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Top 10 Astonishing Facts about Aleister Crowley

Crowley in 1913- Source: The Equinox-

Aleister Crowley was born on October 12th, 1875 as Edward Alexander Crowley. He was an English poet, painter, novelist, mountaineer, occultist and ceremonial magician.

He was known as a complicated man who was never afraid to follow his own path. His contemporaries always had a problem with him and his beliefs.

1. Aleister Crowley formed his own religion

Aleister Crowley in 1912- Source: Book 4, part 2-

Crowley was born into a wealthy family in Royal Leamington Spa in Warwickshire. His parents were quite religious as they were members of fundamentalist Christianity.

This is a movement that emphasized biblical literalism in the late 19th and 20th centuries among the British and Americans.

At an early age, Crowley rejected his parents’ faith and pursued an interest in Western esotericism; sometimes referred to as the Western mystery tradition.

In the 1900s, he formed his own religious movement known as Thelema. It is a religion that is into occultism, western esotericism and spiritual philosophy.

Crowley even came up with writings that he collectively named ‘the holy books of Thelema,’ pertaining to the teachings and beliefs of the religion of Thelema.

2. He was addicted to cocaine and heroin

Drugs- Image by RenoBeranger from

Earlier in his life, Crowley was diagnosed with asthma, and heroine was one of the drugs prescribed to help with it.

He quickly became interested in other drugs thereafter and how they may support his religious beliefs. Unfortunately, he developed an addiction to heroin and cocaine. Cocaine ended up eroding his nasal passages.

He was a frequent drug user and even incorporated psychoactive substances (a substance or drug that affects how the brain works. Causes changes in moods, behaviour, thought etc) into his occult work.

In his novel, ‘Diary of a Drug Fiend,’ he discusses drug-related issues and critiques contemporary drug legislation. He discusses his thoughts on drugs and religious experience and suggests his addiction was a more important force in his life.

3. Aleister Crowley once faked his own death

Crowley once faked his death for a month in 1930 while in Portugal, just to see what would happen. He worked with his friend Fernando Pessoa, to achieve this.

He left a sad note about heartbreak and left it at the top of a dangerous rock formation. This was so that it would make the implication that he had committed suicide by jumping to his death.

His friend then followed it up by feeding stories and ideas to the local papers concerning the occult symbols Crowley had used in his note.

He told the papers that he had even seen Crowley’s ghost. The papers naturally ran with the story and announced Crowley’s suicide.

As he loved the spotlight, Crowley faked his death because he was curious to see what his death would reveal.

4. He was an avid traveller and mountain climber

The 1902 expedition to K2. Jules Jacot Guillarmod is in front left: K2 Expedition 1902: (from left to right) Wessely, Eckenstein, Jacot-Guillarmod, Crowley, Pfannl, Knowles- Author; Jules Jacob Guillarmod-

As a mountaineer, he was big on mountain climbing, game hunting and being an avid traveller. He became interested in mountaineering when he was a teenager while climbing in the Alps.

In 1902, he joined up with the famous mountaineer at the time, Oscar Eckenstein and the two made an attempt to climb K2, which is the second-highest mountain in the world.

Even though they didn’t succeed in summiting the mountain, they reached a height of 22,000 feet, a record that stood for almost 40 years.

In 1900, Crowley travelled all the way to Mexico via the united states. He settled in Mexico for a while and continued with his religious practices and beliefs there.

5. Crowley became more popular after his death

In 1947, Crowley died in poverty and obscurity in an English rooming house. After his death, he became a figure of fascination in popular culture.

For instance, the Beatles put his picture on their album cover, “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band.” Also, Led Zeppelin’s guitarist, Jimmy Page purchased a house that was previously owned by Crowly near LochNess in ScotScotland.

6. His funeral received a very dramatic response

Cemetery image- Image by Akhil Paul from

Crowley’s funeral was attended by 12 people even though he was popular by the time of his death.  It occurred on 5th December, only 4 days after his death. It was a closed casket and nobody saw his body.

After his funeral, the local council declared the event a desecration of the holy land and an act of abuse against the whole town. There was outrage and terror among the local people of Brighton and Hove.

Because of his beliefs and practices, Christian services were organised in and around the city, so as to counteract the “malevolent forces” (as it was being referred to at the time), that people feared may have been released by his followers.

Consequently, a prayer meeting was held at St. Peter’s Church with 10 clergymen from all Christian denominations attending.

7. Crowley was referred to as ‘the wickedest man in the world’ after the scandal in the abbey of Thelema

Abbey of Thelema in Sicily, Italy-

In 1920, Crowley and Leah Hirsig founded the Abbey of Thelema in Sicily, Italy. It was a small house that was used as a temple and spiritual centre.

Unfortunately, one of his followers,  , a 23- year- old Oxford University undergraduate died at the Abbey in 1923.

His wife blamed his death on a ritual he and Crowley were doing. Following the scandal, one newspaper ended up referring to Crowley as  ‘the wickedest man in the world.’

8. He was a poet

Image by cromaconceptovisual from

Aleister Crowley went to Trinity College, Cambridge where he changed his major to English Literature although it wasn’t part of the curriculum being offered then.

He embraced his love for literature and poetry; especially the works of Richard Burton and Percy Shelley.

He wrote his own poems which ended up getting published in Cambridge’s student publications such as ‘The Granta,’ Cambridge Magazine and Cantab. He never finished his studies though.

9. Aleister Crowley squandered his inheritance

After his father’s death, at the age of 21 in 1896, Crowley inherited his father’s big fortune. This made him economically independent and enabled him to live without a steady job.

By 1914, he had almost used up his inheritance. He indulged in too much travelling and promiscuity.

10. He left quite a legacy- Appereaed in the 100 greatest Britons

Aleister Crowley in 1916-

Crowley remained to be an influential figure both amongst occultists and popular culture, particularly that of Britain.

In 2002, Crowley was placed 73rd in a list of the 100 greatest Britons by a BBC poll. He was termed the best-equipped magician to emerge, since the 17th century.

Aleister Crowley- Author; Abode of Chaos-

Aleister Crowley was an individual shrouded in mystery and at best described by so many books and articles as creepy. He however left behind a culture that is followed to date, thus showing how influential his arguments and beliefs ended up being.