Holy Books of Thelema
The Holy Books of Thelema is a collection of 15 works by Aleister Crowley, the founder of Thelema, originally published in 1909 by Crowley under the title Θελημα, and later republished in 1983, together with a number of additional texts, under the new title, The Holy Books of Thelema, by Ordo Templi Orientis under the direction of Hymenaeus Alpha.
Content
The Holy Books of Thelema consists of the wholly class A libri of Aleister Crowley, which indicates that they that are not to be changed, even to the letter. According to Crowley, they were not so much written by him as through him, and are therefore referred to as inspired works. Additionally, Liber LXI, a class D text, is included as an introduction after a preface by Hymenaeus Alpha and synopsis compiled from Crowley's writings. Liber LXI was originally class A, then changed to class B, indicating works of scholarship, then changed to class D, indicating official rituals and instructions. Liber I was originally a Class B document but was reclassified as class A in 1913, and so it is included in The Holy Books of Thelema. The majority of these texts were written between the years 1907 and 1911. They are listed in numerical order, following their designation in Roman numerals, with the exception of Liber XXXI which immediately follows Liber CCXX.
The Book of the Law
Liber AL vel Legis, also known as the Book of the Law, is the foundational text for Thelema. It is included in both Liber CCXX and Liber XXXI. The latter is the handwritten original, while Liber CCXX was transcribed from the original and was given the number 220 because it is composed of 220 verses. 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 3, 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 Comment is sometimes considered to be part of the Book of the Law; at other times, it is considered[by whom?] to be a different document. In either instance, it has been understood by some[by whom?] to mean that no discussion of any of the Holy Books may take place, despite the fact that the Comment, which was written after all of the Holy Books were written, only applies to the Book of the Law. According to this interpretation, the purpose of the Comment is to allow others to interpret the Book of the Law for themselves; in other words, no one is to preach its contents or tell you their understanding of it is the one true understanding. However, the Comment also prohibits the study of the Book of the Law. The stated punishment for violating the Comment is anathema (shunning).
 • Allen H. Greenfield • Lady Frieda Harris • Leah Hirsig • Christopher Hyatt • William Breeze (Hymenaeus Beta) • Augustus Sol Invictus • Charles Stansfeld Jones • George Cecil Jones • Richard Kaczynski • Carl Kellner (mystic) • Rose Edith Kelly • James Lees (English magician) (James Lees) • Grady Louis McMurtry • Marcelo Ramos Motta • Nema Andahadna • Victor Benjamin Neuburg • Jack Parsons • Israel Regardie • Theodor Reuss • C.F. Russell • Wilfred Talbot Smith • Leila Waddell (Leila Waddel (Laylah) • James Wasserman • Sam Webster (writer) (Sam Webster) • Jane Wolfe • Gerald Yorke
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