, feeling quite naughty and being convinced I’d be able to summon up demons in no time, but utterly failing to make any sense of the bizarre words and weird diagrams within. Unsurprisingly, I still can’t get anything out of Crowley’s work but thanks to Skinner’s lucid annotation I can at least get the basic gist, and I’m truly glad that this collection exists. This volume will be of great benefit to the reader who is already well-versed in the subject matter.
A reappraisal of Aleister Crowley is long overdue, and this erudite, definitive work is the best of all possible starts.
Thanks to NetGalley and Watkins Publishing for allowing me to view an advanced reading copy.
Show-off, womaniser, charmer, the wickedest man in England or just a bit of a prat? The jury on Aleister Crowley has been out for decades, but now this welcome collection of his work may help to rehabilitate him.
History has forgotten Crowley’s “distinctly original contributions” to the study of yoga in the West, and his many mountaineering records, some of which still stand today, in favour of the “sexier” stuff. Stephen Skinner’s excellent, lucid and often funny introduction to this definitive collection of the four Parts that make up Crowley’s “Book Four” magnum opus is worth the asking price alone. There is also a timeline of Crowley’s life which shows he packed in enough action to fill several lifetimes, but there is also a clear decline as age and hard times caught up with him. Skinner also examines how Crowley’s attempt to start his own religion, Thelema, and how it came to obsess him.
I’ve never swam so deep in AC’s world before so I appreciate the guiding hand of author Stephen Skinner; an expert in the world of magic and a Crowley admirer, but unafraid to be critical when needed. The four books are presented in their original form with new footnotes where necessary. The author has also moved certain original appendices around so that they are now grouped by type, rather than Crowley’s own often haphazard system. This collection is a welcome (and successful) attempt to simplify Crowley’s work and to present it as a coherent whole.
Crowley’s work is, to the uninitiated (and possibly even to the initiated) utterly impenetrable nonsense. True, some of it was Crowley’s own invention which he added in for show, and he was not averse to “fiddling the numbers” to make his Kabbalah calculations work better. But, as Skinner explains, Crowley’s desire was to modernise magic and to explain it in scientific terms, thus making it accessible to the masses.
I vividly recall buying a copy of “Magick” back in the early 90s, feeling quite naughty and being convinced I’d be able to summon up demons in no time, but utterly failing to make any sense of the bizarre words and weird diagrams within. Unsurprisingly, I still can’t get anything out of Crowley’s work but thanks to Skinner’s lucid annotation I can at least get the basic gist, and I’m truly glad that this collection exists. This volume will be of great benefit to the reader who is already well-versed in the subject matter.
A reappraisal of Aleister Crowley is long overdue, and this erudite, definitive work is the best of all possible starts.
Thanks to NetGalley and Watkins Publishing for allowing me to view an advanced reading copy.
January 31, 2022
There are so many things wrong with this edition that I can barely recall the handful of things that was right. The introduction is full of error. 1) Mary Butts was NEVER a Scarlet Woman of Crowley's. 2) Crowley did not abandon the Abramelin operation for the Kelly family problem with Rose, but years earlier to assist Mathers in the Golden Dawn schism. 3) Rose was NOT engaged to 2 men... she was having an "intrigue" with a married man so the family was FORCING her into an arranged marriage. 4) Liber Librae was not written by Crowley but taken from a Golden Dawn paper and it is said so in the editorial of Equinox #1, therefore Crowley's "teachings" regarding the spirits were not exactly his; in fact, nearly all of the paper was paraphrased from the writings of Levi and not original to Mathers in any way.
Nearly all of Skinner's opinions are too biased and limited to take seriously, even when so many of them are also based on inaccuracies and misinformation. I have no idea why he even bothered.
Most the footnotes are hilarious when they aren't downright pathetic.
Nearly all of Skinner's opinions are too biased and limited to take seriously, even when so many of them are also based on inaccuracies and misinformation. I have no idea why he even bothered.
Most the footnotes are hilarious when they aren't downright pathetic.
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