Introduction
Preventing you from turning into an ‘armchair magician,’ Marco Visconti’s The Aleister Crowley Manual begins by emphasizing a truth fundamental to any magickal practice. Doing and practicing, not reading, should be its core as it separates magick from theology. Though eclectic, the book is intended for beginners emerging from the author’s online lectures. After unpacking it on the channel, (in this post), I’ll discuss some of the parts I find most interesting.
True Will
Subtitled ‘Thelemic Magick for Modern Times, The Aleister Crowley Manual makes an earlier distinction between ‘True or Pure Will’ and conscious intent. The author clarifies that this isn’t a starting point but a goal. And, as we know from science, willpower, and thus conscious intent, is limited and fluctuating.
“True Will does not equate with conscious intent. Rather it signifies the interplay between the most profound self — using this term very loosely — and the entire Universe.”
And as Crowley said:
“A man who does his True Will has the inertia of the Universe to assist him.”
The HGA
The HGA, Visconti explains, isn’t an actual angel; it is the defined-by-the-Greeks as Daimon (or Daimonic Self), such as the Divine Genuis in the Golden Dawn system, Augoeides. It is an expression of what you consider GOD. Given that, and like scholars, including Temple of Set’s Don Webb and Gallery of Magick Damon Brand, the author recognizes there can’t be a one-size-fits-all approach to uniting with the Angel. More on that can be found by researching Setian initiations, such as how OTO’s legendary Phylis Seckler got her K&C and my summary of Damon Brand’s Magickal Destiny.
Magickal Thinking
Using an excerpt from Liber Aba, the book explains that magick has to do with mythical or magickal thinking. And this partially supports my assumption that magick — at least to a degree — is a sophisticated system of tools for causing all sorts of placebo effects. Whether they are internal or external is a subject for another discussion.
Magickal Force
Reiterating the importance of doing, The Aleister Crowley Manual unravels that while learning planetary and spirit attributions is vital, their existence and validity are inconsequential. Important is only the results you get from the operations. As I like to say:
Trust your empirical results. They will lead you to GO(L)D. Depending on how you look at it and what you look for.
— POTB
Fostering such an approach, Visconti provides well-designed minimalistic tables of correspondence. He also reveals that these attributions aren’t to be memorized passively but actively engaged in ritual. The more you do that, the more aspects of the force you can experience, and thus the more significant the impact on your psyche.
An Inner Journey
The same applies when pathworking the Tarot, which the author defines as a ‘voyage to your inner self.’ The section offers a more profound understanding of the cards by (actually) working with them. It also outlines what I see as a ‘more active’ variation of DMK‘s ATCR. The same calls for actively engaging with the card inside, like in a video game.
Comment
Though I appreciate that, I ‘slightly’ disagree you should snack after to ground yourself. As one who has done OMAD for a decade, IMHO, it may be better to be already grounded by having your blood glucose stable and cravings eliminated and merely fast. One of the benefits of such metabolic flexibility is that it boosts your cognition. And this is recognized by biohackers, new agers, and magicians, including Dave Asprey, Aubrey Marcus, Joe Dispenza, and the chaos magick scholar Gordon White who regards fasting as a free drug. They all agree fasting boosts clarity, enhancing all experiences’ vividness. And that’s also well known to shamans, druids, and more recently astronauts.
Magickal Pyramid
Teaching how to build your magickal temple, the author stresses that pranayama is the foundation of everything.
“No matter how many extraordinary wordy rituals you commit to memory or how many magickal tools you make or buy, if there’s no breathing, there’s no magick. If anyone tells you differently, they are either clueless or lying…”
Visconti recognizes 10 minutes of conscious breathing daily as the ground zero of your magickal practice. And if you watch my channel, you know Israel Regardie stressed an identical approach. One of its main benefits is that you become more present living in the now. And this is considered your ultimate power by New Age best-sellers like The Power of Now.
Your Inner World
Besides calming your mind, increasing breath awareness lets your creative impulses, emotions, thoughts, and bodily sensations arise. This gives a somewhat accurate perspective of your inner world, as these correspond to fire, water, air, and earth. Unlike zealous self-help gurus advocating suppressing those with willpower, Visconti explains that only heightens their intrusion giving them more power. I wholeheartedly agree with that. And the key is to become a silent observer without judging.
“By silently observing, watching, and taking note of their interactions, you will diminish their hold on you and start developing concentration. We have to learn patience to combat restlessness.”
Scientific Illuminism
Emphasizing the importance of a magickal diary, The Aleister Crowley Manual explains you should be thorough yet write in a manner so others can read it. You should also clearly depict your results rather than trying to fit them into someone’s expectations, especially yours.
“This practice really is the key to scientific illuminism, one of the critical approaches of Thelema. The emphasis is on reproducibility. Rituals and exerecises can be performed precisely so they can be replicated by others. Likewise, you should get precise and reproducible results with practice; if not, the particular ritual or exercise you’re doing is merely superstition.”
The Biggest Obstacle
While not comprehending all of the ritual symbolism from the get-go is okay, obsessing over it isn’t. Applicable to mastering any new skill (and making progress in general), the author suggests avoiding overthinking at any cost.
“Overthinking is the death of magick — I cannot emphasize this enough.”
And as we know from the polymath Suzy Kassem: doubt which is overthinking’s root cause, kills more dreams than failure.
Everyone is a Star
Rather than confronting organized religion, the author uses Frater Achad’s works to shift your perspective, realizing you are a star in Nuit’s body. Once that happens, you discover that the same applies to all others. In that position, you have options. (1) Appreciating equality and making the most out of it. (2) Reverting back to old paradigms. Whatever it is, let me know about your choice, such as what you think most people do. And since everyone is a star, isn’t it the most important what (actually) you’ll make out of it?
Astral Travel
“Astral travel is not so much a way to experience other realities but rather a way inward to discover your true nature.”
This resonates with the notion that there isn’t another universe but your own. Also that magicians journey to the depths of their souls. The exact section offers to call Malkuth Queendom instead of Kingdom, as the divine feminine shekinah resides in this sphere. Plus, you can think of the phrase:
‘She sits in the throne of Binah.’
Rituals
The Aleister Crowley manual offers two variations of the Middle Pillar, the Qabalistic one by Regardie and a Thelemic one invented by Jason Augustus Newcomb. Though it teaches Thelema, it uses standard GD rituals, as Thelema is based mainly on the Golden Dawn system. Later the section advocates actively invoking and banishing the four elements so you can either enhance or tune down specific characteristics in your psyche. Oddly, GRP, the standard tool for that in the Thelemic Tradition, comes later. The author states that because this is Thelema, you can’t ignore its preceding magical systems.
Comment
IMHO, this should also be considered when later, the book disregards rites like SIRP as ‘old eon technology,’ more recently invented by Regardie. Based on my research and according to scholars like the Ciceros and Nick Farrell, SIRP was the technique the original Golden Dawn started their operations with. Regardie invented OBW, which is an elaborate SIRP and was adopted by Stella Matutina Groups.
Computer and Calculator
The Aleister Crowley Manual also compares GRP to an actual computer, whereas SIRP to a calculator. This doesn’t match my subjective experience. To me, they are both computers. One is the MacBook Air, and the other the fully-specced out 16″ MacBook Pro. I encourage anyone to do each for a month without closing it to find out how it goes for them. You can watch my videos to learn them and/or get my extensive PDF on SIRP via Etsy and Gumroad. Regarding GRH, which I prefer over SHR, the book omits the 5th hexagram, such as the Hebrew letter. It uses traditional GD hexagrams instead of the ‘more Thelemic’ unicursal.
No Field of Operation
When introducing LRP, the author clearly distinguishes its purpose from GRP’s, which ‘kinda’ gets muffled in the GRP section. (As you know) if you watch this channel, the first is general, creating a sacred space, whereas the second is particular, attuning the field of operation. Given that, the book’s practices follow a different approach, (usually) starting with GRP and/or GRH and then closing with LBRP. I guess that’s a different approach, and I’d be happy to know what you think.
A Marathon, not a Sprint
Reiterating there’s no substitute for actual practice, the book distinguishes between New Thought and Magick. Magick, Visconti explains, isn’t a mere manifestation, and your desire isn’t enough. If you want something, you must work; there’s no other way around it. And if you want to reach that stage, you’ll have to be patient and not rush things, especially when building the foundation. To me, that sounds like going to the gym. If you want the results, you make time and do it, anyway. There are no excuses.
What is a Thelemite
The author defines a Thelemite as using every possible tool to obtain K&C. Sure, it can be ceremonial magick. Still, the Thelemic Hot Takes section mentions witchcraft, chaos magick, New Age, philosophy, and psychology. Or a combination revealed by the True Will. It’s also about finding your True Will, not Crowley’s, which some people must remember. Besides appreciating, I also find this to be very Setian, as I often recognize Setianism as intrinsically Thelemic. Let me know if you want to hear more about that.
Aeons
Giving background on eons, The Aleister Crowley Manual points out that the theory has no scientific validity and contradicts modern astronomy. This, however, doesn’t imply it’s jibberish; it means eons shouldn’t be taken literally but as a map, considering they overlap. When a new eon happens, there’s a new technology you can use to develop yourself. Whether you’ll actually do it, it’s up to you. Remember the whole thing with Nuit’s body. Explaining why Osirian dogmas continue to dominate, this perspective is similar to those of scholars like Don Webb and Michael Aquino.
The Main Character
After providing an excellent explication of the Thelemic deities, arguably my favorite part, The Aleister Crowley Manual focuses on Thelema’s ‘absolute protagonist,’ You.
“In this new eon, you are the central character of the epic. No gods or heroes; you, and you alone. This is the groundbreaking change of perspective that brings each individual to the center of the Universe, as each becomes essentially one with the interplay between Hadit and Nuit…”
Meditating on that, I suggest considering Don Webb’s concept that the magician should align with Set as the one stable constant in the Universe. Also, personal development’s basic principle of you being the most ‘important person in your life since you are the only factor without which your life cannot exist. And thus prioritizing yourself above all else. IMHO, they all provide different layers of understanding of the same thing. Let me know if you agree.
The Wisdom Gem All Should Consider
The section explains that Choronzon isn’t a demon dwelling on the Abyss but something to be aware of regardless of whether you are Thelemite.
“Choronzon is not a demon, adversary, or anything you can truly fight. It is dispersion: the loss of focus, the lack of motivation, the countless hours spent on social media replying to every nasty comment on YouTube or Twitter. Choronzon will force you to interrogate yourself in an internal monologue without end. Choronzon is incapable of imagining anything outside itself…”
Transcending traditions, this likely is the wisdom gem anyone should consider daily.
Final Words
Very concise and readable, The Aleister Crowley manual is a great book for those with zero experience and knowledge of Thelema. It is a page-turner I reviewed in one morning and includes great graphics. It also provokes profound meditations not just for magick, but life in general. But that’s just my opinion. Let me know what yours is, such as your thoughts on the book and this review.
