what does alister crowley have to do with abramelin magic?

Answer 1

The Book of Abramelin tells the story of an Egyptian mage named Abramelin, or Abra-Melin, who teaches a system of magic to Abraham of Worms, a German Jew presumed to have lived from c.1362 - c.1458. The magic described in the book was to find new life in the 19th and 20th centuries thanks to Mathers' translation, The Book of the Sacred Magic of Abramelin the Mage, and its import within the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn and later within the mystical system of Thelema, established in 1904 by Aleister Crowley.

In 1897, The Book of the Sacred Magic of Abramelin the Mage was translated into English by the British occultist Samuel L. MacGregor Mathers. The magic described in the grimoire was influential in the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn, of which Mathers was the head, a fact which has burnished the reputation of this particular text beyond its fellows such as the Key of Solomon.

The British occultist Aleister Crowley, at the time a young member of the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn, started preparations for seeking the angel by following Abramelin's instructions, but he abandoned this plan to assist Mathers during the Golden Dawn schism of 1901.

Answer 2

Crowley's Thelema tradition is centred on the idea that the practitioner must know his/her own "True Will" or sacred destiny. He believed that this knowledge could be obtained by communing with ones Holy Guardian Angel. This is the central ritual and purpose of the Abramelin text. Crowley based his own ritual on the Abramelin but altered it to suit his own lifestyle and vision, particularly concerning the use of drugs (and probably sex), which Crowley was fond of. The grimoire was a great influence on Crowley and the Golden Dawn. The kabbalistic style of magic described in the Abramelin is echoed in their subsequent goetic works and both Mathers and Crowley described the preparation of Abramelin oil.

Answer 3

Abramelin magic is based highly off of Jewish Kabbalah, and even including the Qlipthoth. It's an intergal part of magical history, about equal to a base one could say.

Crowley did a lot of study, his life was devoted to the subject. Naturally, this came in, especially when McGregor Matthews taught him the arts.

Answer 4

You have to consider two points: magik and traditions. Alister was only trying to delve deeper into the roots of magik. Where are such roots? Within the confines of the ancients; ie mystics and jewish sects.

Answer 5

Probably just had an interest. He was one of the founders of Wicca.

Answer 6

I think: "nothing at all".