The word exegesis is derived from the Greek exhegeistai which means “to draw out” or “interpret”. It is commonly used in reference to the scholarly explanation or interpretation of Christian biblical scriptures. The principles and techniques of exegesis are not specific to one religion, however, and they can be useful in our work in Thelema in coming to a personal interpretation or understanding of the Thelemic holy books, Hermetic writings, and other esoteric texts we read.
The canon of Thelema’s Class A documents is challenging. Crowley was a highly educated aristocrat and he wrote for a reading audience that he often assumed was on par with his knowledge of culture, history, art, and literature. Add to that, the holy books that are regarded as Class A are received texts that have an obscure if poetic quality. They can provide deep meaning for the Adept in their quest to find True Will and Knowledge and Conversation, so then it only makes sense for us to get the most meaning out of these sacred texts. An exegesis is one method of doing this. If you look into it, there are many different and equally effective methods for doing an exegesis of a piece of writing. I recommend a simple approach.
Invocation
Layered reading (Contiguous, Literal, Figurative, Symbolic, Historical/mythological/literary)
Gematria
Read commentaries
Meditate
Start with an Invocation
Ritualizing the study session with an LRP or an invocation is a perfect way to raise the energy and set the tone before you embark on this task. Invoking Nuit, or the Lord of the Universe, or Thoth seems appropriate. Or, it could be an inspiring or powerful passage from the Book of the Law, or some other inspirational that feels appropriate. Depending on the particular text, you could invoke something elemental or astrological in connection with the reading. These are all just examples. The idea is simply to raise energy and enable inspiration and understanding.
Layered readings of the text
The Holy Books are poetic and dense and multi-layered, and as with any difficult text, it takes many re-readings to help come to an understanding of the content. The process of re-reading with a specific purpose or focus in mind is what is meant by layered reading. The techniques of layered reading may be familiar to those who studied literature and poetry in school. The ones I recommend are: contiguous, literal, figurative, symbolic, and historical.
Contiguous reading means simply to read the text straight through from beginning to end. No pauses to think about it; no analysis; no interpretation. Read it several times. Read it silently. Read it aloud. Read it dramatically as if you are on stage or performing it in ritual. Read it in a foreign accent if you want to. With each reading, play around with the emphasis you put on different words to see how it changes the flow or the feeling. The idea is to get very familiar and comfortable with the text.
A literal reading focuses on the literal meaning of every single word with the purpose of making sure all words are understood, and identifying any words you don’t know. Go through sentence by sentence. Read each sentence on its own apart from the whole. Read each word on its own and make sure all are 100% understood. Take note of any words that have multiple meanings or could have different interpretations. If any words are not familiar, look them up. Starting at the end of a paragraph and reading backwards, one sentence at a time, can help break out of the narrative flow and bring out literal meanings.
Pro tip: Start your exegesis of a text with a contiguous reading because it is essential to be familiar with the writing. The contiguous reading should be followed by a literal reading to identify words and make sure there are no unknown words or phrases. Think of these as the foundation of your exegesis. After that, the layered readings can be of other types and carried out in any order. You may find that one sort of reading will lead to another, or you may need to revisit one type of reading several times as clues and meaning are revealed.
The next technique is a figurative reading. When we read figuratively or abstractly, we are looking for meanings that are implied by the text. The way words are used, or word choice, may allude to something else. There may be metaphorical layers of meaning which would not necessarily be apparent on the surface of a literal reading. One way that figurative or abstract reading comes into play is with words or phrases that have more than one meaning. Another way is to identify a figure or character, or a situation and look for allusions or metaphoric context. Another example is to imply punctuation or add intentional pauses which can change the meaning. These alternative takes lead to secondary interpretations of the text, which can then reveal hidden meanings or subtext.
Aleister Crowley notoriously refers to the sacrificing of children in Book ABA. This is one example where a literal interpretation of his dark sense of humor has led people far astray from what was meant. Writers in the late 19th and early 20th centuries often hid sexual content behind references to blood. See also Stoker’s Dracula where Lucy’s blood transfusions by the men in the story carry a sexual sub-text.
Another example is from III:74 in Liber AL vel Legis: “There is a splendour in my name hidden and glorious, as the sun of midnight is ever the son.” This line contains a number of figurative references. The YHVH formula, Liber Resh, and the O.T.O. third degree ritual come to mind.
Symbolic reading for content is very similar to a figurative read, but relies on established archetypes and symbols. The use of imagery, descriptions, or objects imply a different meaning from the literal one. Symbolic content can often come from commonly known cultural references. An obvious example of the use of symbols in Liber XV the Gnostic Mass is the lance and the cup. Some symbols are commonly used in literature, like grapes or wine can symbolize spiritual ecstasy, or rivers can be a symbol of life or the unconscious. Qabalistic references fall into this category as well.
Finally, read for any historical or mythological or literary references. These are there for a reason. References should be thoroughly identified and studied and understood, as they often add substance and context. Read all the footnotes and follow up on any outside references that are not 100% familiar.
After each layered reading, be sure to write down your findings and discoveries!
Gematria
Gematria can be an interesting and useful way to interpret and find meaning in the holy texts. I won’t go into great detail on technique here as gematria is a broad topic. There are different systems to use, the Hebrew, the Latin Simplex, the English Qabalah, and it is good idea to check more than one for meaning. Having a copy of 777, which contains the Sepher Sephiroth, is critical to the study of gematria. In our magical training, we are well served to learn the Hebrew letters and their meanings and values exactly for this kind of study.
An example of this from I:48 in Liber AL vel Legis: “My prophet is a fool with his one one one; are not they the ox and none by the book?” This complex line makes reference to the value of the Hebrew letters which spell the letter Aleph, the occult meaning of the letter, and the Fool card in the tarot, among other things.
Commentaries
Over the years, many of the holy books of Thelema have been analyzed and interpreted by others. When doing your own exegesis, it can be helpful to read what others have written. Crowley wrote extensively about the Book of the Law in his book The Law is for All. Other commentaries and analyses of these texts are available in print or online as well. The only caution here is to remember that not every interpretation will be 100% true and should be taken with a grain of salt, not as gospel. Let your own inner certainty (leavened by healthy skepticism) guide your interpretations.
Meditate on the text
The last technique is one of meditation. It is good to meditate on the text after having read through it so many times in your analysis. Doing this can bring clarity and focus to your understanding. Just sit for a time and focus on what you read with a quiet and open mind. Let random impressions and associations about the text come to you. Take note of these and make sure you write these thoughts and associations down when you are done.