Crowley's Drug Use
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Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the Law.
Greetings.
I had trouble deciding where to start this thread, but since most of my questions deal specifically with journal entries and what passes in the A.'.A.'. system, I opted for this location.
I'm familiar with "Diary of a Drug Fiend" being at least in part an allegory of some of Crowley's own experiences; that there are some essays and bits about drugs scattered throughout the works of the A.'.A.'....but I hadn't read anything specific (or any instructions) about drug use immediately before/after or in any ritual or meditative work.
I was curious if anyone had seen any journal entries or anything else of Crowley's that noted specifics about drug use immediately preceding a practice, incorporated into a practice, etc. Maybe he recommended something to a student in a letter? I don't know.
If no one's seen anything like that, what about Crowley's thoughts or beliefs on the matter?
Or what about the A.'.A.'. system historically? How would notes like "Drank 3 glasses of wine 10 minutes ago", or "Smoked 1/2 a gram of pot 30 minutes ago", or "Drank entire vial of LSD and ate a pound of dried mushrooms immediately before writing this," (A little joke to see if you're still reading...
) be received if read at the beginning of a student's pranayama record, or observations from practicing Liber O?Thanks again to the Temple of Thelema and company for such informative service.
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@Zalthos said
"I was curious if anyone had seen any journal entries or anything else of Crowley's that noted specifics about drug use immediately preceding a practice, incorporated into a practice, etc. Maybe he recommended something to a student in a letter? I don't know."
His diaries through the '20s (for example) had lots of use of drugs with sex magick.
He used specific substances very precisely in certain initiation rituals he administered, to create a specific effect.
He passed a cup through the audience of the various Rites of Eleusis performances with pharmaceutical grade mescaline (IIRC) to an unwarned crowd.
"Or what about the A.'.A.'. system historically? How would notes like "Drank 3 glasses of wine 10 minutes ago", or "Smoked 1/2 a gram of pot 30 minutes ago", or "Drank entire vial of LSD and ate a pound of dried mushrooms immediately before writing this," (A little joke to see if you're still reading...
) be received if read at the beginning of a student's pranayama record, or observations from practicing Liber O?"It's just a record. An important thing is not to place any particular meaning on such things in the record, except to the extent that they yield cause-and-effect observations.
On the particular (admittedly tongue in cheek) entry you give above, if I were reviewing the record, I'd probably make three observations (remembering that these would only happen at the end of a grade - that's when the record is submitted):
(1) Does smoking (whatever the substance) serve you in your pranayama practice? What relationship can you observe between ongoing smoking and the ease of your pranayama? Did you also have stretches of not smoking anything while you were doing this practice? What duration? What effects?
(2) I think you will find, over time, that the consciousness altering effects of the listed substances just aren't necessary as you get into the work. You'll make your own.
(3) It's good that you're recording and quantifying your consumption. The record is a little thin, however, on information about what happened
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Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the Law.
@Jim Eshelman said
"His diaries through the '20s (for example) had lots of use of drugs with sex magick."
That's interesting. I don't know much about the sex magick aspect, really. I also don't know of many resources other than O.T.O. and some Class A text like Liber A'ash for further education in this regard. I would already be making regular contact with the O.T.O. lodge in my state if the travel and scheduling weren't so demanding for me... Oh well.
@Jim Eshelman said
"He used specific substances very precisely in certain initiation rituals he administered, to create a specific effect."
This is very interesting. Considering the sensitive legal state of our subject matter and the possible risk of spoiling some important aspect of Advancement, I won't ask for specifics here... Still, that's neat to think about!
(In the middle of writing this post, it dawned on me that I should probably give Energized Enthusiasm another read...)
@Jim Eshelman said
"He passed a cup through the audience of the various Rites of Eleusis performances with pharmaceutical grade mescaline (IIRC) to an unwarned crowd."
Wow! Well, if you are recalling correctly...what an asshole!!
It would be great to have a handful of their recollections after the fact. I wonder what came of that crowd! You would think at least a few of them would have been grateful for it.
This is also the second time I've come across the Rites of Eleusis on this forum today. I had just learned an interesting fact from one of the threads on Thelemic Government before making this post, that only initiates of the mysteries could participate as voters in the democracy of Athens.
As another side-note, I read the Road to Eleusis a couple of years ago and really enjoyed it.
@Jim Eshelman said
"(1) Does smoking (whatever the substance) serve you in your pranayama practice? What relationship can you observe between ongoing smoking and the ease of your pranayama? Did you also have stretches of not smoking anything while you were doing this practice? What duration? What effects?"
This in particular brings on more questions for me. I'm sure you see that this doesn't have to be limited to drugs: we could easily say "Terribly stressful day at work," or "Had a mind-shattering orgasm 10 minutes ago," or something like that as a preface to the start of a record. To rephrase, "Does ________ serve you in your practice? What relationship can you observe between ________ and the ease of your practice?" I see that a Magickal Diary is there to serve as a record of practices, so it would feel kinda inappropriate to dwell so much on what happened before what is about to be recorded.
Maybe its only worth noting if the past action or event is still on the mind of the practitioner or has some lasting effect(s) carrying over into the time of practice?
Since Vegetable Drugs are listed as a column in 777, recording consumption and analyzing impact to practice Qabalistically probably comes naturally to many "Thelemically" and chemically (I couldn't resist...
) inclined users.@Jim Eshelman said
"(2) I think you will find, over time, that the consciousness altering effects of the listed substances just aren't necessary as you get into the work. You'll make your own."
I'm with that. Totally. I'd go as far as to say I think I've had flashes or brief periods of what you're talking about, maybe even for longer periods without realizing it. But that all only lends itself to the importance of keeping a better record, then!
@Jim Eshelman said
"(3) It's good that you're recording and quantifying your consumption. The record is a little thin, however, on information about what happened
"Thanks.
I do have some more questions, if you don't mind... You always seem to find a way to be so generous. Thank you for your help; it really means a lot to me.
What about psilocybin mushrooms, peyote/mescaline, and Vegetable Drugs in 777? How come they didn't make the cut? I didn't see them in 776 1/2, either. I'm not too clear on what some of the more generalized listings mean, though... Like "cerebral excitants," and the like. It might be lumped up in one of those; I'm not sure.
Would you mind lending a little more Qabalistic insight as far as where Vegetable Drugs fall in the Four World scheme of things? Being plants basically, I'd figure them all of Assiah, but perhaps reaching into Yetzirah upon consumption? "Smoke" in and of itself could be suggestive of this for numerous reasons.
Lastly, what really constitutes a legitimate practice worthy of recording in the early stages of Advancement? Maybe taking "wine and strange drugs" or having sex are practices worth recording all by themselves?
Thanks again!
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@Zalthos said
"What about psilocybin mushrooms, peyote/mescaline, and Vegetable Drugs in 777? How come they didn't make the cut? I didn't see them in 776 1/2, either."
Crowley probably never had access to psilocybin. Anhalonium lewinii is there, and it's a pharmaceutical grade peyote. (Crowley had it specially compounded for him by one of the major drug manufacturers that is still near the top of the "big pharma" good chain.)
]quote]I'm not too clear on what some of the more generalized listings mean, though... Like "cerebral excitants," and the like."
Things that excite the brain, such as coffee and energy drink herbal components.
"Would you mind lending a little more Qabalistic insight as far as where Vegetable Drugs fall in the Four World scheme of things? Being plants basically, I'd figure them all of Assiah, but perhaps reaching into Yetzirah upon consumption? "Smoke" in and of itself could be suggestive of this for numerous reasons."
Assiah is fair. They're only relevant if you have a body.
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I don't recall ever encountering any reference to him experimenting with this. (I did say "probably.")
His two primary magick teachers were chemists. He seems to have been interested in things that were the result of chemical engineering and human compounding, more than natural items. (For example, he smoked a lot of hashish, but I don't recall any reference to his smoking basic weed.)
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I will try giving you an example, from my personal studies:
Before dancing, I used to smoke a fat blunt to the face.
To help sensitize me to the music, get the blood flowing.
It seemed to be the only time I could "feel" the music.Over time, I started smoking joints...
Then bowls,
To the point where the imbibing of the actual drug has become less important than the ritual.
Where the amount smoked is miniscule( not even .1 g)
The act, intent having become more important ;
Essentially causing the desired effects.These days, I do not even need music...
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@Jim Eshelman said
"He passed a cup through the audience of the various Rites of Eleusis performances with pharmaceutical grade mescaline (IIRC) to an unwarned crowd."
I just read about this last night in a bio, and I found it infinitely amusing. He did this same thing in New York on several occasions as well. As far as I can tell there were no particular negative effects of his administration of mescaline recorded. He usually administered psychoactive substances to students and acquaintances with a clear agenda in mind. He also seems to have been a good "sitter," having the necessary requisites such as patience, humor, and a genuine care for the subject's individual evolution. He "turned on" many artists and other great minds of his generation--before this was a trend or otherwise culturally prominent.
Light-fucking-years ahead of his time. Crowley makes the 60's phenomenon seem so...amateur.
As to the original post: I think you might find a perusal of "The Fountain of Hyacinth" informative. The book is readily available online and contains Crowley's journals from a period in which he (unsuccessfully) attempted to quit heroin and cocaine. I found the book interesting during my struggles with addiction, mainly because his notes all-too-clearly reveal the self-deception and justification often used by addicts during the withdrawal phase. I think Crowley wrote much of his best work under the influence anyhow, so we may, in fact, view much of his drug use as a service to mankind.
Edit: from "The Fountain of Hyacinth:"
"I then went to the Cafe and had 3 Mandarins (I do not mean that I committed a felony on the persons of three Chinamen of high official rank!)"
I love finding little jewels like this.