The Heretic's Guide to Thelema provides a fresh, alternative perspective of Thelema and its evolution as a magical and philosophical system. Whether or not you consider yourself a Thelemite, practitioners of traditions, orders, covens, groves, solitudes, etc. anyone can benefit from Gerald's profound, penetrating and practical wisdom. He writes with an entertaining sanity, clarifying mysteries with a greater mystery, promoting personal evolution and deeper comprehension of the High Art. It pays to have a trustworthy adviser in and beyond the halls of Chapel Perilous.
Gerald Enrique del Campo (b. 1960) is a poet, musician, song writer, photographer, magician, philosopher, author, Bishop and lecturer on occult and religious topics. He was born in Cordoba (Argentina)|Cordoba, Argentina on January 14, 1960. He emigrated to the United States with his parents when he was eight years old.
Gerald del Campo attended Catholic School in North Hollywood, California when he first arrived to America. During his early school years he showed a special aptitude towards science, mathematics, languages, and religious-philosophical studies. At a very young age, he asked to be prepared for the Catholic Priesthood, but over the years his enthusiasm for Catholicism faded. He began corresponding with the various Rosicrucian Orders, the Martinists, the Center for Self Realization, and an assortment of other groups. During this period he had become acutely aware of an occult movement which was taking place in the 1970's mostly from the warnings of his teachers, and became interested in the subjects of comparative religion, philosophy and metaphysics, all of which led to his fascination with the occult itself.
In 1975, when del Campo was 15 years old, a complete stranger handed him The Book of the Law, which altered his course dramatically. This led him to the direction of Aleister Crowley's writings and Thelema.
From 1982 till 1986, he studied Enochian magic with David Kennedy, Israel Regardie's personal secretary. In 1987 he joined Ordo Templi Orientis, where he eventually became Master of RPSTOVAL Oasis. Later he served that Order in the capacity of Quartermaster and volunteered to serve an eleven year term with the OTO's Electoral College. From 1988 until 1990 he was a member of the College of Thelema and studied under Phyllis Seckler. In 1989, he was a founding member of the Temple of Thelema. In that same year he joined Fraternitas Lux Occulta and studied under Paul Clark. In 1998 he became a members of The Hermetic Order of QBLH. He founded the The Order of Thelemic Knights, a Thelemic charitable organization based on the virtues soldiering and chivalry as exemplified by Templarism on August 23, 1999.
As of today, Gerald del Campo has published three books. "New Aeon Magick: Thelema Without Tears," (First edition 1994, Llewellyn Worldwide - Second edition Luxor Press 2000), "New Aeon English Qabalah Revealed" (Luxor Press 2001) and A Heretic's Guide to Thelema which contains both of these books and in addition a controversial work called "The Ethics of Thelema" (Megalithica Books 2008).
"New Aeon Magick" is unique, in that rather than recycling already published material, it is focused on Thelema as it had manifested in his life at the time. It is also an excellent Hermetic Qabalah and comparative mythology source.
"New Aeon English Qabalah Revealed" is a primer on the Aeon (Thelema)|New Aeon English Qabalah and a system of gematria referred to as Cipher 6. In this book, del Campo shows the relationship between the English letters and some very important passages of "The Book of the Law."
"A Heretic's Guide to Thelema" provides a fresh, alternative perspective of Thelema and its evolution as a magical and philosophical system. It asks some very difficult questions about society, human nature and the role of Thelema in human evolution.
Gerald del Campo is also a musician and has two musical releases. One with a musical project called Ego and The Ids, an avant garde approach to goth music along the lines of This Mortal Coil. Another with Trick Sensei, Portland grown psychedelic rock band.
Mr. del Campo is a prolific writer who is concerned with the positive and responsible promulgation of the Law of Thelema. Many of his writings have been translated into various languages and some have become either recommended or required reading at various universities around the world.
