dreaming thelema of kenneth grant and h. p. lovecraft

By his early teenage years, Grant had read widely on the subject of Western esotericism and Asian religions, including the work of prominent occultist Helena Blavatsky. Grant was born on in Ilford, Essex, the son of a Welsh clergyman. and growing fame: 1970–2011Įarly life and Aleister Crowley: 1924–1947 1.2 The New Isis Lodge and Austin Osman Spare: 1947–1969.1.1 Early life and Aleister Crowley: 1924–1947.They also attracted academic interest within the study of Western esotericism, particularly from Henrik Bogdan and Dave Evans.

Grant's writings and teachings have proved a significant influence over other currents of occultism, including chaos magic, the Temple of Set and the Dragon Rouge. In 1959 he began publishing on occultism and wrote the Typhonian Trilogies as well as various novels and books of poetry, much of which propagated the work of Crowley and Spare. Grant's Order became known as the Typhonian Ordo Templi Orientis, operating from his home in Golders Green, north London. This title was disputed by the American Grady McMurtry, who took control of the O.T.O. On Germer's death in 1969, Grant proclaimed himself Outer Head of the O.T.O. He was particularly interested in the Hindu tantra, incorporating ideas from it into the Thelemic practices of sex magic.

During the 1950s he also came to be increasingly interested in Hinduism, exploring the teachings of the Hindu guru Ramana Maharshi and publishing a range of articles on the topic. in 1955, although the latter continued to operate his Lodge regardless until 1962.

This was anathema to Germer, who expelled Grant from the O.T.O. In 1954 Grant founded the London-based New Isis Lodge, through which he added to many of Crowley's Thelemic teachings, bringing in extraterrestrial themes and influences from the work of fantasy writer H. In 1949, Grant befriended the occult artist Austin Osman Spare, and in ensuing years helped to publicise Spare's artwork through a series of publications. When Crowley died in 1947, Grant was seen as his heir apparent in Britain, and was appointed as such by the American head of the O.T.O., Karl Germer. Crowley instructed Grant in his esoteric practices and initiated him into his own occult order, the Ordo Templi Orientis (O.T.O.). After several months serving in India with the British Army during the Second World War, he returned to Britain and became the personal secretary of Aleister Crowley, the ceremonial magician who had founded Thelema in 1904. Born in Ilford, Essex, Grant developed an interest in occultism and Asian religion during his teenage years.

Dreaming thelema of kenneth grant and h. p. lovecraft