Jack Parsons: The Rocket Scientist Who Summoned Babalon
How many miles to Babylon?
Three score miles and ten.
Can I get there by candle-light?
Yes, and back again…Nursery Rhyme
I’ve been fascinated with Jack Parsons ever since I first read about him several years ago.
Some of you may already be familiar with his contributions to science and occultism.
Others?
Not so much.
There’s a good reason for that.
NASA has done a stellar job of gently sidelining Jack Parsons from the history of the space program.
Likely, due to his rather dubious extracurricular activities.
But we’ll get to that!
So, just who is this mysterious rocket man?
Who is Jack Parsons?
Apparently, Hubbard or Parsons or somebody is producing a moonchild. I get fairly frantic when I contemplate the idiocy of these louts.
Aleister Crowley, private letter
John Whiteside Parsons (1914-1952), more commonly known as ‘Jack Parsons’ was an American rocket engineer, chemist and a dedicated practitioner of Thelema.
Yes.
That Thelema.
Developed by none other than the infamous British occultist, Aleister Crowley.
Aleister Crowley Thinker (1925)
Parsons was one of the founders of the ‘Jet Propulsion Laboratory’ which went on to become part of NASA. He was the first to create a rocket engine that used castable, composite rocket propellant.
I don’t really understand what that means, but I hear it’s important.
Parsons was also an active member of Agape Lodge.
A branch of Ordo Templi Orientis based in California.
Aleister Crowley pushed for Parsons to become the leader of the Lodge in 1942.
Needless to say…
His deviant occult exploits were a little concerning for the scientists around him.
In fact, he was unceremoniously sacked from the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in 1944 due to negligent lab practices and for his involvement with the Ordo Templi Orientis.
But things are about to get interesting…
Because…
Enter L. Ron Hubbard stage left.
In 1945, Parsons met the infamous science fiction author.
Today, he has the dubious honour of being known as the founder of Scientology.
(Hubbard later absconded with Parsons’ money and partner, but that’s another story).
During Hubbard’s stay at the Parsons home, the two became fast friends. They worked together on an occult ritual known as the Babalon Working.
The Babalon Working
Concentrate all force and being in Our Lady Babalon. Light a single light on Her altar, saying: ‘Flame is Our Lady, flame is Her hair. I am flame.’
Jack Parsons, The Book of Babalon
Parsons’ partner Sara soon became infatuated with Hubbard.
I’ll be honest.
I’m not really seeing the appeal…
Lol.
All’s fair in love and war though.
Because Parsons and Sara were in an open relationship; the lodge loved a bit of good old fashioned polyamory.
So, being kind of terrible at understanding how open relationships work, Parsons got mega jealous and decided to summon a woman through an occult ritual.
You know, as you do.
This was before dating apps, so I guess his options were limited.
In 1946, Parsons and Hubbard completed the final ritual of the Babalon Working in the Mojave Desert.
The Babalon Working was supposed to invoke an earthly incarnation of the Thelemic goddess Babalon.
Parsons arrived home to find Majorie Cameron (1922-1995) literally waiting on the doorstep of his home.
Parsons concluded that the Babalon working had been successful and quickly entered into a relationship with the ‘elemental’ Cameron.
Who he referred to as the ‘Scarlet Woman’.
Aleister Crowley believed that Babalon had a physical avatar on earth, a human woman who was known as the Scarlet Woman.
More on Babalon in just a moment…
Right now, this story needs a little more death.
Parsons died under mysterious circumstances at the age of 37.
Causing an avalanche of conspiracy theories.
He was found barely alive after a laboratory explosion at his home and died from his injuries on the way to hospital.
Many theories around Parsons untimely demise sprung up in the wake of his death. From being bumped off by US secret service, to suicide.
While many more point to his notoriously negligent safety practices likely leading to the fatal explosion. Although deeply tragic, this seems like the most likely scenario.
His last words were reported to be:
But I’m not finished yet.
Who is Babylon?
‘Lust’ Thoth Tarot by Aleister Crowley
O Babalon, Babalon beloved, come now, partake of the sacrament, possess this shrine. Take me now! Let me be drunken on the wine of your fornications; let your kisses wanton me to death.
Jack Parsons, Babalon Invocation
Babalon is a large topic in itself, so consider this section a (very) brief overview.
Let’s get to it!
There are several different ideas pertaining to just who or what Babylon/Babalon is.
Below, we’ll explore how Babalon’ s image has been shaped over time.
The Whore of Babylon
I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet coloured beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns.
And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication:
And upon her forehead was a name written, Mystery, Babylon the Great, the Mother of Harlots and Abominations of the Earth.
Revelations
The Whore of Babylon in the Bible is depicted as the living embodiment of materialism and corruption.
Honestly, I think the churchy dudes were just scared of strong women.
But…
I digress.
Despite me thinking she’s kind of cool, the tone to this passage is definitely negative.
We can see the imagery in this passage is present in Crowley’s depiction of the ‘Lust’ tarot card.
Crowley himself had a more sympathetic view of Babalon.
Which we’ll get to two ticks of a ticking thing.
Dr. John Dee and Babalon
I am the daughter of Fortitude, and ravished every hour from my youth. For behold I am Understanding and science dwelleth in me; and the heavens oppress me. They cover and desire me with infinite appetite; for none that are earthly have embraced me, for I am shadowed with the Circle of the Stars and covered with the morning clouds.
The Lion knoweth not where I walk, neither do the beast of the fields understand me. I am deflowered, yet a virgin; I sanctify and am not sanctified.
Dr John Dee
Dr John Dee (1527-1608) was an English mathematician, teacher, astrologer and occultist.
He served as an advisor to Queen Elizabeth I.
What interests us most here is Dee’s occult activities.
Spiritually curious man that he was, in 1582 Dee teamed up with a scryer named Edward Kelley.
Impressed with Kelley’s abilities, Dee and Kelley held many scrying sessions together to unlock the secrets of the universe.
It was through these mysterious sessions that the figure of Babalon emerged from their alleged angelic communications.
In Dee and Kelley’s correspondence, the figure of Babalon doesn’t carry the same apocalyptic symbolism that the Whore of Babylon is drenched in in Revelations.
Instead, she appears to take on a feminine aspect of the divine.
This version of Babalon still resonates with primal sexual power, but its interpreted in a less immoral way.
Thelemic Babalon
This is the secret of the Holy Graal, that is the sacred vessel of our Lady the Scarlet Woman, Babalon the Mother of Abominations, the bride of Chaos, that rideth upon our Lord the Beast. Thou shalt drain out thy blood that is thy life into the golden cup of her fornication.
Aleister Crowley, Liber Cheth
In the Thelemic understanding of Babalon, we find the freedom of feminine sexuality and her identification with the fertile earth.
She’s still associated with the Whore of Babylon.
Yet she’s also a sacred feminine figure.
Cloaked in divinity.
In Thelema, Babalon has evolved into her final form.
She remains the scarlet woman, but instead of representing sin, she symbolises desire, empowerment and ecstatic spiritual experience.
If Babalon interests you, I highly recommend:
Jack Parsons’ Legacy
Ad astra. [To the stars].
Jack Parsons, Strange Angel
Parsons has received very little official recognition for his rocketry achievements.
However, things have shifted a bit in recent years.
Since the posthumous publishing of his occult writings in 1989, and the wonders of the internet.
There’s been a resurgence of interest in his life and work.
Two books detailing his extraordinary, yet tragically short life were published and the TV show Strange Angel (2018) ran for two seasons based on his exploits.
His personal occult writings can be found here.
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Sources
Grey, P. (2011) The Red Goddess. London: Scarlet Imprint.
Pasulka, D.W. (2019) American Cosmic: UFOs, Religion, Technology. New York: Oxford University Press.
BibleGateway.com (n.d.) Bible Gateway. Available at: https://www.biblegateway.com (Accessed: 19/11/2024).
Hermetic.com (n.d.) Daughter of Fortitude. Available at: https://hermetic.com/hermeneuticon/daughter-of-fortitude (Accessed: 19/11/2024).
Hermetic.com (n.d.) Parsons Collection. Available at: http://hermetic.com/parsons/index (Accessed: 19/11/2024).
Sacred Texts (n.d.) Liber 156. Available at: https://sacred-texts.com/oto/lib156.htm (Accessed: 19/11/2024).