Leila Waddell
Encyclopedia
Leila Ida Nerissa Bathurst Waddell, also known as Laylah, (1880 – 14 September 1932) was a daughter of Irish immigrants to Australia
, a famed Scarlet Woman
of Aleister Crowley
, and a powerful historical figure in magick and Thelema
in her own right.
. She was familiarly addressed by Crowley as "Laylah," and was immortalized in The Book of Lies
and The Confessions of Aleister Crowley
. Waddell herself was an accomplished writer, magician, and musician, and a founding member of the original company of the Rites of Eleusis.
In 1912 Waddell, and fellow Crowley students Mary Desti and Mary Butts
, were given co-authorship credit on Crowley's Magick (Book 4)
as they wrote down his words, helped shape them by asking defining questions, and elicited Crowley's commentary on pertinent points.
Laylah was, arguably, Aleister Crowley's most powerful muse
, as she inspired numerous poems in addition to numerous chapters in The Book of Lies.
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, a famed Scarlet Woman
Babalon
Babalon—also known as The Scarlet Woman, The Great Mother, or the Mother of Abominations—is a goddess found in the mystical system of Thelema, which was established in 1904 with English author and occultist Aleister Crowley's writing of The Book of the Law...
of Aleister Crowley
Aleister Crowley
Aleister Crowley , born Edward Alexander Crowley, and also known as both Frater Perdurabo and The Great Beast, was an influential English occultist, astrologer, mystic and ceremonial magician, responsible for founding the religious philosophy of Thelema. He was also successful in various other...
, and a powerful historical figure in magick and Thelema
Thelema
Thelema is a religious philosophy that was established, defined and developed by the early 20th century British writer and ceremonial magician, Aleister Crowley. He believed himself to be the prophet of a new age, the Æon of Horus, based upon a religious experience that he had in Egypt in 1904...
in her own right.
Crowley's muse
Waddell was born in Bathurst, New South WalesBathurst, New South Wales
-CBD and suburbs:Bathurst's CBD is located on William, George, Howick, Russell, and Durham Streets. The CBD is approximately 25 hectares and surrounds two city blocks. Within this block layout is banking, government services, shopping centres, retail shops, a park* and monuments...
. She was familiarly addressed by Crowley as "Laylah," and was immortalized in The Book of Lies
The Book of Lies (Crowley)
The Book of Lies was written by English occultist and teacher Aleister Crowley and first published in 1912 or 1913...
and The Confessions of Aleister Crowley
The Confessions of Aleister Crowley
The Confessions of Aleister Crowley : An Autohagiography, by Aleister Crowley , is a book written in six parts, the first two parts published in 1929. It is subtitled "An Autohagiography" which refers to the autobiography of a Saint, a title which Crowley would also have associated with the...
. Waddell herself was an accomplished writer, magician, and musician, and a founding member of the original company of the Rites of Eleusis.
In 1912 Waddell, and fellow Crowley students Mary Desti and Mary Butts
Mary Butts
Mary Frances Butts was a British modernist writer. Her work found recognition in important literary magazines such as The Bookman and The Little Review, as well as from some of her fellow modernists, T. S. Eliot, H.D. and Bryher...
, were given co-authorship credit on Crowley's Magick (Book 4)
Magick (Book 4)
Magick, Liber ABA, Book 4 is widely considered to be the magnum opus of 20th century occultist Aleister Crowley, the founder of Thelema...
as they wrote down his words, helped shape them by asking defining questions, and elicited Crowley's commentary on pertinent points.
Muse
The Muses in Greek mythology, poetry, and literature, are the goddesses who inspire the creation of literature and the arts. They were considered the source of the knowledge, related orally for centuries in the ancient culture, that was contained in poetic lyrics and myths...
, as she inspired numerous poems in addition to numerous chapters in The Book of Lies.
See also
- List of occultists
- Libri of Aleister CrowleyLibri of Aleister CrowleyThe Libri of Aleister Crowley is a list of texts mostly written or adapted by Aleister Crowley. Some are attributed to other authors. The list was intended for students of Crowley's magical order, the A∴A∴....
- Works of Aleister CrowleyWorks of Aleister CrowleyAleister Crowley —mystic, occultist, and mountaineer—was a highly prolific writer, not only on the topic of Thelema and magick, but on philosophy, politics, and culture. He was also a published poet and playwright and left behind a large number of personal letters and daily journal entries...
- Sex MagickSex magicSex magic is a term for various types of sexual activity used in magical, ritualistic or otherwise religious and spiritual pursuits. One practice of sex magic is using the energy of sexual arousal or orgasm with visualization of a desired result...
- BabalonBabalonBabalon—also known as The Scarlet Woman, The Great Mother, or the Mother of Abominations—is a goddess found in the mystical system of Thelema, which was established in 1904 with English author and occultist Aleister Crowley's writing of The Book of the Law...
External links
- Thelemapedia. (2004). Leila Waddell. Retrieved 28 April 2006.
- Obituary of Leila Waddell from the Sydney Herald. http://hermetic.com/waddell/obit.html