Darkly Splendid Abodes

Aleister Crowley had an admiration for Islam and tried to immerse himself in Sufi spaces on a few occasions. The Islamic influence on Thelema is sometimes overt, but often implicit. Author Uthman Ken and I will discuss the Islamic influence on Thelema and on modern Hermetics more generally.

Crowley describes George MacDonald’s 1895 novel LILITH as “A good introduction to the Astral”, and cites it amongst the works of fiction included in the reading curriculum for A∴A∴ and O.T.O. Michael and I will dip into the dreamlike netherworld of this late-Victorian fantasy novel.

Karma is commonly described as the results of one’s actions in one form or another, and often gets thought of as a cosmic justice system. But how is it seen from a Thelemic perspective? And how can the concept inform one’s pursuit to know and to do the True Will? Given in the August of 2025 e.v., this workshop explores how one can know who they are, how individual tendencies influence experience, and how to decide one's future.

‘The Gospel According to St. Bernard Shaw’ is Crowley’s exhaustive response to Bernard Shaw’s preface to his play, Androcles and the Lion. Both pieces analyze the Jesus of the Gospels, with Crowley’s diving into the parallels with the life of the Mystic as well as the Dying God mythos, with abundant quotations from J.G. Frazer’s ‘The Golden Bough.’

Plenty of emphasis gets placed on the importance of Banishing Rituals, especially as part of a greater overall Magical Ceremony. But not as much is said about Purification and Consecration, in spite of being integral elements of Ceremonial Magick. Edward Mason and I will take a look at these Magical applications of Water & Fire.

Liber Cordis Cincti Serpente, or The Book of the Heart Girt with a Serpent, is an inspired text written by Aleister Crowley that recounts the experience of union with his Holy Guardian Angel. Michael and I will delve into Chapter Five, along with Crowley’s Commentary on the text to help us elucidate its mysteries.

Jeremy Crow is a longtime proponent and practitioner of Luciferianism, and his Novus Ordo Luciferi and Flambeau Noir initiatives have helped promote the Lightbearer ethos internationally. We’ll chat about Jeremy’s ‘Promethean’ efforts, find out what Liciferianism actually is, as well as discuss the overlap between Luciferianism and Thelema.

When tales tap into the subconscious, their themes can transcend the arbitrary boundaries set by the rational mind. Michael and I will delve into the lore of Twin Peaks, and see if we can read a Thelemic fable into the film, Fire Walk With Me, and the first season and a half of the television series, as we inaugurate our spinnof series, ‘Spinning Stories.’

Liber Resh vel Helios is a Thelemic ritual adoration of the Sun. Performed at the four stations of dawn, midday, sunset and midnight, it is used as a regular Invocation of God-forms and as a mindfulness practice, by Thelemites the world over. Edward Mason and I will chat about this staple Thelemic practice.

Crowley considered Friedrich Nietzsche a prophet and forerunner of Thelema, and Nietzsche looms large at a critical point of transition for Western philosophy. We’ll dive into a chapter from his book Beyond Good & Evil that lays out the evolution of Western philosophy up to his day, and beyond.