The Sword of Song

NOTES 63 corrected, and the involved tissues brought back to tone, in obedience to currents started from the brain. So for all the other phenomena. There is no effect which is truly and necessarily miraculous. Our Ceremonial Magic fines down, then, to a series of minute, t hough of course empirical, physiological experiments, and whoso will carry them through intelligently need not fear the result. I have all the health, and treasure, and logic I need ; I have no time to w aste. “There is a lion in the way.” For me these practices are useless ; but for the benefit of others less fortunate I give them to the world, together with this explanation of, and apology for, them. I trust that this explanation will enable many students who have hitherto, by a puerile objectivity in their view of the question, ob- tained no results, to succeed; that the apology may impress upon our scornful men of science that the study of the bacillus should give place to that of the baculum, the little to the great— how great one only realises when one identifies the wand with the Mahalingam,* up which Brahma flew at the rate of 84,000 yojanas a second for 84,000 mahakalpas, down which Vishnu flew at the rate of 84,000 crores of yojanas a second for 84,000 crores of mahakalpas—yet neither reached an end. But I reach an end. 23. The cryptic Coptic.3—Vide the Papyrus of Bruce. 24. ANET’ AER-K, etc.4—Invocation of Ra. From the Papyrus of Harris. 26. MacGragor.5—The Mage. 29. Abramelin.6—The Mage. 32. Ancient Rituals.7—From the Papyrus of MRS. Harris.† 33. Golden Dawn.8—These rituals were later annexed by Madame Horos,‡ that superior Swami. The earnest seeker is liable to some pretty severe shocks. To see one’s “Obligation” printed in the Daily Mail ! ! ! Luckily, I have no nerves. 49. ram , ram . etc.9—“Thou, as I, art God (for this is the esoteric meaning of the common Hindu saluation). A long road and a heavy price ! To know is always a difficult work . . . Hullo ! Bravo ! Thy name (I have seen) is written in the stars. Come with me, pupil ! I will give thee medicine for the mind.” * The Phallus of Shiva th e Destro yer. It is really identical with the Qabalistic “Middle Pillar” of the “Tree of Life.” † An imaginary lady to whom Sairey Gamp in Dickens’ “Martin Chuzzlewit” used to appeal. ‡ Vide the daily papers of June-July 1901. Cf. Macbeth : “Canst thou not minister to a mind diseased ?” 58. bs.10—Enough. 60. ik vaSte,.11—Why ? 60. kya haega ..12—What will it be ? 61. Strange and painful attitude.13—Sid- dhasana. 62. He was very rude.14—The following is a sample :— “O Devatas ! behold this yogi ! O Chela ! Accursèd abode of Tamas art thou ! Eater of Beef, guzzling as an Herd of Swine ! Sleeper of a thousand sleeps, as an Harlot heavy with Wine ! Void of Will ! Sensualist ! Enraged Sheep ! Blasphemer of the Names of Shiva and of Devi ! Christian in disguise ! Thou shalt be reborn in the low est Avitch ! Fast ! Walk ! Wake ! these are the keys of the King- dom ! Peace be with thy Beard ! Aum !” This sort of talk did me much good : I hope it may do as much for you. 63. With eyes well fixed on my proboscis.15— See Bhagavad-Gita, Atmasamyamyog. 67. Brahma-charya.16—Right conduct, and in particular, chastity in the highest sense. 72. Baccy.17—A poisonous plant used by nicotomanics in their orgies and debauches. “The filthy tobacco habit,” says “Elijah the Restorer” of Zion, late of Sydney and Chicago. That colossal genius-donkey, Shaw, is another of them. But see Calverly. 78. His hat.18—It may be objected that Western, but never Eastern, magicians turn their headgear into a cornucopia or Pandor’s box. But I must submit that the Hat Question is still sub judice. H ere’s a health to Lord Ronald Gower ! 86. Swinburne.19— “ But this thing is God, To be man with thy might, To grow straight in the strength of thy spirit, and live out thy life as the light.”—Hertha. 104. My big beauty.20—Pink on Spot ; Player Green, in Hand. But I have “starred” since I went down in that pocket. 120. My Balti coolies.21—See my “The higher the Fewer.”* 125. Eton.22—A school, noted for its breed of cads. The battle of Waterloo ( 1815) w as won on its playing-fields. 128-30. I’ve seen them.23—Sir J. Maundevill, “Voiage and Travill,” ch. xvi. , recounts a similar incident, and, Christian as he is, puts a similar poser. 135. A—What?34—I beg your pardon. It was a slip. 146. Tahuti.25—In Coptic, Thoth. * Title of a (forthcom ing) collection of papers on mountain exploration, etc. [Unpublished – T.S.]