Commentaries on the Holy Books and Other Papers (The Equinox Vol. IV Number I)

Crowley, Aleister with H. P. Blavatsky, J. F. C. Fuller and Charles Stansfeld Jones. Commentaries on the Holy Books and Other Papers (The Equinox Vol. IV Number I). York Beach, Maine: Samuel Weiser, Inc., 1996. Black cloth with gilt seal on front cover and gilt lettering on spine. Dust Wrapper illustrated with

the painting The Portal of the Outer Order. 6¼" x 9¼". x + 382pp. incl. List of Figures. Præmonstrance. Abbreviations and Editorial Conventions. Editorial Notes. Works Cited. Index. Acknowledgments. Illustrated with 14 Figures of which 12 are in full colour. Also there is a Table of Attributions and a foldout diagram of The Tree of Life. The following ‘For John Balance, with warm Thelemic regards 93 93/93 William Breeze’

inscribed on the front fly leaf makes this book a truly unique and significant association copy.

[This issue of The Equinox is a companion volume to The Holy Books of Thelema (also published by Samuel Weiser). It is, however, a coherent text book in it’s own right. It covers the essentials of the A∴A∴ system of initiation, from the preliminary stage of Student to the attainment of the Knowledge and Conversion of the Holy Guardian Angel. For the first time it makes available practical details that will be of immense value to students of Thelema.
Beginning with Crowley’s unpublished essay Occultism, it offers several of the foundation papers of the A∴A∴, including Liber Collegii Sancti sub figura CLXXXV which describes the oaths and tasks of each grade in its Outer College. A new paper, Liber Vesta vel פרכת sub Figura DCC presents the correct designs (with colour illustrations, Figures 2 to 9) for the corresponding robes of each grade. This book’s lengthy colour section includes General J.F.C. Fuller’s Four Paintings for the Temple of A∴A∴, namely Figure 10. The Portal of the Outer Order, Figure 11. The Portal of the Second Order, Figure 12. The Portal of the Abyss, and Figure 13. Baphomet. and Crowley's illuminated manuscript of an A∴A∴ Ritual for the Neophyte, Liber DCLXXI 671 vel Pyramidos.
The central feature of this book is the Master Therion’s lengthy and penetrating commentary to the inspired writing, Liber Cordis Cincti Serpente vel LXV Sub Figura אדני. While Liber LXV gives the best account available of the attainment of the Knowledge and Conversation of the Holy Guardian Angel, it is couched in the language of mystical poetry. Crowley’s commentary gives a more easily understood exposition, and it is some of his most lucid writing on magick and mysticism. Crowley’s shorter commentaries to seven other of The Holy Books of Thelema are also included.
This book also contains Madame Blavatsky’s inspired text, The Voice of the Silence, with a commentary by Crowley that explores the various stages of consciousness in Mahayana Buddhist mysticism and their correspondences to Holy Qabalah.]

Near Fine Condition