Thelema is a school of Western occult philosophy created by Aleister Crowley. Both Thelema and its creator are often misunderstood — at its heart, Thelema is a synthesis of Crowley’s personal gnosis, Hermetic Qabalah, and a variety of both Eastern and Western mystical traditions. This concept had a powerful influence on the growth and development of modern Paganism.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It’s hard to describe Thelema without tying it to its creator. While many modern Thelemites have successfully grown beyond Crowley’s original vision, the creation of this path was necessarily informed by its creator’s spiritual development and learning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The word “Thelema” comes from an anglicization of the Greek word “\u03b8\u03ad\u03bb\u03b7\u03bc\u03b1.” This translates to “will,” from a verb meaning “to will, want, or wish.” It’s a very succinct title and explanation for what Thelema stands for: the discovery and deployment of one’s “True Will.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Thelema came to be when the Book of the Law was reportedly dictated to Aleister Crowley by a being named Aiwass. While this codified Thelema, its actual origins aren’t quite as tidy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
One of the philosophy’s foundational ideas, “Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the law,” didn’t originate with Crowley or Aiwass. Fran\u00e7ois Rabelais, who wrote The Life of Gargantua and of Pantagruel, contained a fictitious abbey called the Abbey of Th\u00e9l\u00e8me. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
In this abbey, there was only one rule: “Do what thou wilt.” Interestingly, Rabelais and Crowley differed in one key respect. Where Rabelais used “will” to refer to the “Will of God,” Crowley’s “will” referred to the “True Will” of the individual in accordance with the divine and natural order.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
With The Book of the Law, Crowley declared that mankind was entering a new age, the Age of Horus. This revelation took place as part of a ritual that Crowley and his then-wife, Rose Edith, had in Egypt. Rose inadvertently channeled Aiwass, who then told Crowley what he was to write.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Crowley and Thelema attracted many adherents, and even more detractors. At one point, Crowley sought to establish a commune in Cefal\u00f9, Italy, which he named the Abbey of Thelema. While there, residents were to engage in regular yoga practice, training, domestic labor, and the observance of rituals. Ideally, students would devote themselves to discovering and enacting their True Will.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Unfortunately, the Abbey eventually suffered from drug abuse, child neglect, and a series of poor decisions on Crowley’s part. This ultimately forced the Thelemites from their sanctuary. While modern groups and followers of Thelema are still going strong, the Abbey itself is in ruins.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
After Crowley, Thelema was influenced by several other individuals. Jack Parsons, James Lees, Kenneth Grant, and Margret E. Ingalls, among others, contributed to Thelema through writings, interpretations, and new branches of occult philosophy based on its teachings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n