THE SUNDAY OREGONIAN

Portland, Oregon, U.S.A.

1 January 1911

(page 10)

MAGIC CATCHES WOMEN

LONDON SOCIETY LEADERS GLADLY PAY

MYSTIC $25 FOR SOUL-MATE RITES.

London, Dec 31.—(Special.)—Fashionable devotees of occult rites in the metropolis have been offered a large selection of thrills by one Aleister Crowley, who has conducted certain ceremonials, called “The Rites of Eleusis.”

Women whose pastime it is to consult clairvoyant oracles and women in search of soul mates paid $25 each, and flocked to the entertainment provided by Magician Crowley. His idea was to tap the infinite by means of ecstasy. To produce that disconcerting condition he arranged seven ceremonies, named after the planets of the zodiacal system. Colors played a considerable part in the rites. Visitors to the rite of Mercury, for example, were recommended to wear “shot silk and mixed colors,” while those attending the rite of Venus were advised to wear green or sky blue.

Crowley’s rites were performed amid clouds of pungent incense calculated to half stupefy sensitive women, while the main part of each ceremony consisted of recitations from Swinburne, given in total darkness by someone with a strong American accent, aided by a badly played violin accompaniment.

Golden harvest can be reaped in London nowadays by any pseudo-mystic clever enough to exploit the vogue for occultism that has laid hold of society women. Crowley’s success is inspiring wizards from the East, black magic adepts and conjurers from the four corners of the world to look to Mayfair as their bonanza. And although all such practices when performed for profit are illegal, the police do not interfere, unless occasionally to summon a poor woman for fortune-telling. Altogether, the high-class exponents of hanky-panky are enjoying a good time.