Clouds Without Water

by Aleister Crowley

This work by Crowley is a subtle but potent free fall into madness and debauchery as the reader is swept away into the minds and lives of two pagan lovers. Boundless free-love, dark magick, vampirism and sado-masochism is explored and enjoyed by our heroes.

Genres: Thelema, Occult, Poetry, Magic

139 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1909

About the author

Aleister Crowley was an English occultist, ceremonial magician, poet, novelist, mountaineer, and painter. He founded the religion of Thelema, proclaiming himself as the prophet destined to guide humanity into the Æon of Horus in the early 20th century. A prolific writer, Crowley published extensively throughout his life.
Born Edward Alexander Crowley in Royal Leamington Spa, Warwickshire, he was raised in a wealthy family adhering to the fundamentalist Christian Plymouth Brethren faith. Crowley rejected his religious upbringing, developing an interest in Western esotericism. He attended Trinity College, Cambridge, focusing on mountaineering and poetry, and published several works during this period. In 1898, he joined the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn, receiving training in ceremonial magic from Samuel Liddell MacGregor Mathers and Allan Bennett. His travels took him to Mexico for mountaineering with Oscar Eckenstein and to India, where he studied Hindu and Buddhist practices.
In 1904, during a honeymoon in Cairo with his wife Rose Edith Kelly, Crowley claimed to have received "The Book of the Law" from a supernatural entity named Aiwass. This text became the foundation of Thelema, announcing the onset of the Æon of Horus and introducing the central tenet: "Do what thou wilt." Crowley emphasized that individuals should align with their True Will through ceremonial magic.
After an unsuccessful expedition to Kanchenjunga in 1905 and further travels in India and China, Crowley returned to Britain. There, he co-founded the esoteric order A∴A∴ with George Cecil Jones in 1907 to promote Thelema. In 1912, he joined the Ordo Templi Orientis (O.T.O.), eventually leading its British branch and reformulating it according to Thelemic principles. Crowley spent World War I in the United States, engaging in painting and writing pro-German propaganda, which biographers later suggested was a cover for British intelligence activities.
In 1920, Crowley established the Abbey of Thelema, a religious commune in Cefalù, Sicily. His libertine lifestyle attracted negative attention from the British press, leading to his expulsion by the Italian government in 1923. He spent subsequent years in France, Germany, and England, continuing to promote Thelema until his death in 1947.
Crowley's notoriety stemmed from his recreational drug use, bisexuality, and criticism of societal norms. Despite controversy, he significantly influenced Western esotericism and the 1960s counterculture, and remains a central figure in Thelema.

Reviews

[Jörg · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading it alone it’s a collection of poems that are pretty Crowley and one may enjoy that or not. When reading it together with “Masks of the Illuminati” by Wilson it forms an amalgam of amusement and hilarity. Can I recommend the book as is? Unsure, your mileage may vary. You’re reading Robert Anton Wilson, please pull a copy from the internet archive and see it through the eyes of Sir John Babcock inside of Wilson’s mind.

[Aaron Schuschu · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m concerned about Lola’s age

[Bryan Elkins · Rating 3 out of 5]

the man had a sense of humor. this book was written and published by Crowley under a false name -- he identifies himself as a clergyman, and intended its distribution among 'fellow' clergy. he introduces the work quoting the Book of Jude, a famous passage referring to gnostic heretics as "wandering stars, for whom it is reserved the blackness and darkness forever". the poem could appear to sing the condemnation of these accursed souls, but it does the opposite -- with the aim of tricking the false witnesses into doing the same...

[sarah rouan]

i bought this at an occult bookshop when i was thirteen, probably thought it was a spellbook.

[Rahul Singh]

is good poem

[Daniel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Poems by Crowley
It's a strange book. One of those that you read when you need to start thinking outside of the box.

[Putnam Harper · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good poetry in spite of how disgusting Crowley was.