Aleister Crowley

Aleister Crowley is announced as seventy third most influential Brit in the BBC poll in 2002, Crowley had a colorful life; he experimented with drugs, often used drugs for recreation, and hearty hedonist. His social criticism, religious critique, and libertinism has been said to be a revolt against the stale traditions. His philosophy of "Do What Thou Wilt" has been the reason for widespread fame during his own lifetime. This was a restless soul; he enjoyed every thing in the extreme, including the chess, mountaineering, poetry, playwriting, and surprise of surprises he was also known for his services for Her Majesty as a spy.

His work has influences from many writers, musicians, and artists, including, Alan Moore, Jimmy Page, L. Ron Hubbard, Timothy Leary, Harry Everett, Oozy Osborne, Iron Maiden, Kenneth Anger, Robert Anton, Danny Carey, David Bowie, and The Beatles. Many other figures that influence his work include, Kenneth Grant, Austin Osman, and Kenneth Grant. Aleister divorced his wife on ground of her alcoholism in 1909. His friends in this period include Leila Waddle, and Victor Newburg who helped him in the Scarlet Woman. Crowley's last years were mostly spent alone. He moved to Netherwood boarding house. He only had one or two visitors there. One of his friends Deon Fortune died of leukemia in Jan 1946, so this was a lonely time. She was his strong supporter and spoke often him being not an Antichrist.

Crowley used scientific method for learning the spiritual experience, and religion. The ethos of this was that he did not just wanted to take the religion on the face value, but he wished to ask questions, and make critique of this initiation. Magick for him was the answer to many of questions he felt missed in the religious experience. He said that spiritual progress was not related to just the religious and moral codes. He wanted to stress the importance of the individual creativity, and understanding to be applied in all aspects especially the religious life. He said that the invention or discovery needs not to be only based in some church. He cited the discovery of orchids and Magick in the similar light.

His work was radical and censored heavily by the UK, government. This was mostly due to the free expression, and combining the sexual imagery and religion. A case of such is the seizure of his controversial book called white stains. The British custom destroyed hundreds of copies on grounds of dealing with explicit matter. There are some biographers who think hat the Crowley has gender biased, and racist but it has to be seen in the context of things that were normal at that time. There is other opinion on this however, the biographer Martin Booth feels that Crowley was infect a pro feminist even in the early part of 1900s.

Aleister Crowley's writings include highly prolific books that include almost every topic under the son. Many topics were brought to light like, religion of Thelema, ceremonial magic, politics, Mysticism, culture and philosophy. His most well known work is the Holy book of Thelema. This book is claimed to e result of the revelations on him via the angelic being called Aiwass. The other important book that is centre of Thelemite religion is "The Book of Law".

Moonchild is the book that deals with the ceremonial Magick. This was carried forward by other books like "The vision and the Voice". His compilation that gained popularity was called Goetia; this was later added with "Little Essays toward Truth". The key of Solomon King, The book of Lies, were also very well received. The first biography was "Confessions of Aleister Crowley." The detailed account of his life is documented today, mostly by well kept diaries, and letters that his friends and family shared after his passing away. The Magic without Tears was published many a time, but the series which made him is the Equinox. His books are the definitive work that make way for the occultism, including "The Equinox of the Gods", "The Book of Thoth", "Liber Aleph", and "Eight Lectures on Yoga" are the last of his books on non fiction that were published in his life time.

Crowley's work in fiction has many plays and novels. The novels Diary of Drug fiend, The Stratagem stories, White Stains, Clouds without Water, Hymn to Pan, and Moonchild are still being seen as radical books to influence and inspire. Crowley's poems were published in three books including, Quest, Neophyte, and the Rose and Cross. His many deciles carried forward his work after his life, including Kenneth Grant, Jack Parson, and L. Ron Hubbard.