Search results
Aleister Crowley (/ ˈ æ l ɪ s t ər ˈ k r oʊ l i / AL-ist-ər KROH-lee; born Edward Alexander Crowley; 12 October 1875 – 1 December 1947) was an English occultist, ceremonial magician, poet, philosopher, political theorist, novelist, mountaineer, and painter.
- Aleister Crowley’s Not-So-Humble Beginnings
- His First Forays Into The Dark Depths of Occultism
- Travels Through Europe and Falling in Love
- The Birth of Thelema, Aleister Crowley’s Infamous New Religion
- His Tumultuous Personal Life in The Era of Two World Wars
- The Complicated Legacy of Aleister Crowley
To understand Aleister Crowley, or to come as close to understanding him as he would allow, one must start with his upbringing. Born Edward Alexander Crowley on October 12, 1875, he quickly found himself amongst some of Britain’s most devout Christians, the very opposite of the type of people he would attract later in his life. His father was an ev...
The same year that he changed his name, Crowley enrolled at Cambridge University. His life at Cambridge paints a picture of a lifestyle fit for an Austenian hero — a tortured soul practicing chess, penning poetry and inspired literature, and dreaming up exotic mountain climbing adventures in his spare time. However, Aleister Crowley was about as fa...
In November of 1902, Crowley traveled back to Europe, settling in Paris and immersing himself in the art world. Again, his lifestyle painted quite a different picture than the one he was truly living, as he surrounded himself with famed artists like painter Gerald Kelly and sculptor Auguste Rodin. To the surprise of many, Paris was where Aleister C...
While Rose was meditating, she informed Aleister that the Egyptian god Horus was waiting for him. In 1904, through his own meditation, he heard the voice of Aiwass, the personal messenger of Horus. Using the words of the messenger and Horus himself, Crowley transcribed The Book of the Law, the book that would become the basis of his new religion, T...
While Crowley was consumed by the words of Horus and his desire to feed the masses information about the occult, his wife was descending into her own darkness of full-blown alcoholism. Meanwhile, their daughter Lilith had died of typhoid in 1906. Despite the illness, Crowley still blamed her death on Rose’s inability to get a grip on the world arou...
Though he was gone, the impact of Crowley lived on, not only in occultists – possibly the only people who remember him fondly – but also through writers, artists, philosophers, and musicians. Crowley’s image stands, amongst others, on the cover of The Beatles’ Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band album, and his motto, “Do what thou wilt,” is inscr...
Who was Aleister Crowley, really, and why has his name come to be synonymous with esoteric writings? In this article, we’ll discuss who Crowley was, including his life story, the many controversies he inspired, his connection with the occult, and all his famous writings.
Aug 16, 2024 · Aleister Crowley, British occultist, writer, and mountaineer, who was a practitioner of ‘magick’ (as he spelled it) and called himself the Beast 666. He was denounced in his own time for his decadent lifestyle and had few followers, but he became a cult figure after his death.
- The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
Jun 1, 2021 · In 1895, Crowley enrolled at Trinity College, Cambridge, a prestigious institution whose alumni included such notable figures as the libertine poet Lord Byron. Crowley initially entered into the study of "moral science," focusing on philosophy.
Sep 13, 2023 · Lead singer Bruce Dickinson even penned a tongue-in-cheek 2008 horror film, called alternately Chemical Wedding or Crowley, in which the occultist is reincarnated through a modern-day Cambridge professor.
Jan 10, 2014 · 46 Aleister Crowley (1875–1947) was born to Edward and Emily Crowley, Plymouth Brethren of the strictest kind. The family fortune had been made in the brewery trade, but Edward Crowley had long since removed himself from direct involvement with the business.
