Алистер Кроули - The heart of the Master

Now being brought after many days into a Place where Light was, being shed through a carven screen of topaz, graved with a Rose of nine-and-forty petals on a Greek Cross, from the Sun, and that also at midnight, I found myself in the presence of a certain aged man (for it was written that His days should be an hundred and twenty years) who stood before a table of seven sides, whereon were fire, and incense in a thurible, and bread.

Of these did he bid me partake; and they being consumed, he took a phial of golden oil from their midst, and anointed mine eyes, and mine ears, and my lips.

With that I was aware of the image of a God, severe and noble of aspect, his spirit utterly calm, in his right hand a sickle and in his left an hourglass. And as I looked upon him, he reversed his wrist, for the last grain of sand was fallen through.

Then did my Instructer point with a little wand to a great chart not wholly filled, and there came the shadow of a man's hand, and drew the image of a Lion at the end of the writing.

Above this parchment, which was partly furled, was a square tablet of white marble, on which, inlaid in gold, I read these characters about the Image of an Eye within a radiant Triangle.

..

S. S. and this is, being interpreted, "The Great White Brotherhood."

Below was written: With Us Two Thousand Years is as One Day.

Then my Instructer showed me that the Brotherhood send forth one of their fellows every two thousand years, bringing one Word to serve Mankind as a new Formula of Magick, that it may take one further step on the long road that leadeth to Perfection.

Also, twice in that period, that is, at intervals of a little more than three, and a little less than seven, centuries, they send a lesser prophet to prepare the Way of the next Word,

and to maintain or to restore the virtue of the Word then current.

And on the unfurled portion of the chart I read the names of certain of these Brethren, and the Words as one was uttered after the other. But some I could not read, because the characters were strange.

These:

FU-HSI.

After a great space (with few names and those illegible)

LAO-TZE, GAUTAMA, ZERDUSHT, PYTHAGORAS, DIONYSUS, OSIRIS.

These were sent forth at the same time — and Dionysus under several diverse forms — to enlighten Six Great Civilizations, about to be drawn together by the opening up of communications over the planet by the expansion of the Roman Power. After these there stood almost alone the name:

APOLLON.

But above that extract, the whole width of the chart, the word I A O.

Then came a blackness over the whole map, for at one time the Brotherhood had been nigh utterly destroyed by a Great Sorcery of the Black Lodge, and the darkening of all Counsel, and the confusion of all Truth.

I saw only one glimmer bare legible:

PLOTINUS.

And at the end of the darkness, amid many names which I could not read, JACOBUS BURGUNDUS MOLENSIS. for his name was in letters of fire.

Did not the Order of the Temple prepare the Renaissance by fusing the Mysteries of the East and West?

Then there burst out on a sudden a whiteness on the chart, as if the stain had been expunged (albeit not wholly by the sweep of steel) and this word writ in curving characters scimitar-sharp

MOHAMMED.

Next was a name sore blurred:

SIR EDWARD KELLY,

with one writ in cipher…………. and in the centre of all, within the emblem of a ruby rose of five petals upon a golden cross was engraved:

CHRISTIAN ROSENCREUTZ

(For so were the Brethren discreet to conceal his true name).

After whom came three names Great and Terrible that I write not in this place. Lastly appeared this newly-writ hieroglyph of the Lion, and the Name of that Brother was hidden from me. Then was I shewn the Mystery of the Words: how in the first period of recorded history men thought that life came from Woman alone, and worked by the Formula of Isis, worshipping Nature chaste and kindly, not understanding Death, or the Arcanum of Love.

So, when the time was ripe, appeared the Brethren of the Formula of Osiris, whose word is I A O; so that men worshipped Man, thinking him subject to Death, and his victory dependent upon Resurrection. Even so conceived they of the Sun as slain and reborn with every day, and every year.

Now, this great Formula being fulfilled, and turned into abomination, this Lion came forth to proclaim the Aeon of Horus, the crowned and conquering child, who dieth not, nor is reborn, but goeth radiant ever upon His Way. Even so goeth the Sun: for as it is now known that night is but the shadow of the Earth, so Death is but the shadow of the Body, that veileth his Light from its bearer.

Of this Prophet the Word is

THELEMA (spelled in Greek letters)

Many and marvelous are the mysteries of this Word, and of the Numeration thereof! Nor may I declare them, save this the simplest, for the sake of little children:

"Love is the law, love under will."

The chart was suddenly furled close, and mine Instructor bade me turn: for there had come into that place a maiden like a golden rose, with curling locks and ruddy, and her breasts were of bright ivory, and her gait the gait of a young lioness.

Upon her brows flamed a Star Sapphire, and on her cheek was a stark scar, a circle deep and splendid. In whose hands was a writing; and smiling she put it into mine.

Now I knew not by what name to thank her for this courtesy: which understanding, she told me:

"My name is The Star of the North."

And this was the Proclamation:

TO MAN

Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the Law.

My Term of Office upon the Earth being come in the year of the foundation of the Theosophical Society, I took upon myself, in my turn, the sin of the whole World, that the Prophecies might be fulfilled, so that Mankind may take the Next Step from the Magical Formula of Osiris to that of Horus.

And mine Hour being now upon me, I proclaim my Law.

The Word of the Law is Thelema (In Greek letters.)

Given in the midst of the Mediterranean Sea AN XX Sol in 3 Deg. Libra die Jovis by me To Mega Therion (In Greek letters.)

Logos Aionos Thelema (In Greek letters.)

Having read these words with deep attention eleven times, I besought mine Instructor (for the Maiden had returned to her Master) that he would clear those things which were dark to my weak understanding.

"In the Light of the Chart of the Work of the Brotherhood,"

I said, "the Will of the Master, and His Word, are made plain.

But of His hour I know not; and I tremble before the darkness of this Mystery of Sin."

"Of his hour," answered my teacher, "it is easy to speak.

The Work of our Sister

Helena Petrowna Blavatsky was inaugurated at the very season of the Birth on Earth of our

Brother the Master whose Word is Thelema, whose Name is yet hidden under the form of a Lion. For it was most needful to prepare His Way that He might proclaim His Law in every land that is upon the surface of the Earth.

"And this work has been done by the Society founded to that end by our Sister. Yet even so, behold! Full Fifty years have passed, and only now is the hour of Power come upon our Brother the Lion to utter His Word with full efficacy to the whole Earth."

Now was he silent and my spirit was sore troubled; my face darkened, for I approached the Mystery of Sin.

But the countenance of my Teacher was glad; and his years fell from him like a mask; and his voice thrilled with the rapture of release.

THE MYSTERY OF SIN

"The word of Sin is Restriction. Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the Law."

Such were the words of a certain square tablet of brass which lay upon the hexagonal table beneath the extended forefinger of mine Instructor. And because he saw that their sense was partly hidden from me, he called to my memory two other writings from a compilation of certain Jews of old: "All have sinned, and come short of the glory of God"; and this: "The thought of foolishness is sin."