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| Liber OZ encapsulates Crowley's vision of a society where individuals are free to pursue their ] without external interference. It remains an essential document within Thelemic practice, continuing to influence contemporary interpretations of Crowley's work and the broader movement of modern ]. This declaration stands as a profound statement on the intrinsic rights of individuals, reflecting Crowley's enduring commitment to personal and spiritual liberty.{{sfnmp|1a1=Kaczynski|1y=2012|2a1=Pasi|2y=2014}} | Liber OZ encapsulates Crowley's vision of a society where individuals are free to pursue their ] without external interference. It remains an essential document within Thelemic practice, continuing to influence contemporary interpretations of Crowley's work and the broader movement of modern ]. This declaration stands as a profound statement on the intrinsic rights of individuals, reflecting Crowley's enduring commitment to personal and spiritual liberty.{{sfnmp|1a1=Kaczynski|1y=2012|2a1=Pasi|2y=2014}} | ||
| ==Historical context== | |||
| Liber OZ was written during ], a period characterized by intense global conflict and significant social upheaval. This era's historical backdrop is essential for understanding the urgency and significance of Crowley's message. The war influenced Crowley's emphasis on individual rights and freedoms, as he witnessed widespread violations of human liberties under various totalitarian regimes, most notably those led by Adolf Hitler.{{sfnmp|1a1=Kaczynski|2a1=2012|2a1=Pasi|2y=2014}} | |||
| ]'s regime was notorious for its severe persecution of various minority groups, including ], ], and political dissidents. Particularly relevant to Crowley's work, the ] regime also aggressively targeted the ]. Thousands of gay men were arrested, and many were sent to ], where they faced brutal treatment and death. Crowley, who was openly ], found this persecution particularly abhorrent.{{sfnp|Churton|2012}} | |||
| The impact of World War II on personal freedoms and the oppressive nature of many wartime governments inspired Crowley to create a text that explicitly delineated the rights he believed were fundamental to every individual. During this time, Crowley was actively involved in promoting his philosophical and spiritual ideas, making Liber OZ a critical document in his later work.{{sfnp|Pasi|2014}} | |||
| Crowley's involvement with ], a ] dedicated to the study and practice of esotericism and Thelema, was instrumental in the formulation of Liber OZ. The principles articulated in this text draw heavily from earlier initiation lectures and teachings within O.T.O., reflecting Crowley's long-standing commitment to these ideals.{{sfnp|Churton|2012}} | |||
| ==Provenance== | ==Provenance== | ||
Revision as of 22:22, 14 July 2024
Declaration of rights of man"Liber OZ", also known as "Book 77", is a single-page declaration authored by the English occultist Aleister Crowley in 1941. This text, pivotal in Crowley's philosophy of Thelema, delineates the fundamental rights of individuals as viewed through the lens of that spiritual and social movement which he founded in the early 20th century. Thelema emphasizes the principle of individual will as its core tenet.
Liber OZ is divided into five succinct paragraphs, each addressing different aspects of human rights: moral, bodily, mental, sexual, and the right to safeguard these freedoms, including the controversial assertion of tyrannicide. Crowley's aim was to encapsulate the principles of Thelema in a manner that was direct and accessible, describing the "O.T.O. plan in words of one syllable". It is one of the last and shortest of the books known as the Libri of Aleister Crowley.
The creation of Liber OZ took place during the tumultuous period of World War II, underscoring the significance Crowley placed on the assertion of personal liberties amidst global conflict. This historical backdrop highlights the urgency of Crowley's message. The text draws from earlier initiation lectures and teachings within Ordo Templi Orientis (O.T.O.), a fraternal organization focused on the study and practice of Western esotericism and Thelema.
Liber OZ encapsulates Crowley's vision of a society where individuals are free to pursue their True Will without external interference. It remains an essential document within Thelemic practice, continuing to influence contemporary interpretations of Crowley's work and the broader movement of modern occultism. This declaration stands as a profound statement on the intrinsic rights of individuals, reflecting Crowley's enduring commitment to personal and spiritual liberty.
Historical context
Liber OZ was written during World War II, a period characterized by intense global conflict and significant social upheaval. This era's historical backdrop is essential for understanding the urgency and significance of Crowley's message. The war influenced Crowley's emphasis on individual rights and freedoms, as he witnessed widespread violations of human liberties under various totalitarian regimes, most notably those led by Adolf Hitler.
Adolf Hitler's regime was notorious for its severe persecution of various minority groups, including Jews, Romani people, and political dissidents. Particularly relevant to Crowley's work, the Nazi regime also aggressively targeted the LGBTQ+ community. Thousands of gay men were arrested, and many were sent to concentration camps, where they faced brutal treatment and death. Crowley, who was openly bisexual, found this persecution particularly abhorrent.
The impact of World War II on personal freedoms and the oppressive nature of many wartime governments inspired Crowley to create a text that explicitly delineated the rights he believed were fundamental to every individual. During this time, Crowley was actively involved in promoting his philosophical and spiritual ideas, making Liber OZ a critical document in his later work.
Crowley's involvement with Ordo Templi Orientis, a fraternal organization dedicated to the study and practice of esotericism and Thelema, was instrumental in the formulation of Liber OZ. The principles articulated in this text draw heavily from earlier initiation lectures and teachings within O.T.O., reflecting Crowley's long-standing commitment to these ideals.
Provenance
Crowley wrote the piece for Louis Wilkinson in order to convey as simply as possible the "O.T.O. plan in words of one syllable" broken down into "five sections: moral, bodily, mental, sexual, and the safeguard tyrannicide...".
References
Citations
- The Equinox: The Review of Scientific Illuminism, Samuel Weiser, 1990, page 144
- ^ Sabazius X°. "Observations on Liber OZ".
- Kaczynski (2012); Churton (2012).
- ^ Pasi (2014).
- ^ Churton (2012).
- Kaczynski (2012); Pasi (2014).
- Kaczynski sfnmp error: no target: CITEREFKaczynski (help); Pasi (2014).
- Crowley, Aleister; Desti, Mary & Waddell, Leila (2004) . "Editor's note to p. 689 Appendix VIII". In Hymenaeus Beta (ed.). Magick : Liber ABA, Book 4, parts I-IV (2nd. revised ed.). York Beach, Maine: S. Weiser. p. 788. ISBN 978-0-87728-919-7. OCLC 316894481.
Works cited
- Churton, Tobias (2012). Aleister Crowley: The Biography: Spiritual Revolutionary, Romantic Explorer, Occult Master and Spy. Watkins Media. ISBN 978-1-78028-384-5.
- Kaczynski, Richard (2012). Perdurabo: The Life of Aleister Crowley (rev. & exp. ed.). North Atlantic Books. ISBN 978-1-58394-576-6.
- Pasi, Marco (2014). Aleister Crowley and the Temptation of Politics. Taylor & Francis. ISBN 978-1-317-54630-6.