The Vibratory Formulae

[Aion]

Exactly as you say. Just look at the big magical circle on the first page. The inverted pentagram represents the dominance of the elements over spirit. Thelema uses many inverted symbols for the purpose of drawing power in to the physical. Although it could maybe be used purely in the right hands it is hard for me to think the technique itself isn't useful only for personal power, as that seems to be the essence of the Thelemic goal.

Ra suggests Crowley was a positive entity who was 'overstimulated' and so fell in to negative patterns. I think that touch of positivity is still in his works and is what attracts so many to it, but I believe it is heavily distorted.

Gurdjieff, whom Crowley greatly respected, considered Crowley a 'black or at least ignorant magician' when he encountered him. It seems that for all the world being convinced of his 'wickedness' he by no means shied away from embracing that power over others, even if he believed it was for their benefit. He took full advantage of peoples' fears.

So, I feel that despite his maybe positive core, I think his teachings are so heavily distorted that even trying to make positive use of them may just lead one in to deception because the system does not appear to be built with that intent. I have met Thelemites on both end of the spectrum though, but only one who is purely Thelemic and seems positive, the others usually are involved in other practices which balances out their Thelemic understanding.