Aleister Crowley: Beast or Genius? (Part 1)
November 10th 2006 14:26
Aleister Crowley (1875 - 1947)
Edward Alexander Crowley was born in England on October 12, 1875. He was raised as a strict Christian Fundamentalist and the only book his parents allowed him as a child was the Bible. It was during this period that his mother started referring to him as 'The Beast', a reference to the book of Revelations and a title that would stay with him throughout his life.
Crowley says of this time "I could not imagine anything better in life. I found myself suddenly in a whole new world. I was part of the glories of the past, and I resolved to be part of the glories of the future" (The Confessions of Aleister Crowley).
It was here that Crowley began his lifelong quest for spiritual fullfilment. Although his original intention was to study for a diplomatic career, he dedicated the majority of his time at Cambridge to playing chess (he was president of the university chess club), writing poetry and studying alternative religions and mythology. It was during this rebirth that Crowley felt it appropriate to change his name to 'Aleister', signifying his new life and his interest in Celtic mysticism (Aleister is the Gaelic version of his middle name).
A.E. Waite
In the summer of 1898, the alchemist Julian Baker overheard Crowley discussing Alchemy with a group of friends and took him aside. On seeing the young mans eager interest and obvious intelligence Baker introduced Crowley to George Cecil Jones, a prominent member of the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn. Jones acted as Aleister's first mentor in the occult and sponsored Crowleys initiation into the Golden Dawn. 'The Beast' had begun his soon to be infamous carer as a full-time occultist.
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Comment by Miss Faith
Wiccans and Pagans think that he was a genius and absolutely love him. I think he was a little odd,
possibly rather smart, but not my cup of tea. Some of his views, actually many of his views seem
weird to me, but that's just how I see it.
Comment by Gareth
'A little odd' is probably an understatement, but personally I believe Crowley is one of the most informative and knowledgable adepts in his field. I wish more people had the 'middle of the road' kind of attitude you seem to have towards him, most people tend to fall into either idolising or demonising him. Both attitudes I think show a complete misunderstanding of his work.
I'll be posting part 2, regarding his career in the Golden Dawn and OTO etc., tomorrow.
Thanks for taking the time to read and comment
Comment by The Scarlet Harlot
By: The Scarlet Harlot
The Vatican was infiltrated by Secret Societies (The Skull and Bones order, the Hellfire Bishops,Rosecruscians, the Knights Templars, the Knights of Pythias, The Sons of Temperance under Benedict XVI). The Protestant side had the secular sects of freemasonary (The Orange Order, the Royal Black institution and the Knights of Malta)that extends down to the Plymouth Brethren that founded our country. The New Atlantis. Under One world government. Novus Ordo Mundi.
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The extension of the 13 Royal Bloodlines stems back to that of Jesus Christ. Why do you think it is so important to keep this bloodline pure?
br> I found Daniel Walsh's book, "Lost Tribes of Israel Study Maps," very informative. He traces the history and travels of the ancient Hebrews. Prior to the Exodus, and again later, some of the Hebrew people traveled to other lands, including into western Europe and the British Isles. Through marriage, the Royal Bloodline was reunited in Britian, that is, the married pair were of the bloodlines of the two twin sons of Judah, Pharez and Zarah. I also found an intersting site that goes in detail of the Royal bloodline (http://www.thewatcherfiles.com/bloodlines/merovingian.htm).This same British family still rules the United States. The wars were a guise. Do you really think a small army could defeat and empire? Think People. They had a plan from the beginning. They allowed us to come to the United STates or New Atlantis to form a country to lay the foundation for the NEW WORLD ORDER. I would speculate that we still pay rent to Britain or the Vatican for most of our buildings in the US.
Other Secret Societies were formed as protection to the Church and this Royal Bloodline. Kings made the laws (especially the famous King James and his Bible) and Religions of this world on the notions of kingship in the theory of the Divine Right of Kings, a theory which argued that certain kings ruled because they were chosen by God to do so and that these kings were accountable to no person except God. Therefore, monarchs are placed on their thrones by God for a specific purpose. Although they may be ungodly, to question their authority is in essence to question God's purpose for both the City of Man and the City of God. This, or some form of this, made up the foundation of medieval and Renaissance theories of monarchy. The king ruled by virtue of God's authority; therefore he should be obeyed in all things. No group, whether they be nobles, or a parliament, or the people in the street, have a right to participate in this rule; to question or oppose the monarch was to rebel against God's purpose. This doctrine of absolutism would follow a tortured course through the eighteenth century culminating in the French Revolution of 1789-1792 and the beheading of Louis XVI, the king of France.
Through these laws, they controlled, imposed taxes/tarriffs and kept them illiterate, only the elite could have an education until about one hundred years ago. due to the fact that they made them toil in the labors to keep them too tired and poor to revolt. Enslaving the middle/working class. They still do it today.
If you had different ideas in philosophy, science, medicine, or religion you were considered a heratic or enemy of the crown (sounds like modern anti-terrorist laws)and usually put to death in front of everyone to serve as an example to stay in line and keep to their laws/religions. Thus promoting fear and also another form of control.
They (the royal bloodline) could hire soothsayers, black priests, "medicine men", alchemist, occultists, scientists, mathematicians, philosophers and astrologers for aid in controlling and advancing technology, but if the common man did so-they were considered evil or "devil-worshipers". Usually sentenced to death as well.
Thus keeping us spiritually and mentally down and from gaining the gnosis/knowledge holding all the power and keeping us from fighting back with the same tools they use.
I could go into the complete magickal history, but I want to make a point. Aleister Crowley was the son of a devout Plymouth Brethren of of an Elite Bloodline. He was raised in secular private schools. He became a 33rd degree freemason in record time-this is unheard of. He was a founding member of the Golden Dawn employed by Queen Victoria and Prince Edward. They were formed to translate latin and egyptian sacred texts. During an argument, he left the group.Invited by Heinrich Tränker to Thuringen in Germany to become International Head
of the Ordo Templar Orientis, an offshoot of the Knights Templars.1940-5 Is visited by Grady Louis MacMurtry on a regular basis. McMurtry is later to succeed Karl Germer as OHO of the O.T.O. He then formed the Thelemic Order of the Golden Dawn and encorporated it into the lodge/order. His rituals became the guidelines still used today. His Equinoxes are the books that are pushed within the order. There were many other talented members but none of their works are used. The current O.T.O. has become a "Crowleyan Cult". Why is this?
If you look at the present day secret orders or cults you will see a disturbing connection:
Israel Regardie was a student and lover of Crowley. Most of the work and Rituals used in the present Order of the Golden Dawn, in a sense, came from Crowley. Regardie's works, learned from Crowley, are the guidelines of the modern order. Chic and Tabitha Cicero were students of Regardie. They reopened the Order of the Golden Dawn.
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Gerald Gardner was a student of Crowley. In his penultimate year 1946, a mutual friend 'Arnold Crowther' introduced Crowley to 'Gerald B. Gardner'. His meetings with Gardner would later lead to controversy over the authenticity of Gardner’s original 'Book of Shadows'. It was alleged that Gardner paid Crowley to write it for him? Crowley also gave Gardner the O.K. to open a O.T.O. Lodge but instead he founded the Gardenerian Wiccan movement.The Rituals are based on the rituals wrote by Crowley but an emphasis on the Goddess.
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L. Ron Hubbard was a student of Crowley.(see http://www.mt.net/~watcher/crowleyhubbard.html) He and Jack Parsons and Crowley did the Babalon Workings or Liber 49.
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After a lover's quarrel, Hubbard wrote his book Dianetics and started the Hollywood-famous Church of Scientology. Basically, Scientology is Thelema without all the cryptic,mythological based Hocus-pocus/theatrics.
What is Scientology? Scientology is an applied religious philosophy.
The term Scientology is taken from the Latin word scio (knowing in the fullest sense of the word) and the Greek word logos (study of). In itself the word means literally knowing how to know. Scientology is further defined as the study and handling of the spirit in relationship to itself, universes and other life. Any comparison between Scientology and the subject known as psychology is nonsense.
Here are the basic philosophies of Scientology:
“A philosophy can only be a route to knowledge. It cannot be crammed down one’s throat. If one has a route, he can then find what is true for him. And that is Scientology.
“Know thyself . . . and the truth shall set you free.
“Therefore, in Scientology, we are not concerned with individual actions and differences. We are only concerned with how to show man how he can set himself free.”
A civilization without insanity, without criminals and without war, where the able can prosper and honest beings can have rights, and where man is free to rise to greater heights, are the aims of Scientology.
First announced to an enturbulated world in 1950, these aims are well within the grasp of our technology.
Nonpolitical in nature, Scientology welcomes any individual of any creed, race or nation.
We seek no revolution. We seek only evolution to higher states of being for the individual and for society.
We are achieving our aims.
After endless millennia of ignorance about himself, his mind and the universe, a breakthrough has been made for man.
Other efforts man has made have been surpassed.
The combined truths of fifty thousand years of thinking men, distilled and amplified by new discoveries about man, have made for this success.
We welcome you to Scientology. We only expect of you your help in achieving our aims and helping others. We expect you to be helped.
Crowley's Liber Oz:
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Sound familiar?
The A.A., is a private division of the Order of Thelema. This segment is taken from their site http://www.thelema.org/aa/
A.·.A.·. is the one true and invisible Order which has operated under various names and guises throughout history to guide the spiritual evolution of humanity. The goals of the A.·.A.·. are those which have motivated spiritual exploration and religious inquiry throughout human history. Its methods are those of science; its aims are those of religion.
It is the Arcanum Arcanorum, and the Holy of Holies wherein the Sacred Ark rests inviolate. Every legitimate magical order, mystery school, religion, or other agency disseminating some portion of Wisdom or Light is or has been but an Outer Vehicle of this Inner Fellowship of Light. "All words are sacred and all prophets true; save only that they understand a little..." (Liber Legis, I:56).
This is the highest and purest meaning of A.·.A.·..
More commonly, however, we use the name A.·.A.·. to mean not only this Invisible and Eternal Order, but a particular outer structure, or terrestrial incarnation of the Interior School, which came into being, beginning in 1906 C.E., at the hands of two Adepts named Aleister Crowley and George Cecil Jones. This Order survives today through various authentic lineages which can be traced back to these two Adepts.
Since the death of Aleister Crowley in 1947 there have been no universal Chiefs of the A.·.A.·.. Karl Germer (S.·.H.·. Frater Saturnus, 8°=3), was the senior living A.·.A.·. member at Crowley's death, and many turned to him for guidance; but he never took up the mantle of governance of the Order. After Germer's death, no single person emerged visibly as a central guiding figure.
This order embraces the philosophies and rituals of Crowley. Thus another "Crowleyan Cult".
H.O.O.R. another Thelemic secret society that embraces sexual/tantric/alchemy side of Thelema, practiced by Crowley.
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Hoor's credo (taken from http://hoor.org/)
We are a Thelemic group working the lesser and greater mysteries of the Western tradition as these mysteries have been influenced by the Book of the Law.
-We accept all traditions except those whose dogma teaches eternal damnation or the subjugation of women or other groups based on race or creed.
-We are a society of individuals seeking to improve the planet by application of the principles propounded in the Book of the Law.
-Our rites and lore are cumulative and lead gradually to the understanding and intelligent application of that which has been called the Great Secret: or Sexual Alchemy.
Magus Anton Szandor LaVey (1930-1997) studied Crowley's works and rituals. He is the founder of the Luciferian Church or Church of Satan. He basically takes that idea of Baphomet worship, pan, or goat of mendes that Crowley used in his workings originally from Eliphas Levi and the philosophy of Do what thou wilt from the Book of the Law (Crowley 1903)
..
YOu can check out what exactly LaVeyan Satanism is @ http://www.churchofsatan.com/home.html
A LaVeyan Satanist is likely to differ from other types of Satanist in this respect; in LaVey's philosophy, God is rarely mentioned, and never discussed directly. A LaVeyan Satanist is less likely to hold a belief in God than a Satanist who sees Satan as a rival to God.
The Nine Satanic Statements
1. Satan represents indulgence instead of abstinence!
2. Satan represents vital existence instead of spiritual pipe dreams!
3. Satan represents undefiled wisdom instead of hypocritical self-deceit!
4. Satan represents kindness to those who deserve it, instead of love wasted on ingrates!
5. Satan represents vengeance instead of turning the other cheek!
6. Satan represents responsibility to the responsible instead of concern for psychic vampires!
7. Satan represents man as just another animal, sometimes better, more often worse than those that walk on all-fours, who, because of his “divine spiritual and intellectual development,” has become the most vicious animal of all!
8. Satan represents all of the so-called sins, as they all lead to physical, mental, or emotional gratification!
9. Satan has been the best friend the Church has ever had, as He has kept it in business all these years!
Duplicated from http://www.churchofsatan.com/Pages/NineStatements.html ©1969
The Eleven Satanic Rules of the Earth
1. Do not give opinions or advice unless you are asked.
2. Do not tell your troubles to others unless you are sure they want to hear them.
3. When in another’s lair, show him/her respect or else do not go there.
4. If a guest in your lair annoys you, treat him/her cruelly and without mercy.
5. Do not make sexual advances unless you are given the mating signal.
6. Do not take that which does not belong to you unless it is a burden to the other person and he/she cries out to be relieved.
7. Acknowledge the power of magic if you have employed it successfully to obtain your desires. If you deny the power of magic after having called upon it with success, you will lose all you have obtained.
8. Do not complain about anything to which you need not subject yourself.
9. Do not harm little children.
10. Do not kill non-human animals unless you are attacked or for your food.
11. When walking in open territory, bother no one. If someone bothers you, ask him/her to stop. If he/she does not stop, destroy him/her.
Duplicated from http://www.churchofsatan.com/Pages/Eleven.html ©1967
The Nine Satanic Sins
1. Stupidity—The top of the list for Satanic Sins. The Cardinal Sin of Satanism. It’s too bad that stupidity isn’t painful. Ignorance is one thing, but our society thrives increasingly on stupidity. It depends on people going along with whatever they are told. The media promotes a cultivated stupidity as a posture that is not only acceptable but laudable. Satanists must learn to see through the tricks and cannot afford to be stupid.
2. Pretentiousness—Empty posturing can be most irritating and isn’t applying the cardinal rules of Lesser Magic. On equal footing with stupidity for what keeps the money in circulation these days. Everyone’s made to feel like a big shot, whether they can come up with the goods or not.
3. Solipsism—Can be very dangerous for Satanists. Projecting your reactions, responses and sensibilities onto someone who is probably far less attuned than you are. It is the mistake of expecting people to give you the same consideration, courtesy and respect that you naturally give them. They won’t. Instead, Satanists must strive to apply the dictum of “Do unto others as they do unto you.” It’s work for most of us and requires constant vigilance lest you slip into a comfortable illusion of everyone being like you. As has been said, certain utopias would be ideal in a nation of philosophers, but unfortunately (or perhaps fortunately, from a Machiavellian standpoint) we are far from that point.
4. Self-deceit—It’s in the “Nine Satanic Statements” but deserves to be repeated here. Another cardinal sin. We must not pay homage to any of the sacred cows presented to us, including the roles we are expected to play ourselves. The only time self-deceit should be entered into is when it’s fun, and with awareness. But then, it’s not self-deceit!
5. Herd Conformity—That’s obvious from a Satanic stance. It’s all right to conform to a person’s wishes, if it ultimately benefits you. But only fools follow along with the herd, letting an impersonal entity dictate to you. The key is to choose a master wisely instead of being enslaved by the whims of the many.
6. Lack of Perspective—Again, this one can lead to a lot of pain for a Satanist. You must never lose sight of who and what you are, and what a threat you can be, by your very existence. We are making history right now, every day. Always keep the wider historical and social picture in mind. That is an important key to both Lesser and Greater Magic. See the patterns and fit things together as you want the pieces to fall into place. Do not be swayed by herd constraints—know that you are working on another level entirely from the rest of the world.
7. Forgetfulness of Past Orthodoxies—Be aware that this is one of the keys to brainwashing people into accepting something new and different, when in reality it’s something that was once widely accepted but is now presented in a new package. We are expected to rave about the genius of the creator and forget the original. This makes for a disposable society.
8. Counterproductive Pride—That first word is important. Pride is great up to the point you begin to throw out the baby with the bathwater. The rule of Satanism is: if it works for you, great. When it stops working for you, when you’ve painted yourself into a corner and the only way out is to say, I’m sorry, I made a mistake, I wish we could compromise somehow, then do it.
9. Lack of Aesthetics—This is the physical application of the Balance Factor. Aesthetics is important in Lesser Magic and should be cultivated. It is obvious that no one can collect any money off classical standards of beauty and form most of the time so they are discouraged in a consumer society, but an eye for beauty, for balance, is an essential Satanic tool and must be applied for greatest magical effectiveness. It’s not what’s supposed to be pleasing—it’s what is. Aesthetics is a personal thing, reflective of one’s own nature, but there are universally pleasing and harmonious configurations that should not be denied.
Duplicated from http://www.churchofsatan.com/Pages/Sins.html ©1987
There are many offshoots of these main secret societies and orders or cults. My point here is to persuade you to realize and ask yourself why all these groups are modeled after Crowley? I don't have anything against any of these groups, nor do I have anything against any one else's belief system or religions or Crowley in fact, I think he is a genius. Crowley came from a family with Royal and Illumanati ties. Why are all these orders pushing Crowley's teachings? Is this just another way for the Royal Bloodline to still have dominion over us? They are still choosing our religions even in the alternative world.
I say use all the past purveyors and ancestors teachings as a guideline, use his teachings, if you must, but come up with your own ideas and methods for rituals. Become an innovative Pioneer. Push yourself into new territory. Don't join any orders, clubs, cults or lodges. Come together like family with similar minds through social gatherings and ritual. Don't become a follower of a cult. Remember that the basic philosophy of Thelema is to follow YOUR own TRUE WILL- your own FREE WILL- Not someone else's beliefs or ideas.
POWER TO THE INDIVIDUAL AND FREE MIND!!!!
Comment by Gareth
Thanks for taking the time to read and for your very informative comment.
I wasn't aware of Crowleys bloodline connections, here is an article regarding the Crowley-Bush connection. I think you'll find it very interesting in light of the above information about the 13 families, if you weren't already aware of it.
I agree with you totally in your closing argument. My interpretation of Thelema has always been that every person must find their own path and follow it. I explain my opinion on this philosophy in my previous blog 'To believe, or not to believe'.