Aleister Crowley is one of the most polarizing figures in modern occultism. Known for his dramatic persona of “The Great Beast” and sensationalist lifestyle, Crowley relished his public infamy. But behind the bombast, who was the real Crowley, and what truths have been obscured by myth? After seeing his name pop up again and again in Craft-related books, I decided to look into Crowley and his complex legacy.
While he remains influential, with good reason, charges of black magic and Satanism are overblown. Crowley did little to discourage such rumors, but in reality much of his system came from Hermetic Kabbalah, Freemasonry, and Eastern schools of thought like yoga. His “Do what thou wilt” maxim is easy to misinterpret without context.
Some of Crowley’s behavior and associations certainly justify criticism. He had vices like recreational drug use, and certain practices did arguably cross ethical lines. However, his provocative approach was also a conscious rejection of Victorian-era repression. Crowley sought total spiritual liberation and self-exploration.
Looking past the legend, Crowley made undeniably significant contributions to Western esoteric thought. His books, like Magick in Theory in Practice, are foundational occult texts. Thelema synthesized ancient ritual magic and mystical philosophy into a religious framework still followed today. Artists, rebels, and free-thinkers found inspiration in his liberationist ideals.
In the end, Crowley was neither a black magician nor enlightened sage, but a complex man with flaws, brilliance, and contradictory facets. With nuance, we can acknowledge both his provocative innovations and excesses, dispelling reductive caricatures. Crowley’s legacy continues to challenge conventions and our preconceptions.
Aleister Crowley and modern witchcraft/Wicca
The relationship between Aleister Crowley and modern witchcraft/Wicca is complex, though Crowley did influence aspects of Wicca:
• Crowley's writings on magic and ritual contributed to some of the ceremonial practices adopted into Wicca, like invoking the quarters and using esoteric symbolism.
• Crowley's philosophy of "Do What Thou Wilt" which encourages finding and following one's true path has parallels to the Wiccan Rede's admonition to avoid harm.
• Gerald Gardner, who founded Wicca, had associations with Crowley's occult organization Ordo Templi Orientis and was initiated by Crowley's disciples. This influenced some of Gardner's early Wiccan teachings.
• Crowley publicly identified more as a magician and mystic rather than a witch, but he studied occult concepts like sex magic and moon cycles that later filtered into Wiccan craft.
• However, Wicca emphasizes polarity between the God and Goddess, light and dark balance, and working within karmic consequence, distinguishing it from much of Crowley's "True Will" teaching.
• Modern Wicca draws from diverse esoteric sources, with founders like Gardner and Valiente tailoring the religion to be more harmonious and feminine than Crowley's individualistic focus.
So while Crowley contributed some ritual components, Wicca ultimately developed into its own nature-based, duotheistic path quite distinct from Crowley's ego-driven Magick and Thelema. But ghostly traces of his influence do lurk in Wicca's origins and practices.
Key facts about Crowley
Aleister Crowley was a highly influential, yet controversial figure in modern occultism. Some key facts about him:
• Lived from 1875-1947, primarily in England.
• Was a member of the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn, but later formed his own organizations (A∴A∴ and O.T.O.).
• Called himself "The Great Beast 666" and embraced this provocative image.
• Developed his own religion/philosophy called Thelema, which means "true will" in Greek.
• Penned many books like The Book of Law, 777, Book of Lies, that outlined his esoteric teachings that were partly inspired by the occult and eastern philosophies.
• Practiced and wrote extensively on ceremonial magic, tarot, astrology, sex ritual, astral projection and other esoteric topics.
• Had a reputation as a recreational drug user and libertine, which fueled criticism and allegations of black magic and Satanism.
• Remains a highly influential figure in Western esotericism today, though opinions vary on his legacy between devotion and controversy.
Aleister Crowley was an incredibly prolific occultist who took a radical approach to ritual magic, inspired new religions like Thelema, and published numerous textbooks still referenced today, though his brazen lifestyle made him a polarizing figure.