You do have a love of hairsplitting; whether Crowley implied or claimed he attained a certain grade or not. Whether he was "poisoned" by heroin metaphorically or actually.

There is no doubt in my mind, none, that Crowley, in your quotes, was saying that strong men would not be subject to heroin addiction. However poetically he said it. The weak, would. I also have no doubt that he considered himself a man in control of himself. To whom heroin was no threat whatsoever. Salt-water taffy, as it were. I also have no doubt that Crowley held the weak in contempt, and that he held those who were addicted to drugs in contempt.

"If a man is simple, fearless, eager, he is all right; he will not become a slave. If he is afraid, he is already a slave."

I also have no doubt that Crowley was addicted to heroin.

Thats the point made, I hope, without recourse for some other run around in the forest seeking to find some nit to pick.

"666 claims that he has not had the desire for heroin more than 6 times in these days he's been without. He hates, however, to be beaten... I dont like to admit that I would ever like to take another dose of heroin, because it seems like weakening on my immediate resolve to stop it. ...I think thats the principal thing: never to make it a daily habit. Take as much as you like any day, but leave a clear 36 hours in which to get rid of the drug. (7 June 1923 diary)

11 June: Felt Rotten. Cocaine didnt help.
too much cocaine irritated: small heroin. Beware of backsliding.
16 June: Heroin today. 3 needed.

If you read the entire diary, as I did (Skinner, Weiser), its a sad diary of a heroin addict trying to give the stuff up, but failing, time and time again. There is absolutely no doubt that he was addicted to it. A SLAVE to it. And therefore, weak and afraid, in his own words. Not able to follow his true will. Because anyone who was able to do his own true will, should not only be able to avoid using the word "I" for a week (or slash his wrists forcing the body to obey the will), he should certainly be able to control addiction. Heroin should have to effect on a real magus, as it were.

THATS the point.

I thought I made it earlier by mentioning Ted Haggard, the evangelical chief who said that its easy enough to "cure" being gay, if you just have the moral backbone to avoid temptation. And yet, Ted Haggard succumbed, and, furthermore, failed the "prayer cure".

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The world is full of people who think that various things are MORAL failings, whether its addiction to sodomy or heroin, and if only the person were stronger, he would resist it. (or, in crowleys terms, could resist it). While crowley didnt say that the use of heroin was immoral, he had only contempt for addiction to it.

Thats the point.

To drive it further; the first thing that everyone should do, is to admit that they are capable of failing, capable of being weak. To think oneself so strong that oneself will not succumb, is to pave the way to succumbing.

Crowley was an idiot. He thought that anyone of good genes, breeding or temperament would have no problem with heroin, and so had the hubris to pour scorn on the addicts as being somehow less human than his glorious self.

Pride comes before a fall.

Crowley was a heroin addict most of his adult life.




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This has no bearing on his obvious skills and erudition. Just on his ego. The one he constantly claimed to have given up. Crowleys real problem wasnt his heroin addiction, it was his ego addiction. And like any republican, he spent his years boasting about how unegotistical he was. (in the republican case, how family-values they are). Rather than face up to the problem and deal with it, he kept on being holier than thou going on and on about how important it was to transcend the ego.


I just finished dealing with someone else who couldnt believe that Crowley was a bigot. Just what is it about Crowley that make people think he was Jesus Mk. II?

He accomplished a lot, even, perhaps, because of his defects. But defects he certainly had. To pretend otherwise, is to be a cult member.

Magus? Ipsissimus? Who cares. Both are just ways of patting yourself on the back without having to be judged and awarded deserving by someone else. Degrees awarded without committees. If the GD wont give you a degree, just make up your own organization.

"there's a popular image of the heroin addict as this sad, poor creature who lives only for his drug. while that is certainly one type of heroin addict - and an example of one harmed by the stuff, certainly - it is not the only type. crowley gives us another example."

Crowley was definitely harmed by the stuff. Its why he tried so desperately to quit it - and failed. Crowley was also sad, and poor. If you read the Tunisia diaries, you will find this running through the pages. I wouldnt take Crowleys life as an inducement to get addicted to heroin. There was no magical "other example" of a "successful" heroin addict. The self-loathing in the pages makes it clear that Crowley himself thought that (obviously at a later date than the quotes you gave about the weak-willed slaves).


" some of his best writing was done at the very end of his life. "

A lot of very prolific people are addicts, including alcoholics. I have no problem in believing that various drugs can contribute to one's art. The question is what it does to your will, to your personal relationships, Crowley didnt end his days surrounded by happy family, in his own house, with gardens running down to the thames, as he might have done, considering his talents and his inheritance. He dies a fairly lonely old man, wracked with pain and lung complaints, dependent on income from thelema-hippies. Unable to provide for himself.


Nevertheless, we can learn much from his life, and his books are useful summaries of Mathers work, and others. If I had lived his life, on balance, I;d be happy with it. And I think, on balance, he was happy with it. And that, when push comes to shove, is what its all about.

But no. Crowley wasnt a superhuman, able to use heroin like snuff and resist the insidious effects. He succumbed. just like the rest of humanity. The more you think you can resist? The faster you will succumb. The trick is to remain wary of it. And of yourself