Edward Krouly Spiritualist Country: Great Britain

Biography of Edward Crowley

Edward Alexander Crowley, also known as Aleister Crowley, was a controversial figure in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. He was born in 1875 in Warwickshire, England, to a successful brewer and a mother who instilled in him a fear of the apocalypse and the Beast of Revelation. This had a profound impact on young Edward, who proudly embraced the name "the Beast" given to him by his mother.

While studying chemistry at Cambridge University, Crowley became fascinated with the occult and indulged in forbidden practices such as drug use, homosexuality, and black magic. He was particularly drawn to the occult sciences and believed in the power of magic from a young age. Crowley developed a reputation for accurately predicting negative outcomes for those he cursed, which only enhanced his notoriety.

In 1898, Crowley joined the Order of the Golden Dawn, an occult society in London led by a self-proclaimed Scottish count named MacGregor Mathers. The order aimed to attain higher knowledge through the teachings of the Kabbalah and other mystical practices. However, Crowley's abrasive personality and involvement in black magic led to his expulsion from the order.

Undeterred, Crowley formed his own society called the A∴A∴ and later joined the Ordo Templi Orientis (OTO), a German occult order. He believed that Germany held the key to Europe's salvation and openly supported the country during both World Wars. It was during this time that he established his infamous "Abbey of Thelema" in Cefalu, Sicily, where he practiced his unique blend of occult teachings and engaged in sexual rituals.

Crowley's teachings were a combination of ancient Egyptian, Chaldean, Greek, and Indian cults. He believed that the ultimate goal of humanity was to achieve divine status through magic. He authored several books, including "The Book of the Law," which he claimed was dictated to him by a demon named Aiwass through his then-wife Rose Kelly.

In his later years, Crowley's reputation declined, and he struggled with drug addiction and financial difficulties. He died in 1947 in Hastings, England, in relative obscurity, leaving behind a controversial legacy as a self-proclaimed "Beast" and a magician who pushed the boundaries of societal norms.