Did Aleister favour American Occultism?
Many American people can claim to be of European descent, but this cut very little ice with Aleister. I think he was outwardly charming towards them while inwardly he had many reservations. As we know, Americans are rather shocked to find that much of the world detests them. Probably this is due in no small way to their uninhibited manner and apparent rudeness. I can accept that they do not mean any of this. Nevertheless, they come across as “loud, obnoxious and over here”. The USA has an advanced economy steeled by sheer belligerence, and putting Number One first. It is not a spiritual nation. There is a world of difference between deeply held piety on the one hand, and the orchestrated razzmatazz that marks American civic ritual. Much American Occultism ties in either with politics or organised crime. Also, the USA is famous for the ‘Americanisation process’ that does not just modernise, it vulgarises too. It reduces matters to the lowest, common denominator-minimum refinement, quick
