Within His skull exist daily thirteen thousand myriads of Worlds, which draw their existence from Him, and by Him are upheld. ? I.R.Q. iii. 43.
0.
Let the Practicus study the textbooks of astronomy, travel, if need be, to a land where the sun and stars are visible, and observe the heavens with the best telescopes to which he may have access. Let him commit to memory the principal facts, and (at least roughly) the figures of the science.
1.
Now, since these figures will leave no direct impression with any precision upon his mind, let him adopt this practice A.
A. Let the practicus be seated before a bare square table, and let an unknown number of small similar objects be thrown by his chela from time to time upon the table, and by that chela be hastily gathered up.
Let the Practicus declare at the glance, and the chela confirm by his count, the number of such objects.
The practice should be for a quarter of an hour thrice daily. The maximum number of objects should at first be seven. This maximum should increase by one at each practice, provided that not a single mistake is made by the Practicus in appreciating the number thrown.
This practice should continue assiduously for at least one year.
The quickness of the chela in gathering up the objects is expected to increase with time. The practice need not be limited to a quarter of an hour thrice daily after a time, but increased with discretion. Care must be taken to detect the first symptoms of fatigue, and to stop, if possible, even before it threatens. The practised psychologist learns to recognise even minute hesitations that mark the forcing of the attention.
2.
Alternating with the above, let the Practicus begin this practice B. It is assumed that he has thoroughly conquered the elementary difficulties of Dharana, and is able to prevent mental pictures from altering shape, size and colour against his will.
B. Seated in the open air, let him endeavour to form a complete mental picture of himself and his immediate surroundings. It is important that he should be in the centre of such picture, and able to look freely in all directions. the finished picture should be a complete consciousness of the whole fixed, clear, and definite.
Let him gradually add to this picture by including objects more and more distant, until he have an image of the whole field of vision.
He will probably discover that it is very difficult to increase the apparent size of the picture as he proceeds, and it should be his most earnest endeavour to do so. he should seek in particular to appreciate distances, almost to the point of combatting the laws of perspective.
3.
These practices A and B accomplished, and his studies in astronomy completed, let him attempt this practice C.
C. Let the Practicus form a mental picture of the Earth, in particular striving to realize the size of the Earth in comparison with himself, and let him not be content until by assiduity he has well succeeded.
Let him add the moon, keeping well in mind the relative sizes of, and the distance between, the planet and its satellite.
He will probably find the final trick of the mind to be a constant disappearance of the image, and the appearance of the same upon a smaller scale. This trick he must outwit by constancy of endeavour.
He will then in add in turn Venus, Mars, Mercury and the Sun.
It is permissible at this stage to change the point of view to the centre of the Sun, and to do so may add stability to the conception.
The Practicus may then a the Asteroids, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune. The utmost attention to detail is now necessary, as the picture is highly complex, apart from the difficulty of appreciating relative size and distance.
Let this picture be practised month after month until it is absolutely perfect. The tendency which may manifest itself to pass into Dhyana and Samadhi must be resolutely combated with the whole strength of the mind.
Let the Practicus then re-commence the picture, starting from the Sun, and adding the planets one by one, each with its proper motion, until he have an image perfect in all respect of the Solar System as it actually exists. Let him particularly note that unless the apparent size approximate to the real, his practice is wasted. Let him then add a comet to the picture; he may find, perhaps that the path of this comet may assist him to expand the sphere of his mental vision until it include a star.
And thus, gathering one star after another, let his contemplation become vast as the heaven, in space and time ever aspiring to the perception of the Body of Nuit; yea, the Body of Nuit.
Liber AL vel Legis sub figura CCXX
as delivered by XCIII = 418 to DCLXVI
A.·.A.·. Publication in Class A
Chapter III
1.
Abrahadabra; the reward of Ra Hoor Khut.
2.
There is division hither homeward; there is a word not known. Spelling is defunct; all is not aught. Beware! Hold! Raise the spell of Ra-Hoor-Khuit!
3.
Now let it be first understood that I am a god of War and of Vengeance. I shall deal hardly with them.
4.
Choose ye an island!
5.
Fortify it!
6.
Dung it about with enginery of war!
7.
I will give you a war-engine.
8.
With it ye shall smite the peoples; and none shall stand before you.
9.
Lurk! Withdraw! Upon them! this is the Law of the Battle of Conquest: thus shall my worship be about my secret house.
10.
Get the stele of revealing itself; set it in thy secret temple — and that temple is already aright disposed — & it shall be your Kiblah for ever. It shall not fade, but miraculous colour shall come back to it day after day. Close it in locked glass for a proof to the world.
11.
This shall be your only proof. I forbid argument. Conquer! That is enough. I will make easy to you the abstruction from the ill-ordered house in the Victorious City. Thou shalt thyself convey it with worship, o prophet, though thou likest it not. Thou shalt have danger & trouble. Ra-Hoor-Khu is with thee. Worship me with fire & blood; worship me with swords & with spears. Let the woman be girt with a sword before me: let blood flow to my name. Trample down the Heathen; be upon them, o warrior, I will give you of their flesh to eat!
12.
Sacrifice cattle, little and big: after a child.
13.
But not now.
14.
Ye shall see that hour, o blessed Beast, and thou the Scarlet Concubine of his desire!
15.
Ye shall be sad thereof.
16.
Deem not too eagerly to catch the promises; fear not to undergo the curses. Ye, even ye, know not this meaning all.
17.
Fear not at all; fear neither men nor Fates, nor gods, nor anything. Money fear not, nor laughter of the folk folly, nor any other power in heaven or upon the earth or under the earth. Nu is your refuge as Hadit your light; and I am the strength, force, vigour, of your arms.
18.
Mercy let be off; damn them who pity! Kill and torture; spare not; be upon them!
19.
That stele they shall call the Abomination of Desolation; count well its name, & it shall be to you as 718.
20.
Why? Because of the fall of Because, that he is not there again.
21.
Set up my image in the East: thou shalt buy thee an image which I will show thee, especial, not unlike the one thou knowest. And it shall be suddenly easy for thee to do this.
22.
The other images group around me to support me: let all be worshipped, for they shall cluster to exalt me. I am the visible object of worship; the others are secret; for the Beast & his Bride are they: and for the winners of the Ordeal x. What is this? Thou shalt know.
23.
For perfume mix meal & honey & thick leavings of red wine: then oil of Abramelin and olive oil, and afterward soften & smooth down with rich fresh blood.
24.
The best blood is of the moon, monthly: then the fresh blood of a child, or dropping from the host of heaven: then of enemies; then of the priest or of the worshippers: last of some beast, no matter what.
25.
This burn: of this make cakes & eat unto me. This hath also another use; let it be laid before me, and kept thick with perfumes of your orison: it shall become full of beetles as it were and creeping things sacred unto me.
26.
These slay, naming your enemies; & they shall fall before you.
27.
Also these shall breed lust & power of lust in you at the eating thereof.
28.
Also ye shall be strong in war.
29.
Moreover, be they long kept, it is better; for they swell with my force. All before me.
30.
My altar is of open brass work: burn thereon in silver or gold!
31.
There cometh a rich man from the West who shall pour his gold upon thee.
32.
From gold forge steel!
33.
Be ready to fly or to smite!
34.
But your holy place shall be untouched throughout the centuries: though with fire and sword it be burnt down & shattered, yet an invisible house there standeth, and shall stand until the fall of the Great Equinox; when Hrumachis shall arise and the double-wanded one assume my throne and place. Another prophet shall arise, and bring fresh fever from the skies; another woman shall awakethe lust & worship of the Snake; another soul of God and beast shall mingle in the globed priest; another sacrifice shall stain the tomb; another king shall reign; and blessing no longer be poured To the Hawk-headed mystical Lord!
35.
The half of the word of Heru-ra-ha, called Hoor-pa-kraat and Ra-Hoor-Khut.
36.
Then said the prophet unto the God:
37.
I adore thee in the song —
I am the Lord of Thebes, and I
The inspired forth-speaker of Mentu;
For me unveils the veiled sky,
The self-slain Ankh-af-na-khonsu
Whose words are truth. I invoke, I greet
Thy presence, O Ra-Hoor-Khuit!
Unity uttermost showed!
I adore the might of Thy breath,
Supreme and terrible God,
Who makest the gods and death
To tremble before Thee:—
I, I adore thee!
Appear on the throne of Ra!
Open the ways of the Khu!
Lighten the ways of the Ka!
The ways of the Khabs run through
To stir me or still me!
Aum! let it fill me!
38.
So that thy light is in me; & its red flame is as a sword in my hand to push thy order. There is a secret door that I shall make to establish thy way in all the quarters, (these are the adorations, as thou hast written), as it is said:
The light is mine; its rays consume
Me: I have made a secret door
Into the House of Ra and Tum,
Of Khephra and of Ahathoor.
I am thy Theban, O Mentu,
The prophet Ankh-af-na-khonsu!
By Bes-na-Maut my breast I beat;
By wise Ta-Nech I weave my spell.
Show thy star-splendour, O Nuit!
Bid me within thine House to dwell,
O wingèd snake of light, Hadit!
Abide with me, Ra-Hoor-Khuit!
39.
All this and a book to say how thou didst come hither and a reproduction of this ink and paper for ever — for in it is the word secret & not only in the English — and thy comment upon this the Book of the Law shall be printed beautifully in red ink and black upon beautiful paper made by hand; and to each man and woman that thou meetest, were it but to dine or to drink at them, it is the Law to give. Then they shall chance to abide in this bliss or no; it is no odds. Do this quickly!
40.
But the work of the comment? That is easy; and Hadit burning in thy heart shall make swift and secure thy pen.
41.
Establish at thy Kaaba a clerk-house: all must be done well and with business way.
42.
The ordeals thou shalt oversee thyself, save only the blind ones. Refuse none, but thou shalt know & destroy the traitors. I am Ra-Hoor-Khuit; and I am powerful to protect my servant. Success is thy proof: argue not; convert not; talk not over much! Them that seek to entrap thee, to overthrow thee, them attack without pity or quarter; & destroy them utterly. Swift as a trodden serpent turn and strike! Be thou yet deadlier than he! Drag down their souls to awful torment: laugh at their fear: spit upon them!
43.
Let the Scarlet Woman beware! If pity and compassion and tenderness visit her heart; if she leave my work to toy with old sweetnesses; then shall my vengeance be known. I will slay me her child: I will alienate her heart: I will cast her out from men: as a shrinking and despised harlot shall she crawl through dusk wet streets, and die cold and an-hungered.
44.
But let her raise herself in pride! Let her follow me in my way! Let her work the work of wickedness! Let her kill her heart! Let her be loud and adulterous! Let her be covered with jewels, and rich garments, and let her be shameless before all men!
45.
Then will I lift her to pinnacles of power: then will I breed from her a child mightier than all the kings of the earth. I will fill her with joy: with my force shall she see & strike at the worship of Nu: she shall achieve Hadit.
46.
I am the warrior Lord of the Forties: the Eighties cower before me, & are abased. I will bring you to victory & joy: I will be at your arms in battle & ye shall delight to slay. Success is your proof; courage is your armour; go on, go on, in my strength; & ye shall turn not back for any!
47.
This book shall be translated into all tongues: but always with the original in the writing of the Beast; for in the chance shape of the letters and their position to one another: in these are mysteries that no Beast shall divine. Let him not seek to try: but one cometh after him, whence I say not, who shall discover the Key of it all. Then this line drawn is a key: then this circle squared in its failure is a key also. And Abrahadabra. It shall be his child & that strangely. Let him not seek after this; for thereby alone can he fall from it.
48.
Now this mystery of the letters is done, and I want to go on to the holier place.
49.
I am in a secret fourfold word, the blasphemy against all gods of men.
50.
Curse them! Curse them! Curse them!
51.
With my Hawk's head I peck at the eyes of Jesus as he hangs upon the cross.
52.
I flap my wings in the face of Mohammed & blind him.
53.
With my claws I tear out the flesh of the Indian and the Buddhist, Mongol and Din.
54.
Bahlasti! Ompehda! I spit on your crapulous creeds.
55.
Let Mary inviolate be torn upon wheels: for her sake let all chaste women be utterly despised among you!
56.
Also for beauty's sake and love's!
57.
Despise also all cowards; professional soldiers who dare not fight, but play; all fools despise!
58.
But the keen and the proud, the royal and the lofty; ye are brothers!
59.
As brothers fight ye!
60.
There is no law beyond Do what thou wilt.
61.
There is an end of the word of the God enthroned in Ra's seat, lightening the girders of the soul.
62.
To Me do ye reverence! to me come ye through tribulation of ordeal, which is bliss.
63.
The fool readeth this Book of the Law, and its comment; & he understandeth it not.
64.
Let him come through the first ordeal, & it will be to him as silver.
65.
Through the second, gold.
66.
Through the third, stones of precious water.
67.
Through the fourth, ultimate sparks of the intimate fire.
68.
Yet to all it shall seem beautiful. Its enemies who say not so, are mere liars.
69.
There is success.
70.
I am the Hawk-Headed Lord of Silence & of Strength; my nemyss shrouds the night-blue sky.
71.
Hail! ye twin warriors about the pillars of the world! for your time is nigh at hand.
72.
I am the Lord of the Double Wand of Power; the wand of the Force of Coph Nia—but my left hand is empty, for I have crushed an Universe; & nought remains.
73.
Paste the sheets from right to left and from top to bottom: then behold!
74.
There is a splendour in my name hidden and glorious, as the sun of midnight is ever the son.
75.
The ending of the words is the Word Abrahadabra.
The Book of the Law is Written
and Concealed.
Aum. Ha.
Liber AL vel Legis sub figura CCXX
as delivered by XCIII = 418 to DCLXVI
A.·.A.·. Publication in Class A
Chapter II
1.
Nu! the hiding of Hadit.
2.
Come! all ye, and learn the secret that hath not yet been revealed. I, Hadit, am the complement of Nu, my bride. I am not extended, and Khabs is the name of my House.
3.
In the sphere I am everywhere the centre, as she, the circumference, is nowhere found.
4.
Yet she shall be known & I never.
5.
Behold! the rituals of the old time are black. Let the evil ones be cast away; let the good ones be purged by the prophet! Then shall this Knowledge go aright.
6.
I am the flame that burns in every heart of man, and in the core of every star. I am Life, and the giver of Life, yet therefore is theknowledge of me the knowledge of death.
7.
I am the Magician and the Exorcist. I am the axle of the wheel, and the cube in the circle. “Come unto me” is a foolish word: for it is I that go.
8.
Who worshipped Heru-pa-kraath have worshipped me; ill, for I am the worshipper.
9.
Remember all ye that existence is pure joy; that all the sorrows are but as shadows; they pass & are done; but there is that which remains.
10.
O prophet! thou hast ill will to learn this writing.
11.
I see thee hate the hand & the pen; but I am stronger.
12.
Because of me in Thee which thou knewest not.
13.
for why? Because thou wast the knower, and me.
14.
Now let there be a veiling of this shrine: now let the light devour men and eat them up with blindness!
15.
For I am perfect, being Not; and my number is nine by the fools; but with the just I am eight, and one in eight: Which is vital, for I am none indeed. The Empress and the King are not of me; for there is a further secret.
16.
I am The Empress & the Hierophant. Thus eleven, as my bride is eleven.
17.
Hear me, ye people of sighing!
The sorrows of pain and regret
Are left to the dead and the dying,
The folk that not know me as yet.
18.
These are dead, these fellows; they feel not. We are not for the poor and sad: the lords of the earth are our kinsfolk.
19.
Is a God to live in a dog? No! but the highest are of us. They shall rejoice, our chosen: who sorroweth is not of us.
20.
Beauty and strength, leaping laughter and delicious languor, force and fire, are of us.
21.
We have nothing with the outcast and the unfit: let them die in their misery. For they feel not. Compassion is the vice of kings: stamp down the wretched & the weak: this is the law of the strong: this is our law and the joy of the world. Think not, o king, upon that lie: That Thou Must Die: verily thou shalt not die, but live. Now let it be understood: If the body of the King dissolve, he shall remain in pure ecstasy for ever. Nuit! Hadit! Ra-Hoor-Khuit! The Sun, Strength & Sight, Light; these are for the servants of the Star & the Snake.
22.
I am the Snake that giveth Knowledge & Delight and bright glory, and stir the hearts of men with drunkenness. To worship me take wine and strange drugs whereof I will tell my prophet, & be drunk thereof! They shall not harm ye at all. It is a lie, this folly against self. The exposure of innocence is a lie. Be strong, o man! lust, enjoy all things of sense and rapture: fear not that any God shall deny thee for this.
23.
I am alone: there is no God where I am.
24.
Behold! these be grave mysteries; for there are also of my friends who be hermits. Now think not to find them in the forest or on the mountain; but in beds of purple, caressed by magnificent beasts of women with large limbs, and fire and light in their eyes, and masses of flaming hair about them; there shall ye find them. Ye shall see them at rule, at victorious armies, at all the joy; and there shall be in them a joy a million times greater than this. Beware lest any force another, King against King! Love one another with burning hearts; on the low men trample in the fierce lust of your pride, in the day of your wrath.
25.
Ye are against the people, O my chosen!
26.
I am the secret Serpent coiled about to spring: in my coiling there is joy. If I lift up my head, I and my Nuit are one. If I droop down mine head, and shoot forth venom, then is rapture of the earth, and I and the earth are one.
27.
There is great danger in me; for who doth not understand these runes shall make a great miss. He shall fall down into the pit called Because, and there he shall perish with the dogs of Reason.
28.
Now a curse upon Because and his kin!
29.
May Because be accursed for ever!
30.
If Will stops and cries Why, invoking Because, then Will stops & does nought.
31.
If Power asks why, then is Power weakness.
32.
Also reason is a lie; for there is a factor infinite & unknown; & all their words are skew-wise.
33.
Enough of Because! Be he damned for a dog!
34.
But ye, o my people, rise up & awake!
35.
Let the rituals be rightly performed with joy & beauty!
36.
There are rituals of the elements and feasts of the times.
37.
A feast for the first night of the Prophet and his Bride!
38.
A feast for the three days of the writing of the Book of the Law.
39.
A feast for Tahuti and the child of the Prophet—secret, O Prophet!
40.
A feast for the Supreme Ritual, and a feast for the Equinox of the Gods.
41.
A feast for fire and a feast for water; a feast for life and a greater feast for death!
42.
A feast every day in your hearts in the joy of my rapture!
43.
A feast every night unto Nu, and the pleasure of uttermost delight!
44.
Aye! feast! rejoice! there is no dread hereafter. There is the dissolution, and eternal ecstasy in the kisses of Nu.
45.
There is death for the dogs.
46.
Dost thou fail? Art thou sorry? Is fear in thine heart?
47.
Where I am these are not.
48.
Pity not the fallen! I never knew them. I am not for them. I console not: I hate the consoled & the consoler.
49.
I am unique & conqueror. I am not of the slaves that perish. Be they damned & dead! Amen. (This is of the 4: there is a fifth who is invisible, & therein am I as a babe in an egg.)
50.
Blue am I and gold in the light of my bride: but the red gleam is in my eyes; & my spangles are purple & green.
51.
Purple beyond purple: it is the light higher than eyesight.
52.
There is a veil: that veil is black. It is the veil of the modest woman; it is the veil of sorrow, & the pall of death: this is none of me. Tear down that lying spectre of the centuries: veil not your vices in virtuous words: these vices are my service; ye do well, & I will reward you here and hereafter.
53.
Fear not, o prophet, when these words are said, thou shalt not be sorry. Thou art emphatically my chosen; and blessed are the eyes that thou shalt look upon with gladness. But I will hide thee in a mask of sorrow: they that see thee shall fear thou art fallen: but I lift thee up.
54.
Nor shall they who cry aloud their folly that thou meanest nought avail; thou shall reveal it: thou availest: they are the slaves of because: They are not of me. The stops as thou wilt; the letters? change them not in style or value!
55.
Thou shalt obtain the order & value of the English Alphabet; thou shalt find new symbols to attribute them unto.
56.
Begone! ye mockers; even though ye laugh in my honour ye shall laugh not long: then when ye are sad know that I have forsaken you.
57.
He that is righteous shall be righteous still; he that is filthy shall be filthy still.
58.
Yea! deem not of change: ye shall be as ye are, & not other. Therefore the kings of the earth shall be Kings for ever: the slaves shall serve. There is none that shall be cast down or lifted up: all is ever as it was. Yet there are masked ones my servants: it may be that yonder beggar is a King. A King may choose his garment as he will: there is no certain test: but a beggar cannot hide his poverty.
59.
Beware therefore! Love all, lest perchance is a King concealed! Say you so? Fool! If he be a King, thou canst not hurt him.
60.
Therefore strike hard & low, and to hell with them, master!
61.
There is a light before thine eyes, o prophet, a light undesired, most desirable.
62.
I am uplifted in thine heart; and the kisses of the stars rain hard upon thy body.
63.
Thou art exhaust in the voluptuous fullness of the inspiration; the expiration is sweeter than death, more rapid and laughterful than a caress of Hell's own worm.
64.
Oh! thou art overcome: we are upon thee; our delight is all over thee: hail! hail: prophet of Nu! prophet of Had! prophet of Ra-Hoor-Khu! Now rejoice! now come in our splendour & rapture! Come in our passionate peace, & write sweet words for the Kings.
65.
I am the Master: thou art the Holy Chosen One.
66.
Write, & find ecstasy in writing! Work, & be our bed in working! Thrill with the joy of life & death! Ah! thy death shall be lovely: whososeeth it shall be glad. Thy death shall be the seal of the promise of our age long love. Come! lift up thine heart & rejoice! We are one; we are none.
67.
Hold! Hold! Bear up in thy rapture; fall not in swoon of the excellent kisses!
68.
Harder! Hold up thyself! Lift thine head! breathe not so deep — die!
69.
Ah! Ah! What do I feel? Is the word exhausted?
70.
There is help & hope in other spells. Wisdom says: be strong! Then canst thou bear more joy. Be not animal; refine thy rapture! If thou drink, drink by the eight and ninety rules of art: if thou love, exceed by delicacy; and if thou do aught joyous, let there be subtlety therein!
71.
But exceed! exceed!
72.
Strive ever to more! and if thou art truly mine — and doubt it not, an if thou art ever joyous! — death is the crown of all.
73.
Ah! Ah! Death! Death! thou shalt long for death. Death is forbidden, o man, unto thee.
74.
The length of thy longing shall be the strength of its glory. He that lives long & desires death much is ever the King among the Kings.
75.
Aye! listen to the numbers & the words:
76.
4 6 3 8 A B K 2 4 A L G M O R 3 Y X 24 89 R P S T O V A L. What meaneth this, o prophet? Thou knowest not; nor shalt thou know ever. There cometh one to follow thee: he shall expound it. But remember, o chose none, to be me; to follow the love of Nu in the star-lit heaven; to look forth upon men, to tell them this glad word.
77.
O be thou proud and mighty among men!
78.
Lift up thyself! for there is none like unto thee among men or among Gods! Lift up thyself, o my prophet, thy stature shall surpass the stars. They shall worship thy name, foursquare, mystic, wonderful, the number of the man; and the name of thy house 418.
79.
The end of the hiding of Hadit; and blessing & worship to the prophet of the lovely Star!
COMMENTS
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