Explore every episode of the podcast Darkly Splendid Abodes

The Holy Guardian Angel usually begins to speak with us long before Knowledge & Conversation is attained, but this speech is often fleeting, taking the form of subtle signs, hints and experiences meaningful only to ourselves. Edward Mason and I will discuss this elusive mode of communication and interaction.

In his essay ‘Energized Enthusiasm,’ Crowley posits how the divine creative energy can be tapped into, as a source of power which he calls “genius.” We’ll delve into this elementary treatise on his theory and practice of sex Magick, as we kick off Season 4 of Darkly Splendid Abodes.

The Book of the Law proclaims: “Also reason is a lie; for there is a factor infinite & unknown”. What is this “infinite & unknown” factor? And how does it undermine the faculty of reason? Edward Mason and I will discuss this apparently ineffable concept, as we skirt the pit of because and flirt with the dogs of reason, in this, the final episode of our third season.

As we bring Season 3 to a close, Michael and I will once again reflect on our favourite episodes, as well as what we foresee for Season 4, in what’s fast become the least-listened-to episode of every season: the Check-in episode.

Divination can be a means of obtaining guidance from forces beyond oneself. But even if one chooses the psychological model of the Universe, it can suggest insights not readily available to the conscious mind. The following workshop, presented as part of an ongoing monthly series in Toronto, explores the Divination methods of Tarot, the I Ching and of Geomancy.

Warnings about the dangers of Magick practice, and the preference for the apparently safer path of Mysticism, were as present in Crowley’s day as any other. We’ll take a deep-dive into Crowley’s rebuttal in his paper, ‘The Dangers of Mysticism.’ And we’ll compare with a more modern paper from a famous 'scientific' publication.

In 1916 era vulgaris, Swiss psychiatrist Carl Jung channeled what would become known as The Red Book. The visions captured in this book culminate in the appended Seven Sermons to the Dead. Edward Mason and I will discuss these Gnostic-flavored sermons, and examine some of the similarities they share with the themes of The Book of the Law.

In 8 Lectures on Yoga, Aleister Crowley attempts to pare away the gaudy veneer, and dispel the fog of superstition, that commonly obscures the fundamental practices of Yoga. We’ll pick up where we left off in one of our first ever discussions, as we return to explore more of the 8 limbs.

Often Crowley speaks of his different Magical Mottos as though he’s referring to different individual people, from Frater Perdurabo to V.V.V.V.V., even distinguishing his mundane self as “the man Crowley”. Edward Mason and I will discuss this “Adept Self” and how it relates to the Thelemic system, and to occultism in general.

In Magick Without Tears, Aleister Crowley talks about The Three Schools of Magick, which seem to be differing philosophical perspectives on the Universe. But they also seem to represent three factions of Magicians, each of which attempts to guide humanity based on their respective philosophical conclusions. We’ll take a deep-dive into the relevant chapters as we revisit this book.

Ascended Masters? Discarnate beings? Living people hidden amongst the crowds? Crowley makes frequent reference to the Secret Chiefs, and their purported guidance of humanity by various means. Edward Mason and I will take a look at just what these entities are, and what can we say about them.

Aleister Crowley took an ancient Rite of Exorcism and repurposed it as an Invocation of one’s Holy Guardian Angel. The resulting small book, Liber Samekh, also contains elucidating commentary on the nature of the Knowledge and Conversation, and on Magical Practice in general.

Patricia Crowther is hailed as one of the mothers of modern Witchcraft. Initiated by Gerald Gardner and taking the Craft Name of “Thelema,” she went on to be a key promoter of Wicca and defender of the practice of Witchcraft. We’ll learn more about this icon and prolific author, as Rosemary Stehlik and I resume our study of Women of the Occult.

In the system of Thelema, the Black Brotherhood and the Left-Hand Path are technical terms with specific connotations. But it’s not uncommon for people to run fast and loose with these terms, flinging them as insults at others, or making assumptions about their meaning. We’ll dive into Chapter 12 from Crowley’s book Magick Without Tears to find clarification on the subject.

Music from Seasons 1, 2 & 3 of the Official Podcast of Toronto Thelema, Darkly Splendid Abodes. TorontoThelema.org

Michael and I look back at our discussions this season: Crowley’s Introduction to the Book of the Law, Liber Reguli: the Ritual of the Mark of the Beast, & CommentaryFrater Achad’s Liber 31, Chapter 7 of The Equinox of the Gods, The appendix of Achad's Q.B.L., and Chapter 5 of Achad's The Egyptian Revival. We'll also reply to some of the comments we've received, and reflect on where we see the series going in the future.

The Star Sapphire is Aleister Crowley’s spin on the Hexagram Ritual of the Golden Dawn. First appearing in his little book of meditations entitled The Book of Lies, Falsely so-called, it joins The Star Ruby and the Mass of the Phoenix as rituals commonly associated with the Thelemic corpus. Edward Mason joins me to discuss this so-called ‘real snd perfect Ritual of the Hexagram.’

Rosaleen Norton was an Australian artist who revelled in her public image as the Witch of King’s Cross. But behind this public persona was a deep and serious practitioner of Magick and mysticism. Rosemary Stehlik and I will attempt to peer into the true nature of this visionary, as well as the Pan-inspired imagery of her art, as we continue our look at Women of the Occult.

The Book of the Law made the bold claim that there was "one to come" after Aleister Crowley who would "discover the key of it all." When Charles Stansfeld Jones (aka Frater Achad) discovered the keyword "AL", it seemed to fit the bill, and Crowley was convinced this was his Magical Child predicted by the Book. Join us for Part 2 of our dive into Jones' Liber 31, wherein he expounds upon the spiritual breakthrough that led to the discovery of the Word, and the various ways the Keyword "opens the Book of the Law like a flower," to paraphrase Crowley.

For the Magician who sets out to cross the infamous Abyss, there awaits on the other side either a place in the City of the Pyramids as a Master of the Temple... or madness amongst the so-called Black Brotherhood. But just what is this Abyss of which we speak? I discuss the topic with Edward Mason in this second of a two-part series.

Liber V, or Book 5, is a Magick Ritual invoking the energies of the New Aeon, and its appended commentary elucidates Aleister Crowley's method of piercing beyond good and evil. We'll take a deep dive into this important Thelemic text.

For the Magician who sets out to cross the infamous Abyss, there awaits on the other side either a place in the City of the Pyramids as a Master of the Temple... or madness amongst the so-called Black Brotherhood. But just what is this Abyss of which we speak? I discuss the topic with Edward Mason in this first of a two-part series.

The Thoth deck is one of the most famous and influential Tarot decks ever put together, and the artist behind its explosively energetic and colourful cards was Lady Frieda Harris, a long-time friend and collaborator of Aleister Crowley. We’ll pay homage to this artist, author and mystic, as Rosemary Stehlik and I continue our look at Women of the Occult.

Aleister Crowley strives to lay out the circumstances surrounding the reception of The Book of the Law in part 4 of Book Four: The Equinox of the Gods. We'll deep-dive into Chapter 7, exploring some of the proofs and synchronicities surrounding this supernaturally-delivered text.

I'm joined by Rosemary Stehlik in this inaugural episode of Women of the Occult, a series where we explore and honor the prominent and influential women who have shaped occult thought and magical practice throughout history.

We'll begin with a look at Dion Fortune, influential author and founder of a Temple system.

Edward Mason and I discuss the complex god-form in The Book of the Law, Heru-ra-ha, and the corresponding Gods Hoor-paar-kraat and Ra-Hoor-Khuit, all of which fall under the umbrella of the God Horus. We'll take a look at Liber 418: The Vision & the Voice for further insight into the nature of Horus.

The Introduction written by Aleister Crowley for the Book of the Law might be described as "Thelema in a nutshell." We'll dive in and attempt to unpack this brief text.

Edward Mason and I build on our previous discussion on the subject of Color and its use in various Tarot decks and in Magick. We also drift into some tangential subjects of a Magical nature.

Michael and I look back at the texts we've delved into through our Deep Dip discussions so far, and reflect on how we've benefited from this project.

Aleister Crowley's translation of the Tao Teh King

Liber de Lege Libellum

Jack Parsons' essay, 'Freedom is a Two-edged Sword'

and Lecture Four from pt.I of Crowley's Eight Lectures on Yoga

Plus, our thoughts on secondary Thelemic texts, and our suggestions for newbies.

Edward Mason joins me to discuss the use of Color in Qabalah, the Tarot, and Magical and Meditation Practices in general.

We revisit the essay by Jack Parsons, delving into the remaining two chapters that we didn't get to last time, and more fully exploring the paper's goal of clarifying the nature of freedom and rallying women to take up the two-edged sword of freedom.

Today my guest and I chat about being in a position of responsibility towards others, whether as a parent, caregiver, etc, and how this relates to the personal Will.

This time, we dive into one of the lectures in Aleister Crowley's Eight Lectures on Yoga. The first half of the book, 'Yoga for Yahoos,' is based on the the practices of Yoga themselves, and we'll be looking at Lecture Four of that part, which focuses on Asana & Pranayama (loosely, 'Posture' & 'Breathing').

Building on our previous discussion on visualization and mental focus in Magick Ritual, EDWARD MASON and I explore various practical considerations and anecdotes from experience.

This time, we dive into the essay on Freedom by notorious Thelemite and one of the founding members of the Jet Propulsion Laboratories (JPL), Jack Parsons. This rallying cry for the freedom of the individual, the emancipation and empowerment of women, and the defence against tyrannies hiding behind the fraudulent application of the terms 'freedom' and 'liberalism' seems perennially relevant. We'll unpack Thelemic themes and undertones as we dip deeply...

Edward Mason and I discuss the role and importance of Mental Focus and Visualization in Magick and mystical practices.

We take a deep dive into this little book on the Law and its four Rays: Liberty, Love, Life and Light. Essentially Crowley's distillation of the Law of Thelema, it's an easily overlooked but incredibly concise guide to Crowley's philosophy.

Anxiety about pestilence, war, famine and climate crisis abounds. How does the Book of the Law counsel us? It doesn't give easy answers... and that's the point. EDWARD MASON and I discuss the challenges of confronting the darkness.

In the first of our Deep Dip series, where we take a deep dive into a particular book or subject, we examine Crowley's translation of the Tao Teh King of Lao Tzu, examining it on its own merit, as well as comparing it with the translation of James Legge, which was the version Crowley was working from.

In our inaugural episode, I discuss mental health as it pertains to Golden Dawn-style Initiatory Orders with EDWARD MASON, former Warden of the Temple of Our Lady of the Stars.

Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the Law.

On Friday, August 5th anno Vviii, Episode One of Darkly Splendid Abodes, the official podcast of Toronto Thelema, will air.

‘The method of science; the aim of religion’; that’s the motto on the cover of the Equinox, and that sums up what this podcast sets out to explore.

Featuring discussions on the practices of Magick and mysticism, as well as deep-dives into occult books and subjects.

Released at Midnight on the 1st and 3rd Fridays each month, and available on Spotify and various other streaming services.

We’ll set out to explore the nature and powers of the mind, as well as what lies beyond its limits.

Love is the law, love under will.