If I may digress from Crowley for a moment - it just occurred to me, that Devadatta (the Buddha's cousin) had attained supernormal powers, but without being firmly established in discernment (he had not attained stream entry, so was liable to fall back). So unless one had at least attained stream entry or above, magical powers could be risky, even dangerous, because they could inflate one's sense of self, and if someone used those powers to 'get what they want' in the sensual realm - possibly impacting on other beings in the process - there could be a risk of getting involved in some heavy kamma. If without a high degree of virtue and wisdom, one's magical powers could end up dragging one to hell! (Possibly.) On the
other hand. one could use them exclusively for good instead, and help one's fellow beings. But still,
unless one had entered the stream, sounds like a risky place to be.
I recall reading that in the ancient 'Mystery Schools', knowledge was guarded and not revealed to just anyone, for that very reason - to keep unworthy or immoral persons from having access to potentially destructive powers. I can see a parallel with Buddhist practice, in that one's samadhi should be informed by the other seven limbs of the Path, and not attempted in isolation, merely for the sake of 'blissing out' or whatever. If it's not done with right view, it won't be noble right samadhi. (As I currently understand it):
The Blessed One said: "Now what, monks, is noble right concentration with its supports & requisite conditions? Any singleness of mind equipped with these seven factors — right view, right resolve, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, & right mindfulness — is called noble right concentration with its supports & requisite conditions.
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka ... .than.html
Metta