10 Interesting Facts About Aleister Crowley

1.

He Was a Big Yoga Fan - When traveling to India he began his practice and brought it back to the UK. He wrote a book titled, Eight Lectures on Yoga which was published in 1939, way ahead of it's time.

2.

He Traveled All Over The World Studying Mysticism - In 1904 Crowley and his wife travelled to Cairo and claimed they were a royal couple. After renting an apartment, Crowley studied Islamic mysticism and Arabic, also trying to conjure ancient Egyptian deities. It is here where he wrote The Book of Law.

3.

He Was Actually a Very Pleasant Guy to Be Around - He was once quoted saying, "The common defect of all mystical systems previous to that of the Aeon whose Law is Thelema, is that there has been no place for Laughter."

4.

He Was an Experienced Mountaineer - In 1902, he co-lead the first British expedition to K2.

5.

Ozzy Osbourne's song "Mr. Crowley" is About Him - The famous song from Blizzard of Ozz was recorded in 1980. Osbourne had been reading a book by the celebrated magician at the time. Also mysteriously finding a deck of tarot cards in the studio as he was recording.

6.

He Lost His Virginity at Age 14 - He had an insatiable appetite for sex, losing his virginity to a maid on his mother's bed when he was only 14. After the maid was fired it is said that she because a homeless drunk and she was rumoured to be one of Jack the Ripper's victims.

7.

He Was on the Cover of Sgt. Pepper's - Crowley can be seen on the cover of The Beatles famous album, tucked away in a the back left corner. Ringo was stated in saying that they wanted to put people on the cover they admired, McCartney said it was a gathering of their heroes.

8.

He Was Big on Sex Magic - Or as he officially titled it, Eroto-Comatose Lucidity, the act of bringing ancient-magic practices into the bedroom. The ritual consisted of a feast, the person being pleased by every mean necessary and finally a balance between asleep and awake euphoria which was supposed to let the spirit go free.

9.

He Knew L. Ron Hubbard - Hubbard who is most notable for starting the Scientology religion was a member of the Los Angeles chapter of Crowley's Ordo Templi Orientis. The Church of Scientology says Hubbard was trying to infiltrate and dismember the group, however in a taped lecture in 1952, Hubbard discuss his fascination with Crowley and occult magic of the middle ages.

10.

He Put a Curse on His Doctor - Crowley's doctor died 24 hours after his famous patient. It is said Crowley placed a curse on the doctor for not refilling his prescription of morphine prior to his death.