Is Thelema Too Hard?

Is the complexity of the Thelemic religion its undoing?

Thelema, despite being proclaimed as the wisdom of the New Aeon, the faith for the times of turmoil, strife, and overturning, is not a mainstream religion. Even within the Pagan, and broader western esoteric umbrella, Thelema is rather niche, especially as younger esotericists tend to follow different paths. There are many reasons for this, but one that has been raised by numerous Thelemites online is the take that Thelema is simply too hard. To be clear, there are many reasons why Thelema is not mainstream, and a full analysis of that reality is out of the scope of one singular article, but the truth is, Thelema is not too hard. Or, if it is, people should be forced to rise to the occasion, instead of us making Thelema easier.

Thelema is hard for numerous reasons, but the most obvious one is the reality that the Thelemic Holy Texts, particularly The Book Of The Law, are functionally impenetrable for first time readers who do not have a background in western esotericism. These texts are layered channeled documents that take a solid handle on occult ideas to grasp. They are initiatory in nature, with layered truths obscured deep within them. Even long-time Thelemites do not get everything. It can take decades to even understands them. To be frank, I think this is the most legitimate reason as to why Thelema’s perceived difficulty may limit its growth.

For this reason, I urge all new Thelemites, or Thelema-interested individuals, to start with texts that are not channeled, and are not explicitly holy texts. For instance, reading “Liber ABA” from cover to cover, not exclusively reading Book Four, is an incredible starting point. Alternatively, you can check out contemporary writers who have written explicit introductory/beginner works on Thelema. Or, if you can find a copy, Crowley’s “Magick Without Tears” is an exceptional resource. There are easier, and frankly more productive, paths in. When you take these paths, yes, it is challenging, but it is much less daunting. Thelema is complex, but also the truths are simple at the same time.

Another reason why Thelema is considered hard is that Thelema requires work. It is the Great Work after all, you cannot achieve it without doing great amounts of work. Thelema actually requires daily work if you want to see any real results, any real progress. The thing is, this is not an exclusively Thelemic thing. Pretty much any world religion obligates the same thing, especially of aspiring mystics. I would go so far as to saying that, on this front, Thelema is less demanding than many other religions. For an example, Resh, the Thelemic prayer said numerous times during the day is far shorter than Salat, the Islamic prayer said numerous times during the day. The same is true of Catholics who decide to pray the Liturgy of the Hours. While not all Catholics do that, it does take far longer than Resh, and like that Liturgy, Resh, while valuable, is not obligatory.

Beyond this, Thelema has far less rules than most religions. Thelema has one rule, Will. While Will is a challenge, it obligates the individual to give up, release, and reject every single path, every single moment, and every single thing in life that does not align with their Will, it is actually restrictive. Will is restrictive in the literal sense that it locks you out of some paths, but it is not restrictive in the sense that it has no other laws, it is simply that. Will also, once aligned with, is a flow state, much like the Tao. It is a way of being, and once connected to, is the path of least resistance. Will is letting go, allowing the waters of Nuit to guide you to your destination. Thelema does not have rigid laws on what you can eat, how you can dress, or how you can live. Thelema is far more liberating and freeing than pretty much any religion due to this, there are no Kosher laws of Thelema.

The harsh reality is that Thelema is an easier path than most world religions, if you actually take those religions seriously. The reason why Thelema appears harder, is that many people in those larger religions, simply are not actually following all the rules. The vast majority of Buddhists, Christians, Muslims, and Jews believe in their faith, but do not follow all the rules given to them. This is the human condition. Thelema, since it is so mystically oriented, and those who pursue it, typically, have an esoteric background, selects for people who care more. Most Thelemites are converts, and across all religious traditions, converts tend to follow the religion more closely, fixate on it more, and go harder. Thelema simply does not have normie Thelemites, or not that many of them, we are all devout mystics, not causal adherents. If Thelema ever went mainstream, this would happen to us too.

The response we should have is to keep Thelema as it is, not water it down. There are ways to make Thelema more approachable, and more realistic seeming, than we do now that do not obligate oversimplification. For instance, we could discuss how Holy Guardian Angel (HGA) work looks like for the average person, instead of holding up the Abramelin Ritual as an idol. I have met three people who have done the Abramelin ritual, I have met hundreds of Thelemites who achieved K+C, and did it for real, while living in the world. We could discuss how to adapt Thelemic ritual patterns to the lives of real people, how you can make Resh work with your schedule, while you do your job, and raise children. We can discuss ritual modification, how you can use alternative items, such as tarot cards, to replace expensive ritual items, so that people who cannot afford expensive swords and daggers can still do ceremonial magick.

As well, we can help prepare people better for these harder texts. Instead of telling people to avoid them, or dumbing them down (I think of the cringe-inducing attempt someone did several years ago of rewriting “The Book Of The Law”to be accessible”). We can run reading groups, places where you work through texts together, and discuss them. We can create more introductory material to prepare people to read the hard stuff, not replacing it, but ensuring people have a rock solid foundation, so when they read the holy texts, they don’t get scared off. As well, we can explore alternative community options, such as new ways of running groups, new types of groups, and remote communities for people who live far away from other occultists. In the age of increased connection, it is our duty to connect others to the truth.

For those who, still, feel as if Thelema needs to be dumbed down, watered down, or simplified, I suggest you look at other faiths who have tried this, and see what has happened to them. They become skeletons of what they used to be, or even worse, a version that is hardly spiritual at all, just atheism with an aesthetic to it. We need to be resolute, principle, and genuinely Thelemic, while helping new people come to us, discover what we are, and engage with us. By doing this, we would actually make Thelema more mainstream. This would be especially important amongst gen-z, as gen-z religious and spiritual people do seek out more pure and theistic versions of religions. The gen-x and millennial tendency towards secularized religion that leans on ideas like “spicy psychology” is out of trend, and never served our community well anyways. We do believe this stuff exists, we do believe in the Gods, and we do believe our rituals work. If someone does not hold those points and principles, then of course Thelema is too hard, as there is no Great Work, only Great Work towards vibes.

Push yourself and you will be free.

-GR