Does anyone have any insight or knowledge in relation to Thelemite canon?
This is in regards to the compilation of libers 220, 718 (AL and The Book of Codes) and 77 (The Book of Oz), titled Liber 440: The Book of Perfection.
From what I have read, liber 77 was delivered to James Beck by Aiwass in 1977. It was stated (I'm paraphrasing) that AC's HGA took this vehicle to complete the final 3rd of the trilogy. Proof of HGA within the texts regarding solving the Riddle of Sebra as well as coincidental birth and death dates in regards to James and AC. Liber 440 is "curated" (not authored) by Nemo Pendragon (a name I have seen in recent forum posts) and is available to view or download at aiwass.com along with a number of other essays.
There was also a follow up "conversation" with Aiwass titled Liber 75 vel Luceferi which states that this should be sent to the lodges and included in canon.
Although this was done (according to what I have read), it is my understanding that this book is either not known or not recognized by many Thelemites.
What separates these writings from those writings?
What separates these writings from those writings?
Redundancy for one thing. All of Beck's writings appear to imitate Crowley's efforts.
hpk: All of Beck's writings appear to imitate Crowley's efforts.
I am not familiar with Beck's works, but a perusal demonstrated that he was just another person who decided to "explain" Crowley. We are all able to read Crowley ourselves. If it takes someone else to explain Crowley to us, then we are dunces. I believe Crowley was able to explain himself.
Now if one of these explainers would actually come up with something original (like solving RPSTOVAL) or something that actually fills in some gaps that Crowley left unfilled (they do exist), then maybe I'd pay more attention.
Don't trust anybody under 60, and don't trust anybody who can't show you their face before they were born (in person, in print, or even a photo).
Authorship is what separates them. The understood nature of the so-called Holy Guardian Angel, even for its supreme importance to the Thelemic system, is fractured by the many (ostensibly) conflicting worldviews which Thelema attempts to reconcile through willful ignorance. Thelema does not assume any particular stance on cosmology, but the Thelemite must, and this is where we come to be misunderstood in matters like this. (Why do you think AC needed three schools to keep everyone in place?)
In my experience, the average Thelemite interprets the HGA in one of two ways.
You have true believers on this end, holy rollers who believe in Aiwass like southern Baptists believe in Jesus, and who pretend desperately toward Isiac intellectualism, only to fall ass-backwards into Osiric madness. On the other end, you have materialists who label themselves 'skeptics' (Pyrrho laughs, somewhere) but who have never cracked open Kant much less Xenocrates, and relegate the Holy Guardian Angel to some atavistic mental construct meant to sublimate the human ape into something less ape-like before he dies -- these are usually the type who must transpose the magical into the psychological. If a Thelemite doesn't fall into or between these two camps, he probably just doesn't think very much about the universe, at least concretely (which may be the smart thing to do, but one must ask how this lost soul convinced himself of the existence of magic [or psychology] in the first place).
And who is that enlightened fellow in the back? The fool smiling like he doesn't know better?
How this general state of affairs pertains specifically to your question follows: the holy roller, who sees Aiwass and all HGAs as beings independent of their magicians, might believe HGAs can 'get ahold' of other folks down here and act through them with no objective change to themselves or their mode of communication. The psychologist, our little degenerate mystic, believing the HGA to simply be the mind (as a function of animal consciousness) communicating with itself through hallucination, will say that Aiwass was just AC playing make believe with himself in an attempt to work out this or that complex -- and so any other 'Aiwass' cannot be that 'Aiwass', but another 'HGA' simply taking on the trappings of a subjective 'Aiwass'.
Our question is then, "Why doesn't the holy roller take Beck seriously?" To know that, we must know why the holy roller takes seriously those things he does take seriously, and who knows that? Who is he that hath understanding?
"But what is the true nature of the HGA?" that fool hollers down from the rafters.
@iztrttx :
There was also a follow up "conversation" with Aiwass titled Liber 75 vel Luceferi which states that this should be sent to the lodges and included in canon.
What "lodges" - the CaliPHornian ones?
Although this was done (according to what I have read), it is my understanding that this book is either not known or not recognized by many Thelemites.
No, never heard of it. Is it written in "King Jamesese"?
What separates these writings from those writings?
The which from the what precisely? Please clarify.
Rushed Greetings to you, by the way
Norma N Joy Conquest
It's good to see that Nemo Pandragon is still continuing to maintain and update aiwass.com.
The full Sebra doc is up now with an introduction from 2018.
In 1998 I was introduced to Sebra. It was timely, as I was working on Practicus which helped contextualize the document and with self-evaluation.
What separates these writings from those writings?
Grade.
There was also a follow up "conversation" with Aiwass titled Liber 75 vel Luceferi which states that this should be sent to the lodges and included in canon.
Also in the Book of Codes 3:19
This book shall be sent to the Temple of the East in its original and typewritten copy. They shall deny its authenticity.
Codes 1:15 appears to predict the rediscovery of the Book of the Law which happened a few years after publication of The Book of Perfection(1977, 93 Publishing).
the original writing of the Book of the Law shall be rediscovered after years of loss; the Temple of the East shall verily become the Great Western Catholic Church.
https://hermetic.com/legis/raiders-of-the-lost-basement
It's unclear but it looks like the Book of the Law was recovered in 1984.
Although this was done (according to what I have read)
Plausible to assume anyone connected to Stukely and 93 Publishing at the time got a copy. Fascinating to consider in context of which OTO later took possession of the original writing of the Book of the Law when rediscovered and later won its legal case to the OTO trademark.
dj: "But what is the true nature of the HGA?" that fool hollers down from the rafters.
That fool is the weenie I have introduced elsewhere. I am glad to see you also have your own, personal, familiar troll.
jb: No, never heard of it. Is it written in "King Jamesese"?
It was barely mentioned somewhere here, on some LAShTAL thread. It didn't catch my attention either ... but I recently perused said site/docs in connection with this thread. Yes, it is written in King J format. An Example ...
I am Satan. Yes! Didst thou not know? I believe you did. But what ye all know not is that I am not only King of Hell, but Lord also of Heaven. My name is three-hundred and fifty-nine; that is half 718, which is the number of this Book of Codes. Why half? Thou shalt know that the half must be united.
jb: The which from the what precisely?
The Crowlean Libers vs the Beckian Libers ... I believe these are the what and the witch. Note this flag in Liber 440 ...
If Liber AL vel Legis, the Book of the Law, is not in the public domain already, it will be on 1December 2022 c.e. The Book of Codes and the Book of Oz were copyrighted in 1977 by James Beck when the first edition was published by 93 Publishing. I purchased an Assignment of Copyright from James Beck for Libers 718, 77 and 75, in 2003 and release this edition under the CC-BY-ND license. James Beck’s heirs want nothing to do with these texts. Anyone claiming copyright restrictions on these texts, when the Assignment of Copyright expires, would be doing so fraudulently. The No Derivatives restriction means that the text of Libers 220, 718, 77 and 75 may not be changed, for they were all revealed by Aiwass and so represent ur-documents of Thelema.
I am still waiting to see or read or hear some original concept, injunction, or revelation that is more than taking a ride on Crowley's coat-tails. I could read all this material and research it myself, but really ...
?
If anybody does undertake such a research project, and finds something original and practical, please come here and post said origin-AL.
It is my feeling that Liber 440 is a true Revelation and that Beck successfully tapped into the Current known as 93. The energy - if you so will - of Lib. 440 seems to be a congruent continuation of Liber AL; at least as far as I can make out. I therefore hold these texts to be authentic.
The proof is in the pudding. Alas, with each person having a different taste, who is to say what the pudding should taste like?
Much like the teachings of Christ (Leprosy of the Heart) were twisted into Christianity, so too have the teachings of Crowley (Thelema) been twisted into Crowleyanity - and no disciple likes to see his teacher's teachings questioned, and certainly not further developed!
Thank you for the interesting topic,
Markus
(Why do you think AC needed three schools to keep everyone in place?)
Did he really "need to keep everyone" allocated in their allotted spots by him - surely they would gravitate wherever they would "of their own free will"?
However, as a Thelemite (or even as not), where do you stand on Knowing & conversing with your own HGA/ Adonai yourself?
Yes, it ["Liber 75 vel Luceferi"] is written in King J format. An Example ...
I am Satan. Yes! Didst thou not know? I believe you did.
This should surely have been "I believe thou didst" here, though? - there is a break incongruity there (and so it seems in congruous). It's like when someone imitates someone with a foreign tongue/accent, and then lapses back into their own original one when their concentration lapses and is broken.
Like the comment I made in the 'Inauguration of Horus' book thread earlier, such language has the potential to be very persuasive, part- (mainly-) based as it is 'pon a subliminal basis.
There was also a follow up "conversation" with Aiwass titled Liber 75 vel Luceferi which states that this should be sent to the lodges and included in canon.
"[I]ncluded in cannon" (assuming this to be a typo) - this as "fodder", presumably?
The energy - if you so will - of Lib. 440 seems to be a congruent continuation of Liber AL; at least as far as I can make out. I therefore hold these texts to be authentic.
The proof is in the pudding
"The energy" - what, you mean the literary style as conveyed by words? The same energy then (on a much lower level) which is to be found by reading a trashy tabloid say? How do you find it to be a particularly 'congruent continuation' apart from the King Jameses bits in it, and to have come from 'the mouth of Aiwass' (whomever or whatever he may eventually prove to be)?
Pardon me, I've just forgotten what the point was I was going to develop (at this point): I'll leave it parked here though in case someone else might "pick it up" somewhere & continuit...
Alzheimishly yours
N Joy
jb: such language has the potential to be very persuasive, part- (mainly-) based as it is 'pon a subliminal basis.
Yes it does ... if the reader has been programmed in, say, childhood, to associate Bible-speak with God, his Angels, or Agents. I also noted the mixture of second person lingo with second personal familiar.
How do you find it to be a particularly 'congruent continuation' apart from the King Jameses bits in it ...?
There are (at least) two, so-called "Fourth Chapters" of Liber AL," this example being one of them. I'm still waiting for any one of them to display some form of a practical (or even metaphysical) application.
It is my feeling that Liber 440 is a true Revelation and that Beck successfully tapped into the Current known as 93.
And/Or that the Current successfully tapped into him.
I first read this a couple of years ago (pdf available here) while looking into some of the "cheap knock-offs" of Liber AL (there's quite a few of them out there). While I didn't pay it too much attention at the time I thought the language in it was considerably better than in others and it certainly sounded quite a lot like the original AL. Seeing as the central part of this book is called "Liber 718" I thought it might be worth reading again while finishing my Stele of Revealing vector art (its all done, soon to be posted).
In the same way that the language of Crowley's revelation was influenced by his familiarity with the King James Bible, I imagine Mr Beck's revelation was influenced by his familiarity with the works of Crowley and all their bible-speak. In parts it sounds like bits of Liber AL rearranged and repurposed, though I don't believe it should be dismissed as a cheap copy because of this, I think it does have its own unique message behind the "Liber AL-speak". This is somewhat similar to the way a piece of music can be sampled and these samples played back in a different order to make a new tune.
A few examples of these variations on AL's theme:
"Ha! You are a fool with your none, none, none!"
"They shall rule the many and the known; they shall rule the All and the None."
"Ah! The kiss is sweeter than Hell! Lustier than the crow of a cock!"
"Be upon them, o warrior, I shall give thee of their minds to eat!"
It also has a few original lines of its own which are quite memorable such as this one spoken by "Ahathoor":
"All my servants shall in spirit fuck mine image, as true Men of the Earth, and I am prepared to give my love to each and all."
(no, that isn't an old-fashioned "S" 😛)
Spoken by "Tum":
"I hate thee, mine enemies, with a passion so fierce I am nigh to bursting with the joy of it!
Damn you! Damn you! Damn you! I spit on all of you with the acidy venom of righteousness."
So what is the unique message of this text? I'd say it is a development of the message of AL, going into detail about how Thelema is to be established in an earthly sense. Here "Babalon" is not just an archetype but a coming Thelemic State where spiritual and worldly powers are one, "For Babalon’s ghost lies shadowing the land as it yet prepares to take on physical being". I guess in the new aeon Babylon and the New Jerusalem are two sides of the same coin.
The first chapter "Jihaad" (yes, that word may be a bit "iffy" today but this was written in the 70s), spoken by Ra is a sort of commentary on AL's chapter 3 ("Heed me well! My chapter is no longer a mystery!"), it even develops the grotesque themes of RHK's chapter:
Liber AL III:11 "be upon them, o warrior, I will give you of their flesh to eat!"
Liber 718 1:20 "Thou shalt fall upon the enemy, and in the ecstasy of battle thou shalt eat the freshly-killed eye, the brain, or the heart"
I guess these grisly passages can be seen as "Tantra" rather than being literal (I hope 😲).
Fans of numerology may find new insights in the text (Liber 718 is known as "The Book of Codes" after all). As a small example it describes "Tzedeq" as a "secret four-fold word", this sums to 204 in Hebrew, 204/4 = 51, the verse number of "There are four gates to one palace...". Its not much but at least its a start and there's probably much more to find in there.
If you're into Book of the Law "fan fiction", along with Parson's "The Book of Babalon" this is probably some of the best.
In parts it sounds like bits of Liber AL rearranged and repurposed, though I don't believe it should be dismissed as a cheap copy because of this, I think it does have its own unique message behind the "Liber AL-speak".
Yes, everybody does this. In this case, it is a matter of "Riding Crowley's Coat-Tails," which a lot of people do. Everyone has to write their own "Book" at 5=6. This is not the Thesis Book of a 7=4, but it is a recording of the dialog with the Angel. The "Book" of Tiphareth might even be a sculpture, a painting, a poem, a prose ... but, gee whiz, let's have something that is original.
Are you able to summarize the "unique message" that you perceived in Liber 440?
TBH I feel a similar disdain towards Liber 440 that I do for both Liber Tzaddi and Liber A'ash. They are all complete trash and merely trying to replicate and quote from Liber Legis in the most clumsy manner.
"There is none that shall be cast down or lifted up: all is ever as it was." - Liber Legis 2:58
"To Me do ye reverence! to me come ye through tribulation of ordeal, which is bliss." - Liber Legis 3:62
Properly interpreted 440 has some gems. It jives. For example, God is Lord of both Heaven & Hell, and, like Liber AL, an unimpeded Terror, who has no problem getting its hands dirty and tearing apart vermin with rot. After all, that's Nature, aka, Nuit. And being Infinite, has many eyes, in many holes,
sacred & profane, like the harem.
If you know how to work it, rather than plodding straight thru, she might have a squeal for you.
Another interpretation of 'I am Lord both of Heaven & Hell', or whatever, would be that the sex is Good in Eternity, surely better than in this lowly plane where man hasn't even yet unleashed the psyche from the bounds of mind, due to the repression which is married to irresponsibility. The Word of Sin, after all, is subsequent Restriction.