Aleister Crowley by Charles Krafft
364 words
Aleister Crowley was an English poet, novelist, painter, and mountaineer who is most famous as an occultist, ceremonial magician, and founder of the religion and philosophy of Thelema. But ironically Crowley’s supposed Satanism and Black Magic are far less frightening to most people than his politics. For Aleister Crowley was also a man of the Right.
Although surprising numbers of Crowley’s followers are conventional liberal humanists, those who actually grasp Crowley’s destruction of liberal humanism usually end up on the Right. Thus Crowley inspired such important 20th-century Rightists as novelist and essayist P. R. Stephensen and military strategist and historian J. F. C. Fuller — as well as some 21st-century Rightists who tag him in the pages of Counter-Currents. Crowley was also praised by none other than Julius Evola, who was every bit the political bad boy that Crowley was rumored to be.
For more information on Crowley’s life, work, and significance for the Right, I recommend the following pieces on this site:
- Kerry Bolton, “Aleister Crowley as Political Theorist,” Part 1, Part 2 (in Polish) — also included in More Artists of the Right
- Kerry Bolton, “The Influence of H. P. Lovecraft on Occultism“
- Julius Evola, “Aleister Crowley“
- Juleigh Howard-Hobson, “Crowley the Poet: A Different Look at Aleister Crowley on this, the Occasion of his 136th Birthday“
- James J. O’Meara, “‘The Name is Crowley . . . Aleister Crowley’: Reflections on Enlightenment & Espionage“
- James J. O’Meara, “Put Down That Rifle & Read This Instead“
- James J. O’Meara, “The Unmaking of the Magus: Crowley and Political Animal“
- Dionýz Sokol, “The Ideological War for the Occult Scene“
Another important work on Crowley and the Right is Marco Pasi’s Aleister Crowley and the Temptation of Politics
The following articles reference Crowley in passing:
- Kerry Bolton, “P. R. Stephensen“
- Jonathan Bowden, “Wyndham Lewis’ Tarr: An Exercise in Right-Wing Psychology” (in Bulgarian)
- James J. O’Meara, “A Band Apart: Wulf Grimsson’s Loki’s Way“
- James J. O’Meara, “Battle of the Magicians: Baron Evola between the Dancer & the Druid“
- James J. O’Meara, “Lord Kek Commands! A Look at the Origins of Meme Magic“
- Christopher Pankhurst, “Giacinto Scelsi: A Soundtrack for Radical Traditionalism“
- Christopher Pankhurst, “Spengler: The Numinous Genesis of Culture“
9 comments
Evolianism is the theory.
Thelema is the practice.
I was watching James Cameron’s “Aliens” the other week. The little girl’s name is “Newt” and it finally dawned on me (the third time of watching the movie!) that, of course, a newt is that lizard-like creature. It’s not technically a reptile but looks reptilian. But those aliens are not technically reptiles but look reptilian. So Cameron is having a little joke here.
Then I remembered another Newt. The Ancient Egyptian goddess Nut (pronounced “newt”) was Goddess of the Sky, depicted in their art as a star-covered woman arching over the Earth.
To call our little space pioneer a name that evokes an ancient personification of the starry heavens above would also be neat.
I wonder if Cameron was aware of that link. If so, I bet he learned about Nut the same place I did – from reading Crowley. Nut (or “Nuit”) is an important figure in The Beast’s Thelemic religion.
To end on a wild speculation . . . There’s a scene in the film where the little girl says: “My name is Newt. No one calls me Rebecca.” Rebecca is a Jewish name and a popular Christian name. So Newt is telling us she doesn’t identify with the old Judeo-Christian dispensation but with Crowley’s New Age.
Well, Hollywood was long in on occultism, so that wouldn’t be too far off… Though I’m not at all sure about the second part. Maybe if it was Scott, as his movies often had crypto-Rightist subtext. Cameron on the other hand is a good goy, I have a hard time imagining him placing a stab at Judaism in his flick.
I hate to be that guy but I can’t see any rememberings except Crowley besides Spengler from May 2018. Is it just me? Or is there something (((foul))) afoot?
It’s just you. If you punch “commemorations” into this site’s search bar, you’ll see that we’ve published 16 commemorations since May.
Sooo glad more new right and traditionalists are getting into this man’s work!!!
Very, very misunderstood genius and prophet, his Equinox volumes are essential for any practical and aspiring civilian at these times in my opinion. Also his theories and perspective on Christ and its connection to his religion are worthwhile, only then people will get why he happily dubbed himself as ‘The Wickedest Man in the World’.
An interesting take on an intriguing figure. I suspect that a figure such as Crowley would have much to say about our current circumstance. His departure from conventional morality perspectives could have much to teach us. Also, it’s one in the eye of our traditional and historic adversaries.
Like Nietzsche, he has been co-opted in the service of the sort of people and causes that he himself would have awarded with mocking laughter.
Luckily, more and more folks are coming to understand his value for the Right.
No spirit cooking for me, ma. I’m good.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=iK4tHsh9Urs&t=1s
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