THE OCCULT REVIEW

London, England

November 1909

(page 284)

PERIODICAL LITERATURE.

THE EQUINOX. The Official Organ of the A.A. The Review of Scientific Illuminism. Vol I, No. II. September 1909. London: Simpkin, Marshall, Hamilton, Kent & Co., Ltd. Price 5s.

In accordance with the words which Rabelais has put into the mouth of the priestess Bacbuc, “We place the sovereign good, not in taking and receiving, but in bestowing and giving,” the Editor of this Review says of the exalted knowledge which he and the others of his fraternity have attained through experience, in so far as it is possible to communicate it at all, “We offer it with both hands.” The opening pages are devoted to formulating the problem of existence in the clearest and simplest terms, and to outlining a method of solving that problem. The style of this Editorial is a model of lucidity in brief and will be read with pleasure by the lover of letters as well as by the mystic. A quantity of verse figures in this volume, much of it written under the inspiration of the Great God Pan. On the whole, it is more remarkable for power than beauty. “The Dream Circean” is a short story of convincing ability. It is the quintessence of the fantastic and has passages of volcanic force which recall Balzac. Tennyson is severely handled in the article, “Stewed Prunes and Prism,” which illustrates in an extreme manner the reaction against Victorian celebrity. There are some curious departures in the methods of reviewing books and a refreshing frankness of criticism which is quite unusual. The following significant passage occurs in a review by Mr. V. B. Neuburg, “Psychology is still in its infancy; when it attains maturity it will be the most dread enemy that Supernaturalism has to face. The subjective view of life is undoubtedly destined to be the predominant one.” The wit, the mirth, the philosophy and the style combine to make The Equinox the most brilliant of all the mystical periodicals.

B.P. O’N.