Customer Reviews

Aleister Crowley & the Hidden God

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Kenneth Grant has explored the realms of Aleister Crowley's world of Sex Magick and successfully applied it to his own philosophy of Typhonian Magick. A great review and introduction to Western Tantric practices. This is part two of the initial Typhonian trilogy which includes his other books "The Magical Revival" and "Cults of the Shadow", all of which are worthy readings for the New Age Occultist. A must have for those interested in Aleister Crowley, the O.T.O., Sex Magick, and/or Chaos Magick

This book is for anyone who is interested in Crowley. A serious student of OTO/93 current can use this book as a launching pad to understanding the left hand tantra practices read this book and you will trudge the road to awaken the fire snake. 93

Grant unfortunatley exposes his homophobia in this book, and writes disparagingly about Crowley's infamous, alleged and possibly spurious XI Degree.

That said, this book was, for many years, one of the most lucid books written on hetrosexual sex magick, particularly of the Thelemic current, and it's still *quite* informative. It IS over 25 years since Grant wrote this, so perhaps his prejudiced opinions of homosexual magickal workings, and those who work them, has softened.

Grant has the tendency to get a little loopy and self-referential (as well as self-reverential) in some of his other works, but largely sticks to the points here. This is the Skoob Book 2nd edition; a 3rd edition will be released by Starfire Press in the near future, those students not wishing to invest $100+ would be well advised to waith for its re-publication.

AS other reviewers have stated this is a look at sexual magic and Crowley's use of it to commuicate with powers outside this world.However it is only one part of nine books and Mr. Grant tries to find the hidden meanings in Crowley writings (mostly the book of law).He does this in the books with a numeralogically based system.It is very hard to understand but after reading the books you can get the hang of it.Grant looked as Crowley as a secrectary taking dictiation from the E.T.s and as a secretary would; from a boss, not really understanding it.He also believed that artists such as Dali and H. P. Lovecraft were unknowingly doing the same thing.The magician in his books should strive to become a mystic and in his idea of mysticism there where no rituals or procedures in coming in contact with the E.Ts.So he believes that some of the ideas used by Crowley were profrane and arose fron Crowley's christian up bringing.Occultists saw the left-hand -path as the reverse of the order of the world so if it was forbidden by them it must have been the path to the true God.As time has telled the cathoilic church pacticed many of the perverisions Crowley did and this was based on the gulit based ideas of Christianity,Judaism and Islam.These solar(male) cults were in reverse to the lunar (female) cults of Lilth ,Sophia and others.In many ways we do live in the so called aeon of the "beast" just a look at modern day society and you see Mr Crowley would have fit right in.The over all theme in the Typhonia trilogies is that you must embrance the dark side of life (death and the abyss) to fully understand the World and if you are lucky or choosen the E.T.s will commicate with you.A look at what has become of Christianty in the modern world is a good example.The Gnoictic veiw would have been that the freedom from the fear of death would have bought upon commication with the Gods.Christ did not die on the cross nor did he come to save the world.This has been perverted into the mordern day right-wing fear of death along with the guilt based ideas of Heaven and Hell.Also the magical idea that accepting him as your savior you are bought up into him without any work.This is the idea of unthought and faith.Grant's books look as these ideas as the glamor cast over humans keeping them from seeing the hidden God.Overalll his books are well worth reading if you are interested ,just put aside you ideas of good and evil, and follow the left-hand -path.

Grant was a big fan of Austin Spare, Salvador Dali, H P Lovecraft and Aleister Crowley. So am I. The book has some nice pictures by Spare to look at, and plenty of interesting occult diagrams. So far, so good. The drawback? This thing doesn't make an ounce of sense. I defy anyone to tell me what in the world he is talking about. As far as I can tell, he thinks there is another undiscovered planet beyond Pluto that somehow influences our lives to a great degree, and that homosexual activity somehow related to this leads to enlightenment. This is evidently one of his least looney theories. The rest are such arcane gibberish I can't describe them. An amazing book that must be experienced to be believed. I have never seen its like.

Grady McMurtry, aka Hymanaeus Alpha, the legally recognized legitimate head of the O.T.O. after Crowley until his own death in 1985, personally told me he thought this book was a terrific laugh. Grant's own additions to Crowley's legacy are wild to say the least.

On a path that is already fraught with dangers and pitfalls, further screw-loose directions are not recommended.