2.2 Citing Thelemic Hierological Texts

Thelemic hierological texts are usually cited by abbreviated title and internal division rather than by page number. This allows readers to locate the passage across different editions, printings, and digital formats. For student papers, use the standard abbreviation for the text followed by chapter and verse, paragraph, section, or another stable division as appropriate.

Cite chapter and verse with arabic numerals separated by a colon. Do not write out the numbers.

  • Right: Cor 2:17
  • Wrong: Cor chapter two verse seventeen

When citing a range of consecutive verses, use an en dash between the first and last verse. Do not use a hyphen.

  • Right: LLL 4:3–5
  • Wrong: LLL 4:3-5

When citing a precise part of a verse, add a lowercase letter immediately after the verse number. These subdivisions are called verse segments.

  • Right: AL 1:40c
  • Wrong: AL 1:40 c
  • Wrong: AL 1:40, part c

A range may include verse segments when needed.

  • Right: AL 1:40b–c
  • Right: Cor 3:12c–13
  • Right: Tza 1:6–7a

Use verse-segment letters only when the reference requires that level of precision or specifically indicated by an editor.

When citing several passages from the same text, separate references within the same chapter by commas. Separate references to different chapters with semicolons.

  • Right: Cor 1:5, 9; 2:17–18; 3:12
  • Wrong: Cor 1:5; Cor 1:9 and Cor 2:17-18

When citing multiple Thelemic texts, repeat the abbreviation for each new text and separate the references with semicolons.

  • Right: AL 1:40; Cor 2:17; Por 1:3–5
  • Wrong: AL 1:40, Cor 2:17 and Por 1:3-5

When the title of a text appears in ordinary prose, write the title out rather than using the abbreviation. Use the abbreviation only for parenthetical references, notes, and compact citations.

  • Right: Liber Cordis Cencti Serpente uses rich symbolic language to describe the relation between the adept and the divine.
  • Right: The phrase appears in the second chapter of Liber Cordis Cencti Serpente (Cor 2:6).
  • Wrong: Liber LXV uses rich symbolic language to describe the relation between the adept and the divine.

Do not italicize or place quotation marks around titles or abbreviated references for Thelemic hierological texts.

  • Right: Liber AL vel Legis
  • Right: AL 1:40
  • Wrong: Liber AL vel Legis
  • Wrong: “Liber AL vel Legis”
  • Wrong: AL 1:40

Editorial notes, introductions, commentaries, and annotations printed with a hierological text are not part of the hierological text itself. Cite such material as the work of the editor, commentator, or annotator whenever that information is available. In those cases, give the relevant bibliographic information for the edition in which the note or commentary appears.

For example, a citation to Liber AL vel Legis itself may use only the abbreviated text and verse reference. A citation to an editor’s note on Liber AL vel Legis should cite the editor, note, page number, and edition. The same distinction applies to commentaries, marginal notes, introductions, appendixes, and explanatory essays printed with the text.