Did Aleister Crowley believe in God?
It’s hard to talk about Tarot without Aleister Crowley coming up in the conversation somewhere. Crowley created a philosopy known as ‘Thelema’ and central to it are the Thelemic ‘deities’, Nuit, Hadit and their ‘child’ Ra Hoor Khuit. My friend Aeon shares his personal view on Thelemic Deities and I think it’s one that could also inform contemporary pagan beliefs.
…viewing the Thelemic gods as anthropomorphic, objective realities was a bit of a slippery slope. Instead it’s more useful to view the Thelemic deities as different and specialised expressions of your own HGA [Allison edit: Holy Guardian Angel, or your inner, spiritual Self] .
Nuit is the HGA from the perspective of the Infinite Without, the circumference, the circle. This partial expression is best symbolised by a female goddess.
Hadit is the HGA from the perspective of the Infinite Within, the centre, the point. This partial expression is best symbolised by a male god.
Both of these infinities are un-manifest until they unite and produce a Child. (Note the sexual symbolism) Put the point in the circle and you get the symbol of the Sun - Heru Ra Ha, who is both active and passive - Ra Hoor Khuit / Hoor Paar Kraat - the Hexagram.
All these “gods” are one. Your HGA. The symbolism and message in the Book of The Law is seemingly contradictory and confused because it is trying to express unified, transcendental concepts in the grossly inadequate, contradictory language of human thought. That’s why you have to meditate on it’s meaning, not just read it.
Here is an extract from The Book of The Law where Nuit speaks to us:
60. My number is 11, as all their numbers who are of us. The Five Pointed Star, with a Circle in the Middle, & the circle is Red. My colour is black to the blind, but the blue & gold are seen of the seeing. Also I have a secret glory for them that love me.
61. But to love me is better than all things: if under the night stars in the desert thou presently burnest mine incense before me, invoking me with a pure heart, and the Serpent flame therein, thou shalt come a little to lie in my bosom. For one kiss wilt thou then be willing to give all; but whoso gives one particle of dust shall lose all in that hour. Ye shall gather goods and store of women and spices; ye shall wear rich jewels; ye shall exceed the nations of the earth in spendour & pride; but always in the love of me, and so shall ye come to my joy. I charge you earnestly to come before me in a single robe, and covered with a rich headdress. I love you! I yearn to you! Pale or purple, veiled or voluptuous, I who am all pleasure and purple, and drunkenness of the innermost sense, desire you. Put on the wings, and arouse the coiled splendour within you: come unto me!
62. At all my meetings with you shall the priestess say — and her eyes shall burn with desire as she stands bare and rejoicing in my secret temple — To me! To me! calling forth the flame of the hearts of all in her love-chant.
63. Sing the rapturous love-song unto me! Burn to me perfumes! Wear to me jewels! Drink to me, for I love you! I love you!
64. I am the blue-lidded daughter of Sunset; I am the naked brilliance of the voluptuous night-sky.
65. To me! To me!
