Letter from Alex Sanders on Aleister Crowley, International Times, 5 October 1967

International Times (IT), issue 19, 5 October 1967, page 16. A letter to the editor from Alex Sanders, then living at 40 Clanricarde Gardens, London W2, joining the London underground paper's running correspondence on magick. He says he has practised the Abra-Melin system for many years, and that he was initiated by Aleister Crowley at the age of ten, in 1936. He defends Crowley, '6.6.6.', against present-day witch-hunters, calls himself a hereditary witch and a practitioner of Egyptian, Kabbalistic and Hindu ceremonial magick, and invites readers who meet him 'on the scene' to make contact: 'I look like a cross between the Pope and Death warmed up.' Printed beside a photograph of Crowley in a turban, captioned 'The Arabian Alchemist Crowley smoking his favourite mixture, perique soaked in Rum.' The account of meeting Crowley as a boy is Sanders's own and is not otherwise documented. How to cite: Alex Sanders, letter to the editor, International Times, issue 19, 5 October 1967, p. 16. Alexandrian Witchcraft Timeline & Archive.

DEAR EDITOR, The magickal correspondence that has appeared in recent issue of IT has been a very pleasant surprise. I was pleased to note the correction by one of your readers of the Abra-Melin square that you published. I have practised this system of Magick for many years with varying degrees of success. I fully share your readers feelings concerning Aleister Crowley; I was initiated by him at the age of 10 in 1936. The experiences I have had following his guidance far surpass any other kind of “trip.” I have always tried to put the record straight whenever present day witch-hunters have attacked 6.6.6. I know well the persecution that he went through, and in the course of my work - being an hereditary witch, as well as a practitioner in most types of Ceremonial Magick: Egyptian, Kabbalistic, Hindu, etc. – I have had my share of it. Whatever the libellists like to say about him the fact is, that this great consciousness contributed a lot to the creation of the present atmosphere of creative relative freedom and opportunity for each mind to realise itself in the way most suitable to it. I hope that interested people who meet me on the scene will contact me (I look like a cross between the Pope and Death warmed up). Blessed Be, ... ... Alex Sanders, 40, Clanricarde Gardens, London, W.2. [Photograph of Aleister Crowley] The Arabian Alchemist Crowley smoking his favourite mixture, perique soaked in Rum.