Aleister Crowley
Aleister Crowley (1875-1947) was a British occultist, mountaineer, poet and provocateur — one of the most influential and controversial figures of the modern Western occultism. Founder of Thelema (his proposed magical-philosophical religion), creator of the Thoth tarot, prolific author of fundamental texts of 20th century ceremonial magic.
Biography
Born Edward Alexander Crowley in Leamington, England, in a wealthy family of Plymouth Brethren strict Christians. Rebelled against family conservatism in adolescence. Studied at Cambridge. Joined the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn in 1898 (where he met Yeats, A.E. Waite and other notable occultists), but soon broke with the order due to personal conflicts. Travelled extensively: Sri Lanka studying Buddhism, China, Egypt (where his decisive 1904 mystical experience occurred), USA, Sicily.
In 1904 in Cairo, Crowley channelled (through his then-wife Rose Edith Kelly as medium) the Liber AL vel Legis ("Book of the Law"), foundational text of Thelema. According to Crowley, the entity Aiwass dictated this text containing the foundational principles of his philosophy: "Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the Law" (often misinterpreted as licentiousness — Crowley clarified it meant: discover and follow your true Will, your authentic divine purpose). Throughout his life he developed Thelema, founded order (A∴A∴), led Ordo Templi Orientis, wrote prolifically.
Legacy
Crowley remains divisive: 1) Admired as the most original and prolific occultist of the 20th century, who systematised modern Western ceremonial magic, integrated yoga, Western magic, Kabbalah, and Buddhism in coherent system, created classic works (Magick in Theory and Practice, Book of Thoth, The Vision and the Voice). 2) Despised as charlatan, manipulator, drug abuser, sexually exploitative, with violent intermittent behaviour. He himself cultivated a dark public reputation ("the wickedest man in the world" said the British press) for shock value.
His Thoth tarot (designed by him with the artist Lady Frieda Harris between 1938-1943, published posthumously 1969) is one of the most aesthetically and esoterically ambitious tarot decks of the 20th century. His texts are essential reading for serious students of Western occultism — although they require discernment to extract their value while filtering personal pathologies of the author. His influence reaches: modern Wicca (Gerald Gardner was influenced by Crowley), modern ceremonial magic, contemporary Western Kabbalah, esoteric tarot.
Also known as
- The Beast 666
- Frater Perdurabo
- Master Therion