MAGIC WITHOUT TEARS 1 Magic without Tears By A l e i s t e r C r o w e y Get any book for free on: www.Abika.com Get any book for free on: www.Abika.com MAGIC WITHOUT TEARS 2 1 MAGICK WITHOUT TEARS Complete and Unabridged, edited with a Foreword by Karl J. Germer 2 (c) 1954 Karl J. Germer for Ordo Templi Orientis Renewed 1982 (c) BLURB Ordo Templi Orientis JAF Box 7666 New York, NY 10116 USA 3 FOREWORD In 1943 Aleister Crowley met a lady who, having heard of his wide knowledge and experience, asked his advice on occult, spiritual, and practical matters. This chance connection resulted in a stimulating exchange of letters. Crowley then asked others to put similar questions to him. The result was this collection of over eighty letters which are now being issued over the title that he chose, "MAGICK WITHOUT TEARS". Crowley did not keep copies of his early letters to the above-mentioned lady, so was unable to include them in the collection that he planned Get any book for free on: www.Abika.com MAGIC WITHOUT TEARS 3 to publish. Fortunately they have been preserved and are now included in the introduction to this book. Their original form has been retained with the opening and closing formulae which Crowley used in all his letters. Crowley at first intended to call the book "ALEISTER EXPLAINS EVERYTHING", and sent the following circular to his friends and disciples asking them to suggest subjects for inclusion. ALEISTER EXPLAINS EVERYTHING. __________ "Much gratified was the author of THE BOOK OF THOTH to have so many letters of appreciation, mostly from women, thanking him for not 'putting it in unintelligible language', for 'making it all so clear that even I with my limited intelligence can understand it, or think I do.' "Nevertheless and notwithstanding! For many years the Master Therion has felt acutely the need of some groundwork- teaching suited to those who have only just begun the study of Magick and its subsidiary sciences, or are merely curious about it, or interested in it with intent to study. Always he has done his utmost to make his meaning clear to the average intelligent edu- cated person, but even those who understand him perfectly and are most sympathetic to his work, agree that in this respect he has often failed. "So much for the diagnosis --- now for the remedy! "One genius, inspired of the gods, suggested recently that the riddle might be solved somewhat on the old and well-tried lines of 'Dr. Brewer's Guide to Science'; i.e., by having aspirants write to the Master asking questions, the kind of problem that naturally comes into the mind of any sensible enquirer, and getting Get any book for free on: www.Abika.com MAGIC WITHOUT TEARS 4 his answer in the form of a letter. 'What is it?' 'Why should I bother my head about it?' 'What are it's principles?' 'What use is it?' 'How do I begin?', and the like. "This plan has been put into action; the idea has been to cover the subjects from every possible angle. The style has been collo- quiel and fluent; technical terms have either been carefully avoided or most carefully explained; and the letter has not been 4 admitted to the series until the querent has expressed satisfaction. Some seventy letters, up to the present have been written, but still there seem to be certain gaps in the demonstration, like those white patches on the map of the World, which looked so tempting fifty years ago. "This memorandum is to ask for your collaboration and support. A list, indicating briefly the subject of each letter already written, is appended. Should you think that any of those will help you in your own problems, a typed copy will be sent to you at once ... Should you want to know anything outside the scope, send in your question (stated as fully and clearly as possible) ... The answer should reach you, bar accidents, in less than a month ... It is proposed ultimately to issue the series in book form." _______ This has now been done. Karl J. Germer Frater Saturnus Xø Frater Superior, O.T.O. Get any book for free on: www.Abika.com MAGIC WITHOUT TEARS 5 January, 1954 e.v. Hampton, N.J. 5 I N T R O D U C T I O N LETTERS WRITTEN BY MASTER THERION TO A STUDENT Letter No. A March 19, 1943 Cara Soror, Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the Law I was very glad to gather from your conversation yesterday afternoon that Get any book for free on: www.Abika.com MAGIC WITHOUT TEARS 6 you have a serious intention of taking up the Great Work in the proper spirit. Your criticisms of previous experience in the course of your ad- ventures appeared to be singularly sane and just. As I promised I am writing this letter to cover a few practical points which we had not time to discuss and which in any case I think it better to arrange by correspon- dence. 1) It is of the first importance that you should understand my personal position. It is not actually wrong to regard me as a teacher, but it is certainly liable to mislead; fellow-student, or, if you like, fellow- sufferer, seems a more appropriate definition. The climax of my life was what is known as the Cairo Working, described in the minutest detail in the Equinox of the Gods. At that time most of The Book of the Law was completely unintelligible to me, and a good deal of it - especially the third chapter - extremely antipathetic. I fought against this book for years; but it proved irresistible. I do not think I am boasting unfairly when I say that my personal researches have been of the greatest value and importance to the study of the subject of Magick and Mysticism in general, especially my integration of the vari- ous thought-systems of the world, notably the identification of the system of the Yi King with that of the Qabalah. But I do assure you that the whole of my life's work, were it multiplied a thousand fold, would not be worth one tithe of the value of a single verse of The Book of the Law. I think you should have a copy of the Equinox of the Gods and make The Book of the Law your constant study. Such value as my own work may possess for you should amount to no more than an aid to the interpretation of this book. 2) It may be that later on you will want a copy of Eight Lectures on Yoga so I am putting a copy aside for you in case you should want it. Get any book for free on: www.Abika.com MAGIC WITHOUT TEARS 7 3) With regard to the O.T.O., I believe I can find you a typescript of all the official documents. If so, I will let you have them to read, and you can make up your mind as to whether you wish to affiliate to the Third Degree of the Order. I should consequently, in the case of your de- ciding to affiliate, go with you though the script of the Rituals and ex- plain the meaning of the whole thing; communicating, in addition, the real secret and significant knowledge of which ordinary Masonry is not possessed 4) The horoscope; I do not like doing these at all, but it is part of the agreement with the Grand Treasurer of the O.T.O. that I should under- take them in worthy cases, if pressed. But I prefer to keep the figure to myself for future reference, in case any significant event makes consulta- tion desirable. 6 Now there is one really important matter. The only thing besides The Book of the Law which is in the forefront of the battle. As I told you yester- day, the first essential is the dedication of all that one is and all that one has to the Great Work, without reservation of any sort. This must be kept constantly in mind; the way to do this is to practice Liber Resh vel Helios, sub figura CC, pp. 425-426 - Magick. There is another version of these Adorations, slightly fuller; but those in the text are quite al- right. The important thing is not to forget. I shall have to teach you the signs and gestures which go with the words. It is also desirable before beginning a formal meal to go through the fol- lowing dialogue: Knock 3-5-3: say, "Do what thou wilt shall be the whole Get any book for free on: www.Abika.com MAGIC WITHOUT TEARS 8 of the Law." The person at the other end of the table replies: "What is thy Will?" You: "It is my Will to eat and drink." He: "To what end?" You: "That my body may be fortified thereby." He: "To what end?" You: "That I may accomplish the Great Work." He: "Love is the law, love under will." You, with a single knock: "Fall to." When alone make a monologue of it: thus, Knock 3-5-3. Do what, etc. It is my Will to, etc., that my body, etc., that I may, etc., Love is, etc. Knock: and begin to eat. It is impossible to exaggerate the importance of performing these small ceremonies regularly, and being as nearly accurate as possible with regard to the times.