Apparently we have really upset a few committed, vocal people over on Tribe. Various fallacious objections to Aleister Crowley’s work appear from time to time, which we will take a moment to briefly address:

Objection:

Aleister Crowley was a heroin addict until his dying day. He was just not perfect, not enlightened, and he failed. Why would anyone follow this guy or want to be like him?

AC2012:

We certainly do not suggest that anyone try to live like Crowley lived. He even said that we must each cut our own way through the jungle. What we hope is that people all over the world will hear his message of liberty and renounce slave religion. Crowley’s sole “commandment” (if you want to call it that) is that each of us know and do our own will.

Aleister Crowley was prescribed heroin for his asthma, common medical practice at the time, and he became addicted like anyone would. He later used heroin recreationally and sacramentally, as he did with many drugs including cocaine, hashish, ether, peyote, and pretty much anything that he could get his hands on to try. He was after all a scientist (trained as a chemist even), a mystic, and a psychonaut. What do you expect?

If this fact is enough to keep you from taking any of Crowley’s ideas seriously, we commend your anti-intellectual dedication and suggest that you also consider the advice of Bill Hicks:

“Go home tonight and take all your albums and all your tapes and all your CDs and burn ‘em, ’cause you know what? The musicians who made all that great music that’s enhanced your lives throughout the years? Rrrrreal fuckin’ high on drugs.”

Objection:

Aleister Crowley died lonely. His last words were “I’m Perplexed.” He died penniless. Obviously whatever his teachings were, they did not help him in the end. Therefore his writings are worthless.

AC2012:

Do you really think that no wise or intelligent person of any value should ever be perplexed, feel loneliness, or lack investment capital? Really? We take it then that you are a Scientologist.

Anyway, for those who are curious about the real story of Aleister Crowley’s death bed, we offer the following from Lawrence Sutin’s Do What Thou Wilt: A Life of Aleister Crowley, the recollection of Patricia MacAlpine, mother of Crowley’s son Aleister Ataturk:

“…the beast [Aleister Crowley] remained in good spirits, enjoying the comings and goings of Aleister Ataturk and the other children, who adored him in turn. Crowley did, however, remain in bed. The day before he died, he talked calmly and at length with MacAlpine. The following day was a still one but at the moment of Crowley’s death, which came quietly, the curtains in his room were caught in a gust of wind and a peal of thunder was heard. ‘it was the gods greeting him’ said MacAlpine.”

Stay tuned for more objections to Aleister Crowley 2012 in upcoming posts. Do you have an objection worth addressing or making fun of? Please write us: aleister.crowley.2012@gmail.com