Magick, Liber ABA, Book 4 is a book by 20th-century occultistAleister Crowley with Mary Desti andLeila Waddell.[1] It is widely considered to be Crowley'smagnum opus.[2]
Magick is a lengthy treatise onceremonial magic (which he anachronistically refers to as 'magick', to distinguish it from stage magic), synthesised from many sources includingyoga,Hermeticism,medievalgrimoires, contemporary magical theories from writers likeEliphas Levi andHelena Blavatsky, and his own original contributions. It consists of four parts: Mysticism, Magick (Elementary Theory), Magick in Theory and Practice, and ΘΕΛΗΜΑ—the Law (The Equinox of The Gods). It also includes numerous appendices presenting many rituals and explicatory papers.
Liber ABA refers to this work being a part of Crowley's system of magical works known aslibri (Latin for 'books'). In most systems such asgematria where letters are given numerical value, ABA adds up to 4, a number which represents the Four Elements, Stability and so on (thus the nameBook 4).
In November 1911, Aleister Crowley conducted a ritual during which he reported being commanded to writeBook 4 by a discarnate entity named "Abuldiz", who appeared in the visions of Crowley's seer, Soror Virakam (Mary Desti). This event occurred around the time thatThe Book of the Law (Liber Legis) was about to be published inThe Equinox, Vol. I, No. VII.[3] The writing ofBook 4 was accomplished with the assistance of Soror Virakam[4] at a villa inPosillipo nearNaples, Italy. The book was subsequently published in the winter of 1912–1913 inThe Equinox, Vol. I, No. VIII.[5][6]
Much ofBook 4 was dictated by Crowley to his principalA∴A∴ students, who also asked questions for clarification. The principal collaborators were Soror Virakam (Mary Desti),Leila Waddell (also known as Laylah and Soror Agatha), and Soror Rhodon (Mary Butts), all of whom were given co-authorship credit. The book was also dedicated to Soror Ouarda (Rose Edith Crowley), Frater Per Ardua (Maj.-Gen.John Frederick Charles Fuller); Soror Alostrael (Leah Hirsig) and Frater Volo Intelligere (Gerald Yorke).[6]
The creation ofMagick (Book 4) was part of Crowley's broader effort to systematize and articulate the principles ofThelema, the spiritual philosophy he founded. The work synthesizes elements from a wide array of mystical and magical traditions, includingyoga,Hermeticism, and medievalgrimoires, alongside Crowley's original contributions. This synthesis aimed to provide a comprehensive guide to both the theoretical and practical aspects ofmagick as understood within the Thelemic framework.[7]
Crowley's intention was to demystify the practice of magick, making it more accessible to serious students of theoccult. He emphasized that magick should be approached with the same rigor and precision as scientific inquiry, coining the famous phrase: "Magick is the Science and Art of causing Change to occur in conformity with Will."[8] This pragmatic approach is evident throughout the book, where Crowley meticulously outlines various magical techniques and practices, from basic yoga postures to complex ceremonial rituals.[9]
The book is divided into four parts: Mysticism, Magick (Elementary Theory), Magick in Theory and Practice, and ΘΕΛΗΜΑ—the Law. Each section addresses different aspects of Crowley's system, providing a structured path for practitioners to follow. The appendices further supplement the main text with practical essays on magical practices, key correspondences from Crowley'sLiber 777, and other essential teachings of Thelema.[10]
Part I is titled "Mysticism" with the sub-title "Meditation: The way of attainment of genius or Godhead considered as a development of the human brain." The section is essentially Crowley's system ofyoga, which is designed to still the mind and enable single-pointed concentration. When developing his basic yogic program, Crowley borrowed heavily from many other yogis, such asPatanjali andYajnavalkya, keeping their fundamental techniques while jettisoning much of the attendant moral dogma.
Yoga, as Crowley interprets it in this section, involves several key components. The first isasana, which is the assumption (after eventual success) of any easy, steady and comfortable posture. Next ispranayama, which is the control of breath, andmantra yoga, which is the use of mantras.Yama andniyama are the adopted moral or behavioural codes (of the adept's choosing) that will be least likely to excite the mind.Pratyahara is the stilling of the thoughts so that the mind becomes quiet.Dharana is the beginning of concentration, usually on a single shape, like a triangle, which eventually leads todhyana, the loss of distinction between object and subject, which can be described as the annihilation of the ego (or sense of a separate self). The final stage issamādhi—union withthe All.
Part II, "Magick (Elemental Theory)", deals with the accessories ofceremonial magick in detail. Subjects include: the temple, the magick circle, the altar, the scourge, dagger, and chain, theholy oil, the wand, cup, sword, pentacle, lamp, crown, robe, book, bell, lamen, and the Magick Fire (including the crucible and incense). This section also includes an "Interlude", which is a humorous exposition on the magical interpretations of popularnursery rhymes, such asOld Mother Hubbard andLittle Bo Peep.
Part III is titled "Magick in Theory and Practice", and is perhaps the most influential section withinBook 4. In this part, magick (with the terminal -k) is defined in Crowley's now famous "Introduction", which is the source of many well-known statements, such as
It contains many influential essays on variousmagical formulae, such asTetragrammaton,Thelema,agape, AUMGN, and IAO. The section also addresses fundamental magical theorems, essential components ofritual, and general practices (e.g.banishing,consecration,invocation, anddivination).
Part IV is titled "ΘΕΛΗΜΑ (Thelema)—the Law." This section deals withThe Book of the Law, including the book itself, a brief biography of Crowley, the events leading up to its reception, and the conditions of the three days of its writing. This part is Crowley's 1936 bookThe Equinox of the Gods only edited under a different name.
The appendices include many rituals and practical essays on magical practice. The most recent volume includes a reading list,One Star in Sight (which lays out the program of his teaching orderA∴A∴), an essay on theastral plane, some key correspondences fromLiber 777 (his work on thetree of life), many of the basic rituals of A∴A∴, and another exposition on the reception ofThe Book of the Law (Liber Legis).
