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Overthrowing the Old Gods: Aleister Crowley and the Book of the Law
New commentaries on Aleister Crowley’s Book of the Law reveal how it is connected to both Right- and Left-Hand Paths
• Examines each line of the Book of the Law in the light of modern psychology, Egyptology, Gurdjieff’s teachings, and contemporary Left-Hand Path thought
• Explores Crowley’s identification with the First Beast of Revelation as well as his adoption of the Loki archetype for becoming a vessel of love for all humanity
• Recasts the Cairo Working as a text of personal sovereignty and a relevant tool for personal transformation
• Includes commentary on the Book of the Law by Dr. Michael A. Aquino, who served as High Priest of the Temple of Set from 1975 to 1996
Received by Aleister Crowley in April 1904 in Cairo, Egypt, the Book of the Law is the most provocative record of magical working in several hundred years, affecting not only organizations directly associated with Crowley such as the Ordo Templi Orientis but also modern Wicca, Chaos Magic, and the Temple of Set.
Boldly defying Crowley’s warning not to comment on the Book of the Law, Ipsissimus Don Webb provides in-depth interpretation from both Black and White Magical perspectives, including commentary from Dr. Michael A. Aquino, who served as High Priest of the Temple of Set from 1975 to 1996. Webb examines each line of the Book in the light of modern psychology, Egyptology, existentialism, and competing occult systems such as the teachings of G. I. Gurdjieff and contemporary Left-Hand Path thought. Discarding the common image of Crowley formulated in a spiritually unsophisticated time when the devotee of the Left-Hand Path was dismissed as a selfish evil doer, Webb unveils a new side of Crowley based on his adoption of the Loki archetype and his aim to become a vessel of love for all humanity. In so doing, he shows how the Book of the Law is connected to both Right- and Left-Hand Paths and reveals how Crowley’s magical path of mastery over the self and Cosmos overthrew the gods of old religion, which had kept humanity asleep to dream the nightmare of history.
Providing in-depth analysis of Crowley’s sources and his self-identification with the First Beast of Revelation from a profound esoteric perspective, Webb takes his views out of the Golden Dawn matrix within which he received the Book of the Law and radically recasts the Cairo Working as a text of personal sovereignty and a relevant tool for personal transformation.
• Examines each line of the Book of the Law in the light of modern psychology, Egyptology, Gurdjieff’s teachings, and contemporary Left-Hand Path thought
• Explores Crowley’s identification with the First Beast of Revelation as well as his adoption of the Loki archetype for becoming a vessel of love for all humanity
• Recasts the Cairo Working as a text of personal sovereignty and a relevant tool for personal transformation
• Includes commentary on the Book of the Law by Dr. Michael A. Aquino, who served as High Priest of the Temple of Set from 1975 to 1996
Received by Aleister Crowley in April 1904 in Cairo, Egypt, the Book of the Law is the most provocative record of magical working in several hundred years, affecting not only organizations directly associated with Crowley such as the Ordo Templi Orientis but also modern Wicca, Chaos Magic, and the Temple of Set.
Boldly defying Crowley’s warning not to comment on the Book of the Law, Ipsissimus Don Webb provides in-depth interpretation from both Black and White Magical perspectives, including commentary from Dr. Michael A. Aquino, who served as High Priest of the Temple of Set from 1975 to 1996. Webb examines each line of the Book in the light of modern psychology, Egyptology, existentialism, and competing occult systems such as the teachings of G. I. Gurdjieff and contemporary Left-Hand Path thought. Discarding the common image of Crowley formulated in a spiritually unsophisticated time when the devotee of the Left-Hand Path was dismissed as a selfish evil doer, Webb unveils a new side of Crowley based on his adoption of the Loki archetype and his aim to become a vessel of love for all humanity. In so doing, he shows how the Book of the Law is connected to both Right- and Left-Hand Paths and reveals how Crowley’s magical path of mastery over the self and Cosmos overthrew the gods of old religion, which had kept humanity asleep to dream the nightmare of history.
Providing in-depth analysis of Crowley’s sources and his self-identification with the First Beast of Revelation from a profound esoteric perspective, Webb takes his views out of the Golden Dawn matrix within which he received the Book of the Law and radically recasts the Cairo Working as a text of personal sovereignty and a relevant tool for personal transformation.
352 pages, Paperback
First published October 15, 2013
20 people are currently reading
188 people want to read
About the author
Don Webb
179 books68 followersDon Webb teaches High School English in a reform school in rural Texas by day, Creative Writing for UCLA Extension by night. He has a had a mystery series at St. Martin's Press, a series of books on contemporary and Late Antique magical practice from Runa Raven Press, and more than 300 published short stories of SF/F/H. His work has been translated into 11 languages.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
February 15, 2014
There's no way I can give this book less than 5 stars. It isn't entirely niggle free, but niggles are all they are.
A few years ago, Don Webb published a little book called 'Aleister Crowley: The Fire and the Force' through Runa-Raven Press. It was the best analysis and practical appraisal of Crowley and his Thelemic philosophy that I have ever read (and I have read a LOT by and about Crowley). With the sad closure of Runa-Raven, this book went out of print. I am delighted to see it incorporated into this much larger book, as it is far too important a document to be lost for future Initiates.
The bulk of the rest of the book consists of two commentaries upon Crowley's core document, 'Liber AL vel Legis: The Book of the Law'.
The first and oldest of these is by Dr Michael Aquino. A lucid discussion of the principles espoused in the book, it was written many years ago and reflects the needs of that time: when it was important to make a clear distinction between RHP and LHP thought. It remains an important document, but it might have been interesting to see an up to date postscript by Aquino or reflect his current Understanding now that Setian philosophy has been established.
Don Webb's own commentary follows and it is as interesting and witty and expected from this writer.
If there are niggles (as I said), it is that on occasion some things are stated quite dogmatically without supporting evidence, and whilst agreeing with the main thrust and current of the argument, I don't always agree with certain particulars that seem to be taken for granted. But if a book doesn't make us think for ourselves, it has failed in its duty, so these things are perhaps strengths rather than weaknesses.
A few years ago, Don Webb published a little book called 'Aleister Crowley: The Fire and the Force' through Runa-Raven Press. It was the best analysis and practical appraisal of Crowley and his Thelemic philosophy that I have ever read (and I have read a LOT by and about Crowley). With the sad closure of Runa-Raven, this book went out of print. I am delighted to see it incorporated into this much larger book, as it is far too important a document to be lost for future Initiates.
The bulk of the rest of the book consists of two commentaries upon Crowley's core document, 'Liber AL vel Legis: The Book of the Law'.
The first and oldest of these is by Dr Michael Aquino. A lucid discussion of the principles espoused in the book, it was written many years ago and reflects the needs of that time: when it was important to make a clear distinction between RHP and LHP thought. It remains an important document, but it might have been interesting to see an up to date postscript by Aquino or reflect his current Understanding now that Setian philosophy has been established.
Don Webb's own commentary follows and it is as interesting and witty and expected from this writer.
If there are niggles (as I said), it is that on occasion some things are stated quite dogmatically without supporting evidence, and whilst agreeing with the main thrust and current of the argument, I don't always agree with certain particulars that seem to be taken for granted. But if a book doesn't make us think for ourselves, it has failed in its duty, so these things are perhaps strengths rather than weaknesses.
June 25, 2020
It is always interesting to read the opinions of Crowley and his work given by Writers and Magicians formed outside the "bubble" of Thelema, and its subsets. This is one such book; it contains writings and opinions of Dr. Micheal Aquino and Don Webb on Crowley's Book of the Law, Liber Al Vel Legis (or Liber L). Both gentlemen are former High Priests of the Temple of Set. This work is particularly interesting because of the TOS's insistence on excellence in academics-- Both of these men have studied and seem to understand Ancient Egyptian much better than was possible by Sir Wallis Budge or Aleister Crowley, and offer many insights that would have been impossible for Crowley or anyone else to make at the time of the Book of the Law's communication in 1904.
Don Webb is to be commended, analyzing each passage in light of modern Psychology, Egyptology, existentialism and competing occult systems such as the teachings of Gurdijeff, or the Golden Dawn, of which Crowley was an initiate. I don't know that I agree with all of Mr. Webb's (or Dr. Aquino's) conclusions about Crowley or the Book of the Law, but I must defer to their respective fields of expertise. In any case, their observations and interpretations are valuable to seekers on both the Left Hand *and* Right Hand Paths, and offers insights to Crowley and his magick who are willing to think outside the box on the topics of Thelema, Crowley, and Modern Ceremonial and Chaos Magick.
Don Webb is to be commended, analyzing each passage in light of modern Psychology, Egyptology, existentialism and competing occult systems such as the teachings of Gurdijeff, or the Golden Dawn, of which Crowley was an initiate. I don't know that I agree with all of Mr. Webb's (or Dr. Aquino's) conclusions about Crowley or the Book of the Law, but I must defer to their respective fields of expertise. In any case, their observations and interpretations are valuable to seekers on both the Left Hand *and* Right Hand Paths, and offers insights to Crowley and his magick who are willing to think outside the box on the topics of Thelema, Crowley, and Modern Ceremonial and Chaos Magick.
September 12, 2015
Don Webb is a magus of the Left Hand Path, an official in the Temple of Set. I have read some of his earlier works and was quite impressed with his erudition. The meat of this current work is the examination of Crowleys great revelation "THE Book of Law" . Now many Thelemites have told me that Crowley would not discuss the book of law because it was written for each and every single one of us and it is a revelation meant fort each invidual that reads it. Don Webb has written his own commentary on and has published Michael Aquino's commentary on it as well. At first I found the work somewhat questionablee because I am not so sure how much either of these authors spent in either the Golden Dawn, Order of Thelema or Ordo Templis Orientalis.
I know Anton Lavey did not nor did Michael Aquino. No less Aleister Crowley influence the entire generation. No Crowley no sixties quite literally. Crowley's influence went well beyond the occult world. There has been question has to whether Crowley was a right hand path person or a left hand path person. Crowley wanted one with diety, yet he said he did not want followers or slave but he wanted an army of strong individuals to spread the word he also told people not to blindly rely on him but to come up with their own revelation.
Find their own revelations many people did. Gerald Gardner the father of the Witchcraft revival was a member of OTO and worked a lot with Crowley. But Crowley also influenced Anton Lavey, Timothy LEary, L Ron Hubbard, Jack Parsons, Kenneth Grant, and slew of writer and other great thinker. His students did blaze their own trail and thanks to Crowley's inspiration a whole new Aeon was ushered.
The Aeons of Isis and Osiris are over with and it is now the aeon of Horus.
traveling thorough Egypt in 1904 Crowley and his wife Rose held a ritual where in Crowley came into contact with Aiwass and wote down his revelation. Finding a steelae he named the main god and goddess Nuit and Hadit, next to them was Hrous.
THE Aepon of Horus is likened to the age of Aquarious where man is free from societal restraint to pursue his will and live in accordance with the desires of his soul. Recall that every man and woman is a star meant to live out its destiny while at the same time being respectful of the other stars out there in the sky.
In addition to commentaries Webb informs the reader of the influences of Crowley. His father was a member of the austere "Plymouth Bretheren" they had a strong work ethic and were strict. Crowley's mother called him the great beast and he went on to live up to that title. Crowley was also influenced by far eastern religions such as Buddhism, Hinduism, Tantra and Nietze. remember Nietze believed in thee will to power and Crowley was about will. After the commentaries the author discuses several philosophical under pinning of Crowley's philosophy.
Be honest I liked most of the book with the exception of the commentaries . I felt that they did not increase my understanding all that much. The first part of the book and the last part were features of the book that saved it or redeemed it. Whether you are an occultist or not you may have something to learn from Crowley.
I know Anton Lavey did not nor did Michael Aquino. No less Aleister Crowley influence the entire generation. No Crowley no sixties quite literally. Crowley's influence went well beyond the occult world. There has been question has to whether Crowley was a right hand path person or a left hand path person. Crowley wanted one with diety, yet he said he did not want followers or slave but he wanted an army of strong individuals to spread the word he also told people not to blindly rely on him but to come up with their own revelation.
Find their own revelations many people did. Gerald Gardner the father of the Witchcraft revival was a member of OTO and worked a lot with Crowley. But Crowley also influenced Anton Lavey, Timothy LEary, L Ron Hubbard, Jack Parsons, Kenneth Grant, and slew of writer and other great thinker. His students did blaze their own trail and thanks to Crowley's inspiration a whole new Aeon was ushered.
The Aeons of Isis and Osiris are over with and it is now the aeon of Horus.
traveling thorough Egypt in 1904 Crowley and his wife Rose held a ritual where in Crowley came into contact with Aiwass and wote down his revelation. Finding a steelae he named the main god and goddess Nuit and Hadit, next to them was Hrous.
THE Aepon of Horus is likened to the age of Aquarious where man is free from societal restraint to pursue his will and live in accordance with the desires of his soul. Recall that every man and woman is a star meant to live out its destiny while at the same time being respectful of the other stars out there in the sky.
In addition to commentaries Webb informs the reader of the influences of Crowley. His father was a member of the austere "Plymouth Bretheren" they had a strong work ethic and were strict. Crowley's mother called him the great beast and he went on to live up to that title. Crowley was also influenced by far eastern religions such as Buddhism, Hinduism, Tantra and Nietze. remember Nietze believed in thee will to power and Crowley was about will. After the commentaries the author discuses several philosophical under pinning of Crowley's philosophy.
Be honest I liked most of the book with the exception of the commentaries . I felt that they did not increase my understanding all that much. The first part of the book and the last part were features of the book that saved it or redeemed it. Whether you are an occultist or not you may have something to learn from Crowley.
December 4, 2019
Definitely a work to be savoured and revisited.
Read
July 12, 2023download
September 12, 2023
Great book on journal about magical envocation and tutorial about the book of law
January 3, 2015
A quick comment here. My ratings reflect my own personal experiences with a book, not an attempt at an objective judgment.
I finished this book quite awhile ago, so perhaps I will later give this book a more complete review. For now, I will just say that I wish I had read the Book of the Law beforehand, and perhaps an autobiograbophy on Crowley.
If, like me, you had not much experience with crowley or his works, I would recommend skipping the first half of this book, which offers up line by line commentary on the Book of the Law. Without prior exposure to Clowleys life and works, it kinda takes you out of the flow of the thing, leaving you to either brush by references you do not have proper context for, or to stop and do some research yourself.
Skip to the second half to give a better foundation, read the Book of the Law in its entirety to appreciate its flow and poetry, and then come back to the line by line commentary.
Great scholarship here. Well researched and written.
I just wish I had given myself a better foundation before I tackled the BotL commentary.
I finished this book quite awhile ago, so perhaps I will later give this book a more complete review. For now, I will just say that I wish I had read the Book of the Law beforehand, and perhaps an autobiograbophy on Crowley.
If, like me, you had not much experience with crowley or his works, I would recommend skipping the first half of this book, which offers up line by line commentary on the Book of the Law. Without prior exposure to Clowleys life and works, it kinda takes you out of the flow of the thing, leaving you to either brush by references you do not have proper context for, or to stop and do some research yourself.
Skip to the second half to give a better foundation, read the Book of the Law in its entirety to appreciate its flow and poetry, and then come back to the line by line commentary.
Great scholarship here. Well researched and written.
I just wish I had given myself a better foundation before I tackled the BotL commentary.
August 5, 2024
A great overview of Aleister Crowley, Thelema, and the left-hand path.
As Don Webb states:
"I assert that magick is a road to self-power and mastery over the self and the cosmos."
That for me is the essence of Magick, and Don Webb makes this case very well.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews