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The Eye in the Triangle: Dr. Israel Regardie's Definitive Work on Aliester Crowley
This is Dr. Israel Regardie s extended commentary on his years with the Great Beast and the life and works of his infamous former employer. Moreover, the book is an attempt at an insightful, if not completely objective, analysis of the psychological processes that caused Crowley to tick so peculiarly. At the same time Regardie s observations might also give us some insight as to what might have been making Regardie tick so peculiarly. He recognized that the brilliance of Crowley s genius transcended and eclipsed his myriad (and serious) human flaws; he recognized it was his duty to mankind his duty to the advancement of human thought to allow the world to see the blazing sun of Crowley s genius and the soul-liberating message he tried to deliver. This book also represents the opening of Regardie s own eye to the spiritual significance of Crowley s contribution to the evolution of human consciousness, and to the importance of his own vital role and responsibility in presenting it to the world.
472 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1970
83 people are currently reading
1230 people want to read
About the author
Israel Regardie
151 books305 followersIsrael Regardie (born Francis Israel Regudy) was considered by many to be the last living Adept of the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn. At an early age, Regardie worked as Aleister Crowley's personal secretary. In addition to his extensive writings, Regardie practiced as a chiropractor and as a neo-Reichian therapist. He taught psychiatry at the Los Angeles College of Chiropractic and contributed articles to many psychology magazines.
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
January 23, 2010
I had always been intrigued by Crowley's myth and legend after running into accounts of him for years in popular culture. He was dubbed "the wickedest man in the world," by the British Press, and some authors have claimed evidence that he was a British spy. He was seen on the cover of "Sgt. Peppers' Lonely Hearts Club Band," by the Beatles in the category of people they deemed to be the most influential thinkers. Black magician, madman, poet, explorer, big game hunter. What was real and what was fantasy?
Israel Regardie served as his personal secretary for a time, and purported to give a more balanced view of the man, his actions and philosophy. He did this effectively, without playing into the religious indignation that is prevalent in so many accounts, and painted a picture of a man who was neither a spiritual saint or completely evil. Whatever Crowley's definition of spiritual attainment actually was ("Do What Thou Wilt" is still open to interpretation) he had very cogent, rational points about the damage that sexual repression linked to religious dogma has done to society as a whole. The only fault I would give the book is that while Regardie does an excellent job in attempting to ascertain the workings of Crowley's mind and his motivations, he falls into his own ridiculous psychoanalytical dogma with his speculations on Wilhelm Reich, homosexuality, and other topics. Still, worth reading for anyone who wants to know more about Crowley without the sensationalist Judeo-Christian spin.
Israel Regardie served as his personal secretary for a time, and purported to give a more balanced view of the man, his actions and philosophy. He did this effectively, without playing into the religious indignation that is prevalent in so many accounts, and painted a picture of a man who was neither a spiritual saint or completely evil. Whatever Crowley's definition of spiritual attainment actually was ("Do What Thou Wilt" is still open to interpretation) he had very cogent, rational points about the damage that sexual repression linked to religious dogma has done to society as a whole. The only fault I would give the book is that while Regardie does an excellent job in attempting to ascertain the workings of Crowley's mind and his motivations, he falls into his own ridiculous psychoanalytical dogma with his speculations on Wilhelm Reich, homosexuality, and other topics. Still, worth reading for anyone who wants to know more about Crowley without the sensationalist Judeo-Christian spin.
May 26, 2013
More a psychological analysis of Aleister Crowley and an examination of the sources of his inspiration than a biography, with much information about the workings of The Golden Dawn and the different stages of initiation into that magical society.
Israel Regardie seems to have written the book to address what he sees as injustices and misunderstandings of Crowley on the part of other authors of his biographies - and writings on Crowley in general - and his outrage at these authors can be fierce. He does recognize and acknowledge fair comment from the same, but I did tire of the many instances of personal attack and criticism, especially against Symonds - the space could have been used to greater effect in writing in more depth about actual non-magickal events in Crowley's life - for example, the infamous mountaineering disaster, which he simply mentioned as having been covered thoroughly elsewhere. The subtitle, An Interpretation of Aleister Crowley, is exact - and a psychologist 'interpreting' AC in the light of this event would almost certainly have revealed intimate insights, especially one who knew him as well as did the author.
An interesting and informative read nevertheless.
Israel Regardie seems to have written the book to address what he sees as injustices and misunderstandings of Crowley on the part of other authors of his biographies - and writings on Crowley in general - and his outrage at these authors can be fierce. He does recognize and acknowledge fair comment from the same, but I did tire of the many instances of personal attack and criticism, especially against Symonds - the space could have been used to greater effect in writing in more depth about actual non-magickal events in Crowley's life - for example, the infamous mountaineering disaster, which he simply mentioned as having been covered thoroughly elsewhere. The subtitle, An Interpretation of Aleister Crowley, is exact - and a psychologist 'interpreting' AC in the light of this event would almost certainly have revealed intimate insights, especially one who knew him as well as did the author.
An interesting and informative read nevertheless.
October 23, 2015
"At the age of twenty, I obtained my first copy of The Eye in the Triangle at an Occult Bookstore in Los Angeles called The Psychic Eye and, naturally, I read it with the greatest enthusiasm and interest, and I excitedly extracted the essentials from its pages. It subsequently left a deep impression upon my mind, and it has continued to influence my life in ways invaluable to my growth as both a man and a magician. Since that first reading, I have read the book a few more times, including recently, and every time it has illumined my understanding of Crowley, his magick and his mysticism in some manner or another useful to my life and magical progress. I have read most published and unpublished works by Israel Regardie, but this book is the one he wrote that moved me the most, finding the greatest meaning and place in the sanctuary of my soul. I feel that The Eye in the Triangle is essential reading material for anyone who is seriously interested in learning about the life, magick and mysticism of Aleister Crowley." ―Foreword, The Eye in the Triangle: An Interpretation of Aleister Crowley
September 29, 2017
this would have hell of been five stars if he hadn't just cut it off at around 1914, saying "it would have been better if Crowley had died in this year because everything he wrote afterward was trash, so I don't see a purpose in covering it." Really really good close reading of a million weird rituals and texts, with close analysis of exactly what AC's contribution to The Discipline was beyond range/notoriety. It is neat to see a biography of a mage that focuses on the meaning and thematic consistency of his spellcraft; I want all biographies to be essentially on this model, albeit with way less Wilhelm Reich talk.
May 20, 2016
While I find Crowley infinitely fascinating, and I've read and enjoyed other writing by Regardie, this book didn't do much for me. Disjointed and repetitive. The first five chapters, in particular, were a slog. Meh.
July 12, 2012
One of the best biographies of Crowley in that it is a dissection of the man and his action without moralizing.
December 16, 2016
Israel Regardie was over 60 years old when he wrote his "Interpretation" of Aleister Crowley; however, all too often he writes like some one with the emotional maturity level of a 16 year old. Any one with a decent bullshit detector can tell that this was little more than revenge porn for Regardie. He clams he wanted to give Crowley a fair treatment, but he begins with "he squandered my trust fund, he said mean things to me, and had me paranoid that he was going to try his 'homosexual monkey tricks' on me". I have to wonder if that famous exchange of letters was completely fabricated. Based on Regardie's admission to his own internalized anti-Semitism, Crowley probably told him to stop being a "self-loathing Jew". According to Jane Wolfe, Regardie was running around Los Angeles telling people that their spilt was really because AC didn't think that psychoanalysis was necessary to the Great Work. Regardie takes several homophobic cheap shots at AC, and writes as if the reader would be amused by them. The only redeeming quality of the book was that 20-25% of the text is AC quotes, and some really good quotes at that. Also, on rare occasions, Regardie writes things like: "That I never achieved genius or a higher degree of creativity is no discredit to Crowley. It is a blot against my own eschuteon that I did not have the patience and persistence required to work more devotedly on the practices laid down by Crowley. That is my own sad lot." It is very telling about a man who spent 3 and half years living with Crowley, but never managed to get past the grade of Probationer. Regardie grudgingly admits AC's genius, but for every nice thing he says, he has at least 3 negative things to say. And most of those negative things seem to be indications that Regardie never understood him in the least.
November 16, 2017
"Uno no puede errar al estar guiado por ella [la voluntad verdadera], aunque esta voluntad sea distinta en cada persona. Estas diferencias son dadas por la evolución, como supo Crowley, y no pueden ser permanentemente destruidas por ninguna especie de tiranía. […] “Si Dios hubiera querido que fuéramos unidades replicables, seríamos hormigas, no primates”. Este es el sentido de la famosa frase CADA HOMBRE Y CADA MUJER ES UNA ESTRELLA. Crowley fue siempre fiel a ese “gobernador” interior, esa estrella oculta en cada psique humana"
January 20, 2009
Gotta read up on Uncle Al from time to time. All good witches and/or metaphysics enthusatist should. Anyway, this one is one of the best biographies on Crowley availible; being as there is so much trash out there regarding the man, s'good to know where to find something source worthy.
Israel Regardie is always an EXCELLENT source for information!
Israel Regardie is always an EXCELLENT source for information!
September 19, 2015
Israel Regardie is maybe not moralising, but in trying to make Alister Crowley more moral acceptable (probably to himself), Israel is thus picturing Crowley more as an Christian, hippie, than as the Beast.
January 27, 2011
Very insightful.
April 25, 2012
Vrlo dobra, objektivna i znalačka knjiga o čoveku o kome sam dosta slušao ali nimalo čitao do sada. Regardije veoma kompetentno koristi psihoanalizu za predočavanje Kroulijevog lika i dela. Ovde se govori o traganju za smislom i o posledičnom uzdizanju čoveka na velike visine ali u isto vreme i o njegovoj suštinskoj bedi. Knjiga ide ruku pod ruku sa Fukoovim klatnom, kako po tematici tako i po poruci. I Građanin Kejn mi pada na pamet. :)
June 19, 2019
A fitting end to my Crowley year, Dr. Regardie exposes and redefines The Beast for those of us who have merely read about him. A well-balanced account with psychological analysis done with the greatest sensitivity and insight. A valuable account to aid us all in gaining understanding into the human condition and the seemingly irrational longings for spiritual enlightenment. A book I will highly recommend to anyone. Love is the law, under will.
April 19, 2016
an illuminating perspective on the explorer of consciousness that many still regard as the wickedest man in the world. i'm not saying he wasn't an asshole, but the amount of lies and bad information out there about him is astounding.
July 16, 2016
Interesting book. Lots of fresh perspectives on Crowley's life. Might need to read it a second time to make sense of some of the middle chapters, but the beginning and end were pretty accessible to a neophyte.
January 30, 2015
An insightful look at the life of Aleister Crowley by a man that worked with him for years
December 26, 2019
Came to this book expecting to get angry at Crowley. Got angry at Regardie instead.
First of all, disregard the blurb: it's not a biography. It's also hardly what I would suggest for someone looking for a fist contact with Crowley life or "magick system". It's almost a "response book" to Symonds more slanderous biography (The Great Beast : The Life And Magick Of Aleister Crowley) and assumes that the reader read it or, at least, is familiar with the Crowley's life. So... First go read the book that the author hated I think...? Though a reading of the full Wikipedia may be enough to avoid getting lost.
It has some good moments and insights, but the bad parts are awful. Most of the supposed psychological analysis by Regardie seems kinda cheap now days. I can see how his disapproval (and even downplaying at some moments) of Crowley's bisexuality can be seen as a product of it's time. But, as a example, the paragraphs near the end where Regardie starts talking about how the time Crowley lost his virginity with a servant is actually about how he actually wanted have sex with his mother was way outdated and ridiculous by the 70's. At various moments like those the author seems like a bad pastiche of a psychoanalyst talking in some comedy book.
Still worth reading for a couple good first hand anecdotes about Crowley and other Golden Dawn members, I think.
First of all, disregard the blurb: it's not a biography. It's also hardly what I would suggest for someone looking for a fist contact with Crowley life or "magick system". It's almost a "response book" to Symonds more slanderous biography (The Great Beast : The Life And Magick Of Aleister Crowley) and assumes that the reader read it or, at least, is familiar with the Crowley's life. So... First go read the book that the author hated I think...? Though a reading of the full Wikipedia may be enough to avoid getting lost.
It has some good moments and insights, but the bad parts are awful. Most of the supposed psychological analysis by Regardie seems kinda cheap now days. I can see how his disapproval (and even downplaying at some moments) of Crowley's bisexuality can be seen as a product of it's time. But, as a example, the paragraphs near the end where Regardie starts talking about how the time Crowley lost his virginity with a servant is actually about how he actually wanted have sex with his mother was way outdated and ridiculous by the 70's. At various moments like those the author seems like a bad pastiche of a psychoanalyst talking in some comedy book.
Still worth reading for a couple good first hand anecdotes about Crowley and other Golden Dawn members, I think.
August 2, 2024
Thank god that’s over.
The book was comprised largely of editorializing, bad poetry, bitterness or adulation of the author in turns toward crowley, incredibly horrible swathes of sex-centric ham fisted attempts at “psychoanalysis”, and bits of scant esoteric lore scattered throughout. Why this work was esteemed so highly by RAW and Alan Watts I will never know, whatever mysticism was displayed in these pages was devoid of all inspiration and markedly worse than drivel.
As with all my readings of Crowley, I am once again left extremely disappointed. The man had great potential which he mercilessly squandered in mediocrity. May his works be a warning against single handed spiritual progress of all kinds.
The book was comprised largely of editorializing, bad poetry, bitterness or adulation of the author in turns toward crowley, incredibly horrible swathes of sex-centric ham fisted attempts at “psychoanalysis”, and bits of scant esoteric lore scattered throughout. Why this work was esteemed so highly by RAW and Alan Watts I will never know, whatever mysticism was displayed in these pages was devoid of all inspiration and markedly worse than drivel.
As with all my readings of Crowley, I am once again left extremely disappointed. The man had great potential which he mercilessly squandered in mediocrity. May his works be a warning against single handed spiritual progress of all kinds.
September 7, 2018
I've read a lot of biographies on Crowley. Crowley is one of those subjects where it seems what is said about him reveals more about the biases of the person saying it than it does about him. This is, by far, the most measured biography I've encountered. Regardie actually knew Crowley and spent a significant amount of time with the man. He was able to shed light and reason on some of his more paradoxical aspects. It's just a great book. It's kind of a heavy read and took me a considerable amount of time. I'd find myself putting it down for a while and coming back to it and needing to reread large parts, but in the end, it was entirely worth it.
October 15, 2019
An enjoyable read although not essentially a biography of Crowley. Gets bogged down on the Golden Dawn quite a bit and it isn't easily accessible (for me at least) although Regardie's other books on the Golden Dawn are probably needed as companion reading. I only searched this out as Robert Anton Wilson was praising it in Cosmic Trigger and yet to get into the works of Crowley you should probably start with Richard Kaczynski's 'Perdurabo' which I'm halfway through and seems to be the definitive biography. I will probably have to reread this again soon.
August 20, 2022
Elucidates a lot of the heavy, dense and sometimes incredibly difficult writing of Crowley. Despite his firsthand accounts of Aleister's exhibitionism at his own expense, Regardie provides an in-depth, honest, and holistic analysis of the different personas who penned the writings of Aleister Crowley. Written with a psychoanalytic (specifically Reichian) bent.
September 6, 2024
Really cool and informative. There's a lot of good new literature of crowley and this is one amongst them you should definitely check out. Especially if you're not sure what's actually going on.
May 15, 2019
Well, that was an interesting ride for a biography.
I've always been interested in the occult, so Aleister Crowley was always on my radar. My knowledge of him had come exclusively through Wikipedia till this point.
Here we come to know a man of extreme wealth, obsessive about his spiritual journey. As contraditory as a man can be Crowley was religious, bissexual, worried about the state of things and longing for a new path for humanity, but also a narcissist, homophobe, sexist, classicist, unfaithful to his friends and pretty much anyone, and ultimately: a pretty bad person.
The biography is written by Israel Regardie, by himself contraditory: a Crowley's devotee as well as enemy. He divides his time by criticizing Crowley (mostly about his bissexuality which he finds imoral), and crucifying his past biographers with personal attacks and simples: "they didn't understand the geniality of the man".
I'm not religious at all, and didn't know much about the Golden Dawn either (except from History Channel docs), so most of his texts just seemed like mumbo jumbo to me. And I don't know if I believe that anyone can understand his quotes where he just drops a bunch of names like:
"Oh, golden Monkey that climbed the trees of Heaven. The messiah of Horus! The Christ's slut!"
I might be wrong, but it seems like a bunch of nonsense to me.
The Magick part leave for you to decide if he actually summoned demons or if they were part of his own subconscient.
It was kind of interesting. But at the same time it felt like the author was trying to portray him much more interesting and impactful than he actually was. Let's face it: only goth kids know about Crowley.
My edition by Penumbra Livros and Estudio Miopia will look great on my shelves though!
I've always been interested in the occult, so Aleister Crowley was always on my radar. My knowledge of him had come exclusively through Wikipedia till this point.
Here we come to know a man of extreme wealth, obsessive about his spiritual journey. As contraditory as a man can be Crowley was religious, bissexual, worried about the state of things and longing for a new path for humanity, but also a narcissist, homophobe, sexist, classicist, unfaithful to his friends and pretty much anyone, and ultimately: a pretty bad person.
The biography is written by Israel Regardie, by himself contraditory: a Crowley's devotee as well as enemy. He divides his time by criticizing Crowley (mostly about his bissexuality which he finds imoral), and crucifying his past biographers with personal attacks and simples: "they didn't understand the geniality of the man".
I'm not religious at all, and didn't know much about the Golden Dawn either (except from History Channel docs), so most of his texts just seemed like mumbo jumbo to me. And I don't know if I believe that anyone can understand his quotes where he just drops a bunch of names like:
"Oh, golden Monkey that climbed the trees of Heaven. The messiah of Horus! The Christ's slut!"
I might be wrong, but it seems like a bunch of nonsense to me.
The Magick part leave for you to decide if he actually summoned demons or if they were part of his own subconscient.
It was kind of interesting. But at the same time it felt like the author was trying to portray him much more interesting and impactful than he actually was. Let's face it: only goth kids know about Crowley.
My edition by Penumbra Livros and Estudio Miopia will look great on my shelves though!
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December 20, 2012Great way to get into the workings of one of the most dangerous men to humanity...really interesting. Just straight down to what Aleister Crowley was on about. being yourself and having your own will. the worst nightmare for any governement...
April 20, 2021
This book took me ages to finish, but I finally did it. Such an interesting viewpoint of Crowley with so many personal details. It is definitely written in outdated language but it doesn't detract from the work.
July 16, 2017
Against some accepted oppinions about Crowley. Man who had his good and bad moments, but who definitely never was "the wickedest man on Earth", as some puritans depicted him. This book presents the other side of the medal, and what is even more interesting, the writer itself had his quarrels with Crowley.
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