Almost everyone has heard of Aleister Crowley. His infamy is almost ubiquitous throughout the Western world. He is most often associated with "Satanism" or black magick, and even those who consider themselves well versed in the occult arts may squirm in their chairs at the mere mention of his name. Although the general public knows little to nothing regarding the facts of his life, his raucous at worst, and unconventional at best, lifestyle left an indellible mark on the public psyche. So powerful was his impact that these many years after his death, this high-born English magician rarely fails to lift heads and intrigue even the most immune and shock-proof of Americans.

Crowley's dark reputation is no accident. Like a class clown, Crowley performed many an antic for no other purpose than to get himself noticed. He taunted the press with suggestions of human sacrifice, as well as tales of ritual sex and unfettered drug use. This in itself would have been enough to put the English press into a frenzy, but what most inflamed the media and intrigued the public was Crowley's dual personality. Crowley's magick, sex life and drug use of itself may have categorized him as just another "wacko" or moral degenerate, except that among these things he was also a Cambridge student, a poet, a brilliant thinker, a master of chess and an accomplished mountaineer! Such incongruency within the same personality is largely responsible for his status as a legend. Like a riddle without a solution, Crowley confuses and delights.

In spite of a rather intensive search for such material, I have never found any information on Crowley strictly from a psychological standpoint. This is somewhat curious...I think most psychiatrists would have a field day musing the motivations and internal workings of this very eccentric man. I have no expertise in the area of psychology but I do have some basic knowledge of the subject, and have done a little musing of my own. It seems logical that Crowley's self destructive tendencies as well as his attention seeking antics are grounded in his childhood (Now I think I'm Sigmund Freud!). Crowley's parents were vehemently religious and utterly moralistic. I think it is a safe assumption that his childhood was largely barren of affection, and spontinaiety. His father died when Aleister was eleven, leaving him with his mother who is consistently described as very controling,yet emotionally unavailibe. In his adolescence, Crowley's mother dubs her son "The Beast", making reference to the devil in the book of revelation. This is a particularly cruel and hateful remark, considering that she was a fanatical Christian, and to her nothing could be more despised and antagonized than the devil! Crolwley's life at school was not much better. He was teased and harrassed by other children for being fat and physically weak. It seems logical that these experiences influenced his adult life immensely. Being alienated by his mother probably led to his complex and largely mysoginistic views of women. While Crowley claimed to be the champion of women, advocating their freedom and equality, his private life opposed these sentiments. He went through mistresses quite rapidly, often leaving them demoralized if not utterly despondent. His megalomania was likely a defense mechanism for his lack of self worth. His "evil" lifestyle is perhaps a self-fulfilling prophecy, spawned by his mother's disdainful nickname(The Beast). Even his passion for mountaineering may be a product of childhood teasing...Climbing K2 is one way to show the world you are not fat and weak. These are only ideas of mine. For me they make some sense out of the enigma that is Crowley.

To me, Crowley is not simply a wounded child, nor is he a prophet, but I will not deny that ultimately he had a meaningful and important message. His "Law of Thelema" states: "Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the law." The British press deciphered this to mean "Do whatever you want." Given Crowley's lifestyle that is not really an out of the way interpretation, and yet this is not what Crowley intended. Crowley believed that the human spirit was squelched under the Christian "thy will be done" philosophy. He felt that the will to be done was our own. That our lives should not be dictated by the moral values of other people or istitutions. Basically, that we need to follow our own hearts instead of being automitons in a closed system. Crowley made it clear that interfering with someone else's will is undesireable and indeed a crime that should be punished. Crowley DID NOT advocate murder, rape or any other thing that denied the will of another individual.

Ultimately Crowley fell short of living his own philosophy. I don't believe Crowley ever discovered his "true will". Heroin and cocaine addiction consumed most of his adult life. Crowley may have advocated drug use on occassion, but his diaries and memoirs clearly demonstrate the horrors and torments of addiction. Crowley gave those of the mystical and magickal persuasion much to ponder. It is notable that Crowley inspired a religious movement known as Thelema. The religion of Wicca may owe him some gratitude also (ironically). Gerald Gardner, often called the father of modern Wicca knew Crowley personally and indeed was a member of the O.T.O (a Thelemic order). Much of the ritual instruction found in Gardner's 'Book of Shadows' is almost identical to many rituals created by Crowley fot the O.T.O. If you are familliar with the Wiccan rede: "An it harm none, do what thou wilt", you will notice its obvious similarities to the Law of Thelema. These are things unknown to many Wiccans, but should be of intrest to all. It may make some Wiccans squirm, but I don't think it should. Regardless of its influences or origins, Wicca is a path of truth and beauty.

Was Crowley just a junkie or was he a prophet of a new and liberating system of thought? The verdict is still out, and probably will be for some time to come. Whatever your views on him, he was undeniably a master of the English language and a man worthy of our curiosity.



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