The Vision and the Voice
The Vision and the Voice is a book by Aleister Crowley that chronicles his mystical journey as he explored the 30 Enochian aethyrs originally developed by John Dee and Edward Kelley in the 16th century. The book was first published in 1911.
The book is divided into 30 chapters, each of which recounts one of Crowley’s visions. In each vision, he is confronted by a different entity, who speaks to him about a variety of topics, including the nature of reality, the purpose of life, and the path to spiritual enlightenment.
The book is a complex and challenging read, but it is also a rewarding one. Crowley’s visions are often profound and thought-provoking, and they offer a unique perspective on the nature of the universe and the human condition.
Here are some quotations from The Vision and the Voice that are particularly noteworthy:
- “The universe is a living organism, and all things are interconnected.”
- “The purpose of life is to achieve self-knowledge and to become one with the divine.”
- “The path to spiritual enlightenment is through self-discipline, meditation, and the development of one’s magical powers.”
The Vision and the Voice is a seminal work of occult literature. It has been praised by some for its insights into the nature of reality and the human condition, while others have criticized it for its complex and esoteric language. Regardless of one’s opinion of the book, there is no doubt that it is a powerful and influential work that has had a significant impact on the development of Western esotericism.
Here are some additional quotations from The Vision and the Voice that are worth considering:
- “The universe is a living organism, and all things are interconnected. This is the law of correspondence, which states that there is a correspondence between the macrocosm and the microcosm. The macrocosm is the universe as a whole, and the microcosm is the individual. The law of correspondence teaches us that we can learn about the universe by studying ourselves, and we can learn about ourselves by studying the universe.”
- “The purpose of life is to achieve self-knowledge and to become one with the divine. This is the law of thelema, which states that “do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the law.” The law of thelema teaches us that we are free to create our own reality, and that we should use our freedom to achieve our highest potential.
- “The path to spiritual enlightenment is through self-discipline, meditation, and the development of one’s magical powers. This is the law of theurgy, which states that “theurgy is the art of bringing down the divine into the human.” The law of theurgy teaches us that we can achieve spiritual enlightenment by working with the divine forces that are present in the universe.
The Vision and the Voice is a complex and challenging book, but it is also a rewarding one. Crowley’s visions are often profound and thought-provoking, and they offer a unique perspective on the nature of the universe and the human condition. If you are interested in exploring the occult, then The Vision and the Voice is a book that you should definitely read.