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One of the most famous books on the occult ever written, this is a record of Crowley's journey into strange regions of consciousness: his initiation into magic his world-wide travels and mistresses, his experiments with sex and drugs, and the philosophy of his famous "Book of the Law". Aleister Crowley, self-styled "the Beast", founder of his own spiritual orders, was already a legend the world over when he penned his biography. Known as a novelist, poet, magician, mountaineer, chessmaster, guru, he was also a notorious drug user, famous voluptuary and accomplished mystic. Born in England in 1875, son of a brewer and evangelizing Plymouth brother, Crowley rejected Victorian life and mores and pursued a life of rebellion where he sought to push the limits of experience and human knowledge. Soul-searching mysticism led to sexual excess, debauchery, drug use and daring physical and mental exploits whether on the most dangerous of mountain cliffs or in the most profound psychological experimentation. A master of Eastern and Western philosophy he travelled Egypt, China, Mexico, Thailand and more... Living in London, Paris, New York, he collected disciples, mistresses and lovers of both sexes, while pouring out unparallelled manuscripts on occultism, mysticism and the practice of the spiritual sciences. His prolific literary career and adventurous feats never far behind, he also produced a number of novels and volumes of verse to fill a library while breaking world records in mountaineering and climbing. Via his spiritual writings and experiments, he has left humanity with a legacy to decipher for ages to come.… (more)
User reviews
An intellectual "Lonewolf", he eschewed his contemporaries, insulted "High Society" and sought the true realities of the Universe. To this end, he contributed greatly to increasing and preserving the works of Occult Magick, enhancing them with new insight and structure, assisted in the writing of Gardner's "Charge of the Goddess", created a new Occult Order, the infamous "Ordo Templi Orientis" and was both admired and hated. He was blunt, condescending and hated by the press, who often called him a "Satan Worshipper". He often referred to himself as "The Beast" from the Book of Revelations in jest.
This book shows the man, magician and would-be prophet of ancient Egyptian Gods during his whole life. As a magician, Crowleys' place in History is established as more than 40 books are credited to his teachings. However, all good things must come to an end, as his life spiraled down within drug-induced meditations to invoke his Patron Diety "Aiwass" (Thoth), which combined with alcohol, eventually took their toll on his life. This book is the best history of the most famous magician of the 20th century. It will both educate and inspire anyone who reads it. - Salient
And thus, I heeded the voice on the Saturnian return of my ownership of the book.
There is much mountaineering, and many trips to the dictionary, and Google searches of certain phrases lead back to online versions of this very text. And yet, scattered throughout the text are important insights into other of Crowley’s works, as well as guidance on particular magical practices. For these alone, reading the book is well worthwhile. More detail in this last respect cannot be easily given, as the insights are surprisingly personal.
Some parts of Confessions are repetitive, and at times Crowley refers back to incidents not described or foreshadows events not related. I lay this at the feet of the editors. Also, there is a strange deja vu to other parts, perhaps owing to their being quoted in introductions of other Crowley works. This also underscores the importance of reading Confessions. Poignantly, Crowley’s main confession is that he trusted people too much.
On a minor note, the oblique references to gay society were entertaining. In referring to George Rafflovitch, for example, Crowley relates,
They saved a few thousand for the fool and kept him on short commons to teach him sense. He had snarled and become a socialist. I met him at the Gargotte off Holborn, being the only man there who looked at all like a gentleman. I paid him special attention. This suited him down to the ground. He saw a chance to cadge. He agreed with me about socialism. It appeared that his motive in frequenting that milieu was identical with my own.
(p. 633.)
It is too bad, however, he wrote so generally about Cefalù. It is unclear whether this was his choice, or that of his editors. Regardless, those incidents are covered in other biographies, from both outsider and initiated points of view.
It's an important work, though this edition's importance will be eclipsed once the Spirit of Solitude is published.