Aleister Crowley in drag = Barbara Bush

November 6, 2006 6:40 PM

Aleister Crowley, grandfather of George W. Bush? Well, obviously.
In late 1924, Pauline Pierce, Frank Harris, Nellie O'Hara, and Aleister Crowley get together in France and experience "Eroto-Comotose Lucidity." Afterwards Pauline Pierce returns to the states. In June 1925, Pauline Pierce gives birth to a daughter, Barbara.
Also, and again.
posted by anticlock (56 comments total)

I think DNA tests are in order. While I'm at it, Candy Crowley.
posted by anticlock at 6:41 PM on November 6, 2006

Well, Bush certianly has embraced Crowley's mantra: "To Do What Thou Wilt Shall Be The Whole Of The Law."
posted by Balisong at 6:47 PM on November 6, 2006 [1 favorite]

The photos here are uncanny.

This is another reason to love Ozzy, apparent bringer of the apocolypse. Foreteller? Whatever. Nice post!
posted by snsranch at 6:49 PM on November 6, 2006

:)
posted by caddis at 6:51 PM on November 6, 2006

So I guess W is in fact the antichrist.
posted by Heywood Mogroot at 6:53 PM on November 6, 2006

Is Candy Crowley related to Aleister?

She'd still be one of the few MSM journalists I respect, but wow. Never thought of that.
posted by bardic at 6:55 PM on November 6, 2006

Wow, this is fun. Here's Pauline's husband Marvin Pierce for comparison.
posted by gubo at 7:06 PM on November 6, 2006

Man, it's kind of creepy how the Bushes keep naming eachother after themselves.
posted by Paris Hilton at 7:06 PM on November 6, 2006

Balisong writes "Well, Bush certianly has embraced Crowley's mantra: 'To Do What Thou Wilt Shall Be The Whole Of The Law.'"

I'm guessing you know what the actual text is?

"Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the Law. Love is the Law, love under Will."
posted by dirtynumbangelboy at 7:24 PM on November 6, 2006

si non e vero, e ben trovato
posted by Falconetti at 7:31 PM on November 6, 2006

I had no idea Dubya's favorite Coil remix was Tainted Love. Color me impressed.
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 7:41 PM on November 6, 2006

'To Do What Thou Wilt Shall Be The Whole Of The Law.'

I think he got it all mixed up:

'Thou shall be the wilt of the whole of the law'
posted by Kickstart70 at 8:06 PM on November 6, 2006

Since we're being pedantic, bangel, that's not the quote either.

Book of Law, Chapter 1, Verse 40
40. Who calls us Thelemites will do no wrong, if he look but close into the word. For there are therein Three Grades, the Hermit, and the Lover, and the man of Earth. Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the Law. (Emphasis mine)

End verse.

The second part of your quote comes from 1:40:
57. Invoke me under my stars! Love is the law, love under will. Nor let the fools mistake love; for there are love and love. There is the dove, and there is the serpent. Choose ye well! He, my prophet, hath chosen, knowing the law of the fortress, and the great mystery of the House of God. (Emphasis Mine)

Guess your overall point is unchanged.
posted by absalom at 8:08 PM on November 6, 2006 [1 favorite]

I desperately want this to be true... so much so that I think I'm beginning to understand how the theist brain works.
posted by snarfodox at 8:11 PM on November 6, 2006

Too bad the article was posted April 1st.
posted by Melinika at 8:20 PM on November 6, 2006

Man, this theory is even better than David Icke's theory about Bush and the Lizard People.

I'm with snarfodox; I want to believe.
posted by dejah420 at 8:25 PM on November 6, 2006

Interesting, but is there any reason (beyond entertainment) to think that "sex magick" could be a cause behind the W disaster as opposed to corruption, dysfunctional parenting, an inherited place in the halls of power, unacknowledged alcoholism, and a comatose electorate? When faced with such a vortex of incompetence and destructive power as W and his administration, it is tempting to look for supernatural causes, but I'm afraid that a quick read of the bush family history is an adequate explanation. However, I do think W can be fairly described as the "Great Beast". : )
posted by pantufla at 8:28 PM on November 6, 2006

As long as we're being pedantic about the "do what thou wilt" thing, can I just take a moment to wonder why it's so strongly associated with Crowley, when he just borrowed it from St. Augustine, possibly by way of Rabelais?
posted by moss at 8:30 PM on November 6, 2006

All this time I just thought that W was a silly sod with a famous dad and an unexplainably thick rolodex who was a member of an influential frat. But apparently his success is due to some weird metaphysical deal with the devil on his mom's side! It all makes so much more sense. Thanks Metafilter!
posted by clevershark at 8:32 PM on November 6, 2006

moss writes "As long as we're being pedantic about the 'do what thou wilt' thing, can I just take a moment to wonder why it's so strongly associated with Crowley, when he just borrowed it from St. Augustine, possibly by way of Rabelais?"


"Look," said Ford, "Property is theft, right? Therefore theft is property."



absalom writes "Guess your overall point is unchanged."

Fair enough. Every Thelemite I know references it as I did above, however. (And yes, clearly, they shouldn't be quoting it at all, but what can you do?)
posted by dirtynumbangelboy at 8:33 PM on November 6, 2006

Too bad the article was posted April 1st.

Coincidence. Look at the pictures!
posted by owhydididoit at 8:38 PM on November 6, 2006 [1 favorite]

Even if the claim was true, it wouldn't mean that Crowley was the grandfather of President Bush. It would mean that Crowley was the grandfather of President Bush's wife.

Aleister Crowley, grandfather of George W. Bush? Well, no. Not even close.
posted by Steven C. Den Beste at 8:55 PM on November 6, 2006

Best of the net?

?
posted by Doohickie at 9:03 PM on November 6, 2006

"It would mean that Crowley was the grandfather of President Bush's wife."

Barbara Bush is his mom, dumbass.
posted by 2sheets at 9:06 PM on November 6, 2006 [2 favorites]

So, what, Bush has an excuse for being a sociopath? What about the rest of the Republican party, then?
posted by uosuaq at 9:06 PM on November 6, 2006

Even if the claim was true, it wouldn't mean that Crowley was the grandfather of President Bush. It would mean that Crowley was the grandfather of President Bush's wife.

The current President Bush is the son of Barbara bush.
posted by justkevin at 9:08 PM on November 6, 2006

Heywood Mogroot - "So I guess W is in fact the antichrist.

What?! So Dubya's going to be the next pope?
posted by porpoise at 9:14 PM on November 6, 2006

porpoise opines "What?! So Dubya's going to be the next pope?"

I was not aware that a replacement for Palpatine had been chosen so soon.
posted by clevershark at 9:20 PM on November 6, 2006

In this case, the swine predated the pearls.
posted by rob511 at 9:29 PM on November 6, 2006

Bet we don't here from SCDB again on this thread.
posted by Mental Wimp at 9:48 PM on November 6, 2006

I was not aware that a replacement for Palpatine had been chosen so soon.

His overconfidence is his weakness.
posted by keswick at 10:05 PM on November 6, 2006

Too bad the article was posted April 1st.

I saw that. But what an idea! Would have made a great October surprise.

*Just a little election-eve tongue in cheek*
posted by anticlock at 10:12 PM on November 6, 2006

"Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the Law. Love is the Law, love under Will."

Only liberal, hippie Thelemites I know combine those two statements.
Damn liberal, hippie Thelemites!
posted by Balisong at 10:25 PM on November 6, 2006

* "Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the Law"
* "Love is the law, love under will"
* "There is no Law beyond Do what thou wilt"

Crowley wrote that the Law is not a license to indulge in casual whim or to mindlessly accept cultural mores, but is rather a mandate to discover and manifest one's True Will, which he described as one's inner divine nature, spiritual destiny, or proper course in life.

Well, OK. Bush used it as a license to indulge in casual whim.

I think I have more books by and about Crowley than any other subject in my life.
posted by Balisong at 10:42 PM on November 6, 2006

Barbara Bush is his mom, dumbass.

I stand corrected.
posted by Steven C. Den Beste at 10:50 PM on November 6, 2006

Is Aleister Crowley the father of Barbara Bush? Even she may not know for certain; indeed, I have no way of knowing whether she has ever been told that this possibility exists.

What a hoot; it's a spot-on parody of itself, what with all that "one should not discount the possibility" and "I leave the matter for the reader to decide" and such. Wonderful satire.

(er, it is satire, isn't it?)
posted by mediareport at 11:21 PM on November 6, 2006

I want to believe.
posted by Faint of Butt at 3:14 AM on November 7, 2006

It would be almost as interesting if Mrs Bush were the daughter of Frank Harris, the infamous liar and fantasist, though I don't know whether that sort of thing is hereditary.
posted by Grangousier at 4:16 AM on November 7, 2006

Kinda gives a whole new meaning to that "Smells like sulphur in here" phrase, doesn't it?
posted by micayetoca at 4:38 AM on November 7, 2006

Does anybody remember, in one of Robert Anton Wilson's books from the 80's, he referred to the Antichrist more than once as GWB (Great White Beast) 666?
I can't remember if that particular Antichrist was the U.S. President or not...but it seemed like a weird little connection to me when the current GWB took office.
The Crowley angle seems too perfect to be true, but it does make for an even better synchronicity.
posted by A_Dollar_Three_Eighty at 5:31 AM on November 7, 2006

I was wondering when this would make the blue....seen it some 2 years ago. Unlike many claims, this one is testable, and anyone who would be emotionally harmed by being 'cheated on' is dead. So why not 'prove it wrong'?


Next up on Metafilter - How Robert Kennedy Jr's magazine George is named after the killer of his father *drum roll* George HW Bush and how the present George had him killed. Should be a fun time. What with links to the statement in a court somewhere 'I've got 300 billion to bury you with', all the books on the JFK murder, et la.
posted by rough ashlar at 5:53 AM on November 7, 2006

Tommy Flannagan told me he's really Bush's granddaddy. Yeah, that's it. That's the ticket...
posted by graymouser at 5:55 AM on November 7, 2006

From the Rigorous Intuition site, which is a well written and thought out blog which focuses on the connected phenomena of conspiracy theories and politics:

In The Occult, Colin Wilson writes that Crowley "had almost no capacity for natural affection. It is this that makes him a 'monster.'" The metaphysics and the sex magick were not beside the point, but they were another point. It's by his profound lack of charity that we can rightly call Crowley Satanic, and his conduct on the slopes of Kanchenjunga was a magnificent example.

As was George Bush's contemptuous behaviour during Katrina, eating cake and strumming a guitar while the poor of New Orleans were purged. Or his mocking of Karla Faye Tucker, and his sniggered lynch joke before Coretta Scott King. It's in the way all of these people smile when they speak of tragedy, and use the sufferings of others for their own political alchemy. (That the tortures of Abu Ghraib and Guantanamo Bay quickly took on aspects of ritual sexual abuse are not tricks of the light.)
posted by zaelic at 6:29 AM on November 7, 2006

This actually explains many things. Now that we know Bush is, in fact, the Antichrist prophesied in scripture, I think more people will be getting behind the idea of impeaching him. High crimes and misdemeanors? Forget about that. This guy has the blood of Satan running through his veins. Surely that's worse than screwing your intern.
posted by WoWgmr72 at 8:27 AM on November 7, 2006

This is making my skull creak. It's like The Da Vinci Code as re-imagined by Hieronymous Bosch.

Since none of the parties involved are likely to offer up their DNA for our delectation, I wonder how hard it would be to produce an algorithm to estimate probabilities of paternity from analysis of photographs.
posted by jamjam at 9:15 AM on November 7, 2006

Blood of satan you say? create a "world government" dictatorship run by the central bankers dedicated to Lucifer.

If the good religious right can't be rid of the bankers....why would they be rid of the granddaddy O satan?
posted by rough ashlar at 9:45 AM on November 7, 2006

Since none of the parties involved are likely to offer up their DNA for our delectation,

But they do use tissues and other disposible items. Leave hair samples behind in hotels or even public venues.

A DNA scavenger hunt! What fun! (to watch)
posted by rough ashlar at 9:48 AM on November 7, 2006

Hmmm....
Yeah, but Crowley was smart. He could play chess. N’Stuff.
posted by Smedleyman at 9:49 AM on November 7, 2006

It's by his profound lack of charity that we can rightly call Crowley Satanic, and his conduct on the slopes of Kanchenjunga was a magnificent example.

So a bunch of guys get into an arguement with Crowley on the side of a mountain, then die in an avalanche a few hours later while he broods in his tent? That is some pretty badass sorcery.

That Rigorous Intuition link is a good one, thanks.
posted by solipse at 9:50 AM on November 7, 2006

justkevin: The current President Bush...

... STOP RIGHT THERE! Cut. Print. Now you get the joke.
posted by lodurr at 12:34 PM on November 7, 2006

...Marvin Pierce...

I dunno; she has his eyebrows...
posted by lodurr at 1:38 PM on November 7, 2006

I wonder how Jimmy Page is going to take this?
posted by pleeker at 2:48 PM on November 7, 2006

http://img158.imageshack.us/img158/4927/808379766mvl5.gif

More stunning visual proof!
posted by mecran01 at 8:17 PM on November 10, 2006

More stunning visual proof?!
posted by mecran01 at 8:18 PM on November 10, 2006

Stop the presses! Barbara's grandson (via Neil) is Pierce Bush! And here he is interviewed by *drumroll* Candy Crowley! (At the bottom, after the confrontation between Brent Bozell and The Rock and other good things.)
posted by CCBC at 3:18 PM on November 12, 2006

We're all having a good laugh and all, but what I want to know is how we can spread this urban legend important news far and wide. America needs to know. Dammit.
posted by lodurr at 1:40 PM on November 14, 2006