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Crowley: Wickedest Man or Counterculture Icon?
31 Oct
Summary
- He was known as the 'Great Beast 666' and a controversial occultist.
- Crowley spent his final years in East Sussex, England.
- His ideas influenced 1960s counterculture icons and musicians.
Aleister Crowley, often referred to as the 'Great Beast 666,' led a life steeped in controversy as an occultist, poet, and magician. Born in 1875, he was decried by critics for alleged drug use and controversial personal beliefs. Less known is his connection to East Sussex, England, where he spent his final years near Hastings.
Crowley founded the religion of Thelema, which included rituals and a famous tenet, 'do what thou wilt,' often misinterpreted. His open bisexuality also drew condemnation in a time when homosexuality was illegal in Britain. Despite a negative public image, he became a counterculture icon in the 1960s.
Musicians like David Bowie and The Beatles were inspired by Crowley, recognizing him as a 'proto-hippie.' His reputation as the 'wickedest man in the world' stemmed partly from his alleged pro-German sympathies during World War I, though some argued he was a double agent. Despite his controversial legacy, he lived his final years in relative comfort in East Sussex.
