In Thelema, the Abyss represents a metaphysical concept that signifies the great chasm or void separating the manifest world from its divine source.
[1] Aleister Crowley, the founder of Thelema, extensively explored and integrated this concept into his esoteric teachings, imbuing it with deep spiritual significance.
This journey involves the complete dissolution of the ego and confronting Choronzon, the demon guardian of the Abyss, who embodies the chaotic and fragmentary nature of the mind that resists spiritual unification.
[5] The concept is deeply influenced by earlier mystical and esoteric traditions, particularly those of Jewish Kabbalah and Hermeticism, reflecting a synthesis of ancient wisdom and Crowley's innovative interpretations.
[6] In the Qabalistic Tree of Life, the Abyss is symbolized by Da'ath, the hidden sephira that separates the lower sephiroth from the supernal triad of Kether, Chokmah, and Binah.
[8] The Golden Dawn also adopted and further developed Enochian magic, a system created by Dr. John Dee and Edward Kelley in the 16th century, which involves communication with angelic beings and the exploration of otherworldly realms.
During his exploration of the Enochian Aethyrs in the Algerian desert in 1909, Crowley, accompanied by his disciple Victor Benjamin Neuburg, encountered Choronzon, the demon guardian of the Abyss, an event that became a cornerstone of his metaphysical writings.
[10] In Crowley's Thelemic system, it represents the point at which the individual ego must be completely annihilated to achieve higher states of consciousness and spiritual enlightenment, serving as a prerequisite for assuming the grade of Magister Templi (Master of the Temple) in the A∴A∴.
The concept of the Abyss aligns with the Hermetic idea of the separation between the material world and the divine Pleroma, as well as the Gnostic notion of the soul's journey through various planes of existence.
In the Qabalistic Tree of Life, the Abyss is represented by Da'ath, often considered a non-sephira or hidden sephira, which acts as the threshold between the lower sephiroth and the supernal triad.
[2] In Thelemic symbolism, the Abyss is also related to the concept of Binah, the third sephira on the Tree of Life, which represents understanding and the feminine principle of creation.
Crossing the Abyss and attaining Binah is symbolic of achieving a profound level of spiritual insight and unity with the divine mother aspect of the universe.
[17] The preliminary practices related to the concept of the Abyss in Thelema involve a series of rigorous spiritual exercises and rituals designed to prepare the magician for the crossing.
[20] Next, the Thelemic magician may engage in the Star Ruby, a ritual created by Crowley specific to Thelema, which serves to banish negative influences and establish control over one's environment.
Techniques such as concentration, visualization, and the invocation of deities help the magician develop the mental clarity and strength needed to withstand the chaotic nature of the Abyss.
However, once these skills are mastered, the entire sequence of rituals and practices may also be recapitulated in a single session of magic, allowing for a concentrated and intensive preparation for crossing the Abyss.
Crowley described this state as "a momentary unity capable of sensation and of expression"[13] highlighting the fleeting and unstable nature of the ego as it approaches annihilation.
[2] Crowley often referred to this process using the term Shivadarshana, a concept derived from Hindu philosophy, signifying the vision of Shiva, or the experience of ultimate reality and destruction of the ego.
Crowley discusses Shivadarshana most extensively in his Confessions and in Little Essays Toward Truth, where he equates the annihilation of the ego with achieving a higher state of spiritual awareness.
[28] After successfully crossing the Abyss, the magician attains the grade of Magister Templi and resides in the City of the Pyramids within Binah, the third sephira on the Tree of Life.
Crowley describes this process in The Vision and the Voice where the aspirant's encounter with Babalon and the necessity of surrendering to her power is detailed as a crucial part of achieving spiritual union and transcendence.
This metaphor highlights the process of refining the self, stripping away the illusions and attachments that bind the magician to the material world, and emerging as a more enlightened and unified being.
Crowley described this state as "a momentary unity capable of sensation and of expression",[13] highlighting the transient and unstable nature of the ego as it approaches annihilation.