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Aleister Crowley is a huge influence to me. He lived by his words as best he could and sacrificed a lot in his troubled life to elevate the understanding and practice of magic—the power of manifestation through intent that he used to call "magick".
He is perceived by some as the prophet of a new era in which humans are no longer pedestalizing the feminine, such as the worship of Mother Nature by ancient Pagans, nor the masculine, such as the patriarchal religions that originated in the Middle East, namely Christianity, Islam, and Judaism. In the New Aeon, both sides have a place. Spirituality has to come from various sources. So doctrines and dogmas are not the most important part in Thelema, Crowley's spiritual philosophy and religion.
Then what is the most important part in Thelema? Our cosmic purpose, our path in life, a concept that we Thelemites know as True Will. Not to be mistaken for extreme liberalism, the "everything is permitted" kind of thing. True Will is more powerful than a whim, a mere desire. True Will is supported by love.
The point of Thelema is that we remove social restraints and religious barriers to become more authentic, then practice magick to be in constant tune with our True Will and thus closer to the divine source from which humans emanated. This does not liberate us from responsibility or suffering, but it helps us to understand our place in this vast universe and navigate it.
I am extremely thankful for Crowley and his work, although his personal life was not a model to be reproduced. He was a flawed man with an incredible vocation for religious pursuits. That is how I think of him.
Do what thou wilt.
