Aleister Crowley Aleister Crowley
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Thread: Aleister Crowley

  1. #1
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    Default Aleister Crowley

    I do not claim to be an authority on all things Crowley. I have never read any of his books, but I have read a biography, and numerous articles documenting periods of his life.

    I am curious to know what the gerneral opinion of him is here in this forum. From what I have read and heard he was man with little to no conscience that treated people horribly, and committed acts of brutality that I can't imagine justifiable in any context. If I remember correctly, towards the end of his life he was riddled with drug addictions as well.

    For me, I find it hard to take anyone seriously that lived in such a manner, especially when it comes to drug consumption. Drugs always seem to be a crutch, and a distraction and never a serious method of inquiry into the workings of humanity, nature and the world(I have experimented quite a bit). Regular drug consumption is a reflection of an inability to be true to one's self, a discontentment with one's own person, and that makes it hard for me to look up to or even respect Aleister Crowley's philosophy.

    What I am interested to know from you is:

    Why you consider him and his philosophy so important and central to your own path?

    Also, can his works be read and appreciated independent of the man's life itself?

    Personaly, I don't care what anyone thinks or believes. Much more important is how one lives. Philosophy and religion is meaningless unless it is lived!

    So, can insight and wisdom be gained from Aleister Crowley's work without it leading to a way of life similar to his?

    with love,

    zoomare

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    He took drugs for most of his life, not towards the end, and he was mainly addicted to Heroin, which was prescribed for his asthma. Yes Crowley did do a lot of horrible things, and yes he was quite the Libertine who used and abused. But one cannot doubt his contributions to the occult and esoteric. I do not follow him in any way, but I do have a certain amount of admiration for the man, despite his flaws.

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    Default

    So, you would say that despite his flaws his work shouldn't be neglected? What have you yourself gained from his writings? And why do you admire him?

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    Default

    Crowley was a man of inherent genius. He was born with it. If you've read his biography by Martin Booth you'll understand. I love his spirit, but he is not a good product of magick. He had numerous magickal failings, including the failure to complete the Abramelin. His base human ego completely defeated his Great Work - it is undeniable. There are many magicians alive now that are greater than him.
    But almost none, ever, had his faculty with words that so greatly captured the triumphant magician's spirit.
    His books on magick however were mostly recordings of what was passed down to him via initiation. He was never averse to breaking the oaths of secrecy that protected that knowledge.
    That being said, Crowley greatly inspired me into the occult. I thank him for it. But as you grow more magickally, you see he actually is more tragedy that prophet. He had so much potential, but could never stick to anything... even to his dictate of Thelema (what you do must be under your will). - re his cocaine and heroin addiction. His last words (recorded by Deidre MacAlpine) were 'Sometimes, I hate myself...'.
    I recommend and love his work - apart from Thelema. But if you want the power and attainment that Crowley aspired to, rather pursue a present day Golden Dawn than the OTO or A:.A:. which are his work and orders. Both of which deadpan at the grade of Adaptus Minor/Major. Whereas there is GD available that reaches the final 3 grades to Ippissimus...

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    Default

    My appeal to Croley was that he was a 'rebel' or rather an agent of chaos.
    He did much for the occult movement in Europe, however the way he attained the position of head of the OTO could by some seem rather an savoury.
    The credo of an occult student was: To dare, to will, to do, to remail silent.
    He did the first three, not that it was a bad thing but rather gave the occult too much lime light, casting pearls amongst swine. For all his achievements the last years of his life were fully of regret, so some may say.
    But take what he has with a pinch of salt, he alwaysed encouraged his students never to take him seriously, that is interesting.
    I guess he gave people the choice to make up their onw mindes, while taking the blind followers for a ride on the wild side.

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    Default legends are told around the fire

    Crowley's work with occult and The Golden Dawn were just cover for his service to the Crown as an agent of the British Intelligence Service. (And that is either true or as true as you want it to be: google "Secret Agent 666".)

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    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by saint_john View Post
    I recommend and love his work - apart from Thelema.
    What of his would you recomend as a starting point?

    And, thanks for the thoughtful replies. I am glad to see that my judgements of his character are reflected in many of you. I was beginning to doubt that the occult and magick could lead to any path other than one similar to Crowley's own.

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    Default

    What acts of unspeakable brutality are you referring to?

    After all we're talking the early 20th Century. Just off the top of my head I can think of two individuals responsible for far worse then Uncle Al ever even dreamed of.

    Also

    Both of which deadpan at the grade of Adaptus Minor/Major. Whereas there is GD available that reaches the final 3 grades to Ippissimus...
    Wow, could you have gotten your information any more backwards?

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    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Skeptismo118 View Post
    What acts of unspeakable brutality are you referring to?

    After all we're talking the early 20th Century. Just off the top of my head I can think of two individuals responsible for far worse then Uncle Al ever even dreamed of.
    Off the top of my head? Abandoning his wife and child in China seems like an act with disgustingly little empathy and regard for human life.

    There is no need to compare. Sure, there are people who have commit much larger acts of brutality than Crowley, but that doesn't justify his actions and in no way cast a better light on him.

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    It is a common fact that crowley was an agent for M16, Crowley himself mentioned he worked for the, the government deined this, however it has been made declassified that he did infact work the the MI6 during WW2 and before. The secret services had not reputation at the time and did now want to be seem as a supporter of Corwley anyway or form.

    As for his actions well they speak for themself, what is good behavour other then a perception.

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