Dispersing Copies of Liber ABA
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Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the law.
The thread about the copyrights on A.C.'s writings sparked off this question, but I figure it should be a separate thread:
From my understanding A.C. planned on Liber ABA (Magick, book IV, i-iv) being the straightforward and simple explanation of Magick (and to some degree, Thelema) which was to be, in effect, a means of spreading his teachings (as per the directions of "the entity Ab-ul-Diz")
I'm just curious what others might thing about the conception of using the book (after the apparent 2017 expiry of all copyrights, that is) in such a way, maybe by trying to disperse copies of it for free via whatever available media. Obviously the first issue would be that it would be construed as preaching, but there's also the other argument that others "might choose to abide in this bliss or no, it is no odds" -- meaning it's more about making it available, but not shoving it down people's throats.
Personally, I like the idea of dispersing copies of the "Definition and Theorems of Magick" from the introduction to Part iii, "Magick in Theory and Practice," maybe with Liber OZ attached, and not even really "selling" anything but with the intention of getting people thinking. I wouldn't be so much interested in converting people, but in waking people up to what's already inside them; whether they start calling themselves Thelemites would be beside the point.
Love is the law, love under will.
AL H-ShMATh
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First, I think you mean disbursing instead of dispersing <vbg>.
I don't think of Magick in Theory & Practice as a starter book. If I were structuring all of Crowley's main works into a four year college program, I'd definitely use MTP as a senior-level text (and as one of the bases for a graduate program).
However, Book 4 Parts I & II are definitely foundation, basic introduction texts of the highest sort, and they're already out of copyright.
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I wouldn't consider Magick in Theory and Practice nearly a "beginner's guide" either, but had been reading the "Ab-ul-Diz Working" lately, and that's what brought the subject to mind. As I said, I would personally love to disburse (ahem) the Definition & Theorems, along with Liber Oz -- which I feel are as useful to people who aren't interested in Magick etc. as much as to people who are.