The Mystery of the Letters and The Tree of Life.
York Beach, Maine: Black Jackal Press, 2012. First Edition. Hardcover. Large octavo. (8.75 x 6.75 inches / 220 x 170 mm), xiv + 250pp. Blue natural cloth with spine lettered in gilt, and gilt device on front board. Sewn. Printed on acid free paper. Color frontispiece and illustrations. Numerous black and white illustrations, diagrams and tables in text. The "Blue & Gold Edition," limited to 418 numbered copies, this copy a special "launch copy" SIGNED by Robert Stein on a bookplate affixed to front endpaper. "The Mystery of the Letters and The Tree of Life" is an important contribution to Thelemic literature. It begins with an examination and analysis of the "Class A" texts of the Thelemic canon, with special emphasis on the manuscript and symbolism of "The Book of the Law." The author, Robert Stein, reminds us that the prophet of Thelema, Aleister Crowley, declared that the manuscript of "The Book of the Law" (Liber XXXI) was unequivocally the first and final authority above all other Thelemic literature. He surveys the mysteries and questions it poses, and encourages his readers not just to rely on a typeset version of the text, but also to study a copy of the manuscript, so as to derive a direct and personal understanding from it. He then examines the symbolism of Thelema by comparison to archetypal messages expressed historically through god-forms, kabalah, trigrams (I Ching), Tree of Life models, and alphabets. Stein further proposes a three-dimensional Tree of Life, relates it to Tarot and the paths in Liber 231. The model originates in Liber Trigrammaton and the Cube of Space, but while based on historical material, it approaches the symbolism from a fresh perspective. "The Mystery of the Letters and The Tree of Life" is not an "introductory work" or a "beginner's guide," but a serious and challenging study of a complex subject. The author, Robert C. Stein, is a Professor Emeritus of Biology in the State University System, whose involvement in the study and practice of Thelema spans nearly five decades and travels in five continents. In writing this study he has, as far as possible, approached the texts from a scientific and logical viewpoint, and in most instances has included facsimile excerpts of the pertinent material illustrating the basis of his thought. Please note the natural cloth binding may have minor flecking or variance in color. Out of print and scarce. An "as new" copy, in Fine condition. Item #65039
ISBN: 9780933429260
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