Marjorie Cameron
Encyclopedia
Marjorie Cameron Parsons Kimmel (1922-1995) was an artist, occultist, actress, and wife of rocket pioneer and occultist Jack Parsons. Cameron played a major role in the 1946 Babalon Working
ritual.
, Iowa
, and graduated from Davenport High School in 1940. She enlisted in the Navy and served drawing maps and working with photographs.
Cameron left the Navy after World War Two and moved to Pasadena
where she met Parsons after he performed the Babalon Working
, an occult rite to manifest the Goddess potential in society and throughout the human race. He said that she was at his home when he returned, and he believed her to be the entity he and L. Ron Hubbard
had conjured. Cameron identified herself with the Scarlet Woman
, as did those around her.
After further magical workings together, Parsons, Hubbard and Cameron felt that they had conceived a Moonchild, as described in the novel of the same name by Aleister Crowley, although no physical child was born. They were referring to a spiritual entity. Cameron said that she had an abortion after conceiving a child within two weeks of meeting Parsons, so clearly a physical child was not the aim. Aleister Crowley
thought that their workings were idiocy (although he never met Cameron), and some believers feel that Parsons, Hubbard, and Cameron had unleashed a magical force on the world, the goddess Babalon
. Paradoxically, at times Cameron herself was referred to as an incarnation of Babalon
by Parsons, and later claimed this identity for herself, saying she had given birth to a spiritual child.
She played a prominent role in Kenneth Anger
's film Inauguration of the Pleasure Dome
, again as the Scarlet Woman. She also appeared in the films of Curtis Harrington
, including his 1955 documentary, The Wormwood Star, which focused on Cameron and her artwork, and Night Tide
(1961).
Babalon Working
The Babalon Working was a series of magic ceremonies or rituals commenced on March 2, 1946 by author, pioneer rocket-fuel scientist, and occultist Jack Parsons, essentially designed to manifest an individual incarnation of the archetypal divine feminine called Babalon, as well as to catalyze the...
ritual.
Biography
Cameron was born in 1922 in Belle PlaineBelle Plaine, Iowa
Belle Plaine is a city in Benton County, Iowa, United States. The population was 2,878 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Cedar Rapids Metropolitan Statistical Area....
, Iowa
Iowa
Iowa is a state located in the Midwestern United States, an area often referred to as the "American Heartland". It derives its name from the Ioway people, one of the many American Indian tribes that occupied the state at the time of European exploration. Iowa was a part of the French colony of New...
, and graduated from Davenport High School in 1940. She enlisted in the Navy and served drawing maps and working with photographs.
Cameron left the Navy after World War Two and moved to Pasadena
Pasadena, California
Pasadena is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. Although famous for hosting the annual Rose Bowl football game and Tournament of Roses Parade, Pasadena is the home to many scientific and cultural institutions, including the California Institute of Technology , the Jet...
where she met Parsons after he performed the Babalon Working
Babalon Working
The Babalon Working was a series of magic ceremonies or rituals commenced on March 2, 1946 by author, pioneer rocket-fuel scientist, and occultist Jack Parsons, essentially designed to manifest an individual incarnation of the archetypal divine feminine called Babalon, as well as to catalyze the...
, an occult rite to manifest the Goddess potential in society and throughout the human race. He said that she was at his home when he returned, and he believed her to be the entity he and L. Ron Hubbard
L. Ron Hubbard
Lafayette Ronald Hubbard , better known as L. Ron Hubbard , was an American pulp fiction author and religious leader who founded the Church of Scientology...
had conjured. Cameron identified herself with the Scarlet Woman
Babalon
Babalon—also known as The Scarlet Woman, The Great Mother, or the Mother of Abominations—is a goddess found in the mystical system of Thelema, which was established in 1904 with English author and occultist Aleister Crowley's writing of The Book of the Law...
, as did those around her.
After further magical workings together, Parsons, Hubbard and Cameron felt that they had conceived a Moonchild, as described in the novel of the same name by Aleister Crowley, although no physical child was born. They were referring to a spiritual entity. Cameron said that she had an abortion after conceiving a child within two weeks of meeting Parsons, so clearly a physical child was not the aim. Aleister Crowley
Aleister Crowley
Aleister Crowley , born Edward Alexander Crowley, and also known as both Frater Perdurabo and The Great Beast, was an influential English occultist, astrologer, mystic and ceremonial magician, responsible for founding the religious philosophy of Thelema. He was also successful in various other...
thought that their workings were idiocy (although he never met Cameron), and some believers feel that Parsons, Hubbard, and Cameron had unleashed a magical force on the world, the goddess Babalon
Babalon
Babalon—also known as The Scarlet Woman, The Great Mother, or the Mother of Abominations—is a goddess found in the mystical system of Thelema, which was established in 1904 with English author and occultist Aleister Crowley's writing of The Book of the Law...
. Paradoxically, at times Cameron herself was referred to as an incarnation of Babalon
Babalon
Babalon—also known as The Scarlet Woman, The Great Mother, or the Mother of Abominations—is a goddess found in the mystical system of Thelema, which was established in 1904 with English author and occultist Aleister Crowley's writing of The Book of the Law...
by Parsons, and later claimed this identity for herself, saying she had given birth to a spiritual child.
She played a prominent role in Kenneth Anger
Kenneth Anger
Kenneth Anger is an American underground experimental filmmaker, occasional actor and author...
's film Inauguration of the Pleasure Dome
Inauguration of the Pleasure Dome
Inauguration of the Pleasure Dome is a short 38 minute film by Kenneth Anger, filmed in 1954. Anger created two other versions of this film in 1966 and the late 1970s. According to Anger, the film takes the name "pleasure dome" from Samuel Taylor Coleridge's atmospheric poem Kubla Khan...
, again as the Scarlet Woman. She also appeared in the films of Curtis Harrington
Curtis Harrington
Curtis Harrington was an American film and television director whose work included experimental films, horror films, and episodic television.-Biography:...
, including his 1955 documentary, The Wormwood Star, which focused on Cameron and her artwork, and Night Tide
Night Tide
Night Tide is a 1961 thriller film, written and directed by Curtis Harrington and starring Dennis Hopper. It premiered in 1961, but was held up from general release until 1963...
(1961).