The Magick of Thelema: A Handbook of the Rituals of Aleister Crowley [Paperback]

Lon Milo DuQuette (Author)

Product Details

• Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: Weiser Books; Reprint edition (December 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0877287783
• ISBN-13: 978-0877287780
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.2 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (22 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #250,819 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

LON MILO DUQUETTE

Author of 15 critically acclaimed books (translated in 11 languages) on Magick and the Occult, Lon Milo DuQuette is one of the most respected and entertaining writers and lecturers in the field of the Western Mystery Traditions.

Since 1975 he as been a national and international governing officer of Ordo Templi Orientis, one of the most influential magical societies of the 20th Century. He is currently the Order's United States Deputy Grand Master. He is an internationally recognized authority on tarot and western ceremonial magick. Although he takes these subjects very seriously, he tries not to take himself too seriously. This rare combination of scholarship and humor has earned him in the last 20 years a unique and respected position in American spiritual and esoteric literature.

DuQuette appears occasionally on television and radio as a guest expert on subjects involving the occult. He is a contributor to the Magical Egypt DVD series' and a host on the new series, The Great Work.

He is a faculty member of the Omega Institute in Reinbeck New York, and Robert Anton Wilson's Maybe Logic Academy.

He is also a professional musician/singer/songwriter.

He lives in Costa Mesa, California with his wife of 43 years, Constance.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

21 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Introduction/Handbook of "Thelema" & Thelemic Rituals, March 29, 2003

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Frater V "The Truth is Absolutely Not Absolut... (Louisville, KY) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Magick of Thelema: A Handbook of the Rituals of Aleister Crowley (Paperback)

This practical Handbook of Thelemic Rituals is a perfect Introductory guide, or quick-reference guide for Thelemites and other Crowley Enthusiasts. "The Magick of Thelema" --a collection of Aleister Crowley's Rituals, with commentary-- is perfect for the beginning Thelemite, Working Magickian (ritual scripts / instructions), Researchers of various occult schools, and others-especially, those who do not have the time to devote to doing this research on their own, yet....or for people who are just curious about Thelema, and do not have the inclination to spend a lot of money the subject, until they determine if their money would be well-spent (Crowley was a very Prolific writer). Basically, this is a "Thelemic Primer" which explains everything from the concept of "Aeons" to the reason Duquette saves the best Ritual for last: "The Gnostic Mass."

Anyone who has ever read Crowley is painfully aware of his rambling, self-aggrandizing (dare I say, babbling?) style, which is not conducive to the beginning researcher or Thelemite's comprehension of the subjects Crowley attempts to teach. Crowley's style is rather humorous and endearing to those of us who have devoted endless hours to reading his works, and those of us who have ingested "Magick Without Tears," but to the average reader, Crowley is almost incomprehensible (I think he enjoyed "teaching" in this manner).

However, Duquette has the wonderful ability to teach Thelema and Thelemic Ritual with a more rational, easy to comprehend method. Instead of rambling for numerous pages, then saying something of relevance, he cuts to the chase, and gives the reader the goodies, without all the extraneous verbiage (and rarely pats himself on the back, for his good work).

As one reviewer noted, "Magick: Liber Aba: Book 4" is the Ultimate resource book for Thelemites--and, yes, it contains many of the important books Crowley contributed to the field of Magick. However, it is not a good book to recommend to the Beginner and it is not a good reference book to pack-around in the Temple, due to it's size. Yet, Duquette's Handbook is amazingly concise, and portable (unlike the hefty "Big Blue Brick" -which, if dropped on your foot, will probably ruin your ritual with a broken toe!).

I know for a fact that it sometimes takes an essay just to explain to someone the convoluted history of "Magick: Liber Aba: Book 4" (ISBN: 0877289190)--and the book contains hundreds and hundreds of footnotes to explain Crowley's thinking process (not exactly a "Beginner's" introduction to Thelema). "Magick: Liber Aba: Book 4" is the perfect book to purchase after a person decides that they are interested in pursuing Crowley's Magickal teachings-but, personally, I will always recommend Duquette's books as an Introduction to "Thelema," instead of throwing them into the Deep End, with Crowley.

Duquette is one of the greatest personalities to become associated with Thelema and the works of Crowley. I have a lot of respect for Duquette and his writing style--he gets to the point, and doesn't waste my time congratulating himself with endless tangents. His humor is infectious and his Magickal endeavors are renown, without shameless self-promotion and exaggeration (as in Crowley's own writings).

Due to the complicated nature of the study of "Thelema," I recently created a "How to guide" which is a synopsis of a battle plan to tackle Uncle Al's legacy of Magickal Teachings--yet I believe Duquette's works are, truly, the best introduction to the study of Crowley / Thelema, because of Crowley's eccentric writing style. Duquette, thankfully, warns prospective Thelemites of the various pitfalls involved in the study of Thelema and teaches Common Sense approaches to the subject and Rituals.

I would not suggest throwing The Big Blue Brick ("Magick: Liber Aba: Book 4") at a New Student, until the Individual has read Introductory material such as "The Magick of Thelema." Duquette's concise, comprehensive exposition of the subject will save the beginner a lot of trouble and give the reader a great (and Safe) start along the Thelemic Path of Magick.

26 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars ALEISTER CROWLEY TOO INTENSE FOR YOU? START WITH DUQUETTE., February 9, 1997

By A Customer

This review is from: The Magick of Thelema: A Handbook of the Rituals of Aleister Crowley (Paperback)

Would you like to study the works of the most important magician of the 20th Century but don't know where to begin? Are you ashamed to admit that you've tried to read Crowley and found it impossible understand a word he wrote? Then take heart! Lon Milo DuQuette's THE MAGICK OF THELEMA, A Handbook of the Rituals of Aleister Crowley is without question the most unintimidating, amusing and user-friendly guide to the works of Aleister Crowley ever written. Drawing on the insights of a quarter century of magical practice, DuQuette discusses the fundamental theories of Crowley's thought and analyzes the central rituals of his Ceremonial Magick work. DuQuette's Thelemic Magick credentials are impressive; 22 years as an international officer of Crowley's own magical order, Ordo Templi Orientis; creator of TAROT OF CEREMONIAL MAGICK (Deck by U.S. Games, book by Samuel Weiser); and co-author with Christopher S. Hyatt of ENOCHIAN WORLD OF ALEISTER CROWLEY, TABOO, SEX MAGICK, TANTRA AND TAROT, and ALEISTER CROWLEY'S ILLUSTRATED GOETIA. His delirious sense of humor is to be found winking around the corners of words, in the midst of serious, deep, metaphysical considerations. THE MAGICK OF THELEMA is an invaluable introduction to any aspiring magician who could use help getting started in the practice of ritual magick. It also provides a wonderful summary for those of us who have forgotten most of what they know or thought they ever knew

10 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars PENETRATING AND LUCID..., November 16, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Magick of Thelema: A Handbook of the Rituals of Aleister Crowley (Paperback)

Lon Duquette, once again, provides the practicing Thelemite with solid and insightful commentary on some of those 'particularly thelemic' rituals. His affable manner and sense of humor are refreshing, and a nice change of pace from the usual heavy, almost 'holier-than-thou' perspective I get from some others tackling the phenomena of Crowley. Lon gives you the feeling that he's 'been there, done that', as clearly, he has. His forte, however, is making Crowley's sometimes complex ritual working, understandable. Not only in the practical sense, but also from an intellectual one. Not an easy task. Lon Duquette's books have enriched my Thelemic experience greatly.

Also recommended: Like to tackle Enochian but a little put off by its apparent complexity? Read 'Enochian Sex Magick'. It broke the 'code' for me after several others failed...