Various myths about Aleister Crowley appear from time to time, which we will take a moment to briefly address. In this post we will discuss two myths surrounding Crowley’s use of drugs and his death.
Myth:
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? Does AC2012 encourage people to strive to be like Aleister Crowley?
AC2012:
We certainly do not suggest that anyone try to live like Crowley lived. He 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.
Concerning drugs, Aleister Crowley was prescribed heroin for his asthma, a 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:
Aleister Crowley was prophet of the New Aeon, and he preached freedom and sovereignty of the individual as the guiding principle of politics. He viewed this freedom as a necessary precondition for being able to accomplish one’s will, or fulfill one’s inmost nature. In the goal of accomplishing his will, Aleister Crowley was definitely not perfect and he did not always succeed. Of this, he was more than well aware, and he wrote:
Myth:
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.
Netherwood, Aleister Crowley's final home, was also home to a number of other intellectuals. In this beautiful place, on acreage atop a hill, with a view of the cliffs AC climbed as a child, Crowley was frequently surrounded by friends and family.
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.
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:
Moreover, while Crowley had spent his small fortune on publishing, he did not die in a state of poverty. His friends and brethren willingly supported him, just as he had done in so many ways for them throughout his life. As a testimony of his lack of need, he was responsible for keeping a locked box of money belonging to Ordo Templi Orientis, which he did, and never opened it. On his death he left everything, consisting most importantly of his intellectual property, to this same Order.
To learn more about Aleister Crowley’s life, there are two extremely good biographies available right now:
Do you know of a Crowley myth worth addressing or making fun of? Please write us: aleister.crowley.2012@gmail.com.
Thank god there are still people who dare to use their own common sense. The fact people are still talking about “The Old Crow” has to count for something? I still see him as an important person who tried to hack his own way through the jungle of religious indoctrination and media brainwashing. Thumbs up for AC2012.
Highly entertaining philosophies here….however….Incorrect Lon, His last words quite the contrary, ‘Father, into thy hands i commit my spirit”
At least he didn’t poop himself to death like Buddha.
So very sorry to burst your bubble but he left a hideous corpse behind. In fact Aleister bastardized tantric yoga tenets to suit his own perverse needs for satanic rituals. I could care less how you distort the truth to make him seem heroic he was a drug abuser and black magic wizard who respected no one not even himself therefore he believed in nothing . Anyone who a true and enlightened belief system will easily look 20 to 30 years younger than their biological years. Your article is totally a work of fiction. Good luck convincing others they should follow the ramblings of a selfish man man who disobeyed the karmic laws of Mother Kali Devi Ma. Indian ritual is saco red and so is the Kabaalah so once you temper with anyone’s spiritual belief systems you play with fire and you play with Karmic Law.
Nonsense. The facts are very well documented, and you are repeating tabloid lies.
Yeah..Gandhi Looked Fabulous. Your New Age nonsense holds no water and is the response of someone who knows little to nothing on any of the subjects you spoke of above. Epic Fail.
Well you know what even if you were right that’s a lot better then defameing an amazing name like Diana by being an idiot. Just thought it might help you get through life to realize that.
What some of the critics perpetuating those myths fail to realize is that according to the Bible Jesus the Christ died a betrayed, publicly humiliated, penniless criminal.
Indeed! Check out Lon Milo DuQuette’s comment below for another mention of this.
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Concerning deathbed perplexity, PLEASE see line 666 (!) of “The Ascension” from “The Sword of Song”.
Nice!
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…I seem to recall someone else’s last words were, “Father, why hast thou forsaken me?”