Marjorie Cameron

Marjorie Cameron Parsons Kimmel (April 23, 1922 – June 24, 1995), who professionally used the name Cameron, was an American artist, occultist, actress, and poet. She is primarily known for her involvement in the Thelemic community and her marriage to Jack Parsons, a pioneering rocket engineer and fellow occultist.

Early Life

Cameron was born in Belle Plaine, Iowa. She grew up in a strict religious household, which she later rebelled against. During World War II, she served in the United States Navy as a cartographer.

Involvement with Thelema

After the war, Cameron moved to Pasadena, California, where she met Jack Parsons, a prominent figure in the Thelemic community and a co-founder of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Parsons believed Cameron to be the "Elemental Woman" he had invoked in his Babalon Working rituals, which were intended to bring about the incarnation of the Thelemic goddess Babalon.

Marriage to Jack Parsons

Cameron and Parsons married in 1946. Their relationship was intense and deeply intertwined with their shared occult practices. After Parsons' death in 1952, Cameron continued to be involved in the occult community and maintained her artistic pursuits.

Artistic Career

Cameron was a multifaceted artist, working in various mediums including painting, drawing, and film. Her work often explored themes of mysticism, sexuality, and the occult. She was associated with the Beat Generation and was friends with notable figures such as Kenneth Anger and Wallace Berman.

Acting Career

Cameron appeared in several avant-garde films, most notably Kenneth Anger's Inauguration of the Pleasure Dome (1954), where she played the role of the Scarlet Woman. Her performances were often imbued with her occult beliefs and practices.

Later Life and Legacy

In her later years, Cameron continued to create art and write poetry. She became a respected figure in the occult community and was seen as a living embodiment of the Thelemic principles she espoused. Cameron passed away on June 24, 1995, in Los Angeles, California.

Influence and Recognition

Cameron's work and life have been the subject of various exhibitions and retrospectives. She is remembered as a pioneering figure in the intersection of art and the occult, and her influence continues to be felt in both fields.

See Also

• Thelema
• Jack Parsons (rocket engineer)
• Babalon Working
• Kenneth Anger
• Beat Generation