, the founder of Thelema, designated his works as belonging to one of several classes. Not all of his work was placed in a class by him.
The Books
, also known as The Book of the Law, is the foundational text for Thelema. It is the only Holy Book that Aleister Crowley claimed to have had no part in the authorship of. Its primacy is indicated in chapter III, verse 47: This book shall be translated into all tongues: but always with the original in the writing of the Beast; for in the chance shape of the letters and their position to one another: in these are mysteries that no Beast shall divine. The remaining texts were written between the years 1907 and 1911. According to Crowley, they were not so much written by him as through him, and are therefore referred to as inspired works.
Publication history
Some of these works were originally published by Crowley in 1909 under the title "ΘΕΛΗΜΑ". In 1983 these original texts, together with a number of additional texts, were published under the new title The Holy Books of Thelema by Ordo Templi Orientis under the direction of Hymenaeus Alpha.
Original Contents of ΘΕΛΗΜΑ
Volume I
*Liber LXI vel Causæ—Explains the actual history and origin of the present movement. This text, being in Class D, is not technically a Holy Book, but was included in "ΘΕΛΗΜΑ" as an Introduction, and is thus listed here.
*Liber LXV: Liber Cordis Cincti Serpente—An account of the relations of the aspirant and his Holy Guardian Angel.
Volume II
*Liber VII: Liber Liberi vel Lapidis Lazuli—These are the Birth Words of a Master of the Temple. Its 7 Chapters are referred to the 7 Planets in the following order: Mars, Saturn, Jupiter, Sol, Mercury, Luna, Venus.
Volume III
*Liber XXVII: Liber Trigrammaton sub Figura XXVII—Being a book of Trigrams of the Mutations of the Tao with the Yin and yang. An account of the Cosmic process.
*Liber CCXX: Liber AL vel Legis sub Figura CCXX: The Book of the Law—Among the Holy Books of Thelema, the chief is The Book of the Law. Every Thelemite is expected to interpret the book, "each for himself".
*Liber DCCCXIII vel 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.
Additional Texts included in ''The Holy Books of Thelema''
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 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 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.
Books listed by class
Class A
Liber I: Liber B Vel Magi Sub Figurâ 1
Liber VII: Liber Liberi Vel Lapidis Lazuli, Adumbratio Kabbalæ Ægyptiorum Sub Figurâ VII
Liber X: Liber Porta Lucis Sub Figureâ X
Liber XXVII: Liber Trigrammaton Sub Figurâ XXVII
Liber LXV: Liber Cordis Cincti Serpente Sub Figurâ LXV
Liber LXVI: Liber Stellæ Rubeæ Sub Figurâ LXVI
Liber XC: Liber Tzaddi Vel Hamus Hermeticus Sub Figurâ XC
Liber CLVI: Liber Cheth Vel Vallum Abiegni Sub Figurâ CLVI
