Tonight I decided to embark on a completely ludicrous quest, inspired by the Planet Weird documentary series Hellier that premiered last week. Suddenly, our old saucerian and former OTO clergyman T. Allen Greenfield is back on the scene, along with his pal Terry R. Wriste, the Shaver Mystery, and Greenfield’s infamous Secret Cipher of the UFOnauts.

Greenfield’s book, title aforementioned, is an exploration of what he claims is a secret cipher embedded into Aleister Crowley’s channeled message from ultraterrestrial herald Aiwass, The Book of the Law, or Liber AL vel Legis. Written over the course of three days and nights in a Cairo apartment, Liber AL vel Legis serves as the primary holy text of the Ordo Templi Orientis, or OTO for short. It was long speculated the book contained some sort of secret cipher or code, and work began on decoding it almost from the very beginning, starting with the work of Frater Achad.

As described by Greenfield in his book, the cipher was finally decoded (or so we believe) in 1974 by a group of researchers including Jake Stratton-Kent, based on the curious grid on Sheet 16 of Chapter III in Liber AL vel Legis. It was dubbed the New Aeon English Qabalah, or NAEQ for short.

Greenfield thus applied this knowledge to the high weirdness of the contactee movement and the menagerie of weird alien entities and their vaguely Greek, sci-fi nomme de guerres. As he states in his book:

I had been a UFOlogist for 30 years and a student of the western occult tradition for almost as long before I hit upon a discovery that could completely change forever the way any intelligent student thinks—or should think—about either UFOlogy or the occult. I had long noted, for example, that in the earlier contactee cases, when names were given by the purported aliens for themselves, their home world, etc.,they often were very odd names. I looked many years ago for puns. I mused thatperhaps, for example, Woodrow Derenberger’s 1966 encounter in West Virginia with INDRID COLD from the planet LANULUS had something to do with myth and legend. Jacques Vallee and John Keel had both pointed out the connection withmythic names and legends, and I thought LANULUS might be a play on “LAND YOU LOST” or “LAND YOU LUST” — a reference to Atlantis lore, or legendary shadow lands such as Færie or Magonia. But such answers seemed, like the Masonic 3rd Degree, somehow incomplete.

Greenfield’s hypothesis was that a cipher was purposefully buried into Liber AL vel Legis, which the UFOnauts – or ultraterrestrials – used to communicate symbolically with us and other ultaterrestrials. By calculating the numeric value of a word using the embedded cipher (like INDRID COLD), and then matching up that value with the numeric values of words contained in Liber AL vel Legis, you gain insight into the true nature of the ultraterrestrials and possibly even eavesdrop on their communications with each other.

If you’d like to calculate some words yourself, the NAEQ cipher is as follows:

A=1 B=20 C=13 D=6 E=25 F=18 G=11 H=4 I=23 J=16 K=9 L=2 M=21 N=14 O=7 P=26 Q=19 R=12 S=5 T=24 U=17 V=10 W=3 X=22 Y=15 Z=8

While it’s fairly easy to do this calculation by hand, if you’d like to make a calculator in Google Sheets or Excel to do this for you, this should do the trick. Throw this into cell B2, with your word (lowercase) in A2.

=SUM(1*(LEN(A2)-LEN(SUBSTITUTE(A2,“a”,“”)))+(20*(LEN(A2)-LEN(SUBSTITUTE(A2,“b”,“”))))+(13*(LEN(A2)-LEN(SUBSTITUTE(A2,“c”,“”))))+(6*(LEN(A2)-LEN(SUBSTITUTE(A2,“d”,“”))))+(25*(LEN(A2)-LEN(SUBSTITUTE(A2,“e”,“”))))+(18*(LEN(A2)-LEN(SUBSTITUTE(A2,“f”,“”))))+(11*(LEN(A2)-LEN(SUBSTITUTE(A2,“g”,“”))))+(4*(LEN(A2)-LEN(SUBSTITUTE(A2,“h”,“”))))+(23*(LEN(A2)-LEN(SUBSTITUTE(A2,“i”,“”))))+(16*(LEN(A2)-LEN(SUBSTITUTE(A2,“j”,“”))))+(9*(LEN(A2)-LEN(SUBSTITUTE(A2,“k”,“”))))+(2*(LEN(A2)-LEN(SUBSTITUTE(A2,“l”,“”))))+(21*(LEN(A2)-LEN(SUBSTITUTE(A2,“m”,“”))))+(14*(LEN(A2)-LEN(SUBSTITUTE(A2,“n”,“”))))+(7*(LEN(A2)-LEN(SUBSTITUTE(A2,“o”,“”))))+(26*(LEN(A2)-LEN(SUBSTITUTE(A2,“p”,“”))))+(19*(LEN(A2)-LEN(SUBSTITUTE(A2,“q”,“”))))+(12*(LEN(A2)-LEN(SUBSTITUTE(A2,“r”,“”))))+(5*(LEN(A2)-LEN(SUBSTITUTE(A2,“s”,“”))))+(24*(LEN(A2)-LEN(SUBSTITUTE(A2,“t”,“”))))+(17*(LEN(A2)-LEN(SUBSTITUTE(A2,“u”,“”))))+(10*(LEN(A2)-LEN(SUBSTITUTE(A2,“v”,“”))))+(3*(LEN(A2)-LEN(SUBSTITUTE(A2,“w”,“”))))+(22*(LEN(A2)-LEN(SUBSTITUTE(A2,“x”,“”))))+(15*(LEN(A2)-LEN(SUBSTITUTE(A2,“y”,“”))))+(8*(LEN(A2)-LEN(SUBSTITUTE(A2,“z”,“”)))))

Following is a list of all unique words – and a few whole phrases – along with their numerical values calculated using the NAEQ method. This comes out to around 1294 unique words, give or take. I eliminated the chapter headings (Chapter I, Chapter II, etc) as well as any punctuation, including hyphenated words with the exception of god names and “hawk-headed”. This list is sorted in numerical value, from lowest to highest. There are probably small mistakes here and there.

The intent here is to use this list in conjunction with T. Allen Greenfield’s Secret Cipher of the UFOnauts method, programmatically pulling out all possible subset arrays from values contained in Liber AL vel Legis for values of words calculated using the NAEQ method.

For instance, TERRY R WRISTE would equal 192, the same value as the word SECRET MASTER. INDRID COLD equals 112, which also equals INK AND BLACK, as seen in Hellier.

Unfortunately, as is common in numerology, it would also equal literally tens of thousands of other possible phrases using the key provided here. Probably even more than that. I wrote a program in Java tonight that solves the subset sum problem; I plugged in 192, hit enter, and almost 30 minutes later it’s still spewing out combinations into my console at an eye-watering rate. Needless to say, the smaller the number, the smaller the number of subsets. AJAX, for instance, equals 40, and only has maybe a few hundred or so permutations.

I’m still going to plug away at a possible solution, and I’ll keep everyone posted on progress there. I wish I understood how Greenfield arrives at the values he gets in his book. They all check out numerically and adhere to his method. I suspect his deep familiarity with the text of Liber AL vel Legis and perhaps a dash of PSI helps a lot. It may turn out that calculating this programmatically is a fool’s errand. Still, the promise of unlocking the secrets of the ultraterrestrials is a treasure that’s far too tempting.

Here follows the NAEQ Value Dictionary for Liber AL vel Legis. Have fun, nerds.

a [1], all [5], ah [5], ha [5], as [6], law [6], o [7], was [9], ka [10], had [11], ho [11], oh [11], so [12], sad [12], low [12], do [13], add [13], shall [14], who [14], how [14], also [15], old [15], an [15], war [16], hawk [17], call [18], go [18], or [19], way [19], asar [19], hold [19], show [19], away [20], asks [20], glad [20], and [21], no [21], say [21], on [21], am [22], us [22], why [22], day [22], x [22], hawks [22], i [23], calls [23], fall [23], hard [23], slay [23], now [24], god [24], wand [24], ways [24], dog [24], own [24], glass [24], odds [24], claws [24], of [25], at [25], half [25], look [25], hand [25], whoso [26], gold [26], says [26], son [26], lord [27], always [27], ill [27], days [27], is [28], word [28], can [28], dark [28], woods [28], we [28], holy [28], cold [28], gods [29], he [29], ox [29], isa [29], sky [29], dogs [29], khu [30], will [30], any [30], hands [30], world [30], wanga [30], nay [30], down [30], hail [30], flow [30], drag [30], to [31], work [31], nu [31], good [31], shadows [31], pall [31], soul [31], crawl [31], his [32], last [32], what [32], well [32], lords [32], oil [32], laid [32], door [32], kaaba [32], loud [32], know [33], fold [33], sword [33], hell [33], words [33], hath [33], nor [33], wast [33], aloud [33], seal [33], rays [33], she [34], dew [34], two [34], hast [34], fool [34], long [34], deal [34], by [35], said [35], whom [35], laugh [35], fly [35], hangs [35], man [36], my [36], sun [36], swoon [36], amn [36], shalt [36], goods [36], folk [36], our [36], head [36], mask [36], kill [36], talk [36], souls [36], drawn [36], in [37], for [37], art [37], may [37], pass [37], song [37], avail [37], age [37], swell [37], dusk [37], royal [37], aiwass [38], are [38], joy [38], weak [38], only [38], dead [38], harm [38], hells [38], swords [38], too [38], dwell [38], nia [38], khabs [39], you [39], fools [39], follow [39], task [39], aum [39], lose [39], awake [39], arms [39], full [39], awake [39], shed [40], ye [40], have [40], sake [40], woes [40], gross [40], hair [40], hour [40], cry [40], hardly [40], lurk [40], host [40], altar [40], her [41], whole [41], if [41], save [41], wear [41], doth [41], aye [41], yea [41], awful [41], star [42], kiss [42], sin [42], blood [42], hear [42], skew [42], dost [42], new [42], damn [42], want [42], cross [42], than [43], slave [43], joys [43], book [43], thy [43], foods [43], red [43], cast [43], up [43], does [43], worm [43], back [43], off [43], brass [43], run [43], each [43], din [43], liars [43], love [44], folly [44], wrath [44], fail [44], whose [44], dare [44], play [44], be [45], not [45], fill [45], black [45], end [45], slain [45], woman [46], me [46], few [46], when [46], one [46], swear [46], floor [46], kin [46], sorrow [46], easy [46], ink [46], toy [46], it [47], known [47], stars [47], glory [47], brows [47], which [47], fell [47], wrong [47], bond [47], foam [47], shoot [47], egg [47], use [47], flap [47], cowards [47], him [48], body [48], out [48], lust [48], goodly [48], marks [48], child [48], dove [48], slaves [48], dung [48], called [49], moon [49], key [49], loves [49], jews [49], rose [49], solve [49], alone [49], crown [49], lit [49], meal [49], bid [49], mary [49], thus [50], six [50], rare [50], stand [50], eat [50], send [50], lie [50], axle [50], self [50], dread [50], rain [50], fade [50], again [50], showed [50], harlot [50], coph [50], let [51], many [51], adore [51], your [51], care [51], ones [51], sink [51], sorrows [51], drugs [51], large [51], sorry [51], knew [51], bed [51], island [51], try [51], thou [52], close [52], wilt [52], aeons [52], rich [52], dust [52], done [52], poor [52], its [52], buy [52], push [52], wet [52], nigh [52], the [53], that [53], made [53], sign [53], lazuli [53], dress [53], clear [53], sing [53], tell [53], ordeal [53], cakes [53], over [54], with [54], among [54], soft [54], vault [54], learn [54], four [54], gums [54], pale [54], hate [54], die [54], snake [54], miss [54], chose [54], khut [54], set [54], flesh [54], big [54], both [55], see [55], naked [55], seat [55], east [55], much [55], stands [55], value [55], catch [55], wanded [55], bliss [55], rule [56], yours [56], this [56], lest [56], make [56], lover [56], wise [56], wings [56], chant [56], fear [56], beds [56], still [56], shrouds [56], help [57], hurt [57], saith [57], obeah [57], else [57], lapis [57], west [57], while [57], aught [57], core [57], king [57], canst [57], most [57], around [57], face [57], torn [57], top [57], hadit [58], sweat [58], ordeals [58], from [58], signs [58], house [58], some [58], colour [58], bare [58], drunk [58], droop [58], hide [58], bear [58], abased [58], sparks [58], take [59], once [59], wheel [59], grave [59], reward [59], like [59], kiblah [59], ready [59], men [60], ardours [60], none [60], grades [60], death [60], bosom [60], evil [60], vital [60], live [60], deny [60], gleam [60], veil [60], harder [60], spell [60], get [60], ahathoor [60], cower [60], but [61], name [61], lovely [61], arched [61], choose [61], find [61], amen [61], honour [61], caress [61], rules [61], clerk [61], shape [61], unto [62], sacred [62], bowels [62], found [62], just [62], fellows [62], kings [62], masses [62], fallen [62], tear [62], order [62], hope [62], animal [62], already [62], locked [62], pour [62], tum [62], mongol [62], above [63], azure [63], burn [63], adorer [63], bind [63], leave [63], behold [64], light [64], blue [64], upon [64], pain [64], seek [64], bound [64], drink [64], robe [64], yet [64], languor [64], stir [64], reason [64], fresh [64], weave [64], didst [64], line [64], wheels [64], twin [64], forth [65], globe [65], bend [65], wisdom [65], spells [65], adorant [65], assuage [65], blind [65], pen [65], wine [65], rise [65], water [65], lying [65], more [65], lives [65], honey [65], were [65], heart [66], come [66], earth [66], speak [66], lofty [66], gates [66], means [66], rest [66], charge [66], calling [66], foolish [66], babe [66], here [66], raise [66], mix [66], arise [66], argue [66], then [67], flame [67], obey [67], teach [67], must [67], turn [67], though [67], yearn [67], put [67], arouse [67], sight [67], lift [67], stops [67], masked [67], thrill [67], joyous [67], olive [67], place [67], skies [67], stain [67], headed [67], they [68], chosen [68], into [68], lidded [68], change [68], palace [68], [tzaddi], [68], life [68], burns [68], rapid [68], proud [68], smooth [68], orison [68], dine [68], jesus [68], starry [69], give [69], wife [69], about [69], where [69], saying [69], seen [69], left [69], dying [69], danger [69], gladness [69], spare [69], third [69], warrior [70], bends [70], space [70], chance [70], feel [70], wines [70], absolve [70], second [70], faith [70], women [70], eyes [70], knower [70], truly [70], proof [70], girt [70], beat [70], armour [70], hearts [71], faery [71], style [71], vice [71], limbs [71], surpass [71], globed [71], longer [71], pillars [71], ever [72], other [72], flowers [72], curse [72], kisses [72], open [72], tomb [72], attack [72], chaste [72], power [73], ra-hoor-khu [73], taken [73], great [73], demand [73], store [73], strong [73], runes [73], pit [73], damned [73], feast [73], console [73], cannot [73], fates [73], group [73], thick [73], forge [73], swift [73], holier [73], peck [73], keen [73], under [74], them [74], right [74], gives [74], sense [74], think [74], even [74], doubt [74], spears [74], exalt [74], best [74], assume [74], beast [75], union [75], manyhood [75], aright [75], reveal [75], cube [75], force [75], factor [75], symbols [75], city [75], count [75], abide [75], warriors [75], thing [76], heru-ra-ha [76], five [76], night [76], jewels [76], coiled [76], nine [76], vices [76], withdraw [76], seem [76], gather [77], silver [77], devour [77], stamp [77], enjoy [77], venom [77], nought [77], deem [77], serve [77], curses [77], others [77], double [77], nuit [78], lithe [78], thee [78], mantras [78], fire [78], hidden [78], true [78], willing [78], cries [78], unknown [78], enough [78], feasts [78], test [78], spit [78], heaven [79], state [79], through [79], ritual [79], against [79], consoled [79], higher [79], yonder [79], working [79], abrahadabra [79], homeward [79], worship [80], bring [80], since [80], faint [80], pure [80], fine [80], single [80], beasts [80], beggar [80], length [80], after [80], vigour [80], until [80], bahlasti [80], fight [80], stones [80], isthe [81], knowing [81], things [81], hiding [81], giver [81], stele [81], image [81], steel [81], truth [81], khephra [81], ta-nech [81], indian [81], paste [81], winged [82], scarlet [82], sweet [82], balanced [82], deep [82], first [82], longing [82], money [82], fourth [82], crushed [82], these [83], mine [83], given [83], chief [83], middle [83], shrine [83], dissolve [83], might [83], these [83], success [83], mere [83], rituals [84], hundred [84], been [84], english [84], convey [84], kept [84], naming [84], hawk-headed [84], whence [84], glorious [84], result [85], jasper [85], consoler [85], reign [85], makest [85], visit [85], squared [85], soldiers [85], nemyss [85], knoweth [86], loathing [86], scents [86], bride [86], never [86], beware [86], filthy [86], forbid [86], mercy [86], images [86], throne [86], breath [86], courage [86], creeds [86], every [87], knowest [87], write [87], eight [87], kinsfolk [87], verily [87], armies [87], another [87], weakness [87], fifth [87], green [87], beyond [87], monthly [87], burnt [87], breast [87], fourfold [87], their [88], ecstasy [88], invoke [88], circle [88], nations [88], pity [88], modest [88], blessed [88], master [88], fullness [88], likest [88], breed [88], theban [88], sheets [88], trance [89], sixty [89], headdress [89], spangles [89], obtain [89], cattle [89], there [90], apostle [90], availeth [90], kissing [90], three [90], thine [90], tried [90], peace [90], sunset [90], nowhere [90], flaming [90], unlike [90], suddenly [90], fever [90], paper [90], ompehda [90], answered [91], servant [91], trees [91], veiled [91], within [91], sighing [91], outcast [91], forest [91], spring [91], rightly [91], availest [91], forsaken [91], eagerly [91], leavings [91], appear [91], herself [91], feet [92], accursed [92], pride [92], strange [92], caressed [92], million [92], mockers [92], hither [92], undergo [92], divide [93], apparel [93], time [93], being [93], coiling [93], tahuti [93], thyself [93], listen [93], ordered [93], soften [93], poured [93], unity [93], shameless [93], original [93], ending [93], cometh [94], depart [94], sister [94], bright [94], whereof [94], destroy [94], trodden [94], girders [94], system [95], delight [95], perish [95], servants [96], desire [96], highest [96], confound [96], laughter [96], unfit [96], remain [96], battle [96], winners [96], mingle [96], unveils [96], company [97], nothing [97], bathing [97], desert [97], spices [97], sphere [97], purged [97], giveth [97], itself [97], heathen [97], greet [97], secure [97], readeth [97], tongue [98], fifty [98], scribe [98], covered [98], times [98], lifted [98], strike [98], exhaust [98], delicacy [98], mighty [98], smite [98], cluster [98], eating [98], quickly [98], failure [98], children [99], divided [99], indeed [99], sorroweth [99], strive [99], little [100], queen [100], enter [100], daughter [100], hrumachis [100], adorations [100], deadlier [100], crapulous [100], abrogate [101], remains [101], eleven [101], misery [101], desires [101], mystic [101], mentu [101], achieve [101], divine [101], discover [101], knowledge [102], severe [102], thelema [102], refuse [102], unassuaged [102], eighty [102], beauty [102], leaping [102], begone [102], afterward [102], consume [102], entrap [102], without [102], thebes [103], smelling [103], unite [103], direful [103], seeing [103], friends [103], eternal [103], alphabet [103], disposed [103], standeth [103], speaker [103], lighten [103], tongues [103], bottom [103], secret [104], hoor-pa-kraat [104], wonderful [104], mystical [104], overthrow [104], victory [104], hurting [105], jasmine [105], asecret [105], chapter [105], knewest [105], blessing [105], object [105], convert [105], buddhist [105], revealed [106], starlight [106], concealed [106], because [106], anything [106], mohammed [106], before [107], lambent [107], magician [107], conquer [107], trouble [107], matter [107], beautys [107], silence [107], mistake [108], fortress [108], resinous [108], purple [108], veiling [108], garment [108], stature [108], spelling [108], refuge [108], visible [108], traitors [108], number [109], gemmed [109], hermit [109], whososeeth [109], meaning [109], establish [109], oversee [109], strangely [109], brothers [109], writing [110], stronger [110], greater [110], powerful [110], quarter [110], division [111], invoking [111], people [111], burning [111], trample [111], breathe [111], become [111], thereon [111], empty [111], letter [112], spendour [112], further [112], wretched [112], certain [112], engine [112], centre [113], prince [113], touching [113], pleasure [113], service [113], garments [113], splendour [114], redeem [114], numbers [114], blindness [114], hermits [114], meaneth [114], desolation [114], business [114], hungered [114], forties [114], translated [114], priest [115], thereof [115], unique [115], virtuous [115], meanest [115], ninety [115], quarters [115], alienate [115], shrinking [115], despise [115], writest [116], exceed [116], fierce [116], peoples [116], adulterous [116], hoor-paar-kraat [117], stooping [117], breathed [117], mystery [117], letters [117], burnest [117], rapture [117], refine [117], expound [117], defunct [117], fortify [117], support [117], ankh-af-na-khonsu [118], princes [118], purpose [118], miraculous [118], splendrous [119], creation [119], emblems [119], incense [119], empress [119], strength [119], poverty [119], desirable [119], sweeter [119], promise [119], abramelin [119], moreover [119], utterly [119], blasphemy [119], ra-hoor-khuit [120], overcome [120], especial [120], streets [120], rapturous [121], rejoice [121], delicious [121], mountain [121], torture [121], despised [121], compassion [122], threefold [123], earnestly [123], temple [123], understood [123], revealing [123], pinnacles [123], understand [124], prophet [124], conquest [124], promises [124], thereby [125], comment [125], disappear [125], pointed [125], argument [125], dropping [125], written [125], particle [126], conqueror [126], beetles [126], shattered [126], midnight [126], therein [127], equinox [127], neither [127], untouched [127], throughout [127], torment [127], righteous [128], bes-na-maut [128], wickedness [128], precious [128], prophets [129], exhausted [129], tremble [129], position [129], inviolate [129], multiply [130], equation [130], better [130], spectre [130], printed [130], serpent [131], exorcist [131], supreme [131], passionate [131], forbidden [131], protect [131], enthroned [131], universe [131], love is the law [131], sufferer [132], voluptuous [132], eyesight [132], subtlety [132], dissolution [133], sacrifice [133], perchance [133], undesired [133], laughterful [133], foursquare [133], delivered [134], unattacked [134], inspired [134], expect [135], brilliance [135], between [136], heru-pa-kraath [136], worshipped [137], ultimate [137], vengeance [138], enemies [138], unveiling [139], judgments [139], exposure [139], enginery [139], hierophant [140], eighties [140], beauteous [141], continuous [141], victorious [141], elements [141], uplifted [141], bendingdown [143], perfect [143], worshipper [143], terrible [143], mightier [143], perfume [144], rejoicing [144], innermost [145], invisible [145], presence [145], professional [145], drunkenness [146], hereafter [146], concubine [146], minister [147], extended [147], regretare [147], beautiful [147], presently [148], meetings [148], innocence [148], worshippers [148], love under will [148], perfumes [149], creeping [149], meetest [149], do what thou wilt [149], priestess [150], eighteen [151], certainty [151], lightening [151], therefore [152], intellect [152], performed [152], excellent [152], consciousness [153], thereupon [154], mysteries [155], abomination [155], tenderness [155], intimate [155], everywhere [156], emphatically [157], centuries [158], uttermost [159], abstruction [160], remember [161], sweetnesses [161], reverence [161], eternity [162], infinite [164], beautifully [164], penetrant [165], expected [166], tribulation [167], attribute [170], unimaginable [172], inspiration [172], continuity [174], regenerate [174], existence [176], hierophantic [176], expiration [177], understandeth [177], thelemites [178], complement [178], difference [179], initiating [180], unutterable [181], restriction [182], reproduction [186], magnificent [187], manifestation [200], omnipresence [210], circumference [231], every man and woman is a star [261]