The Holy Books of Thelema are a collection of texts that hold a special place within the mystical tradition known as Thelema. These works are believed to contain divine revelations, teachings, and instructions that have been passed down to humanity through the medium of Aleister Crowley, a famous and controversial occultist who lived in the early 20th century.
According to Crowley, the Holy Books of Thelema were not simply his own creations, but rather were written through him by a higher power or intelligence. In other words, he claimed that he was merely a conduit for these works, rather than their author. This is why they are considered “inspired” texts, rather than the product of Crowley’s own intellect or imagination.
The most well-known and revered of these Holy Books is a text called Liber AL vel Legis, which is also known as The Book of the Law. This particular book is unique among the Holy Books of Thelema in that it was dictated to Crowley by a voice that he believed to be that of a divine entity. According to Crowley, this voice came to him while he was on a spiritual retreat in Egypt, and spoke to him directly, giving him the words of The Book of the Law.
The other Holy Books of Thelema, while not dictated in the same manner as The Book of the Law, are also believed to be the product of a higher intelligence. In his autobiography, Crowley describes the process of writing these texts as a mysterious and almost otherworldly experience. He writes: “The spirit came upon me and I wrote a number of books in a way which I hardly know how to describe. They were not taken from dictation like The Book of the Law nor were they my own composition. I cannot even call them automatic writing. I can only say that I was not wholly conscious at the time of what I was writing…I cannot doubt that these books are the work of an intelligence independent of my own.”
Thus, the Holy Books of Thelema are considered to be sacred texts within the Thelemic tradition, containing wisdom and knowledge that have been revealed to humanity through the medium of Aleister Crowley. They are revered for their transformative power and their ability to guide the reader on the path of spiritual enlightenment. So, these texts are considered very important by the followers of Thelema.
- Liber CCXX, Liber AL vel Legis, The Book of the Law—Within the canon of Thelemic Holy Scripture, the chief is The Book of the Law. Thelemites are expected to interpret the book for themselves, based on Aleister Crowley’s commentaries and other writings; but are enjoined from promoting their personal interpretations to others.
- Liber I: Liber B vel Magi—An account of the Grade of Magus, the highest grade which it is even possible to manifest in any way whatsoever upon this plane.
- Liber VII: Liber Liberi vel Lapidis Lazuli]—These are the Birth Words of a Master of the Temple. It’s 7 Chapters are referred to the 7 Planets in the following order: Mars, Saturn, Jupiter, Sol, Mercury, Luna, Venus.
- Liber X: Liber Porta Lucis—An account of the sending forth of the Master Therion by the A.’.A.’. and an explanation of his mission.
- Liber XXVII: Liber Trigrammaton—Being a book of Trigrams of the Mutations of the Tao with the Yin and Yang. An account of the Cosmic process.
- Liber LXV: Liber Cordis Cincti Serpente—An account of the relations of the aspirant and his Holy Guardian Angel.
- Liber LXVI: Liber Stellae Rubeae—Sexual Magick veiled in symbolism.
- Liber XC: Liber Tzaddi vel Hamus Hermeticus—An account of Initiation, and an indication as to those who are suitable for the same.
- Liber CLVI: Liber Cheth vel Vallum Abiegni—Sexual Magick veiled in symbolism.
- Liber CCXXXI: Liber Arcanorum—An account of the cosmic process so far as it is indicated by the Tarot Trumps. The sequence of the 22 Trumps is explained as a formula of Initiation.
- Liber CCCLXX: Liber A’ash vel Capricorni Pneumatici—Analyzes the nature of the creative magical force in man, explains how to awaken it, how to use it and indicates the general as well as the particular objects to be gained thereby. Sexual Magick veiled in symbolism.
- Liber CD: Liber Tau vel Kabbalae Trium Literarum—A graphic interpretation of the Tarot on the plane of Initiation.
- Liber DCCCXIII: Ararita—An account of the Hexagram and the method of reducing it to the Unity and Beyond. This book describes in magical language a very secret process of Initiation.
- Liber CDXVIII:The Vision and the Voice—Being of the Angels of the Thirty Aethyrs, the Vision and the Voice. Besides being the classical account of the Thirty Aethyrs and a model of all visions, the cries of the Angels should be regarded as accurate, and the doctrine of the function of the Great White Brotherhood understood as the foundation of the Aspiration of the Adept. The account of the Master of the Temple should, in particular, be taken as authentic.