|
Correspondence from Jane Wolfe to Karl Germer
5169 1/4 Fountain Avenue Los Angeles, 27, California
January 11, 1946
Dear Karl:
Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the Law!
I should have been close to you the within copy, at the time it was written! I feel in a sort of stupor, and writing seems futile. I revive when with people; but let Jane [Wolfe] pass for the time being, well I meander around "1003" [1003 S. Orange Grove Avenue].
Pasadena has been in a most upset—chaotic state, really, but now it seems to be shaping up once more. You could easily be given more information and possibly more accurate news. Nonetheless I enter here that the Big House, and the front half of the 3-acre tract on which it stands, is now in escrow. Jack plans to move into the garage apartment, and the living room there, which is quite large, will be used for Lodge meetings, gatherings, etc. only Minervals will be taken in, after Spring Equinox, and these to be inducted on the desert, at night.
I hope for better conditions after Jack is settled, with the big house harassed and upset him considerably. He likes living with a number of people, but has not the capacity for handling them.
A small library has been given the Lodge by Mary Green, a one time G.B.G. [Great Brotherhood of God] [member] who had been the Leader of a group in L.A. She joined Agape [Agape Lodge] at Winona in its beginnings, and a few years later dropped out. Mary made her living all these years "telling fortunes with cards, plus astrology", and several times these years at Winona she sent $100 to Aleister.
Vols I-X and Blue Equinox, Eight Lectures on Yoga, Little Essays [Toward Truth], Book 4, Parts 1 & 2, Book of Lies, Goetia; most of Regardie [Israel Regardie]; all of Vivekananda; 3 vols. incl. Yi, of Sacred Books of the East, two copies Book of the Dead; the usual East Indian books, and many others.
Mary is recovering (she thought she was dying and wanted the books in good hands) but does not want her books back—indeed she is disappointed she did not die. She sees no way of making her living (about 60 years of age) and says she cannot touch another card—it fills her with horror.
Georgia [Georgia Schneider] phoned me at the Winter Solstice, when she emerged for a day, to go once more into seclusion, so far as Agape members are concerned, I would not have seen her then except that I had typed copy of Tao Teh King to give her.
Last fall, I'm going over Phyllis's [Phyllis Seckler] diary, I kept out two pages to copy for you. The occasion for doing so has passed, no doubt; still I send it because she was disappointed that I did not do so. The quotation follows:
Why is it? For all Smith's [Wilfred Talbot Smith] drawbacks & failings, I was enthusiastic about his projects. I can't seem to get interested in Jack's [Jack Parsons].
Is it because Smith had stamina and stuck to he workings, so that's something (at least) arose out of them? And that Jack has not & you know that whatever he starts will be forgotten shortly?
Jack attempt seems like drifting, Smith's attempt was something solid. The man had principles and stuck by them. I was in accord with W.T. [Smith] over many matters. I also agree greatly with Jack on some of his attitudes. Now what? Does the above attempt really explain my disinterest; perhaps I had better make a list—see if I can clarify this.
Why I don't care to go to Orange Grove now:
- I feel no man of great spiritual strength there.
- Projects drift along & no one seems to stick long enough to make them come to something.
- No purpose stays still very long.
- Don't care to see Paul [Paul Seckler], and more deeply personal am tired of seeing him and Barbara [Barbara Canright] being lovey-dovey in public.
- Same crowd & mostly all mated—feel left out.
- Reminded to the deeply of Joe [Joe Miller]—heartache.
- Shop talk—Who has anything very interesting to say on the subject most interesting (or should be) to us all—the progress of the soul? (Or occult matters.)
- Why was I drawn to Smith's projects?
- Didn't really felt here was a fountainhead of life-giving water.
- Spirit felt its thirst was being slaked.
- Here was at least an organization which for all its glaring faults, had a purpose and a way of life which deeply appealed to me.
- There were always new people around.
- Interesting talks on the occult things. Crowley one felt to be with us because he was mentioned much.
- Regina [Regina Kahl] had her moments, was a good drawing agent for people. She got their attention & Smith winnowed & somehow got some of them interested. Of course Regina's & W.T.'s joint action often threw them off again—but at least they came & saw Jack has prejudices against certain types of people, & so a certain type or two never shows up at the Orange Grove
I have a funny little thought popping in my head. It was after the 'Holy Obedience Week', that Jackson adjusted, that Smith went haywire. Almost immediately after.
Was it due to Jack's suggestion that Smith fell through? Or, on the other hand, did a woman master him?
Regina loves Smith in now to put backbone to some of his doings. I think Helen [Helen Parsons] tore down & Regina built up.
Phyllis, by the way, is maturing. The child-voice, the child-actions, are dropping away and the woman is emerging—she is 32, I think. And she had finally released Paul—is willing to accept him as he is, and as an expression of Adonai. Heretofore she scorned some of him, and looked down on most of him, as being beneath her. Funny, how some women insist on marrying men they think so far beneath them—and it was Phyllis that married Paul.
If and when Paul finds a house near his place of work, in Ventura Valley, off on a hillside, because of the dangerous type of work—Hormones—They will live together again. Then Phyllis can improve her growth.
Let me add that item following the above quotations:
How delightful is domesticity at times. Joy to see a shining surface or an arrangement long sought after. Sometimes I feel I could do any kind of work anyhow just to enable me to complete several long-planned & long-awaited domestic arrangements.
Love is the law, love under will.
All love to you,
Jane
P.S. Jan 23. The entire property has been sold for $25,000 (I do not know the terms) and Jack is given a 5-year lease on the G.[arage] apartment, rent free. The big house is to be wrecked, eventually; the inmates have been given 60 days to locate elsewhere.
|