View Full Version : Abrahadabra-Understanding Aleister Crowleys Thelemic Magick?
http://www.amazon.com/Abrahadabra-Understanding-Aleister-Crowleys-Thelemic/dp/1578633265/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1260518004&sr=8-1
Has anyone read this book, and if so could you offer some comments? I listened to an interview with the author today and it sounds promising. He writes a book, gives it to a group of beginners, and the rewrites it until they all understand it properly.
Sounds like my kinda book :D Maybe I will finally be able to read/pronounce Greek... :)
defile959
11-12-2009, 21:17
Here are my thoughts on the book. It is a good read and a solid basis to begin further studies of Thelemic magick. I may have heard the same interview as you. Orpheus does write in a fashion that makes it easier for a beginner to get started in this often-confusing system. My only caveat would be this - if you have spent any substantial amount of time practicing Thelemic magick, there may not be much here that you do not already know. That being said, I would fully endorse this book for someone just starting on the path, or for someone interested in and wanting to learn more about Thelema. In fact, this book and Lon DuQuette's "The Magick of Aleister Crowley" provide a pretty solid foundation for someone interested in exploring this deep (and deeply rewarding) system.
I agree with everything that defile959 has just said. Caveat included. ;)
Orpheus' book is a good foundation builder that I would happily recommend to a complete n00b. His chatty, conversational style is easy to digest and is slanted more towards practice than theory. But would I recommend it to you? I'm not sure.
While I am sure you will find Abrahadabra inspiratinal, I have a horrible feeling that you might find some of the content a little bit light weight. But then again it might be the perfect spring board for you. I just don't know what you are expecting from this book.
Personally I think Abrahadabra was/is an entertaining read. While it didn't tell me anything I didn't already know, I enjoyed Orpheus' experimental "have a go" style. On finishing it I thought to myself, "I wish this book had been around when I got started". ;)
This might be more helpful than my non-commital opinion. :laugh:
http://books.google.com/books?id=87yNgPJaBscC&dq=%22rodney+orpheus%22&printsec=frontcover&source=bl&ots=V645EP-hXq&sig=x8kXDX2LPZx6dOP8BzqN4d2CfaY&hl=en#v=onepage&q=&f=false
It's not the full book. Just excerpts.
Thanks so much defile959 and Aeon. I was looking for a book like this for a friend of mine who knows nothing about Thelema, but developed in interest recently when they found some things in it that resonated with their Buddhist belief's. I thought the DuQuette book may not be quite right for them, and it seems this one may be a the best one. But I might just grab a copy for myself to read as well, I still have one spare shelf on my bookcase to fill ;)
http://books.google.com/books?id=87yNgPJaBscC&dq=%22rodney+orpheus%22&printsec=frontcover&source=bl&ots=V645EP-hXq&sig=x8kXDX2LPZx6dOP8BzqN4d2CfaY&hl=en#v=onepage&q=&f=false
It's not the full book. Just excerpts.
Oh damn. It cut out just as I was getting interested :laugh:
thorhammer
12-12-2009, 09:45
You've both sold me :) I'll be getting myself a copy of that sucker . . . thankyou all, especially similia for starting the thread :)
\m/ Kat
defile959
12-12-2009, 13:49
Looks like we're in full-on "Agree" mode. How often does *that* happen on the Internet? :)
To echo previous sentiments, this book will definitely be an enjoyable read for anyone interested in the subject. Depending upon your previous experience, you may get more or less "new stuff" out of it, but it's a good read, and a great book to lend to those newly interested in the subject. I can't wait to see what Orpheus publishes next. I've really enjoyed his writing and his interviews.
thorhammer
12-12-2009, 14:31
Looks like we're in full-on "Agree" mode. How often does *that* happen on the Internet? :)
LOL More to the point, how often does that happen in the Thoth sub-forum??? :laugh: This has to be the most cantankerous sub-group within AT, by a long shot! :)
\m/ Kat
cantankerous
I think the word you were looking for was "passionate". And we agree constantly here, its just more attention grabbing when we don't as some folks are scholarly enough to contest with essays, rather than a simple "Stuff you" :P
Now back to the topic at hand *Coughs*
PS for folks interested in the podcast, search on iTunes for "Thelema Now". There's not a lot of them, but they'll all been really excellent quality so far and very interesting listening while driving to and from :)
I'm just nit-picking here ....... in a cantankerous kinda way. })
Near the end of Abrahadabra Orpheus gives a few helpful notes on performance of Liber V vel Reguli. But in my opinion he's got one small technical detail wrong. The way I interpret the ritual the magician is supposed to pace counter-clockwise around the circle and project before drawing each of the pentagrams. Orpheus seems to have over looked point 8 in the ritual.
Let him turn again to the Left, and pursue his Path as before, projecting the Force from Boleskine as he passeth; let him halt when he next cometh to the South, and face outward.
According to Orpheus the magician, after tracing the Nuit pentagram in the North, only goes around one half circle and thus ends up facing south. But he seems to have missed the point that doing it that way means you never pass Boleskine/East.
I was looking for a book like this for a friend of mine who knows nothing about Thelema, but developed in interest recently when they found some things in it that resonated with their Buddhist belief's. I thought the DuQuette book may not be quite right for them, and it seems this one may be a the best one.
There's also the very good introductory book by Gerald del Campo.
New Aeon Magick: Thelema Without Tears.
Unfortunately it is now out of print...... sort of. I'll explain in a bit. ;)
You can find a very early draft of the book here: <link removed by moderator>
[Not sure if this link is allowed?]
This early draft was revised and expanded and later published by Llewellyn in 1994. In 2000 it was reprinted (after being revised and expanded again) by Luxor Press. This edition has since then gone out of print.
In 2008 a book called The Heretic's Guide to Thelema was published. This is a compilation of Gerald del Campo's writings, including New Aeon Magick: Thelema Without Tears.
http://www.amazon.com/Heretics-Guide-Thelema-Gerald-Campo/dp/1905713185
Always Wondering
14-12-2009, 13:37
There's also the very good introductory book by Gerald del Campo.
New Aeon Magick: Thelema Without Tears.
This was worth a hunt. A kind of Thelema in a nut shell for those, like me, who wonder off into the trees and lose site of the forest. Some nice quotes in it also.
AW
Which edition did you get, AW? The 1994-Llewellyn or the 2000-Luxor Press?
ravenest
15-12-2009, 09:31
I have a copy up for loan to Aussie ATers. Its OK but not good enough to say I wouldnt lend it out.
thorhammer
15-12-2009, 09:49
I have a copy up for loan to Aussie ATers. Its OK but not good enough to say I wouldnt lend it out.
Um - please? :heart: PM on its way :)
\m/ Kat
Always Wondering
15-12-2009, 11:21
Which edition did you get, AW? The 1994-Llewellyn or the 2000-Luxor Press?
I hunted online :| and found the the cheapy free version not to be mentioned on this thread. ;)
Not that I wouldn't love to go poking around dusty bookshops for occult treasures but around here it's Barnes and Nobles and three Christian book stores.
Guess I won't find an old hidden copy of, well, anything. :laugh:
AW
I have a copy up for loan to Aussie ATers. Its OK but not good enough to say I wouldnt lend it out.
So if it was good you wouldn't let anyone borrow it? :laugh:
ravenest
16-12-2009, 08:46
Sure ... some of my books I wont lend ... complimentary copy of the first Liber Abba, all fine but each page blank .... second copy of same ... all fine but pages sewn in upside down to cover ... ( ah ... the joys of publishing !:laugh: ) Finally a good one , but signed by Sabazius ( X deg OTO USA) and Helena (then OTO Int. Secretary), or Philipino Martial Arts signed by Dan Inasanto (he taught Bruce lee stick fighting and the book is old and frail)
'Friday's Island' ? Never! lent it once never came back took 6 years to get another.
Or if I only have 1 copy and are currenty working it.
Anyway lots of reasons ... MTP - Book 4 Ed Symmonds? YEP! :laugh:
MTP - Book 4 Ed Symmonds? YEP! :laugh:
The one with the pink cover and the spine that fades to lime green? :laugh:
thorhammer
08-01-2010, 22:26
ravenest was kind enough to lend me his copy of Abrahadabra, and I've read a goodly chunk of it in the 24 hours I've had it :) I'm loving it and it's a book I will want to add to my library permanently - I just have one question.
The book R has lent me is Abrahadabra: A Beginner's Guide to Thelemic Magick, whereas the title of this thread is A(etc): Understanding Aleister Crowley's Thelemic Magick . . . is the second a newer edition of the first? What would the difference be between the two? Marked enough to invest in both?
Loving the book, R. I have some questions, though, so I'll PM you :)
\m/ Kat
It sounds like you're reading the older 1995 edition. Whether there are any differences between that and the new edition printed by Weiser in 2005, I don't know.
I have a new version on the way, maybe we can compare notes later? I suspect it might be the same situation as with Duquette's introductory book on Thelemic magick. The first edition was called something like "The Magick of Thelema" and no one knew what it was about from the cover. The second they put in "Aleister Crowley" and people suddenly paid more attention ;)
I suspect its the same book with a more attention grabbing title.
I suspect its the same book with a more attention grabbing title.
I compared chapter 6 of the new edition with the sample chapter from the first edition that Orpheus has on his website. Apart from some minor tinkering and rephrasing I didn't notice any major changes. I wouldn't be surprised if this were true for the rest of the book.
I suspect that the only real change between the two editions is that the new version has an into by Lon DuQuette.
thorhammer
10-01-2010, 10:43
Sweet, good to know :) Yes, the one that r. lent me is the 1995 edition, I think. Happy to compare notes (by PM is prolly best, or email :D) with you, similia, when yours arrives. I'll be ordering one as well, I just want to know the difference so I know which one to get. It's a book that I'll want on my shelves for many years to come, I think.
\m/ Kat