Aleister Crowley (12 October 1875 – 1 December 1947) was an English writer, not only on the topic of Thelema and magick, but also on philosophy, politics, and culture. He was a published poet and playwright and left behind many personal letters and daily journal entries. Most of Crowley's published works entered the public domain in 2018.
1875–1947
Crowley published the following books during his lifetime:[1]
Parsons Smith, Helen, ed. (1971). "Shih Yi: A Critical and Mnemonic Paraphrase of the Yî King by Ko Yuen". The Equinox. III (7). Oceanside, California: Monthelema.
Symonds, John; Grant, Kenneth, eds. (1972). The Magical Record of the Beast 666: The Diaries of Aleister Crowley, 1914-1920. London: Duckworth. ISBN0-7156-0636-0.
Grant, Kenneth, ed. (1973). The Heart of the Master. Montreal: 93 Publishing. ISBN0-919690-00-9.
King, Francis, ed. (1973). The Secret Rituals of the O.T.O. (the "unauthorized" ed.). London & New York: C. W. Daniel Company / Samuel Weiser.[2]
Crowley, Aleister (1974) [1898–1913]. The Works of Aleister Crowley (reprint ed.). New York: Gordon Press. ISBN0-87968-130-6. 13 vols.[3]
King, Francis, ed. (1974). Crowley on Christ. London: C. W. Daniel Co. ISBN0-85207-131-0.
Regardie, Israel, ed. (1974). Gems from the Equinox. St. Paul: LLewellyn Publications. ISBN978-0875421131.
Symonds, John; Grant, Kenneth, eds. (1974). Magical and Philosophical Commentaries on the Book of the Law. Montreal: 93 Publishing. ISBN978-0919690011.
Parsons Smith, Helen, ed. (1976). "The Tao Teh King, A New Translation". The Equinox. III (8). Kings Beach, California: Thelema Publications. ISBN0-913576-06-9.
Wilkinson, Louis; Beta, Hymenaeus, eds. (1996). The Law is for All: The Authorized Popular Commentary of Liber AL vel Legis sub figura CCXX, The Book of the Law. Tempe: New Falcon Publications. ISBN1-56184-090-4.
Starr, Martin P., ed. (1988). Golden Twigs (First collected ed.). Chicago: Teitan Press. ISBN0-933429-03-7.
Starr, Martin P., ed. (1991) [1910]. Bagh-i-Muattar: The Scented Garden of Abdullah the Satirist of Shiraz. Chicago: Teitan Press. ISBN0-933429-05-3.
Starr, Martin P., ed. (1992) [1910]. The Winged Beetle. Chicago: Teitan Press. ISBN0-933429-06-1.
Crowley, Aleister (2004) [Beta (1990)]. The Stone of Cybele: A "Golden Twigs" Story (First ed.). Syracuse: Luminist Publications.
Libri of Aleister Crowley
Many of the important works of Aleister Crowley are in the form of Libri (lit. "books"), which are usually short documents consisting of core teachings, methodologies, practices, or Thelemic scripture. All the libri are given a number in the Roman numeral system, and those that are part of the A∴A∴ curriculum are assigned a "class" as follows:[citation needed]
Class [A] consists of books of which may be changed not so much as the style of a letter: that is, they represent the utterance of an Adept entirely beyond the criticism of even the Visible Head of the Organization.
Class [B] consists of books or essays which are the result of ordinary scholarship, enlightened and earnest.
Class [C] consists of matter which is to be regarded rather as suggestive than anything else.
Class [D] consists of the Official Rituals and Instructions.
Class [E] consists of manifestos, broadsides, epistles and other public statements. Some publications are composite, and pertain to more than one class.
Many of the books and articles are major works of Aleister Crowley. This is a listing with liber number, Roman number, class, full title, and a short description.
Liber
No.
Class
Title and short description
I
1
A
Liber B vel Magi — Crowley:
"This is an account of the Grade of Magus, the highest grade which it is ever possible to manifest in any way whatever upon this plane. Or so it is said by the Masters of the Temple.' Also known as The Book of the Magus."[This quote needs a citation]
"The instructions given in this book are too loose to find a place in the Class D publications. Instructions given for elementary study of the Qabalah, Assumption of God forms, Vibration of Divine Names, the Rituals of Pentagram and Hexagram, and their uses in protection and invocation, a method of attaining astral visions so-called, and an instruction in the practice called Rising on the Planes."[This quote needs a citation]
VII
7
A
Liber Liberi vel Lapidis Lazuli, Adumbratio Kabbalæ Ægypt sub figura VII, Also known as The Book of Lapis Lazuli. — Crowley:
"Being the Voluntary Emancipation of a certain Exempt Adept from his Adeptship. These are the Birth Words of the Master of the Temple. The nature of this book is sufficiently explained by its title. Its seven chapters are referred to the seven planets in the following order: Mars, Saturn, Jupiter, Sol, Mercury, Luna, Venus. Given in magical language an account of the Initiation of a Master of the Temple. This is the only parallel, for Beauty of Ecstasy, to "Liber LXV"."[This quote needs a citation]
"This book instructs the aspirant in the necessity of keeping a record. Suggests methods of testing physical clairvoyance. Gives instruction in āsana, prāṇāyāma, and dhāraṇā, and advises the application of tests to the physical body, in order that the student may thoroughly understand his own limitations."[This quote needs a citation]
X
10
A
Liber Porta Lucis — Crowley:
"This book is an account of the sending forth of the Master Therion by the A∴A∴ and an explanation of His mission.' and 'Porta Lucis, the Gate of Light, is one of the titles of Malkuth, whose number is X."[This quote needs a citation]
"The central ceremony of the public and private celebration of the O.T.O., corresponding to the Mass of the Roman Catholic Church. It represents the original and true pre-Christian Christianity."[This quote needs a citation]
XVI
16
D
Liber Turris vel Domus Dei — Crowley:
"...called 'The Tower; or the House of God.' An instruction for attainment by the direct destruction of thoughts as they arise in the mind."[This quote needs a citation]
XVII
17
D
Liber I.A.O. — Crowley:
"Gives three methods of attainment through a willed series of thoughts. This book has not been published. It is the active form of Liber H.H.H. vel CCCXLI. The article Energized Enthusiasm is an adumbration of this book."[This quote needs a citation]
"A new translation from the Chinese by the Master Therion.' 'This is the most exalted and yet practical of the Chinese classics."[This quote needs a citation]
XXIV
24
De Nuptiis Secretis Deorum Cum Hominibus, Of the Secret Marriages of Gods with Men. Crowley:
Also: Liber L (Liber Legis), or The Book of the Law. Facsimile pages of the actual manuscript of The Book of the Law. This book is the foundation of the New Aeon, and thus of the whole of our Work. Received April 8, 9 and 10, 1904 by Aleister Crowley and Rose Kelly.
XXXIII
33
C
An Account of A∴A∴ first written in the language of his period by the Councillor Von Eckartshausen, and now revised and rewritten in the Universal Cipher. — Crowley:
"An elementary suggestive account of the work of the Order in its relation to the average man. The preliminary paper of M∴M∴M∴ (Liber LII in the O.T.O.) may be classed with this."[This quote needs a citation]
"An account of the divine perfection illustrated by the sevenfold permutation of the Dyad."[This quote needs a citation]
It is presumed that no full copy survives.
LI
51
The Lost Continent — Crowley:
"An account of the continent of Atlantis: the manners and customs, magical rites and opinions of its people, together with a true account of the catastrophe, so-called, which ended in its disappearance." "I sometimes feel that this lacks artistic unity. At times it is a fantastic rhapsody describing my ideals of Utopian society; but some passages are a satire on the conditions of our existing civilisation, while others convey hints of certain profound magical secrets, or anticipations of discoveries in science."[This quote needs a citation]
LII
52
Manifesto of the O.T.O. — Crowley:
"An elementary suggestive account of the work of the Order. The preliminary paper of the A∴A∴ (Liber XXXIII) may be classed with this."[This quote needs a citation]
LV
55
C
The Chymical Jousting of Brother Perardua with the seven Lances that he brake. — Crowley:
An Article on the Qabalah — This is an article on the Qabalah in The Temple of Solomon the King.
LIX
59
C
Across the Gulf — Crowley:
"A fantastic account of a previous incarnation. Its principal interest is that its story of the overthrowing of Isis by Osiris may help the reader to understand the meaning of the overthrowing of Osiris by Horus in the present Æon."[This quote needs a citation]
LXI
61
D
Liber Causæ. The Preliminary Lection, including the History Lection. — Crowley:
"Explains the actual history of the origin of the present movement. Its statements are accurate in the ordinary sense of the word. The object of the book is to discount Mythopœia. A manuscript giving an account of the history of the A∴A∴ in recent times. This history contains no mythology; it is a statement of facts susceptible of rational proof."[This quote needs a citation]
Liber Cordis Cincti Serpente, also known as The Heart Girt with a Serpent. — Crowley:
"An account of the relations of the Aspirant with his Holy Guardian Angel. Attainment of the Knowledge and Conversation of the Holy Guardian Angel is the Crown of the Outer College. Similarly 'Liber VII is given to Neophytes, as the grade of Master of the Temple is the next highest resting-place, and Liber CCXX to the Zelator, since that carries him to the highest of all possible grades. Liber XXVII is given to the Practicus, as in this book is the ultimate foundation of the highest theoretical Qabalah, and Liber DCCCXIII to the Philosophus, as it is the foundation of the highest practical Qabalah. This magical treatise describes particularly the relation of the Aspirant with his Higher Self. It is, alike in conception and execution, a masterpiece of exaltation of thought, carved in Pure Beauty."[This quote needs a citation]
LXVI
66
A
Liber Stellæ Rubeæ, also known as The Book of the Ruby Star. — Crowley:
"A secret ritual, the Heart of IAO-OAI, delivered unto V.V.V.V.V. for his use in a certain matter of Liber Legis, and written down under the figure LXVI. This book is sufficiently described by its title."[This quote needs a citation]
LXVII
67
C
The Sword of Song. Called by Christians The Book of the Beast. Dedicated to Bhikkhu Ananda Metteya (Allan Bennett) — Crowley:
"The Ceremonies proper to the obtaining of a familiar spirit of a Mercurial nature as described in the Apocalypse of St. John the Divine from a frog or toad."[This quote needs a citation]
"This is the sequel to The Temple of Solomon the King, and is the Diary of a Magus. This book contains a detailed account of all the experiences passed through by The Master Therion in His attainment of this grade of Initiation, the highest possible to any manifested Man."[This quote needs a citation]
LXXIV
74
D
Liber Testis Testitudinis vel Ayin Daleth Sub Figura LXXIV — Previously unclassified.
"The O.T.O. manifesto of the rights of mankind: moral, bodily, mental, sexual freedom, and the safeguard tyrannicide. The O.T.O. plan in words of one syllable."[4]
LXXVIII
78
B
A description of the Cards of the Tarot The Book of Thoth — Crowley:
"... with their attributions; including a method of divination by their use." "A complete treatise on the Tarot giving the correct designs of the cards with their attributions and symbolic meanings on all the planes."[This quote needs a citation]
LXXXI
81
Moonchild. The Butterfly Net, also known as The Net. — Crowley:
"An account of a magical operation, particularly concerning the planet Luna, written in the form of a novel."[This quote needs a citation]
LXXXIV
84
B
Liber אנוך vel Chanokh sub figura LXXXIV — Crowley:
"A brief abstract of the Symbolic representation of the Universe derived by Dr. John Dee through the Scrying of Sir Edward Kelly."
Part I: The Symbolic Representation of The Universe. Part II: The Forty-Eight Calls or Keys.
XC
90
A
Liber Tzaddi vel Hamus Hermeticus sub figura XC, also known as The Book of the Hermetic Fish-Hook. — Crowley:
"An account of Initiation, and an indication as to those who are suitable for the same."[This quote needs a citation]
XCIII
93
See XXVIII (28).
XCV
95
C
The Wake World. A Tale for Babes and Sucklings. — Crowley:
"A poetical allegory of the relations of the soul and the Holy Guardian Angel."[This quote needs a citation]
XCVI
96
B
Liber Gaias sub figura XCVI. A Handbook of Geomancy — Describes a system of geomancy.
XCVII
97
Soror Achitha's Vision — Unpublished; possibly not extant. Soror Achitha is the magical motto of Roddie Minor.
C
100
Liber כף Agape Azoth sal Philosophorum. The Book of the Unveiling of the Sangraal, wherein it is spoken of the Wine of the Sabbath of the Adepts. — Crowley:
Liber Aleph. The Book of Wisdom or Folly — Crowley:
"An extended and elaborate commentary on The Book of the Law, in the form of a letter from the Master Therion to his magical son. This Book contains some of the deepest secrets of initiation, with a clear solution to many cosmic and ethical problems."[This quote needs a citation]
CXVI
116
B
See XCVI (96)
CXX
120
D
Liber Cadaveris. Ritual CXX, of Passing through the Tuat. — Crowley:
Of Eden and the Sacred Oak; and of the Greater and Lesser Hospitality of the O.T.O. — Crowley:
"An Epistle of Baphomet to His Excellency Sir James Thomas Windram, V.H., V.I., V.I., Initiate of the Sanctuary of the Gnosis, his Viceroy in the Union of South Africa."[This quote needs a citation]
"An Epistle of Baphomet to His Excellency Sir Wilfred Talbot Smith, T.H., T.I. and T.I. Initiate of the Sanctuary of the Gnosis, on the mystery of incarnation. Part α: Birth of an Idea. Part β: Dead Reckoning, and the Fort. Part γ: The Captain's Ship's Discipline: Hints on Navigation."[This quote needs a citation]
"A further explanation of The Book of the Law, with special reference to the powers and privileges conferred by its acceptance."[This quote needs a citation]
CLVI
156
A
Liber Cheth vel Vallum Abiegni sub figura CLVI — Crowley: {{quote"This book is a perfect account of the task of the Exempt Adept, considered under the symbols of a particular plane, not the intellectual."[This quote needs a citation]}}
"A new translation, with commentary, by the Master Therion. This is the most exalted and yet practical of the Chinese classics."[This quote needs a citation]
CLXI
161
The Law of Thelema — Thelemic epistle.
CLXV
165
B
A Master of the Temple — Frater Achad's magical diary with comments by Crowley.
CLXXV
175
D
Liber Astarte vel Liber Berylli — On uniting oneself to a deity.
CLXXXV
185
D
Liber Collegii Sancti — Tasks and Oaths of the Grades of A∴A∴
CXCIV
194
An Intimation with Reference to the Constitution of the Order— the structure of O.T.O.
CXCVII
197
C
Sir Palamedes the saracen knight — A poetic account of the Great Work.
CC
200
D
Liber Resh vel Helios — An instruction for the adoration of the Sun four times daily.
CCVI
206
D
Liber RU vel Spiritus — Full instructions in Pranayama.
CCVII
207
A syllabus of the official instructions of the A∴.A∴
CCXVI
216
The Yi King (Yi Jing) — A translation with commentary by Crowley.
Liber Samekh — Ritual for the "Attainment of the Knowledge and Conversation of the Holy Guardian Angel".
DCCC
800
C
The Ship — A Mystery Play.
DCCCVIII
808
Serpentis Nehushtan — No copy exists, Gerald Yorke considers this ms. 'Lost'.
DCCCXI
811
C
Energised Enthusiasm — Treatise on sex magick and the creative impulse.
DCCCXIII
813
A
Liber DCCCXIII vel Ararita sub figura DLXX — An account of the hexagram and the method of reducing it to the unity and beyond. See Liber DLXX.
DCCCXXXI
831
D
Liber Yod — Three methods of reducing the manifold consciousness to the unity.
DCCCXXXVII
837
C
The Law of Liberty — Thelemic epistle.
DCCCLX
860
C
John St. John — Record of Crowley's magical retirement.
DCCCLXVIII
868
B
Liber Viarum Viae — A graphic account of Magical powers classified under Tarot Trumps.
DCCCLXXXVIII
888
The Gospel According to Saint Bernard Shaw — A complete study of the origins of Christianity.
CMXIII
913
B
Liber ThIShARB — Methods for attaining the magical memory
CMXXXIV
934
The Cactus — A record of experiments with the Mescal buttons.
CMLXIII
963
AB
The Treasurehouse of Images — Collection of Litanies appropriate to the Signs of the Zodiac, by J.F.C. Fuller.
MCLI
1151
Being the requirements of Minerval to III° in study and work in O.T.O. in the Order as it has manifested under the Caliph.
MCXXXIX
1139
Title Unknown — Referred to as "The Utterance of the Pythoness" in Liber DCCCLXVIII.
MCCLXIV
1264
The Greek Qabalah — Crowley:
"A complete dictionary of all sacred and important words and phrases given in the Books of the Gnosis and other important writings both in the Greek and the Coptic."[This quote needs a citation]
This work has not survived intact and has been partially reconstructed.
MMCMXI
2911
C
A Note on Genesis, by Allan Bennett, prefatory note by Aleister Crowley — Crowley:
Cornelius, J. Edward; et al. (2013). The Aleister Crowley Desk Reference (2nd Revised & Enlarged ed.). York Beach, Maine: Teitan Press. ISBN978-0933429369.
Eshelman, James A. (2000) [1993]. The Mystical and Magical System of the A∴A∴: The Spiritual System of Aleister Crowley and George Cecil Jones Step-by-Step (1st hardcover ed.). Los Angeles: The College of Thelema. ISBN978-0970449603.