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Liber aba

Gendudehashadenough

02:23 / 16.05.04

I am just now getting around to attepting to decode Crowley's circular-speak, figuring that ABA is the place to start as it is, assuming the recommomendations i've come accross, the most "comprehensive" and most straight forward work by the old man. The problem i'm coming across (or maybe i'm just being a tad too anal about this) is that there are so many editions of the thing, and judging from the poor description that accompanies most of them on the web is appears that different editions contain varying individual works. The most recent edition, i think, is the one displayed by Anger in his DisInfo conference appearence, the brick. It's damn expensive most places i look and would prefer to get a used copy for less, though i'm not sure which previous versions contain all pertinent works.

The newest has some appendices and other annotations, which are not that important to me, but the four(?) parts in Book 4 don't seem to be in all editions of printing. So, could someone either a)point me in the right direction for a cheap (non-amazon) copy of the latest edition or b) distingwish between the various editions and wether or not they contain all the main works present in the latest edition.

OH, and if there was a thread detail such, that would probably suffice as well.

07:44 / 17.05.04

I'm going to ask to change this to the Temple, where you are much more likely to get a good response. PM me if you have any queries.

14:09 / 17.05.04

Hmm, problematic. Unless you're a Crowley biblophile. If you want the real definitive answer to this you should probably email a specialist occult bookseller. My understading of it - (may be wrong):

Crowley originally intended to publish one defintive volume, split into 4 books. These being a) a book on mysticism (raja yoga, as Crowley practiced it) b) a book on the symbolism of ceremonial magick c) a big exegesis of all his magickal research and theorising, complete with practical exercises, and d)an account of the reception of the Book of the Law. This material exists in various different forms but up until the Caliphate OTO approved LIber ABA had never been gathered all together in one volume. So there's no definitive, previously existing "Book 4".

*Hmmm... I've just finished work and it's sunny outside.
I am going to finish this off later and give all you Crowley biblophiles the nedery you've been looking for*

rising and revolving

18:39 / 18.05.04

Actually, if you're looking for Crowley at his most straightforward, get yourself Magick Without Tears and work from there. It should provide you with the things you desire.

Nalyd Khezr Bey

19:46 / 23.05.04

Here is my 2 cents. Get the latest Weiser edition of Magick - Book 4. It is a self-contained volume and should provide everything you need to get started. I also recommend having Magick Without Tears, 777, and The Book of Thoth on hand as cross references for better understanding of Crowley's points. Not everyone can afford the Equinox multi-volume set, even though I think Crowley expected everyone to have this on hand, but I don't think it is needed. Book 4 contains a lot of what's in these other books but doesn't go into the details that the separate books do. If you just acquire Book 4 you will be alright. It is years of study by itself, but don't let that scare you away. It is also fun to read, at least I think so. Have fun.

02:56 / 24.05.04

in my opinion the big blue brick is worth saving up for. it's nicely priced on amazon for what it is. under half the price i've seen it for sale in stores. and it's such a nice edition.
it shouldn't be too much trouble to pick up an earlier edition of ABA with the first 3 books though. a second hand place here had one going for only $60(NZ) a while back. i'd still recommend spending the extra for the blue brick though. you say the appendices and the like aren't of interest to you, but i'm picking once you start reading 'magick' they may become of interest. particularly since there are many references throughout magick to them. it's nice knowing they're at the back of the book for you to look at rather than not knowing what he's referring too. the brick also has nice introduction essays and extensive footnotes and the like. really worth getting and i think it's a bargain for the price amazon is selling it.

05:21 / 24.05.04

If you really want to get to the bottom of what Crowley's slinging, expect to do a lot of research and a lot of work. He is a master of feeding you just enough to give you the next clue. Nothing comes easy. It's a lot of detective work. That's why they're called "The Mysteries". I've built a substantial library just trying to piece it all together.

But yeah, Liber ABA is the core. If you've got that much, you'll be well armed to head into the Chapel.

Gendudehashadenough

17:34 / 24.05.04

Thanks, everyone.

It does sound like the Weiser edition would be best, now that i think about the nature of magick/occult. Being based on symbollism, reference, and intuitioin it helps to get to know the web of connections. But, does the symbolism, in Aba specifically, point to asecpts of Thelema or to other belief systems/paradigms, or does Thelema act more like an umbrella, to encompase the diversity of the Mysteries? Obviouslly it's not a catch-all Science, but how far do it's rays extend into the representations of the Universe as uncovered by Magi/Mystics of the past?

Maybe another thread...

20:47 / 24.05.04

Thelema is basically the product of Crowley's work with the Mysteries. It is a philosophy informed by alchemy, hermetica, kabbalah, mythology, gnosticism, taoism, the yoga sutras, I-ching, and many other world systems. Although it is informed by these systems, the core of Thelema is distinct and unique to Crowley. But yeah, Thelema is a sort of umbrella.

Liber ABA is Crowley's condensation of all of these systems as integrated into his own theory of Magick. It includes a lot of basic info, as well as the fundamental excercises and devotions of Thelema and the Golden Dawn.

I'd also recommend getting a copy of the Thoth Tarot. With these tweo resources you'll have plenty to wrap your head around.