Konx Om Pax

KONX OM PAX DEDICATION AND COUNTER-DEDICATION WITH A NOTE ON OBSCURITY HEN the Neophyte enters upon the Path of Evil, there confront eth him the great angel Samael. In vain he saith that he is come from between the pillars and seeketh the hidden Knowledge in the Name of Adonai ; the angel answers him: “I am the Prince of Dark ness and of Evil. The wicked and rebellious man gazeth upon the face of Nature, and findeth therein naught but terror and obscurity; unto him it is but the darkness of the darkness, and he is but as a drunken man groping in the dark. Returnl for thou canst not pass by.” Equally, when the Neophyte enters upon the Path of Good, doth the great angel Metatron arrest him with the words: “I am the angel of the Presence divine. The wise man gazeth upon the material world; and he beholdeth therein the luminous image of the Creator. Not as yet canst thou bear the dazzling brilliance of that Light. Retuml for thou canst not pass by I” These commonplaces of the bastard mystic ism of mountebanks, crude and imbecile as they seem to one who has “passed by,” are curiously apt to mine intention of the moment. Essays in Light! I hear somebody exclaim. This man was obscure enough before, but now . . . ll! Very like. ’Tis the first time I have written careless of lucidity. By the usual paradox, I may expect some vn