Looking for Advise: Books written by Crowley

Hi!

What would be considered Crowley's most accessible and usefull body of work?........

I have seen a lot of interesting stuff but I can't choose.
His writings are new to me.

Thanks!
Brammie


http://www.geocities.com/bramschakenbos

Go now and memorize the entirety of 777! RIGHT NOW!

(That, sugar, is a joke. But you'll want a copy of 777 to reference if you study the book of Thoth.)

The Book of Thoth is his book on Tarot. It's wordy, you'll need some sort of commentary, and a reference with astrological/numeralogical correspondances. And a big highlighter. And a notebook. And a pillow, for holding against your face when you scream so you don't convince the neighbors you're being murdered.

It's a good read, though.

Basic, starting point Crowley? Book 4 to start, Magic in Theory and Practice after that, and Magick Without Tears. Then you can move on to big, heavy Crowley texts. . .huzzah!

There's some Uncle Al stuff archived here:

http://www.hermetic.com - it'll be under the Librii of Aleister Crowley.

Enjoy. And remember that pillow.

I would agree with Blue Overide,

Book four is an ideal starting point. Magick without tears is also a gentle book, which also shows clearly that Crowley was not some failed mind in his latter years.

I would also advise Confessions [ Crowley’s auto hagiography] and eye in the triangle [by regardie]. This give a fascinating insight into the great mans mind Confessions is a truly outstanding work, and is certainly not just an autobiography.

Book four though is the starting point......and as a new reader of Crowley , prepare to be amazed, entertained & fascinated by this mis-understood, never to be underestimated, joker genius.

...saying this Confessions would also be a good starting point.

I have only read parts of "Magic without tears" on the net but I must say it seems like a book using ordinary english words with a very accessible tone of voice, almost like it is written by a mere human being to another

Right now I am reading Book of Lies, and so far it is cryptical and I guess one could read it both with the eyes of a crowley-fan and a occult scholar etc, but one could also just chuck all that away and read it with a whole different mindset and just enjoy the word-play.

Book of Thoth is good though, I just skipped the introduction and the Appendix. The actual comments on the cards are for the most part straight-forward (with a few exceptions)

Book of the Law is so short and so frustrating. The first chapter I like a lot, but then it says so too in the book, chapter 3:

"63. The fool readeth this Book of the Law, and its comment; & he understandeth it not.
64. Let him come through the first ordeal, & it will be to him as silver.
65. Through the second, gold.
66. Through the third, stones of precious water.
67. Through the fourth, ultimate sparks of the intimate fire.
68. Yet to all it shall seem beautiful. Its enemies who say not so, are mere liars"

Comments on the Book of the Law:
http://www.hermetic.com/220/crowley-comment.html

I will be looking out for Confessions now.

On-line texts:
http://www.hermetic.com/crowley/index.html

Thanks guys for your advise!
I shall take it to heart!

Greetings,
Bram