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General Principles of Astrology
Long before there was Linda Goodman, long before astrology bestsellers turned up in supermarkets, there was Aleister Crowley, the most important astrological scholar and authority of the early 20th century. Ghostwriting for Evangeline Adams, it was Crowley who wrote the vast majority of her classic textbooks, Astrology: Your Place in the Sun (1927) and Astrology: Your Place Among the Stars (1930). General Principles of Astrology finally acknowledges Crowley's authorship. Crowley's goal was to abandon traditional assumptions, so he based his findings on actual charts and how they were expressed in people's lives. In his characteristically clear and elegant prose, Crowley discusses each planet from a scientific and mythological point of view. He provides an exhaustive analysis of astrological types, drawing conclusions for over 180 astrological nativities of wellknown artists, poets, musicians, philosophers, politicians, and business leaders from the 18th to the 20th century. This new book is composed of painstakingly gathered work, primarily ghostwritten by Crowley, and published in various early twentiethcentury texts. It is published here in one volume for the first time, in an undertaking endorsed by both the Adams and Crowley estates.
640 pages, Hardcover
First published September 1, 2002
12 people are currently reading
395 people want to read
About the author
Aleister Crowley
977 books1,845 followersAleister 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.
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.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
September 6, 2024
Needs to be on everyone's shelf, seriously. This is the largest and most information dense book of astrological qualities I've been able to find. The unique insights of Crowley and Adam's lead to a more comprehensive and deep understanding than I've been able to glean from any modern pop astrologers.
The information related to health and vitality is absolutely spot-on and makes this a valuable tool on its own, not to mention the approach to mental & emotional health way before it's time.
The language and vocabulary used is not for feint of heart or mind though, and the reading of this text requires the knowledge of classical history, myths, and English literature, as this was written by two early 20th century contemporary geniuses. I will say that a decent attempt is made to explain the references although at the point that a student of astrology is picking up this text they probably have at least small knowledge of these things. But be warned that a strong will is needed for this brick of a book
The information related to health and vitality is absolutely spot-on and makes this a valuable tool on its own, not to mention the approach to mental & emotional health way before it's time.
The language and vocabulary used is not for feint of heart or mind though, and the reading of this text requires the knowledge of classical history, myths, and English literature, as this was written by two early 20th century contemporary geniuses. I will say that a decent attempt is made to explain the references although at the point that a student of astrology is picking up this text they probably have at least small knowledge of these things. But be warned that a strong will is needed for this brick of a book
December 13, 2007
Alister Crowley has a bad rep
but this book is GREAT!!!
His interpetation on Mercury - in Pisces is the best Ive ever read.
but this book is GREAT!!!
His interpetation on Mercury - in Pisces is the best Ive ever read.
January 27, 2011
Not the average astrology book.
June 26, 2024
''MOON IN AQUARIUS
Aquarius has, on the whole, a very favourable effect upon the Moon. It represents her at her very best. The touch of coldness and inhumanity is no longer there. The sterility and instability are taken away. The indications afforded by the senses are admirable; not only are they accurate, but their effect upon the mind is altogether what it should be. There is the scientific attitude, but there is also the human interest. There is no error either toward emotionalism or sentimentality or rationalism. The reaction is strong and neither too swift nor too slow. We may take, as the best examples of this position of the Moon, Dante and Wagner. Here we find, almost equally in both cases, the religious instinct, the humanitarian instinct, the sex instinct and the scientific instinct all admirably developed, and not one of them overdeveloped. Both were familiar with the science of their period, but neither became an extremist. Both followed the religious average of their period, but without undue fanaticism on the one hand or scepticism on the other. People with this position are always likely to be somewhat in advance of their contemporaries, but this advance will be of an all-round character, not distorted or even one sided. This is a very rare and perfect circumstance. The majority of so called advanced thinkers have merely a disproportion of over-development on some one line, but people with the Moon in Aquarius are so well balanced that it is rare for them to upset their contemporaries by an extravagance of views. This universality of interest nearly always tends to make the native a charming companion whose conversation is always well worth listening to. It is difficult for the native to be satisfied with any one individual; his sympathies move in too many channels. He may therefore give more pleasure to his friends than they to him.''
Aquarius has, on the whole, a very favourable effect upon the Moon. It represents her at her very best. The touch of coldness and inhumanity is no longer there. The sterility and instability are taken away. The indications afforded by the senses are admirable; not only are they accurate, but their effect upon the mind is altogether what it should be. There is the scientific attitude, but there is also the human interest. There is no error either toward emotionalism or sentimentality or rationalism. The reaction is strong and neither too swift nor too slow. We may take, as the best examples of this position of the Moon, Dante and Wagner. Here we find, almost equally in both cases, the religious instinct, the humanitarian instinct, the sex instinct and the scientific instinct all admirably developed, and not one of them overdeveloped. Both were familiar with the science of their period, but neither became an extremist. Both followed the religious average of their period, but without undue fanaticism on the one hand or scepticism on the other. People with this position are always likely to be somewhat in advance of their contemporaries, but this advance will be of an all-round character, not distorted or even one sided. This is a very rare and perfect circumstance. The majority of so called advanced thinkers have merely a disproportion of over-development on some one line, but people with the Moon in Aquarius are so well balanced that it is rare for them to upset their contemporaries by an extravagance of views. This universality of interest nearly always tends to make the native a charming companion whose conversation is always well worth listening to. It is difficult for the native to be satisfied with any one individual; his sympathies move in too many channels. He may therefore give more pleasure to his friends than they to him.''
March 18, 2015
An amazing book! I personally struggle with astrology but after peering into the mind of a master it floors me how creative and totally brilliant the associations between planet, sign and houses are Crowley spares no expense in chalking this book full of vital information. I would recommend tacking it after you have done research on your own, so that you go into this with your own work in hand. :)
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews