Description

“The book is amazing. … I think Jerry would be pleased. … Christopher is a total surprise for me….” –L.A.

J. Edward “Jerry” Cornelius (1951–2023) spent a lifetime developing Aleister Crowley’s sacred formula of ON—especially the male formula of O. Initially, he channeled his Genius unconsciously. From 1969 to 1976, Jerry flooded notebook after notebook with intriguing—often beautiful—tables, diagrams, and drawings. About his process, he writes:

Volumes upon volumes were produced in these early years. Well over twenty-five. I was such a maniac and obsessed. Some of these notebooks, only numbers 7 thru 11, which are dated from April to December 1976, still survive. … [T]hese years … were truly chaotic on a magickal level, if not seemingly disjointed, but, believe it or not, there was a purpose behind all my madness….

Jerry’s creativity and its New-Aeonic import may be appreciated through a 200-page pictorial work from these years—The Book of Archai. His early inspiration comes into clearer view through the addition of 76 vivid drawings I selected from Jerry’s notebooks of the period. Almost any one of these images could obsess a person for hours.

Having carefully studied The Book of Archai and Jerry’s extant notebooks and diaries, I offer an interpretative framework in “On Creation, Channeling, and the Watchers,” included in this volume. Here I express the underlying synthesis of Gnostic and Thelemic principles that emphasize the importance of achieving Wisdom and Understanding, balancing spiritual and material forces, and embracing the transformative power of the New Aeon. Viewed through Jerry’s productions, our Work in the end is simply to bring Heaven down to Earth.

–Christopher Reed Johnson

Limited to 210 signed, numbered copies, this high-quality hardback signed by Johnson is printed on heavy, glossy paper to present Jerry’s images to their best advantage. 6”x9”. 353 pages.

Topics in “On Creation, Channeling, and the Watchers”:

• The Negative Veils and Creation
• The Elohim, Pi, and the Archai
• Watchers, Nephilim, Gibborim, Et. Al.
• Gnostic Foundations of Thelema
• J. Edward Cornelius’ Gnosticism
• ABRAHADABRA
• Sacred Numbers of Importance to Jerry
• On the Validity of the Tzaddi-Heh Switch
• Aeonic Progression

Bonus Material: “Realms Between” by Jerry Edward Cornelius 1084, published in OTO KAABA, Volume I, Number 2, An. LXXIV Sol in Cancer, Summer 1978 e.v.

REVIEWS:

From Frater RO of Lexington, Kentucky:

The Book of Archai represents a rare accomplishment in occult publishing; Christopher Reed Johnson has continued the research of J. Edward Cornelius, sharing his own resulting unique Gnosis for the benefit of others… The cosmology laid out in “On Creation , Channeling, and the Watchers” in The Book of Archai resonated strongly with me and I loved the synthesis of classical Gnosticism with the New Aeon current.

Moreover, J. Edward Cornelius’ art is worth the price of the book alone.

My book was carefully packaged and came with a magnifier bookmark to help hone in on some of the finer details of the illustrations.

In the end, Christopher introduces us to the fascinating universe of his late Teacher in his Essay while also leaving much for the rest of us to contemplate.

From The Glory of the Stars Kaaba Clerk House on Substack:

“Christopher has produced a beautiful book absolutely worthy of the medieval-manuscript-like Book of Archai of the late Jerry Cornelius. The illustrations and Qabalistic wonders to be found here are seemingly a bottomless treasure trove. In addition, Christopher has written a great essay analyzing some of the material within The Book of Archai with an acute look at the ancient Gnostic tradition and our (Thelemic Initiates) connection to it. This is a must have for any collector.”

Other folks have said:

*“The book is amazing. … I think Jerry would be pleased. … Christopher is a total surprise for me….” –L.A.
*“It’s gorgeous! It’s thought provoking!” –J.T.
*”Just wow! You guys really pulled it off. It’s gorgeous.” –L.D.