Celebrating the Thelemic Holidays
Vernal Equinox, 2025 e.v. | ☉︎ in 0° ♈︎ : ☽︎ in 11° ♐︎ : ♃︎ : Ⅴⅹⅰ
March 20th marks the Vernal Equinox and the start of the new year in Thelema. It was on that day, while on his honeymoon with Rose Kelly in Cairo, Egypt, that Aleister Crowley performed an invocation of Horus that led to the reception of the Book of the Law.
On that day each year, Thelemites around the world commemorate not only the start of the new year, but also the start of the New Aeon of Horus.
March 20th also marks the start of the Thelemic Holy Season, which runs for 22 days from the Vernal Equinox to April 10th, the anniversary of the third day of the writing of the Book of the Law.
No doubt many readers are already familiar with most of the holidays that are special to Thelema, but as this most important time of the year approaches, here is a brief overview.
Thelemic Holidays
In the second chapter of the Book of the Law, verses 35-44 call out the major celebrations and holy days of Thelema.
35. Let the rituals be rightly performed with joy & beauty!
36. There are rituals of the elements and feasts of the times.
37. A feast for the first night of the Prophet and his Bride!
38. A feast for the three days of the writing of the Book of the Law.
39. A feast for Tahuti and the child of the Prophet--secret, O Prophet!
40. A feast for the Supreme Ritual, and a feast for the Equinox of the Gods.
41. A feast for fire and a feast for water; a feast for life and a greater feast for death!
42. A feast every day in your hearts in the joy of my rapture!
43. A feast every night unto Nu, and the pleasure of uttermost delight!
44. Aye! feast! rejoice! there is no dread hereafter. There is the dissolution, and eternal ecstasy in the kisses of Nu.
We can attach dates or life events to most of them.
The First Day of the Prophet and his Bride (August 12)
The Three Days of the Writing of the Book of the Law (April 8, 9, & 10)
The Supreme Ritual and the Equinox of the Gods (March 20th)
Feasts for Fire and Water (celebrates a young boy or girl coming of age)
Feasts for Life (celebrating the birth of a child)
Greater Feasts for Death (honoring someone’s passing)
Crowley’s Feasts
Many Thelemites mark Aleister Crowley’s birth and death dates.
Crowleymas (b. October 12, 1875)
Crowley's greater feast (d. December 1, 1947)
The Thelemic Holy Season
The 22 days that fall between the Spring Equinox on March 20th and April 8th (the first day of the writing of the Book of the Law) are celebrated by many Thelemites as the Holy Season. The 22 tarot trump cards and the corresponding Hebrew letters are associated to these days in reverse order from 21 (The Universe) to 0 (The Fool). Additionally, distinct passages from the Class A documents are read on each day.
March 19 Liber VII, "Prologue of the Unborn"
March 20 TAV, The Universe: Liber VII, Cap. 2 (morning); Liber LXV, Cap. 1 (evening)
March 21 SHIN, The Aeon: Liber LXV, Cap. 4
March 22 RESH, The Sun: Liber VII, Cap. 4
March 23 QOPH, The Moon: Liber VII, Cap. 6
March 24 TZADDI, The Emperor: Liber Tzaddi
March 25 PEH, The Tower: Liber VII, Cap. 1
March 26 A'AYIN, The Devil: Liber A'ash
March 27 SAMEKH, Art: Liber ARARITA, Cap. 7
March 28 NUN, Death: Liber Arcanorum
March 29 MEM, The Hanged Man: Liber LXV, Cap. 3
March 30 LAMED, Adjustment: Liber Librae
March 31 KAPH, Fortune: Liber VII, Cap. 3
April 1 YOD, The Hermit: Liber VII, Cap. 5
April 2 TETH, Lust: Liber Stellae Rubeae
April 3 CHETH, The Chariot: Liber Cheth
April 4 ZAYIN, The Lovers: Liber LXV, Cap. 2
April 5 VAV, The Hierophant: Liber LXV, Cap. 5
April 6 HEH, The Star: Liber ARARITA, Cap. 6 (added suggestion: An Account of A.·.A.·.)
April 7 DALETH, The Empress: Liber VII, Cap. 7
April 8 GIMEL, The Priestess: Liber Legis, Cap. I (Nuit)
April 9 BETH, The Magus: Liber Legis, Cap. II (Hadit)
(additional suggestion: Liber Magi)
April 10 ALEPH, The Fool: Liber Legis, Cap. III (Heru-Ra-Ha)
(additional suggestion: Silence)
On March 19th, in honor of the holiday season, I will be sending a post each day to all subscribers showing the tarot card and including the passage from the Holy Books listed above. I encourage everyone to read them, meditate on them as you will, and share them with your loved ones, friends, and enemies.
Love is the law, love under will.
Rex