Section II.3:  An Overview of Liber AL vel legis

The study of this Book is forbidden. It is wise to destroy this copy after the first reading. Whosoever disregards this does so at his own risk and peril. These are most dire. Those who discuss the contents of this book are to be shunned by all, as centres of pestilence. All questions of the Law are to be decided only by appeal to my writings, each for himself.
 -- Liber AL vel legis, The Comment.

Liber AL vel legis sub figura CCXX -- better known as Liber AL, AL or The Book of the Law -- is the principle document of modern Thelema1.  Aleister Crowley received this document in 1904 during three subsequent days (April 8-10).  Each chapter was dictated over the course of one hour, starting at noon, by an entity called Aiwass2.  Aiwass purported to be the "minister of Hoor-paar-kraat"3 and to serve as a channel for three of the major Thelemic Deities:  Nuit, Hadit and Ra-Hoor-Khuit.  This book detailed the rise of the new Æon, the ascendance of a new formula for enlightenment and the primacy of the individual.  For the full text of this work, please refer to Appendix B: Liber AL vel legis sub figura CCXX.

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Footnotes

1.  Liber AL vel legis is the primary Holy Book and the only one credited to præter-human sources.  There are other Holy Books, for a complete list please consult Appendix E.  { Return }

2.  Individual Thelemites disagree over whether Aiwass is a part of Crowley's subconscious or an actual discrete entity.  { Return }

3.  AL I:7 "Behold! it is revealed by Aiwass the minister of Hoor?paar?kraat." For an explanation of how Aiwass interacts in a modern Thelemic context, please refer to Section II:5.  { Return }