Evelyn Underhill and Aleister Crowley, despite their significant differences, shared formative experiences that shaped their adult lives and spiritual pursuits.
Evelyn Underhill, a prominent English writer and theologian, was born on December 6, 1875, in Wolverhampton, England. She was the only child of Sir Arthur Underhill, a barrister, and his wife, Alice Lucy Ironmonger. Evelyn grew up in a loving and intellectually stimulating household, where her parents encouraged her curiosity and passion for learning through homeschooling. Although she didn't have any siblings, Evelyn found companionship and solace in books and nature during her childhood. Her parents fostered an environment that valued education and creativity, which greatly influenced Evelyn's early years. She developed a deep appreciation for literature, poetry, and spiritual matters from an early age, often spending hours immersed in imaginative worlds and philosophical contemplation. She loved to yacht, as her father was a yachtsman and would travel abroad every spring to France and Italy.
Aleister Crowley, born Edward Alexander Crowley, was a controversial figure known for his involvement in occultism and esoteric practices. He was born on October 12, 1875, in Leamington Spa, Warwickshire, England, and was the only child of Edward Crowley and Emily Bertha Bishop. Aleister's upbringing was marked by privilege and influence within upper-class Victorian society. As a child, Aleister Crowley was highly intelligent and displayed an appetite for learning. However, his childhood was not without its challenges. At a young age, he experienced health issues, including symptoms related to his kidneys. This illness significantly impacted his early years and caused disruptions to his education, eventually being pulled out of school for, coupled with his father's death when he was 11 years old. Despite the challenges he faced, Crowley's childhood was not devoid of intellectual stimulation. He demonstrated a keen interest in literature, poetry, and the occult from an early age, often immersing himself in books on mystical and esoteric subjects.
Evelyn Underhill and Aleister Crowley, both born in England during the late 19th century, experienced vastly different childhoods despite their shared cultural backdrop. Underhill, raised in Wolverhampton, thrived in a nurturing environment cultivated by her middle-class family. Her parents, Sir Arthur Underhill, a barrister, and Alice, provided a supportive atmosphere that encouraged Evelyn's intellectual growth. Unlike Underhill's stable upbringing, Crowley's childhood in Leamington Spa was characterized by health challenges and familial discord. Born into wealth, Crowley's family dynamic was strained by his rebellious nature and unconventional interests, exacerbated by his struggle with kidney disease. Despite their different experiences, both exhibited early intellectual curiosity. Underhill's upbringing fostered a love for literature and philosophy, while Crowley's inclinations toward the occult and mysticism hinted at his later controversial pursuits. Their childhoods, marked by differing familial environments and personal challenges, laid the foundation for their divergent paths in the realms of spirituality and mysticism.
Sources
Britannica, T. Editors of Encyclopaedia (2024, February 15). Aleister Crowley. Encyclopedia
Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/biography/Aleister-Crowley
Decker, R. (2011, January 06). Crowley, Aleister [formerly Edward Alexander] (1875–1947),
author and occultist. Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. https://www.oxforddnb.com/view/10.1093/ref:odnb/9780198614128.001.0001/odnb- 9780198614128-e-37329.
Greene, D. (2015). About Evelyn Underhill. WordPress. http://evelynunderhill.org/about/
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