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The Confessions of Aleister Crowley: An Autohagiography

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Because his folowers have granted him godlike status while his critics have dismissed him as a crackpot, it's a bit difficult to explain to those who have not heard of A.C. why this book is such a great read.

Aleister Crowley(1875-1947) recounts his life and the pride he took in being a genius (he had memorized The Bible before he was seven), a poet, an adventurer, a world renowned mountain climber, a blindfold chess master, a lover, a sorcerer, and The Chosen Prophet of the Ancient Gods of Egypt!

But, above all: an English Gentleman.

Unfortunately his compatriots, like queen Victoria on a celebrated occasion, were not amused. The newspapers depicted him as a satanic, devil worshipping maniac. A charge which was somewhat unfounded and rather ironic since this was the man that satanic devil worshipping maniacs were too scared to mess with.

He was a passionate artist with a flair for danger, an extreme of the spiritual and the sensual, a cross between between St. John of the Cross and the Marquis de Sade. Only Rasputin could match him as a true historical figure that seems too improbable to have existed.

Neither man would be 'believable', even in lurid work of fictional melodrama. Yet they lived.

And A.C. topped Rasputin in possesing (or being possed by) a savagely sarcastic sense of humor which took no prisoners. Say what you will of him but one must grant him a remarkable talent for making enemies everywhere.

W.B. Yeats wanted him expelled from The Golden Dawn (The most influential Rosicrucian/Freemasonic lodge of the 19th century) on the grounds that 'a mystical society should not have to serve as a reform school for juvenile delinquents.' For his part, The Magus informs us that Yeats was full of black, bilious rage, because he, Crowley was by far the greater poet.

He once remarked that it was interesting that such a small county as Stratford had given England her two greatest poets, for one must not forget Shakespeare . . .

A.C. founded his own temple of 'life, love, and liberty' after his wife had a vision while visiting a museum in Cairo. The year was 1904 and the gods were ready to annoint an English Gentleman to bear forth their message to humanity and usher in a new era which would replace Christianity, as Christianity had replaced the crumbling faiths of the Roman Empire.

Thus 'The Book of the Law' came to be written (or dictated?) Its main tenet was "Do What Thou Wilt.'

Apparently Isis or Horus were fans of the novels of Rabelais, since that was the motto inscribed in his fictional abbey.

And, in all likelihood Rabelais probably got it from St. Augustine's maxim: "Love, and do what you will".

And if you can name which Greek philosopher thought it up first, treat yourself a trip to Cairo and listen closely to your inner voice. . .

It would hardly be surprising to be told that AC was reared in an ultrafundamentalist Christian sect and thus, he rebelled with vengeance.

What is surprising is that the quest for 'The Holy Grail' never left him, even as he climbed the Himalayas, seduced countesses, hobnobbed with Rodin, and made life quite interesting for anyone around him.

A fascinating look at a strange man and his times recounted with humor, sorrow and faith.

Regardless of other reviewers comments about Crowley's mountain-climbing adventures, and other travels, I thoroughly enjoyed every minute detail ! Obviously, his mountain climbing experiences and world travel helped him to develop his "Will," which enabled him to become the most famous Occultist in history. Every time I had a spare moment, I sat down with this "Autohagiography" and poured over the pages until I found myself in a delimma.....only 6 pages until it is finished. More ! More !

Two years ago, I would not have imagined I would be reviewing Crowley books. Most of the information about this man seems to have been written by people who took all the myths surrounding Crowley seriously, or preferred to inform the reading public of the Controversial / Tabloid exploits Crowley was *supposedly* involved with. However, despite various Occult Researchers' whimsical attitude toward truth vs. tabloid money-making rumors, this book reveals Crowley as a MAN, not a "Beast."

To read the Confessions is to read of a Poetic Young man, who happened to be born into a society Indoctrinated with ridiculous concepts that his level of Intelligence simply could not submit to. The Subversive, Slave-like religion of his birth pushed him to explore other fields of interest and to study Comparative Religion. Reading his autobiography, it is obvious that he was simply too intelligent to be kept down in the mire of "Because."

This man thought for himself and lived for himself--despite society's ridiculous posturing and false "morality."

Basically, Crowley "tells it like it is," instead of adopting the complacent, indoctrinated attitude of his era and contrymen.

There is very little "Occult" information in this book--in fact, he mostly writes about his Mountaineering, Poetry and World Travel throughout most of these "Confessions." The occult-related incidents often seem to be thrown-in as an after-thought, as-if he would much-rather be remembered as a Poet.

Personally, I learned quite a lot about Anthropology from this collection of Travels in India, China, South America, etc. It is such a shame that the intellectual level of society (or lack thereof) cannot comprehend Great Men. Crowley was extremely well-educated--therefore, it is unlikely that younger generations will comprehend even a fourth of the material in this autobiography. Well-read individuals will be thrilled to add the Confessions to their library !

Don't be frightened by propagandists and money-mongers--this book was written straight from the Horus' mouth and sets the record straight.

The notorious Aleister Crowley: The Beast 666. Magician, Mountaineer, Poet, Author, Gentleman, Entrepreneur, etc. etc. This book, written by the Beast himself, will unmask this Sphinx of a man. He will take you along on the ride of his life, from the boy growing up under religious lunacy to the man proclaiming the Word of his Aeon. I shall let Crowley himself be the guide to his story, urging you thereby to buy this book. Everybody should read this book, whether aspiring to the man or not. Between the lines of his life-story he covers his view on just about every subject, giving his candid, arrogant, yet astutely accurate foliage of human behavior. Only one person that I know of has ever dared to step so completely outside the collective consciousness (and folly) of the human race and observe it like his own little science-project, and that is the author of this book. And he will share it all with you, while joyfully always being the first to remind you that he is no less of a fool. All throughout, he invites you to relive his adventures of mountaineering, wordly travels, and Magick experimentation using the most exquisite use of language I have ever witnessed. This work is in no way the ramblings of a man hopelessly lost to drugs. If he truly was the Beast 666, then let me bow and give my sympathies unto Him, for the man who wrote this book was as true to himself and others as they come. If being this sincere and unfettered by hypocrisy is diabolic, then I am first in line to join that family! Sure, Crowley had his fix ideas, not all of them uncontroversial, but he always either admitted his prejustice or backed them up with lucid reasoning. Buy this book, read it once -or better, twice- and judge for yourself. For Do what Thou Wilt shall be the whole of the Law!

Before I read this book (years ago - it was at a bookstore in the clearance section for $4.95!), Aleister Crowley seemed pure myth. He was but a cryptic, faceless personality surrounded by what I'd later find out to be gross misrepresentation and ignorance - which, incidentally, I fell for, hook, line and sinker.

But upon reading his 'autohagiography,' the man was finally fleshed out and rendered human. And what a colorful and fascinating character! Hardly the evil scumbag people considered (and occasionally STILL consider) him to be. I found that he harbored views and opinions similar to my own about mob psychology and the like, and he had a way of expressing his thoughts, feelings and views which was nothing short of amazing. This is one of the most quotable books in the world, I feel. Crowley doesn't mince words, and he has a wonderful command of the English language (among other languages).

His accounts of mountain climbing and world travels are fascinating. His magical experiences are equally so. He approaches these subjects with great wisdom - often tinged with a priceless sardonic humor (which is what I appreciate most about the book). Crowley was a great wit.

I find that I can open this book to any page at random and start reading - and every time I'm hooked.

I have breezed through this review, so it isn't as incisive as I originally planned it to be. But the above is how I feel in a nutshell. If you are at all interested in this man, this book is a must. I recommend it very highly.

This was an intelligently written and interesting account of the life of a very strange yet fascinating individual. It would be interesting, if Crowley were alive today, to see if his lifestyle and ideas would come across as acceptable and normal in today's world. Though a brave, extremely athletic, and intellectual person, who may have been on the verge of some fantastic spiritual goals and magical discoveries, he never quite reached his goals. Although some have labeled him 666 and the Beast, Crowley did not seem beastly at all. However, he did strike me as being slightly insane, eccentric, and very narcissistic and self absorbed. He went about life with way too much time on his hands, and his mind drifted off in areas where most people don't have the time nor the money to go. In other words, his lifestyle was difficult to relate to. The book dragged on in places. I found his mountain climbing antics to be fascinating, though stretched and drawn out, making the story flow very sluggish in places. He was way out there, a very bizarre man. It makes for an interesting read. Strange people are fascinating.

Aleister Crowley is one of the most fascinating underground characters of the 19th Century. This "autohagiography," as it is not so modestly called, is a more than 900 page account of his life, at least up to the time of his writing the Confessions, when he was in his mid-forties. An autobiography can never be objective, and this is especially the case when it is written by a figure as controversial as Crowley. Reviled by many as a satanist, admired by others as a prophet, your own beliefs and predilections will color the way you view this man and his unconventional ideas. Crowley was surely a man with a large ego; at times he comes across like a meglomaniac, comparing himself with Buddha and Mohammad. He authored, among many other works, The Book of the Law, allegedly channelled (as we would say now) by a superior intelligence called Aiwass. Crowley maintained that this book marked the beginning of a new aeon, of which he was the prophet. Claims such as this might, to some, be enough to discredit Crowley. Yet his actual influence on culture cannot be denied. He inspired many occult, new age and countercultural thinkers, including Timothy Leary; His Thoth tarot deck has become very popular; his commentaries on the Qaballah are among the most complete by modern authors; He wrote quite a bit of lyrical poetry, much of which is quoted in this book.

The Confessions gives the reader a multifaceted look at Crowley. There are long descriptions of several mountaineering expeditions to exotic places such as the Himalayas. Anyone interested in travelogues should appreciate this book, which covers much of Europe, Asia and the Middle East. Crowley's main calling was magick (he invented this spelling to differentiate it from stage magic). Although he is commonly referred to as a black magician or satanist, this is far from clearcut. His early years of being raised by fundamentalist Christians (his own mother actually gave him the nickname, The Beast) set off a lifetime of rebellion against conventional religion. His often outlandish behavior and conflicts with authority figures contributed to his reputation as a dark magician. There is no doubt that he dabbled with demonic forces, yet reading his memoirs his basic intention seems to have been the progress and spiritual freedom of humanity. Crowley was a complex character, and this comes across in the Confessions. Parts of this long book are a little confusing; in some chapters, he rattles off one name after another, and he sometimes refers to people by their magickal names, which makes the cast of characters at least as challenging to keep up with as those in a Russian novel. His account of his actions in America during World War l, where he was accused of spying for the Germans (but insisted he was really a double agent for the British and Americans) is especially sketchy and made me wonder if he was telling the truth. On the other hand, he gives some very intelligent (if often condescending) commentaries on many societal issues. I found his comments on America, as he experienced it in the early 20th Century, especially interesting and insightful. One fact about Crowley that must be remembered is that he identified with the English upper class. He comes across as quite snobbish in many respects, including his disdain for many ethnic groups. He also had the aristocratic contempt for working for a living. Some of his remarks about women will not be appreciated by contemporary female readers. The fact is, his attitude on these issues was typical for his time (he lived from 1875-1947) and not evidence of anything especially sinister about Crowley. Crowley led a rather bohemian existence and had several wives and numerous affairs, many of which are recounted here (he was reputedly bisexual, although he does not discuss this in the book).

Whether you like, agree with or approve of Aleister Crowley, the Confessions are a fascinating, well written account of a truly unique individual.

There are people who live... and there are people who LIVE. Aleister Crowley was clearly one of the latter. He indulged in sex and spirituality with the gusto of the greatest tantric, wrote with a passion and a flair for the english language matched by few, and has captured the imagination of numerous rebels from mainstream society. And nowhere- NOWHERE- is Crowley's story told better than in his own confessions, the tale of the poet, the mystic, the saint that had the audacity to claim the title of the Beast whose number is 666, the Lion of Light.

However, I will clarify my statement- although his autobiography is fascinating and rewarding, it's not something that you can finish in one or two sittings. It's the sort of book that you'll keep next to your bed for months with finishing, yet will felt driven to read on in Crowley's odyssey. I highly recommend this book to anyone who is interested in modern Western spirituality, the world of Imperial Britain and it's quirkier characters, or Crowley and his religion, Thelema.

Aleister Crowley is perhaps one of the most interesting characters in all of world history. He attempted to synthesize the techniques of Western occultism, Eastern mysticism, and modern scientific thought into a workable system he liked to call "Magick." All the time he was trying to do this, he was hounded by people who branded him a charlatan, a Satanist, and "the wickedest man in the world." Even the famed Russian mystic George Gurdjieff, who was controversial himself, cursed Crowley's name after they met. Crowley's flawed character is very interesting to look at, especially from his own perspective, and this is why "The Confessions of Aleister Crowley" is such a great book.

My psychology professor loaned me his copy of this book, after we got into a discussion about Crowley one day. The case of my professor demonstrates how much Crowley is ignored, as his copy of "The Confessions" had sat on his bookshelf for years unnoticed. It was only when I mentioned Crowley and my professor read over the book that he understood my fascination with Crowley. Unfortunately, I was unable to finish the book, due both to time constraints and the fact that the book is rather boring in the middle, when Crowley begins to talk about his mountaineering adventures. I can, however, tell you my general impressions of the book, and Crowley, after what I have read of the book and several other books on The Great Beast.

Crowley's style is very lucid and descriptive, but readers without a dictionary should be warned; Crowley's vocabulary is immense and multi-lingual. Crowley makes some rather astute observations about the course of his life and his actions in the book, and he is able to psychoanalyze many of the people who one way or another became involved with his life, but this book, and his whole life, in fact, show one fatal flaw: a lack of self-analysis. Crowley's egotism contributed greatly to some of the errors he made. For instance, in reference to his feud with several members of the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn, he accuses many of them of having been jealous of him, going so far as to say that the great poet Yeats hated Crowley because Crowley was the superior poet. Any look at Crowley's poetry will prove this claim to be laughable, although Crowley did occasionally write wonderful poetry.

Crowley has long been ignored in Western society, although many of his ideas have influenced the course of the 20th century. Hopefully with the success of Wicca and occultism in general right now, Crowley will attain the position of great sage and artist in the larger world someday, as well as serving as a warning to all those who would tread his path. In closing, the reader of this book should bring with him an open-mind, intelligence, and a sense of humor (for Crowley's sense of humor is one of his often ignored qualities). With these qualities, he should be able to understand Crowley and learn from his ideas.

People's reactions to Aleister Crowley's life (as opposed to their reactions to his actual work) tend to vary from extreme outrage to fawning admiration, with very little middle ground in between. Both these reactions become more comprehensible after reading this 'autohagiography' - Crowley shows himself to be egotistical, spiteful and self-centred - and at the same time, one of the most gifted writers and thinkers of the twentieth century. In one of his novels, Crowley describes a dancer possessed by a glorious genius, the greatest dancer of the era, as a shallow, vicous woman with little conscious understanding of how she inspires her audience. Similarly, Crowley himself seems possessed of (or by) a genius that is much bigger and grander than his own conscious mind. To be fair, Crowley is the first to acknowledge this! An extremely interesting, pshychologically revealing book.

Aleister Crowley was a saint (in his own religion, mind you) an Adept, and a forerunner to the cultural revolution of the 1960's. For all that, his "Autohagiography" reveals a side of him that doesn't normally come up in his other writings: Crowley was a human being. Most of the statements he makes about his own greatness are tinged with irony, or so bombastic that one finds it very hard to take them seriously.

For instance, in his introduction, Crowley says, ""This Aleister Crowley is not a man, or even a number of men; he is obviously a solar myth." Now, I suppose one could assume he meant this, and take it as a sign of an incredibly inflated ego. The rest of the book, however, shows an all too human side of the Mega Therion. Crowley would not have made a statement like that then gone on to write a book which proves its antithesis. He was a much better writer than that.

Considering the central role magick played in his life, Crowley speaks little about it. He's more interested in stories about mountain climbing and traveling about the world. The last thrid of the book is directly related to his art, so here he gives us blow by blow descriptions of his workings. This comes, signifigantly, after he accpets the authority of the Book of the Law.

This seems to be related to his technique of referring to himself in third person until after he tells of his father died. Just as he didn't feel like an individual until that moment, so he didn't feel like a Magus until he'd taken on his True Will.

This is a very intimate look at the Prophet of the New Aeon. It is key to understanding anything else he ever wrote, since a great deal of his philosophy is treated in detail.

If you are at all interested in Crowley, get this book.