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Correspondence from Aleister Crowley to Karl Germer
The Ridge Hastings
May 16 [1945]
My dear Karl,
Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the Law.
To begin: queer incident.
Grant [Kenneth Grant] made confusion worse confounded, and is gone. He is all right there in London, and is carrying on there: very helpful (I hope!) and no expense.
One result: it was in my mind that the Burlingames [Ray Burlingame and Mildred Burlingame] had received no copies of [illegible]—I'm sure I sent him one at least 10 months ago. Anyhow, I couldn't find your complaint, or any letter giving his address. Hence my cable.
But—Grant had hardly started to send it off when ———— story [illegible]
A. There are biscuits here like gridirons, with holes.
B. Jane Wolfe had sent me a parcel of eats; on the label "if addressee cannot be found, send on to ———" She had given his name and address! This about a week earlier.
C. In my room is a chest of drawers with mirror; various things on it.
D. Grant gone to cable, my eye chanced to catch this label, with its strings put through holes in two biscuits!!
The only rational explanation is that he had done this as a boyish trick while I took my nap after lunch. He is very feeble mentally and normally; had 3 goes of jaundice, and frequent attacks of amnesia while in the army; then his house was pretty badly knocked about by a V1. Of course he desired all knowledge; but what am I to think?
We must hope that his return to London will restore him to the usefulness and reliability that he had when [illegible] before he came here.
I found your 'complaint' letter (March 26) two days ago. Of course I am sending copies to all 3, inscribed, through Grant's London bookseller, where he worked; they have export license. Sending separately; a 4th in a week's time. So I hope this will go through O.K.
One of his worst tricks only [illegible] quite recently. I would dictate a letter to him, to be fair-copied, and returned to me to revise and sign. When I asked for it, he would say "Oh, I signed that for you, and posted it!" Bad as that is, I hope it's true, and that the letters have been posted.
I have told G. [Kenneth Grant] to send you 6 "Heart of the Master". We are also going to advertise through his bookseller for anything of mine. There are lots lying doggo, as I know from 3 years ago, when over a dozen people offered various things—though at prices much too high.
Michael Juste is still dealing in books, proofs, and MSS of mine. Well knowing them to have been stolen.
93 and politics. I assume, especially from your 2nd reference, that you think I attach undue importance to "birth". No: I am just like a breeder of race horses; there must be something in that, while folk pay 500 guineas for the use of a stallion. But: (a) magically. The whole proposition is different, man being a microcosm, and horse a mere Zodiacal species (b) biologically. Horses are bred for definite qualities. Men, in any case much more complex and less understood, are mated for all sorts of irrelevant reasons—social, financial, and the rest: to say nothing of whim.
But—1000 thanks! You have given me the best idea for a "Letter" [for Magick Without Tears] that I have had in many months: the action and reaction of the New Word to the race which the A∴A∴ is pledged to raise up. It excites me: I feel that I don't know at all how far it may lead me. But what I don't see is why you should think that I have an "as you were" ideals. Surely, the whole theme of a New Word must be violently revolutionary. It is true that there is a master-slave dichotomy implied, nay, insisted on; but this does not mean that "privilege" as now understood, is the true principle. A "master" is not somebody's son, or some one with money; he is chiefly the kind of man who is willing to accept, and able to discharge, responsibility. Roughly, that is my idea. You should know well how abject is the attitude of the average man.
That is why the rough-and-tumble of competition, from chess and baseball to business and war, does tend to bring the best man to the front.
My 70th birthday. It has occurred to me that some of the less well-balanced minds might be conspiring to make me a present. If so, a portable typewriter would be the most useful thing, especially as it would stay useful after I died. And you can't get one in England for love or money.
To-day, White Sunday, a man named Alec Craig, whom I know very slightly as a friend of Robert Cecil—who has been appointed to the Embassy at Washington (I expect I told you) dashed up to my room and asked me to lecture on Magick. The Gods sent a heady storm to keep people indoors; it cleared as I finished! This was quite a success, though I was almost too tired to stand. I got rid of quite a few "Book of the Law"; curiously, most people insisted on paying. Only a trifle, of course. But I got a lot of intelligent questions. I am going to let those interested have that prospectus of the "Letters".
It is really very naughty of you to suggest that I entitle anything of mine "[illegible] of Wisdom". My titles are usually on the modest side; in any case. G of W is such a vile cliché that I feel quite ill!
The 3 Schools [The Three Schools of Magic] has been cut even where it "dated"; nothing has been added.
I suppose
AL is a pronouncement of the White School; but our
"colours" are really gold and scarlet for the sun, and there
illumine in blue and green of
Delighted to hear of June 5: all my best wishes for a stunning success.
No news of Frederick [Frederic Mellinger] yet. Important I see him. I've had IV° and C.P.I. retyped; am sending you a copy. But they are little use to any one as they are; how can one describe the complicated maneuvers and gestures of three men combining to make a figure? Not easy; but one can show.
Miss Kingston (local typing office) is a dream! In two afternoons we have got all the A.E.E. [Alexander Explains Everything—this was eventually published as Magick Without Tears] letters found, sorted, listed; I can now start writing the rest. Especially your question.
Grant says he got the 48 [letters] off to you at last. There's some difficulty at P.O. Miss K.[ingston] tells me that nobody is Hastings P.O. knows anything. They contradict each other, etc etc.
I found 4 duplicates of the 5 letters Ray [Ray Burlingame] paid for, and have sent them to him. The 5th has to be retyped, and will follow in a week. I expect all those 5 will be among the 48.
So H.H. is demonstrably ideal. As to A.H., I'm not better. 12 to 15 circumstantial reports, all different. I wonder!
Best love to you and Sascha [Sascha Germer], and great hope for success of the concert.
Devilish tired; will close this, and go to bed.
93 93/93.
Your as always,
Aleister.
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and
the whole combining to white brilliance. That is, if you
[illegible] some sort of [illegible].