Customer Reviews

The Equinox: Vol. 1

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

An in depth collection of esoteric essays from the early 20th century. Subjects covered include meditation, drugs, veiled references to ritual sex, yoga, art, literature, magickal history, current (early 20th century) occult topics. The literary reviews are hilarious, if you are familiar with the subject. The advertisments in the back are fascinating.

This is THE set if you want to study Magick (which stems from meditation, yoga, using one's will). It helps the student a lot, especially in volumes 5 and 8 where he teaches Gematria and gives out lengthy examples as oppossed to 777. Definetely the longest read he has made, the 10 volume 1992 Weiser set is the one to look for. I had the 2 book set, and the spine of the book was unstable, and it just wasn't the same. With this, the text is nice and big, so it makes it so much easier on the eyes (which already hurt from meditating LOL). Watch out for the 1992 edition, only 750 of them were made and they are now precious jewelstones in the modern Magickians' life of study.
93 93/93


Frater 227

This collection is a compendium of the first ten years of "The Equinox", Crowley's bi-annual journal of magickal, qabalistic, and mystical fiction, essays and poetry.

If only there was a magickal journal today of such a calibur.

It contains many rare works of Crowley and his colleagues. It is definately worth the price.

Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the Law.

This is by far one of the most interesting continuations of The Equinox series around. Not only does it contain rare works by Aleister Crowley, but also "Liber DCL vel de Fons Aqua Vitae" by Marcello Motta, and classic poetry and essays by Ray Eales. Even David Bersson makes an appearance! If you are tired of Equinox books that are just nicely-reissued compilations of previously available works, seek this one out and revel in the many original works presented. Nicely bound red-hardcover, that has lasted me for a good 3 years now, to boot!

Love is the law, love under will.

Please do not (as I did) confuse this single volume (Vol VII) compiled in 1992 with the 10-volume set Aleister Crowley published from 1909 to 1913 as have the other reviews on this page. Some of the descriptions can be misleading if not carefully read.

Also do not confuse it with the original "Red Equinox" published in 1992 which is Vol 1 (No.s 1-10) and Vol III (the "Blue Equinox", Vol. III, No. 1) eleven books published in seven volumes and bound in red leather. This is a different book all together.

This "Red Equinox" ("Volume VII, No. 1") was edited by Ray Eales & Vance Borland and published by Silver Star in Tampa, FL, in 1992. It contains the following chapters:

Editorial
Praemonstrance
Liber VII (Liber Liberi vel Lapidis Lazuli)
Liber DCL vel DE FONS AQUAE VITAE
Map of the Coins of the Ge Yuan (by Marcelo Motta)
Liber CCXXXI Visions by S.T.S. (circa 1978-1980)
Liber Cheth vel VALLVM ABIEGNI (from Equinox Vol 1, No. VI)
Liber Tzaddi (from Equinox Vol 1, No. VI)
Liber LXI
Postcards To Probationers (from Equinox Vol 1, No. II)
Yaweh is Egyption for Moon (David Bersson, 1990)
Liber Thisharb (from Equinox Vol 1, No. VII)
Magick and Film (by Ray Eales)
Antecedents of Thelema ("found in a rough typescript with annotations in AC's hand")
The Journey and the Waiting (by Ray Eales)

If this is what you are interested in, you might appreciate this book. I had all of the material published before 1992 (i.e., the AC material) in other books and compilations.

This is "an Equinox" but not "THE Equinox". See www.the-equinox.org for the complete listing of the content of Equinox Volumes I and III.

Caveat emptor!

The review titled "This May Not Be the 'Equinox' You are Thinking Of.." does not apply to this edition. That review seems to refer to one of the later Motta Equinox editions. I believe this is a reprint of earlier volumes edited by AC during his lifetime.

That being said, as of 27 March 2006 e.v. Weiser has "no publish date" for either this set or the Blue Equinox.

This edition, published by Weiser in 1992 and limited to a circulation of only 1,000 copies, was a steal of a deal while it lasted. If you see one [at auction], snag it! Nicely bound, hardcover edition with clear dust cover. First published in 1929, Weiser has gone to lengths to reproduce the first edition accurately. A must have for those concerning themselves with the Great Work.

After looking everywhere for this massive work, I finally break down and buy the (used) two volume set here on Amazon. Needless to say, it is a real trip! Ranging from everything between the heavy, sober case studies, "scientific journals" and mystical treatise; to lighter reading in short stories, novels and flat out hysterical poetry! Of course, you can find everything that is in this work on-line (including the illustrations) for free, I just chose not to partake in the perpetual exploitation of genius - not that it is "wrong" to print out the whole work or save it onto your computer, I will leave that moral arguement to those who think they care. It is all a matter of personal choice. Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the law.

This set is a great guide to western magick. It is a solid collection of Crowley's works.

The Equinox Vol. VII, No. 1: Not very interesting, nor worthy to follow in the series of the Equinox Vol. I, Vol. III. Vol. IV, or even Motta's Vol. V. Contains nothing new by Crowley, and is of little use, or interest to anyone. Completely spurious and unauthorized. Avoid. Avoid. A waste of your time and money.