In many Thelemic circles, Liber Resh vel Helios is treated as one of the most important daily practices. It’s simple, structured, and tied to the sun, which makes sense, given the significant solar symbolism present in Thelema. Crowley praised it often, calling it a way to stay aligned with the divine energy of Ra-Hoor-Khuit throughout the day.
But let’s be honest. For a ritual that takes less than a minute four times a day, Resh sometimes gets a little too much attention. It’s often presented as a core marker of whether someone is “serious” about Thelema as if doing it regularly automatically means you’re deeply engaged with the path. That’s not only inaccurate, it’s limiting.
There’s nothing wrong with Resh on its own. When done with intention, it can be beautiful. Pausing to greet the sun, to recognize something larger than yourself can be grounding and energizing. It can help establish rhythm, especially in a world that constantly pulls us in different directions. But if we’re being honest, how often do people really stop and mean it when they do Resh? How often is it rushed or half-hearted, just another task on the to-do list?
The other problem is that Resh often ends up replacing deeper work. It’s easy to feel like you’re doing enough by showing up four times a day and saying a few lines. But if you never take time to sit with your shadow, to reflect on your True Will, or to engage with the harder aspects of magick, are you really growing? Resh can feel like spiritual discipline, but sometimes it becomes a distraction, a way to avoid the more uncomfortable, personal work that real transformation demands.
Also, not everyone connects with solar imagery. For some people, the sun doesn’t feel like a source of power or clarity. Some people work better at night or live in places where the sun isn’t always visible. Others have irregular schedules that make strict timing difficult. Does that mean they’re not real Thelemites? Of course not. Thelema is about discovering and living your own Will, not forcing yourself into someone else’s mold.
Crowley contradicted himself often, and even though he talked up Resh, he also emphasized personal experience and self-direction. If Resh helps you focus and connect, keep it. But if it doesn’t resonate, you have every right to set it aside and find what does.
Thelema isn’t about copying Crowley. It’s about being fully yourself. Rituals are tools, not chains. If Resh helps awaken your True Will, use it well. If it doesn’t, let it go without guilt.
Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the Law.
