Further reading for Jack Parsons
Strange Angel by George Pendle
The Collected Writings of Jack Parsons
The Book of the Law by Aleister Crowley
Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the law!
Love is the law. Love under will.
There is no law but do what thou wilt.
Jack Parsons was one of the most amazing people in the history of the world. As America lurched toward World War 2, Parsons led a handful of ambitious students from The California Institute of Technology to do what mainstream science thought was impossible. They created the technology needed to send rockets into space through boosters that burned solid fuel. At the same time he was doing this, Jack was working diligently at the Agape Lodge in Pasadena, a lodge dedicated to the pursuit of magic and gnosis under the guidance of Last Podcast on the Left favorite, Aleister Crowley and his religion of Thelema.
Parsons’ associates all considered him the natural heir to the legacy of Thelema, a visionary on the subject of magic like no other. He was bold, a natural example of Crowley’s man of will, but he was also reckless and charged into danger without much consideration for consequences. This probably explains why he was easily swayed by the influence of L Ron Hubbard, another Last Podcast on the Left favorite. Hubbard moved into Parsons’ house, stole his girl, and stole his money. Jack was easily taken advantage of, unfortunately. His enthusiasm for discovery and general goodwill toward people left him wide open to ripoff artists and grifters.
Jack and friends founded the Jet Propulsion Laboratory where they’re working on theoretical forms of propulsion to this day. But in 1952 he mishandled some explosive materials and blew himself to pieces in his own garage. Conspiracy theories followed, naturally.
93.
Episodes: 512-515
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