220A3-2.ASC 20. There is here a perception of the profound law which opposes thought to ac
220A3-2.ASC
20. There is here a perception of the profound law which
opposes thought to action. We act, when we act aright, upon
the instructive wisdom inherited from the ages. Our ancestors
survived because they were able to adapt themselves to their
environment; their rival failed to breed, and so `good'
qualities are transmitted, while `bad' are sterile. Thus the
race-thought, subconscious, tells a man that he must have a
son, cost what it may. Rome was founded on the rape of the
Sabine women. Would a reasoner have advocated that rape? Was
it `justice' or `mercy' or `morality' or `Christianity'.
There is much on the ethics of this point in Chapter II of
this Book. Thomas Henry Huxley in his essay `Ethics and
Evolution' pointed out the antithesis between these two
ideas; and concluded that Evolution was bound to beat Ethics
in the long run. He was apparently unable to see, or
unwilling to admit, that his argument proved Ethics (as
understood by Victorians) to be false. The Ethics of Liber
Legis are those of Evolution itself. We are only fools if we
interfere. Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the Law,
biologically as well as in every other way. Let us take an
example. I am an antivaccinationist in a sense which every
other antivaccinationist would repudiate. I admit that
vaccination protects from small-pox. The weak would die; the
strong might have pitted faces; but the race would become
immune to the disease in a few generations. On somewhat
similar lines, I would advocate, with Samuel Butler, the
destruction of all machinery. (I admit the practical
difficulties of defining the limits of legitimate devices.
The issue is this: how are we to develop human skill? The
printing press is admirable in the hands of an Aldus, a
Charles T. Jacobi, or even a William Morris. But the cheap
mechanical printing of luetic rubbish on rotten pulp with
worn types in inferior ink has destroyed the eyesight,
putrefied the mind, and deluded the passions, of the
multitude). For machines are dodges for avoiding Hard Work;
and Hard Work is the salvation of the race. In the
Time-Machine, H.G. Wells draws an admirable picture of a
dichotomized humanity, one branch etiolated and inane, the
other brutalized and automatic. Machines have already nearly
completed the destruction of individual craftmanship. a man
is no longer a worker, but a machine-feeder. The product is
standardized; the result mediocrity. Nobody can obtain What
He Will; he must be content with what knavery puts on the
market. Instead of every man and every woman being a star, we
have an amorphous pullulation of Vermin.
21. Verses 21 - 31 seem to refer to the rites of public
worship of Ra-Hoor-Khuit. The word `Set' is curious -- is
there here a reference to Set the God? With regard to the
Old Comment, I did indeed find an image of the kind implied.
But there seems no special importance in this. I am inclined
to see some deeper significance in this passage. There has
elsewhere been reference to the words `not', `one', `Thou
knowest'. The word `easy' is moreover suggestive of some
mystery; it is used in the same doubtfully intelligible sense
in verse 40.
22. There are to be no regular temples of Nuith and Hadit,
for they are incommensurables and absolutes. Our religion
therefore, for the People, is the Cult of the Sun, who is our
particular star of the Body of Nuit, from whom, in the
strictest scientific sense, come this earth, a chilled spark
of Him, and all our Light and Life. His vice-regent and
representative in the animal kingdom is His cognate symbol
the Phallus, representing Love and Liberty. Ra-Hoor Khuit,
like all true Gods, is therefore a Solar-Phallic deity. But
we regard Him as He is in truth, eternal; the Solar-Phallic
deities of the old Aeon, such as Osiris, `Christ', Hiram,
Adonis, Hercules, &c., were supposed, through our ignorance
of the Cosmos, to `die' and rise again'. Thus we celebrated
rites of `crucifixion' and so on, which have now become
meaningless. Ra-Hoor-Khuit is the Crowned and Conquering
Child. This is also a reference to the `Crowned' and
Conquering `Child' in ourselves, our own personal God. Except
ye become as little children, said `Christ', ye shall not
enter into the Kingdom of God. The Kingdom of Malkuth, the
Virgin Bride, and the Child is the Dwarf-Self, the Phallic
consciousness, which is the true life of Man, beyond his
`veils' of incarnation. We have to thank Freud -- and
especially Jung -- for stating this part of the Magical
Doctrine so plainly, as also for their development of the
connexion of the Will of this `child' with the True or
Unconscious Will, and so for clarifying our doctrine of the
`silent self' or `Holy Guardian Angel'. They are of course
totally ignorant of magical phenomena, and could hardly
explain even such terms as `Augoeides'; and they are
seriously to blame for not stating more openly that this True
Will is not to be daunted or suppressed; but within their
limits they have done excellent work.
23. Meal: ordinary wheaten flour. Leavings: the `beewing'
of port should be good. Oil of Abramelin: take eight parts
of oil of cinnamon, four of oil of myrrh, two of oil of
galangal, seven of olive oil.
24. A: menstrual blood. B: possibly `dragon's blood'.
These two kinds of `blood' are not to be confused. The
student should be able to discover the sense of this passage
by recollecting the Qabalistic statement that `The blood is
the life', consulting Book 4 Part III, and applying the
knowledge which reposes in the Sanctuary of the Gnosis of the
Ninth Degree of O.T.O. The `child' is `BABALON and THE BEAST
conjoined, the SEcret Saviour', that is, the Being symbolized
by the Egg and Serpent hieroglyph of the Phoenician adepts.
The second kind is also a form of BAPHOMET, but differs from
the `child' in that it is the Lion-Serpent in its original
form. The process of softening and smoothing down is thus in
this case that of vitalizing the Eagle. It is inadvisable to
word this explanation, in terms too intelligible to the
profane, since uninitiated attempts to make use of the
formidable arcana of Magick presented in this passage could
lead only to the most fulminating and irremediable disaster.
25. These Beetles, which appeared with amazing suddeness
in countless numbers at Boleskine during the summer of 1904
E.V. were distinguished by a long siggle `horn'; the species
was new to the naturalists in London to whom specimens were
sent for classification.
26. See Liber 418, First Aethyr, final paragraphs.
27. The word `lust' is not necessarily to be taken in the
sense familiar to Puritans. It means robustness, `merriment'
as of old understood: the Germans have retained the proper
force of the term in `lustig'. But even the English retain
`lusty'. The Puritan is undoubtedly a marvel. He has even
succeeded in attaching a foul connotation to a colourless
word like `certain' -- `In a section of the city with a
certain reputation women of a certain class suffering from
certain diseases are charged with performing certain acts' is
a common enough item in the newspapers. It allows the fullest
play to the dirtiest imaginations -- which appears to be the
aim of the societies for the Suppression of Vice, and their
like.
29. It is not altogether clear whether the beetles or the
Cakes are referred to in this strange passage. The proper way
to discover the truth of this is to experiment. There is a
considerable amount of evidence in my possession which throws
light upon this part of the chapter; but no important purpose
would be served by producing it at present. These are
circumstances when apparent frankness defeats its own ends as
well as those of policy.
30. There is now such an altar as described; and the due
rites are performed daily thereupon.(An XVI, In ).
31. I do not know whether this is to be taken in a
practical sense. The obvious meaning of `from the West' is
an Egyptian document would be `from the House of the Dead'.
Alternatively, there may be a reference to the name of the
person in question. I feel convinced that some event will
occur to fit the passage with unmistakeable accuracy. (I
write this in AN XVII in .)
33. It suggests self, that the foregoing verses may have
been already fulfilled in some manner which my feeble
understanding of the chapter has failed hitherto to identify.
34. This prophecy, relating to centuries to come, does not
concern the present writer at the moment. Yet he must expound
it. The Hierarchy of the Egyptians gives us this genealogy:
Isis, Osiris, Horus. Note the close connexion between Leo
and Libra in the Tarot, the numbers VIII and XI of their
Trumps being interchanged with XI and VIII. THere is no such
violent antithesis as that between Osiris and Horus; Strength
will prepare the Reign of Justice. We should begin already,
as I deem, to regard this Justice as the Ideal whose Way we
should make ready, by virtue of our Force and Fire. Taking
the `holy Place' to be Boleskine House, it has already been
subjected to a sort of destruction. It was presented by me to
the O.T.O. and sold in order to obtain funds for the
publication of The Equinox Volume III. But the proceeds of
the sale were mostly stolen by the then Grand Treasurer
General of the Order, one George MacNie Cowie, who became
obsessed by the vulgarest form of hate against the Germans,
despite my warnings, with reference to verse 59 of this
chapter. He became insane, and behaved with the blackest
treachery, this theft being but a small portion of his
infamies. The incident was necessary to my own initiation.
Hrumachis is the Dawning Sun; he therefore symbolizes any new
course of events. The `double-wanded one' is `Thmaist of dual
form as Thmais and Thmait', from whom the Greeks derived
their Themis, goddess of Justice. The student may refer to
The Equinox Vol. I., No2, pages 244-261. Thmaist is the
Hegemon, who bears a mitre-headed sceptre, like that of
Joshua in the Royal Arch Degree of Freemasonry. He is the
third officer in rank in the Neophyte Ritual of the G. D. ,
following Horus as Horus follows Osiris. He can then assume
the `throne and place' of the Ruler of the Temple when the
`Equinox of Horus' comes to an end. The rimed section of
this verse is singularly impressive and sublime. We may
observe that the details of the ritual of changing officers
are the same on every occasion. We may therefore deduce that
the description applies to this `Equinox of the Gods' itself.
How have the conditions been fulfilled? The introduction to
Book 4, Part IV tells us. We may briefly remind the reader of
the principal events, arranging them in the form of a rubric,
and placing against each the corresponding magical acts of
the Equinox previous to ours, as they are symbolized in the
legends of Osiris, Dionysus, Jesus, Attis, Adonis, and
others. TABLE FOLLOWS. It may be presumptuous to predict
any details concerning the next Aeon after this.
35. Heru-ra-ha combines the ideas of Horus (cf. also `the
great angel Hru' who is set over the Book of Tahuti; see
Liber LXXVIII) with those of Ra and Spirit. For is the
Atziluthic or archetypal spelling of He, the Holy Ghost. And
Ha=6, the number of the Sun. He is also Nuith, H being Her
letter. THe language suggests that Heru Ra Ha is the `true
Name' of the Unity who is symbolized by the Twins Harpocrates
and Horus. Note that the Twin Sign -- and the Child Sign --
is Gemini, whose letter is Zain, a sword. The doctrine of
the dual character of the God is very important to a proper
understanding of Him. `The Sign of the Enterer is always to
be followed immediately by the Sign of Silence': such is the
imperative injunction to the Neophyte. In Book 4 the
necessity for this is explained fully.
36. This passage now following appears to be a dramatic
presentation of the scene shown in the Stele. The
interpretation is to be that Ankh-f-n-Khonsu recorded for my
benefit the details of the Magical Formula of Ra Hoor Khuit.
To link together the centuries in this manner is nothing
strange to the accomplished Magician; but in view of the true
character of Time as it appears to the Adept in Mysticism,
the riddle vanishes altogether.
37. Stanza 3 suggests the Rosicrucian Benediction: May thy
Mind be open unto the Higher! May thy Heart be the Centre of
Light! May thy Body be the Temple of the Rosy Cross!
38. See the translation of the Stele in the Introduction
to Book 4 Part IV. Note the Four Quarters or Four Solar
Stations Enumerated in lines 3 and 4 of the first Stanza, and
compare the ritual given in Liber Samekh. (Book 4 Part III,
Appendix).
39. This account is published with this comment itself.
The present volume is thus the obedience to this command.
`At them' may mean `at their house', that is, one must give
when one recognizes any one as a potential king by accepting
his hospitality. An alternative meaning is `in their honour'.
40. I am less annoyed with myself than when I wrote the
`Old Comment', but not wholly content. How is one to write a
comment? For whom? One has more than the difficulties of the
lexicographer. Each new Postulant presents new problems; the
degrees and kinds of their ignorance are no less numerous
than they. I am always finding myself, sailing along joyously
for several months in the belief that my teaching is helping
somebody, suddenly awakened to the fact that I have made
noway whatever, owing to the object of my solicitude having
omitted to learn that Julius Caesar conquered Gaul, or
something of the sort, which I had assumed to be a matter of
universal Knowledge.
41. It is being done now.
42. `Ordeals': refer to the Comment on Chapter I, verses
32 seq. `Traitors': see Liber 418: 1st Aethyer. I quote: --
Mighty, mighty, mighty, mighty; yea, thrice and four times
mighty art thou. He that riseth up against thee shall be
thrown down, though thou raise not so much as thy little
finger against him. and he that speaketh evil against thee
shall be put to shame, though thy lips utter not the littlest
syllable against him. and he that thinketh evil concerning
thee shall be confounded in his thought, although in thy mind
arise not the least thought of him. And they shall be brought
into subjection unto thee, and serve thee, though thou
willest it not. And it shall be unto them a grace and a
sacrament, and ye shall all sit down together at the supernal
banquet, and ye shall feast upon the honey of the gods, and
be drunk upon the dew of immortality -- FOR I AM HORUS, THE
CROWNED AND CONQUERING CHILD, WHOM THOU KNEWEST NOT!
43. 43-45. The two latter verses have become useless, so
far as regards the person first indicated to fill the office
of `Scarlet Woman'. In her case the prophecy of v.43 has been
most terribly fulfilled, to the letter; except the last
paragraph. Perhaps before the publication of this comment the
final catastrophe will have occurred. ( in 20 , An V.)
It or an even more terrible equivalent is now in progress. (
in , An VII.) (P.S. -- I sealed up the MSS of this comment
and posted it to the printer on my way to the Golf Club at
Hoylake. On my arrival at the Club, I found a letter awaiting
me which stated that the catastrophe had occurred). Let the
next upon whom the cloak may fall beware!
45. It is impossible to discuss such passages as these
until time has funished the perspective. The accounts of
certain magical experiments in this line will be found in
`The Urn.' This `child' is not necessarily to be identified
with him who `shall discover the key of it all.'
46. Forty is Mem, Water, the Hanged Man; and Eighty is Pe,
Mars, the blasted Tower. These Trumps refer respectively to
the `Destruction of the World by Water' and `by Fire.' The
meaning of these phrases is to be studied in my Rituals of
Magick, such as Book 4, Parts II & III. Its general purport
is that He is master of both types of Force. I am inclined to
opine that there is a simpler and deeper sense in the text
than I have so far disclosed. `at your arms' is a curious
turn of phrase. There may be some cryptographic implication,
or there may not; at least, there is this, that the use of
such un- English expressions makes a clear-cut distinction
between AIWAZ and the Scribe. In the inspired Books, such as
Liber LXV, VII, DCCXIII and others, written by The Beast 666
directly, not from dictation, no such awkward expressions are
to be found. The style shows a well-marked difference.
No Number I am now (An XIV in ) a Magus 9 = 2 ; and
I agree with the former comment. He need only be a Magister
Templi 8 = 3 , whose world is Understanding. `one cometh
after him:' `one,' i.e. Achad. See Appendix for this and
other points of this most `evidential' verse. `the Key of it
all:' all, i.e. AL 3 the Key! See MS for allusion to the
`line drawn' and the `circle squared in its failure.' The
attribution (in the Old Comment) of the letters to those of
the Book of Enoch is unsupported.
49. The evident interpretation of this is to take the word
to be `Do what thou wilt,' which is a secret word, because
its meaning for every man is his own inmost secret. And it is
the most profound blasphemy possible against all `gods of
men,' because it makes every man his own God. We may then
take it that this Solar-Phallic Ra Ha is Each Man Himself. As
each independent cell in our bodies is to us, so is each of
us to Heru-Ra-Ha. Each man`s `child'-consciousness is a Star
in the Cosmos of the Sun, as the Sun is a Star in the Cosmos
of Nuith.
51. We are to consider carefully the particular attach of
Heru Ra Ha against each of these `gods' or prophets; for
though they be, or represent, the Magi of the past, the curse
of their Grade must consume them. Thus it is the eyes of
`Jesus' -- his point of view -- that must be destroyed; and
this point of view is wrong because of his Magical Gesture of
self-sacrifice. One must not for a moment suppose that this
verse supports the historicity of `Jesus.' `Jesus' is not,
and never was, a man; but he was a `god,' just as a bundle of
old rags and a kerosene tin on a bush may be a `god.' There
is a man-made idea, built of ignorance, fear, and meanness,
for the most part, which we call `Jesus,' and which has been
tricked out from time to time with various gauds from
Paganism, and Judaism. The subject of `Jesus' is, most
unfortunately, too extensive for a note; it is treated fully
in my book 888.
52. Mohammed's point of view is wrong too; but he needs no
such sharp correction as `Jesus.' It is his face -- his
outward semblance -- that is to be covered with His wings.
The tenets of Islam, correctly interpreted, are not far from
our Way of Life and Light and Love and Liberty. This applies
especially to the secret tenets. The external creed is mere
nonsense suited to the intelligence of the peoples among whom
it was promulgated; but even so, Islam is Magnificent in
practice. Its code is that of a man of courage and honour and
self-respect; contrasting admirably with the cringing
cowardice of the damnation-dodging Christians with their
unmanly and dishonest acceptance of vicarious sacrifice, and
their currish conception of themselves as `born in sin,'
`miserable sinners' with `no health in us.'
53. `The Indian.' The religion of Hindustan,
metaphysically and mystically comprehensive enough to assure
itself the possession of much truth, is in practice almost as
superstitious and false as christianity, a faith of slaves,
liars and dastards. The same remarks apply roughly to
Buddhism. `Mongol:' presumably the reference is to
Confucianism, whose metaphysical and ethical flawlessness has
not saved its adherents from losing those ruder virtues which
are proper to a Fighting Animal, and thus yielding at last a
civilization coeval with history itself to the barbarous
tribes of Europe. `Din' -- `severity' or `judgment' may
refer to the Jewish Law, rather than to the Faith (ad `din')
of Islam. Assuming this, the six religions whose flesh must
be torn out cover the whole globe outside Islam and
Christianity. Why assault their flesh rather than their
eyes, as in the other cases? Because the metaphysics, or
point of view, is correct -- I take Judaism as Qabalistic --
but the practice imperfect.
54. See Appendix. By sound Bahlasti suggests `hurling' or
`blasting;' Ompegda is not too phantastically onomatopoeitic
for `an explosion.'
55. The name Mary is connected with Mars, Mors, etc., from
the Sanskrit MR to slay;and with Mare, the Sea, whose water
opposes the Fire of Horus. I here quote a passage from Liber
XCVII which deals with this fully. `Let me strictly meditate
this hate of the mother. M R is the Sanskrit root = `Kill,'
hence Mara, Mors, Maria, and I suppose Meer, Mere, Mer -- in
short, lots of words meaning death or sea. Note Mordred as
the traitor villain in Morte d'Arthur. In Liber Legis we have
`Mary' who is to be `torn upon wheels' apparently because she
is `inviolate.' Liber 418 has some explanation of this:
`because she hath shut herself up', I seem to remember is the
phrase. It appears (I don't remember the Sanskrit as if a
dental T or D were inserted phallically to give us Madar,
Mater, Mother, (? meter = measure.) Does the accent in mere
conceal a lost dental? I suppose Jung or Freud has this all
worked out in detail. I have thought this before, long ago,
but can't get a satisfactory Qabalah. 240 is a doubling of
the Pentagram, of course, and is a sixfold of 40, the number
of repressive `sealed-up' law. By our R.O.T.A., M R is the
Sea swallowing the Sun, and the insertion of a Tau would help
this in a certain formula of `He lives in the Sun.' But that
would only boost the Mother, which won't do, for she is the
Tomb, the Eater of Flesh, and there's no getting away from
it. But apparently she is all right just so far as she is
open, to enter or leave at one's pleasure, the Gateway of
Eternal Life.
E-Mail Fredric L. Rice / The Skeptic Tank