The Great Work

Overview

The Great Work (latin: Magnum Opus) refers in general to the principal goal of the Kabbalistic or Ceremonial Magician and specifically to the Thelemic Magician. To the Kabbalist or Ceremonialist, it is the belief that as each magician perfects his or her knowledge of the Universe through the practice of Magick, he or she will bring the Universe one step closer to the state of perfection from which it was originally created.

To the 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.