#aiwass

[magicaltrevah]

On Crowley's Probable Namesake and What it Might Mean for S3: an Occult-Flavored Speculative Waffle

I have not come across nearly enough (read: any) metas that address this reference, so I figured I'd try my grubby little hyperfocused hands at it.

Disclaimer: the author is availing themself of decades-old secondhand knowledge of occultism, Thelema, practical magic etc. and is not claiming to be an expert on any of it by any means.

Crawly's namesake has a pretty straightforward source. He squirms at people's feet. His demonic aspect is a snake. Everything checks out. (In the book it's kind of hilarious.) When he changes it, though, his choice is honestly quite interesting. Aziraphale just assumes he would have changed it to something much grander and (for the audience) more steeped in extant demonological lore; however, we obviously don't get a Crowley, demon or otherwise, in biblical canon.

Granted: one could take the Occam's Razor approach and figure that our thin dark Duke just wanted something similar enough to not cause confusion (although avoiding causing confusion seems incredibly out of character for Crowley). I've also read some excellent metas that posit that Crowley changed his name to reflect the events of the Job minisode, taking inspiration from the bleating crows and what they meant for his developing relationship with Aziraphale.

HOWEVER.

This is a Main Character in a Fictional Novel. Look how much thought went into naming Aziraphale, for example. A portmanteau of Azaria (Raphael's human disguise) and Raphael himself. One could also argue that his name was chosen to resemble Israfel, from Islamic tradition: the angel tasked with sounding the trumpet before the Day of Judgment. And I've only scratched the surface. Layer city, names.

I would argue that Crowley's intended namesake was Aleister Crowley (1875-1947): author, magician, philosopher, medium, and often vilified in the public eye as "the wickedest man in the world". He is perhaps best known for his Liber AL vel Legis, or the Book of the Law, for which he received inspiration while on his honeymoon in Egypt in 1904. He claimed that an ethereal being by the name of Aiwass (or Aiwaz) appeared to him and dictated the entirety of the book to him, and the description of said ethereal being is Very Interesting Indeed:

"The voice was passionately poured, as if Aiwass were alert about the time-limit […] (always too late) The voice was of deep timbre, musical and expressive, its tones solemn, voluptuous, tender, fierce or aught else as suited the moods of the message. Not bass – perhaps a rich tenor or baritone. [...] He seemed to be a tall, dark man in his thirties, well-knit, active and strong, with the face of a savage king, and eyes veiled lest their gaze should destroy what they saw. [...] (EXCUSE ME TF) [...] Aiwass was an "angel" such as I had often seen in visions, a being purely astral.[6]

It's our good lad (sorry, neither)!

I have two theories about this. One: Aiwass directly inspired the character of Crowley. Two: Aiwass directly inspired the character of Crowley AND contains clues about the remaining plot points.

Here are my best guesses as to the latter...

Thelema, or the belief system that sprang up around Historical!Crowley and the Liber AL, describes a way of being called Love under Will. To explain this very clumsily and inexpertly, this state can be thought of as a distillation of one's higher nature, essence, purpose, and identity as applied to the material and spiritual realms, without outside motivation or interference. Combining Love and Will is implied to be the purest and most powerful possible calling an individual can have. Performing magic would not be out of the question in this status, even for a mortal.

There is also this very easily misunderstood quote: "Do what thou Wilt shall be the whole of the Law." I believe this resembles Janthony's vision for humanity. Not just "do whatever you want" (although he'd probably enjoy the chaos for a bit) but "go forth, have free will, fulfill your highest purpose without interference from any sides".

He wants to dismantle the system, but more than that: he wants to free humanity to do beautiful things. Make beautiful things. Fulfill the precious, peaceful, fragile purposes that only each individual knows about, and some keep hidden even from themselves.

The Starmaker wants to teach humanity to make stars. After all, it's been in his nature all along.

("Every man and every woman is a star" - Liber AL, ch. 1 v. 3)

[doomedandstoned]

Austin’s AIWASS Resurrect  Scottish Folk Song ‘Cruel Brother’ in New Single

~Doomed & Stoned Debuts~

By Billy Goate

Artwork by gozien_crayon

It has been estimated that some four million new songs are being released into the world of sound every year. Certainly, it's been hard -- neigh, impossible -- to keep up with all the new albums churned out just in the doom scene. As a consequence, it is all too easy to loose touch with the great songs of the past. I'm not talking about songs from the '70s, '80s or '90s, but those written generations and generations ago, stretching back into Medieval and Renaissance times.

That's why it's so refreshing to encounter a band taking on an old Scottish ballad like the one before us. Taking a cue from Battlefield Band, the traditional folk group who brought "Cruel Brother" to a wider audience decades ago, Austin, Texas band AIWASS gives this tragic tale a unique twist.

Dark, moody synthesizer surrounds the senses as the track begins, as if to transport us hundreds of years into the past to a scene unthinkable: a dying bride, a spiteful brother, a grieving knight, and an atmosphere teeming with sadness and revenge. Gently plucked mandolin strings cross with acoustic guitar. Misty, forlorn vocals tell the tale of love found and lost, eventually engaging the full powers of the doom metal quartet, complete with foreboding drums and bluesy, bittersweet guitar riffs.

Frontman Blake Carrera comments:

The themes of the song, despite being an old Scottish ballad, are quite familiar to listeners of doom and metal in general: love, lust, violence, and loss. By reinterpreting this song, we hope to bring the past into the future. The screams at the end of the song are not just an identification that this is “blackened doom”; they are also the screams of loss and sadness that are perpetuated throughout time by all of us.

Aiwass caught my ear during the pandemic, when we premiered and gave a detailed review of their first LP Wayward Gods. Since then, the band has expanded with founding member Blake Carrera (vox, guitar, mandolin, synth) joined by Eddy Keyes (vox, acoustic guitar, bass), Pablo Anton (guitar), and Grant Husselman (drums). As a result, the Aiwass sound has evolved into something wonderfully nuanced and altogether powerful.

"Cruel Brother" will be issued as a standalone single on Friday, March 28th (get it here). Fans of Green Lung, take notice

Give ear...

AIWASS - Cruel Brother

Follow The Band

Get Their Music

LYRICS

[Verse 1] There were three ladies played at baw Hey wi the rose and the linsey o But a knight cam by, played ower them aw Doun by the greenwood sidie o

[Verse 2] This knight bowed low tae aw the three Hey wi the rose and the linsey o But tae the youngest, he bent his knee Doun by the greenwood sidie o

[Verse 3] O lady fair, gie me your haun' Hey wi the rose and the linsey o And I'll mak ye lady ower aw my land Doun by the greenwood sidie o

[Verse 4] Sir knight, ere you my favour win Hey wi the rose and the linsey o Ye maun gain consent ower all my kin Doun by the greenwood sidie o

[Verse 5] He gained consent fae her parents dear Hey wi the rose and the linsey o And likewise fae her sisters fair Doun by the greenwood sidie o

[Verse 6] He's gained consent ower all her kin Hey wi the rose and the linsey o He forgot tae speak tae her brother John Doun by the greenwood sidie o

[Verse 7] When the wedding day was come Hey wi the rose and the linsey o This knight would take his bonnie bride home Doun by the greenwood sidie o

[Verse 8] Her mother led her through the closs Hey wi the rose and the linsey o And her brother John stood her on her horse Doun by the greenwood sidie o

[Verse 9] He took a knife baith long and sharp And he stabbed the bonnie bride tae her heart

[Verse 10] Lead me tae yon high, high hill Hey wi the rose and the linsey o And I'll lie doun and I'll mak my will Doun by the greenwood sidie o

[Verse 11] And what will ye gie tae your brother John Hey wi the rose and the linsey o The gallows tree for tae hang him on Doun by the greenwood sidie o

[Verse 12] And what will ye gie to your brother John's wife Hey wi the rose and the linsey o The wilderness tae end her life Doun by the greenwood sidie o

[rosario-aurelius]

Aiwass in Theory and Practice

Thelema is a living religion based on the pursuit of one’s will with measured steps of devotion. In terms of religion, it is a new religion that embodies the philosophies of religions past by raising them up, tearing them down and creating a new foundation out of the bones of religions past. Its more primary concepts were presented in The Book of the Law. The Book of the Law, channeled and…

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[unuhadity]

[marisburyc]

[azazael93]

[trap-of-the-day]

Today’s trap of the day is: Aiwass from Toaru Majutsu

[occultvisions]

MARCO VISCONTI TALKING ABOUT LAM, ALEISTER CROWLEY, KENNETH GRANT, AIWASS, CROSSING THE ABYSS AND AEONICS. HIS THOUGHTS, NOT MINE, VERY INTERESTING.