The Book of Lies

The Book Of lies is probably my favorite work by Crowley. One thing that has always intriged me is this quote by crowley in the foreword -

"Shortly after publication, the O.H.O. (Outer Head of the OTO) came to me. (At that time I did not realise that there was anything in the OTO beyond a convenient compendium of the more important truths of Free Masonary.) He said that since I was acquainted with the supreme secret of the order, I must be allowed the IX grade and obligated in regard to it. I protested that I knew no such secret. He said ' But you have printed it in the plainest language'. I said that I could not have done so because I did not know it. He went to the book-shelves; taking out a copy of The Book of Lies, he pointed to a passage in the despised chapter. It instantly flashed upon me. The entire symbolism not only of Free Masonary but of many other traditions blazed upon my spiritual vision. From that moment the OTO assumed its proper importance in my mind. I understood that I held in my hands the key to the future progress of humanity....."

A bold claim, but I wonder, what chapter could it be , he never says. Could it be Crowley at his mischievious best or does this chapter lurk within this little gem?

--96---

ZenMusic said:

--96---

Click to expand...

Oh, really? Why?

What is the title of Chapter 96? Does your Book of Lies have that many chapters?

{Maybe some pages are missing from mine:
91
THE HEIKLE
A. M. E. N.
COMMENTARY
It is a good title for the last chapter of this book, and
it also symbolises the eventual coming out into the light
of his that has wandered long in the darkness.
91 is the numberation of Amen.
The chapter consists of an analysis of this word, but
gives no indication as to the result of this analysis, as
if to imply this: The final Mystery is always insoluble.
FINIS.
CORONAT OPUS.}

Or is it a lie, and being a lie on this plane = a truth on another ?

Or do we have a case of deliberatly muddling the facts to preserve the secrets imparted to one in initiation? (That one again )

Or are you using a reversal?

The standard quote for that refrence is the Chapter (and I cant off hand say which one it is) that refers to the magician armed with his magick rood and mystic rose (or something like that), which to me seems a bit general and not specific to those particular 'mysteries'.

But let's reverse ZenMusic's revelation; 69. ... AHA!

69

THE WAY TO SUCCEED-AND THE WAY TO
SUCK EGGS!

This is the Holy Hexagram.
Plunge from the height, O God, and interlock with
Man!
Plunge from the height, O Man, and interlock with
Beast!
The Red Triangle is the descending tongue of grace;
the Blue Triangle is the ascending tongue of
prayer
This Interchange, the Double Gift of Tongues, the
Word of Double Power-ABRAHADABRA!-is
the sign of the GREAT WORK, for the GREAT
WORK is accomplished in Silence. And behold is
not that Word equal to Cheth, that is Cancer.
whose Sigil is {Cancer}?
This Work also eats up itself, accomplishes its own
end, nourishes the worker, leaves no seed, is per-
fect in itself.
Little children, love one another!



COMMENTARY


The key to the understanding of this chapter is given
in the number and the title, the former being intelligible
to all nations who employ Arabic figures, the latter
only to experts in deciphering English puns.
The chapter alludes to Levi's drawing of the Hexa-
gram, and is a criticism of, or improvement upon, it.
In the ordinary Hexagram, the Hexagram of nature,
the red triangle is upwards, like fire, and the blue
triangle downwards, like water. In the magical hexa-
gram this is revered; the descending red triangle is
that of Horus, a sign specially revealed by him per-
sonally, at the Equinox of the Gods. (It is the flame
desending upon the altar, and licking up the burnt
offering.) The blue triangle represents the aspiration,
since blue is the colour of devotion, and the triangle,
kinetically considered, is the symbol of directed force.
In the first three paragraphs this formation of the
hexagram is explained; it is a symbol of the mutual
separation of the Holy Guardian Angel and his client.
In the interlocking is indicated the completion of the
work.
Paragraph 4 explains in slightly different language
what we have said above, and the scriptural image of
tongues is introduced.
In paragraph 5 the symbolism of tongues is further
developed. Abrahadabra is our primal example of an
interlocked word. We assume that the reader has
thoroughly studied that word in Liber D., etc. The
sigil of Cancer links up this symbolism with the number
of the chapter.
The remaining paragraphs continue the Gallic
symbolism.

Well, that certainly killed that thread! Hmmmm this gives me an idea ....

AmounrA said:

I understood that I held in my hands the key to the future progress of humanity....."

Click to expand...

A possible reference to the 8th degree?

And then elevate ...

Thats a good one - I haven't heard THAT one before ... orginal?
[or a result of personal research ? ]

yeah, with Crowley , we know it had to do with sex , one way or the other (no pun intended).

ZenMusic said:

yeah, with Crowley , we know it had to do with sex , one way or the other.

Click to expand...

And what's wrong with that?

"When you have proved that God is merely a name for the sex instinct, it appears to me not far to the perception that the sex instinct is God."

Libido = True Self = True Will = Sun = Light = Holy Guardian Angel

How awful and sinful scream the puritans, and damn themselves with the same breath.

Book of Lies chp.16

THE STAG-BEETLE

Death implies change and individuality if thou be
THAT which hath no person, which is beyond the
changing, even beyond changelessness, what hast
thou to do with death?
The bird of individuality is ecstasy; so also is its
death.
In love the individuality is slain; who loves not love?
Love death therefore, and long eagerly for it.
Die Daily.

COMMENTARY
This seems a comment on the previous chapter; the
Stag-Beetle is a reference to Kheph-ra, the Egyptian
God of Midnight, who bears the Sun through the
Underworld; but it is called the Stag-Beetle to emphasise
his horns. Horns are the universal hieroglyph of energy,
particularly of Phallic energy.
The 16th key of the Tarot is "The Blasted Tower".
In this chapter death is regarded as a form of marriage.
Modern Greek peasants, in many cases, cling to Pagan
belief, and suppose that in death they are united to the
Deity which they have cultivated during life. This is "a
consummation devoutly to be wished" (Shakespeare).
In the last paragraph the Master urges his pupils to
practise Samadhi every day.

ZenMusic said:

yeah, with Crowley , we know it had to do with sex , one way or the other (no pun intended).

Click to expand...

Aeon418 said:

And what's wrong with that?
How awful and sinful scream the puritans, and damn themselves with the same breath.

Click to expand...

8^)... my comment wasn't negative; it's great fun... the Thoth is my favorite, Tantra is my path... i wouldn't be hanging out in the Thoth forum otherwise...

... I just purchased a large Thoth collection (it's actually about Western Magic, Crowley, etc., about 1/2 is directly related to the Thoth). 23 wooden crates; will take me months to sort through...