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Correspondence from David Curwen to Aleister Crowley
7a Melcombe Street, Baker St. NW1
Nov 29th, 1945
Dear Brother Crowley:
This is in reply to yours of the 27th. I know it is energy unnecessary expended again since I will see you before long, but I feel impelled to write you again. Don't bother to reply unless you feel like it. This letter is all about Liber Legis, and in your letter the remarks upon it. Please do not be offended if I say anything to which you cannot agree. I know that for forty-odd years, you have thought upon the subject, and naturally by now you have come to a definite conclusion upon the matter. Indeed, you have come to this conclusion many years ago, so what I say makes no difference.
You say:—"Reflect; the only chance of saving any part of civilization is the adoption of the principles of Thelema." O.K. Let us agree that this is so for the moment, which I do not. Take a cross section of humanity from the most learned to the most ignorant, and tell them "Do what thou Wilt." They will immediately answer, that is what we have always been trying to do. Of course, and finding it impossible. In business everyone is trying to do the same, especially the so-called black marketers.
Now I do not suggest that they are carrying out what you mean in fact, but remember the number of saints among humanity is infinitesimal, and so the principles that you suggest will save civilization NEVER WILL FOR thousands of years more; maybe—when they sprout wings.
Liber Legis; I spent the whole of yesterday evening going through it again and again. I am impressed by one thing only after that. This book was address [sic] to you, personally, and it does not affect anyone else. The news in it was essentially given you. In places it talks about you in the third person, but this is just a manner of speaking. A good deal of it, could only be quite personal to you at the time it was given, and not now. How can it affect humanity?
Maybe you have discovered magic knowledge how to do this, and if you hand it on, others might do likewise; but it can never be of use to anyone else but those who are initiated into the secrets (if there are any that I cannot read into it). Oh I know in a vague way, it refers to the Alchemical experiment; but so do a number of other books that I can mention, but in much plainer language.
To elaborate—I first read Liber Legis in The Equinox many years ago, with your commentary in another Equinox. It struck me as a curious document, certainly, but remained a mystery why you made such a fuss of it. I have read dozens of manuscripts given in automatic writings (I know you claim it was not automatic writing, but what difference how it came) in the same way, often intensely interesting, but never took any more notice of them. They at least had the merit of being in plain language, but Liber AL is far from plain.
Imagine then if I who had studied occult writings for many years was not impressed nor could I understand it, and shrugging my shoulders put it on one side, what hopes have you for the herd to make anything of it, or be of use to humanity?
Then again, now that I follow the gist of it quire easily, and I will be frank, am not impressed; who then could I give your book to feeling it was well bestowed? I am being very honest with you, because I do not want to sail under false colours and you think that I have really realized its importance. Not many months ago, you wrote me in one of your letters that of all the books you wrote, [Liber] Legis was a million times more important than anything else. I had The Equinox of the Gods at the time. At that I got down again to reading and re-reading it. But still I found nothing in it more startling than I had read in many other books hundreds of times before. In despair, and feeling you had auto-suggested yourself into that opinion during the years, I gave the book away.
Yesterday I once again have studied the book. I find now that the promises made to you are amazing, the power promised is terribly fascinating, but it speaks to you only, and any adherents you can find.
But it is my opinion that nothing will come of it all. My reason is, that perhaps in the world today there are about one quarter of a million people interested in occult things. Of these, as I have been at pains to try and find out, a very tiny percentage [have] ever even heard of you for all that you have spent your life in occult work and writing. Of this tiny percentage, a still tinier percentage [have] even heard of The Book of the Law. How then, when they the few who have read it, do not understand what it is all about, can you hope to influence the world with it, unless it be by some wonderful piece of Magic? It would have to be the magic of a God. To me, I must tell you, your claim to have brought about the wars that we have had, or perhaps only helped to bring them about by publishing Liber Legis, sounds absolutely fantastic. As well might a sparrow in my garden claim to destroy London. And then, strangely enough, you are a highly intelligent person, so what makes you speak so—may I say insanely when it comes to this subject?—I do not know. Personally I await further information but can hardly make sense of it all.
You have said, in a previous letter, that I have acted somewhat like a spy or policeman who is trying to find out the truth. So much I will admit, that whereas in every other thing or subject you are so sensible and practical, and your arguments are so logical, in this one thing I have at times felt that I am corresponding with a lunatic; and so I have sort of reserved my opinion and waiting for further information before allying myself with you. But now the die is cast, and I hope for the best.
Why, in this very letter I am answering, you put to me a riddle, or rather put a riddle into my mouth: "Who the hell are you," you say. Well, who are you? I still do not believe that Liber Legis can affect anything. I will tell you as frankly as I am doing now, when I get proof: "Success is your proof." Well let us see, and if you are not what you seem, prove it.
Strangely enough, you have answered my letter in yours before I have written this. You say "I've got it and I am going to stick to it." For this spirit Good luck to you I say, but please realize you have still the task before you of impressing others with its power, before you may expect them to work for it.
And so, "reflect," you advise. I have reflected, and still I cannot see how Liber Legis or even the principles of Thelema will help anyone at all. What is liberty, if not "Do as thou wilt" but as well tell your domestic servant (if you have one) to do as she will, and in all probability you will find her in bed minding her own business, when she ought to be minding yours, with the usual result—trouble.
Enough … Don't hold this against me. I had to tell you.
Yours Fraternally,
D. Curwen
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