Ghosts, Magick, Tarot Cards, and Aleister Crowley

When I was nineteen years old I was doing some research in the area of “out of body experiences”, and at that time I did experience what is commonly known as the “classic out of body experience”! (I would go on to have many more of them over the next ten years of my life!)

In my early twenties I further developed my interest in Psychology and the Human Sciences, and I developed an especial interest in the paranormal, ghosts, and later the occult sciences. I was curious as to the reality of spirits, spells, and magickal powers! I went on to study some of the Western Traditions of Ritual and Ceremonial Magick, Enlightenment, Mysticism, Religion, Eastern philosophies (including Yoga), and other “so called” ancient philosophies and practices, including Wicca, and/or “witchcraft”. Yes, even Voodoo was on my list of studies! I then and still maintain a genuine curiosity and/or fascination as to the reality of these “so called” unexplained phenomenon!

I was a member at one time or another of several different organizations such as the A.M.O.R.C., the A.A., and even O.T.O.! I wrote to and was answered by several different popular writers of the time on occult subjects; writers such as Donald Michael Kraig, Ted Andrews, and Gerald and Betty Schueler. I also pursued a degree in Psychology so that I could eventually work in either the field of Psychotherapy or Parapsychology!

My interest in ghosts came about while I was even younger, some time before my above mentioned interests came about. My interests in ghosts phased out as my interests turned to the paranormal, the Divine Mysteries, God, Religion, the Occult, Magick, and other documented human and spiritual powers. My conclusions, at that time, as regards ghosts, and “so called” pictures and videos of ghosts, was that it was at least possible for the human soul to remain here after death, in some visible form, and either haunt or communicate with us as all as good ghosts do!!! But? My research with certain occult practices, Yoga, meditation, and human and spiritual development proved to be far more interesting!

Nowadays I am somewhat convinced as to the reality of certain occult practices, and to things like Astrology, Tarot Card reading, and other forms of divination. I do not lend much credibility these days to ghost pictures and ghost videos in general! My feeling, ultimately, is that people do not hang around in some form or another upon their death, and if there is anything to paranormal disturbances or ghosts they would be better explained as either the mind itself - hallucinations, temporary delusions, etc. - or, simply “unexplained phenomenon”. Some of the better occult literature I have read refer to ghosts as being “shells of the dead” - i.e., a “leftover energy form of some sort that does not possess consciousness in itself!” Perhaps? To this day, no one really knows for sure!

Of course, such a question as to the reality of ghosts also brings up also the whole subject of the afterlife itself, and since that has proven to also be improvable, the only thing we have to go on as regards ghosts are the photos and videos that people manage to capture. That is, in many respects, going on “a person's word”, and is not scientific enough to amount to any sort of proof as to the reality of ghosts and/or spirits.

Ghost pictures and ghost videos, in my opinion, are mostly either a hoax, a brain malfunction, or even a technical malfunction of some sort. How come is it that there is still so much controversy on the subject? That is because the “so called” proof has not yet convinced us all? It is something that has been reported for thousands of years, and even with all of the footage and writings out there, no one is still really sure? Still, I, like many others out there, long for an explainable answer to the often eerie images we see in pictures and video footage of ghosts. Often, people even close to us claim to have had an unexplainable and often frightening encounter with the unknown!

Things like God, the Devil, and everything in between, has fascinated me for a long time. How about Tarot Cards, and who is Aleister Crowley, and how is Jimmy Page of Led Zeppelin involved in all of this? READ ON...let me share with you some of my own adventures into the world of the unexplained, Magick, Mysticism, Yoga, Enlightenment, and Aleister Crowley; take a step into the real world of Astrology, the Tarot, Magick, Miracles, Peace, and Enlightenment!!!

About a year after I myself began experimenting with “out-of-body experiences” I became interested in a famous writer, occultist, and magician named Aleister Crowley. I sought to purchase every book that I could find by Aleister Crowley, and I also joined an Order practicing the Western Tradition of Magick called the Hermetic Society of the Golden Dawn. I later also became a member of Aleister Crowley's own Magickal Order, the Astrum Argentum, A.A., or Order of the Silver Star. This Order is still in existence today, and still maintains a great amount of secrecy in order to better preserve the heart of the Order's teachings. I was also scheduled to attend a feast and an initiation into the Order of Ordo Templi Orientis, or O.T.O. (Aleister Crowley later became a prominent figure head within this Order.)

As part of my studies, practices, and training, I learned something about ancient languages, practices in numerology, and I learned the “initiated” meanings of various occult symbols, astrological symbols, and religious symbols. I learned how to develop heightened awareness, focus, self-discipline, and concentration through the practice of certain observances and the practice of ritual magick. I also learned the art of divination, and Cartomancy - how to read Tarot Cards. (I believe that I may have been born with a psychic gift or a bizarre talent with the Tarot, and my own personal experiences and abilities with the Tarot have remained to this day unexplainable even to me; I always lay out an accurate reading, no matter what the object or subject of the divination is. I can only demonstrate this psychic ability with Tarot Cards!

My mother has had a couple of “prophetic” dreams that she shared with me once. In accordance with some traditions, I may have inherited the ability from her - for her, prophecy comes in the form of a dream, and for me it is demonstrated in the practice of reading Tarot Cards.!I have also experimented with pendulum dowsing and obtained “remarkably inaccurate results” - so astonishingly incorrect as to suggest psychic ability, but at the same time so undependable that I left my studies with pendulum dowsing to pursue my practice with the Tarot.

Reading Tarot Cards takes years to learn how to do correctly because of the complexity of the symbolism involved; the individual meanings of each of the seventy-eight cards, and the individual meanings of each of the positions, depending upon which layout method, or methods, you are utilizing Repetition, practice, and experience count for everything! The symbolism is deep and at times quite obscure - mastery also depends, theoretically, on a “psychic gift”. I can demonstrate extraordinary abilities with the Tarot, and I have done so for more than fifteen years. I want to write a small, practical book on how to learn and practice the Art correctly, and how to gauge your own progress in a scientific manner! I will make this book available through Green Planet Fantasy Theater and/or Green Planet Fantasy Malls!

Reading Tarot Cards is something that I know a lot about, and I am very well versed in other religious and mystical studies and practices in the occult sciences. I do not personally believe in a “Devil” or demons as some people believe, nor do I understand God to be as “personal of a person” as people sometimes portray Him, or think about Him. For the most part, occult practices have more to do with cultivating self-discipline, focus, concentration, self-healing, physical and emotional healing, and later even learning to heal and/or help others. There are exercises in fitness, Yoga, breathing, and meditation. And, yes, there are the practices of invoking and evoking forces, ritual, and prayer, working miracles, and divination. In some of these areas there is perhaps a lot of rubbish as far as writings and teachings go, but there also writings and practices that are gems; teachings and understandings that anyone can benefit from. True practice of the occult sciences is to initiate you to a path of self-understanding, self acceptance, self-discipline, and study! It is to place yourself onto the Path that eventually leads you to YOU, to Love, Peace, Strength, Honor, and Devotion; the One, True Path that brings us closer to ourselves, and to God, and teaches us to be more “Christ” like! This Path is as unique as each individual is, but the method of approach is very much the same for all, according to the traditions I, myself, am well versed in!

At least some people have heard of the infamous Aleister Crowley, and perhaps even the infamous “Aleister Crowley Castle”. Aleister Crowley was a famous writer who flourished around the turn of the century. He was also a world record holder in the sport of mountain climbing (climbing at least Kanchenjunga, and K-2, two of the tallest mountains in the world.) He was also world class chess player, and a big game hunter. He traveled the world, was wealthy for a time being, studied heavily in the occult sciences, as well as in other world religions, was often referred to as being a genius, and was once even kicked out of Italy by none other than Mussolini himself. Many know of him only because he was once hailed to be “the wickedest man in the world” in the tabloids of the 1940's!

The “Aleister Crowley Castle” is not really a castle at all...see my pic at the bottom of this page! Most people who have heard of the infamous “Aleister Crowley Castle” have heard about it because it is now owned by the famous rock guitar player for Led Zeppelin, Jimmy Page! Though I myself once possessed a rare collection of Aleister Crowley's works, Jimmy Page of Led Zeppelin has collected an enormous amount of Aleister Crowley memorabilia. And, yes, he even bought Aleister Crowley's flat on Loch Ness - the “Aleister Crowley Castle”! (Aleister Crowley only lived in the “Aleister Crowley Castle” himself for roughly six months! The “Magickal Work” that he did there supposedly made the place haunted, and so even Aleister Crowley himself eventually left the flat!!!)

So, what did Aleister Crowley do during his six month stay on Loch Ness? Well, Mr. Crowley obtained a book called “The Book of the Sacred Magic of Abramelin the Mage”. He was, at that time, aspiring to the Magickal Grade of Adeptus Minor. So, he sought out and bought a place to retire for six months (sometimes referred to as a “magickal retirement”) while he carried out the instructions in the above mentioned book; a six month Ritual of Magick in which the goal was to obtain to “The Knowledge and Conversation of The Holy Guardian Angel”

I understand a thing or two about this particular Grade Work myself, and if accomplished correctly, attainment in this Grade means simply that you now understand what God's True Will is for you. In the next Magickal Grade of Work, you set out to rearrange your life in accordance with your Divine understanding. Attainment in this Magickal Grade means that you finally understand your strengths and weaknesses in such a way as to know what God's will is for you; it is like finally understanding who you are, and what your purpose is, especially from the Divine perspective. This is all a rather complicated subject!

Whether or not Aleister Crowley succeeded in this Work or not was heavily debated within his own circles. But, the flat pictured below is where he settled down to undertake this Magickal Work. The Aleister Crowley Castle is purportedly haunted as a direct result of Crowley's Work there! I suppose we could all ask Jimmy Page of Led Zeppelin if the Aleister Crowley castle is really haunted, assuming he himself has ever been there.

I recently heard about some connection between the Beatles and Aleister Crowley. Aleister Crowley does make an appearance on one of the Beatles albums. He is pictured on the album, “Sergeant Peppers Lonely Heart Club Band”! It is likely that one or more members of the Beatles knew of Aleister Crowley. After all, both the Beatles and Aleister Crowley are from England, and both parties experimented freely with drugs, at one time or another! I would guess that John, Paul, and Ringo may have read of Aleister Crowley, or perhaps one or more of them had even read some of his books? Well, there is no better an ending for this article as:

Love is the law, love under will.

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