Chemical Wedding-Interview with Bruce Dickinson

Interview with Bruce Dickinson about the film The Chemical Wedding and it's main character Aleister Crowley. Originally posted on Toulecinema.com.
Interviews Le Diable dans le sang réalisateur, acteurs Tout Le Ciné

[@UpTheIrons41495]

and as for the number of the beast artwork, derek sketched it up for a single off the album "Killers" called "Purgatory". and the bands manager decided it was to high caliber for a single so they decided to use it for the next album. and the number of the beast single cover showed eddie holding the devils severed head. the message was that if an imaginary character can defeat the devil, then anyone can

[@Setauheru]

Vicenewman, I didn't realize there were any references to L Ron Hubbard in the film, care to expand on that? I liked the movie, it was like a campy horror flick but with an occult flair, lots of fun symbolism and poking fun at the occultists. I wished there was more Bruce Dickinson music in the soundtrack like I thought there was going to be.

[@deathmetalpat]

I love Bruce and to think I was mad because he replaced Paul in Maiden.Best band move ever.

[@UpTheIrons41495]

and if you look at Derek Riggs online portfolio you will see that he puts pyramids in A LOT of his work. its just something he likes. for the "powerslave" album artwork, he got it straight from the tomb of Rameses the 2nd! he is a brilliant artist. you should check out a band called Gamma Ray. they have an album "no world order". its amazing.

[@cortx2lh]

I never understood why Bruce Dickinson cares so much about Crowley.

[@Setauheru]

It's interesting that he started working on this movie 5 years before the Chemical Wedding album. I thought that album was highly influenced by William Blake but now I will have to listen for the Crowley influence as well.

[@diamonddust22]

Wow great interview, very informative

[@sarasimm6668]

There is nothing abnormal about his mannerisms in this video. Can you give a time in this clip which you think it is?

[@UpTheIrons41495]

maiden isn't satanic or masonic.. iron maiden is a secular band in the way that they write music about a whole lot of different things.. i've never seen bruce make masonic hand signs once..

[@sarasimm6668]

Which hand gestures do you mean exactly? Please reference. I use the same hand gestures and I am definitely NOT a freemason. Bruce Dickinson is a very educated and knowledgeable person. He has a lot of historical/mythological knowledge which he incorporates into their songs. Just because he is knowledgeable on such things doesn't mean he is one! Besides, what exactly is wrong with freemasonary? The conspiracy theories do not hold up to scrutiny - I have read a lot of them.

[@UpTheIrons41495]

and i don't know if you have been keeping up with iron maiden, but in their most recent record "The Final Frontier" bruce wrote a track called "Starblind" and the lyrics basically say how religion is a waste of time and that "in your once and future grave you'll fall endlessly decieved" so this totally contradicts the claim of bruce being a freemason. Im sorry if the ideas in my comments are kinda thrown around, i haven't even graduated high school yet. haha

[@sarasimm6668]

Yep, I've just watched it again. Nothing odd about his hand gestures. He is just expressive (how odd for a lead singer!!). I use my hands when talking too. I am definitely not a freemason! lol. But I would say there is a possibility that he is. Either that or he just knows a lot about them as their music is heavily influenced by all that jazz.

[@UpTheIrons41495]

i never said i didn't know what masonic hand signs are.. masons don't think they are god.. masons believe that there is only one god and that all men worship that one god using a variety of different names. they refer to that god as "GAOTU" or Great Architect of the Universe.they believe Buddha and God to be the same deity. as for every other form of deity in history. they all want to get to heaven. i don't see how that is bad?

[@sarasimm6668]

Well I saw them in concert last year and I didn't see it. All of their last tour is on KZbin. Would you care to reference where you saw this? Also, masonic hand signs are only used WITHIN a lodge, not to tell the whole world that you are a mason.

[@ghosthunternumberone]

That last part is the funniest thing i've heard so far!

[@UpTheIrons41495]

im pretty sure if you have an egyptian themed album the stage set is going to have egyptian immagery and pyramids and so forth. Steve Harris is not a religious person, nor is bruce. i've seen dave, nicko, and janick all say god bless you. and I have seen Nicko profess his faith to Jesus Christ. He has been a born again christian since 1999. Iron Maiden is nothing more than a group of kick ass musicians who have amazing artwork and love what they do.

[@ghosthunternumberone]

I did'nt see him doing it in this video, it was during a concert when he was talking to the audience!

[@estrategacreativa]

Aleister crowley... an incredible smart guy, curious and a great philosopher that´s all, he had a great sense of humor, he was a proffesional joker and you can see it when you read some lines in many of his books... in "the book of lies" there´s a joke in the chapter 69... and the chapters title is "the way to suck balls... XD " I think Dickinson's fascination for crowley's because crowley was a versatile and did many things like him (writer, poet, climber, chess, "religious" leader, even spy...) ... crowley blamed religions for causing "brain passivity" when the brain has so much potential ... aleister did not know he had that potential channel at the end of his life ... bruce thankfully it has done, and has done very well ... everything you mentalices, you can do really .... that was the thought of crowley ... that was his magic...

[@jdncoke2]

i really don't think the film gave a very good interpretation of Crowley and the spirit of his philosophy at all, it's a fun film but that is about it

[@AmazonWomanIsGod]

estrategacreativa Not funny at all ... Magick in Theory and Practice” by Aleister Crowley CHAPTER XII OF THE BLOODY SACRIFICE: AND MATTERS COGNATE It is necessary for us to consider carefully the problems connected with the bloody sacrifice, for this question is indeed traditionally important in Magick. Nigh all ancient Magick revolves around this matter. In particular all the Osirian religions - the rites of the Dying God - refer to this. The slaying of Osiris and Adonis; the mutilation of Attis; the cults of Mexico and Peru; the story of Hercules or Melcarth; the legends of Dionysus and of Mithra, are all connected with this one idea. In the Hebrew religion we find the same thing inculcated. The first ethical lesson in the Bible is that the only sacrifice pleasing to the Lord is the sacrifice of blood; Abel, who made this, finding favour with the Lord, while Cain, who offered cabbages, was rather naturally considered a cheap sport. The idea recurs again and again. We have the sacrifice of the Passover, following on the story of Abraham’s being commanded to sacrifice his firstborn son, with the idea of the substitution of animal for human life. The annual ceremony of the two goats carries out this in perpetuity. And we see again the domination of this idea in the romance of Esther, where Haman and Mordecai are the two goats or gods; and ultimately in the presentation of the rite of Purim in Palestine, where Jesus and Barabbas happened to be the Goats in that particular year of which we hear so much, without agreement on the date. This subject must be studied in the “Golden Bough”, where it is most learnedly set forth by Dr. J. G. Frazer. Enough has now been said to show that the bloody sacrifice has from time immemorial been the most considered part of Magick. {92} The ethics of the thing appear to have concerned no one; nor, to tell the truth, need they do so. As St. Paul says, “Without shedding of blood there is no remission”; and who are we to argue with St. Paul? But, after all that, it is open to any one to have any opinion that he likes upon the subject, or any other subject, thank God! At the same time, it is most necessary to study the business, whatever we may be going to do about it; for our ethics themselves will naturally depend upon our theory of the universe. If we were quite certain, for example, that everybody went to heaven when he died, there could be no serious objection to murder or suicide, as it is generally conceded - by those who know neither - that earth is not such a pleasant place as heaven. However, there is a mystery concealed in this theory of the bloody sacrifice which is of great importance to the student, and we therefore make no further apology, We should not have made even this apology for an apology, had it not been for the solicitude of a pious young friend of great austerity of character who insisted that the part of this chapter which now follows - the part which was originally written - might cause us to be misunderstood. This must not be. The blood is the life. This simple statement is explained by the Hindus by saying that the blood is the principal vehicle of vital Prana. There is some ground for the belief that there is a definite substance , not isolated as yet, whose presence makes all {93} the difference between live and dead matter. We pass by with deserved contempt the pseudoscientific experiments of American charlatans who claim to have established that weight is lost at the moment of death, and the unsupported statements of alleged clairvoyants that they have seen the soul issuing like a vapour from the mouth of persons “in articulo mortis”; but his experiences as an explorer have convinced the Master Therion that meat loses a notable portion of its nutritive value within a very few minutes after the death of the animal, and that this loss proceeds with everdiminishing rapidity as time goes on. It is further generally conceded that live food, such as oysters, is the most rapidly assimilable and most concentrated form of energy. Laboratory experiments in food-values seem to be almost worthless, for reasons which we cannot here enter into; the general testimony of mankind appears a safer guide. It would be unwise to condemn as irrational the practice of those savages who tear the heart and liver from an adversary, and devour them while yet warm. In any case it was the theory of {94} the ancient Magicians, that any living being is a storehouse of energy varying in quantity according to the size and health of the animal, and in quality according to its mental and moral character. At the death of the animal this energy is liberated suddenly. The animal should therefore be killed within the Circle, or the Triangle, as the case may be, so that its energy cannot escape. An animal should be selected whose nature accords with that of the ceremony - thus, by sacrificing a female lamb one would not obtain any appreciate quantity of the fierce energy useful to a Magician who was invoking Mars. In such a case a ram would be more suitable. And this ram should be virgin - the whole potential of its original total energy should not have been diminished in any way. For the highest spiritual working one must accordingly choose that victim which contains the greatest and purest force. A male child of perfect innocence and high intelligence is the most satisfactory and suitable victim. {95} For evocations it would be more convenient to place the blood of the victim in the Triangle - the idea being that the spirit might obtain from the blood this subtle but physical substance which was the quintessence of its life in such a manner as to enable it to take on a visible and tangible shape. Those magicians who object to the use of blood have endeavored to replace it with incense. For such a purpose the incense of Abramelin may be burnt in large quantities. Dittany of Crete is also a valuable medium. Both these incenses are very catholic in their nature, and suitable for almost any materialization. But the bloody sacrifice, though more dangerous, is more efficacious; and for nearly all purposes human sacrifice is the best. The truly great Magician will be able to use his own blood, or possibly that of a disciple, and that without sacrificing the physical life irrevocably. An example of this sacrifice is given in Chapter 44 of Liber 333. This Mass may be recommended generally for daily practice. One last word on this subject. There is a Magical operation of maximum importance: the Initiation of a New Aeon. When it becomes necessary to utter a Word, the whole Planet must be bathed in blood. Before man is ready to accept the Law of Thelema, the Great War must be fought. This Bloody Sacrifice is the critical point of the World-{96}Ceremony of the Proclamation of Horus, the Crowned and conquering Child, as Lord of the Aeon. This whole matter is prophesied in the Book of the Law itself; let the student take note, and enter the ranks of the Host of the Sun. II There is another sacrifice with regard to which the Adepts have always maintained the most profound secrecy. It is the supreme mystery of practical Magick. Its name is the Formula of the Rosy Cross. In this case the victim is always - in a certain sense - the Magician himself, and the sacrifice must coincide with the utterance of the most sublime and secret name of the God whom he wishes to invoke. Properly performed, it never fails of its effect. But it is difficult for the beginner to do it satisfactorily, because it is a great effort for the mind to remain concentrated upon the purpose of the ceremony. The overcoming of this difficulty lends most powerful aid to the Magician. It is unwise for him to attempt it until he has received regular initiation in the true Order of the Rosy Cross, {97} and he must have taken the vows with the fullest comprehension and experience of their meaning. It is also extremely desirable that he should have attained an absolute degree of moral emancipation, and that purity of spirit which results from a perfect understanding both of the differences and harmonies of the planes upon the Tree of Life. For this reason FRATER PERDURABO has never dared to use this formula in a fully ceremonial manner, save once only, on an occasion of tremendous import, when, indeed, it was not He that made the offering, but ONE in Him. For he perceived a grave defect in his moral character which he has been able to overcome on the intellectual plane, but not hitherto upon higher planes. Before the conclusion of writing this book he will have done so. The practical details of the Bloody Sacrifice may be studied in various ethnological manuals, but the general conclusions are summed up in Frazer’s “Golden Bough”, which is strongly recommended to the reader. Actual ceremonial details likewise may be left to experiment. The method of killing is practically uniform. The animal should be stabbed to the heart, or its throat severed, in either case by the knife. All other methods of killing are less efficacious; even in the case of Crucifixion death is given by stabbing. One may remark that warm-blooded animals only are used as victims: with two principal exceptions. The first is the serpent, which is only used in a very special Ritual; the second the magical beetles of Liber Legis. (See Part IV.) {98} One word of warning is perhaps necessary for the beginner. The victim must be in perfect health - or its energy may be as it were poisoned. It must also not be too large: the amount of energy disengaged is almost unimaginably great, and out of all anticipated proportion to the strength of the animal. Consequently, the Magician may easily be overwhelmed and obsessed by the force which he has let loose; it will then probably manifest itself in its lowest and most objectionable form. The most intense spirituality of purpose is absolutely essential to safety. In evocations the danger is not so great, as the Circle forms a protection; but the circle in such a case must be protected, not only by the names of God and the Invocations used at the same time, but by a long habit of successful defence. If you are easily disturbed or alarmed, or if you have not yet overcome the tendency of the mind to wander, it is not advisable for you to perform {99} the “Bloody Sacrifice”. Yet it should not be forgotten that this, and that other art at which we have dared darkly to hint, are the supreme formulae of Practical Magick. You are also likely to get into trouble over this chapter unless you truly comprehend its meaning.

[@UpTheIrons41495]

what masoic hand signs did he make then? and aleister crowley wasn't a satanist! how do you know masons are evil? don't be brainwashed by the general public's opinion. Nicko already said that if iron maiden was satanic, he would not play for them. and in iron maiden's film flight 666, janick says "if you like our music then godbless you, and if you don't then you know what? godbless you to" and at the end of en vivo bruce tells the crowd "God bless you"

[@ChrisCatton]

Paul was very good. But Bruce is much better.

[@marcossummers9228]

Paul, have you read about Crowley's feelings for his dead children? Have you read about his generous acts of help for some people that needed it? How can someone say Crowley did not have Love in him? But he was not one of those ridiculous egotistical guys that use demonstrations of love as a means of self engradiziment. Instead, he used one Sufi technique, The Path of The Blame...

[@AmazonWomanIsGod]

Marcos Summers "Some" people. Human sacrifice, animal sacrifice and so forth is all the continuation of the thing he is fighting so hard against, christianity.

[@jdncoke2]

guys don't watch this film if you want to know what crowley is about, it's sensationalized nonsense and gives no insight in to what he was about at all, a fun film to watch but very silly and uninformative, do the research, read the books

[@Iconoclastithon]

Well, a few of the things he did I could see Crowley himlself dooing; like the piss poem and pissing in front of{probably would'nt piss ON them-like in the movie} the students. Crowley while he was crossing the abyss did go a little mad for awhile{not malevolent, but mad/insane/crazy}- at least to some degree, and during those times he was known to do some crazy{allbeit harmless for the most part} or eccentric things and not care what others thought of him. In that aspect, in Crowleys more humorous side, there is some truth to that aspect of the Crowley character in the movie. But other than that, I agree, misrepresentation for the most part.

[@taniashmu]

It's a comedy

[@alexandermaximvm6393]

The prophet will always be masked remember

[@alastor2322]

I have always been interested in Crowley-we should explore ourselves-yet the problem with Crowley is that you never get the impression he could love anybody-so he never really practiced what he preached-he merely was into Crowley-ultimately he fails as a 'world teacher'-he just used people

[@danielvibez4000]

cause ur a woman. and woman are gullibe.

[@manni777]

This guy was sick to the core.Piece of shit, human garbage, he destroys every woman on his side.The woman all ended in alcoholism or a mental case.He gives a shit about his children, he didn't even know who they are.What a great hero, a truly authority for this sick 21st century.

[@Torchbearer666]

Clearly you don't know much if anything About Crowley, perhaps actually reading his writings would educate you on the matter

[@madmartigan1634]

1-800-REKT rekt.com @rekt

[@sarasimm6668]

Fair enough, if you would like to discuss this matter with people on your own wavelength, there are plenty on here. Failing that, I would suggest visiting a secure psychiatric ward.

[@masterplan13]

you've got to be kidding right? those are just his normal mannerisms

[@kailingxu]

I Have this movie but cant find it think my dad threw it out

[@sarasimm6668]

BTW, when you have any real evidence to substantiate your claims, then please, by all means come back to me and prove me wrong. I won't hold my breath though.

[@thewildbruce5612]

Lmao!!! 10 years later and that Gordon r***rd can't back up his claims!!! 🤣🤣🤣

[@UpTheIrons41495]

and even if maiden were "NWO" i would fucking love to be ruled by them!!!!

[@BrodyLuv2]

My friend committed suicide after making this movie. He appears exactly at 13:00 minutes into the movie... he supposedly hang himself in a train tunnel behind my childhood home... HOW CAN SOMEONE HANG THEMSELVES IN A FUCKING TRAIN TUNNEL *_BRUCE DICKINSON_* ??? Rip. R.G.

[@ghosthunternumberone]

Good idea, see ya thicko!

[@ghosthunternumberone]

Well said from somebody who clearly has no idea what they are talking about!

[@mellhiorroihllem1081]

Почему он внушал страх? В каждой строчке писал про Сатану, в данном конкретном случае человек боится дьявола, а не другого человека. Говорят, защитная пентаграмма оберегает от повреждений (психики и всего остального в том числе). Подготовленная персона легко зайдет в эту тему.

[@sarasimm6668]

With regards to the singers etc. It's quick and easy to do, costs nothing and makes them look like they're part of something - the 'in' crowd. Also, it is attention grabbing. All this satanic music industry stuff is stupid too. Nothing new about it. All the rock music I listened to when younger was supposedly 'satanic'. As I don't believe in either God or Satan then to me it is just a concept. Plus, the music is so much better than hymns lol!

[@marcillioficino4663]

Crowley's teachings chain one more firmly to the material world... True spiritual occultism teaches one to sprout wings and transcend it.

[@barryflintoff8347]

Crowley's teachings are all about spiritual transcendence , while at the same time being fully engaged in life.

[@azrael193]

For me this film was a bitter, and I do mean bitter, disappointment. I have studied Crowley and "Thelema" for the last 30 some odd years now and when I saw the trailer to this film I was thrilled that someone was finally doing a movie on Crowley...and the one and only Bruce D.is that someone....I found it for the most part to be simply ridicules...maybe I was expecting to much or, at least something different

[@jdncoke2]

i really don't think the film gave a very good interpretation of Crowley and the spirit of his philosophy at all, it's a fun film but that is about it

[@johnappleseed8369]

The film isn't about Crowley, just somebody also named Crowley that Bruce Dickinson invented, the movie is shit

[@alecbigcanoe1094]

@@johnappleseed8369 naw

[@alecbigcanoe1094]

@@johnappleseed8369 you're being ignorant

[@psychoticmagician]

Someone tell him...okay. Not in a mean way. Just okay, cool.

[@PunchinTheMunchkin]

Just watched this movie on Netflix and then I found this interview hoping for an explanation. Bruce seems to have great respect for Crowley, but doesn't seem to really know what he was about, even as much as he knows. For example, why did he portray Crowley as a murderer? Crowley wasn't simply an egotistical asshole. When he "acted up," there was generally a good reason for it. And he certainly did not believe in murder. Seems like Bruce didn't get Crowley's sense of humor. Very immature take.

[@Iconoclastithon]

Also, sorry Bruce but "witchcraft" is NOT a 'specific religion,etc". It does not= wicca or neopaganism,etc. It is a method, apractice and is used by all sort sof religious and spiritual paths{both right hand path and left hand path".

[@OralAgreement69]

The Chemical Wedding was almost as good as The X Factor

[@alecbigcanoe1094]

It's Better

[@thewildbruce5612]

@@alecbigcanoe1094 Exactly!!! The Chemical Wedding is 1 000 000 times BETTER than X Factor!!!

[@ghosthunternumberone]

So do you always just resort to name calling when people state facts about things that you dont agree on?That's what you did, Bruce is a Mason, which is a fact, your inncorrect when you say he is not, so you call me a moron?Makes no sense thats just childish mate! Calling me names isnt gonna mak him not a Mason!

[@ghosthunternumberone]

I cannot discuss with you any further as your wrong about so many things, i'm just wasting my time talking to you! The hand signs i was reffering to are clearly not theones thatyou are reffering to, i meant the subliminal ones not the blatant hand in the air variety! No point in me arguing with someone who has'nt wken up yet!

[@sarasimm6668]

Whatever, the best you nutters have to defend yourself is to go around calling everyone sheep, thinking that you've found out the truth about life but, in fact, you have done some 'quasi' research and have closed your mind to the fact that you may be completely and utterly wrong. Best you stick to conversations with your plastic dolls and ghosts.

[@ghosthunternumberone]

lol do i hear a Baaaaaaaaaaaaaar Sheep alert, blind sheep at that!

[@ghosthunternumberone]

Masonic hand signs are not normal mannerisms, unless your a Mason, then there normal for Masons!

[@ghosthunternumberone]

Ok thanks for that, this disscussion is over! Bye bye!

[@Iconoclastithon]

I love Bruce Dickinson{and Maiden}, but his movie is disinfo against Crowley. Clearly he does not understand what Crowley was actually about. He should no better as he claims to be a fan of Crowley writings, yet this movie is just popular tripe against Crowley you might expect a fundamentalist christian to be maybe make, not any serious and objective researcher of occultism and of someone like Crowley. This movie makes him demonic and malevolent and sadistic, but Crowley and Thelelma are about the opposite of that, about love, light, liberty, and Crowley even abhored black magicians and considered himself right hand path{as he sought a union with God most high}. This is pseudo-satanic tripe this movie that dishonors a brilliant thinker and makes a mockery of him and misrepresents his beliefs and values. I DID however get a good chuckle out of the piss poem in university part.

[@jdncoke2]

i agree, bruce really got the wrong end of the stick with crowley, the film is fun but it is very silly and ultimately a load of tripe when you've done the real research

[@Iconoclastithon]

RLP1989 ;)

[@AmazonWomanIsGod]

Will Baker If human sacrifice and animal sacrifice is not demonic and all about love then that is the worst self deception I ever heard. Today still many children are sacrificed based on these texts.

[@Iconoclastithon]

AmazonWomanIsGod That is simply false. Crowley was against child abuse and things such as child sacrifice. And the texts he wrote say so. And there has never been a example of human, child or adult, or animal sacrifice done in the name of Crowleys religion thelema or the books he wrote. You're either making these strawman false accusations up, or you're getting them 2nd or 3rd/etc hand from others who are..spreading misinformation in order to demonize a man and a philosophy they do not understand and have never really looked that deply into onbjectively but just mindlessly repeat false accusations they get from others 2nd and 3rd/etc hand. Prove your accusations....

[@AmazonWomanIsGod]

“Magick in Theory and Practice” by Aleister Crowley CHAPTER XII OF THE BLOODY SACRIFICE: AND MATTERS COGNATE "It is necessary for us to consider carefully the problems connected with the bloody sacrifice, for this question is indeed traditionally important in Magick. Nigh all ancient Magick revolves around this matter. In particular all the Osirian religions - the rites of the Dying God - refer to this. The slaying of Osiris and Adonis; the mutilation of Attis; the cults of Mexico and Peru; the story of Hercules or Melcarth; the legends of Dionysus and of Mithra, are all connected with this one idea. In the Hebrew religion we find the same thing inculcated. The first ethical lesson in the Bible is that the only sacrifice pleasing to the Lord is the sacrifice of blood; Abel, who made this, finding favour with the Lord, while Cain, who offered cabbages, was rather naturally considered a cheap sport. The idea recurs again and again. We have the sacrifice of the Passover, following on the story of Abraham’s being commanded to sacrifice his firstborn son, with the idea of the substitution of animal for human life. The annual ceremony of the two goats carries out this in perpetuity. And we see again the domination of this idea in the romance of Esther, where Haman and Mordecai are the two goats or gods; and ultimately in the presentation of the rite of Purim in Palestine, where Jesus and Barabbas happened to be the Goats in that particular year of which we hear so much, without agreement on the date. This subject must be studied in the “Golden Bough”, where it is most learnedly set forth by Dr. J. G. Frazer. Enough has now been said to show that the bloody sacrifice has from time immemorial been the most considered part of Magick. {92} The ethics of the thing appear to have concerned no one; nor, to tell the truth, need they do so. As St. Paul says, “Without shedding of blood there is no remission”; and who are we to argue with St. Paul? But, after all that, it is open to any one to have any opinion that he likes upon the subject, or any other subject, thank God! At the same time, it is most necessary to study the business, whatever we may be going to do about it; for our ethics themselves will naturally depend upon our theory of the universe. If we were quite certain, for example, that everybody went to heaven when he died, there could be no serious objection to murder or suicide, as it is generally conceded - by those who know neither - that earth is not such a pleasant place as heaven. However, there is a mystery concealed in this theory of the bloody sacrifice which is of great importance to the student, and we therefore make no further apology, We should not have made even this apology for an apology, had it not been for the solicitude of a pious young friend of great austerity of character who insisted that the part of this chapter which now follows - the part which was originally written - might cause us to be misunderstood. This must not be. The blood is the life. This simple statement is explained by the Hindus by saying that the blood is the principal vehicle of vital Prana. There is some ground for the belief that there is a definite substance , not isolated as yet, whose presence makes all {93} the difference between live and dead matter. We pass by with deserved contempt the pseudoscientific experiments of American charlatans who claim to have established that weight is lost at the moment of death, and the unsupported statements of alleged clairvoyants that they have seen the soul issuing like a vapour from the mouth of persons “in articulo mortis”; but his experiences as an explorer have convinced the Master Therion that meat loses a notable portion of its nutritive value within a very few minutes after the death of the animal, and that this loss proceeds with everdiminishing rapidity as time goes on. It is further generally conceded that live food, such as oysters, is the most rapidly assimilable and most concentrated form of energy. Laboratory experiments in food-values seem to be almost worthless, for reasons which we cannot here enter into; the general testimony of mankind appears a safer guide. It would be unwise to condemn as irrational the practice of those savages who tear the heart and liver from an adversary, and devour them while yet warm. In any case it was the theory of {94} the ancient Magicians, that any living being is a storehouse of energy varying in quantity according to the size and health of the animal, and in quality according to its mental and moral character. At the death of the animal this energy is liberated suddenly. The animal should therefore be killed within the Circle, or the Triangle, as the case may be, so that its energy cannot escape. An animal should be selected whose nature accords with that of the ceremony - thus, by sacrificing a female lamb one would not obtain any appreciate quantity of the fierce energy useful to a Magician who was invoking Mars. In such a case a ram would be more suitable. And this ram should be virgin - the whole potential of its original total energy should not have been diminished in any way. For the highest spiritual working one must accordingly choose that victim which contains the greatest and purest force. A male child of perfect innocence and high intelligence is the most satisfactory and suitable victim. {95} For evocations it would be more convenient to place the blood of the victim in the Triangle - the idea being that the spirit might obtain from the blood this subtle but physical substance which was the quintessence of its life in such a manner as to enable it to take on a visible and tangible shape. Those magicians who object to the use of blood have endeavored to replace it with incense. For such a purpose the incense of Abramelin may be burnt in large quantities. Dittany of Crete is also a valuable medium. Both these incenses are very catholic in their nature, and suitable for almost any materialization. But the bloody sacrifice, though more dangerous, is more efficacious; and for nearly all purposes human sacrifice is the best. The truly great Magician will be able to use his own blood, or possibly that of a disciple, and that without sacrificing the physical life irrevocably. An example of this sacrifice is given in Chapter 44 of Liber 333. This Mass may be recommended generally for daily practice. One last word on this subject. There is a Magical operation of maximum importance: the Initiation of a New Aeon. When it becomes necessary to utter a Word, the whole Planet must be bathed in blood. Before man is ready to accept the Law of Thelema, the Great War must be fought. This Bloody Sacrifice is the critical point of the World-{96}Ceremony of the Proclamation of Horus, the Crowned and conquering Child, as Lord of the Aeon. This whole matter is prophesied in the Book of the Law itself; let the student take note, and enter the ranks of the Host of the Sun. II There is another sacrifice with regard to which the Adepts have always maintained the most profound secrecy. It is the supreme mystery of practical Magick. Its name is the Formula of the Rosy Cross. In this case the victim is always - in a certain sense - the Magician himself, and the sacrifice must coincide with the utterance of the most sublime and secret name of the God whom he wishes to invoke. Properly performed, it never fails of its effect. But it is difficult for the beginner to do it satisfactorily, because it is a great effort for the mind to remain concentrated upon the purpose of the ceremony. The overcoming of this difficulty lends most powerful aid to the Magician. It is unwise for him to attempt it until he has received regular initiation in the true Order of the Rosy Cross, {97} and he must have taken the vows with the fullest comprehension and experience of their meaning. It is also extremely desirable that he should have attained an absolute degree of moral emancipation, and that purity of spirit which results from a perfect understanding both of the differences and harmonies of the planes upon the Tree of Life. For this reason FRATER PERDURABO has never dared to use this formula in a fully ceremonial manner, save once only, on an occasion of tremendous import, when, indeed, it was not He that made the offering, but ONE in Him. For he perceived a grave defect in his moral character which he has been able to overcome on the intellectual plane, but not hitherto upon higher planes. Before the conclusion of writing this book he will have done so. The practical details of the Bloody Sacrifice may be studied in various ethnological manuals, but the general conclusions are summed up in Frazer’s “Golden Bough”, which is strongly recommended to the reader. Actual ceremonial details likewise may be left to experiment. The method of killing is practically uniform. The animal should be stabbed to the heart, or its throat severed, in either case by the knife. All other methods of killing are less efficacious; even in the case of Crucifixion death is given by stabbing. One may remark that warm-blooded animals only are used as victims: with two principal exceptions. The first is the serpent, which is only used in a very special Ritual; the second the magical beetles of Liber Legis. (See Part IV.) {98} One word of warning is perhaps necessary for the beginner. The victim must be in perfect health - or its energy may be as it were poisoned. It must also not be too large: the amount of energy disengaged is almost unimaginably great, and out of all anticipated proportion to the strength of the animal. Consequently, the Magician may easily be overwhelmed and obsessed by the force which he has let loose; it will then probably manifest itself in its lowest and most objectionable form. The most intense spirituality of purpose is absolutely essential to safety. In evocations the danger is not so great, as the Circle forms a protection; but the circle in such a case must be protected, not only by the names of God and the Invocations used at the same time, but by a long habit of successful defence. If you are easily disturbed or alarmed, or if you have not yet overcome the tendency of the mind to wander, it is not advisable for you to perform {99} the “Bloody Sacrifice”. Yet it should not be forgotten that this, and that other art at which we have dared darkly to hint, are the supreme formulae of Practical Magick. You are also likely to get into trouble over this chapter unless you truly comprehend its meaning." This blatantly speaks about human and animal sacrifice in a very rude and gross way. I am not going to read between the lines or other stupid ways to whitewash these sorts of devilish texts. How dares he even take these words in his mouth, knowing that his followers could easily put this to practice, like the biblical OT texts. There's no hint that it's not literal, and neither any moral compass discussing these things as we should expect discussing such heavy matters which have been a reality already since the beginning of the world. It's the same as trying to make "Mein Kampf" look good by some whitewashing My Little Pony interpretation for the New Age. These things happen daily in satanic cults all over the world, and it just adds to the trauma. Check all the testimonies of ex-illuminati and ex-satanists and survivors. You are playing with the trickster. There are satanic cults following the teachings of Crowley, doing all those things. Do you trust Crowley ? Do you know what masonry means ? The higher levels get the power to trick people, they are allowed to lie and deceive people, also the lower ranks of masonry. It is a power game. Do you trust Crowley ? Do you trust high ranking masons ? Do you know him ? Were you around him all the time checking what he did and didn't ? Are you taking such a great risk with someone who was clearly possessed ? There is no way in the world to whitewash such blatant texts about sacrificing innocent, intelligent children. That's just sick. It has the same schizophrenia as the bible has : Calling for animal sacrifices and the killing of the babies of other nations, and then suddenly saying : "Thou shalt not kill" and "love your neighbours". I ain't buying this kool aid. These texts stink quite honestly. So rude and insensitive, and it's only fueling the parasites.

[@AmazonWomanIsGod]

Not funny at all !! "Magick in Theory and Practice” by Aleister Crowley CHAPTER XII OF THE BLOODY SACRIFICE: AND MATTERS COGNATE It is necessary for us to consider carefully the problems connected with the bloody sacrifice, for this question is indeed traditionally important in Magick. Nigh all ancient Magick revolves around this matter. In particular all the Osirian religions - the rites of the Dying God - refer to this. The slaying of Osiris and Adonis; the mutilation of Attis; the cults of Mexico and Peru; the story of Hercules or Melcarth; the legends of Dionysus and of Mithra, are all connected with this one idea. In the Hebrew religion we find the same thing inculcated. The first ethical lesson in the Bible is that the only sacrifice pleasing to the Lord is the sacrifice of blood; Abel, who made this, finding favour with the Lord, while Cain, who offered cabbages, was rather naturally considered a cheap sport. The idea recurs again and again. We have the sacrifice of the Passover, following on the story of Abraham’s being commanded to sacrifice his firstborn son, with the idea of the substitution of animal for human life. The annual ceremony of the two goats carries out this in perpetuity. And we see again the domination of this idea in the romance of Esther, where Haman and Mordecai are the two goats or gods; and ultimately in the presentation of the rite of Purim in Palestine, where Jesus and Barabbas happened to be the Goats in that particular year of which we hear so much, without agreement on the date. This subject must be studied in the “Golden Bough”, where it is most learnedly set forth by Dr. J. G. Frazer. Enough has now been said to show that the bloody sacrifice has from time immemorial been the most considered part of Magick. {92} The ethics of the thing appear to have concerned no one; nor, to tell the truth, need they do so. As St. Paul says, “Without shedding of blood there is no remission”; and who are we to argue with St. Paul? But, after all that, it is open to any one to have any opinion that he likes upon the subject, or any other subject, thank God! At the same time, it is most necessary to study the business, whatever we may be going to do about it; for our ethics themselves will naturally depend upon our theory of the universe. If we were quite certain, for example, that everybody went to heaven when he died, there could be no serious objection to murder or suicide, as it is generally conceded - by those who know neither - that earth is not such a pleasant place as heaven. However, there is a mystery concealed in this theory of the bloody sacrifice which is of great importance to the student, and we therefore make no further apology, We should not have made even this apology for an apology, had it not been for the solicitude of a pious young friend of great austerity of character who insisted that the part of this chapter which now follows - the part which was originally written - might cause us to be misunderstood. This must not be. The blood is the life. This simple statement is explained by the Hindus by saying that the blood is the principal vehicle of vital Prana. There is some ground for the belief that there is a definite substance , not isolated as yet, whose presence makes all {93} the difference between live and dead matter. We pass by with deserved contempt the pseudoscientific experiments of American charlatans who claim to have established that weight is lost at the moment of death, and the unsupported statements of alleged clairvoyants that they have seen the soul issuing like a vapour from the mouth of persons “in articulo mortis”; but his experiences as an explorer have convinced the Master Therion that meat loses a notable portion of its nutritive value within a very few minutes after the death of the animal, and that this loss proceeds with everdiminishing rapidity as time goes on. It is further generally conceded that live food, such as oysters, is the most rapidly assimilable and most concentrated form of energy. Laboratory experiments in food-values seem to be almost worthless, for reasons which we cannot here enter into; the general testimony of mankind appears a safer guide. It would be unwise to condemn as irrational the practice of those savages who tear the heart and liver from an adversary, and devour them while yet warm. In any case it was the theory of {94} the ancient Magicians, that any living being is a storehouse of energy varying in quantity according to the size and health of the animal, and in quality according to its mental and moral character. At the death of the animal this energy is liberated suddenly. The animal should therefore be killed within the Circle, or the Triangle, as the case may be, so that its energy cannot escape. An animal should be selected whose nature accords with that of the ceremony - thus, by sacrificing a female lamb one would not obtain any appreciate quantity of the fierce energy useful to a Magician who was invoking Mars. In such a case a ram would be more suitable. And this ram should be virgin - the whole potential of its original total energy should not have been diminished in any way. For the highest spiritual working one must accordingly choose that victim which contains the greatest and purest force. A male child of perfect innocence and high intelligence is the most satisfactory and suitable victim. {95} For evocations it would be more convenient to place the blood of the victim in the Triangle - the idea being that the spirit might obtain from the blood this subtle but physical substance which was the quintessence of its life in such a manner as to enable it to take on a visible and tangible shape. Those magicians who object to the use of blood have endeavored to replace it with incense. For such a purpose the incense of Abramelin may be burnt in large quantities. Dittany of Crete is also a valuable medium. Both these incenses are very catholic in their nature, and suitable for almost any materialization. But the bloody sacrifice, though more dangerous, is more efficacious; and for nearly all purposes human sacrifice is the best. The truly great Magician will be able to use his own blood, or possibly that of a disciple, and that without sacrificing the physical life irrevocably. An example of this sacrifice is given in Chapter 44 of Liber 333. This Mass may be recommended generally for daily practice. One last word on this subject. There is a Magical operation of maximum importance: the Initiation of a New Aeon. When it becomes necessary to utter a Word, the whole Planet must be bathed in blood. Before man is ready to accept the Law of Thelema, the Great War must be fought. This Bloody Sacrifice is the critical point of the World-{96}Ceremony of the Proclamation of Horus, the Crowned and conquering Child, as Lord of the Aeon. This whole matter is prophesied in the Book of the Law itself; let the student take note, and enter the ranks of the Host of the Sun. II There is another sacrifice with regard to which the Adepts have always maintained the most profound secrecy. It is the supreme mystery of practical Magick. Its name is the Formula of the Rosy Cross. In this case the victim is always - in a certain sense - the Magician himself, and the sacrifice must coincide with the utterance of the most sublime and secret name of the God whom he wishes to invoke. Properly performed, it never fails of its effect. But it is difficult for the beginner to do it satisfactorily, because it is a great effort for the mind to remain concentrated upon the purpose of the ceremony. The overcoming of this difficulty lends most powerful aid to the Magician. It is unwise for him to attempt it until he has received regular initiation in the true Order of the Rosy Cross, {97} and he must have taken the vows with the fullest comprehension and experience of their meaning. It is also extremely desirable that he should have attained an absolute degree of moral emancipation, and that purity of spirit which results from a perfect understanding both of the differences and harmonies of the planes upon the Tree of Life. For this reason FRATER PERDURABO has never dared to use this formula in a fully ceremonial manner, save once only, on an occasion of tremendous import, when, indeed, it was not He that made the offering, but ONE in Him. For he perceived a grave defect in his moral character which he has been able to overcome on the intellectual plane, but not hitherto upon higher planes. Before the conclusion of writing this book he will have done so. The practical details of the Bloody Sacrifice may be studied in various ethnological manuals, but the general conclusions are summed up in Frazer’s “Golden Bough”, which is strongly recommended to the reader. Actual ceremonial details likewise may be left to experiment. The method of killing is practically uniform. The animal should be stabbed to the heart, or its throat severed, in either case by the knife. All other methods of killing are less efficacious; even in the case of Crucifixion death is given by stabbing. One may remark that warm-blooded animals only are used as victims: with two principal exceptions. The first is the serpent, which is only used in a very special Ritual; the second the magical beetles of Liber Legis. (See Part IV.) {98} One word of warning is perhaps necessary for the beginner. The victim must be in perfect health - or its energy may be as it were poisoned. It must also not be too large: the amount of energy disengaged is almost unimaginably great, and out of all anticipated proportion to the strength of the animal. Consequently, the Magician may easily be overwhelmed and obsessed by the force which he has let loose; it will then probably manifest itself in its lowest and most objectionable form. The most intense spirituality of purpose is absolutely essential to safety. In evocations the danger is not so great, as the Circle forms a protection; but the circle in such a case must be protected, not only by the names of God and the Invocations used at the same time, but by a long habit of successful defence. If you are easily disturbed or alarmed, or if you have not yet overcome the tendency of the mind to wander, it is not advisable for you to perform {99} the “Bloody Sacrifice”. Yet it should not be forgotten that this, and that other art at which we have dared darkly to hint, are the supreme formulae of Practical Magick. You are also likely to get into trouble over this chapter unless you truly comprehend its meaning.

[@manni777]

+AmazonWomanIsGod Because today the people are so sick and perverted they took such people like Crowley as their "heroes".The whole humanity, especilly the western societies, needs really a 'kick in the arse'.This human 'fail' named Crowley was a monster, a heroine addict child molester and only God knows what more...Sorry for my bad grammar.

[@pedroventura8008]

exactly, read the last sentence and the advertizing at the end of the chapter XII that the paragraph should not be taken by the letter...

[@barryflintoff8347]

Dickinson has not got a clue about Crowley, he manages to misunderstand everything about him. He can't even pronounce his name correctly. If you wish to have an accurate presentation of Crowley's life and teachings read Churton's biography and Richard Kaczynski's biography. Dickinson presents himself as a Crowley scholar but simply has not got a clue.