Rose?
How did you...?
Rose!
Shhh... Aleister, it's okay.
I'm here now.
I didn't think you would.
Of course I did.
What did you expect?
I've always cared for you.
And I for you. There's just
so much left unsaid after,
after what happened with Lilith.
There were two loves in your life,
neither of them were us.
Magic and knowledge.
Sorry I could not give you the time you deserved.
I never claimed to be a perfect man.
I did love you, and Lilith.
But you'd known what I was when you married me.
Perhaps I'm being cruel.
Perhaps I'm deluding myself.
It was who you were that first attracted me to you.
Do you have fond memories also?
It is my time.
I do not believe it will be the end of me, though.
Troubled me, to see how Lilith's
death affected you.
The alcohol,
I didn't know how to deal with it.
Neither did I.
Anyway, I've bought what you want.
What do you want me to record?
I'm recording my life story, as series of texts.
But there's still so much to cover.
I fear the people will only remember the fiend
that I allowed them to see, and not the man
that I really am. I left many accounts of my magical
teachings, but without a context of my life,
how can they be truly understood?
Can you help me with this?
I've lost my paper.
But it was lucky I thought to bring
the one then, wasn't it?
You've got all the time in the world. Where did it start?
I guess it began at Hampshire.
I'd already gained an interest in magic.
And, my first sect was old George Pickingill's
in the New Forest.
You've never mentioned this before.
Well, that it is because I was not there for long.
I was unconventional in my ideas even then,
without any magical experience to back it up.
There were some incidents, and, safe to say,
things did not go well.
But the seeds have been sown, my interest.
Was that just before when we met?
Before you joined the sect?
I was still intent in my magical studies, but
this was not my primary concern.
I also had a keenness for climbing and chess, and
I went on to study it university, dabbling, and
philosophy, and English literature.
An interesting move.
Perhaps, a foolhardy one however.
I am so sick of your arrogance.
It is people like you who leave society in a sorry
state and decay that it is.
Society is in a sorry state it is,
because it repeats cycles.
We change subjectivity to new subjectivity,
but we never change the system.
Our whole world relies on rules and ideas that are
counterproductive to our true nature and our higher selves.
There're simply too many blindly following the masses
for many to notice or anyone to change this.
Your philosophy does not change the fact that
I am head of this organization nor
does it excuse your rudeness.
Once again, your bravado has cost you.
Your piece is mine.
Do you not see that in chess and in life
we must make sacrifices to achieve our ultimate game?
I do not suffer fools gladly, and you should not be the
captain of the chess team when you lose in so few moves.
It was around this time that I went on a trip to Stockholm,
and all I'd been starting to feel began to culminate
in a spiritual awakening.
Forces of good symbolize everything
that has oppressed me. Perhaps...
Perhaps I should take a different route.
My housemate became bothersome at this time,
as well, prone to fatigue and illness.
Whatever's the matter with you?
You cannot just lie here, like a leech,
waiting, as life passes you by.
I'm sorry Aleister. It's this chest infection.
It seems to drain the very life from me.
Well there's no...
Go to the bloody doctors then,
and I'll lend you any charges.
I had an interesting time back then.
And from what I've heard from you,
a colorful sex life.
Yeah, I think that from around
this time I came to realize that,
the importance of sex and spirituality.
Of course, I did not have the right tools to
explore it in a right manner. So,
it was essentially a lot of experimentation, for
little results. After university,
that is when I met George Cecil Jones.
He first introduced me to the sect.
You still speak with Cecil?
Cecil and I have remained friends to this day.
I've spoken to him, all I needed to, before I...
So, tell me how you met, in the sect.
I do remember, but better from your lips.
Aleister!
Hello, George!
How've you been?
Studying hard.
As usual.
So, how're things with you?
Oh, matters can be tiresome in the sect.
Many are passionate, but there's always politics.
Does this mean we must delay?
Oh, no. Things are fine.
All the necessary requirements are in place.
You must learn to be more patient, Aleister.
I'm not an impatient man. But I'm pleasing no one.
I see no purpose to delay, so that
society's laziness can continue, and its doctrines
be abated unquestionably.
I've never doubted your determination
or some of your logic.
I can already see his presence is strong.
He's not been with us long, though.
I hope your judgment is sound, Cecil.
He's aptitude for magic is sound,
as is his resolve.
I've done my own research on the man.
I have worked too hard to get
where I am to rely on others.
He has potential to become a problem for us.
Ambition is not awarded quickly within these ranks.
You managed to fit in, but he hasn't.
Deep hunger and narcissism, more than you had even.
Well, Cecil, we shall see how this turns out.
If things do not, let be known that it is
you who shall confront the blame,
as in you our trust was placed.
Of course.
I shall conduct the initiation myself!
Stand, Aleister!
Are you ready to join our sect,
to obey our rules, to seek enlightenment,
and to give yourself to us and to our cause?
I am.
It is done. Do not take this lightly, Aleister.
There are those who do not approve of you accepted.
Cecil and I are already taking a
risk, allowing you here. You infamy precedes you.
There are those that do not wish to make you an ally.
I also met Alan Bennett then, too,
another member, like Cecil.
So, Aleister, are you ready to begin.
I trust you're well rested. It helps when dealing
with these drugs. The body must be able to handle them.
I'm indeed. What is health?
Is but an extension of mind, is it not?
I'm most aware today.
An answer for everything Aleister.
I'm glad. However be warned,
this is advanced magic beyond your
years, and a powerful drug. I trust your abilities,
but we must remain resolute.
Be sure to calm your mind and embrace the
feelings within your body.
To resist would cause anxiety and
would ruin the experience.
Yes, but the purpose of introducing you to
magic was to expand your experiences Aleister,
not to lead you down the path of black magic.
Why do you insist on attempting these things?
It's not a case of good and evil.
White and black magic are two sides of the same coin.
Besides, black magic is widely misunderstood.
It is misunderstood, but many of the teachings are
misleading. Some of the practices you speak of
are inhuman.
They can only lead to disharmony within your soul.
It is these myths I seek to dispel,
to find the true nature of both sides of magic.
I do not wish to murder infants,
no matter how powerful it's supposed to be.
But where there is light, there is dark.
So surely it's a same principle with magic.
I used to think like this, when
I was starting my training.
I attempted things I shouldn't.
Perhaps that is why I'm always in poor health.
I now seek harmony and enlightenment,
rather than the path of ritualistic magic.
I do not doubt importance of your teachings.
I will learn all I can from you, take great care
when attempting my own rituals.
I respect your pure intent even if this
is not something I could do myself.
I guess that will have to do.
Now, Aleister, I hope you realize the severity
of what we're about to do.
Once you begin a relationship with this drug,
few can ever leave its embrace.
And in the wrong measures,
it can have grave consequences.
It can achieve everything you say it can.
That sounds like an experience
I could not legitimately refuse.
I always remember how arrogant you were back then.
I always had a soft spot for Alan.
Maybe it appeared that way.
Maybe I was even.
I think I just knew even then that,
while there were many skilled in magic,
within the sect I could never achieve what I wanted to.
I had other plans filling my mind.
Soon afterwards I feared, they would not
allow me to progress, and so
I sought out their leader Mathers.
Samuel Mathers?
Yes? You must be Aleister.
Aleister Crowley, from your London sect.
Yes, I received your letter. Follow me.
Let me see. It would seem that you have a
lot of controversy surrounding you Aleister,
and have made few friends within the order.
That is... >>Saying that,
it appears that you are very natural and
accomplished magician. You come all this way
to speak to me, so go ahead.
It is true, I have few friends, but many within
the order blindly follow doctrines and
orders with no thought towards their own destiny.
For many, there seems no place for advancement
through skill. And jealousy and stigma went
rife through the second order.
I do not claim to know everything,
but I do not suffer fools gladly, and I do not
respect authority that has not been earned.
Perhaps I can be of service to you Aleister?
I could do with a man with initiative,
instead of another sheep. But we must move fast.
There is dissent in London and I struggle to maintain
order from oversee, and this leaved me
little time for my magical studies and the
progression of knowledge.
It seems we have similar goals.
Can you overrule their decision
to not have me initiated?
I can do better than that.
I shall oversee the ceremony myself.
But later, we have much to discuss first.
It seems from this correspondence that you do not
entirely agree with the practices of our order.
I assure you, I shall not be offended,
that I would appreciate hearing from you how you
would improve matters to achieve even higher
standards of excellence, which is something
I continually strive for.
I believe the joy of life consists
in the exercise of one's energies,
continual growth, constant change and enjoyment of
new experiences. To stop simply means to die.
The eternal mistake of mankind is to setup
an attainable deal.
And it is for this reason I believe the sect sometimes
suffers, and where my opinions sometimes differ from
those of higher order in the sect.
The Abramelin you've been translating, I find this
very interesting to progress in the order.
It is, in my opinion, a very accomplished piece
of writing in magical terms, and should, when
properly studied, transform the magical ceremonies.
I've already attempted to incorporate some early
ideals and practices into our sect.
But the London order resists change, and
all forms of magical ambition and challenge.
My thoughts exactly.
Knowledge is really confined to experience.
The laws of nature are only those of our own minds
and groupings of observed facts.
It is therefore no argument
against ceremonial magic to say that it's
ludicrous to try raising a thunderstorm by beating a drum.
It is not even fair to say
you've tried the experiment,
founded it won't work, and
perceived it to be impossible
Too many from your order seem to adhere
to what is possible, on what has been done,
and not on what can be done.
I've a lot to think on.
Let us not run before we can crawl. If you're
to follow me to the chamber, we can begin.
Soon after that, the order began to rebel.
And Mathers called upon me, once more.
Rebellion is rife in the sect.
Insolent fools. How dare they rise up against me,
when I have given them so much?!
Perhaps a magical attack would lessen their resolve?
There are far too many of them for that.
Well, that just depends on how vast of an attack we mount.
No, they believe only in their own
petty rules and politics. I shall disband the sect,
but we must recover the texts first.
As you wish.
I believe in you Aleister.
Stop! How dare you bring your treachery
here to this chamber?
The blasphemy you've brought us tainted this order
for long enough. And now you steal from us!
Your words have no power. I am under instructions of
Mathers, and your petty struggling has no meaning.
And your order is to be dissolved.
You are expelled from Mapleton.
We no longer follow Mathers and you are both exiled.
You will live to regret this day.
What makes you think we're going
- to allow you to leave? - has it against,
what you may know about our inner secrets?
Aleister, what is the meaning of this?
I instilled my trust in you
and put my reputation on the line, and this is
how you repay me?
And what of Cecil?
I have no quarrel with you,
and Cecil and I are still close.
But can you not see what is happening here?
Would you rather back sheep or wolf?
I am ambitious in my pursuits,
but not as ruthless as you are.
I see how the order is heading. It's not my choice,
but if it must happen, than I will at
least try to lessen the damage.
We cannot all become masters and shed away the
knowledge we were handed in pursuit of seeking
it our own way.
Some must dedicate themselves to the cause,
while others will forget
without the teacher there can be no student.
I wish you could see what I was trying to achieve here.
My goals are not selfish.
Why do you still defend him, after what he has done?
You should not count yourself amongst our leaders,
if your judgment is so clearly flawed.
You are a weak and petty woman.
This is why I lead and you do not.
It's people like you that cause our
order to war amongst itself,
people with no vision, and only an obedience
to guide them forward. Let him pass!
You have no right!
I have every right.
I am still your superior and I say, let him go!
We are not murderers or villains here.
I will not allow our order to be tainted
by either of you today.
Go!
I will surpass you all. Your fear and stigma
will only lead you to the magical stagnation.
You are but a gaggle that came into impertinent child.
And that was the end of my involvement in the sect,
which was a good thing, in a manner of speaking.
Why did you hate him so much?
Hate is too strong a word.
Perhaps contempt.
I hated them for the same reason
I hated religion when I was growing up. The order
had no time or flexibility to further itself.
Black magic was totally misunderstood as,
as is often the case.
The whole system was just repeating itself each year,
its stagnation increasing, and the teachings
becoming more irrelevant.
Any innovation it once had is now
lost in the annals of time.
I began to really get serious with my climbing.
Few realize the patience and persistence that
is required when tackling these titans.
There was so much to learn from the ancient world.
I travelled the globe endlessly, searching for a
piece of a puzzle always just out of reach.
Physical hardships labored me endlessly as I sought
to test the limits of my skills to breaking point,
venturing on greater and more arduous tracks,
learning from the very elements of the earth,
and meeting the wisest holy men and scholars
along the way, all the while adding to a
bank of knowledge that I could never fill.
A thousand cultures and a billion existences
that have faded into dust and only its
stony mortar that survives.
I attacked the deepest depths of my mind and soul
for insides on the fruits of my travels.
What is the purpose of life and the
meaning of existence?
Something I learned is that seeking this question
is the wrong goal and can never yield results.
It is only by settling upon your own path
and seeking answers on that quest that
make it the purpose of knowledge.
To search for a response from the universe,
so vast and infinite as our own, it is too much
for our minds to comprehend.
I braved all that the world can throw at me,
and dived in, head first, to the sea of experiences
I yearned for, never pausing to rest.
A hunger overcame me,
and the determination unrivaled.
I realized that any limit in our world is one we
have created within the constructs of our mind.
Universe can be whatever we project it to be.
To make your own fate is to live in
your own way. So I continued my travels,
learning what I could from the very deepest parts
of the world to its primal peaks and plateaus.
It was abroad that I met Alan Bennett again,
and began my interest in Buddhism.
I am glad you've travelled to see me.
Having started Buddhism, I really am convinced
of its path and of its benefits to spirituality.
I'm more at peace than ever I have been within the sect.
I cannot fault it. I'm truly astounded over
clarity of mind and peace it can bring.
However, I will still practice the rituals I know
and progress through.
This is a slow route to enlightenment
or be it a rowdy one.
I do not have time for such things.
I am sorry to hear that.
I hope you could learn some more
insights before you leave.
Perhaps, it will change the route you go down.
I do see some very impressive results when
I look at your work, though.
Perhaps you can master things that I cannot.
Perhaps. Let us not enter this discussion again.
We shall enjoy a peace and tranquility
while it's available to us both.
Yes.
You're still bitter about that mountain track.
It was not long after that you've met me.
But what of Alan?
You never did say where you two fell out?
You were such close friends.
I suppose there's no harm in telling you now.
Alan focused entirely on white magic,
and later Buddhism.
He would believe I was only interested
in black magic and sacrifices.
I do not discredit his abilities.
He was a kind friend, but white magic and the
enlightenment be sought,
was just a small part of what
the universe has to offer.
It was inevitable.
I have lost so many dear friends on this
journey I have taken.
I learned a vital magical word, abracadabra,
with him, though. Something
I put down to his presence.
If only your intentions and your actions
were one of the same, you might have led easier life.
But then you wouldn't be the accomplished man you are today.
Then we went to Egypt.
My dreams were haunted even before
that day in the pyramid.
And your pregnancy with Lilith began.
It was then that the messenger Aiwass of
Hoor-Paar-Kraat Horus came to me.
Heed me. Heed me!
Rose, stop playing games.
I'm trying to study something important.
I am mighty. I have no time for misdirection.
I am not of plague and of pestilence.
I am everything and nothing. Heed me!
I will listen to what you have to say.
Your knowledge I hold dear to.
We do not have to die to become a divine
and spiritual being. There are rites to be achieved
that can reunite you with your all and greater self.
Heed my wisdom.
Whether you are in heaven or earth,
nor south, east or west, my presence
is the only one within you.
The purest site I have. I will not
die twice. My moment is within you.
All forms of where I exist.
I am the one that is not known amongst others.
It is I who is the unveiled.
Only hail the one from the moon, only him.
I am within you, but I have hidden myself.
To become one with yourself, you must become
one with each other also.
I've reached that same conclusion
but it's refreshing to hear it from someone
as old as yourself. But what about life itself?
How can I obtain enlightenment?
You can do as others do, and be a pawn
in their fruitless game, or you
can create your own fate. There is not time in
excellence for mercy. To achieve what you wish,
you must put your will above all. The weak will
become slaves to the strong and wise.
Supreme our law is "Do what thou wilt
shall be the whole of the law."
Mankind now begins a new eon.
You must live by your true will.
You are the prophet we have chosen.
This is "The Book of Law" that thou will convey.
I am grateful for "The Book of Law" you read.
But to this day it perplexes me.
I've never grasped its meaning fully.
That museum you took me to, with the marking,
proved most useful, the marking of the beast,
666, on that artifact.
It still scares me to this day.
After that I was a skeptic no more.
A powerful experience indeed.
When I returned, it was to Boleskine in Scotland.
It was there I began my attempts to
summon the holy guardian angel
and achieve spiritual completion.
There is something else
I have to remember but
I can't.
It was a prolonged experience, but
through dedication, I eventually succeeded
in attaining the knowledge I sought.
It was also around this time
that I found myself
feeling under psychic attack.
Mathers and all his jealousy,
and the rivalry we once had, no longer
kept in check by the sect,
was assaulting me psychically.
I did retaliate, of course.
Did he really attack you?
Why did you two fall out?
I believe he did.
It cannot be explained easily without experiencing,
but the things sent could only be from his skills.
Mathers and I were both accomplished magicians.
The rivalry was there from the beginning.
It was only hold off due to my
commitment within the sect. When that broke off,
there was nothing to hold us
from our dislike of each other.
Go forth!
Seek him!
If anyone else would have told me that story,
I'd be hard pushed to believe him.
Besides it's you, I feel I have to give you
the benefit of the doubt.
He did not bother me again.
Are you not forgetting something important?
The birth of our beautiful daughter Lilith.
How could I forget?
I still blame myself for her death.
Don't you think I did?
Why do you think I drank so much?
I have tried to make peace with it.
We had our paths to go down and so did Lilith.
Staying together would have been more of a disaster.
What happened could not be changed.
We can only honor her memory.
Yes. What was it you were off doing
at that time, anyway?
I blocked it out from my memory.
I learnt another mountain expedition.
Insubordination and going their own way
only led to certain death, though.
By no means a successful trip.
It was being most treacherous mountain in the world
at that time. They said I was reckless,
but I warned them at the time.
Following that, I met a woman who had been
part of the sect, and invoked Aiwass once more.
He had instructed me to return to Egypt, and
await instructions.
But I wanted to retry the mountain.
I went to America for funds.
I still wonder what I could have learned,
had I gone back.
We also had a second child Lola.
Did Aiwass dictate you further works then?
I learned some knowledge from that ceremony, and
from that and the texts of Abramelin.
Some was automatic writing and a ritual,
and the rest was research.
Then came the divorce.
Yes.
It's starting to come back to me.
There's something missing, but...
What, the divorce?
No, no.
After that, I then met Victor Neuberg.
What happened in that desert would change me forever.
What did happen there?
You're still being vague.
My very soul seemed to be
invaded, felt like I was annihilated,
left me with spiritual and mental scars.
Please, now, I cannot discuss this anymore.
Okay, okay.
I then met up with Cecil, once again,
and decided to progress with my work once more.
Aleister!
I cannot convey my disgust.
The same feels, this group of man have
caused my initial hate religion.
It was inevitable. Magical talent and
leadership are never governed by the same.
It was a flawed system of hierarchy.
They've scorned their knowledge and potential.
They didn't. It was the actions of a
few who that caused this mess.
We must create our own religion,
without its limits, you and I.
I never doubted your ability.
I should be honored to join you in this venture.
Around this time, another sect believed
I had stolen their material.
Having realized I had come to their knowledge
on my own, I was made a highest member within
them, eventually to become a leader of
the English speaking part.
It must have been a wonderful experience,
to have outsiders independently reach the same
conclusions as your own, with so few to understand
what you're actually trying to achieve.
Indeed. It was refreshing.
I also wrote two of my produced works here,
the "Hymn to Pan," and "Gnostic Mass."
I then travelled to America and
it was here I began to begin my studies into sex magic.
I made many attempts with varying results.
One such person I worked with said it required a
sacrifice which I was not keen on.
The papers always remarked you were a
Satanist and murderer.
Except in the day, mind work in magic and
saying that I personally implore the use
of sacrifice are two different things Rose.
I saw the pictures of the clips.
"Do as thou wilt" in great big capital red letters.
I did not think you were still interested in me.
I dabbled.
Having learned a lot from some
great minds in America, I moved to Sicily
and setup the Abbey of Thelema.
It was here I began to try to create a magical child.
I believe everything's been done
that needs to be done.
Have you cleansed body and mind?
Of course, my dear.
I've been waiting a long time to try this.
I would not waste such an opportunity.
Very good. But the correct invocations must be made.
We must remain vigilant to ceremony
and not get carried away with the process.
I have concerns my interpretations of the text
might not be accurate.
I do not understand why you doubt yourself.
Have you not been successful in every venture
you've put your hand to? I have never met such an
accomplished man or magician.
Would I be with you otherwise?
Have I not always been at your side when you need me?
How is it you're so full of admiration and trust?
Your competence spars mine.
Let us begin my Ape of Thoth.
Here on our sacred grove, protect us from evil.
Protects us from all evil.
There was a figure in the clouds,
moving to the darkness.
There was no known presence in this sacred grove.
Geb, Sekhmet, Osiris, Isis.
Heed our plea for child born of magic.
I am 9, I am 81, I am the moon. Embrace me!
Hear our plea, send us this moon child.
So?
So... what?
So did it work, the moon child?
Sadly I had many followers and one went astray.
I found the diary of Shumway,
another scholar woman there, and I believe
she was practicing foul magic that led me
to the miscarriage Leah suffered.
Where is your beloved Leah then tonight?
Always such bitterness in your words.
She's out. You have me all to yourself.
Is that what you want to hear?
You know, many of my concubines are merely number.
How do you forget the privilege
I give you above others?
I do not have your pet name branded by
searing metal across my chest, though,
like Leah, do I? Am I not as pleasant?
Is she as to the touch?
So this is what you often mistake.
Sex magic is not merely about sex.
In fact, the magic is of equal importance.
I do enjoy you, but to allow myself indulgence
without any spiritual gain, I will get
nowhere in my studies.
Surely, if we're quick enough,
you can get back to your other studies.
You are starting to test my patience.
Perhaps your resolve is not quite as strong after all.
Suit yourself.
Oh Ninette,
You poisonous woman.
You really are quite mad.
Ninette, come back here now.
What is it now?
What is the meaning of this?
I hope it's one of your twisted jokes or games.
If what you've written in here is true,
so help you...
So help me what?
I have done everything it says
and I would say I've been quite successful.
Get out! And don't ever return!
What a hideous woman!
Black magic can often be
misconstrued or used by the wicked in
the wrong manner entirely to the intended nature.
You loved Leah a lot.
You mention her often.
She could never replace you.
But she was so involved with her magic.
It was that that I fell in love with.
Okay. So then the government
kicked you off Sicily. What then?
You probably don't remember but,
when I had returned,
your drinking had gotten so bad.
I had to send you to get help.
Rose, didn't you have enough?
What, so now you care all of a sudden?!
I've always cared.
Really? Where were you when she was ill?
Where were you when I needed you?
You knew what kind of man I was
before yo married me.
I was away. I couldn't have guessed...
I didn't know.
Because your learning always
came before us, didn't it?
If you had some concern about us,
you would have been contactable.
But you just sloped off, and we didn't see you for months.
I'm here now, aren't I?
I cannot undo what has already happened.
You need to be strong.
You have a good mind to talk about strength.
You and your nightmares about the desert,
what you and Vic have gone through...
Never speak of that.
This is why I cannot be with you.
You only concern yourself with trivial matters.
There is far greater things out there to tap into.
I know you do not believe it.
I'm truly sorry for what happened.
I also miss Lilith.
Do not speak her name as if
it meant something to you!
I cannot do this anymore.
I cannot stay married to you, and you need help!
You've left me no choice.
I don't blame you for sending me away.
Whoever's fault it was, the
drinking had got out of hand.
I am at peace now.
Sometimes when I close my eyes, I see her.
I am glad. I would blame myself
if I thought it would help.
It does not, so I blocked it out.
We've got sidetracked. Sorry, carry on.
The ceremonies I conducted were not all
innocent in their nature.
I did have a wicked side.
There's a time and a place for morals,
but in magic, sometimes it demands more.
I drew the line at human sacrifice though,
however tempted to see the results.
That poisonous woman Nina
that typified everything deceitful in the world
and that lawyer
showed me how prude and naïve that Eva was.
It's like I said in my book.
No word of a lie, the wickedest man alive.
I am not speaking some untold truth here.
I believe this is common knowledge
amongst the public, is it not?
You are one of the most morally
questionable opportunists I've come across.
You dare to reflect on me, with your
history of promiscuous behavior, drunken exploits
and general lack of decency.
I may not be perfect,
but I am by no means the bastion of evil
that this man is.
Black magic and all manner of deviancy.
I tell the court nothing but the truth
regarding your character.
And there is no personal gain to
be made from your slander.
You only seek to further your own career,
for the use of infamy and sensationalism.
I assure you, you will live to regret this day
and your selfish ends will come back to plague you.
You see, he even threatens me.
Who knows what black things he will send for
me when we leave today?
Once again you misread.
I'll do nothing of the sorts,
and you're well beneath my contempt and time.
I'm merely pointing out that the universe has a way of
dealing with such infantile behavior and slander.
Earlier, I read to the jury some verse from a
book entitled "Clouds without Water".
Isn't that filth?
You read it as if it's magnificent poetry.
I congratulate you.
Is a meaning of this filth?
In my opinion, it is no importance in this matter.
You are reading this sonnet out of context,
like you do everything, the ramblings of lesser mind.
You have been well known for years
as the author of all these things that
I've been putting to you?
No. I wish I had a far wider reputation.
I should like to be held as a greatest living
poet ever, truth will out.
That is your view, is it?
Yes!
Mr. Crowley denied that he had contempt
for the ordinary views and standards
of ordinary citizens.
He had contempt for some of them.
In 1910, he published "The Winged Beetle,"
a volume of poems.
These poems are not erotic.
Let us move on to the next issue.
Mr. Crowley agreed that during the war he
visited the United States,
and in 1915 he contributed to a Chicago magazine
an article in which you referred adversely
to England and declared the Kaiser the genius
of his people, and an angel from God, sent
to save the Fatherland from savage foes.
Did you write that against your own country?
I did, and I'm proud of it.
And was that used as German propaganda in America?
Yes, I went over the balance of sanity of German
propaganda, which has been very well done by
turning it into absolute nonsense.
That is your explanation now,
after the alied cause has succeeded.
A lot of people knew it at the time.
Mr. Crowley admitted that he assumed the
designations of Beast 666, and the Master Therion.
666 is the number of the song,
and you may call me Little Sunshine.
This is not a laughing matter.
You have written one or two novels?
Yes! And about eight short stories.
Is it not fair to say that practically all
your works are erotic in tendency and
grossly indecent in expression?
It would be totally untrue to say anything of the kind.
I published a collection of 52 hymns to be
blessed by the Virgin Mary, that where highly
praised in the Catholic press.
Yet another unreason slander to my name.
I do not hate Christianity, as you so paint the picture.
I simply disagree with the dogma and lack of aggression
of many of its followers, and its insistence to
rule by fear rather than knowledge.
You didn't win, did you?
No, but I had my say.
But you cannot sway the minds of but a herd of sheep.
It was futile, but it was
not all a disappointing period like it might seem.
How so?
Well, it was around this time that I
started to become friends with a gifted psychic,
writer and magician, Sybil Leek.
Around this time she was a great diversion for my mind.
It was of philosophy that I spoke with her.
It allowed me an outlet from
the stress of my magic studies.
She was also useful consult
with rituals and banning, due to her vast knowledge.
Sybil. >>Aleister.
"Do as thou wilt shall be the whole of the law".
Shall we? >>By all means.
So how are the studies coming along?
The mere acts of studying can often
prove more trouble some than not.
I came to realize the names and laws we came up
with morality and science are just that.
This is true, but in order to master magic,
you must understand it on some level.
Very much so. The eternal question perplexes us,
is why though?
In our search for these answers,
we try to wring together a series of abstract
observations, which seem to form a basis
of standardized living and existence.
I cannot explain why I can see future events
or why I find magic easier than many to practice.
I merely aim to digress,
without the scientific and social frameworks
though, for the many there would be no context
for you to deviate, surely.
But what happens this is ultimately irrational.
There is no and there cannot be
any reason for this causal connection of things.
But if only because our use of the word reason,
already implies the idea of casual connection.
But even if we avoid this fundamental difficulty,
Hume said that causal connection
was not merely improvable, but unthinkable.
And in shallow waters still,
one cannot explain a true reason why
water flows downhill or sugar tastes sweet in the mouth.
Attempts to explain these matters always progressed
to learn lucidity. And the further analysis
retires to remote stronghold,
where everything is irrational and unthinkable.
If you cut off a man's head, he no longer lives.
Why does this occur? Because it kills him.
That really is the whole truth.
Learned discursions on the topic of body and mind
only beg the question. It does not explain
why the heart is needed for us to live,
only to say it is an organ most vital.
But exactly that is what we do.
I often find myself wondering the why of live, though.
Why I have these gifts, the others do not?
Why is some men achieve excellence and others
lead out fruitful lives.
I can merely conclude that which you already said.
That we make our own fate,
and we must not question universe,
but make it work for us.
You have a fair-mind to share this Sybil.
A fair mind?!
Come! Share with me some of your poetry.
How many billion galaxies there are, I know not.
But such a part of our existence they are,
seem are so, though it does.
To wander the planes of existence,
a thousand fold.
One can still never truly understand their truths.
Our souls part of a magic few understand.
The name science I hear you, so many usher.
The incorrect circle truths of our obsessions.
How naïve we are to think such things?
When we are one, the all and nothing.
Most poignant, if a little indulgent.
But do they not hold truth?
Always.
I've been expecting you Aleister.
But I did not send news of my visit.
Then again I suppose I do not need to in your case.
Call it one of the perks of my trade.
Have a seat, please.
Another book Sybil?
I'm surprised the teachers have time to learn.
Putting a collection of words down on paper
can often concrete its essence better in your
own mind, or highlight the flaws.
As a magician cannot learn without reminding
himself true origins of the art.
So, what brings you here today Aleister?
Would it be the news I read about you
in the papers?
What, that I am a Satanist?
I let the ignorant indulge in such theories.
I do not have the time or inclination
to correct them otherwise.
The very idea that evil doesn't exist only makes
it seem all the more medicine in vague.
I see your view Aleister,
but being this headstrong and flamboyant
about such things could damage the Wiccan circles
and our reputations.
I do appear so, but I have put
thought to this.
Those who believe such things have
guilty consciousness themselves,
and will believe what they will.
Those who have the intelligence to, will not.
This merely froze a topic of discussion
to those of the lesser or the
greater minds to be aware of.
There is logic behind your words.
But I also fear it might come back
to get you in later years.
I've already seen beginnings of such visions.
But I've also had similar bouts with
scientists seeking to discredit astrology.
It is not merely our whim of perception,
but a huge number of independent factors
that lead to perfect horoscope.
But realize this, they do not.
So a similar situation harasses you then.
I do trust your foresights,
but the effort required to even attempt to
sway the minds of these parasitic media types
and the regiment of following they have
is far beyond the time I have.
I am a busy man, after all.
That you are.
So what's news in your world Sybil?
I've seen a terrible event to come,
a war on a scale you cannot possibly imagine,
a French man who will be instrumental in
fighting against this foe.
I am also finishing off a book on herbs and mysticism.
I feel medicine is becoming too distant
from the origins, and I realized that a
simple formula can also work very well.
Well, I hope I am not alive to witness such events.
Society has claims that I'm evil,
but its own guilty consciousness and willingness
to turn a blind eye to war and atrocities,
which is where it really lies.
Regards the book, you'll provide a valuable service.
To me a book is a message from god sent to mankind,
or if not, should never be published at all.
I wish I had a chance to meet her.
I think we would have become friends.
She sounds very interesting.
Indeed. I would recommend you read some of her books.
I don't think I will need to do that now, will I?
Do you think it was worth it,
how I lived my life?
Only you can say that.
You made many enemies,
but you also imparted a great deal of
wisdom and knowledge.
There were those that you touched.
But you are not perfect Aleister.
A genius cannot be in every aspect of us.
Thank you!
That means a lot.
Now, I must finish telling you.
Sorry. Go on.
I think people thought that I kept them waiting
as a sign of my power.
It can actually take up to three days to clear
the mind of the business that the working world
fills it with. It would have been useless
to see people in that state.
One of the last people I met was Gerald Gardener.
He had a great mind.
He was ambitious, like I, but
there was something
inevitably likable about the man,
despite his despicable appearance.
Gerald!
Aleister, thanks for coming.
How can I help you Gerald?
As you know, I've travelled the world,
encountered all sorts of traditions, customs,
various tribes. I wanted to setup my own
Wiccan tradition, based on what I've learned
and on my studies with the traditional
New Forest group, and of course
on your writings, too.
Why now though?
Foresight. Wicca is dying.
It's too inaccessible for the people.
I am not going to setup a sect tomorrow.
These things take time to prepare.
I have so much more that I need to study,
so much more to write, too.
I see. Many of my studies do not seek the
masses out Gerald.
Only you and I, perhaps a select few, could grasp
what it is that we're attempting.
I hope you do not plan to betray some of
the closest secrets I've shared with you,
the guardian angel and the other matter we discussed.
Let me assure you Aleister,
I will keep such experiments
for my own amusement and a topic for our conversations.
No, I just wanted to form a
better, more reformed template.
Should men try to do this magic as we wouldn't suffer...
But, of course.
Good, it's settled then.
I am writing a book.
It will be unlike any other book ever written.
It will bring paganism and the Wiccan tradition,
the popularity of this, right to the fore again.
If it is as you say, I wish you every success.
Ask me anything you want.
Of course.
So did you help him write "The Book of Shadows?"
That is something you can figure out.
He knew many things already.
Our discussions were
nothing more than discussions.
Perhaps some things we conversed about
entered into his "Book of Shadows,"
perhaps they did not.
I then agreed to meet a report who reaffirmed
my thoughts on the media.
Aleister! Can I call you Aleister?
You can call me what you want if it fumes you.
Good to meet you at last.
You are a hard man to track down.
What is it you want to know?
I'm a busy man. I do not intend to
waste time on small talk.
Okay. So, you file for bankruptcy following
the court case that backfired on you.
How are you coping, going from riches to rags?
Who says I'm in rags? Do I appear that way to you?
Well I thought that...
I'd lost my fortune around that time, yes.
Does not mean I live in squalor now.
Well, how do you survive?
A man who likes women, fine brandy
and a passion for heroin,
these are all expensive habits.
I can choose how little or much
I indulge in those things.
Besides, I've many followers and benefactors.
You mean, you scrounge off people
who you deceive and continue decadent
lifestyle at the expense of others.
I do nothing of the sort. I provide a valuable
service to them, which is greatly useful to their
existence. Besides, it's hypocritical of you
to question how I live my life,
when you feed of lies and hearsay,
like a parasite. What have you have brought
to the world, apart from fear and negativity?
You scrounge off the very soul of the society.
What about love under will.
I can see the rumors are true.
You are unpleasant and snide man.
Well, you have misinterpreted that in quite
an impressive fashion. I am neither
of those things to people who know me.
Rumors are nonsense, and you are an idiot,
and an ignorant one at that.
Anyway, that is enough on "The Book of Shadows"
and the media. >>But...
I...
I remember one last thing.
What was it?
That was the worst day of my life.
Well, that day,
I truly let myself succumb to the illness.
I quit fighting the addiction.
I think you know what it was.
I am so sorry for the pain that it caused.
It was only then I knew how you felt.
It was you.
It was there you.
Crawley. Aha?
Rose, is that...?
Rose, you're not making any...
Rose?
I have to go.
I've always stayed with you Aleister.
You're a remarkable man.
Magic! There cannot be rebirth without death.
Perhaps it is fitting
that in life it is also thus.
Come! Let's go! Come with me!
Aleister! You have been repeatedly instructed
not to enter that room. It is forbidden!
There is no time for frivolity.
You will adhere to the solemn word of the Lord.
You do not decide who your friend is,
neither do you disobey me.
Their family are all degenerates and low-lives.
I will not see you even speaking
to liberal sinners again.
Acting up in class again, are we?
Go to your room!
Tonight, you will be feeling the
heavy hand of the Lord.
It's been nearly a year since the death
of the occultist Aleister Crowley,
and a year of strange and supernatural
sightings and experiences.
Within 24 hours of the death of Crowley,
the doctor who refused to prescribe him
heroin mysteriously died.
It is reported that Crowley believed he
was a reincarnation of several other people
in history and the death will not be the end of him.
Examples he claimed are Pope Alexander the Sixth,
Edward Kelly, Cagliostro, and the arch mage
Eliphas Levi, who actually died the day
Crowley was born. There were UFO sightings
that year, which previously Crowley had drawn
and described, and which allowed so,
associated with such sightings.
In Roswell and Aztec USA there were reports
of UFO crashes, and Seven Circles believe
that aliens only started to make an appearance
once Crawley deliberately opened a magical
portal to allow them to enter our world,
which is further expanded by one of his followers,
Jack Parsons. The large number of mysterious
deaths that year, too. The assassination of Gandhi,
many world events,
the first monkey to reach outer space,
the first man to break the speed of sound
in an aircraft. An on a final note, there
are supernatural and strange events and sightings
in the once home of Crowley, the Boleskine house
in the nearby woods. Some people believe he
summoned up and is responsible for the Loch Ness
monster, which was allegedly sighted
many times after his death.
Whether any of this is related to Crowley
or merely freak correlations of separate incidents,
it is very difficult to explain in scientific terms.
Perhaps, there is more to the man
than infamy and knowledge, and poetry.
Whatever you believe, what we can agree on is,
whether you love him or hate him,
the name and ideas of Aleister Crowley
will be with us long into the future.