The Crowley Staircase

Many know Aleister Crowley for his famous work in the occult, but few know of his avid love of hiking, becoming an accomplished mountaineer. He always knew of the power and magic that lies in nature, and simply allowing yourself to get lost in the woods can bring strange and peculiar circumstances. It is said that, later in his life, during a very determined walk in the woods, he discovered a ritual that brings you the utmost truth to one truly desired question. Rumor has it Crowley yearned to understand the meaning of life, and he may have found exactly that. But there are also whispers saying he could not bear the weight of such knowledge, which led to the rapid decline of his mental state as he was haunted with such clear understanding. Now, before I teach you this ritual, you must understand that some knowledge is better left alone, and ignorance is truly bliss. But if you are not deterred, then who am I to keep it from you? This is how you find the stairway to knowledge, or better known as the Crowley Staircase.

You can enter any woods you desire—the location does not matter—but you must enter the woods alone. Knowledge cannot be shared. Make sure to have exactly thirteen white candles with you and a full lighter. I cannot stress enough: you do not want to run out of fuel on the staircase. You must enter the woods just before sunset, and you must truly know the knowledge you seek. It could be anything—from how to be a millionaire, who your true love is, or even how to live forever. But you must know what your true question is before entering, because you may end up with answers you wish you didn’t learn.

Once you enter the woods, go in any direction you wish. Just walk with determination for the truth. If you find yourself walking in the dark, stop and head back from where you came. The ritual did not work. You must try again another day with a stronger intention for the truth. But if there is still some light, stop and look around. If each direction of the woods looks the same, you are on the right track. Before you take another step, ask yourself if this is truly something you want. This is your last chance to turn back. Once you have seen the staircase, there is no stopping.

Within just a few steps, a staircase will appear before you. Go ahead, take a look around—it is quite impressive. There is nothing supporting the structure, it just exists. If you survive the ritual, I would love to hear what the staircase looked like to you. I’ve heard the staircase takes many forms depending on the knowledge you seek. Some have said it looks like cobblestone, others say a rickety wooden staircase, and I’ve even heard of marble stairs like the ones you’d see in a courthouse. But I still haven’t pieced together their meaning, so again, if you survive, I’d love to know.

Take your time and do not rush. Look around. Time has stopped. Again, think about what you truly wish to know. Some have taken this time to pray, to whichever god you follow above or below, and I’ve even heard of some trying to communicate with Aleister Crowley himself for guidance. Before you take your first step, take a look at the staircase again and count the steps. There should be exactly thirteen. If you count any other number of steps, run—run as fast as you can. You are not alone in these woods, and other spirits would wish to do you harm and guide you off the path. Who knows where those steps would lead? But if you count exactly thirteen steps, then the ritual can begin.

Ascend the first step and make sure both feet are together; do not have one foot further than the other. Knowledge requires patience and sacrifice, and if you rush this ritual, you will be lost to the staircase forever—eternally walking and yearning for the truth. Now that you are on the first step, light your first candle and place it between your feet. Once the candle is placed, speak aloud a secret about yourself. But it must be one you’ve never told anyone; again, knowledge requires sacrifice. I must also warn you: before you speak, you must be careful about what you admit. For every step you take, you must light another candle and tell another secret that is greater or deeper than the one before. So be careful how you unburden yourself.

As you ascend the stairs, you will get the urge to look behind you to see if the candles are still lit. Trust me, they are, and you do not want to see what is behind you. In Crowley’s teachings, it is said that dark entities and spirits feed on hidden truths. Do not look back—just keep moving forward. Once you’ve passed the seventh step, you will begin to hear whispers judging you for what you’ve admitted so far. Ignore them; these are just the voices of those who could not complete the ritual. They do not want to be alone. If you must, talk louder to drown them out. Just keep moving.

By the twelfth step, you will be shouting and feel this unbearable weight trying to take the last step. Again, knowledge requires sacrifice, and only the strongest can wield such truths. After you’ve taken the thirteenth step, do not think it’s over. You’ve spoken your last secret, and now you must close your eyes and speak these exact words: “Mr. Crowley, I have laid myself bare before you and wish to understand.” Keep your eyes closed for as long as you wish, because once you’ve opened them, you will soon know if you passed the ritual or failed. If you find yourself still standing at the top of the staircase, I am truly sorry, but you failed, and the only way to go is back down. I do not know where those steps lead, but I promise you it’s not from where you came. You can wait there as long as you’d like, but those candles will eventually flicker out. The light will not hold them back forever.

Now, if you open your eyes and find yourself again standing in the middle of the woods, congratulations—you have passed. Now you must head straight home and go to sleep. Do not eat or drink anything. Do not speak to anyone. Just go straight to sleep. This night you will have the most vivid dreams you’ve ever experienced. Pay close attention to what is happening and what is being said. Within these dreams, your answer will be given. When you awake, you will remember everything that happened and what was said. These dreams will live with you for the rest of your days. Go and seek out your truth, but do not tell anyone what you learned, for as soon as you share this knowledge, the memory will fade and be replaced with dread. And who knows, the next time you wake, you may find yourself back on that very same staircase. Good luck, and like Mr. Crowley said, “The sin which is unpardonable is knowingly and willfully to reject truth.”