Editing Thelema (section)

===Magick===
{{Main|Ceremonial magic}}
[[File:Tree of life wk 02.svg|upright|thumb|The [[Tree of life (Kabbalah)|Tree of Life]], important in the magical order [[A∴A∴]] as the degrees of advancement in are related to it]]
Thelemic magick is a system of physical, mental, and spiritual exercises which practitioners believe are of benefit.<ref>DuQuette, Lon Milo, quoted in {{harvp|Orpheus|2005|p=1}}.</ref> Crowley defined magick as "the Science and Art of causing Change to occur in conformity with Will",{{sfnp|Crowley|1997|loc=Introduction to Part III}} and spelled it with a 'k' to distinguish it from stage magic. He recommended magick as a means for discovering the [[True Will]].{{sfnp|Gardner|2004|p=86}} Generally, magical practices in Thelema are designed to assist in finding and manifesting the True Will, although some include celebratory aspects as well.{{sfnp|DuQuette|1993|p={{page needed|date=November 2021}}}} Crowley believed that after discovering the True Will, the magician must also remove any elements of himself that stand in the way of its success.{{sfnp|Crowley|1997|p={{page needed|date=November 2021}}}}

Crowley was a prolific writer, integrating Eastern practices with Western magical practices from the [[Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn]].{{sfnp|Pearson|2002|p=44}} He recommended a number of these practices to his followers, including: basic [[yoga]] ([[asana]] and [[pranayama]]);{{sfnp|Orpheus|2005|pp=9–16, 45–52}} rituals of his own devising or based on those of the Golden Dawn, such as the [[lesser ritual of the pentagram]], for banishing and invocation;{{sfnp|DuQuette|1993|p={{page needed|date=November 2021}}}} ''[[Liber Samekh]]'', a ritual for the invocation of the [[Holy Guardian Angel]];{{sfnp|DuQuette|1993|p={{page needed|date=November 2021}}}} [[Ceremonial magic#Eucharist|eucharistic rituals]] such as the ''[[Liber XV, The Gnostic Mass|Gnostic Mass]]'' and ''The Mass of the Phoenix'';{{sfnp|DuQuette|1993|p={{page needed|date=November 2021}}}} and ''[[Liber Resh]]'', consisting of four daily adorations to the sun.{{sfnp|DuQuette|1993|p={{page needed|date=November 2021}}}} He also discussed [[sex magic]]k and sexual gnosis in various forms involving [[masturbation]] and [[sexual intercourse]] between heterosexual and homosexual partners; practices which are among his suggestions for those in the higher degrees of [[Ordo Templi Orientis]].{{sfnp|Urban|2006|p={{page needed|date=November 2021}}}}

One goal in the study of Thelema within the magical Order of the A∴A∴ is for the magician to obtain the knowledge and conversation of the Holy Guardian Angel: conscious communication with their own personal [[daimon]], thus gaining knowledge of their True Will.{{sfnp|Whitcomb|1993|p=51}} The chief task for one who has achieved this goes by the name of "crossing the [[Abyss (Thelema)|abyss]]";{{sfnp|Whitcomb|1993|p=483}} completely relinquishing the ego.  If the aspirant is unprepared, he will cling to the ego instead, becoming a Black Brother. According to Crowley, the Black Brother slowly disintegrates, while preying on others for his own self-aggrandisement.{{sfnp|Cavendish|1977|p=130}}

Crowley taught [[scepticism|skeptical]] examination of all results obtained through [[meditation]] or magick, at least for the student.{{sfnp|Crowley|1976b|loc=''Liber O'', I:2-5}} He tied this to the necessity of keeping a [[Magick#Magical record|magical record]] or diary, that attempts to list all conditions of the event.{{sfnp|Crowley|1976b|loc=''Liber E vel Exercitiorum'', section I}} Remarking on the similarity of statements made by spiritually advanced people of their experiences, he said that fifty years from his time they would have a scientific name based on "an understanding of the phenomenon" to replace such terms as "spiritual" or "supernatural". Crowley stated that his work and that of his followers used "the method of science; the aim of religion",{{sfnp|Crowley|1997|loc=Part I}} and that the genuine powers of the magician could in some way be objectively tested. This idea has been taken on by later practitioners of Thelema.  They may consider that they are testing hypotheses with each magical experiment. The difficulty lies in the broadness of their definition of success,{{sfnp|Luhrmann|1991|p=24}} in which they may see as evidence of success things which a non-magician would not define as such, leading to [[confirmation bias]]. Crowley believed he could demonstrate, by his own example, the effectiveness of magick in producing certain subjective experiences that do not ordinarily result from taking [[hashish]], enjoying oneself in Paris, or walking through the [[Sahara]] desert.{{sfnp|Crowley|1909|loc=entries for 2.5 and 2.22 on the Eleventh Day}} It is not strictly necessary to practice ritual techniques to be a Thelemite, as due to the focus of Thelemic magick on the True Will, Crowley stated "every intentional act is a magickal act."{{sfnp|Kraig|1988|p=9}}