View this email in your browser Hello <<First Name>>!

Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the Law. Welcome back to Thelema After Tears, issue #6



The world outside feels surreal these days: I have been often wondering lately if historians won't look back at these years, and say that WWIII started in 2016 and was the first fought on a completely different kind of battlefield.



There is no sugar-coating to it: these are difficult times for everyone, and it's in time like these we must find true resilience. Fortitude is one of the the 4 Cardinal Virtues, attributed to the 4 Archangels of the Royal Star Cross: while these are Formulae of the Old Aeon, I would suggest not to scoff at them and learn fully how to channel this very type of energy in the months ahead. GREETINGS OF THE NEW THELEMIC YEAR!



The Thelemic Calendar begins in 1904, the year in which Aleister Crowley received Liber AL vel Legis and inaugurated the New Aeon. The year is written as the number of years since the start of the New Aeon of Horus on March 20, 1904.



Furthermore, the Thelemic year is often written as a pair of numbers, such as IV:15. The first Roman numeral refers to the number of 22-year cycles since 1904. The second number refers to the number of years in the current cycle (0 through 21). Thus, the year IV:15 is (IV times 22) = 88 + 15 = Thelemic Year 103 (2007). Using this system, IV:0 is 1992, IV:1 is 1993, and so on. The letters "A.N." may be appended to the year, signifying "Aerae Novae" or "New Era" in Latin.



Writing the Thelemic year in this manner allows a correlation to be drawn between the year and the trumps of the Tarot, which are numbered from 0 through 21.



Therefore, the current year V:vi may be seen as the year of the Lovers (Card VI) in the cycle of the Hierophant (Card V).



This is without doubts one of the most alchemically-heavy conjunctions you can find in the Tarot, and one that I have very little doubts by now will herald profound changes in society. The Alchemical Opus is one of patience, resilience, and fortitude: once again, we must learn these virtues to see thought the months ahead. BOOK REVIEW:

"The Book Of Babalon"





In this case, the reason is different, and not because this isn't a good read: it most definitely is. A gripping tale of women Adepts channelling the goddess Babalon in order to destroy a patriarchal British state that mirrored even too closely the one we live in right now, with all the right references for those who have a background in magick as the cherry on top of the cake. In more than a couple ways, this novel is the perfect heir to the mind-bending tales of Robert Anton Wilson and Grant Morrison, to quote just two authors that in the past wrote of actual, real magick and actual, real Adepts - maybe just embellishing a thing or two there.



If I were to judge this book on literary value alone, I would give it a resonant 5 starts out of 5: bravo, well done!



However this is more than just a novel, isn't it? The author doesn't hide the fact she herself is a practicing magician, and given her background - and mine, a full-bloodied Thelemite - I simply wish the subject would have been touched on more than one side.



Let me explain.



As you surely know if you follow me, or even if you have just a passing interest in Thelema, the last few year have seen the Current being scrutinised left and right: it all started with



Georgia is in fact quoted as one of the main inspiration for the book.



The intervening two years however have shown how Georgia's writings have taken a turn from the perspective of a neophyte trying to understand Thelema, and wishing to redefine the patriarchal, male-gaze-ridden viewpoint on Babalon inherited straight from Crowley, into a series of rants about "female supremacy" that seem nothing but repurposed



This seems to be precisely the tone of the book, and McKerrow's understanding of Babalon. And I am perfectly fine with it, as long as those who are interested in magick and Thelema realise that this is but one understanding. #NotMyBabalon works in every direction, because Her nature is beyond duality, beyond definition, and pure Annihilation.



This book is as fundamental in telling this truth as were the Operations done by Jack Parsons, Ron Hubbard, and Marjorie Cameron: it's a stark reminder to all the Crowleyites out there that the Goddess Babalon is, simply put, beyond.



I do sincerely hope, however, that also those who came to Her true a more "witchcraft" perspective will not repeat the same error and think of Babalon as only a "patriarchal-smashing feminist power", the way people like Georgia Van Raalte ended up doing.



They might end up sorely disappointed once they truly met Her. I have been going back and forth with reading this review for weeks now: usually that's never a good sign for me, since I find that writing comes either in bursts of enthusiasm or not at all.In this case, the reason is different, and not because this isn't a good read: it most definitely is. A gripping tale of women Adepts channelling the goddess Babalon in order to destroy a patriarchal British state that mirrored even too closely the one we live in right now, with all the right references for those who have a background in magick as the cherry on top of the cake. In more than a couple ways, this novel is the perfect heir to the mind-bending tales of Robert Anton Wilson and Grant Morrison, to quote just two authors that in the past wrote of actual, real magick and actual, real Adepts - maybe just embellishing a thing or two there.If I were to judge this book on literary value alone, I would give it a resonant 5 starts out of 5: bravo, well done! To quote from another review , "...this is a story where triggering content is handled with care. No punches are pulled, but none of the horrors are glorified or dwelt on too much. You know what’s going on. If you’ve been there… you know exactly what’s going on. Too many of us have been there. All the things women are not encouraged to talk about – the blood, and the miscarriages, the shame, the stigma, the desires and the dissatisfaction are in these pages. These are stories we need to tell each other."However this is more than just a novel, isn't it? The author doesn't hide the fact she herself is a practicing magician, and given her background - and mine, a full-bloodied Thelemite - I simply wish the subject would have been touched on more than one side.Let me explain.As you surely know if you follow me, or even if you have just a passing interest in Thelema, the last few year have seen the Current being scrutinised left and right: it all started with a series of articles on Thelemic Union by Georgia van Raalte, aka Shin Melitodes , which rightfully denounced Ordo Templi Orientis as the vile, rape-covering organisation it truly is.Georgia is in fact quoted as one of the main inspiration for the book.The intervening two years however have shown how Georgia's writings have taken a turn from the perspective of a neophyte trying to understand Thelema, and wishing to redefine the patriarchal, male-gaze-ridden viewpoint on Babalon inherited straight from Crowley, into a series of rants about "female supremacy" that seem nothing but repurposed Dianic Wicca for Millennials.This seems to be precisely the tone of the book, and McKerrow's understanding of Babalon. And I am perfectly fine with it, as long as those who are interested in magick and Thelema realise that this is but one understanding. #NotMyBabalon works in every direction, because Her nature is beyond duality, beyond definition, and pure Annihilation.This book is as fundamental in telling this truth as were the Operations done by Jack Parsons, Ron Hubbard, and Marjorie Cameron: it's a stark reminder to all the Crowleyites out there that the Goddess Babalon is, simply put, beyond.I do sincerely hope, however, that also those who came to Her true a more "witchcraft" perspective will not repeat the same error and think of Babalon as only a "patriarchal-smashing feminist power", the way people like Georgia Van Raalte ended up doing.They might end up sorely disappointed once they truly met Her. MAGICK IN PRACTICE



Over to my Patreon I just started a weekly session of magical practice that can be done at home, while self-isolating and waiting for the viral outbreak to subside - and it will.



For just as little as $5 a month you can join us and learn what actual magick is about, what it requires, and how to build up your Body of Light in order to move up and down the Spheres.



Starting this week, we are also starting a live Q&A session on Zoom, to try and keep it as interactive as possible - all while fighting the quarantine boredome. It's a win-win situation!



You can join it by clicking here. Over to my Patreon I just started a weekly session of magical practice that can be done at home, while self-isolating and waiting for the viral outbreak to subside - and it will.For just as little as $5 a month you can join us and learn what actual magick is about, what it requires, and how to build up your Body of Light in order to move up and down the Spheres.Starting this week, we are also starting a live Q&A session on Zoom, to try and keep it as interactive as possible - all while fighting the quarantine boredome. It's a win-win situation! THELEMA 101: THE A∴A∴



The A∴A∴ is a spiritual organisation founded in 1907 and its members are supposed to be dedicated to the advancement of humanity by perfection of the individual on every plane through a graded series of universal initiations. Its initiations are syncretic, unifying the essence of Theravada Buddhism with Vedantic Yoga and Ceremonial Magic. The A∴A∴ applies what it describes as mystical and magical methods of spiritual attainment under the structure of the Qabalistic Tree of Life, and aims to research, practise, and teach "scientific illuminism".



The A∴A∴ claims to have been present in all societies and epochs, although not necessarily under that name.



The A∴A∴ is composed of two Orders, known as the Inner and Outer College. The Outer College in its modern form was formulated in 1907 by Aleister Crowley and George Cecil Jones, claiming authority from Aiwass (the author of The Book of the Law) and other Secret Chiefs of the planetary spiritual order after the schism in and subsequent collapse of the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn at the turn of the Twentieth century.



The principal holy book of the A∴A∴ is the Liber AL vel Legis, whose scriptural title is The Book of the Law, by which name the Book is most commonly known and referred to. There are several other holy books venerated in A∴A∴, which comprise the so-called Class A and AB material.



In 1919 the more commonly known O.T.O. considered itself to be a "close ally" of the A∴A∴, both organisations having accepted the authority of The Book of the Law, although the O.T.O., being a temporal and fraternal society, in no way participates in the A∴A∴'s strictly hierarchic and spiritual initiatory program, nor does O.T.O. represent A∴A∴. or transmit its functions or authority.



The classic account of A∴A∴ is Karl Von Eckharthausen's "The Cloud Upon the Sanctuary", re-issued by the A∴A∴ as Liber XXXIII. BOOK REVIEW:

"One Truth, One Spirit: Aleister Crowley's Spiritual Legacy" In many ways Readdy's MA thesis, now awkwardly extended in a bloated literary offering that goes nowhere titled "One Truth, One Spirit: Aleister Crowley's Spiritual Legacy", is a milestone in the Thelemic community, as it stands as proof of the desperate power-grab being attempted by the same people running the O.T.O. Inc. into the ground for the best part of the last 40 years. Well knowing that they haven't been able to do much in regards to the literary copyrights of Aleister Crowley, having failed to keep titles in print and affordable, now that the same copyrights are finally expiring they are attempting to rebrand themselves as high theologians and shift their interest from one Order (which they basically killed) onto another, hoping to stay relevant and to keep milking the neophyte for subscription fees, lodge dues, and other, less mundane kind of energies. It's telling how most, if not each, of the names "reviewing" this titles are all very active both in Breeze's O.T.O. Inc. and in Gunther's A∴A∴ - a fundamental lesson in self-promotion masquerading as genuine interest from the "academic community". It is also rather damning how Readdy himself goes on several smear campaign against key elements of the Thelemic milieu, such as Jerry Cornelius, spreading lies and, when confronted, only replying by saying that "we" - a collective not really in line with Thelemic ideals, but let's not digress - should better "follow our leaders". The same leaders that proved utterly incapable of manifesting more or less anything for the aforementioned past 40 years, because clearly nepotism and subservience are the kind of traits "we" must enforce also in this new Aeon of the Child (sarcasm intended!) In conclusion, this book does serve a purpose, and that is to finally properly highlight a struggle for survival within Thelema that has been ongoing for the best part of the last decade, and likely even before. I am sure it will help swaying a good number of neophytes towards the "truth" spreading from these pages like a cancerous gangrene, since it provides a simple narrative most sheep can follow: however, I am also confident that innate inability of this cabal of individuals to manifest anything concrete will, once again, be their inevitable downfall. WORK IN PROGRESS

RESCHEDULED: In Conversation with Chris Shelton



In a rather disappointing turn of events, Chris' computer was hit by ransomware last week, a mere day before he was due to publish out 2-hour long chat about Thelema and Scientology. It's important to notice also that this happened right after receiving some "Fair Game" emails from Scientology.



We are now planning to record it all once again, and will keep you posted about all the details of its eventual air date. READING THE TAROT

£30 for a 3-cards spread.

£50 for a half a hour reading.

£100 for a full hour reading.

Payments by PayPal, bookings via email.

Patrons get a discount.



Your reading covers the next three to nine months, and will unfold over that time. To maintain perspective, readings are not given for the same person more than once in three months. I strongly discourage dependent relationships with divinatory consultants. UPCOMING WORKSHOPS @ TREADWELL'S BOOKS 5 MAY 2020 e.v. - Meeting Aleister Crowley

2 JUNE 2020 e.v. - First Steps in Thelema

16 JUNE 2020 e.v. - Thoth Tarot Introduced



Links to purchase tickets will follow as soon as we know how long the rules regarding social distancing need to remain in place.



Please check my website here for more information on each workshop. Links to purchase tickets will follow as soon as we know how long the rules regarding social distancing need to remain in place. WHY THELEMA AFTER TEARS?



Finding a name for a project is one of the hardest things out there: during my years working as a musician and producer, finding a good name for a song or, worse, for a full album, was the true ordeal that would delay the release for weeks, if not months at a time.



Trying to find magical name is twice as difficult, and I must thank my partner Riam for coming up with the best possible descriptor for what I am trying to do here: that is, to not only tell my own story of working with the Thelemic current, and not shying away from highlighting its many shortcomings and the stress and pain that came from dealing with them.

But also, and maybe more importantly, to show that there is a better way to engage with Thelema, away from the tired tropes of Lodges, Orders, and the like.