Aleister Crowley

The Profile

Aleister Crowley (1875–1947) was an English occultist, ceremonial magician, poet, and writer. He formulated the philosophical-religious system of Thelema, authored The Book of the Law and Magick, and was associated with the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn and the Ordo Templi Orientis.

Crowley’s mottos include “Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the Law” and “Love is the law, love under will.” His image appears on The Beatles’ Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band cover. He lived at Boleskine House in Scotland, later owned by Jimmy Page. His ideas and persona have influenced artists in literature, film, and music, including apocalyptic folk and industrial scenes (e.g., Current 93, Coil, Death In June).

Three reviews cover Crowley’s cornerstone manual Magick and two Italian anthologies of his short fiction. They highlight Thelema’s principles, dense ritual content, and links to Kabbalah and Enochian practice. The stories mix pagan revivals, black rites, and decadent atmospheres. Influence on apocalyptic folk and darker music scenes is repeatedly noted.