Magick: Liber ABA, Book 4 [Aleister Crowley, Mary Desti, Leila Waddell, Hymenaeus Beta] on desertcart.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. Magick: Liber ABA, Book 4 Review: The Comprehensive Codex - Aleister Crowley’s Magick: Liber ABA, Book 4 is nothing less than the quintessential grimoire of the modern era, a work whose influence cannot be overstated. In this revised edition, the text emerges in its most complete and authoritative form, embodying Crowley’s genius and ambition with unprecedented clarity. Magick is not merely a book on occultism; it is a blueprint for the spiritual evolution of humankind, presented with the rigor of a scientist and the vision of a prophet. Crowley’s division of the book into four parts, each devoted to an aspect of magical theory and practice, allows for a gradual initiation into the deeper mysteries of both mysticism and magick. He begins with foundational discussions that span the origin of all world religions in mystical revelation, weaving these insights into a coherent narrative of universal spiritual development. Crowley’s magick is not an isolated Western tradition but an integrated system that acknowledges, and borrows from, both Eastern and Western practices. The meticulous inclusion of his studies in Yoga—particularly his ability to articulate these practices with scientific precision—elevates Magick beyond the confines of Western esotericism. The text shines particularly in its exploration of The Book of the Law, where Crowley’s own spiritual revelation is dissected with brutal honesty. His autobiographical account of the events leading to its reception provides readers with a rare glimpse into the psychological, spiritual, and magical processes at work during that fateful Cairo encounter. Whether one accepts the divine source of this text or not, the intellectual integrity with which Crowley treats it as a case study is commendable. This section is perhaps the book’s most personal, and also the most revelatory for understanding Crowley as both a mystic and magician. This edition’s extensive revisions, based on new typescripts, significantly enhance the accuracy of the material. The restoration of passages omitted in earlier editions makes this volume indispensable for serious students of Thelema, as well as for practitioners of the A∴A∴ and the O.T.O. The inclusion of Crowley’s corrections and annotations offers insight into his evolving thoughts and personal refinements, while the cross-references, diagrams, and comprehensive glossary serve as invaluable tools for deeper study. In contrast to the often abstruse language of his contemporaries, Crowley’s writing in Magick is direct, unapologetic, and at times ruthlessly logical. His disdain for "the imprecise language of mysticism" is evident throughout, as he strives to ground even the most arcane subjects in rational discourse. For those familiar with his more poetic works, the precision of this text may come as a surprise, but it is precisely this clarity that ensures Magick remains a cornerstone of occult literature. Magick: Liber ABA, Book 4 stands as a monumental achievement—a convergence of scientific inquiry, spiritual exploration, and personal revelation. Crowley’s vision of the New Aeon is laid bare, not in abstract philosophy, but in the detailed, methodical instruction provided within these pages. This is a book that demands not just to be read, but to be studied, practiced, and, most importantly, lived. Review: How to read Magick Book 4 - This review is intended to help the reader decipher what looks like an overly complicated book. Read this review while looking at the book's table of contents. Step 1: Read the Prelimary Remarks found at the beginning of Book 4 Part 1 Mysticism. This is Crowley's major thesis for the book. His thesis is one of the most profound in the history of Religion. Step 2: Read Liber E and Liber O found in Appendix 7. Immediately undertake the practices discussed in these two libers. At least begin doing the Diary and Asana sections from Liber E and the Lesser Ritual of the Pentagram from Liber O. Also recommended is a practice called Resh, which is found in Liber Resh in Appendix 7. The Ritual of the Pentagram and Resh both involve memorization, of words and movement. It will take a couple of weeks to get comfortable. Be patient and don't be too hard on yourself. Optional Step: Read the book from the beginning starting with the Editor's Introduction. If you get 5 pages in and are bored, skip it. Step 3: After beginning to put Liber E and Liber O into practice begin reading Part 1 Mysticism. This section will give you insight into the meditation practices of Crowley's system. Take notes. It will elaborate on questions you may have concerning instructions found in Liber E, and also Liber RV and Liber Jugorum (two important books both found in Appendix 7). Optional Step: There is a student reading list found at the end of Part 1 Mysticism. I suggest that you begin to get familiar with at least one or two of the works found here. They are all important. The hard work and study that you put into the works on this list will be repaid exponentially. A sufficient beginning would be The Equinox, 777, and the Eliphas Levi book. Step 4: Read Part 2 Magick (Elementary Theory). By giving descriptions of the furniture found in the temple, Crowley gives you information on not only what is necessary for a physical temple; he also talks about what is necessary for your inner temple. This book is as much about the physical temple as it is about the mental and spiritual temple found within each of us. If this section becomes boring, just think of it as a kind of discourse on ethics and ontology, Crowley style. Take notes. Step 5: Before going on to Part 3 Magick in Theory and Practice, you must read Liber AL aka the Book of the Law if you haven't already. This book is the cornerstone of Crowley's philosophy of Thelema. The Book of the Law can be found in Part 4. This section contains a photocopy of the original handwritten Book of the Law, Liber 31 or XXXI. This is the original document written down by Crowley in 1904. Also in this section is a typed print copy, Liber 220 or CCXX. I recommend reading the typed print copy Liber 220. Crowley's handwriting is very difficult to read. The handwritten copy becomes valuable once you begin to memorize the Book of the Law. Step 6: At this stage before reading Magick in Theory and Practice, I also recommend reading One Star in Sight. This can be found in Appendix 2. It gives you an overview of the A.'.A.'. training system. The reason why Crowley will be important for hundreds of years in the future is because no teacher has amassed such a beautiful system of instruction, and that system is called A.'.A.'.. Luckily most of the fundamental A.'.A.'. instructions are found in this book and another book called Gems from the Equinox. Step 7: Now you are ready to begin reading Part 3 Magick in Theory and Practice. It's a challenging read. But given time and study, it is an incredible book. Take notes. Write about insights in your diary. In my years of reading, and rereading, and studying different books, no other book presents such startling new insights for each reading. Be sure to record new insights in your diary each time you read it. It's truly a magical book. Optional Step: Highly recommended for beginners is Bill Heidrick's Study Guide for Magick in Theory and Practice. Google it and it will come up. Heidrick gives you a brief outline of the contents of each chapter and some information on the rituals in the appendices. Read Magick Book 4 at your own pace. Don't rush through it. When you are ready to expand your Crowley library, I recommend 3 books. First is Eight Lectures on Yoga. This book elaborates on Part 1 Mysticism. Secondly I recommend Magick Without Tears. This book fleshes out the system of magic that Crowley teaches. It's the last book written by Crowley, and it comments on nearly everything that came before. Third is Gems from the Equinox. This book is a compilation of material like Book 4. Gems from the Equinox is a good substitute for the Equinox set of books. It has most of the essential A.'.A.'. material that is left out of Book 4. After you've tackled these books and you're farther along in the system, read Book of Thoth. In terms of A.'.A.'. philosophy/theory the Book of Thoth is just as important as Magick In Theory and Practice. Crowley hid his last remaining secrets (those that he hadn't yet published) inside the Book of Thoth i.e. the IX° and the XI° of OTO. Resist becoming obsessed by these secrets. You will end up wasting your time. Let the truth hit you like lightning. True initiation is realization; being told an eternal truth directly is casting pearls before swine. Crowley thought his secret was important because of the shocking conflicts in history between true Christianity and the Christianity of the Catholic and Orthodox churches. Always remember that the Kingdom of God is within you. If you know the IX° then you know the XI°. They are just different recipes requiring specific ingredients. You'll find these recipes symbolically exposed in Liber 15 which is the Gnostic Mass (found in appendix 6 of Book 4). Just remember that the Gnostic Mass specifically concerns the IX°. The fully realized truth of these practices can change your life, but then again all of this stuff can. There's so much more to Crowley than the physical expression of these secrets. Keep up your practices and your diary as you see fit. I particularly recommend doing Resh daily. Read Magick in Theory and Practice once every 3 or 4 years. The book and it's insights change as you change. Good luck!
| Best Sellers Rank | #141,375 in Books ( See Top 100 in Books ) #345 in Witchcraft Religion & Spirituality #427 in Magic Studies (Books) |
| Customer Reviews | 4.8 4.8 out of 5 stars (511) |
| Dimensions | 7.51 x 2.41 x 10.26 inches |
| Edition | 2nd Revised |
| ISBN-10 | 0877289190 |
| ISBN-13 | 978-0877289197 |
| Item Weight | 4.75 pounds |
| Language | English |
| Print length | 928 pages |
| Publication date | January 1, 1998 |
| Publisher | Weiser Books |
M**'
The Comprehensive Codex
Aleister Crowley’s Magick: Liber ABA, Book 4 is nothing less than the quintessential grimoire of the modern era, a work whose influence cannot be overstated. In this revised edition, the text emerges in its most complete and authoritative form, embodying Crowley’s genius and ambition with unprecedented clarity. Magick is not merely a book on occultism; it is a blueprint for the spiritual evolution of humankind, presented with the rigor of a scientist and the vision of a prophet. Crowley’s division of the book into four parts, each devoted to an aspect of magical theory and practice, allows for a gradual initiation into the deeper mysteries of both mysticism and magick. He begins with foundational discussions that span the origin of all world religions in mystical revelation, weaving these insights into a coherent narrative of universal spiritual development. Crowley’s magick is not an isolated Western tradition but an integrated system that acknowledges, and borrows from, both Eastern and Western practices. The meticulous inclusion of his studies in Yoga—particularly his ability to articulate these practices with scientific precision—elevates Magick beyond the confines of Western esotericism. The text shines particularly in its exploration of The Book of the Law, where Crowley’s own spiritual revelation is dissected with brutal honesty. His autobiographical account of the events leading to its reception provides readers with a rare glimpse into the psychological, spiritual, and magical processes at work during that fateful Cairo encounter. Whether one accepts the divine source of this text or not, the intellectual integrity with which Crowley treats it as a case study is commendable. This section is perhaps the book’s most personal, and also the most revelatory for understanding Crowley as both a mystic and magician. This edition’s extensive revisions, based on new typescripts, significantly enhance the accuracy of the material. The restoration of passages omitted in earlier editions makes this volume indispensable for serious students of Thelema, as well as for practitioners of the A∴A∴ and the O.T.O. The inclusion of Crowley’s corrections and annotations offers insight into his evolving thoughts and personal refinements, while the cross-references, diagrams, and comprehensive glossary serve as invaluable tools for deeper study. In contrast to the often abstruse language of his contemporaries, Crowley’s writing in Magick is direct, unapologetic, and at times ruthlessly logical. His disdain for "the imprecise language of mysticism" is evident throughout, as he strives to ground even the most arcane subjects in rational discourse. For those familiar with his more poetic works, the precision of this text may come as a surprise, but it is precisely this clarity that ensures Magick remains a cornerstone of occult literature. Magick: Liber ABA, Book 4 stands as a monumental achievement—a convergence of scientific inquiry, spiritual exploration, and personal revelation. Crowley’s vision of the New Aeon is laid bare, not in abstract philosophy, but in the detailed, methodical instruction provided within these pages. This is a book that demands not just to be read, but to be studied, practiced, and, most importantly, lived.
L**S
How to read Magick Book 4
This review is intended to help the reader decipher what looks like an overly complicated book. Read this review while looking at the book's table of contents. Step 1: Read the Prelimary Remarks found at the beginning of Book 4 Part 1 Mysticism. This is Crowley's major thesis for the book. His thesis is one of the most profound in the history of Religion. Step 2: Read Liber E and Liber O found in Appendix 7. Immediately undertake the practices discussed in these two libers. At least begin doing the Diary and Asana sections from Liber E and the Lesser Ritual of the Pentagram from Liber O. Also recommended is a practice called Resh, which is found in Liber Resh in Appendix 7. The Ritual of the Pentagram and Resh both involve memorization, of words and movement. It will take a couple of weeks to get comfortable. Be patient and don't be too hard on yourself. Optional Step: Read the book from the beginning starting with the Editor's Introduction. If you get 5 pages in and are bored, skip it. Step 3: After beginning to put Liber E and Liber O into practice begin reading Part 1 Mysticism. This section will give you insight into the meditation practices of Crowley's system. Take notes. It will elaborate on questions you may have concerning instructions found in Liber E, and also Liber RV and Liber Jugorum (two important books both found in Appendix 7). Optional Step: There is a student reading list found at the end of Part 1 Mysticism. I suggest that you begin to get familiar with at least one or two of the works found here. They are all important. The hard work and study that you put into the works on this list will be repaid exponentially. A sufficient beginning would be The Equinox, 777, and the Eliphas Levi book. Step 4: Read Part 2 Magick (Elementary Theory). By giving descriptions of the furniture found in the temple, Crowley gives you information on not only what is necessary for a physical temple; he also talks about what is necessary for your inner temple. This book is as much about the physical temple as it is about the mental and spiritual temple found within each of us. If this section becomes boring, just think of it as a kind of discourse on ethics and ontology, Crowley style. Take notes. Step 5: Before going on to Part 3 Magick in Theory and Practice, you must read Liber AL aka the Book of the Law if you haven't already. This book is the cornerstone of Crowley's philosophy of Thelema. The Book of the Law can be found in Part 4. This section contains a photocopy of the original handwritten Book of the Law, Liber 31 or XXXI. This is the original document written down by Crowley in 1904. Also in this section is a typed print copy, Liber 220 or CCXX. I recommend reading the typed print copy Liber 220. Crowley's handwriting is very difficult to read. The handwritten copy becomes valuable once you begin to memorize the Book of the Law. Step 6: At this stage before reading Magick in Theory and Practice, I also recommend reading One Star in Sight. This can be found in Appendix 2. It gives you an overview of the A.'.A.'. training system. The reason why Crowley will be important for hundreds of years in the future is because no teacher has amassed such a beautiful system of instruction, and that system is called A.'.A.'.. Luckily most of the fundamental A.'.A.'. instructions are found in this book and another book called Gems from the Equinox. Step 7: Now you are ready to begin reading Part 3 Magick in Theory and Practice. It's a challenging read. But given time and study, it is an incredible book. Take notes. Write about insights in your diary. In my years of reading, and rereading, and studying different books, no other book presents such startling new insights for each reading. Be sure to record new insights in your diary each time you read it. It's truly a magical book. Optional Step: Highly recommended for beginners is Bill Heidrick's Study Guide for Magick in Theory and Practice. Google it and it will come up. Heidrick gives you a brief outline of the contents of each chapter and some information on the rituals in the appendices. Read Magick Book 4 at your own pace. Don't rush through it. When you are ready to expand your Crowley library, I recommend 3 books. First is Eight Lectures on Yoga. This book elaborates on Part 1 Mysticism. Secondly I recommend Magick Without Tears. This book fleshes out the system of magic that Crowley teaches. It's the last book written by Crowley, and it comments on nearly everything that came before. Third is Gems from the Equinox. This book is a compilation of material like Book 4. Gems from the Equinox is a good substitute for the Equinox set of books. It has most of the essential A.'.A.'. material that is left out of Book 4. After you've tackled these books and you're farther along in the system, read Book of Thoth. In terms of A.'.A.'. philosophy/theory the Book of Thoth is just as important as Magick In Theory and Practice. Crowley hid his last remaining secrets (those that he hadn't yet published) inside the Book of Thoth i.e. the IX° and the XI° of OTO. Resist becoming obsessed by these secrets. You will end up wasting your time. Let the truth hit you like lightning. True initiation is realization; being told an eternal truth directly is casting pearls before swine. Crowley thought his secret was important because of the shocking conflicts in history between true Christianity and the Christianity of the Catholic and Orthodox churches. Always remember that the Kingdom of God is within you. If you know the IX° then you know the XI°. They are just different recipes requiring specific ingredients. You'll find these recipes symbolically exposed in Liber 15 which is the Gnostic Mass (found in appendix 6 of Book 4). Just remember that the Gnostic Mass specifically concerns the IX°. The fully realized truth of these practices can change your life, but then again all of this stuff can. There's so much more to Crowley than the physical expression of these secrets. Keep up your practices and your diary as you see fit. I particularly recommend doing Resh daily. Read Magick in Theory and Practice once every 3 or 4 years. The book and it's insights change as you change. Good luck!
A**R
"Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the Law." This oft-misunderstood phrase, which forms the basis for Crowley's practice of Magick, is found in The Book of the Law. Prachtwerk voor wie de mystiek wil doorgronden en / of beoefenen .
E**H
This edition has a great quality. Hard cover with a nice design, full of notes and glossary, etc. Is worth to have it for anyone who is interested in Thelema. Besides the book 4 in itself it has lots of rituals and oficial instructions in the appendices. I recommend.
T**A
Un magnifique ouvrage d'une qualité indéniable que tout étudiant dans l'occultisme se doit d'acquérir. Je l'ai réceptionné dans un état impeccable malgré l'emballage "lettre de poste"
A**R
A must all practioners of Aleister Magick.
A**E
The delivery was super fast and the book was in great shape. Cant wait to start reading!!!! It was a pleasure to shop with you.
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