Konx om Pax

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Cover of Konx om Pax by Aleister Crowley.

Thelema Portal

'Konx Om Pax: Essays in Light is a publication by British occultist Aleister Crowley, first published in 1907. The name Konx Om Pax is a phrase purportedly used in the Eleusinian Mysteries. Its companion is Khabs Am Pekht, which in the Egyptian language means roughly "Light in extension" or "Light rushing out in a single ray", used pointedly in the Golden Dawn Vernal and Autumnal Equinox ceremonies.

1 Contents
2 Editions
3 See also

[edit] Contents

[edit] Introduction

A barrage of syncretic materials introduce the work:

the Arabic for Sura 112, al-Ikhlas, from the Qur'an;
Ave: in John Dee and Edward Kelley's Enochian language;
the Egyptian hieroglyphs for the Stele of Ankh-f-n-Khonsu

Three full pages of quotations introduce this work, signaling the syncretic intention of the author. Many sacred texts and sources such as Dante, Catullus, and Jesus are quoted.

[edit] Dedication and Counter-Dedication

The Dedication and Counter-Dedication are perhaps the features of this work that will best interest the casual reader who is not a student of Crowley or ancient languages.

[edit] The Wake World

The Wake World is a disturbingly simple allegory and should inspire any Zelator, and is appropriately called 'a Tale for Babes and Sucklings.' It mocks bad early biologists that ruined the human race ("German" biochemistry) by at one point mentioning roast babies stuffed with sausage and olives. It is also a love story, and should make sinners lament.

[edit] Ali Sloper and the Forty Liars, or a Christmas Diversion

After Dedication and Counter-Dedication and The Wake World (Liber XCV) - Class C there is: Ali Sloper, 'containing an essay on AMTh' (Hebrew for "truth"). It is a play format philosophical essay, and the characters take on an important role in this format. There is even a Mr. "W"... as a character called Bones, and as the Walker family owned the Coca Cola Corporation in the 1800's and that corporation was responsible for the red and white bearded modern day image of Santa, which it started in the 30's, it is indeed an important book.

[edit] Thien Tao (Liber XLI)

Crowley described this as a "Political Essay- Class C". It purports to retell a Japanese legend of some sort; it veers off characteristically into something more or less grotesque by apparently (?!) attempting to palm off Victorian morality onto Crowley's idea of the Other? It has much to do with the Knights of Malta, and their role in the destruction of bad masonic lodges. This is meant to relate to the thing in Asian organized crime called the Red Dragon, which is like a bad lodge that needs to be shut down.