Thread: Some questions about Crowley

What would be the 'true will' be like? For e.g Could being an accountant be someone's true will? Wouldn't it have to be something rather non-mundane?

Besides thelema, what other topic/system of magick did Crowley write on? I reckon that some of it is related to kabalah & the Golden Dawn.

Also, I am not so fond of labels myself as they tend to be quite ambiguous by themselves, but would Crowley's system come under LHP or RHP? The popular notion that I am aware of, is that it was loosely based on 'LHP' .

I apologize for not reading about Crowley but that is precisely why I ask these questions, since I find it hard to take an overview of his workings as he has written so many books. Thereby I could also know if its something I do want to pursue or something I would rather discard. It would be a good idea to take a bird's eye view before I get in-depth as the purpose of my reading being clear, it would make much more sense.
All his books I open, there is no preface or an introduction, most of it is written in metaphors or riddles. So I don't have a clue as what (or why)I am reading it.

I was afraid this would happen. Why me? Why my thread?

Thank you Sir for such thoughtful replies. I have a few more questions-

According to Thelema the true will is to be revealed by the HGA. Crowley himself was a bit fuzzy about the whole concept of HGA, heres what I know-
Crowley only espouses a view that the Holy Guardian Angel is the 'silent self' in his early life. In his seventies, when composing Magick ithout Tears, he presents a very different view. According to this definition, the Holy Guardian Angel is not one's 'self', but an independent and discrete being, who may have been a human like oneself at one stage:

I find this concept a bit flawed. How could I trust my HGA if it could be a former human? Would I rather not trust my ego or consciousness or my free will? Say, what if my HGA leads me into doing what it thinks is right but perhaps in future I don't think it was appropriate?
Yes, I also know that Crowley said that every intentional act (free will) is a magickal act but this I feel, complicates it as the free will may or may not be the 'true will' according to the HGA.

Also, & i know this is a very vague question but can thelema be incorporated in satanism? Personally I find both the systems quite different, theistic/spiritual satanism being based on 'free will' while thelema on the true will as revealed by the HGA. The only similarity is the emphasis on the self. The ends are somewhat similar but means quite different. But I am just curious.

Now thats wicked bullfrog.

Originally Posted by morningstar

Thank you Sir for such thoughtful replies. I have a few more questions-

According to Thelema the true will is to be revealed by the HGA. Crowley himself was a bit fuzzy about the whole concept of HGA, heres what I know-
Crowley only espouses a view that the Holy Guardian Angel is the 'silent self' in his early life. In his seventies, when composing Magick ithout Tears, he presents a very different view. According to this definition, the Holy Guardian Angel is not one's 'self', but an independent and discrete being, who may have been a human like oneself at one stage:

I find this concept a bit flawed. How could I trust my HGA if it could be a former human? Would I rather not trust my ego or consciousness or my free will? Say, what if my HGA leads me into doing what it thinks is right but perhaps in future I don't think it was appropriate?
Yes, I also know that Crowley said that every intentional act (free will) is a magickal act but this I feel, complicates it as the free will may or may not be the 'true will' according to the HGA.

Also, & i know this is a very vague question but can thelema be incorporated in satanism? Personally I find both the systems quite different, theistic/spiritual satanism being based on 'free will' while thelema on the true will as revealed by the HGA. The only similarity is the emphasis on the self. The ends are somewhat similar but means quite different. But I am just curious.

Incorporating the two is like eating french fries with marshmallows, might seem tasty but gives you gas in the end.

Thankyou Z

You are welcome.

Originally Posted by morningstar

What would be the 'true will' be like? For e.g Could being an accountant be someone's true will? Wouldn't it have to be something rather non-mundane?

Besides thelema, what other topic/system of magick did Crowley write on? I reckon that some of it is related to kabalah & the Golden Dawn.

Also, I am not so fond of labels myself as they tend to be quite ambiguous by themselves, but would Crowley's system come under LHP or RHP? The popular notion that I am aware of, is that it was loosely based on 'LHP' .

I apologize for not reading about Crowley but that is precisely why I ask these questions, since I find it hard to take an overview of his workings as he has written so many books. Thereby I could also know if its something I do want to pursue or something I would rather discard. It would be a good idea to take a bird's eye view before I get in-depth as the purpose of my reading being clear, it would make much more sense.
All his books I open, there is no preface or an introduction, most of it is written in metaphors or riddles. So I don't have a clue as what (or why)I am reading it.

In thelemic mysticism the will of the individual is devided into two main parts. One being the finite will, where a person is meant to be a worker in Jade, another in steal, or in your case an accountant. The second part is the infinite will, the task of performing the Great Work. "The raising of the whole man in perfect balance to the power of infinity" Hope this helps!