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Correspondence from Karl Germer to Phyllis Seckler
Hampton N.J.
August 31, 1953
Dear Phyllis,
Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the Law.
Yours of Aug. 27, received this moment. First then: I shall not kick you out, but if I do any kicking at all, I shall kick you in! By which I mean, back again into the center of that Nothing!
But first, some things from outside of the Ball, the unfortunate periphery.
I am very glad that you write about Jane [Jane Wolfe]! I shall act accordingly, although maintenance of H.Q. becomes an increasingly difficult problem. And I don't know yet how to solve it.
Next: you don't say a word about progress on M.W.T. [Magick Without Tears]. Please do only send me a few scratches on a postcard once a week, to alleviate my worries.
Next: PLEASE do not try to improve on Aleister's English. He learned it in Cambridge and elsewhere. I cannot do better than enclose a note and list from Jean [Jean Sihvonen], which please return. All these "improvements" are wrong. Dead wrong! — — I have written Jean and she may have shown you my remarks. In future, please beware!
Do you think it is possible to finish M.W.T. in time before you go back to college? All I want is to see clearly, have the facts!
I hear from Jean that the "o" is giving trouble. If so, the Remington service man should be called.
Now to your vision. It is very good. Also you have had the vision of the Universal Joke. Read the chapter "Laughter" in Little Essays [Little Essays toward Truth]!
But: we must go back to the periphery, as we have to do our work on that plane, and fight the conditions existing there. I think any a lasts only a rather short time. It refreshes, brings illumination, is a sort of proof that we have gotten there, gives comfort to the doubting soul. And then back again to the periphery and do our dull, dirty work again! Till next Sunday or holyday.
On the periphery we have to contend with hostile forces. A.C. himself often noticed and warned of magical attacks. Every time he started on the publication of a major magical work, he knew in advance that he had to face and brace himself for violent opposition. (When Magick in Theory and Practice was published he was kicked out of France where the printer was; with superhuman strength he delayed his departure, with all kinds of subterfuges, became sick, etc., so that he could stay on until he was sure the work would be finished.) I dislike it myself, but rather from the point of view, that I hate to admit its efficacy: it hurts my vanity, or sense of strength to think that those blokes of the opposite number should have the power to cripple or delay our work. "The War of the Ages" goes on on all planes. The Gods Themselves have their (almost) equal enemies. I wish I could translate for you "Der Aeon des Horus", an inspired work by Ishrah [Herbert Schmolke] on the story of Isis, Osiris, Seth, Horus, etc. in the Egyptian formulation. But the old Scandinavian legends (see Wagner's music dramas), and in the legends of King Atrus or Arthur cycle you have the same opposed forces. Tipheret and Kether are in the center column, but right and left are the Sephira that in themselves are unbalanced.
I have types out the text of your vision, with you permission, I hope. It might come useful sometimes to weaker [brothers and sisters]. Your "Ball" brings to mind the "crystal without one speck" in LXV, iiv. But there are many other vv, in the Holy Books [Volume I, Volume II, Volume III] from which you can make verification.
You sweet little girl!
Love is the law, love under will.
My love to you,
Karl
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