Aleister Crowley

High school (ages 12+)
History & Culture

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/aleister-crowley

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. When was Aleister Crowley born?October 12, 1875
2. When did Aleister Crowley die?December 1, 1947 (age 72)
3. Where was Aleister Crowley born?Royal Leamington Spa, Warwickshire, England
4. What is the career?Occultist, ceremonial magician, poet, novelist, painter, mountaineer, intelligence operative (alleged)
5. Who was Aleister Crowley?Aleister Crowley was a writer, explorer, and teacher who founded a spiritual philosophy called Thelema. He loved climbing mountains, writing poetry, and learning about magic.
6. What is Thelema and what does "Do what thou wilt" mean?Thelema is a belief system that encourages people to discover and follow their true purpose in life. "Do what thou wilt" means to act in harmony with that purpose, not just do anything you want.

Western Esotericism: A broad category of mystical and occult traditions that developed in Europe and the Americas.
Thelema: A philosophical and religious system founded by Aleister Crowley, emphasizing the principle of 'Do what thou wilt' as the path to self-realization.
Ceremonial Magic: A sophisticated system of ritualistic practices aimed at invoking spiritual forces or achieving specific magical results.
Æon of Horus: In Thelemic cosmology, a new spiritual epoch characterized by the reign of the divine child Horus, emphasizing individual will and freedom.