The Vision and the Voice

THE VISION AND THE VOICE One important meaning of “Ix4ve: it is formed of the initials of five Egyptian deities and also of five Greek deities; in both cases a magic formula of tremendous power is concealed.) As to the Holy Table itself, I cannot see it for the blaze of light; but Iam given to understand that it appears in another Aethyr, of which it forms practically the whole content. And I am bidden to study the Holy Table very intently so as to be able to concentrate on it when it appears. I have grown greater, so that Iam as great as the Angel. And we are standing, as if crucified, face to face, our hands and lips and -reasts and knees and feet together, and her eyes pierce into my eyes like whirling shafts of steel, so that I fall backwards headlong through the Aethyr—and there is a sudden and tremendous shout, absolutely stunning, cold and brutal: Osiris was a black god!* And the Aethyr claps its hands, greater than the peal of a thousand mighty thunders. I am back. Bou-SAapa. November 30, 1909. 10-11.45 p.m. Tue Cry OF THE 18TH AETHYR, WHICH IS CALLED ZEN A voice comes before any vision: Accursed are they who enter herein if they have nails, for they shall be pierced there- with; or if they have thorns, for they shall be crowned withal; or if they have whips, for with whips they shall be scourged; or if they bear wine, for their wine shall be turned to bitter- ness; or if they have a spear, for with a spear shall they be pierced unto the heart. And the nails are desires, of which * The Doctrine implied is that one must not be the child, but the Mother. 51