The Heart of the Master is a short mystical text written by Aleister Crowley in 1938 while he was in Sidi Bou Said, Tunisia. The work presents a visionary experience in which Crowley proclaims the arrival of the Beast 666 as the Prophet of the New Aeon, governed by Horus, the God of Force and Fire. The text describes spiritual forerunners throughout history who have guided humanity's evolution.
The book is divided into three sections:
Crowley classified The Heart of the Master as a Class B document, meaning it was a work of ordinary scholarship rather than direct revelation. [1] The text contains illustrations of the Tree of Life and the Major Arcana of the Tarot, which serve as meditation aids.
The book was first published in 1938 in a limited edition of 100 copies by Ordo Templi Orientis. in England. [1] A later edition was published by 93 Publishing in 1973, edited by Kenneth Grant. [2] In 1992, The Heart of the Master & Other Papers was released by New Falcon Publications, containing additional essays and editorial notes. [3] In 2017, Hell Fire Club Books published a limited fine edition of 200 copies, bound in half leather and marbled paper boards. [4] [5]
The Heart of the Master is regarded as a significant text in Thelemic literature, offering insights into Crowley's vision of the New Aeon and the spiritual forces guiding humanity's progress. [6]