The Book We Were All Waiting For (or Not)

Always Wondering said:

Errr, no. I never heard that Crowley/Hippy thing before.

But that song does have baby in it at least 38 times.

And I will get one over on you one of these days.


AW

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Even at the height of the hippy era, '69 or so, Israel Regardie, in his introduction to "The Psychology of Hashish" (I think, somebody help me! - Sangaal edition, I don't have it anymore) criticized the hippy use of Crowley.

From memory, he said something like "The hippies say 'Make love not war', while Crowley would say 'Make love AND war!'".

Ross G Caldwell said:

Even at the height of the hippy era, '69 or so, Israel Regardie, in his introduction to "The Psychology of Hashish" (I think, somebody help me! - Sangaal edition, I don't have it anymore) criticized the hippy use of Crowley.

From memory, he said something like "The hippies say 'Make love not war', while Crowley would say 'Make love AND war!'".

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I was living in Berkeley CA at the height of the hippy era (1968-70), and I recall no references to Crowley in any of the popular local publications. There was a lot about S&M however.

LRichard said:

I was living in Berkeley CA at the height of the hippy era (1968-70), and I recall no references to Crowley in any of the popular local publications. There was a lot about S&M however.

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It must have been great, I'm jealous. I was born too late, 1966. I would love to have been about 20 before the ban on LSD came down, "on the bus" so to speak. Then again, maybe I'd be even more depressed about it than I am now.

I even missed the full glory of the sexual revolution, but at least in the straight community, it carried on well into the 80s, enough so that I know what it feels like not to think about disease and other consequences every moment.

As far as Crowley and hippies, I would imagine, and your testimony confirms, that it was a niche thing. Nevertheless, it existed enough for Regardie to comment on it.

I think the issue is that, on the one hand, some thought Crowley would have enjoyed all the free sex and drugs (forgetting the fact that earlier one just had to walk into a chemist to procure 'goodies' - or make them yourself without much regulation e.g. AC's synthesis of Al or visit Park Davis and get them to whip up a batch for you). And on the other hand AC would not have associated long with that type of conciousness which is often percieved as having a .....( lack of the discipline of saturn ?)

From the The Message of The Master Therion:

Lo, while in The Book of the Law is much of Love, there is no word of Sentimentality. Hate itself is almost like Love! “As brothers fight ye!” All the manly races of the world understand this. The Love of Liber Legis is always bold, virile, even orgiastic. There is delicacy, but it is the delicacy of strength. Mighty and terrible and glorious as it is, however, it is but the pennon upon the sacred lance of Will, the damascened inscription upon the swords of the Knight-monks of Thelema.

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I think that on one hand he would have approved of the non-violent peace movements, as well as the general discontent and rise of the young against the perceived status quo and values of older eras. Perhaps he would have agreed with the general spirit of the times. However, the sentimental, almost pornographic "lovey-dovey" hippy mentality would have perhaps dismayed him. People stomping their feet for the right to be (metaphorically) castrated.

Ross G Caldwell said:

As far as Crowley and hippies, I would imagine, and your testimony confirms, that it was a niche thing. Nevertheless, it existed enough for Regardie to comment on it.

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I think the Crowley/hippie connection begins with the Sgt Pepper cover. He wasn't popular in the USA before that. And the hippies were ripe for "Do what thou wilt", without appreciating that it wasn't the same as do what you want.

I've read Coles book on LZ & will check this out if it comes my way.