The Vision and the Voice

THE EQUINOX things, until thou art mightier than all the Kings of the earth, and all the Angels of the Heavens, and all the gods that are beyond the Heavens. Then shalt thou meet me in equal con- flict, and thou shalt see me as Iam. And I will overcome thee and slay thee with the red rain of my lightnings. I am lying underneath this pyramid of light. It seems as if I had the whole weight of it upon me, crushing me with bliss. And yet I know that I am like the prophet that said: I shall see Him, but not nigh. And the Angel sayeth: So shall it be until they that wake are asleep, and she that sleepeth be arisen from her sleep. For thou art transparent unto the vision and the voice. And therefore in thee they manifest not. But they shall be mani- fest unto them unto whom thou dost deliver them, according unto the word which I spake unto thee in the Victorious City. For I am not only appointed to guard thee, but we are of the blood royal, the guardians of the Treasure-house of Wis- dom. Therefore am I called the Minister of Ra Hoor Khuit; and yet he is but the Viceroy of the unknown King. For my name is called Aiwass, that is eight and seventy. And Iam the influence of the Concealed One, and the wheel that hath eight and seventy parts, yet in all is equivalent to the Gate that is the name of my Lord when it is spelt fully. And that Gate is the Path that joineth the Wisdom with the Under- standing. Thus hast thou erred indeed, perceiving me in the path that leadeth from the Crown unto the Beauty. For that path bridgeth the abyss, and I am of the supernals. Nor I, nor Thou, nor He can bridge the abyss. It is the Priestess of the Silver Star, and the Oracles of the gods, and the Lord of the 114