J. Daniel Gunther - The Angel & The Abyss: The Inward Journey, Books II & III: 2-3

The Angel and The Abyss

In this companion volume to Initiation in the Aeon of the Child, author J. Daniel Gunther provides a detailed and cohesive analysis of the two major spiritual crises in the career of the aspirant in the Aeon of the Childthe Knowledge & Conversation of the Holy Guardian Angel and the Crossing of the Abyss between the divine realms and the human. Expounding on the sublime Formulas of Initiation confronting those who would aspire to these Mysteries, the author draws deeply from Jungian psychology, world mythology and religion, and the doctrines of the classic Mystery traditions, explaining how the revelations of Thelema apply to the individual.

In 1904, The Book of the Law declared the advent of a new period in the course of human historythe Aeon of Horus or Aeon of the Child. The doctrine of this New Aeon, codified in the Book of the Law and numerous other Holy Books, is known as Thelema (a Greek word meaning Will). Aleister Crowley was revealed as the Prophet of the New Aeon.

The Angel & The Abyss is written in clear, precise language that will aid those students who seek to navigate the difficult terrain of this advanced stage of the Spiritual quest. More knowledgable students will find tantalizing clues to serve as guideposts and eventual confirmations of their direct experience.

Psychiatrist Carl Jung developed a depth psychological system which embraced the totality of the human experience. The two cornerstones of his theory remain the idea of the collective unconscious, and the Transcendent Function. The former is the storehouse of universal symbols to humanity, the latter is the transformation to the transcendent synthesis after an experiential battle of the war of the opposites [thesis, and antithesis, respectively]. J. Daniel Gunthers opus demonstrates the depth and power of both of these ideas in the realm of spiritual initiation. Each chapter resonates with a harmonic created by the archetypal frequency of the Hebrew letters, themselves representing paths on the Tree of Life. Although Thelemic in tone, this resonance encompasses ideas from the major world religions, and thus a perfect example of the collective unconscious in action. The union of opposites concept permeates every chapter, beginning with life and death as primary oppositions. Jung would have recommended a special active imagine process, especially with dream related material from the unconscious, to provide the setting, space, and energy for the opposites to interact and eventually transform. Such is the format of each chapter of the text, an active exploration of the opposites exemplified by harmonic energy of the Path. The task of synthesis is partially the goal of the author to explicate, but the true synthesis occurs in the reader after deep contemplation of the ideas presented. This is the power of the Transcendent Function in book form: the transformation of the reader who exerts the time and effort to experience the material within. This heartfelt explication of Crowleys work is enlivened by the core of Jungian thought used throughout the exploration.

Gregory P Brown, MD
Associate Professor
University of Nevada School of Medicine
Psychiatry Department

First edition published in 2014 by Ibis Press

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Copyright 2014 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: 978-0-89254-211-6

Ebook ISBN: 978-0-89254-625-1

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Gunther, J. Daniel.

The angel & the abyss : comprising The angel & the abyss and The hieroglyphic triad, being Books II and III of THE INWARD JOURNEY /J. Daniel Gunther. -- FIRST EDITION.

pages cm -- (The Inward Journey; 2)

ISBN 978-0-89254-211-6 (hardback) -- ISBN 978-0-89254-625-1 (ebook) 1. Crowley, Aleister, 1875-1947. Book of the law. 2. AA (Order) 3. Spiritual life. I. Title. II. Title: Angel and the abyss. III. Title: Hieroglyphic triad.

BF1301.C7533G85 2014

130--dc23

2014018862

Every effort has been made to determine the ownership of all photos and secure proper permissions. If any errors have inadvertantly occurred, we apologize and will correct such in subsequent printings.

Please visit the authors website:

www.jdanielgunther.com

Book design by Studio 31.

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Printed in the United States of America [MG]

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I would like to thank all the many friends, colleagues and scholars whose contributions and assistance helped to make this work possible.