Gems from the Equinox: Instructions by Aleister Crowley for His Own Magical Order Hardcover – November 30, 2007

_Gems from the Equinox_ has probably been the most important item in my personal library, as well as the one most often used. _Gems_ is not only practical, but also highly inspiring in its collection of key Thelemic and A.'.A.'. class A-E documents. It contains all the major rituals: Resh, Star Ruby (pentagram), Star Sapphire (hexagram), Reguli, Gnostic Mass, Samekh (Crowley's version of the HGA invocation), and more. Liber LXXXIX vel Chanokh offers the basic components of the Enochian system (watchtowers, the SDA, the 91 governors & the Keys or Calls) and precedes the original "The Vision and the Voice" account of Crowley's scrying adventure into the 30 aethyrs. The instructional sections are a goldmine, as are the practical disciplines offered in Libers E, O, Nu, Had, Thisarb, Yod and others. The A.'.A.'. syllabus, One Star in Sight, Khabs Am Pekht, Liber AL vel Legis (the Book of the Law), De Lege Libellvm and more are also included in this indispensible compendium of magick. In my opinion, this is THE one book to have on the shelf, or better yet, on the home or temple altar, for daily reference and praxis in magick and mysticism. The only way to make it more complete as a reference work would be to add the material found in _777_.
(Note: The version I own is the 1974-1982 publication by the Israel Regardie Foundation in conjunction with Falcon Press. Very well bound and has held up to a great deal of stress and use; however, I am not at present in a position to comment upon the quality of physical construction of any newer version.)
--Shedona Chevalier--

Let us tersely and conveniently sum up the virtues...
1. For Golden Dawn people, Regardie describes this volume as the companion to his 'Golden Dawn' collection, whether you prefer the Llewellyn, or the more complete New Falcon Press edition. He does so in his newer introduction to his 'The Tree of Life,' and in another book, no doubt soon to be reprinted, called 'The One Year Manual.'
2. Regardie saw 'Gems' as a permanent addition to the Golden Dawn students shelf. Along with Crowley's original 'Magick in Theory and Practise,' he saw these two volumes as containing an immense amount of worthy material that could take the student a lifetime to assimilate and use. He makes this observation at the beginning of a volume entitled 'Ceremonial Magic,' hopefully soon to be reprinted.
The new edition of Crowley's 'Magick' isn't quite what Regardie had in mind for the student. He used to recommend the inexpensive Castle Books edition of 'Magick,' which still occasionally can be found (there is also a smaller paperback Dover books edition floating around, currently out-of-print.) Regardie really wasn't interested in seeing sincere students 'loading themselves down with lots of expensive books.'
(Regardie also write a short introduction for an edition of the first 2 parts of the currently available blue covered edition of 'Magick,' back in 1969. I am unaware if this smaller book is still in print.)
(Part 4 of Book 4 was 'The Equinox of the Gods.' I am unaware of Regardie ever writing any introduction to this book, in any edition. Sangraal Press may have released one in the late 60s/ early 70s. In any event, Regardie does not seem to consider it absolutely essential to understanding the most useful parts of the Crowley corpus. Regardie mentions 'The Equinox of the Gods' but little in his writings.)
3. 'Gems' distinguishes itself, as is noted above on this web page in the 'Book Description,' as enabling 'the student to find his way through the maze more easily.' It does this by dividing the different materials from the original Equinox into seperate sectioned subject areas within the same volume.
4. It is to be noted that Regardie has pointed out that Crowley's personality (!) made his material difficult to properly assimilate for the beginning student - and perhaps for a few advanced students as well. One will find that, in many cases, this is also true for the way Crowley composed much of the magickal material in 'Gems.' Separating the fiery and uneven Crowley from his material becomes part of the difficulty of the project: 'herein the task, herein the toil.'
5. New Falcon, at one point in the 80s, reprinted 'Gems' minus a certain amount of Regardie's introductory material. I think this is a mistake. I hate to sound purist, but we ultimately have little enough Regardie material as it is. We are all thankful, however, for New Falcon's Regardie efforts. See my recent review for 'The Complete Golden Dawn' volume published by New Falcon.
6. Thelemites will no doubt find 'Gems' useful. The bulk of them, however, will probably opt, at least eventually, for the full set of 'The Equinox' volumes entire.
7. As he reprinted much of Crowley's work, Regardie was often consulted or referred to as a Thelemite. Regardie objected to this, and clarified: 'I'm a Golden Dawn man !'
8. Many will be glad to know ahead of time, that the version of 'The Vision and the Voice' reprinted in 'Gems,' is not the annotated one that was released later, both in a smaller Regardie edition with intro., and in the later, oversized Weiser Publishers edition ( probably with intro. by the OTOs Hymenaeus Beta.)
9. Finally, some of the magick material reprinted in 'Gems' is actually available in the back of the different editions of Crowley's edition of 'Magick.' This makes no difference, as 'Gems' will organize the material more effectively, in the long run, for many students.
The above should serve, along with the rest of the present reviews, in encouraging the Golden Dawn student to procure this book as soon as he can, and gradually study it as he would his 'Golden Dawn' material.
Remember : sorting out the material is the real challenge here, and gradually assimilating it. One shouldn't rush the process.
So, forewarned is forearmed! Get a copy !

"He who knoweth little, thinketh he knoweth much; but he who knoweth much hath learned his own ignorance."
And so it is, those that don't understand him, fear him, and the very few of those that do understand him, also understand themselves, and thus ... they, the few, realize the GENIUS within the man, which is the soul of the many. Behold the master therin!
I bought this book a couple of months ago, and everytime I pick it up and begin to read it, another 'door' opens! This book is like a treasure chest, and until you advance enough to understand it, then much of it is enigmatic, BUT - Crowley doesn't leave us in the ocean without some driftwood - he gives the reader a list of suggested reading that one must utilize in order to understand him and likewise the deeper secrets of the "Magnum Opus" - thus one must follow that "golden thread" which runs through many celebrated works, where Crowley himself gained his intellect, and that make up the corner stone of all great wisdom 'available' for investigation. Therefore, it is not neccessary to read Crowleys other works before this one, in fact I for one believe It would be a waste of precious time, for this is, in my opinion, THE book on Crowley! Why buy second best? contemplate it and buy the books he reccomends (some of them are available free on i-net) and put the pieces together. Challenge those barriers that constrict you, strive for only the best, and the master will surely open the doors of the hidden sanctuary!
Concerning the contents of the book: Crowley's commentary on Blavatsky's "Voice of the Silence," is alone, worth what you pay for it, and with it you get his most famed instructions on Yoga, Magick, Sex Magick, not to mention a first hand story of one mans attainment of the 'Gem" and the difficulties he encountered, which is very revealing in itself. You also get the Enochian rituals, and the Book of the Law and the list just keeps going & going & going & going.
So, Go ahead! buy one of those watered down wanna be magick books if you must, but realize the guide to the real magick is within and Crowley points the way for all those that have what it takes to carry the torch of Thelema and awaken the sleepers from there agwanti.
"That shall end never that began. All things endure because they are. Do what thou wilt, for every man and every woman is a star."