Difference between revisions of "Book of the Law"
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== Francois Rabelais == | == Francois Rabelais == | ||
| − | Of course, at first notice, one sees the phrase "Do What Thou Wilt". This was [http://www.gutenberg.org/files/1200/1200-h/p1.htm#2HCH0057 inscribed upon the Abbey of Theleme] in Gargantua and Pentagruel by Francois Rabelais. Francois Rabelais is one of the saints in the Gnostic Mass. So, it is very evident that Crowley not only knew of Rabelais' work, but considered him an inspiration for Thelema. | + | Of course, at first notice, one sees the phrase "Do What Thou Wilt". This was [http://www.gutenberg.org/files/1200/1200-h/p1.htm#2HCH0057 inscribed upon the Abbey of Theleme] in [http://www.gutenberg.org/etext/1200 Gargantua and Pentagruel] by Francois Rabelais. Francois Rabelais is one of the saints in the Gnostic Mass. So, it is very evident that Crowley not only knew of Rabelais' work, but considered him an inspiration for Thelema. |
== Relevance to Lonelygirl15 == | == Relevance to Lonelygirl15 == | ||
Revision as of 16:15, 7 December 2006
In April of 1904, Crowley received the Book of the Law, what would one day become the central text of a new religion, Thelema. At first, he rejected the Book of the Law since he was a Buddhist and he saw the work as clashing with Buddhism. However, as time went by, he began to see the wisdom in the book.
The reception of the Book of the Law marked a turning point in Crowley's life. Over the years, he became more geared towards spreading the Law of Thelema to the world. In it, there are spiritual, social, and ethical considerations for the new Aeon.
The Book of the Law states that each person should decide the meaning of the verses for him or herself based upon the commentary of the Prophet. This was presumably stated so that Thelema would never become dogmatized like other religions with "official" meanings to the verses. The verses seldom mean what they appear to mean at face value and the individual is expected to research and extrapolate the meaning for himself.
Contents
Cakes of Light
In "The Book of the Law" Crowley was given a recipe for the Cakes of Light and one of the possible ingredients is the blood of a child. This is often misunderstood to mean the sacrifice of a living child or the bloodletting of one, however, it is a phrase used to indicate sexual fluids which would be considered a potential child.
According to Wikipedia, Cake of Light is the name of the eucharistic host found within Thelema. It contains meal, honey, and oil for the base ingredients, and is usually cooked in the shape of a small, flat wafer. It appears by name in two important Thelemic rituals: the Gnostic Mass and the Mass of the Phoenix. However, Crowley thought it was important for magicians to perform a eucharistic ritual of some kind (presumably the Mass of the Phoenix) daily (from Magick, Book 4, ch. 20).
The Law of Thelema
The Law of Thelema was given to Aleister Crowley in the Book of the Law. It is the central tenet of the book. The Law of Thelema states:
"Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the law. Love is the law, love under will."
Francois Rabelais
Of course, at first notice, one sees the phrase "Do What Thou Wilt". This was inscribed upon the Abbey of Theleme in Gargantua and Pentagruel by Francois Rabelais. Francois Rabelais is one of the saints in the Gnostic Mass. So, it is very evident that Crowley not only knew of Rabelais' work, but considered him an inspiration for Thelema.
Relevance to Lonelygirl15
In Drop 2 (where IS she going?), one of the items included was the Book of the Law.
External Links
A Thelemite Speaks Episode 6. Tannhaus discusses how Crowley's Buddhism inspired Thelema.
