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One of my greatest revelations came when I was simultaneously reading Crowley's Magick and the writtings of St. John of the Cross. I realized that all mysticism was the same, no matter what polarity. The journey of the soul to enlightement is all the same. There are paragraphs between the two that are so similar they could be switched and you would not be able to tell the difference.
Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the LawI came across this post when doing research on Crowley and Virginia Woolf. Your post came up because of your quote in your signature, and while I was not a member of this forum, I decided I would join just to say that I am glad you enjoyed Diary.
I am in fact a member of the Ordo Templi Orientis, OTO, ( usa-oto.org), the organization that Crowley resurrected, and reworked in the early 1900's.
I would also suggest reading his other novel, Moonchild. On the subject of Will. The Will that Crowley refers to (Will or True Will), is much more than the will of the individual. The Greek word Thelema (Will), occurs in the Holy Bible numerous times (any bible reference can help you locate actual pages), usually in reference to the Will of God. The True Will is the individual's "perfect course in nature". It is the path that is most suited to the individual. The belief being that if everyone followed their True Will, there would be harmony. This is reflected as well in the quote "Every man and woman is a star" (Liber AL Vel Legis I:3). Every individual has their own course in Nature. From page 228 of Magick Without Tears, Crowley remarks:
Frater Apollyon, OTOLove is the law, love under WillQuote:
The ideal analogy seems to be that of a planet in its orbit. It has its "true motion"; it meets the minimum of friction from circumambient space. When it suffers the attraction of another body, it sways slightly to make the proper adjustment without effort or argument; it can, consequently, continue indefinitely in its orbit.
This is roughly the plan of the Taiost in his attitude to life. Having ascertained the Path which satisfies the equations of his Nature (as we say, "found his True Will") he continues "without lust of result", acting only when it happens to be necessary to adjust himself to any external stress that affects him, and so proceeds happily.