Last Podcast On The Left
Last Podcast On The Left
"Coronzon, possessing Crowley, first appeared as Euphimialam, the girl whom Crowley had used to play a prank on Noiburg and pair. So he just grew tits." — Marcus Parks
"The point of the Paris working was to invoke two gods. Mercury, the god of writing, was supposed to inspire Crowley to even greater poetic heights. Jupiter, the god of good fortune, was going to give Crowley a much needed cash infusion. In other words, this ritual was done for fame and money." — Ed Larson
"The most devastating revelation was that Crowley had participated in quote, 'unminchnable muralities,' which everyone in England knew was code for gay sex." — Marcus Parks
This episode delves into the escalating practices of Aleister Crowley, beginning with his intense ritualistic engagements with Victor Neuberg, including their purported battle with the demon Coronzon. The narrative highlights how these experiences, steeped in sex magic and symbolic warfare, solidified Crowley's belief in his own prophetic destiny. The podcast then explores Crowley's legal entanglements with his former mentor, Samuel Mathers, over publishing Golden Dawn rituals, showcasing how public scrutiny, while often negative, paradoxically increased Crowley's notoriety.
The discussion shifts to Crowley's controversial period in America, marked by his pro-German propaganda work and his efforts to establish the OTO's Agape Lodge. His descent into severe heroin addiction and his establishment of the Abbey of Thelema in Sicily are detailed, painting a picture of a commune rife with drug abuse, chaotic sexual practices, and profound neglect, leading to significant personal tragedies, including the death of his infant daughter. The episode touches upon Crowley's attempts to legitimize his practices through writing and publishing, his eventual declaration of himself as an Ipsissimus, and his final years marked by declining health, financial hardship, and a strained legacy.
The latter part of the episode focuses on the controversial aspects of Crowley's life, including his participation in rituals involving human waste and the eventual downfall of the Abbey of Thelema due to its unsanitary conditions and internal conflicts. The narrative concludes with Crowley's death, his lingering reputation as "the wickedest man in the world," and the enduring, albeit debated, influence of his occult theories and writings.