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Liber AL Study Guide
Chapter I
| Verse | Reference | Context |
|---|---|---|
| AL I, 1–2 | ||
| AL I, 3 | Let there be no difference made | In relation to ideas of “equality” |
| Stoicism and Thelema | ||
| What's the point of it all? | In relation to perceived “greatness” of others | |
| True Will | In relation to the “core individuality” from whence comes the will | |
| The Method of Love | In relation to the model of the self as “an aggregate of experiences” | |
| AL I, 4 | Let there be no difference made | In relation to the incommensurability of individual things |
| The Small Cards of the Tarot | In relation to the infinite variety of existence | |
| AL I, 5–7 | ||
| AL I, 8–9 | The Khabs is in the Khu | A full examination of this verse showing how the interests of the self can diverge from the interests of its “vehicle” |
| True Will | In relation to the “core individuality” from whence comes the will | |
| The Small Cards of the Tarot | In relation to the “Veil of Paroketh” | |
| AL I, 10 | Thelema, libertarianism, and politics | In relation to a patriarchal rather than a classically libertarian or democractic system of politics |
| The vice of kings | ||
| AL I, 11 | ||
| AL I, 12 | The Method of Love | In relation the doctrine of “love” as “Expansion … in all directions equally” |
| AL I, 13 | The Khabs is in the Khu | In relation to the doctrine of creation for the purposes of generating experience |
| Thelema and attainment in a nutshell | ||
| AL I, 14–21 | ||
| AL I, 22 | Let there be no difference made | A full examination of this verse describing the Thelemic practice of perception without discrimination |
| The Method of Love | In relation to the doctrine of “love” as “Expansion … in all directions equally” | |
| Sin and salvation | In relation to the opposing Christian doctrine of “sin” | |
| Sun enters Ascendant of Pisces | In relation to desires and expectations, and the difference between the Pagan and Christian outlooks | |
| Restriction | In relation to the idea of “interference” as an error of understanding | |
| The Small Cards of the Tarot | In relation to the Six of Wands of the Thoth Tarot Deck | |
| The Small Cards of the Tarot | In relation to the Two and Three of Swords of the Thoth Tarot Deck | |
| AL I, 23–28 | ||
| AL I, 30 | The Khabs is in the Khu | In relation to the doctrine of creation for the purposes of generating experience |
| The Small Cards of the Tarot | ||
| True Will | In relation to the rejection of a “cosmic plan” account of creation | |
| The Small Cards of the Tarot | In relation to the Five of Wands in the Thoth Tarot Deck | |
| AL I, 31 | The Khabs is in the Khu | In relation to the doctrine of creation for the purposes of generating experience, to suffering, and to the “problem of evil” |
| Sin and salvation | In relation to similarities with James' idea of “healthy-mindedness” | |
| The vice of kings | In relation to the Thelemic attitude to compassion | |
| AL I, 32 | The vice of kings | In relation to the Thelemic attitude to compassion |
| AL I, 33–39 | ||
| AL I, 40 | True Will | In relation to the “true will” |
| The Ethics of Thelema | In relation to the ethics of Thelema | |
| Thelema, libertarianism, and politics | In relation to the difference between the right to do the will, and the right to do anything that causes no harm | |
| Because, because, because, because…! | In relation to the “pit called Because” of AL II, 27 | |
| AL I, 41 | The Ethics of Thelema | In relation to the ethics of Thelema |
| Restriction | In relation to the restriction of the wills of others | |
| The Method of Love | In relation to the doctrine of “love” as “Expansion … in all directions equally”, and on “innocence” as freedom from morality | |
| Sun enters Cadent of Pisces | In relation to the idea of “purpose” — in the sense of AL I, 44 — as a “restriction” | |
| The nature of love | In relation to the idea of morality as a “restriction” and “love” as its solution | |
| The path of least resistance | In relation to the idea of the lack of “restriction” equating to “the path of least resistance” | |
| The Small Cards of the Tarot | In relation to the Eight of Wands of the Thoth Tarot Deck | |
| AL I, 42 | The Ethics of Thelema | In relation to the ethics of Thelema |
| True Will | In relation to the rejection of a “cosmic plan” account of creation | |
| Thelema, libertarianism, and politics | In relation to the difference between the right to do the will, and the right to do anything that causes no harm | |
| Sun enters Cadent of Pisces | In relation to the idea of “purpose” — in the sense of AL I, 44 — as a “restriction” | |
| Sun enters Ascendant of Aries | In relation to a similarity to the Taoist idea of “The empire [as] a sacred vessel” | |
| The path of least resistance | In relation to the idea from Magick Without Tears that “about 90 percent of Thelema … is nothing but self-discipline” | |
| AL I, 43 | The Ethics of Thelema | In relation to the ethics of Thelema |
| Permanence | In relation to the idea that performed actions cannot be undone | |
| No other shall say nay | A full comment on this verse and on the idea of “opposition” to the will | |
| Thelema, libertarianism, and politics | In relation to the difference between the right to do the will, and the right to do anything that causes no harm | |
| AL I, 44 | Lust of result | A full explanation of “lust of result” |
| Striving for attainment | In relation to the alluring nature of the search for “attainment” | |
| Because, because, because, because…! | In relation to the “pit called Because” of AL II, 27 | |
| Sun enters Succedent of Pisces | ||
| The path of least resistance | In relation to the idea of will as “the path of least resistance” | |
| The three dimensions of will | ||
| Sun enters Cadent of Pisces | ||
| What's the point of it all? | On the value of a life without “purpose” | |
| The Small Cards of the Tarot | In relation to the Two of Wands in the Thoth Tarot Deck | |
| AL I, 45–56 | ||
| AL I, 57 | The Method of Love | In relation to the notion of “love” being an opening up free of restriction |
| A Short Definition of Love | ||
| The nature of love | In relation to the idea of morality as a “restriction” and “love” as its solution | |
| Let there be no difference made | In relation to the idea of false perception as a “restriction” and “love” as its solution | |
| The Small Cards of the Tarot | In relation to the Ten of Cups in the Thoth Tarot Deck | |
| The Small Cards of the Tarot | In relation to the Ace of Swords in the Thoth Tarot Deck and the element of air in general | |
| AL I, 58 | What's the point of it all? | In relation to the “certainty” of mortality and the “peace unutterable” of death, and comparisons with the reality of eternal life |
| AL I, 59–60 | ||
| AL I, 61 | Sin and salvation | In relation to the satisfaction of the “carnal self” in preference to an arbitrary moral code |
| AL I, 62–66 | ||
