Jane Wolfe: The Cefalu Diaries 1920-1923

by Jane Wolfe, Aleister Crowley (Contributor), David Shoemaker (Editor)

This is a 206 page, 8 1/2 by 11 in. perfect-bound paperback, containing the majority of the surviving diaries Wolfe kept while training with Crowley at Cefalu, presented in high quality grayscale facsimile format. Crowley's handwritten comments run throughout, giving fascinating insights into his training methods, and into life at the Abbey of Thelema. Most of this material has never before been published. Introduction by David Shoemaker.

Genres: Thelema, Magick, Biography, Reference

206 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2008

About the author

Jane Wolfe was a character actress of the silent film era, later known for her association with Aleister Crowley under the name Soror Estai. In 1920 she gave up her Hollywood career to join Crowley's "Abbey of Thelema" at Cefalù, Sicily, where she remained until its closure in 1923. Afterward, she was one of the founding members of Agapé Lodge of O.T.O. in southern California, where she eventually became the occult teacher of Phyllis Seckler, who was herself instrumental in the reformulation of O.T.O. in the late 20th century.

Reviews

[Walter Five · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is exactly what it says it is. The Magickal Record of Jane Wolfe during her time in Cefalu with Aleister Crowley. It's not a 'dear diary' sort of diary, with memories and reflections. There are some handwritten notes and comments made by her Teacher, Aleister Crowley. People looking for personal recollections of 'the good old days at the Abbey of Thelema' should keep looking, this is not that sort of account.

When I purchased the $30.- paperback edition of this book at the time of its' initial release, I felt a little sad that I couldn't afford $150-200 for the leather limited edition. Well, in retrospect, I'm not too sad at all, I would have felt cheated paying more than $30 for this book. It IS what it purports to be, but Crowley's notes and marginal comments, which are largely publicized in connected with it are minimal. It is the magickal record of an A.'.A.'. student, if you're not a ceremonial magician familiar with the Kabbalistic correspondences of Liber 777, and the practices and disciplines of a Probationer of the A.'.A.'., you're not going to get a lot out of this book. If you ARE, on the other hand, you'll find some things of interest here, but it's not an indispensable addition to one's A.'.A.'. or Thelemic Library.

[Elena Traina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating insight in the Abbey days, with a real variety of entries: the most technical ones for those in the know (I'm not, so most of the esoteric stuff didn't mean much to me) and the most personal ones by Wolfe, some of which I found extremely relatable.

Crowley's marginalia is mostly illegible, but the comments I managed to read were as obnoxious as you'd expect them to be. Based on Wolfe's notes, it is a mystery how she (or anyone!) decided to affiliate with such a person and assist him post-Abbey days. I'd have run as far away as possible.

The volume itself seems printed on an on-demand basis, so the price is a bit steep for its quality. The fact that many handwritten pieces are illegible is also not great, perhaps an effort in involving some experts to provide a transcript (like Wolfe did for her own notes) would have been appreciated. Baffled by the premise that Wolfe's transcripts were meant for Crowley's "review".

Ironically, one of Wolfe's final notes reads: "After retiring I realized that in order fully to complete herself Woman had to achieve something in which Man has no part." If only she had listened to her own advice.