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AHA!
Crowley described AHA! as "an exposition in poetic language of the ways of attainment and the results obtained." This profoundly esoteric work particularly highlights the two central experiences of the Path, the Knowledge and Conversation of the Holy Guardian Angel and the Crossing of the Abyss. It also marks Crowley's final acceptance of the mysteries and teachings of The Book of the Law .
96 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 1, 1910
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About the author
Aleister Crowley
870 books1,867 followersAleister 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.
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.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
July 23, 2017
Crowley considered himself to be "England's greatest living poet." Insofar as that may be true, this perhaps explains why American schools do not bother teaching late-19th or early-20th Century English poetry in non-specialist literature classes.
This slim volume contains both Crowley's long-form (40 pages) didactic poetic dialog, along with the brief contextual attachment "The Argumentation" in a very small typeface, and an opening Commentary by his one-time student-secretary Israel Regardie. This last, which comes first, written in 1969 long after their separation and the master's death, provides some additional context to the root text as well as a sort of Intro-to-Crowley and a bit of lamentation for what the student sought and found not.
While this work is intended to explicate The Path of Attainment as Crowley saw it (in 1910, so obviously a lot was to change as he himself grew and progressed through his later initiations), I find that the poetry itself—of a style so foreign to modern American ears, at once lyric and forced, Homeric and Hallmarky—often obscures the meaning. Coming from a tradition that would often include deliberate "blinds" intended to hide information from the profane, perhaps this was intentional, but it doesn't feel so. And despite this fact, a bit of digging and scratching will reveal to the established student of Thelema a few worthwhile pointers to understanding aspects of his program, which pointers I am unaware of having appeared elsewhere.
Final analysis: entirely worthwhile for the serious student of Crowley, Thelema, English mystical poetry, and perhaps Regardie; entirely skippable for most anyone else.
[ETA: apparently this is my 200th review here]
This slim volume contains both Crowley's long-form (40 pages) didactic poetic dialog, along with the brief contextual attachment "The Argumentation" in a very small typeface, and an opening Commentary by his one-time student-secretary Israel Regardie. This last, which comes first, written in 1969 long after their separation and the master's death, provides some additional context to the root text as well as a sort of Intro-to-Crowley and a bit of lamentation for what the student sought and found not.
While this work is intended to explicate The Path of Attainment as Crowley saw it (in 1910, so obviously a lot was to change as he himself grew and progressed through his later initiations), I find that the poetry itself—of a style so foreign to modern American ears, at once lyric and forced, Homeric and Hallmarky—often obscures the meaning. Coming from a tradition that would often include deliberate "blinds" intended to hide information from the profane, perhaps this was intentional, but it doesn't feel so. And despite this fact, a bit of digging and scratching will reveal to the established student of Thelema a few worthwhile pointers to understanding aspects of his program, which pointers I am unaware of having appeared elsewhere.
Final analysis: entirely worthwhile for the serious student of Crowley, Thelema, English mystical poetry, and perhaps Regardie; entirely skippable for most anyone else.
[ETA: apparently this is my 200th review here]
August 28, 2024
Some of Crowley’s best poetry. I also really loved the retelling of Liber AL. He rewords and reworks parts of each chapter and those familiar with the Priestess Oration from Liber XV might also very much enjoy a subtlety different version of that parsed together speech. Can’t wait to dig into it more now that I got my first read of it completed!
November 11, 2007
I can't beleive I hadn't read this book before. I wasn't expecting much, just some obscure poetry as is typical in many cases with Crowley. But this little book really is wonderful. The format of the poem is a dialog between master and student. The poem covers the entire magickal path, going over all the stages of initiation, veils, the nature of thought, the 8 limbs of yoga, visions, ecstacy, void, finishing off with an inspired jaunt through Liber Legis. All this, plus a fascinating essay/introduction by Israel Regardie make this book a must read for any serious enlightenment attainee.
December 26, 2012
A small but highly significant work by AC. Involves the conversation between a master and pupil relating the stages on the path of the Great Work, typical in the AA tradition. Contains concepts related to yoga, Eastern practices, alchemy, QBL, WMT, and of course, the the Book of the Law (AC's major contribution).
Not hugely practical, but it does give a few pointers for beginners and intermediate (would-be) travellers on the path.
This version also contains some interesting rambling by Frater Achad, and also some interesting side history by Israel Regardie, and finally some comments by J.Wasserman, which make this version worthwhile buying.
Not hugely practical, but it does give a few pointers for beginners and intermediate (would-be) travellers on the path.
This version also contains some interesting rambling by Frater Achad, and also some interesting side history by Israel Regardie, and finally some comments by J.Wasserman, which make this version worthwhile buying.
April 17, 2014
A long-form poem in the style of a dialogue between Master and Disciple, written by Crowley to describe the entire path of attainment.
July 29, 2017
Poetic wisdom! love this book
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June 3, 2015Excellent.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews