The Great Work

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The Great Work (lat: Magnum Opus), within Thelema, is the process of attaining Knowledge and Conversation of the Holy Guardian Angel and learning and accomplishing one's True Will. The concept originates as far back as Medieval alchemy, and came to Thelema through Hermetic Magic informed by the Qabalah.

Table of contents

1 In the Qabalah

2 Eliphas Levi and the Golden Dawn

3 Crowley's Interpretation in the New Aeon

4 References

In the Qabalah

The term "great work" does not exist in classic Qabalistic texts such as the Zohar or Sepher Yetzirah. However, the concept appears in the writings of Qabalists throughout the Rennaisance:

Do not pray for your own needs, for your prayer will not then be accepted. But when you want to pray, do so for the heaviness of the Head. For whatever you lack, the Divine Presence also lacks.

This is because man is a "portion of God from on high." Whatever any part lacks, also exists in the Whole, and the Whole feels the lack of the part, You should therefore pray for the needs of the Whole. (from a disciple of the Kabbalist R. Israel Baal Shem Tov)

The classic Jewish Kabbalist is less concerned about the Great Work as a manifestation of "True Will" than he or she is as a part of bringing the world back to the state which the Creator intended. Thus one finds current Jewish Kabbalistic movements such as the Kabbalah Center in Jerusalem recruiting new "converts" to Kabbalah (such as Madonna) in an attempt to bring each new Kabbalist into their concept of the Great Work. As more individuals come into the Kabbalistic system, the closer the world comes to perfection as was originally conceived in the Kabbalistic scheme.

Eliphas Levi and the Golden Dawn

Eliphas Levi, the first of the modern "ceremonial magicians" and predecessor to the "Golden Dawn" defined the Great Work thus:

The magnum opus is pre-eminently the creation of man by himself, that is, the full and complete conquest which he can make of his faculties and his future; it is pre-eminently the perfect emancipation of his will.

The modern incarnation of the Golden Dawn defines the Great Work as "a term borrowed from alchemy's magnum opus. Refers to the path of human spiritual evolution, growth and illumination, which is the goal of ceremonial magic."

Crowley's Interpretation in the New Aeon

Like the Golden Dawn, Thelemites view the Great Work, at least with respect to the individual magician, as being the quest for Knowledge and Conversation of the Holy Guardian Angel. However, Crowley never lost sight that the individual Great Work contributes ultimately to the Great Work of the Universe:

The first condition of membership of the A.'.A.'. is that one is sworn to identify one's own Great Work with that of raising mankind to higher levels, spiritually, and in every other way. (Magick Without Tears, ch. 9)

It was the practice of Thelemites at the Abbey of Thelema in Cefalu, after "saying Will before Meat," to add the question, "What is the Great Work?" (MTP, ch. 13).

References

Levi, Eliphas. Dogme et rituel de la haute magie, published in English as Transcendental Magic. A.E. Waite, trans.
Crowley, Aleister. (1997). Magick: Book 4. 2nd ed. York Beach, Me. : S. Weiser.
____. (1982). Magick Without Tears. Phoenix, AZ : Falcon Press
____. Liber CXCVII. Sir Palamedes the Saracen Knight "A poetic account of the Great Work and enumeration of many obstacles."

Retrieved from "http://thelemapedia.org/index.php/The_Great_Work"

-<b>The Great Work</b>, in Thelema, is the process of attaining [[Knowledge and Conversation of the Holy Guardian Angel]] and learning and following one's [[True Will]].  The concept originates as far back as Medieval [[alchemy]], and came to Thelema through Hermetic Magic informed by the Kabbalah.
+'''The Great Work''' (lat: ''Magnum Opus''), within [[Thelema]], is the process of attaining Knowledge and Conversation of the [[Holy Guardian Angel]] and learning and accomplishing one's [[True Will]]. The concept originates as far back as Medieval [[alchemy]], and came to Thelema through [[Hermeticism|Hermetic Magic]] informed by the [[Qabalah]].
-==Overview==
-<b>The Great Work</b> (latin:  <i>Magnum Opus</i>) refers in general to the principal goal of the [[Qabalah|Kabbalistic]] or [[Ceremonial]] Magician and specifically to the [[Thelemic Magician]] in the practice of [[Magick]].  Like many other concepts in Thelema, The Great Work is not easily defined.  Some basics are clear, however.
+==In the Qabalah==
-The concept is based on the idea that the Universe as we know it was created in perfection but became imperfect through the actions of humanity.  It is, therefore, the duty of humans to perfect themselves to restore that perfection in the Universe.
+The term "great work" does not exist in classic Qabalistic texts such as the [[Zohar]] or [[Sepher Yetzirah]].  However, the concept appears in the writings of Qabalists throughout the Rennaisance:
-To the Kabbalist, the purpose of Magick is to perfect each individual adept and his or her knowledge of the Universe.  As this happens he or she will bring the Universe one step closer to the state of perfection from which it was originally created.
+:''Do not pray for your own needs, for your prayer will not then be accepted. But when you want to pray, do so for the heaviness of the Head. For whatever you lack, the Divine Presence also lacks.
-To the Ceremonialist and Thelemic Magician, the Great Work is to attain the [[Knowledge and Conversation of the Holy Guardian Angel]]; then to follow the [[Holy Guardian Angel]]'s guidance in carrying out one's [[True Will]].  Because doing one's True Will is the ultimate goal of each individual, this is the Thelemic Magician's fulfillment of the Great Work.
+:''This is because man is a "portion of God from on high." Whatever any part lacks, also exists in the Whole, and the Whole feels the lack of the part, You should therefore pray for the needs of the Whole.''  (from a disciple of the Kabbalist R. Israel Baal Shem Tov)
-==History==
-===Alchemy===
-===Kabbalah===
-The term "great work" does not exist in classic Kabbalistic texts such as the [[Zohar]] or [[Sepher Yetzirah]].  However, the concept appears in the writings of Kabbalists throughout the Rennaisance:
-<i>"Do not pray for your own needs, for your prayer will not then be accepted. But when you want to pray, do so for the heaviness of the Head. For whatever you lack, the Divine Presence also lacks.
-"This is because man is a "portion of God from on high." Whatever any part lacks, also exists in the Whole, and the Whole feels the lack of the part, You should therefore pray for the needs of the Whole." </i>  -- from a disciple of the Kabbalist R. Israel Baal Shem Tov
 The classic Jewish Kabbalist is less concerned about the Great Work as a manifestation of "True Will" than he or she is as a part of bringing the world back to the state which the Creator intended.  Thus one finds current Jewish Kabbalistic movements such as the Kabbalah Center in Jerusalem recruiting new "converts" to Kabbalah (such as Madonna) in an attempt to bring each new Kabbalist into their concept of the Great Work.  As more individuals come into the Kabbalistic system, the closer the world comes to perfection as was originally conceived in the Kabbalistic scheme.
-===Eliphas Levi and the Golden Dawn===
+==Eliphas Levi and the Golden Dawn==
-[[Eliphas Levi]], the first of the modern "ceremonial magicians" and predecessor to the "[[Hermetic_Order_of_the_Golden_Dawn|Order of the Golden Dawn]]" defined the Great Work thus:
+[[Eliphas Levi]], the first of the modern "ceremonial magicians" and predecessor to the "[[Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn|Golden Dawn]]" defined the Great Work thus:
-<i>"The magnum opus is pre-eminently the creation of man by himself, that is, the full and complete conquest which he can make of his faculties and his future; it is pre-eminently the perfect emancipation of his will</i>"
+:''The magnum opus is pre-eminently the creation of man by himself, that is, the full and complete conquest which he can make of his faculties and his future; it is pre-eminently the perfect emancipation of his will.''
-The modern incarnation of the "[[Hermetic_Order_of_the_Golden_Dawn|Order of the Golden Dawn]]," the "Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn (r), defines the Great Work as "a term borrowed from alchemy's magnum opus.  Refers to the path of human spiritual evolution, growth and illumination, which is the goal of ceremonial magic."
+The modern incarnation of the Golden Dawn defines the Great Work as "a term borrowed from alchemy's magnum opus. Refers to the path of human spiritual evolution, growth and illumination, which is the goal of ceremonial magic."
-===Crowley's Interpretation in the New Aeon===
+==Crowley's Interpretation in the New Aeon==
 Like the Golden Dawn, Thelemites view the Great Work, at least with respect to the individual magician, as being the quest for Knowledge and Conversation of the Holy Guardian Angel.  However, Crowley never lost sight that the individual Great Work contributes ultimately to the Great Work of the Universe:
-<i>"The first condition of membership of the A.'.A.'. is that one is sworn to identify one's own Great Work with that of raising mankind to higher levels, spiritually, and in every other way."</i> (<i>Magick Without Tears</i>, ch. 9, "The Secret Chiefs.")
+:''The first condition of membership of the [[A.'.A.'.]] is that one is sworn to identify one's own Great Work with that of raising mankind to higher levels, spiritually, and in every other way.'' (''Magick Without Tears,'' ch. 9)
-It was the practice of Thelemites at the Abbey of Thelema in Cefalu, after "[[saying Will]] before Meat," to add the question, "What is the Great Work?" (MTP, ch. 13).
+It was the practice of Thelemites at the [[Abbey of Thelema]] in Cefalu, after "[[saying Will]] before Meat," to add the question, "What is the Great Work?" (MTP, ch. 13).
-==Sources==
+==References==
 *Levi, Eliphas.  <i>Dogme et rituel de la haute magie</i>, published in English as <i>Transcendental Magic</i>.  A.E. Waite, trans.
-*Crowley, Aleister.  <i>Magick in Theory and Practice.</i>  (in <i>Book Four</i>).Weiser Press, 1994.
+*Crowley, Aleister. (1997). ''Magick: Book 4.'' 2nd ed. York Beach, Me. : S. Weiser.
-*Crowley, Aleister.  <i>Magick Without Tears</i>.  New Falcon Publishing, 1991.
+*____. (1982). ''Magick Without Tears.'' Phoenix, AZ : Falcon Press
-*Crowley, Aleister. Liber CXCVII.  <i>Sir Palamedes the Saracen Knight</i>  "A poetic account of the Great Work and enumeration of many obstacles."
+*____. Liber CXCVII.  <i>Sir Palamedes the Saracen Knight</i>  "A poetic account of the Great Work and enumeration of many obstacles."
-* http://www.hermeticgoldendawn.org/Glossaries.htm . The modern Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn's glossary for definition and discussion of The Great Work and other terms.
 [[Category:Thelemic terms]]