Submitted by Dr. Morbius on
By Unknown - Originally published in The Equinox volume 1, issue 10 (1913) (see deletion discussion). This version taken from "Book 4, Part 2" by uploader Commons user Dnaspark99. Originally uploaded at Commons as Commons:File:Aleister Crowley, wickedest man in the world.jpg, but now deleted., Public Domain, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=39334796
Crowley chastises the stupidity of 3D false dichotomies, like the kind found in politics or social tradition or religion, to pose his transcendent metaphysical view as the logical alternative. But the trap is that beyond the 3D dichotomies, there is a higher duality — higher negative, and higher positive. Crowley’s material delineates the path of higher negative development, basically how to serve self at the expense of others and finding ways to justify it to oneself.
So he does this a lot, comparing the higher negative alternative to lower common fallacies. That is, 4D STS as the only alternative to 3D STS/STO, so higher vs lower. That’s fallacious black and white thinking. One example is taking a concept like “love” which, to ordinary undeveloped 3D people is just some sentimental hormonal surge and thus animalistic, whereas Crowley defines it in a higher context which I think is close to truth. But, then he goes and puts in a twist or disclaimer that deviates a seemingly positive concept toward negative ends.
For instance, the positive path would mean following your spiritual will and destiny in a way that harmonizes with others and makes consideration for them and the system as a whole, whereas Crowley says, “Every man has a right to fulfill his own will without being afraid that it may interfere with that of others; for if he is in his proper place, it is the fault of others if they interfere with him.” — in other words, do whatever your “True Will” wants, and if it hurts others then too bad for them.
Another example is his idea of “True Will” — it’s a transcendent kind of will that doesn’t stem from social programming or animal impulses, something beyond the regular ego mind’s whims. Well, there are all kinds of subconscious impulses that seem to transcend common will, that come from some place deep and mysterious. They can be divided into two groups, those that stem from spirit, and those that stem from a more demonic sub-ego level. The latter can be quite inspiring and exciting and mysterious, which is what the Nazis tried to tap into, and if Crowley defines that as “True Will” then of course it seems like a good alternative to mechanical habits and social programming. But what about the other “True” True Will? The kind that actually comes from spirit and works in consideration of the good of all? See, that is left out of Crowley’s system.
Crowley’s material is good for the “higher” aspect, so long as one understands it stems from the negative half of a duality that tries to present itself as, and therefore suppresses awareness of, the higher positive half.
Another thing - elaborate rituals and convoluted symbolism. That stuff is necessary when you don’t have divine backing but want to have your way anyway and thus need to “hack” your way to results. Ritual magick is hacking to break into what is disharmonious to the total system. Just like a hacker you need to know code, scripts, algorithms, etc. to be successful. But that’s not the only way to be successful. You can do it legitimately too, which is the higher positive path.
Tom Montalk