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Correspondence from Aleister Crowley to George MacNie Cowie
19 Aug 14.
Dear C.
Glad to get yours of to-day. I came down from a mountain to find the Swiss had mobilized and all the railways held up, but on the first day possible I went to Berne where the British minister informed me it was impossible to get back, that the line had been torn up for 13 miles beyond the frontier, and that he could not get his own men through. Reduced to desperation I consequently took the train and came home without any difficulty.
I am very glad to hear you are getting on in the evenings. You should not worry any more about Asana, you can do it quite comfortably—a quarter of an hour is ample. At the end of that time you can change the position, and then get back to it when rested. You must remember that in all probability a few seconds are sufficient for the actual result to take place. Now that you can concentrate more or less well it is necessary to develop intensity of thought rather than a mere prolongation; you are evidently not holding quite steady; you must develop your vigilance further.
I have not made up my mind about the war ay all. Neuburg [Victor Neuburg] suggests that it is the Overture of the Reign of Horus. I am hoping it will be over in two or three months. I think the War was forced on Germany by the diplomatic pressure of the last few years. It is the "Stag at Bay" business. This is the real meaning of the so-called miscalculations on their part. From the point of view of the result, however, it does not much matter why it was. To me it seems evident that their main complaint [campaign?] has been very much hampered, and probably enormous confusion is already existing. No one in the whole of history has tried to move troops on the present scale, and this is the sort of business which needs a good deal of practice. If the French Cavalry in the South manage to get in behind the Germans everywhere there will be an end to the War at once.
I do not think it much good worrying about Boleskine, and I should not communicate with Mrs Murray Leslie. If the War goes on we shall have to grow oats and potatoes for dear life, and ought to be able to make a very good profit.
With regard to business here we have had a lot of letters from America on account of a lunatic's article in the "New York World" August 2nd! Get a copy if you can and judge what you miss by not being always here. Apart from that there is nothing doing, but then in August it never is. I am inclined to think that the whole incident will be rather good for us, but with regard to immediate interests, of course, there is a great deal of trouble because that wretched "Turn" of Mother's [Leila Waddell] has not gone on yet, and although we are still hoping is seems rather doubtful as to whether it will get on at all for months.
Miss Hobbs has gone for her holiday, so I cannot shoot her for not having sent you proofs and so on. However her place is most ably filled. I am sending you 50 copies of the Manifesto [Manifesto of the M\M∴M\]: when you have worn them out we will send you some more. You ought to distribute them as widely as possible without reference as to whether the people seem suitable. There ought to be a lot of people about at present rather in need of an asylum, and, besides, I think the ideas contained are such as will appeal to nearly everybody in the present emergency. Write again as soon as you can.
Yours very truly.
P.S. The dunning letters have not been sent out yet, we were waiting to send the Manifestos with them. We shall get them off now as soon as possible.
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