The
Treasure House of Images
by J.F.C. Fuller
© COPYRIGHT O.T.O. June 21, 1985 e.v.
Sun in Cancer
Moon in Leo AN 81 e.n.
INTRODUCTION
Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the Law.
According to Hymenaeus Alpha in his Preface to "The Holy Books of
Thelema", published by Samuel Weiser in 1983 only the short prefatory
note is in Class A, the remainder of the book is in Class B. It is
therefore not considered to be a "Holy Book", however since it
has proven its worth otherwise, and since an earnest member of the
Argentum Astrum will follow the instructions in that class A note, we
present it to you here.
I have used it as part of planetary, and zodiac rituals for
some time, and recomend it for this purpose. Love is the law, love under
will.
Fra. 137 O.T.O
Argentum Astrum
Publication in Class A
A NOTE UPON LIBER DCCCCLXIII
- Let the student recite this book, particularly the 169 adorations,
unto his Star as it ariseth.
- Let him seek out diligently in the sky his Star; let him travel
thereunto in his Shell; let him adore it unceasingly from its rising
even unto its setting by the right adorations, with chants that shall be
harmonious therewith.
- Let him rock himself to and fro in adoration; let him spin around
his own axis in adoration; let him leap up and down in adoration.
- Let him inflame himself in the adoration, speeding from slow to
fast, until he can no more.
- This also shall be sung in open places, as heaths, mountains, woods,
and by streams and upon islands.
- Moreover, ye shall build you fortified places in great cities;
caverns and tombs shall be made glad with your praise.
- Amen.
THE TREASURE HOUSE OF IMAGES
Here beginneth the Book of the Meditations on the
Twelvefold Adora- tion, and the Unity of GOD.
The Chapter known as
The Perception of God
that is
revealed unto man for a snare
I adore Thee by the Twelvefold Snare and by the Unity
thereof.
- 000. In the Beginning there was Naught, and Naught spake unto Naught
saying: Let us beget on the Nakedness of our Nothingness the Limitless,
Eternal, Identical, and United: And without will, intention, thought,
word, desire, or deed, it was so.
- 00. Then in the depths of Nothingness hovered the Limitless, as a
raven in the night; seeing naught, hearing naught, and understanding
naught: neither was it seen, nor heard, nor understood; for as yet
Countenance beheld not Countenance.
- 0. And as the Limitless stretched forth its wings, an unextended
unextendable Light became; colourless, formless, conditionless,
effluent, naked, and essential, as a crystalline dew of creative
effulgence; and fluttering as a dove betwixt Day and Night, it vibrated
forth a lustral Crown of Glory.
- And out of the blinding whiteness of the Crown grew an Eye, like
unto an egg of an humming-bird cherished on a platter of burnished
silver.
- Thus I beheld Thee, O my God, the lid of whose Eye is as the Night
of Chaos, and the pupil thereof as the marshalled order of the spheres.
- For, I am but as a blind man, who wandering through the noontide
perceiveth not the loveliness of day; and even as he whose eyes are
unenlightened beholdeth not the greatness of this world in the depths of
a starless night, so am I who am not able to search the unfathomable
depths of Thy wisdom.
- For what am I that I durst look upon Thy Countenance, purblind one
of small understanding that I am, blindly groping through the night of
mine ignorance like unto a little maggot hid in the dark depths of a
corrupted corpse?
- Therefore, O my God, fashion me into a five-pointed star of ruby
burning beneath the foundations of Thy Unity, that I may mount the
pillar of Thy Glory, and be lost in adoration of the triple Unity of Thy
Godhead, I beseech Thee, O Thou who art to me as the Finger of Light
thrust through the black clouds of Chaos; I beseech Thee, O my God,
hearken Thou unto my cry!
- Then, O my God, am I not risen as the sun that eateth up ocean as a
golden lion that feedeth on a blue-grey wolf? So shall I become one with
Thy Beauty, worn upon Thy breast as the Centre of a Sixfold Star of ruby
and of sapphire.
- Yea, O God, gird Thou me upon Thy thigh as a warrior girdeth his
sword! Smite my acuteness into the earth, and as a sower casteth his
seed into the furrows of the plough, do Thou beget upon me these
adorations of Thy Unity, O My Conqueror!
- And Thou shalt carry me upon Thine hip, O Thou flashing God, as a
black mother of the South Country carrieth her babe. Whence I shall
reach my lips to Thy pap, and sucking out Thy stars, shed them in these
adorations upon the Earth.
- Moreover, O God my God, Thou who hast cloven me with Thine
amethystine Phallus, with Thy Phallus adamantine, with Thy Phallus of
Gold and Ivory! thus am I cleft in twain as two halves of a child that
is split asunder by the sword of the eunuchs, and mine adorations are
divided, and one contendeth against his brother. Unite Thou me even as a
split tree that closeth itself again upon the axe, that my song of
praise unto Thee may be One Song!
- For I am Thy chosen Virgin, O my God! Exalt Thou me unto the throne
of the Mother, unto the Garden of Supernal Dew, unto the Unutterable
Sea!
Amen, and Amen of Amen, and Amen of Amen of Amen, and Amen
of Amen of Amen of Amen.
The Chapter known as
The
Twelvefold Affirmation of God and the Unity thereof
I adore Thee by the
Twelve Affirmations and by the Unity thereof.
-
- O Thou snow-clad volcan of scarlet fire, Thou flamecrested
pillar of fury! Yea, as I approach Thee, Thou departest from me like
unto a wisp of smoke blown forth from the window of my house.
-
- O Thou summer-land of eternal joy, Thou rapturous garden of
flowers! Yea, as I gather Thee, my harvest is but as a drop of dew
shimmering in the golden cup of the crocus.
-
- O Thou throbbing music of life and death, Thou rhythmic
harmony of the world! Yea, as I listen to the echo of Thy voice, my
rapture is but as the whisper of the wings of a butterfly.
-
- O Thou burning tempest of blinding sand, Thou whirlwind from
the depths of darkness! Yea, as I struggle through Thee, through Thee,
my strength is but as a dove's down floating forth on the purple nipples
of the storm.
-
- O Thou crowned giant among great giants, Thou crimson-sworded
soldier of war! Yea, as I battle with Thee, Thou masterest me as a lion
that slayeth a babe that is cradled in lilies.
-
- O Thou shadowy vista of Darkness, Thou cryptic Book of the
fir-clad hills! Yea, as I search the key of Thy house I find my hope but
as a rushlight sheltered in the hands of a little child.
-
- O Thou great labour of the Firmament, Thou tempest tossed
roaring of the Aires! Yea, as I sink in the depths of Thine affliction,
mine anguish is but as the smile on the lips of a sleeping babe.
-
- O Thou depths of the Inconceivable, Thou cryptic, unutterable
God! Yea, as I attempt to understand Thee, my wisdom is but as an abacus
in the lap of an aged man.
-
- O Thou transfigured dream of blinding light, Thou beatitude of
wonderment! Yea, as I behold Thee, mine understanding is but as the
glimpse of a rainbow through a storm of blinding snow.
-
- O Thou steel-girdered mountain of mountains, Thou crested
summit of Majesty! Yea, as I climb Thy grandeur, I find I have but
surmounted one mote of dust floating in a beam of Thy Glory.
-
- O Thou Empress of Light and of Darkness, Thou pourer-forth of
the stars of night! Yea, as I gaze upon Thy Countenance, mine eyes are
as the eyes of a blind man smitten by a torch of burning fire.
-
- O Thou crimson gladness of the midnight, Thou flamingo North
of brooding light! Yea, as I rise up before Thee, my joy is but as a
raindrop smitten through by an arrow of the Western Sun.
-
- O Thou golden Crown of the Universe, Thou diadem of dazzling
brightness! Yea, as I burn up before Thee, my light is but as a falling
star seen between the purple fingers of the Night.
Amen, and Amen of Amen, and Amen of Amen of Amen, and Amen
of Amen of Amen of Amen.
The Chapter known as
The
Twelvefold Renunciation of God and the Unity thereof
I adore Thee by
the Twelve Renunciations and by the Unity thereof.
-
- O my God, Thou mighty One, Thou Creator of all things, I
renounce unto Thee the kisses of my mistress, and the murmur of her
mouth, and all the trembling of her firm young breast; so that I may be
rolled a flame in Thy fiery embrace, and be consumed in the unutterable
joy of Thine everlasting rapture.
-
- O my God, Thou mighty One, Thou Creator of all things, I
renounce unto Thee the soft-lipp'd joys of life, and the honey- sweets
of this world, and all the subtilities of the flesh; so that I may be
feasted on the fire of Thy passion, and be consumed in the unutterable
joy of Thine everlasting rapture.
-
- O my God, Thou Mighty One, Thou Creator of all things, I
renounce unto Thee the ceaseless booming of the waves, and the fury of
the storm, and all the turmoil of the wind-swept waters; so that I may
drink of the porphyrine foam of Thy lips, and be consumed in the
unutterable joy of Thine everlasting rapture.
-
- O my God, Thou Mighty One, Thou Creator of all things, I
renounce unto Thee the whispers of the desert, and the moan of the
simoom, and all the silence of the sea of dust; so that I may be lost in
the atoms of Thy Glory, and be consumed in the unutterable joy of Thine
everlasting rapture.
-
- O my God, Thou Mighty One, Thou Creator of all things, I
renounce unto Thee the green fields of the valleys, and the satyr roses
of the hills, and the nymph lilies of the meer; so that I may wander
through the gardens of Thy Splendour, and be consumed in the unutterable
joy of Thine everlasting rapture.
-
- O my God, Thou Mighty One, Thou Creator of all things, I
renounce unto Thee the sorrow of my mother, and the threshold of my
home, and all the labour of my father's hands; so that I may be led unto
the Mansion of Thy Light, and be consumed in the unutterable joy of
Thine everlasting rapture.
-
- O my God, Thou Mighty One, Thou Creator of all things, I
renounce unto Thee the yearning for Paradise, and the dark fear of Hell,
and the feast of the corruption of the grave; so that as a child I may
be led unto Thy Kingdom, and be consumed in the unutterable joy of Thine
everlasting rapture.
-
- O my God, Thou Mighty One, Thou Creator of all things, I
renounce unto Thee the moonlit peaks of the mountains, and the
arrow-shapen kiss of the firs, and all the travail of the winds; so that
I may be lost on the summit of Thy Glory, and be consumed in the
unutterable joy of Thine everlasting rapture.
-
- O my God, Thou Mighty One, Thou Creator of all things, I
renounce unto Thee the goatish ache of the years, and the cryptic books,
and all the majesty of their enshrouded words; so that I may be
entangled in Thy wordless Wisdom, and be consumed in the unutterable joy
of Thine everlasting rapture.
-
- O my God, Thou Mighty One, Thou Creator of all things, I
renounce unto Thee the wine-cups of merriment, and the eyes of the
wanton bearers, and all the lure of their soft limbs; so that I may be
made drunk on the vine of Thy splendour, and be consumed in the
unutterable joy of Thine everlasting rapture.
-
- O my God, Thou Mighty One, Thou Creator of all things, I
renounce unto Thee the hissing of mad waters, and the trumpeting of the
thunder, and all Thy tongues of dancing flame; so that I may be swept up
in the breath of Thy nostrils, and be consumed in the unutterable joy of
Thine everlasting rapture.
-
- O my God, Thou Mighty One, Thou Creator of all things, I
renounce unto Thee the crimson lust of the chase, and the blast of the
brazen war-horns, and all the gleaming of the spears; so that like an
hart I may be brought to bay in Thine arms, and be consumed in the
unutterable joy of Thine everlasting rapture.
-
- O my God, Thou Mighty One, Thou Creator of all things, I
renounce unto Thee all that Self which is myself, that black sun which
shineth in Self's day, whose glory blindeth Thy Glory; so that I may
become as a rushlight in Thine abode, and be consumed in the unutterable
joy of Thine everlasting rapture.
Amen, and Amen of Amen, and Amen of Amen of Amen, and Amen
of Amen of Amen of Amen.
The Chapter known as
The
Twelvefold Conjuration of God and the Unity thereof
I adore Thee by the
Twelve Conjurations and by the Unity thereof.
-
- O Thou Consuming Eye of everlasting light set as a pearl
betwixt the lids of Night and Day; I swear to Thee by the formless void
of the Abyss, to lap the galaxies of night in darkness, and blow the
meteors like bubbles into the frothing jaws of the sun.
-
- O Thou ten-footed soldier of blue ocean, whose castle is built
upon the sands of life and death; I swear to Thee by the glittering
blades of the waters, to cleave my way within Thine armed hermitage, and
brood as an eyeless corpse beneath the coffin-lid of the Mighty Sea.
-
- O Thou incandescent Ocean of molten stars, surging above the
arch of the Firmament; I swear to Thee by the mane-pennoned lances of
light, to stir the lion of Thy darkness from its lair, and lash the
sorceress of noontide into fury with serpents of fire.
-
- O Thou intoxicating Vision of Beauty, fair as ten jewelled
virgins dancing about the hermit moon; I swear to Thee by the peridot
flagons of spring, to quaff to the dregs Thy chalice of Glory, and beget
a royal race before the Dawn flees from awakening Day.
-
- O Thou unalterable measure of all things, in whose lap lie the
destinies of unborn worlds; I swear to Thee by the balance of Light and
Darkness, to spread out the blue vault as a looking- glass, and flash
forth therefrom the intolerable lustre of Thy Countenance.
-
- O Thou who settest forth the limitless expanse, spanned by
wings of thunder above the cosmic strife; I swear to Thee by the
voiceless dust of the desert, to soar above the echos of shrieking life,
and as an eagle to feast for ever upon the silence of the stars.
-
- O Thou flame-tipped arrow of devouring fire that quiverest as
a tongue in the dark mouth of Night; I swear to Thee by the thurible of
Thy Glory, to breathe the incense of mine understanding, and to cast the
ashes of my wisdom into the Valley of Thy breast.
-
- O Thou ruin of the mountains, glistening as an old white wolf
above the fleecy mists of Earth; I swear to Thee by the galaxies of Thy
domain, to press Thy lamb's breasts with the teeth of my soul, and drink
of the milk and blood of Thy subtlety and innocence.
-
- O Thou Eternal river of chaotic law, in whose depths lie
locked the secrets of Creation; I swear to Thee by the primal waters of
the Deep, to suck up the Firmament of Thy Chaos, and as a volcano to
belch forth a Cosmos of coruscating suns.
-
- O Thou Dragon-regent of the blue seas of air, as a chain of
emeralds round the neck of Space; I swear to Thee by the hexagram of
Night and Day, to be unto Thee as the twin fish of Time, which being set
apart never divulge the secret of their unity.
-
- O Thou flame of the horned storm-clouds, that sunderest their
desolation, that outroarest the winds; I swear to Thee by the gleaming
sandals of the stars, to climb beyond the summits of the mountains, and
rend Thy robe of purple thunders with a sword of silvery light.
-
- O Thou fat of an hundred fortresses of iron, crimson as the
blades of a million murderous swords; I swear to Thee by the
smoke-wreath of the volcano, to open the secret shrine of Thy bull's
breast, and tear out as an augur the heart of Thine all-pervading
mystery.
-
- O Thou silver axle of the Wheel of Being, thrust through the
wings of Time by the still hand of Space; I swear to Thee by the twelve
spokes of Thy Unity, to become unto Thee as the rim thereof, so that I
may clothe me majestically in the robe that has no seam.
Amen, and Amen of Amen, and Amen of Amen of Amen, and Amen
of Amen of Amen of Amen.
The Chapter known as
The
Twelvefold Certitude of God and the Unity thereof
I adore Thee by the
Twelve Certitudes and by the Unity thereof.
-
- O Thou Sovran Warrior of steel-girt valour, whose scimitar is
a flame between day and night, whose helm is crested with the wings of
the Abyss. I know Thee! O Thou four-eyed guardian of heaven, who
kindleth to a flame the hearts of the downcast, and girdeth about with
fire the loins of the unarmed.
-
- O Thou Sovran Light and fire of loveliness, whose flaming
locks stream downwards through the aethyr as knots of lightening
deep-rooted in the Abyss. I know Thee! O Thou winnowing flail of
brightness, the passionate lash of whose encircling hand scatters
mankind before Thy fury as the wind-scud from the stormy breast of
Ocean.
-
- O Thou Sovran Singer of the revelling winds, whose voice is as
a vestal troop of Bacchanals awakened by the piping of a Pan-pipe. I
know Thee! O Thou dancing flame of frenzied song, whose shouts, like
unto golden swords of leaping fire, urge us onward to the wild slaughter
of the Worlds.
-
- O Thou Sovran Might of the most ancient forests, whose voice
is as the murmur of unappeasable winds caught up in the arms of the
swaying branches. I know Thee! O Thou rumble of conquering drums, who
lulleth to a rapture of deep sleep those lovers who burn into each
other, flame to fine flame.
-
- O Thou Sovran Guide of the star-wheeling circles, the soles of
whose feet smite plumes of golden fire from the outermost annihilation
of the Abyss. I know Thee! O Thou crimson sword of destruction, who
chasest the comets from the dark bed of night, till they speed before
Thee as serpent tongues of flame.
-
- O Thou Sovran Archer of the darksome regions, who shooteth
forth from Thy transcendental crossbow the many-rayed suns into the
fields of heaven. I know Thee! O Thou eight-pointed arrow of light, who
smiteth the regions of the seven rivers until they laugh like Maenads
with snaky thyrsus.
-
- O Thou Sovran Paladin of self-vanquished knights, whose path
lieth through the trackless forests of time, winding athrough the Byss
of unbegotten space. I know Thee! O Thou despiser of the mountains, Thou
whose course is as that of a lightening-hoofed steed leaping along the
green bank of a fair river.
-
- O Thou Sovran Surging of wild felicity, whose love is as the
overflowing of the seas, and who makest our bodies to laugh with beauty.
I know Thee! O Thou outstrider of the sunset, who deckest the
snow-capped mountains with red roses, and strewest white violets on the
curling waves.
-
- O Thou Sovran Diadem of crowned Wisdom, whose work knoweth the
path of the sylphs of the air, and the black burrowings of the gnomes of
the earth. I know Thee! O Thou Master of the ways of life, in the palm
of whose hand all the arts lie bounden as a smoke-cloud betwixt the lips
of the mountain.
-
- O Thou Sovran Lord of primaeval Baresarkers, who huntest with
dawn the dappled deer of twilight, and whose engines of war are
blood-crested comets. I know Thee! O Thou flame-crowned Self-luminous
One, the lash of whose whip gathered the ancient worlds, and looseth the
blood from the virgin clouds of heaven.
-
- O Thou Sovran Moonstone of pearly loveliness, from out whose
many eyes flash the fire-clouds of life, and whose breath enkindleth the
Byss and the Abyss. I know Thee! O Thou fountain-head of fierce aethyr,
in the pupil of whose brightness all things lie crouched and wrapped
like a babe in the womb of its mother.
-
- O Thou Sovran Mother of the breath of being, the milk of whose
breasts is as the fountain of love, twin-jets of fire upon the blue
bosom of night. I know Thee! O Thou Virgin of the moonlit glades, who
fondleth us as a drop of dew in Thy lap, ever watchful over the cradle
of our fate.
-
- O Thou Sovran All-Beholding eternal Sun, who lappest up the
constellations of heaven, as a thirsty thief a jar of ancient wine. I
know Thee! O Thou dawn-wing'd courtesan of light, who makest me to reel
with one kiss of Thy mouth, as a leaf cast into the flames of a furnace.
Amen, and Amen of Amen, and Amen of Amen of Amen, and Amen
of Amen of Amen of Amen.
The Chapter known as
The
Twelvefold Glorification of God and the Unity thereof
I adore Thee by
the Twelve Glorifications and by the Unity thereof.
-
- O Glory be to Thee, O God my God; for I behold Thee in the
Lion Rampant of the dawn: Thou hast crushed with Thy paw the crouching
lioness of Night, so that she may roar forth the Glory of Thy Name.
-
- O Glory be to Thee, O God my God; for I behold Thee in the lap
of the fertile valleys: Thou hast adorned their strong limbs with a robe
of poppied corn, so that they may laugh forth the Glory of Thy Name.
-
- O Glory be to Thee, O God my God; for I behold Thee in the
gilded rout of dancing-girls: Thou hast garlanded their naked middles
with fragrant flowers, so that they may pace forth the Glory of Thy
Name.
-
- O Glory be to Thee, O God my God; for I behold Thee in the
riotous joy of the storm: Thou hast shaken the gold-dust from the
tresses of the hills, so that they may chaunt forth the Glory of Thy
Name.
-
- O Glory be to Thee, O God my God; for I behold Thee in the
stars and meteors of Night: Thou hast caparisoned her grey coursers with
moons of pearl, so that they may shake forth the Glory of Thy Name.
-
- O Glory be to Thee, O God my God; for I behold Thee in the
precious stones of the black earth: Thou hast lightened her with a
myriad eyes of magic, so that she may wink forth the Glory of Thy Name.
-
- O Glory be to Thee, O God my God; for I behold Thee in the
sparkling dew of the wild glades: Thou hast decked them out as for a
great feast of rejoicing, so that they may gleam forth the Glory of Thy
Name.
-
- O Glory be to Thee, O God my God; for I behold Thee in the
stillness of the frozen lakes: Thou hast made their faces more dazzling
than a silver mirror, so that they may flash forth the Glory of Thy
Name.
-
- O Glory be to Thee, O God my God; for I behold Thee in the
smoke-veil'd fire of the mountains: Thou hast inflamed them as lions
that scent a fallow deer, so that they may rage forth the Glory of Thy
Name.
-
- O Glory be to Thee, O God my God; for I behold Thee in the
countenance of my darling: Thou hast unclothed her of white lilies and
crimson roses, so that she may blush forth the Glory of Thy Name.
-
- O Glory be to Thee, O God my God; for I behold Thee in the
weeping of the flying clouds: Thou hast swelled therewith the blue
breasts of the milky rivers, so that they may roll forth the Glory of
Thy Name.
-
- O Glory be to Thee, O God my God; for I behold Thee in the
amber combers of the storm: Thou hast laid Thy lash upon the sphinxes of
the waters, so that they may boom forth the Glory of Thy Name.
-
- O Glory be to Thee, O God my God; for I behold Thee in the
lotus-flower within my heart: Thou hast emblazoned my trumpet with the
lion-standard, so that I may blare forth the Glory of Thy Name.
Amen, and Amen of Amen, and Amen of Amen of Amen, and Amen
of Amen of Amen of Amen.
The Chapter known as
The
Twelvefold Beseechment of God and the Unity thereof
I adore Thee by the
Twelve Beseechments and by the Unity thereof.
-
- O Thou mighty God, make me as a fair virgin that is clad in
the blue-bells of the fragrant hillside; I beseech Thee, O Thou great
God! That I may ring out the melody of Thy voice, and be clothed in the
pure light of Thy loveliness: O Thou God my God!
-
- O Thou mighty God, make me as a Balance of rubies and jet that
is cast in the lap of the Sun; I beseech Thee, O Thou great God! That I
may flash forth the wonder of Thy brightness, and melt into the perfect
poise of Thy Being: O Thou God, my God!
-
- O Thou mighty God, make me as a brown Scorpion that creepeth
on through a vast desert of silver; I beseech Thee, O Thou great God!
That I may lose myself in the span of Thy light, and become one with the
glitter of Thy Shadow: O Thou God, my God!
-
- O Thou mighty God, make me as a green arrow of Lightning that
speedeth through the purple clouds of Night; I beseech Thee, O Thou
great God! That I may wake fire from the crown of Thy Wisdom, and flash
into the depths of Thine Understanding: O Thou God, my God!
-
- O Thou mighty God, make me as a flint-black goat that pranceth
in a shining wilderness of steel; I beseech Thee, O Thou great God! That
I may paw one flashing spark from Thy Splendour, and be welded into the
Glory of Thy might: O Thou God, my God!
-
- O Thou mighty God, make me as the sapphirine waves that cling
to the shimmering limbs of the green rocks; I beseech Thee, O Thou great
God! That I may chant in foaming music Thy Glory, and roll forth the
eternal rapture of Thy Name: O Thou God, my God!
-
- O Thou mighty God, make me as a silver fish darting through
the vast depths of the dim-peopled waters; I beseech Thee, O Thou great
God! That I may swim through the vastness of Thine abyss, and sink
beneath the waveless depths of Thy Glory: O Thou God, my God!
-
- O Thou mighty God, make me as a white ram that is athirst in a
sun-scorched desert of bitterness; I beseech Thee, O Thou great God!
That I may seek the deep waters of Thy Wisdom, and plunge into the
whiteness of Thine effulgence: O Thou God, my God!
-
- O Thou mighty God, make me as a thunder-smitten bull that is
drunk upon the vintage of Thy blood; I beseech Thee, O Thou great God!
That I may bellow through the universe Thy Power, and trample the
nectar-sweet grapes of Thine Essence: O Thou God, my God!
-
- O Thou mighty God, make me as a black eunuch of song that is
twin-voiced, yet dumb in either tongue; I beseech Thee, O Thou great
God! That I may hush my melody in Thy Silence, and swell into the sweet
ecstasy of Thy Song: O Thou God, my God!
-
- O Thou mighty God, make me as an emerald crab that crawleth
over the wet sands of the sea-shore; I beseech Thee, O Thou great God!
That I may write Thy name across the shores of Time, and sink amongst
the white atoms of Thy Being. O Thou God, my God!
-
- O Thou mighty God, make me as a ruby lion that roareth from
the summit of a white mountain; I beseech Thee, O Thou great God! That I
may echo forth Thy lord-ship through the hills, and dwindle into the
nipple of Thy bounty. O Thou God, my God!
-
- O Thou mighty God, make me as an all-consuming Sun ablaze in
the centre of the Universe; I beseech Thee, O Thou great God! That I may
become as a crown upon Thy brow, and flash forth the exceeding fire of
Thy Godhead: O Thou God, my God!
Amen, and Amen of Amen, and Amen of Amen of Amen, and Amen
of Amen of Amen of Amen.
The Chapter known as
The
Twelvefold Gratification of God and the Unity thereof
I adore Thee by
the Twelve Gratifications and by the Unity thereof.
-
- O Thou green-cloaked Maenad in labour, who bearest beneath Thy
leaden girdle the vintage of Thy kisses; release me from the darkness of
Thy womb, so that I may cast off my infant wrappings and leap forth as
an armed warrior in steel.
-
- O Thou snake of misty countenance, whose braided hair is like
a fleecy dawn of swooning maidens; hunt me as a fierce wild boar through
the skies, so that Thy burning spear may gore the blue heavens red with
the foaming blood of my frenzy.
-
- O Thou cloudy Virgin of the World, whose breasts are as
scarlet lilies paling before the sun; dandle me in the cradle of Thine
arms, so that the murmur of Thy voice may lull me to a sleep like a
pearl lost in the depths of a silent sea.
-
- O Thou wine-voiced laughter of fainting gloom, who art as a
naked faun crushed to death between millstones of thunder; make me drunk
on the rapture of Thy song, so that in the corpse-clutch of my passion I
may tear the cloud-robe from off Thy swooning breast.
-
- O Thou wanton cup-bearer of madness, whose mouth is as the joy
of a thousand thousand masterful kisses; intoxicate me on Thy
loveliness, so that the silver of Thy merriment may revel as a
moon-white pearl upon my tongue.
-
- O Thou midnight Vision of Whiteness, whose lips are as pouting
rosebuds deflowered by the deciduous moon; tend me as a drop of dew in
Thy breast, so that the dragon of Thy gluttonous hate may devour me with
its mouth of adamant.
-
- O Thou effulgence of burning love, who pursueth the dawn as a
youth pursueth a rose-lipped maiden; rend me with the fierce kisses of
Thy mouth, so that in the battle of our lips I may be drenched by the
snow-pure fountains of Thy bliss.
-
- O Thou black bull in a field of white girls, whose foaming
flanks are as starry night ravished in the fierce arms of noon; shake
forth the purple horns of my passion, so that I may dissolve as a crown
of fire in the bewilderment of Thine ecstasy.
-
- O Thou dread arbiter of all men, the hem of whose broidered
skirt crimsoneth the white battlements of Space; bare me the starry
nipple of Thy breast, so that the milk of Thy love may nurture me to the
lustiness of Thy virginity.
-
- O Thou thirsty charioteer of Time, whose cup is the hollow
night filled with the foam of the vintage of day; drench me in the
shower of Thy passion, so that I may pant in Thine arms as a tongue of
lightning on the purple bosom of night.
-
- O Thou opalescent Serpent-Queen, whose mouth is as the sunset
that is bloody with the slaughter of day; hold me in the crimson flames
of Thine arms, so that at Thy kisses I may expire as a bubble in the
foam of Thy dazzling lips.
-
- O Thou Odalisque of earth's palace, whose garments are scented
and passionate as spring flowers in sunlit glades; roll me in the sweet
perfume of Thy hair, so that Thy tresses of gold may anoint me with the
honey of a million roses.
-
- O Thou manly warrior amongst youths, whose limbs are as swords
of fire that are welded in the furnace of war; press Thy cool kisses to
my burning lips, so that the folly of our passion may weave us into the
Crown of everlasting Light.
Amen, and Amen of Amen, and Amen of Amen of Amen, and Amen
of Amen of Amen of Amen.
The Chapter known as
The Twelvefold
Denial of God and the Unity thereof
I adore Thee by the Twelve Denials
and by the Unity thereof.
-
- O Thou God of the Nothingness of All Things! Thou who art
neither the Formless breath of Chaos; nor the exhaler of the ordered
spheres: O Thou who art not the cloud-cradled star of the morning; nor
the sun, drunken upon the mist, who blindeth men! I deny Thee by the
powers of mine understanding; Guide me in the unity of Thy might, and
lead me to the fatherhood of Thine all-pervading Nothingness; for Thou
art all and none of these in the fullness of Thy Not-Being.
-
- O Thou God of the Nothingness of All Things! Thou who art
neither the vitality of worlds; nor the breath of star-entangled Being:
O Thou who art not horsed 'mid the centaur clouds of night; nor the
twanging of the shuddering bowstring of noon! I deny Thee by the powers
of mine understanding; Throne me in the unity of Thy might, and stab me
with the javelin of Thine all-pervading Nothingness; for Thou art all
and none of these in the fullness of Thy Not-Being.
-
- O Thou God of the Nothingness of All Things! Thou who art
neither the Pan-pipe in the forest; nor life's blue sword wrapped in the
cloak of death: O Thou who art not found amongst the echoes of the
hills; nor in the whisperings that wake within the valleys! I deny Thee
by the powers of mine understanding; Crown me in the unity of Thy might,
and flash me as a scarlet tongue into Thine all-pervading Nothingness;
for Thou art all and none of these in the fullness of Thy Not-Being.
-
- O Thou God of the Nothingness of All Things! Thou who art
neither the Crown of the flaming storm; nor the opalescence of the
Abyss: O Thou who art not a nymph in the foam of the sea; nor a whirling
devil in the sand of the desert! I deny Thee by the powers of mine
understanding; Bear me in the unity of Thy might, and pour me forth from
out the cup of Thine all-pervading Nothingness; for Thou art all and
none of these in the fullness of Thy Not-Being.
-
- O Thou God of the Nothingness of All Things! Thou who art
neither the formulator of law; nor the Cheat of the maze of illusion: O
Thou who art not the foundation-stone of existence; nor the eagle that
broodeth upon the egg of space! I deny Thee by the powers of mine
understanding; Swathe me in the unity of Thy might, and teach me wisdom
from the lips of Thine all-pervading Nothingness; for Thou art all and
none of these in the fullness of Thy Not-Being.
-
- O Thou God of the Nothingness of All Things! Thou who art
neither the fivefold root of Nature; nor the fire-crested helm of her
Master: O Thou who art not the Emperor of Eternal Time; nor the warrior
shout that rocketh the Byss of Space! I deny Thee by the powers of mine
understanding; Raise me in the unity of Thy might, and suckle me at the
swol'n breasts of Thine all-pervading Nothingness; for Thou art all and
none of these in the fullness of Thy Not-Being.
-
- O Thou God of the Nothingness of All Things! Thou who art
neither the golden bull of the heavens; nor the crimsoned fountain of
the lusts of men: O Thou who reclinest not upon the Waggon of Night; nor
restest Thine hand upon the handle of the Plough! I deny Thee by the
powers of mine understanding; Urge me in the unity of Thy might, and
drench me with the red vintage of Thine all-pervading Nothingness; for
Thou art all and none of these in the fullness of Thy Not-Being.
-
- O Thou God of the Nothingness of All Things! Thou who art neither
the starry eyes of heaven; nor the forehead of the crowned morning; O
Thou who art not perceived by the powers of the mind; nor grasped by the
fingers of Silence or of Speech! I deny Thee by the powers of mine
understanding; Robe me in the unity of Thy might, and speed me into the
blindness of Thine all-pervading Nothingness; for Thou art all and none
of these in the fullness of Thy Not-Being.
-
- O Thou God of the Nothingness of All Things! Thou who art neither
the forge of Eternity; nor the thunder-throated womb of Chaos: O Thou
who art not found in the hissing of the hail-stones; nor in the rioting
of the equinoctial storm! I deny Thee by the powers of mine
understanding; Bring me to the unity of Thy might, and feast me on
honeyed manna of Thine all-pervading Nothingness; for Thou art all and
none of these in the fullness of Thy Not-Being.
-
- O Thou God of the Nothingness of All Things! Thou who art
neither the traces of the chariot; nor the pole of galloping delusion: O
Thou who art not the pivot of the whole Universe; nor the body of the
woman-serpent of the stars! I deny Thee by the powers of mine
understanding; Lead me in the unity of Thy might, and draw me unto the
threshold of Thine all-pervading Nothingness; for Thou art all and none
of these in the fullness of Thy Not-Being.
-
- O Thou God of the Nothingness of All Things! Thou who art
neither the moaning of a maiden; nor the electric touch of fire-thrilled
youth: O Thou who art not found in the hardy kisses of love; nor in the
tortured spasms of madness and of hate! I deny Thee by the powers of
mine understanding; Weight me in the unity of Thy might, and roll me in
the poised rapture of Thine all-pervading Nothingness; for Thou art all
and none of these in the fullness of Thy Not-Being.
-
- O Thou God of the Nothingness of All Things! Thou who art
neither the primal cause of causes; nor the soul of what is, or was, or
will be: O Thou who art not measured in the motionless balance; nor
smitten by the arrow-flights of man! I deny Thee by the powers of mine
understanding; Shield me in the unity of Thy might, and reckon me aright
in the span of Thine all-pervading Nothingness; for Thou art all and
none of these in the fullness of Thy Not-Being.
-
- O Thou God of the Nothingness of All Things! Thou who art
neither the breathing influx of life; nor the iron ring i' the marriage
feast of death: O Thou who art not shadowed forth in the songs of war;
nor in the tears or lamentations of a child! I deny Thee by the powers
of mine understanding; Sheathe me in the unity of Thy might, and kindle
me with the grey flame of Thine all-pervading Nothingness; for Thou art
all and none of these in the fullness of Thy Not-Being.
Amen, and Amen of Amen, and Amen of Amen of Amen, and Amen
of Amen of Amen of Amen.
The Chapter known as
The
Twelvefold Rejoicing of God and the Unity thereof
I adore Thee by the
Twelve Rejoicings and by the Unity thereof.
-
- Ah! but I rejoice in Thee, O Thou my God; Thou seven-rayed
rainbow of perfect loveliness; Thou light-rolling chariot of sunbeams;
Thou fragrant scent of the passing storm: Yea, I rejoice in Thee, Thou
breath of the slumbering valleys; O Thou low-murmuring ripple of the
ripe cornfields! I rejoice, yea, I shout with gladness! till, as the
mingling blushes of day and night, my song weaveth the joys of life into
a gold and purple Crown, for the Glory and Splendour of Thy Name.
-
- Ah! but I rejoice in Thee, O Thou my God; Thou zigzagged
effulgence of the burning stars; Thou wilderment of indigo light; Thou
grey horn of immaculate fire: Yea, I rejoice in Thee, Thou embattled
cloud of flashing flame; O Thou capricious serpent-head of scarlet hair!
I rejoice, yea, I shout with gladness! till my roaring filleth the
wooded mountains, and like a giant forceth the wind's head through the
struggling trees, in the Glory and Splendour of Thy Name.
-
- Ah! but I rejoice in Thee, O Thou my God; Thou silken web of
emerald bewitchment; Thou berylline mist of marshy meers; Thou
flame-spangled fleece of seething gold: Yea, I rejoice in Thee, Thou
pearly dew of the setting moon; O Thou dark purple storm-cloud of
contending kisses! I rejoice, yea, I shout with gladness! till all my
laughter, like enchaunted waters, is blown as an iris-web of bubbles
from the lips of the deep, in the Glory and Splendour of Thy Name.
-
- Ah! but I rejoice in Thee, O Thou my God; Thou who broodest on
the dark depths of the deep; Thou lap of the wave-glittering sea; Thou
bright vesture of the crested floods: Yea, I rejoice in Thee, Thou
native splendour of the Waters; O Thou fathomless Abyss of surging joy!
I rejoice, yea, I shout with gladness! till the mad swords of my music
smite the hills, and rend the amethyst limbs of Night from the white
embrace of Day, at the Glory and Splendour of Thy Name.
-
- Ah! but I rejoice in Thee, O Thou my God; Thou cloud-hooded
bastion of the stormy skies; Thou lightning anvil of anglel swords; Thou
gloomy forge of the thunderbolt: Yea, I rejoice in Thee, Thou
all-subduing Crown of Splendour; O Thou hero-souled helm of endless
victory! I rejoice, yea, I shout with gladness! till the mad rivers rush
roaring through the woods, and my re-echoing voice danceth like a ram
among the hills, for the Glory and Splendour of Thy Name.
-
- Ah! but I rejoice in Thee, O Thou my God; Thou opalescent orb
of shattered sunsets; Thou pearly boss on the shield of light; Thou
tawny priest at the Mass of lust: Yea, I rejoice in Thee, Thou
chalcedony cloudland of light; O Thou poppy-petal floating upon the
snowstorm! I rejoice, yea, I shout with gladness! till my frenzied words
rush through the souls of men, like a blood-red bull through a white
herd of terror-stricken kine, at the Glory and Splendour of Thy Name.
-
- Ah! but I rejoice in Thee, O Thou my God; Thou unimperilled
flight of joyous laughter; Thou eunuch glaive-armed before joy's veil;
Thou dreadful insatiable One: Yea, I rejoice in Thee, Thou lofty
gathering-point of Bliss; O Thou bridal-bed of murmuring rapture! I
rejoice, yea, I shout with gladness! till I tangle the black tresses of
the storm, and lash the tempest into a green foam of twining basilisks,
in the Glory and Splendour of Thy Name.
-
- Ah! but I rejoice in Thee, O Thou my God; Thou coruscating
star-point of Endlessness; Thou inundating fire of the Void; Thou
moonbeam cup of eternal life: Yea, I rejoice in Thee, Thou
fire-sandalled warrior of steel; O Thou bloody dew of the field of
slaughter and death! I rejoice, yea, I shout with gladness! till the
music of my throat smiteth the hills as a crescent moon waketh a nightly
field of sleeping comets, at the Glory and Splendour of Thy Name.
-
- Ah! but I rejoice in Thee, O Thou my God; Thou jewel-work of
snow on the limbs of night; Thou elaboration of oneness; Thou shower of
universal suns: Yea, I rejoice in Thee, Thou gorgeous, Thou wildering
one; O Thou great lion roaring over a sea of blood! I rejoice, yea, I
shout with gladness! till the wild thunder of my praise breaketh down,
as a satyr doth a babe, the nine and ninety gates of Thy Power, in the
Glory and Splendour of Thy Name.
-
- Ah! but I rejoice in Thee, O Thou my God; Thou
ambrosia-yielding rose of the World; Thou vaulted dome of effulgent
light; Thou valley of venomous vipers: Yea, I rejoice in Thee, Thou
dazzling robe of the soft rain-clouds; O Thou lion-voiced up-rearing of
the goaded storm! I rejoice, yea, I shout with gladness! till my
rapture, like unto a two-edged sword, traceth a sigil of fire and
blasteth the banded sorcerers, in the Glory and Splendour of Thy Name.
-
- Ah! but I rejoice in Thee, O Thou my God; Thou Crown of
unutterable loveliness; Thou feather of hyalescent flame; Thou
all-beholding eye of brightness: Yea, I rejoice in Thee, Thou
resplendent everlasting one: O Thou vast abysmal ocean of foaming
flames! I rejoice, yea, I shout with gladness! till the stars leap like
white coursers from the night, and the heavens resound as an army of
steel-clad warriors, at the Glory and Splendour of Thy Name.
-
- Ah! but I rejoice in Thee, O Thou my God; Thou star-blaze of
undying expectation; Thou ibis-throated voice of silence; Thou blinding
night of understanding: Yea, I rejoice in Thee, Thou white finger of
Chaotic law; O Thou creative cockatrice twined amongst the waters! I
rejoice, yea, I shout with gladness! till my cries stir the night as the
burnished gold of a lance thrust into a poisonous dragon of adamant, for
the Glory and Splendour of Thy Name.
-
- Ah! but I rejoice in Thee, O Thou my God; Thou self-luminous
refulgent Brilliance; Thou eye of light that hath no eyelid; Thou
turquoise-studded sceptre of deed: Yea, I rejoice in Thee, Thou white
furnace womb of Energy; O Thou spark-whirling forge of the substance of
the worlds; I rejoice, yea, I shout with gladness! till I mount as a
white beam unto the crown, and as a breath of night melt into the golden
lips of Thy dawn, in the Glory and Splendour of Thy Name.
Amen, and Amen of Amen, and Amen of Amen of Amen, and Amen
of Amen of Amen of Amen.
The Chapter known as
The
Twelvefold Humiliation of God and the Unity thereof
I adore Thee by the
Twelve Humiliations and by the Unity thereof.
-
- O my God, behold me fully and be merciful unto me, as I humble
myself before Thee; for all my searching is as a bat that seeks some
hollow of night upon a sun-parched wilderness.
-
- O my God, order me justly and be merciful unto me, as I humble
myself before Thee; for all my thoughts are as a dust-clad serpent wind
at noon that danceth through the ashen grass of law.
-
- O my God, conquer me with love and be merciful unto me, as I
humble myself before Thee; for all the striving of my spirit is as a
child's kiss that struggles through a cloud of tangled hair.
-
- O my God, suckle me with truth and be merciful unto me, as I
humble myself before Thee; for all my agony of anguish is but as a quail
struggling in the jaws of an hungry wolf.
-
- O my God, comfort me with ease and be merciful unto me, as I
humble myself before Thee; for all the toil of my life is but as a small
white mouse swimming through a vast sea of crimson blood.
-
- O my God, entreat me gently and be merciful unto me, as I
humble myself before Thee; for all my toil is but as a threadless
shuttle of steel thrust here and there in the black loom of night.
-
- O my God, fondle me with kisses and be merciful unto me, as I
humble myself before Thee; for all my desires are as dewdrops that are
sucked from silver lilies by the throat of a young god.
-
- O my God, exalt me with blood and be merciful unto me, as I
humble myself before Thee; for all my courage is but as the fang of a
viper that striketh at the rosy heel of dawn.
-
- O my God, teach me with patience and be merciful unto me, as I
humble myself before Thee; for all my knowledge is but as the refuse of
the chaff that is flung to the darkness of the void.
-
- O my God, measure me rightly and be merciful unto me, as I
humble myself before Thee; for all my praise is but as a single letter
of lead lost in the gilded scriptures of the rocks.
-
- O my God, fill me with slumber and be merciful unto me, as I
humble myself before Thee; for all my wakefulness is but as a cloud at
sunset that is like a snake gliding through the dew.
-
- O my God, kindle me with joy and be merciful unto me, as I
humble myself before Thee; for all the strength of my mind is but as a
web of silk that bindeth the milky breasts of the stars.
-
- O my God, consume me with fire and be merciful unto me, as I
humble myself before Thee; for all mine understanding is but as a
spider's thread drawn from star to star of a young galaxy.
Amen, and Amen of Amen, and Amen of Amen of Amen, and Amen
of Amen of Amen of Amen.
The Chapter known as
The
Twelvefold Lamentation of God and the Unity thereof
I adore Thee by the
Twelve Lamentations and by the Unity thereof.
-
- O woe unto me, my God, woe unto me; for all my song is as the
dirge of the sea that moans about a corpse, lapping most mournfully
against the dead shore in the darkness. Yet in the sob of the wind do I
hear Thy name, that quickeneth the cold lips of death to life.
-
- O woe unto me, my God, woe unto me; for all my praise is as
the song of a bird that is ensnared in the network of the winds, and
cast adown the drowning depths of night. Yet in the faltering notes of
my music do I mark the melody of universal truth.
-
- O woe unto me, my God, woe unto me; for all my works are as a
coiled-up sleeper who hath overslept the day, even the dawn that
hovereth as a hawk in the void. Yet in the gloom of mine awakening do I
see, across the breasts of night, Thy shadowed form.
-
- O woe unto me, my God, woe unto me; for all my labours are as
weary oxen laggard and sore stricken with the goad, ploughing black
furrows across the white fields of light. Yet in the scrawling trail of
their slow toil do I descry the golden harvest of Thine effulgence.
-
- O woe unto me, my God, woe unto me; for all the hope of my
heart hath been ravished as the body of a virgin that is fallen into the
hands of riotous robbers. Yet in the outrage of mine innocence do I
disclose the clear manna of Thy purity.
-
- O woe unto me, my God, woe unto me; for all the passion of my
love is mazed as the bewildered eyes of a youth, who should wake to find
his beloved fled away. Yet in the crumpled couch of lust do I behold as
an imprint the sigil of Thy name.
-
- O woe unto me, my God, woe unto me; for all the joy of my days
lies dishonoured as the spangle-veil'd Virgin of night torn and trampled
by the sun-lashed stallions of Dawn. Yet in the frenzy of their
couplings do I tremble forth the pearly dew of ecstatic light.
-
- O woe unto me, my God, woe unto me; for all the aspirations of
my heart ruin as in time of earthquake the bare hut of an hermit that he
hath built for prayer. Yet from the lightning-struck tower of my reason
do I enter Thy house that Thou didst build for me.
-
- O woe unto me, my God, woe unto me; for all my joy is as a
cloud of dust blown athwart a memory of tears, even across the
shadowless brow of the desert. Yet as from the breast of a slave-girl do
I pluck the fragrant blossom of Thy Crimson Splendour.
-
- O woe unto me, my God, woe unto me; for all the feastings of
my flesh have sickened to the wormy hunger of the grave, writhing in the
spasms of indolent decay. Yet in the maggots of my corruption do I
shadow forth sunlit hosts of crowned eagles.
-
- O woe unto me, my God, woe unto me; for all my craft is as an
injured arrow, featherless and twisted, that should be loosed from its
bowstring by the hands of an infant. Yet in the wayward struggling of
its flight do I grip the unwavering courses of Thy wisdom.
-
- O woe unto me, my God, woe unto me; for all my faith is as a
filthy puddle in the sinister confines of a forest, splashed by the
wanton foot of a young gnome. Yet like a wildfire through the trees at
nightfall do I divine the distant glimmer of Thine Eye.
-
- O woe unto me, my God, woe unto me; for all my life sinks as
the western Sun that struggles in the strangling arms of Night, flecked
over with the starry foam of her kisses. Yet in the very midnight of my
soul do I hold as a scarab the signet of Thy name.
Amen, and Amen of Amen, and Amen of Amen of Amen, and Amen
of Amen of Amen of Amen.
The Chapter known as
The
Twelvefold Bewilderment of God and the Unity thereof
I adore Thee by
the Twelve Bewilderments and by the Unity thereof.
-
- O what art Thou, O God my God, Thou snow-browed storm that art
whirled up in clouds of flame? O Thou red sword of the thunder! Thou
great blue river of ever-flowing Brightness, over whose breasts creep
the star-bannered vessels of night! O how can I plunge within Thine
inscrutable depths, and yet with open eye be lost in the pearly foam of
Thine Oblivion?
-
- O what art Thou, O God my God, Thou eternal incarnating
immortal One? O Thou welder of life and death! Thou whose breasts are as
the full breasts of a mother, yet in Thy hand Thou carriest the sword of
destruction! O how can I cleave the shield of Thy might as a little
wanton child may burst a floating bubble with the breast-feather of a
dove?
-
- O what art Thou, O God my God, Thou mighty worker laden with
the dust of toil? O Thou little ant of the earth! Thou great monster who
infuriatest the seas, and by their vigour wearest down the strength of
the cliffs! O how can I bind Thee in a spider's web of song, and yet
remain one and unconsumed before the raging of Thy nostrils?
-
- O what art Thou, O God my God, Thou forked tongue of the
purple-throated thunder? O Thou silver sword of lightning! Thou who
rippest out the fire-bolt from the storm-cloud, as a sorcerer teareth
the heart from a black kid! O how can I possess Thee as the dome of the
skies, so that I may fix the keystone of my reason in the arch of Thy
forehead?
-
- O what art Thou, O God my God, Thou amber-scal'd one whose
eyes are set on columns? O Thou sightless seer of all things! Thou
spearless warrior who urgest on Thy steeds and blindest the outer edge
of darkness with Thy Glory! O how can I grasp the whirling wheels of Thy
splendour, and yet be not smitten into death by the hurtling fury of Thy
chariot?
-
- O what art Thou, O God my God, Thou red fire-fang that gnawest
the blue limbs of night? O Thou devouring breath of flame! Thou
illimitable ocean of frenzied air, in whom all is one, a plume cast into
a furnace! O how can I dare to approach and stand before Thee, for I am
but as a withered leaf whirled away by the anger of the storm?
-
- O what art Thou, O God my God, Thou almighty worker ungirded
of slumber? O Thou Unicorn of the Stars! Thou tongue of flame burning
above the firmament, as a lily that blossometh in the drear desert! O
how can I pluck Thee from the dark bed of Thy birth, and revel like a
wine-drenched faun in the banqueting-house of Thy Seigniory?
-
- O what art Thou, O God my God, Thou dazzler of the deep
obscurity of day? O Thou golden breast of beauty! Thou shrivelled udder
of the storm-blasted mountains, who no longer sucklest the babe-clouds
of wind-swept night! O how can I gaze upon Thy countenance of eld, and
yet be not blinded by the black fury of Thy dethroned Majesty?
-
- O what art Thou, O God my God, Thou seraph-venom of
witch-vengeance enchaunted? O Thou coiled wizardry of stars! Thou one
Lord of life triumphant over death, Thou red rose of love nailed to the
cross of golden light! O how can I die in Thee as sea-foam in the
clouds, and yet possess Thee as a frail white mist possessess the
stripped limbs of the Sun?
-
- O what art Thou, O God my God, Thou soft pearl set in a bow of
effulgent light? O Thou drop of shimmering dew! Thou surging river of
bewildering beauty who speedest as a blue arrow of fire beyond, beyond!
O how can I measure the poisons of Thy limbeck, and yet be for ever
transmuted in the athanor of Thine understanding?
-
- O what art Thou, O God my God, Thou disrober of the darkness
of the Abyss? O Thou veil'd eye of creation! Thou soundless voice who,
for ever misunderstood, rollest on through the dark abysms of infinity!
O how can I learn to sing the music of Thy name, as a quivering silence
above the thundering discord of the tempest?
-
- O what art Thou, O God my God, Thou teeming desert of the
abundance of night? O Thou river of unquench'd thirst! Thou tongueless
one who lickest up the dust of death and casteth it forth as the rolling
ocean of life! O how can I possess the still depths of Thy darkness, and
yet in Thine embrace fall asleep as a child in a bower of lilies?
-
- O what art Thou, O God my God, Thou shrouded one veiled in a
dazzling effulgence? O Thou centreless whorl of Time! Thou illimitable
abysm of Righteousness, the lashes of whose eye are as showers of molten
suns! O how can I reflect the light of Thine unity, and melt into Thy
Glory as a cloudy chaplet of chalcedony moons?
Amen, and Amen of Amen, and Amen of Amen of Amen, and Amen
of Amen of Amen of Amen.
The Chapter known as
The
Twelvefold Unification of God and the Unity thereof
I adore Thee by the
Twelve Unifications and by the Unity thereof.
- O Thou Unity of all things: as the water that poureth through the
fingers of my hand, so art Thou, O God my God. I cannot hold Thee, for
Thou art everywhere; lo! though I plunge into the heart of the ocean,
there still shall I find Thee, Thou Unity of Unities, Thou Oneness, O
Thou perfect Nothingness of Bliss!
- O Thou Unity of all things: as the hot fire that flameth is too
subtle to be held, so art Thou, O God my God. I cannot grasp Thee, for
Thou art everywhere; lo! though I hurl me down the scarlet throat of a
volcano, there still shall I find Thee, Thou Unity of Unities, Thou
Oneness, O Thou perfect Nothingness of Bliss!
- O Thou Unity of all things: as the moon that waneth and increaseth
in the heavens, so art Thou, O God my God. I cannot stay Thee; for Thou
art everywhere; lo! though I devour Thee, as a dragon devoureth a kid,
there still shall I find Thee, Thou Unity of Unities, Thou Oneness, O
Thou perfect Nothingness of Bliss!
- O Thou Unity of all things: as the dust that danceth over the breast
of the desert, so art Thou, O God my God. I cannot seize Thee, for Thou
art everywhere; lo! though I lick up with my tongue the bitter salt of
the plains, there still shall I find Thee, Thou Unity of Unities, Thou
Oneness, O Thou perfect Nothingness of Bliss!
- O Thou Unity of all things: as the air that bubbleth from the dark
depths of the waters, so art Thou, O God my God. I cannot catch Thee,
for Thou art everywhere; lo! though I net Thee as a goldfish in a
kerchief of silk, there still shall I find Thee, Thou Unity of Unities,
Thou Oneness, O Thou perfect Nothingness of Bliss!
- O Thou Unity of all things: as the cloud that flitteth across the
white horns of the moon, so art Thou, O God my God. I cannot pierce
Thee, for Thou art everywhere; lo! though I tangle Thee in a
witch-gossamer of starlight, there still shall I find Thee, Thou Unity
of Unities, Thou Oneness, O Thou perfect Nothingness of Bliss!
- O Thou Unity of all things: as the star that travelleth along its
appointed course, so art Thou, O God my God. I cannot rule Thee, for
Thou art everywhere; lo! though I hunt Thee across the blue heavens as a
lost comet, there still shall I find Thee, Thou Unity of Unities, Thou
Oneness, O Thou perfect Nothingness of Bliss!
- O Thou Unity of all things: as the lightning that lurketh in the
heart of the thunder, so art Thou, O God my God. I cannot search Thee,
for Thou art everywhere; lo! though I wed the flaming circle to the
enshrouded square, there still shall I find Thee, Thou Unity of Unities,
Thou Oneness, O Thou perfect Nothingness of Bliss!
- O Thou Unity of all things: as the earth that holdeth all precious
jewels in her heart, so art Thou, O God my God. I cannot spoil Thee, for
Thou art everywhere; lo! though I burrow as a mole in the mountain of
Chaos, there still shall I find Thee, Thou Unity of Unities, Thou
Oneness, O Thou perfect Nothingness of Bliss!
- O Thou Unity of all things: as the pole-star that burneth in the
centre of the night, so art Thou, O God my God. I cannot hide Thee, for
Thou art everywhere; lo! though I turn from Thee at each touch of the
lodestone of lust, there still shall I find Thee, Thou Unity of Unities,
Thou Oneness, O Thou perfect Nothingness of Bliss!
- O Thou Unity of all things: as the blue smoke that whirleth up from
the altar of life, so art Thou, O God my God. I cannot find Thee, for
Thou art everywhere; lo! though I inter Thee in the sarcophagi of the
damned, there still shall I find Thee, Thou Unity of Unities, Thou
Oneness, O Thou perfect Nothingness of Bliss!
- O Thou Unity of all things: as a dark-eyed maiden decked in crimson
and precious pearls, so art Thou, O God my God. I cannot rob Thee, for
Thou art everywhere; lo! though I strip Thee of Thy gold and scarlet
raiment of Self, there still shall I find Thee, Thou Unity of Unities,
Thou Oneness, O Thou perfect Nothingness of Bliss!
- . O Thou Unity of all things: as the sun that rolleth through the
twelve mansions of the skies, so art Thou, O God my God. I cannot slay
Thee, for Thou art everywhere; lo! though I lick up the Boundless Light,
the Boundless, and the Not, there still shall I find Thee, Thou Unity of
Unities, Thou Oneness, O Thou perfect Nothingness of Bliss!
Amen, and Amen of Amen, and Amen of Amen of Amen, and Amen
of Amen of Amen of Amen.
The Chapter known as
The Hundred and Sixty-Nine Cries
of
Adoration and the Unity thereof
I adore Thee by the Hundred and Sixty- Nine Cries of
Adoration and by the Unity thereof.
O Thou Dragon-prince of the air, that art drunk on the blood of the
sunsets! I adore Thee, Evoe! I adore Thee, IAO!
O Thou Unicorn of the storm, that art crested above the purple
air! I adore Thee, Evoe! I adore Thee, IAO!
O Thou burning sword of passion, that art tempered on the anvil
of flesh! I adore Thee, Evoe! I adore Thee, IAO!
O Thou slimy lust of the grave, that art tangled in the roots of
the tree! I adore Thee, Evoe! I adore Thee, IAO!
O Thou smoke-shrouded sword of flame, that art ensheathed in the
bowels of earth! I adore Thee, Evoe! I adore Thee, IAO!
O Thou scented grove of wild vines, that art trampled by the
white feet of love! I adore Thee, Evoe! I adore Thee, IAO!
O Thou golden sheaf of desires, that art bound by a fair wisp of
poppies! I adore Thee, Evoe! I adore Thee, IAO!
O Thou molten comet of gold, that art seen through the wizard's
glass of Space! I adore Thee, Evoe! I adore Thee, IAO!
O Thou shrill song of the eunuch, that art heard behind the
curtain of shame! I adore Thee, Evoe! I adore Thee, IAO!
O Thou bright star of the morning, that art set betwixt the
breasts of night! I adore Thee, Evoe! I adore Thee, IAO!
O Thou lidless eye of the world, that art seen through the
sapphire veil of space! I adore Thee, Evoe! I adore Thee, IAO!
O Thou smiling mouth of the dawn, that art freed from the
laughter of the night! I adore Thee, Evoe! I adore Thee, IAO!
O Thou dazzling star-point of hope, that burnest over oceans of
despair! I adore Thee, Evoe! I adore Thee, IAO!
O Thou naked virgin of love, that art caught in a net of wild
roses! I adore Thee, Evoe! I adore Thee, IAO!
O Thou iron turret of death, that art rusted with the bright
blood of war! I adore Thee, Evoe! I adore Thee, IAO!
O Thou bubbling wine-cup of joy, that foamest like the cauldron
of murder! I adore Thee, Evoe! I adore Thee, IAO!
O Thou icy trail of the moon, that art traced in the veins of the
onyx! I adore Thee, Evoe! I adore Thee, IAO!
O Thou frenzied hunter of love, that art slain by the twisted
horns of lust! I adore Thee, Evoe! I adore Thee, IAO!
O Thou frozen book of the seas, that art graven by the swords of
the sun! I adore Thee, Evoe! I adore Thee, IAO!
O Thou flashing opal of light, that art wrapped in the robes of
the rainbow! I adore Thee, Evoe! I adore Thee, IAO!
O Thou purple mist of the hills, that hideth shepherds from the
wanton moon! I adore Thee, Evoe! I adore Thee, IAO!
O Thou low moan of fainting maids, that art caught up in the
strong sobs of love! I adore Thee, Evoe! I adore Thee, IAO!
O Thou fleeting beam of delight, that lurkest within the
spear-thrusts of dawn! I adore Thee, Evoe! I adore Thee, IAO!
O Thou golden wine of the sun, that art poured over the dark
breasts of night! I adore Thee, Evoe! I adore Thee, IAO!
O Thou fragrance of sweet flowers, that art wafted over blue
fields of air! I adore Thee, Evoe! I adore Thee, IAO!
O Thou mighty bastion of faith, that withstandest all the
breachers of doubt! I adore Thee, Evoe! I adore Thee, IAO!
O Thou silver horn of the moon, that gorest the red flank of the
morning! I adore Thee, Evoe! I adore Thee, IAO!
O Thou grey glory of twilight, that art the hermaphrodite
triumphant! I adore Thee, Evoe! I adore Thee, IAO!
O Thou thirsty mouth of the wind, that art maddened by the foam
of the sea! I adore Thee, Evoe! I adore Thee, IAO!
O Thou couch of rose-leaf desires, that art crumpled by the vine
and the fir! I adore Thee, Evoe! I adore Thee, IAO!
O Thou bird-sweet river of Love, that warblest through the pebbly
gorge of Life! I adore Thee, Evoe! I adore Thee, IAO!
O Thou golden network of stars, that art girt about the cold
breasts of Night! I adore Thee, Evoe! I adore Thee, IAO!
O Thou mad whirlwind of laughter, that art meshed in the wild
locks of folly! I adore Thee, Evoe! I adore Thee, IAO!
O Thou white hand of Creation, that holdest up the dying head of
Death! I adore Thee, Evoe! I adore Thee, IAO!
O Thou purple tongue of Twilight, that dost lap up the lucent
milk of Day! I adore Thee, Evoe! I adore Thee, IAO!
O Thou thunderbolt of Science, that flashest from the dark clouds
of Magic! I adore Thee, Evoe! I adore Thee, IAO!
O Thou red rose of the Morning, that glowest in the bosom of the
Night! I adore Thee, Evoe! I adore Thee, IAO!
O Thou flaming globe of Glory, that art caught up in the arms of
the sun! I adore Thee, Evoe! I adore Thee, IAO!
O Thou silver arrow of hope, that art shot from the arc of the
rainbow! I adore Thee, Evoe! I adore Thee, IAO!
O Thou starry virgin of Night, that art strained to the arms of
the morning! I adore Thee, Evoe! I adore Thee, IAO!
O Thou sworded soldier of life, that art sucked down in the
quicksands of death! I adore Thee, Evoe! I adore Thee, IAO!
O Thou bronze blast of the trumpet, that rollest over
emerald-tipped spears! I adore Thee, Evoe! I adore Thee, IAO!
O Thou opal mist of the sea, that art sucked up by the beams of
the sun! I adore Thee, Evoe! I adore Thee, IAO!
O Thou red worm of formation, that art lifted by the white whorl
of love! I adore Thee, Evoe! I adore Thee, IAO!
O Thou mighty anvil of Time, that outshowerest the bright sparks
of life! I adore Thee, Evoe! I adore Thee, IAO!
O Thou red cobra of desire, that art unhooded by the hands of
girls! I adore Thee, Evoe! I adore Thee, IAO!
O Thou curling billow of joy, whose fingers caress the limbs of
the world! I adore Thee, Evoe! I adore Thee, IAO!
O Thou emerald vulture of Truth, that art perched upon the vast
tree of life! I adore Thee, Evoe! I adore Thee, IAO!
O Thou lonely eagle of night, that drinkest at the moist lips of
the moon! I adore Thee, Evoe! I adore Thee, IAO!
O Thou wild daughter of Chaos, that art ravished by the strong
son of law! I adore Thee, Evoe! I adore Thee, IAO!
O Thou ghostly night of terror, that art slaughtered in the blood
of the dawn! I adore Thee, Evoe! I adore Thee, IAO!
O Thou poppied nectar of sleep, that art curled in the still womb
of slumber! I adore Thee, Evoe! I adore Thee, IAO!
O Thou burning rapture of girls, that disport in the sunset of
passion! I adore Thee, Evoe! I adore Thee, IAO!
O Thou molten ocean of stars, that art a crown for the forehead
of day! I adore Thee, Evoe! I adore Thee, IAO!
O Thou little brook in the hills, like an asp betwixt the breasts
of a girl! I adore Thee, Evoe! I adore Thee, IAO!
O Thou mighty oak of magic, that art rooted in the mountain of
life! I adore Thee, Evoe! I adore Thee, IAO!
O Thou sparkling network of pearls, that art woven of the waves
by the moon! I adore Thee, Evoe! I adore Thee, IAO!
O Thou wanton sword-blade of life, that art sheathed by the
harlot call'd Death! I adore Thee, Evoe! I adore Thee, IAO!
O Thou mist-clad spirit of spring, that art unrob'd by the hands
of the wind! I adore Thee, Evoe! I adore Thee, IAO!
O Thou sweet perfume of desire, that art wafted through the
valleys of love! I adore Thee, Evoe! I adore Thee, IAO!
O Thou sparkling wine-cup of light, whose foaming is the heart's
blood of the stars! I adore Thee, Evoe! I adore Thee, IAO!
O Thou silver sword of madness, that art smitten through the
midden of life! I adore Thee, Evoe! I adore Thee, IAO!
O Thou hooded vulture of night, that art glutted on the entrails
of day! I adore Thee, Evoe! I adore Thee, IAO!
O Thou pearl-grey arch of the world, whose keystone is the
ecstasy of man! I adore Thee, Evoe! I adore Thee, IAO!
O Thou silken web of movement, that art blown through the atoms
of matter! I adore Thee, Evoe! I adore Thee, IAO!
O Thou rush-strewn threshold of joy, that art lost in the
quicksands of reason! I adore Thee, Evoe! I adore Thee, IAO!
O Thou wild vision of Beauty, but half seen betwixt the cusps of
the moon! I adore Thee, Evoe! I adore Thee, IAO!
O Thou pearl cloud of the sunset, that art caught up in a
murderer's hand! I adore Thee, Evoe! I adore Thee, IAO!
O Thou rich vintage of slumber, that art crushed from the bud of
the poppy! I adore Thee, Evoe! I adore Thee, IAO!
O Thou great boulder of rapture, that leapest adown the mountains
of joy! I adore Thee, Evoe! I adore Thee, IAO!
O Thou breather-out of the winds, that art snared in the drag-net
of reason! I adore Thee, Evoe! I adore Thee, IAO!
O Thou purple breast of the storm, that art scarred by the teeth
of the lightning! I adore Thee, Evoe! I adore Thee, IAO!
O Thou Pillar of phosphor foam, that Leviathan spouteth from's
nostrils! I adore Thee, Evoe! I adore Thee, IAO!
O Thou song of the harp of life, that chantest forth the
perfection of death! I adore Thee, Evoe! I adore Thee, IAO!
O Thou veiled beam of the stars, that art tangled in the tresses
of night! I adore Thee, Evoe! I adore Thee, IAO!
O Thou flashing shield of the sun, as a discus hurled by the hand
of Space! I adore Thee, Evoe! I adore Thee, IAO!
O Thou ribald shout of laughter, that echoest among the tombs of
death! I adore Thee, Evoe! I adore Thee, IAO!
O Thou unfailing cruse of joy, that art filled with the tears of
the fallen! I adore Thee, Evoe! I adore Thee, IAO!
O Thou burning lust of the moon, that art clothed in the mist of
the ocean! I adore Thee, Evoe! I adore Thee, IAO!
O Thou one measure of all things, that art Dam of the great order
of worlds! I adore Thee, Evoe! I adore Thee, IAO!
O Thou frail virgin of Eden, that art ravished to the abode of
Hell! I adore Thee, Evoe! I adore Thee, IAO!
O Thou dark forest of wonder, that art tangled in a gold web of
dew! I adore Thee, Evoe! I adore Thee, IAO!
O Thou tortured shriek of the storm, that art whirled up through
the leaves of the woods! I adore Thee, Evoe! I adore Thee, IAO!
O Thou dazzling opal of light, that flamest in the crumbling
skull of space! I adore Thee, Evoe! I adore Thee, IAO!
O Thou red knife of destruction, that art sheathed in the bowels
of order! I adore Thee, Evoe! I adore Thee, IAO!
O Thou storm-drunk breath of the winds, that pant in the bosom of
the mountains! I adore Thee, Evoe! I adore Thee, IAO!
O Thou loud bell of rejoicing, that art smitten by the hammer of
woe! I adore Thee, Evoe! I adore Thee, IAO!
O Thou red rose of the sunset, that witherest on the altar of
night! I adore Thee, Evoe! I adore Thee, IAO!
O Thou bright vision of sunbeams, that burnest in a flagon of
topaz! I adore Thee, Evoe! I adore Thee, IAO!
O Thou virgin lily of night, that sproutest between the lips of a
corpse! I adore Thee, Evoe! I adore Thee, IAO!
O Thou blue helm of destruction, that art winged with the
lightnings of madness! I adore Thee, Evoe! I adore Thee, IAO!
O Thou voice of the heaving seas, that tremblest in the grey of
the twilight! I adore Thee, Evoe! I adore Thee, IAO!
O Thou unfolder of heaven, red-winged as an eagle at sunrise! I
adore Thee, Evoe! I adore Thee, IAO!
O Thou curling tongue of red flame, athirst on the nipple of my
passion! I adore Thee, Evoe! I adore Thee, IAO!
O Thou outrider of the sun, that spurrest the bloody flanks of
the wind! I adore Thee, Evoe! I adore Thee, IAO!
O Thou dancer with gilded nails, that unbraidest the star-hair of
the night! I adore Thee, Evoe! I adore Thee, IAO!
O Thou moonlit pearl of rapture, clasped fast in the silver hand
of the Dawn! I adore Thee, Evoe! I adore Thee, IAO!
O Thou wanton mother of love, that art mistress of the children
of men! I adore Thee, Evoe! I adore Thee, IAO!
O Thou crimson fountain of blood, that spoutest from the heart of
Creation! I adore Thee, Evoe! I adore Thee, IAO!
O Thou warrior eye of the sun, that shooteth death from the
berylline Byss! I adore Thee, Evoe! I adore Thee, IAO!
O Thou Witch's hell-broth of hate, that boilest in the white
cauldron of love! I adore Thee, Evoe! I adore Thee, IAO!
O Thou Ribbon of Northern Lights, that bindest the elfin tresses
of night! I adore Thee, Evoe! I adore Thee, IAO!
O Thou red sword of the Twilight, that art rusted with the blood
of the noon! I adore Thee, Evoe! I adore Thee, IAO!
O Thou sacrificer of Dawn, that wearest the chasuble of sunset! I
adore Thee, Evoe! I adore Thee, IAO!
O Thou bloodshot eye of lightning, glowering beneath the eyebrows
of thunder! I adore Thee, Evoe! I adore Thee, IAO!
O Thou four-square Crown of Nothing, that circlest the
destruction of worlds! I adore Thee, Evoe! I adore Thee, IAO!
O Thou bloodhound whirlwind of lust, that art unleashed by the
first kiss of love! I adore Thee, Evoe! I adore Thee, IAO!
O Thou wondrous chalice of light, uplifted by the Maenads of
Dawn! I adore Thee, Evoe! I adore Thee, IAO!
O Thou fecund opal of death, that sparklest through a sea of
mother-of-pearl! I adore Thee, Evoe! I adore Thee, IAO!
O Thou crimson rose of the Dawn, that art fastened in the dark
locks of Night! I adore Thee, Evoe! I adore Thee, IAO!
O Thou pink nipple of Being, thrust deep into the black mouth of
Chaos! I adore Thee, Evoe! I adore Thee, IAO!
O Thou vampire Queen of the Flesh, wound as a snake around the
throats of men! I adore Thee, Evoe! I adore Thee, IAO!
O Thou tender nest of dove's down, built up betwixt the hawk's
claws of the Night! I adore Thee, Evoe! I adore Thee, IAO!
O Thou concubine of Matter, anointed with love-nard of Motion! I
adore Thee, Evoe! I adore Thee, IAO!
O Thou flame-tipp'd bolt of Morning, that art shot out from the
crossbow of Night! I adore Thee, Evoe! I adore Thee, IAO!
O Thou frail blue-bell of Moonlight, that art lost in the gardens
of the Stars! I adore Thee, Evoe! I adore Thee, IAO!
O Thou tall mast of wreck'd Chaos, that art crowned by the white
lamp of Cosmos! I adore Thee, Evoe! I adore Thee, IAO!
O Thou pearly eyelid of Day, that art closed by the finger of
Evening! I adore Thee, Evoe! I adore Thee, IAO!
O Thou wild anarch of the Hills, pale glooming above the mists of
the Earth! I adore Thee, Evoe! I adore Thee, IAO!
O Thou moonlit peak of pleasure, that art crowned by viper
tongues of forked flame! I adore Thee, Evoe! I adore Thee, IAO!
O Thou wolfish head of the winds, that frighteth the snow-white
lamb of winter! I adore Thee, Evoe! I adore Thee, IAO!
O Thou dew-lit nymph of the Dawn, that swoonest in the satyr arms
of the Sun! I adore Thee, Evoe! I adore Thee, IAO!
O Thou mad abode of kisses, that art lit by the fat of murdered
fiends! I adore Thee, Evoe! I adore Thee, IAO!
O Thou sleeping lust of the Storm, that art flame-gorg'd as a
flint full of fire! I adore Thee, Evoe! I adore Thee, IAO!
O Thou soft dew of the Evening, that art drunk up by the mist of
the Night! I adore Thee, Evoe! I adore Thee, IAO!
O Thou wounded son of the West, that gushest out Thy blood on the
heavens! I adore Thee, Evoe! I adore Thee, IAO!
O Thou burning tower of fire, that art set up in the midst of the
seas! I adore Thee, Evoe! I adore Thee, IAO!
O Thou unvintageable dew, that art moist upon the lips of the
Morn! I adore Thee, Evoe! I adore Thee, IAO!
O Thou silver crescent of love, that burnest over the dark helm
of War! I adore Thee, Evoe! I adore Thee, IAO!
O Thou snow-white ram of the Dawn, that art slain by the lion of
the noon! I adore Thee, Evoe! I adore Thee, IAO!
O Thou crimson spear-point of life, that art thrust through the
dark bowels of Time! I adore Thee, Evoe! I adore Thee, IAO!
O Thou black waterspout of Death, that whirlest, whelmest the
tall ship of Life! I adore Thee, Evoe! I adore Thee, IAO!
O Thou mighty chain of events, that art strained betwixt Cosmos
and Chaos! I adore Thee, Evoe! I adore Thee, IAO!
O Thou towering eagre of lust, that art heaped up by the
moon-breasts of youth! I adore Thee, Evoe! I adore Thee, IAO!
O Thou serpent-crown of green light, that art wound round the
dark forehead of Death! I adore Thee, Evoe! I adore Thee, IAO!
O Thou crimson vintage of Life, that art poured into the jar of
the Grave! I adore Thee, Evoe! I adore Thee, IAO!
O Thou waveless Ocean of Peace, that sleepest beneath the wild
heart of man! I adore Thee, Evoe! I adore Thee, IAO!
O Thou whirling skirt of the stars, that art swathed round the
limbs of the AEthyr! I adore Thee, Evoe! I adore Thee, IAO!
O Thou snow-white chalice of Love, thou art filled up with the
red lusts of Man! I adore Thee, Evoe! I adore Thee, IAO!
O Thou fragrant garden of Joy, firm-set betwixt the breasts of
the morning! I adore Thee, Evoe! I adore Thee, IAO!
O Thou pearly fountain of Life, that spoutest up in the black
court of Death! I adore Thee, Evoe! I adore Thee, IAO!
O Thou brindle hound of the Night, with thy nose to the sleuth of
the Sunset! I adore Thee, Evoe! I adore Thee, IAO!
O Thou leprous claw of the ghoul, that coaxest the babe from its
chaste cradle! I adore Thee, Evoe! I adore Thee, IAO!
O Thou assassin word of law, that art written in ruin of
earthquakes! I adore Thee, Evoe! I adore Thee, IAO!
O Thou trembling breast of the night, that gleamest with a rosary
of moons! I adore Thee, Evoe! I adore Thee, IAO!
O Thou Holy Sphinx of rebirth, that crouchest in the black desert
of death! I adore Thee, Evoe! I adore Thee, IAO!
O Thou diadem of the suns, that art the knot of this red web of
worlds! I adore Thee, Evoe! I adore Thee, IAO!
O Thou ravished river of law, that outpourest the arcanum of
Life! I adore Thee, Evoe! I adore Thee, IAO!
O Thou glimmering tongue of day, that art sucked into the blue
lips of Night! I adore Thee, Evoe! I adore Thee, IAO!
O Thou Queen-Bee of Heaven's hive, that smearest thy thighs with
honey of Hell! I adore Thee, Evoe! I adore Thee, IAO!
O Thou scarlet dragon of flame, enmeshed in the web of a spider!
I adore Thee, Evoe! I adore Thee, IAO!
O Thou magic symbol of light, that art frozen on the black book
of blood! I adore Thee, Evoe! I adore Thee, IAO!
O Thou swathed image of Death, that art hidden in the coffin of
joy! I adore Thee, Evoe! I adore Thee, IAO!
O Thou red breast of the sunset, that pantest for the ravishment
of Night! I adore Thee, Evoe! I adore Thee, IAO!
O Thou serpent of malachite, that baskest in a desert of
turquoise! I adore Thee, Evoe! I adore Thee, IAO!
O Thou fierce whirlpool of passion, that art sucked up by the
mouth of the sun! I adore Thee, Evoe! I adore Thee, IAO!
O Thou green cockatrice of Hell, that art coiled around the
finger of Fate! I adore Thee, Evoe! I adore Thee, IAO!
O Thou lambent laughter of fire, that art wound round the heart
of the waters! I adore Thee, Evoe! I adore Thee, IAO!
O Thou gorilla blizzard Air, that tearest out Earth's tresses by
the roots! I adore Thee, Evoe! I adore Thee, IAO!
O Thou reveller of Spirit, that carousest in the halls of Matter!
I adore Thee, Evoe! I adore Thee, IAO!
O Thou red-lipped Vampire of Life, that drainest blood from the
black Mount of Death! I adore Thee, Evoe! I adore Thee, IAO!
O Thou little lark of Beyond, that art heard in the dark groves
of knowledge! I adore Thee, Evoe! I adore Thee, IAO!
O Thou summer softness of lips, that glow hot with the scarlet of
passion! I adore Thee, Evoe! I adore Thee, IAO!
O Thou pearly foam of the grape, that art flecked with the roses
of love! I adore Thee, Evoe! I adore Thee, IAO!
O Thou frenzied hand of the seas, that unfurlest the black Banner
of Storm! I adore Thee, Evoe! I adore Thee, IAO!
O Thou shrouded book of the dead, that art sealed with the seven
souls of man! I adore Thee, Evoe! I adore Thee, IAO!
O Thou writhing frenzy of love, that art knotted like the
grid-flames of Hell! I adore Thee, Evoe! I adore Thee, IAO!
O Thou primal birth-ring of thought, that dost encircle the thumb
of the soul! I adore Thee, Evoe! I adore Thee, IAO!
O Thou blind flame of Nothingness, as a crown upon my brow! I
adore Thee, Evoe! I adore Thee, IAO!
Amen, and Amen of Amen, and Amen of Amen of Amen,
and Amen of Amen of Amen of Amen.
The Chapter known as
The Unconsciousness of
God
that is hidden from man for a sign
I adore Thee by the Twelvefold Sign and by the Unity
thereof.
- The Light of my Life is as the light of two moons, one rising and
the other setting, one increasing and the other waning; the one growing
fat as the other groweth lean, like a paunchy thief sucking dry a skin
of amber wine. Yet though the light of the first devoureth the light of
the second, nevertheless the light of the second disgorgeth the light of
the first, so that there is neither the desire of light nor the need of
light--- all being as a woven twilight of day and night, a madness of
mingling moons. Yet I behold!
- Now mine eyes are seven, and are as stars about a star; and the lids
of mine eyes are fourteen, two to each eye. Also have I seven arms to do
the bidding of the seven eyes; and each arm hath an hand of three
fingers, so that I may rule the great ocean and burn it up with the
Spirit of Flame, and that I may drown the fire in the Abode of the
Waters. Thus I am rendered naked; for neither flame nor water can clothe
me; therefore am I as a breath of wind blown over an Earth of Adamant,
that knoweth neither sorrow nor rejoicing; then do I abide as a River of
Light between the Night of Chaos and the Day of Creation.
- Two are the moons of my madness, like the horns on the head of a
goat. And between them burneth a pyramid of flame, which consumeth
neither but blindeth both, so that the one beholdeth not the other.
Notwithstanding, when the one is lost in the water, and the other is
burnt up in the flame, they become united in the form of a woman
fashioned of Earth and of Air, who without husband is yet mother of many
sons.
- Now the Sons are in truth but one Son; and the one Son but a
daughter draped and never naked; for her mother is naked, therefore is
she robed. And she is called the Light of my Love, for she is concealed
and cannot be seen, as the Sun burneth over her and drowneth her in
fire, whilst below her surgeth the sea, whose waves are as flames of
water. When thou hast licked up the ocean thou shalt not see her because
of the fire; and when thou hast swallowed the Sun surely shall the
waters be driven from thee, so that though the fire be thine the water
hath slipped thee, as a dog its leash. Yet the path is straight.
- Along it shalt thou journey, and then shalt thou learn that the fear
of death is the blood of the world. So the woman dressed herself in the
shrouds of the dead, and decked herself with the bones of the fallen;
and all feared her, therefore they lived. But she feared life; therefore
she wove a dew-moon in her tangled hair as a sign of the fickleness of
Death, and wept tears of bitter sorrow that she should live in the
blossom of her youth. And her tears crept like scorpions down her
cheeks, and sped away in the darkness like serpents; and for each
serpent came there an eagle which did carry it away.
- "Why weep?" said the Balance swinging to the left.
"Why laugh?" said the Balance swinging to the right. "Why
not remain still?" answered the Hand that held the Balance. And the
Balance replied: "Because on my right laughs Death and on my left
weeps a Virgin."
- Then the voice of the Hand said to the girl: "Why weep?"
And the maid answered: "Because Death maketh jest of my life."
Then the Hand stayed the Balance, and at once the girl saw that she was
Death, and that Death that had sat opposite her was in truth a
motherless babe. So she took the child she had conceived in the arms of
fear, and went her way laughing.
- And the infant grew strong; yet its strength was in its weakness;
and though to look at it from before was to look upon a man-child, from
behind it was a little girl with golden hair. Now, when the child wished
to tempt a maid he faced and approached her; and when the child wished
to tempt a man she turned her back on him and fled.
- But one day the child met, at the self-same hour, Love; and the man,
seeing a woman, approached her eagerly, and the woman, seeing a man,
fled, so that he might capture her. Thus it came about that the child
met the child and wondered, not knowing that the child had lost the
child. So it was that they walked side by side.
- Then that part of the child that was man loved and lusted for that
part of the child that was woman; and each knew not that each was the
other, and felt that they were two and yet one, nevertheless one and yet
two. And when one said: "Who art thou?" the other answered at
the self-same moment: "Who am I?"
- Soon becoming perplexed if I were Thou, or if Thou were I, it came
about that the I mingled with the Thou, and the Thou with the I, so that
six added to ten became sixteen, which is felicity; for it is the
interplay of the elements. Four are the elements that make man, and four
are the elements that make woman. Thus was the child reborn.
- But though the man ruleth the woman, and the woman ruleth the man,
the Child ruleth both its mother and father, and being five is Emperor
over the kingdom of their hearts. To its father it giveth four, and to
its mother it giveth four, yet it remaineth five, for it hath of its
father an half and of its mother an half; but in itself it is equal to
both its father and its mother; for it is father of fathers and mother
of mothers.
- 0. Therefore is it One Whole, and not two halves; and being One is
Thirteen, which is called Nothing when it is All-things.
Amen without lie, and Amen of Amen, and Amen of Amen of
Amen.
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