The Equinox, Vol. 1, No. 4: The Review of Scientific Illuminism

The Equinox #1.04

by Aleister Crowley, Jack Hammerly (Preparation), Fitzy Hammerly (Preparation)

Serving as the official text of the A/ A/, the Equinox Volume 1 has proven an elusive addition to the occultist's library. With only a few printings available in over one hundred years, copies of this text fetch upward of $2,000 per book. Now, this text is available at an affordable price.Unedited, and unabridged, this printing contains all the original text and images (B&W) released in the original 1909 printing by Crowley himself. Only now, it is in paperback, and within reach of ownership. (Hardcover available by Spring 2014).The editor and publisher have made no attempt to add to this work in any manner. There is no need for improvement, as these works stand as classics in occult literature even today.The Equinox ( "The Review of Scientific Illuminism") is a series of publications in book form that serves as the official organ of the A/ A/, a magical order founded by Aleister Crowley (although material is often of import to its sister organization, Ordo Templi Orientis). Begun in 1909, it mainly features articles about occultism and magick, while several issues also contain poetry, fiction, plays, artwork, and biographies.Sections/ III [vel Jugorum]Liber A [vel Armorum sub Figura CCCCXII]I.NST N.ATTURAE R.EGINA I.SIS. By Omnia VincamReviewsMy Lady of the Breeches. By George RaffalovichReviewsAt Bordj-An-Nus. By Hilda NorfolkAIMOZIAOZ. By Aleister CrowleyThe Temple of Solomon the King. IVPan to Artemis. By Aleister CrowleyThe Interpreter. By PerduraboThe Daughter of the Horseleech. By Ethel RamsayThe DreamerMr. Todd. A Morality. By the Author of "Rosa Mundi" (William Butler Yeats)The Gnome. By Victor B. NeuburgReviewThe Herb Dangerous. Part the Hasheesh EaterThe AgnosticThe Mantra-YogiThe BuddhistThe Violinist. By Francis BendickEHE! By George RaffalovichHalf-Hours with Famous Mahatmas. No. I. By Sam HardyThe Thief-Taker. By Aleister CrowleyReviewThe Eyes of St. Ljubov. By J. F. C. Fuller And George RaffalovichMidsummer Eve. By Ethel ArcherThe Poetical MemoryAdelaThe Three Worms. By Edward StorerThe Felon Flower. By Ethel ArcherThe Big StickGlaziers' HousesIn the Temple. By Victor B. NeuburgEndpagesSpecial the High History of Sir Palamedes the Saracen Knight and of his Following the Questing Beast

Genres: Magick, Thelema, Occult

504 pages, Paperback

First published February 13, 2014

About the author

Aleister 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.

Reviews

[Skott Holck · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Temple of Solomon the King is the obvious reason one would study the Equinox in it's entirety. But throughout the Equinox the are many little talked about gems. Vol. 1 no. 4 contains just such a gem, The High History of Sir Palamedes the Saracen Knight and His Following of the Questing Beast. I have never been an afficianodo of poetry, often dismissing it out of hand. But upon coming across Sir Palamedes, I learned a new appreciation. I found myself lost in the meter and rhyme, the words weaving a spell as the content of the tale found itself into my mind. Crowley often regarded himself as a master of the English language. After reading Sir Palamedes, I might concur.

[Matt · Rating 3 out of 5]

There are some very important Libri in this volume, and the Temple of Solomon the King (furthered here) continues to be a highlight of the Equinox as a whole. However there is also a lot of content that I found rather tedious and uninteresting, but this is largely a matter of personal preference. The lengthy poetry of Sir Palamedes the Saracen was not to my liking, and was a bit all over the place in structure. Still, an essential volume, but not my favorite entry in the Equinox corpus as a whole, the beauty and essential nature of some of the entries here which, on their own, deserve 5 star ratings notwithstanding.