Aleister Crowley Poems: Exploring the Esoteric World of The Great Beast

Aleister Crowley, often referred to as "The Great Beast" or "The Wickedest Man in the World," was an English occultist, writer, and poet. His influential works delve into various esoteric philosophies, including mysticism, ceremonial magic, and Thelema, the religious movement he founded. Crowley's poetry reflects his profound exploration of the inner self and the hidden realms of existence. In this article, we will delve into the enchanting world of Aleister Crowley's poems, showcasing their unique themes and profound symbolism.

Aleister Crowley: The Life and Legacy

Aleister Crowley was born in England in 1875 and rose to prominence in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. His controversial and unconventional lifestyle, coupled with his dedication to spiritual exploration, solidified his place in history as a literary and mystical figure. Crowley's vast knowledge of various occult traditions, including ceremonial magic, Thelema, and Tarot, greatly influenced his poetry.

Thelema: A Major Influence

Thelema, the mystical and religious movement founded by Crowley in the early 1900s, heavily influenced his poetry. The central tenet of Thelema is the belief in the divinity within each individual, emphasizing personal freedom, self-discovery, and spiritual enlightenment. Crowley's poems often explore these themes, conveying a sense of empowerment and liberation.

One of Crowley's most famous poems, "Hymn to Pan," captures the essence of Thelema and its celebration of the divine self. This rhythmic and provocative piece embodies the passionate and rebellious spirit found throughout Crowley's body of work.

The Symbolism and Occult Imagery

Crowley's poems are rich in symbolism, drawing upon his extensive understanding of various esoteric philosophies. His verses often employ occult imagery, ancient mythology, and mystical symbolism to convey profound spiritual truths. Through his poetry, Crowley aimed to transcend the mundane and reveal the hidden aspects of existence.

In "The Wizard Way," Crowley explores the transformative power of magic and the pursuit of enlightenment. The poem delves into the realms of mysticism, unraveling the mysteries of the universe and the self. Through vivid imagery and poetic language, Crowley invites readers on a journey of self-discovery and spiritual awakening.

Exploring the Depths of the Soul

Crowley's poetry delves into the deepest recesses of the human soul, exploring themes of love, desire, mortality, and the mysteries of existence. His verses often challenge societal norms and embrace the complexity of human emotions without judgment. Crowley's deeply personal exploration of the human condition remains relevant and impactful to this day.

In "Amatoria," Crowley explores the intricate dance between love, lust, and spiritual awakening. The poem beautifully captures the passionate ardor of desire while also acknowledging the transformative power it holds over the soul. Through its sensual verses, Crowley invites readers to embrace their desires and delve into the realms of the divine.

The Legacy of Aleister Crowley's Poetry

Aleister Crowley's poetry continues to inspire and captivate readers fascinated by the realms of mysticism, magic, and spirituality. His profound exploration of the self, dedication to personal freedom, and daring use of symbolism make his poems timeless works of art. Crowley's unique blend of esoteric knowledge and poetic prowess solidify his place as one of the most influential and controversial figures in the world of literature and mysticism.

Aleister Crowley Poems: Examples

"Hymn to Pan"
Thrill with the lissome lust of the light,
O man! My man!
Come careering out of the night
Of Pan! Io Pan!
Io Pan! Io Pan! Come over the sea
From Sicily and from Arcady!
Roaming as Bacchus, with fauns and pards
And nymphs and satyrs for thy guards,
On a milk-white ass, come over the sea
To me, to me,
Come with Apollo in bridal dress
(Shepherdess and pythoness)
Come with Artemis, silken shod,
And wash thy white thigh, beautiful God,
In the moon of the woods, on the marble mount,
The dimpled dawn of the amber fount!
*Dip the purple of passionate prayer
In the crimson shrine, the scarlet snare,
The soul that startles in eyes of blue
To watch thy wantonness weeping through
The tangled grove, the gnarled bole
Of the living tree that is spirit and soul
And body and brain — come over the sea,
(Io Pan! Io Pan!)
Devil or god, to me, to me,
My man! my man!
Come with trumpets sounding shrill
Over the hill!
Come with drums low muttering
From the spring!
Come with flute and come with pipe!
Am I not ripe?
I, who wait and writhe and wrestle
With air that hath no boughs to nestle
My body, weary of empty clasp,
Strong as a lion and sharp as an asp —
*Come, O come!
I am numb
With the lonely lust of devildom.
Thrust the sword through the galling fetter,
All-devourer, all-begetter;
Give me the sign of the Open Eye,
And the token erect of thorny thigh,
And the word of madness and mystery,
O Pan! Io Pan!
Io Pan! Io Pan Pan! Pan Pan! Pan,
I am a man:
Do as thou wilt, as a great god can,
O Pan! Io Pan!
Io Pan! Io Pan Pan! I am awake
In the grip of the snake.
The eagle slashes with beak and claw;
The Gods withdraw:
The great beasts come, Io Pan! I am borne
To death on the horn
Of the Unicorn.
I am Pan! Io Pan! Io Pan Pan! Pan!
I am thy mate, I am thy man,
Goat of thy flock, I am gold, I am god,
Flesh to thy bone, flower to thy rod.
With hoofs of steel I race on the rocks
Through solstice stubborn to equinox.
And I rave; and I rape and I rip and I rend
Everlasting, world without end,
Man-stride beast-girthed in fibre and flaw
Thyself: God!
Death is born, leaf upon leaf,
Twining the body in white shroud,
Rootless unto the naked root —
*Shake down that seed, O my fruit! O Pan!
Io Pan!
Io Pan Pan! Pan! Io Pan!

"The Wizard Way"
O beast, I am the wizard of the savage quay!
The world rolls round, the planets by my wand
Are whirled; the heavens are losers in my play;
In every star an opportunity,
An ecstasy: down droop thy fierce arms always
Before the master of chance, the Olympian
King, the dominant and daemonic man
Triumphant over matter in all ways;
And let my feet ascending spurn with joy
The solid earth; and let my shoulders paste
Light on the ether of the winds and waste
The world of labour, conscious but a toy!
For I am one with thee; I am thyself,
King over men, a soldier in the strife;
Thine is the struggle, mine the flower of life
Whose silky petal quivers on thy shelf.
With eyes of gold, sometimes a-wondering,
Sometimes, but not so often, piteous,
The only eyes that ever shone for us
As flash the eyes of beast from shaken wing,
I am the Wizard of the negro heat,
The black-skinned dust thy lily-velvet feet
Soft-shifting cast, thy love-spun spider-web;
By me the heights of crystal mountains spread
Silver-snowed above the greenness of the world.
Thy fiery flight henceforward may be led
As I direct, hence do the thunder-bird
And the incarnate stone, the sunken pearl,
Planked in their old sea that is deified;
And hence, to-day, because my tower is steeled,
Take I my sword and do, for very mirth,
With might, and not because of any wrong,
But with the force intolerably long,
Their own sweet service to the wretched earth
That worship me anew, a very king.

"Amatoria"
Ecstasy of dawn
Was upon me fraught:
I was drunken and wan
With the marvellous thought
Of the Body as the Gate
of the Soul that lies
Lurking within it, in state,
Pure as the Skies.
It was wrought on the rose,
Iridescent and frail,
And out of the darkling close
Of the flesh, did it hail
The gaze of the world, there dim
And small and remote:
It was Love that whispered of him,
The inward Lord in his mote.
And so to the crystal Sphere
Of the Ideal's death,
Frail as her sphinx-smile sheer,
I was lifted, by breath
Of his passion, gently unmeshed
From the net of his stride:
For the God hath seen me, and flushed
With pride
Of his Mastery
Hung as bright as a Tear
On the darkling Hewn Free
Of this Body, so near
In its Burning, the whole
Of her beauty round Pour'd
Into the one Weal
That my Love beheld and adored.
For the Presence was *seen*:
And yet it was not,
Though glimpses were glean'd
Of her anguishing Lot,
Her Palace of Pain.
I was caught by his Spell,
For a Heart, as a Brain,
Is a Dwelling of Devils.
And afar I beheld
Super-built, more complete
Than a Tower, a white Citadel
Of Supernal Delight,
In repair and in rule
Of the Souls of her Sin,
Of Desire and of Dole,
Of their Lash and their Sin;
And I saw that the Part
Of Completion below
Fell about with her Heart
As a Garment, that now
I came as the Wind
That invests the Kissed Thigh,
As it wistfully moves to remind
The Weary of *why*.