Konx Om Pax
 Cover of Konx Om Pax by Aleister Crowley | ||
| Author: | Aleister Crowley | |
| Country | United Kingdom | |
| Language(s) | English | |
| Period | Books:20th Century (1900-1909) | |
| Publisher | Walter Scott Publishing Company | |
| Released | 1907 | |
| ISBN-13 | 979-8394909955 | |
Konx Om Pax: Essays in Light is a publication by British occultist Aleister Crowley, first released in 1907.
The title, Konx Om Pax, is a phrase believed to have been uttered in the Eleusinian Mysteries to instruct initiates to depart after completing the tests for admission to the degree of epopt (seer). The origin and meaning of this phrase remain unclear despite numerous theories having been proposed. Feidias Mpourlas suggested that the phrase stems from a misunderstanding of onomatopoeic words found in the entry "κογξ ομοίως παξ" in Hesychius' dictionary, where "ομοίως" might have been abbreviated to "ομ.". S. L. MacGregor Mathers asserted that the phrase originates from Khabs-am Pekht, which in Egyptian translates roughly to "light in extension" or "light rushing out in a single ray"; this meaning is utilized in the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn's Vernal and Autumnal Equinox ceremonies. This interpretation is the one Crowley attributes to the phrase in the book.
The front cover image, featuring the title Konx Om Pax in elongated letters, is said to have been created by Crowley while under the influence of hashish.
Contents
Introduction
- Syncretic materials introduce the work
Ave: in John Dee and Edward Kelley's Enochian language; the Egyptian hieroglyphs for the Stele of Ankh-f-n-khonsu Three full pages of quotations introduce this work, signaling the syncretic intention of the author. Many sacred texts and sources such as Dante, Catullus, and Jesus, are quoted.
- The Wake World
An allegory for the ascent of a magical practitioner through the Kabbalistic Tree of Life, guided by their Holy Guardian Angel (the "Fairy Prince"). After the fashion of Lewis Carroll's Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, Crowley uses the narrative as an explanatory jaunt through this metaphysical schema. It was originally written for Crowley's daughter, Lola Zaza, as a bedtime story.
- Thien Tao, or, the Synagogue of Satan
See also: synagogue of Satan
This parodic essay features a Crowley character (Master Kwaw) as a Taoist advisor to the Japanese "Daimyo" (daimyō) during a time of crisis. Kwaw recommends a course of study in which people will be taught the opposite of their natural tendencies: the prostitute to learn chastity, the prude to learn sexual expression, the religious bigot to learn Huxley's materialism, and the atheist to learn ceremonial magick.
- Ali Sloper, or, the Forty Liars
- A Christmas Diversion
A play that is over-presented with title credits, but is generally a simple dialogue based on Crowley's conversation with a friend and his wife on Christmas Day. With only two main speakers Crowley satirizes himself as "Bowley", with the whole a means to present his inserted essay Ameth. The title is a mock of Ali Baba and the 40 Thieves, a tale from the classic One Thousand and One Nights.
- Stone of the Philosophers Which Is Hidden in the Mountain of Abiegnus
A satirical conversation between a number of men, including "a socialist" and "a doctor", each one contributing a poem into their philosophical debate. Here Crowley takes the stance as "Basil Gray"; the work contains La Gitana, his popular love poem. It is thought[by whom?] that this work was inspired by the Zohar, where each Rabbi would contribute a commentary on the Tanakh.
Editions
- Yoga Publication Society. June 1982. ISBN 0-911662-49-9
- Teitan Press. Reprint edition, March 1990. ISBN 0-933429-04-5
See also
| Ordo Templi Orientis | |
|---|---|
| Outline of spirituality ● List of occult terms ● List of occultists ● Outline of spirituality |
|---|
|
- More information is available at [ Wikipedia:Konx_Om_Pax ]
Chat rooms • What links here • Copyright info • Contact information • Category:Root