I extremely consider just to open an opinion space, contributes and to reflection dedicated to the most important woman in the life of Aleister Crowley, Leah Hirsig. This for three known reasons, first, we remember that she was the only person witness of the ascent of Aleister to the degree of Ipsissimus in 1921. Second, during approximately six years Leah almost stayed at he himself level that Crowley in the abbey of Thelema, as the baboon of Toth took to Crowley to make all its adventures, and third as John Symmonds says, from all the women who surrounded the life by single Therion she arrived more near her heart…
Leah in addition incarnates all the force and subtility, all the humanity of the philosophy of Thelema, and the joys and sadnesses that the search of the true will means. He had a multiplicity of facets, because she was woman and magician, mother, prostitut, worker, soñadora, but at heart a unit, Leah, Alostrael, “the chalice of God”. As no incarnated the “Beam which you want” turning it the dwelling of its spirit, in spite of the duro price that was called on to him to suffer after the rejection of Crowley.
Its life is extremely fascinating, I would like that all those that they wanted could contribute with interesting data, reflections, anecdotes and thoughts on her.
Leah deserves our affection and quiet respect.
If the biography of somebody serious the one of this so remarkable and captivating woman could write. I would like to know how where she is buried and in short, to scatter flowers on his present memory between us. I hope collaborate.
Thank you very much.
Leah Alostrael.
93!
I am sure some day there will be a biography of this astounding woman - or so she seems already from the little we know, which is more than from most of the other of Crowley's Scarlet Women. I think she was a lot more to him than the current occupant of this important office. There are some wonderful love poems dedicated to her. I am a hopelessly romantic idiot sometimes so I will quote one, not in full, since I have no idea about copyrights:
THE SOFT SPOT
There is a soft place near my shoulder
Which seems to have been made on purpose
For Leah's head - all night I hold her,
While Aphrodite's sparrows chirp us
Their impudently merry chorus
Whose timeless twitters never bore us.
[...]
O soft plump spot below my clavicle!
'Clavicula Salomonis Regis'
Contains less magick. The fierce Slavic Hell
Is not so hot, nor Liber Legis
More savagely inflammatory
Than Leah's hair in sunset glory!
Her diaries as far as I know them (they are still out there on the web to my surprise) are some of the "best" records of magicians I have encountered - because they are so humane in all respects. I really admire her.
I hope this "scrapbook thread" works out, Leahalostrael.
Love=Law
Lutz
Wow!!!, wonderful poem. From where you obtained it? It is really a lightening to know that to joint parties he himself feeling towards Leah. I thought that its figure was despised in the Thelema world... Nevertheless, we are children of the same magick mother!!
Thanks! the_real_simon_iff
I share the same opinion about dyaries, but I have read very little of them...
affectionately
(somebody knows where I can obtain its dyaries and in that place of the world is buried?)
Leah is indeed fabulously interesting. If only I had five years to research a biography. I pray someone will write up her life and magical acts and techniques.
From what I could remember I think that she died in Switzerland as christian,
I saw some photos of her aged in Chicago in a private archive
the fact that he could bounce back like that and live till the 1970's is compelling.
When was she is CHigago?
no, I said only that I've seen photos of her in a private archive in Chicago not that she was in Chicago
Sorry. Thanks for the clarrification.
93, Hello.
Somebody knows details, or, can explain the famous episode on the attempt of copulación of Leah with a goat in the Abbey of Thelema.
What was tried to do?
Which was its meaning?
In which circumstances were made?
Thanks.
A=L
Commentaries of Gavin Baddeley Reverend of the Church of Satan
This was discussed on LAShTAL.COM's Forums in some detail back in November 2006, where I wrote:
According to Symonds' "The Beast 666" - the final, "director's cut" edition of "The Great Beast" - the incident occurred at "the end of the summer", 1921. Mary Butts, allegedly witness to the event, or rather non-event if the account is to be believed, arrived at Cefalu at the end of June 1921.
It's one of the most frequently quoted of the more extreme incidents in Crowley's life, but there seems to be little evidence for it. Keith Richmond, in his book on Frank Bennett, describes Mary Butts' account of "the goat incident" as "questionable".
But it begs the question why Symonds made such an issue of it. His and Grant's edition of the 1914-1920 diaries includes Crowley's admission to, frankly, even darker extremes that would be far more damaging to the man's public image than the almost comical account of the unwilling goat, complete with it's "I'd have a bath if I were you" punchline.
Did the event happen? Who knows? I'm not aware of a definitive answer. And until the definitive answer is known, I see no reason to revise the view I expressed then:
It's my personal opinion that such details are best discussed in a non-public forum which is what The Aleister Crowley Society seeks to achieve.
Paul
Owner & Editor
LAShTAL.COM
Owner and Editor
LAShTAL
"Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the Law."
I realize it sounds rather outrageous, but I did a magical working starting December of 1999, evoking Alostrael. A certain manifestation informed me that I was her magical child; of course I renounced the assertion, insisting she died in 1951 as the biographers said, yet the "epiphany" (or whatever it was) disagreed, stating she lived until the Year of Thoth (which I took to be the 71st Year, as instructed).
The amazing thing is, without my knowledge, my girlfriend somehow got into contact with a member of the Hirsig family, who informed her that the family was clarifying the matter by revealing that Leah lived until 1975. Incredibly, this was the 71st Year of the Aeon, counting from 1904 e.v.
Here's a link to where you can find more pics of me...check out the unfortunate resemblance...
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/satanaiwaz/
"Love is the law, love under will."
fraternally,
Aleisterion
I can't see any resemblance, unfortunate or otherwise. How long do I have to wait before the Lord Jesus restores my sight? Answers on a postcard, please, to the usual address.
You don't have to be so rude and objectionable...so you don't see a resemblance, very good, my wife does.
Why do you have to mock though? It's much easier to act the fool and mock something than it is to address the facts as presented -- which I thought were slightly interesting anyway.
Do you not believe in the possibility of magical children?
That's okay it's all in good fun...thank you Michael and have a happy feast day.
Are you referring to the photo of the bloke on the main screen of your Yahoo group? The one in the armchair, pretending to be Crowley?
Owner and Editor
LAShTAL
Are you referring to the photo of the bloke on the main screen of your Yahoo group? The one in the armchair, pretending to be Crowley?
It certainly reminded me of someone not too far away right now...
Ah, Aleisterion, I see you've just swapped it in the last couple of minutes for the standard Levi Baphomet image. Never mind...
Owner and Editor
LAShTAL
Genius!
Ah, you're back again!
Owner and Editor
LAShTAL
Now gentlemen..be nice.. 😉
Aleisterion, You have to understand, every so often, TOO often, Lashtal gets these posters making their claims to be the reincarnation of so and so, the magickal child of 'fill in the blank' or the relative of a famous 'take your pick' so it's become a bit...amusing. Dont take it personally. It's really like the classic "i'm the reincarnation of Cleopatra". Nobody was a peasant, everybody was Ramses III. See what I mean?
Best Wishes,
Kym
93!
Pardon my ignorance on the subject of Ms. Hersig, I too find her interesting,
Algoul: when you said she died in "Switzerland as christian" are you referring to religion here?
😯
If I'm understanding correctly, where did you here this from? Quite confused really. . . Any insightful responses would be helpful.
Q.
93, 93/93
Leah (or "Lea") was born on 9 April 1883 - she died at 0615 on 22 February 1975 at in Meiringen.
The Hirsig family has posted details of the family tree online: http://pages.sbcglobal.net/jmaxit/hirsig/pafg06.htm
Owner and Editor
LAShTAL
Thanks for the explanation Lashtal! Freaked me out for a second there!
Q
Pardon my ignorance on the subject of Ms. Hersig, I too find her interesting,
Algoul: when you said she died in "Switzerland as christian" are you referring to religion here?
😯
If I'm understanding correctly, where did you here this from? Quite confused really. . . Any insightful responses would be helpful.
Q.
93, 93/93
Hi quest
well i think that it is known, maybe i'm wrong, that Leah had some detachment from her previous role during the years passed with the Beast;
as said i've seen photos of her as like you know an average 'grandmother' and the person which owns them was saying that she conversed herself to christian (do not tell me what kind of if catholic protestant or evangelical) faith, for question of privacy i could not refer the name of the owner;
but there i've seen also another curious photo of Leah at the time of the Abbey in Cefalù where she is lying on a bed smoking an opium pipe in front of huge balls of opium (bigger than a baseball ball), like twelve or more, and Russell wrote on the back of it "Our best hobby" or something like this 🙂
regards
I just performed an evocation of Betty Crocker who revealed to me that I am indeed her Magickal Chili. My coming has been prepared for aeons by the Secret Chefs.
I certainly hope that finally clears that up.
I certainly hope that finally clears that up.
Ha! another pretender. Betty's magical chili has appeared several times before, here's one such claimant (it even claims to be "her best" - beat that, subrosa!) -
http://www.bettycrocker.com/recipes/Recipe.aspx?recipeId=35323
everybody - TEST THE SPIRITS
That means, for subrosa - send us your recipe (or the recipe of yourself), and we'll try it out. The proof's in the eatin'!
Bel Murru
Hi again... I think it is a wonderful poem. Many must know what
Lyric of Love to Leah.
Come, my darling, let us dance
To the moon that beckons us
To dissolve our soul in trance
Heedless of the hideous
Heat & hate of Sirius---
Shun his baneful brilliance!
Let us dance beneath the palm
Moving in the moonlight, frond
Wooing frond above the calm
Of the ocean diamond
Sparkling to the sky beyond
The enchantment of our psalm.
Let us dance, my mirror of
Perfect passion won to peace
Let us dance, my treasure trove,
On the marble terraces
Carven in pallid embroideries.
For the vestal veil of Love.
Heaven awakes to encompass us,
Hell awakes its jubilance
In our hearts mysterious
Marriage of the azure expanse,
With the scarlet brilliance
Of the Moon with Sirius.
Velvet swathes our lissome limbs
Languid lapped by sky & sea
Soul through sense & spirit swims
Through the pregnant porphyry
Dome of lapis-lazuli:---
Heart of silence, hush our hymns.
Come my darling; let us dance
Through the golden galaxies
Rhythmic swell of circumstance
Beaming passion's argosies:
Ecstasy entwined with ease,
Terrene joy transcending trance!
Thou my scarlet concubine
Draining heart's blood to the lees
To empurple those divine
Lips with living luxuries
Life importunate to appease
Drought insatiable of wine!
Tunis in the tremendous trance
Rests from day's incestuous
Traffic with the radiance
Of her sire---& over us
Gleams the intoxicating glance
Of the Moon & Sirius.
Take the ardour of my impearled
Essence that thy shoulders seek
To intensify the curled
Candour of the eyes oblique,
Eyes that see the seraphic sleek
Lust bewitch the wanton world.
Come, my love, my dove, & pour
From thy cup the serpent wine
Brimmed & breathless---secret store
Of my crimson concubine
Surfeit spirit in the shrine---
Devil--Goddess--Virgin--Whore.
Afric sands ensorcel us,
Afric seas & skies entrance
Velvet, lewd & luminous
Night surveys our soul askance!
Come my love, & let us dance
To the Moon & Sirius!
Written by Aleister Crowley, (A . ' . A . ' .), Tunis, 8th. of August, 1923. e.v.
Have any of you read this rather bizarre and sensationalist pulp work by Alma Hirsig (Leah's older sister), writing in 1928 under the pseudonym Marilyn Dockerill,
"My Life in a Love Cult: A Warning to Young Girls"?!?
http://omnipotentoom.com/archives/838
If one can take anything it says as some hallucinatory twist on reality, it does give some background information on Leah's family. (Marilyn/Alma claims to be an escapee from Pierra aka
Omnipotent Oom Barnard's tantric cult after being hyponotized by a doctor in New York, and laments that she has taken her sister to meet Crowley in Greenwich village. Much of
what she says is verifiably untrue--for instance her sister is probably not a virgin if she has a son named "Hansie"--but other parts very superficially criss-cross dates and places mentioned
by both Crowley and Richard Spence in his recent espionage work on Crowley. She purports to tell about tantric magic in Germany -- one wonders how or if she witnessed or
partook in it-- at about the same time as when Richard Spence, in his "Agent 666" book, has Crowley and Leah taking a trip to Thuringia. (Getting this far into the read, of course, means
tolerating her constant references to "Satanic" this and "devil worship" that. )
FWIW... wondered what anyone else thought of this.
93!
Just wanted to share a new pic of (allegedly) Leah that I didn't know of and her son Hansi. Enjoy.
Love=Law
Lutz
P.S. I hadn't seen the previous post about My life in a love cult. Thanks for that. Have missed it two years back.
Thank you, Lutz! Could you please name the source?
Markus
Markus
93, Markus!
Sure. It's from the Springfield Republican newspaper from December 7, 1924. By good old Marian Dockerill. Enjoy...
Love=Law
Lutz
P.S. PM me for a HiRes scan...
This is absolutely spectacular! I was not aware of this article until now. Thank You!
Some folk would say that that young man might have been in sore need of having his bottom smacked (however not me though - I wouldn't be quite so judgemental!)
I wonder, if there would happen to be a more legible write-up/ larger pdf of this in parts fascinating newspaper article available?
Also does anyone know what happened to this scamp in later life? Hansi(e)/ “Dionysos” could conceivably be in his ninety-sixth year now – one’s hoping that he didn’t die young of emphysema. I also wonder did he ever live up to the mantle of becoming The Beast Numero #2 in later life, & was he numbered 667? (no, hang on, I think that’s the number of The Scarlet Woman...)
Yours not-so-numerically
Norma N Joy Conquest
93!
Seven years later, in 1931, our good old Bruce Grant digs up Hansi again in the Miami News from February 8, 1931.
Love=Law
Lutz
So Leah Hirsig returned to teaching in the USA?
Imagine the job interview with the headmaster/mistress haha. What did she teach?
Anyone seen the Cameron Diaz movieBad Teacher?
https://www.lashtal.com/wiki/Aleister_Crowley_Timeline
Has anyone read the newly released diaries of Leah? not the Princess of Star Wars but the Princess of the Silver Star? bad pun.
I am in the midst of it and it's very interesting.
Also sad and very human.
She is literally abandoned by the 'Beast' but trying to hold on to her 'Office' and make things okay.
A lot of psychological shit going on.
The most interesting thing is that every letter she gets from AC she doesn't share but seems to take with a very negative attitude. So who knows what he said ...
There is also no evidence of prostitution but a lot of evidence of drug use and her denying it. It is what it is.
I am glad she had friends to help her through it.
The most interesting thing I learnt was that Norman Mudd came to her aid.
Has anyone read the newly released diaries of Leah?
Um, I read this quite a while ago. I highly recommend it as a warning to any ladies who are attempting The Student Reading List.
The account by Phyllis Seckler includes Jane Wolfe's diary from Cefalu on through (France?). Leah is mentioned for a while. This was a bad time. Everyone constantly ill. No money. Post-Cefalu was like living in the Qliphoth.
Has anyone read the newly released diaries of Leah?
I haven't read the newly released version, though I have it and found at first glance no difference to the xeroxes I ordered many years ago from Syracuse (I think) University. It WAS a sad reading, I concur, but between the lines was many worthwhile information to be found. Way too much drugs to be fully trusted though (the authoress, not me at the time reading).
no difference to the xeroxes I ordered many years ago
Aha. I wondered and worried (for about 61 seconds) while thinking, "Newly-released? - but I read it a while ago." [Paradox or Poor Memory?). I could've been lost, but now I'm found.
It WAS a sad reading
There is a possible esoteric reason for this. Leah was just a vehicle, as we all are, who was pulled by The Attractive Principle into Therion's sphere of influence. There is no evidence of her doing the work for years before she is magically elevated and catapulted into "156, 8=3." Did you ever notice that designation on the Imprimatur? It wasn't there for a very long time. It also sounds like a case of jump-claiming ... although she probably didn't claim it - it was most likely assigned by Aleister.
Leah was undoubtedly (an imperative) one of those "highly magnetic and ecstatic" vehicles that is ultra-sensitive to the Star while equipped with a Babalon superstructure that is looking for your Snake. My obligations of secrecy restrain me from using common words. I have know a few of these "types." They are of the Horus (self-interested) type as defined by AC. They are dynamite, but not destined for long-term support.
Leah was undoubtedly (an imperative) one of those "highly magnetic and ecstatic" vehicles that is ultra-sensitive to the Star while equipped with a Babalon superstructure that is looking for your Snake
That seemed to run in the family given her sister Alma's association with Pierre Bernard
There is also mention of drugs, perhaps not of the strange variety but those of common addictive qualities. There is evidence (everywhere), not of use, but of addiction at Cefalu - and afterwards.
It is unfortunate that the "prototype" for the new aeon was heavy in its concept, but sustained in daily life through chemogenesis, which is, perhaps, the greatest danger on the Thelemic fast-path; well, that combined with jump-claiming
Her sister kidnapped her son too, (Leah's). She had a huge family. like at least 3 siblings maybe 5.
I thought I would share one or two letters to AC that Alostrael wrote, but chose not to send for various reasons. It is a good insight not just into her mind, but also perhaps a valid look and critique at AC 'the man.'
Context; October 1924, Leah is alone and in Paris after being abandoned by The Beast. He is off with the new SW, Soror Astrid i.e. Dorothy Olson. LEah ruminates on Thelema, which she never left even later in life, the role of the SW and sex and relationships in Thelema:
Oct 24 1924
To Sir Edward Alexander Crowley!
Edward Alexander Crowley, Esq.
To Mega Therion, and all the rest.
Saluti,
The Sir means as little to me as "Lord" Beaverbrook - Aleister is a mere wish phantasm (all wrong except as a nom de plume) and even Emily Bishop may have been unfaithful!
The question remains, "Who are you?" For practical purposes you are Ed(ward) Alex(ander) C(rowley). Legally, and, Aleister Crowley as a writer.
What you'd better do is find out who you are really, just as we'd better all find out, including your dear daughter V.I.
At present you seem to be very stupid young bridegroom bent on providing your bride with rich garments etc., but not having made proper preparations beforehand. It is extremely unwise for a young man to marry in haste - he usually doesn't even have the leisure in which to repent. - The siren doesn't give him a chance. You are no more a Magus than you are a cunt. You seem to disregard all Holy Books etc, in your sexual stupidity. They may be partly wrong but not entirely. You seem also to forget that Babalon makes the bridge for the Abyss - or something to that effect (your vellum copy of 30 Aethyrs is tied for lack of 333 francs) - and that you never crossed it really any more than Achad did. If you can find a filthier female to represent Babalon (myself, thank you) at the moment, do so.
Your extremely pathetic letter, saying you are on your way to Tozeur with 100 francs, if you are lucky, etc. arrived today. This scribble is due partly to that bit of pathos, tho' not entirely. In fact, as I pause to eat a peasant soup made in my little nest (I have one now, have you?). I find that I too have any number of things to say to you, but am not nearly angry or interested enough to say them. I don't suppose I ever will be and they will keep till you recover.
A word for Astrid - I will refrain from quoting otherwise V. 43 CAP III the Threefold Book of the Law. Same applies to me except I am on to verse 44 now. [ V 43.
Let the Scarlet Woman beware! If pity and compassion and tenderness visit her heart; if she leave my work to toy with old sweetnesses; then shall my vengeance be known. I will slay me her child: I will alienate her heart: I will cast her out from men: as a shrinking and despised harlot shall she crawl through dusk wet streets, and die cold and an-hungered.
V 44. But let her raise herself in pride! Let her follow me in my way! Let her work the work of wickedness! Let her kill her heart! Let her be loud and adulterous! Let her be covered with jewels, and rich garments, and let her be shameless before all men!]
It really is most amusing to hear you say "If so and so hadn't done this and that, thus and so wouldn't have happened." (it's always about money of course.) And you writing me that we must start anew, and never mind about the past, etc, Poet - and you're not that, for you are a Hermit really - the Hermit - but you can't seem to get past the barrier. I am sure even Ethyl (oxide) wouldn't help you.
Ouch!
Second letter to follow when time.
Fascinating.
Tozeur is in Tunisia
There are bits where she lies to herself in her Record, stating 'if a doctor were to do an autopsy on my corpse, after I kill myself, he would find no toxin. I am merely choosing to die now, as a Thelemite, by my will, not due to any drug addiction' paraphrase.
Editors note they would find cocaine, heroin, alcohol , as well as sleeping pills etc.
There are bits where she lies to herself in her Record
As I surmised and stated, she was held up as The Scarlet Woman, 156, 8=3, an Officer of the Aeon ... but she was merely one of those "magnetic & ecstatic vehicles" that was energized by chemotherapy and elevated by Svengali Therion ... until he took on a new chick and she got dumped. (I am not using fine esoteric lingo)
There is no evidence that she did the work. They don't, you know? - This type. Man, they can pull off some amazing fireworks, but they don't do asana, pranayama, etc for years. Maybe not even weeks (or less).
She is lucky to have survived and got back home in the Alps, where she returned to school-teaching. I suppose I should write at least an essay, or an epistle, or a set of Actual Case Histories, on the tragedies that befall the "Horus-type women, once they leave the circle of the magician.
jump-claiming
While it it certainly possible to temporarily attain a particular state of consciousness, like it is with chakras, the key to initiation is reaching that point permanently.
Her sister kidnapped her son too, (Leah's).
Alma seemed so horrified by Leah's association with Crowley. I guess Bernard was just a much less scary 😮 sex guru.
Thank you for sharing the letter, that was an interesting read.
but they don't do asana, pranayama, etc for years. Maybe not even weeks (or less).
Daily practice is the backbone of the path, though. It's the very foundation of the work.
Horus-type women, once they leave the circle of the magician.
Some of us do just fine once we leave our mentors. Better, even.
the key to initiation is reaching that point permanently.
Yes. And there is only one venue where said permanence can be found - it's often called, daily life.
Some of us do just fine once we leave our mentors. Better, even.
But are you one of the "Horus-type" ladies ? A general glimpse in your direction would seem to indicate yes." (I refer to AC's three "types." A Horus woman is dependent upon herself, not upon her boyfriend the Osiris man-god, or the Isis children focus).
I also refer, in my list of horrible things that have happened, which is still a secret document, as previously noted, that said atrocities only seem to happen to ladies who do not do the work.
All persons, of any sex or gender persuasion, are freed from a lot of difficulties by making a few adjustments ...
Liber 333 (It's all Lies)
tells us ...
Learn first how to Work, and The Great Work is not far beyond
or words to that effect