The Occult
 

Anyone here with any interest in the occult? Maybe not necessarily in practice, but just as a random interest..
I've been meaning to read more into it. I've been meaning to read some Aleister Crowley, but I've been lead to believe that his works aren't for beginners. And I'm not even sure I want to get into that much detail. I'm really just curious for a (not-so) brief overview. Something with historical and practitional refrences.
So where to start? Crowley? Should I even bother?

I've been a student of the occult for 15 years, but I won't discuss it here...send me a private message if you are interested. I'm not into Crowley at all.

I used to be HEAVILY into the occult-- reading about it, mostly. I stopped because I was having trouble sleeping at night. Seriously. Especially because of this one story I read about the ghost of an albino lady that would tap on your car at night and stare into your windows while you slept.

Alright, but you must clear your message box.

I am the Occult.

well at least you have the hair for it now

Okay, you should be able to talk to me now.

Is this you Daycare?



Where have you been?

No, that's a guy in a tuxedo posing as a vampire, which has nothing to do with the occult.

>> Something with historical and practitional refrences. <<

Reading The Occult by Colin Wilson is probably a good place to start. A very comprehensive tome of almost 800 pages documenting the history of the occult and its practitioners.

Wilson is an internationally renowned author on the subject and has writen a number of acclaimed books. This is probably the one to start with.

i am interested in readina bout it or hearing things about it but would never take part. the idea if a ouija board scares me shitless to say the least.

http://www.museumoftalkingboards.com/WebOuija.html

Question asked: I love you?
Answer: Not

Question asked: Who is sexier than me?
Answer: One

Question asked: So, whatchu doin tonight?
Answer: Can not

Question asked: MOTHERFUCKA YOU CRAZY?
Answer: Can not

Question asked: Let me touch you, ok?
Answer: Have some eonsoes

UVRAY is a bright bulb in this dim cave.

I will also recommend Colin Wilson's book, The Nature of the Beast, about the life of Aleister Crowley.

But most importantly, read Colin Wilson's book The Outsider which was written before Wilson became an author obsessed with The Occult:

i love 666 and all that craic. bring your daughter to the slaughter... let her go.. let her go... let her go.

thanks be to God.

666 is simply a code that the author of The Book of Revelations, John of Patmos, employed to refer to the Roman Emperor Nero in an attempt to avoid persecution. Historical evidence shows that there were most likely two different Johns of Patmos and that the second may have been his son.

If more people would have known this when Crowley was alive, he might have had a more difficult time recruiting and glomming on to wealthy eccentrics, but then again, sex sells, since it is, in many cases, a taboo in and of itself.

Aleister Crowley is fascinating for many reasons; occultist, 'beast', joker, pioneering mountain climber, chess master, ahead-of-his-time publicist, great patriot (or traitor, you decide!), dresser-up, poet and so much more.

A good introduction to some occult practises can be obtained by reading Aleister Crowley's novel Moonchild and his long prose poem Aha. There's also some short stories, but they are near-impossiblo to obtain.

Aleister Crowley's works can at times be indecipherable to the non-expert, but at many points in his autobiography (or 'hagiography', as he insisted) or in the 'Magical Record of the Beast 666' diaries, he shows himself to be intelligent and insightful.

It's worth browsing Crowley's works, though, as it's not all inpenetrable technicalities, and you can read many of them at Sacred Texts. Here's the link to the Thelemite texts, many of which were written by Crowley: http://www.sacred-texts.com/oto/index.htm

Here's the direct link to a personal favourite, Crowley's The Book of Lies.

There's a very good recent biography of Crowley by Martin Booth called Aleister Crowley; A MAgic Life. If I said it were an honest work, but leaning towards a sympathetic disposoiton, that would sum it up quite well. Also, if you're the kind of chap who like to peruse the second-hand bookmarket, then Sandy Robertsons The ALeister Crowley Scrapbook is a decent thing to pick up; it goes through most aspects of his life, including his effect on popular culture, and contains soe genuine rarities.

A tip would be not to try holding out for first editions: in the early days Crowley spent much of his fortune (from his strict CHristian family's brewing business) on lavish self-publication of his titles. They are very expensive nowadays.

Well, maybe not "insightful." AC is just a pop-philosopher/frustrated writer, but he's still way ahead of that Anton LaVey carny dude. Both were quite the con artist though. Don't forget AC's first published work which set him up to become the individual he became, his early journals, Diary of a Dope Fiend.

It seems like I'm going to get The Occult by Colin Wilson (maybe The Outsider as well, it seems interesting). Maybe move on to Crowley if curiosity still lingers.
Thanks for all the help.

it's good to be satan.