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Aleister Crowley

Aleister Crowley (Oct. 12, 1876-Dec. 1, 1947) — however one judges him — was a fascinating man who lived an amazing life. He is best known as being an infamous occultist and the scribe of The Book of the Law, which introduced Thelema to the world. Crowley was an influential member in several occult organizations, including the Golden Dawn, the A.'.A.'., and Ordo Templi Orientis. He was a prolific writer and poet, a world traveler, mountaineer, chess master, artist, yogi, social provocateur, drug addict and sexual libertine. The press loved to demonize him and dubbed Crowley “The wickedest man in the world.”

A brief summary of major events

Edward Alexander Crowley was born in Leamington Spa, Warwickshire on October 12, 1875. His parents were members of the Plymouth Brethren, an extremely devout Christian sect. It was in this Christian childhood that he came to refer to himself as The Beast 666. He was also fortunate to be heir to a small brewing fortune, which he largely used for travel and publishing his works over his lifetime.

He entered Trinity College at Cambridge in 1895, and left just before finishing his degree. He was initiated into the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn in 1898. The next year he purchased Boleskine House at Loch Ness in order to perform the ritual known as the Abra-Melin Operation.

In 1900 Crowley travels to Mexico where he is initiated as a 33° Mason.

In 1902 he begins the practice of yoga in Caylon with Allan Bennett, an associate from the Golden Dawn. He returns to Boleskine in 1903 and marries Edith Rose Kelly, the sister of the painter, Sir Gerald Kelly. On their honeymoon, they visit Cairo, Egypt in 1904. It is here that he comes to write The Book of the Law on April 8, 9, and 10.

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