Page 48 - All About History - Issue 72-18
P. 48
Black magic
Ceremonial garments were
an integral part of Crowley’s
rituals, but they often
caused people to dismiss
him as a serious thinker
This is an exclusive
except from
The Book of the
Occult
Available now from
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The Scandalous Secrets of
The Scandalous Secrets of
Aleister Crowley
Aleister Crowley
Mystic, philosopher, author, poet, controversialist – there were few
taboos that the so-called ‘wickedest man in the world’ did not explore
Written by Joel McIver
fthelateAleisterCrowleyhadbeenborn Much has been written about Crowley as had already retired by the time his son was
in 1975, rather than 1875, his public antics an occult thinker and activist, and also about born. Like his wife Emily, Edward Senior was a
as a magician, drug user and sexual hispersonallife.Infact,thesetwosidesofhis member of the Exclusive Brethren, a faction of
experimenter would have been welcomed, characteraretoodeeplyentwinedforthem to be the better-known Plymouth Brethren, which was
or at least tolerated, in the modern world. meaningfully separated. From his earliest years, a Christian movement. He is said to have worked
Inhisownera,however, hiskeeninterestinoccult he found himself in conflict with his surroundings as a preacher for the Brethren and to have read
thought and practice, plus his deliberate attempts –and it’slittle wonderthathegrewuptobeaman Biblechapters tohiswifeandsoneveryday.
togaininfamyforitsownsake,provokedrather profoundly at odds with the mores of his era. Certainluridpassagesin theBookofRevelation
thanintriguedthepublic,andhewascastigated Edward Crowley, as he was known until his concerning the Beast, its number 666 and the
as a serious threat. In reality, Crowley was simply late teens, was born at 30 Clarendon Square tale of the Scarlet Woman fascinated the
an interesting, if unorthodox, man who loved in Royal Leamington Spa, Warwickshire, to a Crowley at a yoiung age.
the attention which his activities brought to him. family of comfortable means. His father, also An earlyturning pointfortheboycamein
Thereisnoequivalenttohim today–which Edward Crowley, owned a share in a successful 1883, when his father died of tongue cancer.
makes the story of his life all the more compelling. brewing business, Crowley’s Alton Ales, and Aged only 11, Crowley inherited one-third of his
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