Section II.2:  What is Thelema?

Who calls us Thelemites will do no wrong, if he look but close into the word. For there are therein Three Grades, the Hermit, and the Lover, and the man of Earth. Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the Law.
 -- Liber AL vel legis I:40

Thelema was first known through the philosopher monk Rabelais, who wrote the book Gargantua and Pantagruel.  The next usage of the term is presented through the writings of the prophet To Mega Therion, better known as Aleister Crowley.  It is of this second definition that we are primarily concerned.  These writings are focused around the revelatory writing Liber AL vel legis and the inspired writings collectively known as the Holy Books or Class 'A' writings (q.v. Appendix B and Appendix E).

These writings form the core for a syncretistic set of beliefs.  Crowley himself was influenced by Theosophy, Rabelais, Nietzsche, Qabalah, Western Mystery Schools, Sufism, Buddhism, Yoga and Christianity (Protestant, Catholic, Orthodox and Gnostic) -- as well as many not listed.  He used these influences to assist in the implementation of the New Æon heralded by Liber AL vel legis.  Of these influences, the individual Thelemite is free to accept or reject any or all of them, and to supplement with those influences he or she finds most appropriate.  Unlike many religions, this is encouraged because the primary focus of Thelema is the individual.

However, there are certain threads of commonality between Thelemites that one might extract and present as a list of what Thelema might be. A Thelemite (as differentiated from one who is Thelemic1) subscribes to a majority of the following:

  1. A belief in the sanctity of the Individual (or Individuation).  "Every man and every woman is a star" - AL I:3.
  2. The desire to evolve, maximize or realize the Individuation.
  3. The acceptance of Liber AL vel legis as an inspired or revelatory writing.
  4. A belief, either symbolically or literally, in Æonic Progression (q.v. II.6).
  5. An acceptance of Subjective Reality and Consensual Reality, which may or may not be based upon an Objective Reality (q.v. II.7).
  6. An integrational approach to other belief systems and structures.  This ties in with the syncretistic nature of Thelema.

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Footnotes

1.  Thelemic means that one's behavior &/or attitudes are in accordance with the Law of Thelema, yet one has not identified oneself with that Law.  { Return }