J. Daniel Gunther - Initiation in the Aeon of the Child: The Inward Journey

Initiation in the Aeon of the Child is the first publication of some of the oral instructions of the modern AA, the teaching order co-founded by Aleister Crowley in 1906-07 e.v. J. Daniel Gunther writes with clarity, authority and persuasive earnestness about recondite and difficult subjects, such as the evolution of Thelema beyond the dispensation given Aleister Crowley in The Holy Books. He employs copious illustrations to clarify his exposition.

This is one of those rare books that rises, in some passages, to the level of transmitted doctrinal insight. Yet Gunther's writing always remains grounded in sound scholarship, with particular attention to Egyptology and the psychological studies of C. G. Jung and Erich Neumann. The book was written from the standpoint of an experienced teacher. Gunther's collegial writing style is therefore accessible to new students, yet rewardingespecially after repeated readingsto experienced practitioners.

This book is both enlightened and enlightening, and a welcome addition to the post-Crowleyan literature. It is clearly deserving of a place in the curricula of both AA and O.T.O., and it deserves to be welcomed and studied carefully by Thelemites of all persuasions.

HYMENAEUS BETA
Frater Superior, Ordo Templi Orientis

J. Daniel Gunther's writing is rich in symbolic imagery, deftly entwining the mystic language of antiquity with the contemporary spiritual reality at work in the New Aeon, to the end of exploring and unveiling Truth. We find here a coherent and detailed doctrinal explication of Thelema and the changes in the dynamics of consciousness that have been made manifest by the Equinox of the Gods.

JAMES WASSERMAN
From the Introduction

First published in hardcover in 2009 by Ibis Press

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Reprinted in paperback 2014

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Copyright 2009 by J. Daniel Gunther

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from Nicolas-Hays, Inc. Reviewers may quote brief passages.

Materials by Aleister Crowley Ordo Templi Orientis.

JAF POB 7666 NY, NY 10116. All rights reserved.

Hardcover: ISBN 978-089254-145-4

Paperback: ISBN 978-089254-209-3

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Gunther, J. Daniel.

Initiation in the Aeon of the Child : the inward journey / by J. Daniel Gunther.

p. cm.

Includes bibliographical references.

ISBN 978-0-89254-145-4 (alk. paper)

1. Crowley, Aleister, 1875-1947. Book of the law. 2. AA (Order) 3. Spiritual life. I. Title.

BF1301.C7533G86 2009

130--dc22

2008054379

Book design by Studio 31.

www.studio31.com

Printed in the United States of America [VG]

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Aion by C.G. Jung 1959 Bollingen, 1987 Renewed. Reprinted by permission of Princeton University Press.

Anatomy of the Psyche by Edward Edinger 1985 Open Court Publishing Company. Reprinted by permission of Open Court Publishing Company, a division of Carus Publishing Company, Peru, IL.

Psychology & Alchemy by C.G. Jung 1953 Bollingen, 1981 Renewed. Reprinted by Permission of Princeton University Press.

Reading Egyptian Art by Richard Wilkinson 1992 Thames and Hudson Ltd, London. Reprinted by kind permission of Thames and Hudson.

Images of the Tarot Cards from Aleister Crowley/Frieda Lady Harris Thoth Tarot Deck 1944 Ordo Templi Orientis. Reprinted by kind permission of Ordo Templi Orientis.

I would like to thank Frater V.V. for making available needed research materials, offering helpful suggestions and criticism, and for his continuing support and assistance. Frater S.U.A. advised on Latin and Greek translations, and furnished digital copies of the manuscript to expedite editing. John-Peter Lund read each draft of the manuscript, checked citations for accuracy, provided many helpful suggestions, and gently prodded me endlessly over a decade to complete this book. Dr. Harold M. Hays gave advice and assistance with Egyptian translations and etymology, as well as many textual references in papryi, the Pyramid Texts and the Coffin Texts. Dr. Richard Kaczynski provided valuable research assistance. Daniel and Julia Pineda helped with proofreading. Dan Spomer produced all the line drawings and the Rose Cross for the dust jacket. Nicole Laliberte labelled my numerous diagrams. I owe a great debt of thanks to my friend James Wasserman who took upon himself the unenviable task of editing this book in the midst of a heavy schedule. He provided critical and wise commentary, and inspired me to bring it to completion. Thanks as well to Nancy Wasserman for her warmth and hospitality.

I am deeply indebted to my wife for the years of endless patience and countless hours of managing a hectic household to ensure that I had the time to dedicate to this work. Without her support, love and devotion, it would not have been possible. Lastly, I am continually thankful for my three sons, who have been a priceless source of inspiration. They have helped me to understand the Great Work in ways they will never know.

J. DANIEL GUNTHER
August 6, 2005 E.V.

For

M.A.A.T.

who summoned and for

DEBORAH

who waited

N OW INITIATION is, by etymology, the journeying inwards; it is the Voyage of Discovery (oh Wonder-World!) of one's own Soul. And this is Truth that stands upon the prow, eternally alert; this is Truth that sits with one strong hand gripping the helm!

ALEISTER CROWLEY
Little Essays Toward Truth

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

W hen Daniel asked me to write the preface to this book, I was taken aback. The profundity of his insight and understanding, and the extent of his erudition are, frankly, daunting. I didn't know what I could contribute. After much thought, I decided that providing some history and general observations might help give the reader a sense of context for what will follow.

I have said many times that Dan Gunther is the most knowledgeable exponent of Aleister Crowley and Thelema that I have met in my life. This is neither an insignificant nor untested observation. We have been friends for decades. We met as students of Marcelo Ramos Motta, the author of The Commentaries of AL published in 1975. Both of us are members of AA and shared him as our Instructor. When my relationship with Motta collapsed in 1976, Dan and I stayed in touch for some time, until he was ordered to cut contact with me because of my insubordination. I later learned this pained him as much as it did me. He met his own Waterloo with Mr. Motta a year or so later, when he was ostracized under charges as false as those that had been leveled against me.

While we were not in touch for several years, we followed similar paths. We each went into a period of isolation, introspection, and reflection. Where had we failed? Where had we acted properly? Had Motta failed? What lessons were we to learn from our ordeals about the nature of service and the Order? How could we continue the spiritual quest in the face of the catastrophic and traumatic experiences that had occurred?