Reviews

The Book of the Law by Rose Edith Crowley, Aleister Crowley

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hakimbriki's review against another edition

3.0

If this were a work of some kind of weird fiction, I would have given it five stars for its gorgeous poetic form, puzzling ambiguity, and symbolism. Unfortunately, the author decided to make a religion out of it. A rip off of Wicca, Gnosticism, and Satanism that incorporates elements of Egyptian mythology. It centers around several tenets, the foremost of which being the fulfillment of one's unique and authentic purpose, and the rejection of any restrictive morality ¹. Also, tons of sex. Because why not. My favorite aspect of this book is the notion that every man and woman is a "star", due to the individuality and uniqueness of each person, like any given star in the vast expanse of the universe. On the other hand, I find the elements of hatred and loathing ² and the ritualistic and "ceremonial magick" facets extremely repulsive.
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¹ Them that seek to entrap thee, to overthrow thee, them attack without pity or quarter; & destroy them utterly. Swift as a trodden serpent turn and strike! Be thou yet deadlier than he! Drag down their souls to awful torment: laugh at their fear: spit upon them !

² We have nothing with the outcast and the unfit: let them die in their misery. For they feel not. Compassion is the vice of kings: stamp down the wretched & the weak: this is the law of the strong: this is our law and the joy of the world.

typro20's review against another edition

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challenging fast-paced

2.5

Content Warnings

hellhoundharry's review against another edition

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challenging

1.0

diegolau's review against another edition

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4.0

Sigo sin entender si este fue el libro que hizo que todo cambiara después de haber sido publicado, o si fue el libro que vio venir el cambio de la era en la ya venía.

Esta brevísima "revelación" aclara el fuerte cambio en el pensamiento de los dogmas que se vivían en el S. XIX y todo lo que se vivió después, como si se tratara de algún trabajo profético en 1904. La frase: "Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the law, love is the law, love under will" cambió la manera en la que se pensamos durante todo el S. XX. La aparición de movimientos artísticos en donde se buscaba la liberación de todo lo que durante siglos, las principales religiones, restringieron: pensamiento, drogas, sexo, alcohol, etc. vino a partir de este pensamiento que en ese momento se consideró "ocultista" y hasta "satánico".

Me encantaría encontrar a alguien que tuviera un fuerte estudio profundo acerca de Aleister Crowley y de cómo fue que llegó a influenciar TANTOS movimientos a partir de sus fuertes ideas.

mystimayhem's review against another edition

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4.0

I'm not sure how to rate a book like The Book of the Law. I originally read bits and pieces of it as I was researching New Aeon English Qabalah and reading Stratton-Kent's The Serpent's Tongue. This was the first time I read it cover to cover. I do love the poetry of it. And I've got so many more ideas about NAEQ now.