Aleister Crowley: Lady Babalon and the Abyss

Lady Babylon is a mystical archetype symbolizing the divine feminine, embracing sensuality, wisdom, and transformative power. She embodies the sacred union of opposites, guiding seekers through the mysteries of life, death, and rebirth on a spiritual journey of self-discovery and transcendence.

In this video I discuss the Lady Babalon and the rituals performed by John Dee and his assistant Edward Kelley in 1586 and recreated in 1912 by Aleister Crowley that resulted in the invocation of a redheaded woman and her 7 headed beast.

What is Thelema?

Thelema is a philosophical and religious system developed by Aleister Crowley, an influential occultist and writer, in the early 20th century. The term "Thelema" is derived from the Greek word for "will" or "desire." At its core, Thelema emphasizes the individual's ability to discover and fulfill their true purpose or will in life.

The central tenet of Thelema is encapsulated in the phrase "Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the Law." This statement encourages individuals to embrace and align themselves with their authentic desires and true nature. It promotes the idea that each person has a unique purpose or will, and by discovering and following it, they can achieve personal growth, spiritual development, and contribute to the evolution of humanity.

Thelema encompasses a complex and multifaceted system that draws upon various occult, mystical, and religious traditions, including elements from Egyptian mythology, Cabala, and ceremonial magic.

It incorporates rituals, symbolic practices, meditation, and a moral code known as the "Thelemic Law," which emphasizes the importance of individual freedom, responsibility, and ethical behavior.

Central to Thelema is the value in the divinity and potential greatness of the individual. It promotes the idea that every person has the capacity to connect with their higher self or "True Self" and become a conscious co-creator of their reality.

Thelema has had a significant impact on various occult and esoteric movements and has attracted followers and practitioners around the world. It continues to inspire individuals seeking spiritual and philosophical exploration, self-discovery, and personal empowerment.

Lady Babalon & The Abyss

As I have stated above, Lady Babalon and the Abyss are concepts that originate from occult and mystical traditions, particularly within Thelema, a philosophical and religious system developed by Aleister Crowley.

Lady Babalon, often referred to as the Scarlet Woman, is a symbol of feminine power, sexuality, and spiritual awakening.

In Thelemic cosmology, she represents the divine feminine aspect of the universe and serves as a counterpart to the masculine deity, the Beast or Therion.

Lady Babalon embodies the principles of love, desire, and creative manifestation. She is associated with passion, seduction, and the transformative power of sexuality.

The Abyss, on the other hand, is a metaphorical concept representing a spiritual and psychological realm of deep exploration and transformation. It is described as a state of dissolution, where one confronts and transcends personal limitations, fears, and illusions to reach a higher state of consciousness.

The Abyss is seen as a challenging and intense spiritual ordeal, where the individual confronts their shadow aspects and undergoes a process of ego death and rebirth.

In the context of Thelema, the journey through the Abyss is considered a crucial step toward attaining spiritual enlightenment and union with the divine. It is a transformative and initiatory experience, often associated with the concept of crossing the Abyss to achieve spiritual attainment and the realization of one's true will.

It's important to note that interpretations and understandings of Lady Babalon and the Abyss may vary within different occult traditions and individual practitioners. They can hold deep symbolic and personal significance, representing the exploration of the divine feminine and the depths of the psyche on the path to self-realization and spiritual evolution.

The Abyss & Qabalah

In occult and mystical traditions, the Abyss is a concept that represents a state of spiritual or psychological transformation and transcendence. It is often described as a realm or chasm that exists between the known and the unknown, the finite and the infinite, or the conscious and the unconscious.

The Abyss is considered a profound and challenging stage in the process of spiritual evolution and self-realization. It symbolizes a threshold that individuals must cross in their quest for deeper understanding, higher consciousness, and union with the divine.

Within the framework of certain esoteric systems, such as the teachings of Aleister Crowley and the Hermetic Cabala, the Abyss is seen as a stage in the journey toward spiritual enlightenment.

It is associated with the dissolution of the ego, the confrontation of one's fears, limitations, and illusions, and the potential annihilation of the false self or the persona constructed by the individual.

The experience of the Abyss is often described as intense, disorienting, and transformative. It may involve a profound sense of existential crisis, a dismantling of one's beliefs and identity, and a confrontation with the shadow aspects of the psyche.

The crossing of the Abyss is regarded as a significant spiritual ordeal, where one undergoes a process of ego death and rebirth, emerging with a renewed sense of self and expanded consciousness.

The concept of the Abyss is not limited to a specific tradition but can be found in various mystical and occult teachings. Its nature and symbolism may differ depending on the specific philosophical or spiritual framework in which it is interpreted.

Ultimately, the Abyss represents a state of transition, exploration, and profound transformation on the path to spiritual realization and unity with the divine. It is a realm where individuals confront and transcend their limitations, gaining deeper insights into the nature of existence and the self.

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"The ego is but a mask that veils the true self, and the Abyss is the gateway to its dissolution."

- Dion Fortune

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Working with Lady Babalon

Many believe that ecstasy is the starting-point of Work with Our Lady; they are not wrong, so long as they do not think that ecstasy is found in escape. Work with Our Lady begins with silence, and space - inside, not out.

It requires humility and chastity, and patience. Enduring these things until one hears Her voice is what is often called “Knowledge and Conversation.”

Once this has been achieved, the seeker is ready to approach the Abyss, which is a symbol of the depths of the structures of one’s own Ego, one’s own personality, in the deepest sense.

To progress through Her Mysteries requires the work of complex: the working out and working through of all the cultural conditioning that is carried within your body. The more deep and sacred the line appears, the more thoroughly it must be cleaned.

Remember Her name means ‘wicked’; the work of Babalon is the work of questioning what you were taught to regard as evil.

What is “Evil”?

Thanks to the ministrations of Plato and St Augustine, in western society “evil” can always ultimately be reduced to qualities inherent in the body and flesh; specifically, that it can be corrupted, and that it dies. Yet these same things, when viewed from the perspective of Babalon, are the source of Joy; flesh is temporary, but through our flesh, we can experience divinity, which is infinite.

Our Lady reveals the potential for experiencing this divinity in our physical bodies, something that can only come about after peeling off the layers of shame that we have grown over the years.

Consider her the Goddess of self-examination.

You cannot escape the Abyss while clinging to ego. All the monsters of the Abyss are only distorted reflections and shadows of the inside of your head. Consider your own monsters. From what seed has their monstrosity evolved? Explore the play of shadow to find the light.

Trauma can be a teacher.

It can equally create a prison. Understand the way your own trauma has created a tower, a room with locks and bars. It is not always possible to unlock this room; but recognise that the tower will be destroyed by Her, and all the monsters within shall be released. Accept this as fact. The tower will fall. *The Temple of Our Lady of the Abyss.