An attempt at restoring the surviving voice recordings of Aleister Crowley, drawn primarily from rare wax‑cylinder sessions of the early 1910s and 1920s, later transferred to 78 RPM discs. These fragments—scratchy, fragile, and historically invaluable—capture Crowley reading selections from his own works, including The Gnostic Mass, and offer a rare auditory glimpse into the cadence and character of the infamous occultist’s voice. Though the recordings are exceedingly scarce, they remain essential artifacts for anyone studying Crowley’s life, writings, and ritual practice.

While the audio has been cleaned and enhanced where possible, its quality inevitably reflects the limitations of early 20th‑century wax‑cylinder technology.

Content of the Recordings

The surviving materials preserve Crowley reciting a range of texts and reflections, including:

• Excerpts from The Gnostic Mass

Among the most notable items is a rare 1920 wax‑cylinder recording made in London, in which Crowley reads passages from The Gnostic Mass—a demonstration of early audio technology pressed into service to capture his voice for posterity.

Details of the 1920 recording:

•   Year: 1920

•   Location: London

•   Medium: Wax cylinder

•   Content: Readings from The Gnostic Mass

This cylinder is one of the few authenticated examples of Crowley’s voice from that era and is frequently circulated among occult researchers and enthusiasts.

• Recitations of the First Two Enochian Keys (Calls)

Crowley’s recordings also include renditions of the Enochian Keys—invocations originating with John Dee and Edward Kelley.

The Call of the First Aethyr

This call represents the threshold of the 30 Aethyrs, a visionary map of consciousness central to Enochian magic. The First Aethyr is invoked as a self‑sustaining force of immense power, one that overcomes opposition without exertion.

Key aspects:

•   The Aethyrs: Spiritual realms accessed through specific Calls or Keys.

•   Nature of the First Call: A proclamation of inherent might, in which adversaries collapse without the Aethyr’s direct intervention.

•   Content: The text describes overwhelming spiritual force and the humiliation of those who oppose it.

•   Crowley’s Role: He recorded, performed, and popularized the Call, embedding it deeply into modern occult practice.

•   Purpose in Ritual: Used to explore spiritual planes, gain insight, and induce altered states of consciousness.

In essence, the First Aethyr Call functions as a foundational Enochian formula for invoking a supreme, autonomous divine power.

• Original Poetry, Incantations, and Songs

Crowley’s own creative works—lyrical, ritualistic, and experimental—appear throughout the surviving recordings.

• Reflections on Contemporary Events

These include musings on subjects ranging from the sinking of the Titanic to American independence.

• Additional Materials

The collection also incorporates:

•   A digital realization of Leila Waddell’s Thelema: A Tone Testament (from The Equinox I:8). Waddell, an Australian violinist and one of Crowley’s Scarlet Women, was a key collaborator in his ritual and artistic work.

•   A recitation from The Book of the Law.

•   Audio recorded at Boleskine House, including atmospheric field recordings from the grounds surrounding the estate on Loch Ness.

•   A curated selection of Crowley photographs and excerpts from several of his books, including:

•   Diary of a Drug Fiend

•   White Stains

•   The Confessions of Aleister Crowley

•   The Star in the West by Captain J.F.C. Fuller (a critical essay on Crowley’s works)

•   Material relating to the Abramelin Operation

•  The Book of the Law