Aleister Crowley
Aleister Crowley (Edward Alexander Crowley) was born on October 12th, 1875. Aleister passed away December 1st, 1947 at 72 years old. Aleister Crowley was born in Royal Leamington Spa, Warwickshire, England. Crowley attended Trinity College, Cambridge.
Aleister Crowley was a British writer, mountaineer, and occultist best known for his controversial lifestyle and his esoteric practices.
The son of a wealthy Christian family whose father was a staunch believer, Crowley rejected his parents’ religion, disillusioned by the death of his father when he was just eleven.
During his college days, he took up the name Aleister and would become known for his love for mountaineering and his expertise in the writing of poetry. It was also at this time that he took part in early expeditions to climb
Kanchenjunga and
K2, which resulted in a tragic incident in 1905.
In 1898, Aleister Crowley had become a member of the
Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn. In 1904, he founded the religion of
Thelema after claiming to have received
The Book of the Law in Egypt. He also established orders such as
A.A. and authored several mystical books.
During the
Second World War, he made his home in the United States, where he was a writer for a pro-German publication. When he moved to Sicily following the end of the war, he attracted much controversy when one of the followers of the
Abbey of Thelema died in controversial circumstances.
The death of the follower earned him the title
wickedest man in the world. His reputation was also tainted by his public promotion of occult rituals and drug use.
While he died in poverty in 1947, he has since become a popular figure in modern ceremonial magic and occultist circles.
In 1911, Aleister Crowley published the work
The Vision and the Voice, in which he chronicles his journey exploring the
30 Enochian Aethyrs.
His visions took place in 1900 while he was living in Mexico and in 1909 while he was working with Victor Benjamin Neuberg, the poet in Algeria. The work was deemed the most important, next only to
The Book of the Law, as it established the philosophical and religious system of
Thelema.
From the book are derived many central spiritual doctrines that followers of Crowley’s religion follow.
Aleister Crowley published the standalone work
The Testament of Magdalen Blair in 1913.
The work tells of a young English woman who discovers she can read thoughts and minds through psychic powers. But it is not long before she realizes that her gift is a curse rather than a blessing.
When her husband falls ill, she follows the struggle of his mind as he fights dark forces trying to take over his body. In doing this, she experiences some dark cosmic horror that leaves her terrified.
Aleister Crowley also published the short story
Tannhauser: A Story of All Time in 1902. This is a poetic drama that reimagines the Middle Ages legend of Tannhauser, the knight.
Crowley made the protagonist into a Rosicrucian poet who is on a journey to find metaphysical truth, and he navigates the realms of demons, humans, and gods as a symbolic journey of the soul.
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- Stephen King, author of The Dark Tower Series.
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Aleister Crowley: F.A.Q
When was Aleister Crowley Born?
Aleister Crowley was born on October 12th, 1875.
When did Aleister Crowley die?
Aleister Crowley died on December 1st, 1947 at 72 years old.
Where was Aleister Crowley Born?
Aleister Crowley was born in Royal Leamington Spa, Warwickshire, England.
What was the first book Aleister Crowley wrote?
The first book written by Aleister Crowley was The Goetia: The Lesser Key of Solomon the King, published in 1650.
What was the most recent book Aleister Crowley wrote?
His most recently released work was The Poetry of Aleister Crowley (a short story) on January 8th, 2025.
How many books has Aleister Crowley written?
Aleister Crowley has written 74 books excluding contributions to anthologies. 26 books in The Equinox Series, 1 book in The Lesser Key of Solomon Series, 3 Standalone Novels, 21 books in the Collections, 10 books in the Non-Fiction Books, 11 books in the Poetry, 2 books in the Plays.