Darkly Splendid Abodes

In around 1906 era vulgaris, Aleister Crowley received a flood of inspired texts that would come to be known as some of the core Holy Books of Thelema, taking their place alongside The Book of the Law and Liber 418.Liber B vel Magi is a short text, only a couple of pages in length, which describes one of the most exalted Grades on the Tree of Life, that of the Magus. Join us as Edward Mason and I explore this brief text.

In our previous conversation we focused on Achad’s appendix to his book QBL, which consisted of unedited diary notes. Part Two of our discussion moves more heavily into Chapter 5 of his Egyptian Revival, where his Qabalistic ideas ought to be worked out and implemented more clearly.

This is part two of our look at what Crowley called “the real and perfect ritual of the Hexagram.” How does it compare with the Golden Dawn’s original Lesser Hexagram Ritual? What are the results of invoking Set into the Circle? Edward Mason and I continue our discussion on this uniquely Thelemic Rite.

In the appendix to his book on Qabalah, entitled "Q.B.L.", Charles Stansfeld Jones (a.k.a. Frater Achad) laid out the preliminary scheme for flipping the Paths of the Tree of Life on their head. Certainly this would court controversy, especially with his "Magical Father" Aleister Crowley; but how does this scheme look to us? We'll dive into this appendix, as well as a chapter or so from his book "The Egyptian Revival."

The Star Sapphire is Aleister Crowley’s spin on the Hexagram Ritual of the Golden Dawn. First appearing in his little book of meditations entitled The Book of Lies, Falsely so-called, it joins The Star Ruby and the Mass of the Phoenix as rituals commonly associated with the Thelemic corpus. Edward Mason joins me to discuss this so-called ‘real snd perfect Ritual of the Hexagram.’

Rosaleen Norton was an Australian artist who revelled in her public image as the Witch of King’s Cross. But behind this public persona was a deep and serious practitioner of Magick and mysticism. Rosemary Stehlik and I will attempt to peer into the true nature of this visionary, as well as the Pan-inspired imagery of her art, as we continue our look at Women of the Occult.

The Book of the Law made the bold claim that there was "one to come" after Aleister Crowley who would "discover the key of it all." When Charles Stansfeld Jones (aka Frater Achad) discovered the keyword "AL", it seemed to fit the bill, and Crowley was convinced this was his Magical Child predicted by the Book. Join us for Part 2 of our dive into Jones' Liber 31, wherein he expounds upon the spiritual breakthrough that led to the discovery of the Word, and the various ways the Keyword "opens the Book of the Law like a flower," to paraphrase Crowley.

For the Magician who sets out to cross the infamous Abyss, there awaits on the other side either a place in the City of the Pyramids as a Master of the Temple... or madness amongst the so-called Black Brotherhood. But just what is this Abyss of which we speak? I discuss the topic with Edward Mason in this second of a two-part series.

The Book of the Law made the bold claim that there was "one to come" after Aleister Crowley who would "discover the key of it all." When Charles Stansfeld Jones (aka Frater Achad) discovered the keyword "AL", it seemed to fit the bill, and Crowley was convinced this was his Magical Child predicted by the Book. Join us as we dive into Jones' Liber 31, wherein he expounds upon the spiritual breakthrough that led to the discovery of the Word, and the various ways the Keyword "opens the Book of the Law like a flower," to paraphrase Crowley.

An artist with a striking visual style who went by her last name, Cameron was known as a witch, a poet, and an actress. But she also saw herself as the vehicle for the incarnation of Babalon in the world, ever since Jack Parsons performed his Babalon Working and came to believe she had answered its summons. Rosemary Stehlik and I will delve into the incredible story of this hermetic yet hugely influential woman.

Liber V, or Book 5, is a Magick Ritual invoking the energies of the New Aeon, and its appended commentary elucidates Aleister Crowley's method of piercing beyond good and evil. We'll take a deep dive into this important Thelemic text.

For the Magician who sets out to cross the infamous Abyss, there awaits on the other side either a place in the City of the Pyramids as a Master of the Temple... or madness amongst the so-called Black Brotherhood. But just what is this Abyss of which we speak? I discuss the topic with Edward Mason in this first of a two-part series.

The Thoth deck is one of the most famous and influential Tarot decks ever put together, and the artist behind its explosively energetic and colourful cards was Lady Frieda Harris, a long-time friend and collaborator of Aleister Crowley. We’ll pay homage to this artist, author and mystic, as Rosemary Stehlik and I continue our look at Women of the Occult.

Aleister Crowley strives to lay out the circumstances surrounding the reception of The Book of the Law in part 4 of Book Four: The Equinox of the Gods. We'll deep-dive into Chapter 7, exploring some of the proofs and synchronicities surrounding this supernaturally-delivered text.

I'm joined by Rosemary Stehlik in this inaugural episode of Women of the Occult, a series where we explore and honor the prominent and influential women who have shaped occult thought and magical practice throughout history.We'll begin with a look at Dion Fortune, influential author and founder of a Temple system.

Edward Mason and I discuss the complex god-form in The Book of the Law, Heru-ra-ha, and the corresponding Gods Hoor-paar-kraat and Ra-Hoor-Khuit, all of which fall under the umbrella of the God Horus. We'll take a look at Liber 418: The Vision & the Voice for further insight into the nature of Horus.

The Introduction written by Aleister Crowley for the Book of the Law might be described as "Thelema in a nutshell." We'll dive in and attempt to unpack this brief text.

Edward Mason and I build on our previous discussion on the subject of Color and its use in various Tarot decks and in Magick. We also drift into some tangential subjects of a Magical nature.

Michael and I look back at the texts we've delved into through our Deep Dip discussions so far, and reflect on how we've benefited from this project.Aleister Crowley's translation of the Tao Teh KingLiber de Lege LibellumJack Parsons' essay, 'Freedom is a Two-edged Sword'and Lecture Four from pt.I of Crowley's Eight Lectures on YogaPlus, our thoughts on secondary Thelemic texts, and our suggestions for newbies.

Edward Mason joins me to discuss the use of Color in Qabalah, the Tarot, and Magical and Meditation Practices in general.

We revisit the essay by Jack Parsons, delving into the remaining two chapters that we didn't get to last time, and more fully exploring the paper's goal of clarifying the nature of freedom and rallying women to take up the two-edged sword of freedom.

Today my guest and I chat about being in a position of responsibility towards others, whether as a parent, caregiver, etc, and how this relates to the personal Will.

This time, we dive into one of the lectures in Aleister Crowley's Eight Lectures on Yoga. The first half of the book, 'Yoga for Yahoos,' is based on the the practices of Yoga themselves, and we'll be looking at Lecture Four of that part, which focuses on Asana & Pranayama (loosely, 'Posture' & 'Breathing').

Building on our previous discussion on visualization and mental focus in Magick Ritual, EDWARD MASON and I explore various practical considerations and anecdotes from experience.

This time, we dive into the essay on Freedom by notorious Thelemite and one of the founding members of the Jet Propulsion Laboratories (JPL), Jack Parsons. This rallying cry for the freedom of the individual, the emancipation and empowerment of women, and the defence against tyrannies hiding behind the fraudulent application of the terms 'freedom' and 'liberalism' seems perennially relevant. We'll unpack Thelemic themes and undertones as we dip deeply...

Edward Mason and I discuss the role and importance of Mental Focus and Visualization in Magick and mystical practices.

We take a deep dive into this little book on the Law and its four Rays: Liberty, Love, Life and Light. Essentially Crowley's distillation of the Law of Thelema, it's an easily overlooked but incredibly concise guide to Crowley's philosophy.

Anxiety about pestilence, war, famine and climate crisis abounds. How does the Book of the Law counsel us? It doesn't give easy answers... and that's the point. EDWARD MASON and I discuss the challenges of confronting the darkness.

In the first of our Deep Dip series, where we take a deep dive into a particular book or subject, we examine Crowley's translation of the Tao Teh King of Lao Tzu, examining it on its own merit, as well as comparing it with the translation of James Legge, which was the version Crowley was working from.

In our inaugural episode, I discuss mental health as it pertains to Golden Dawn-style Initiatory Orders with EDWARD MASON, former Warden of the Temple of Our Lady of the Stars.

Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the Law. On Friday, August 5th anno Vviii, Episode One of Darkly Splendid Abodes, the official podcast of Toronto Thelema, will air. ‘The method of science; the aim of religion’; that’s the motto on the cover of the Equinox, and that sums up what this podcast sets out to explore. Featuring discussions on the practices of Magick and mysticism, as well as deep-dives into occult books and subjects. Released at Midnight on the 1st and 3rd Fridays each month, and available on Spotify and various other streaming services. We’ll set out to explore the nature and powers of the mind, as well as what lies beyond its limits.Love is the law, love under will.