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Charles Stansfeld Jones Diary Entry Saturday, 27 June 1914
June 27th 1914. 9.35 to 10.20 P.M.
Having robed and lit the charcoal in readiness, I knelt in centre of circle and prayed earnestly to the Lord of the Universe for guidance and help as I felt that in this operation I was entering upon strange and unknown ground. I prayed that the Holy Guardian Angel might instruct me in what was necessary to the success of the operation. Still kneeling, I took several breaths to arouse Prana, in order that I might be strong, then rising, I traced Circle with wand and performed the L.B.R. [Lesser Banishing Ritual] of P.[entagram] followed by L.B.R. of Hex[agram]. Again kneeling, I put the incense upon the fire of charcoal and breathed deeply till body tingled. I then formulated a white 'astral' to protect me from any evil influence and let astral body stand in the circle. The idea then came to me that I should not attempt to journey outside the circle, but command that visions of the Qlipoth should appear around me, outside the circle, and thus leave the astral protected by the influence of the Rituals performed. This I did and instead of the astral descending there seemed to be a rising of the surroundings, corresponding to the colours of the Tree of Life, but in reverse order. This continued till I considered Tiphereth was reached, and I then began to look for visions.
There first appeared to me in an E. to N.E. direction, a red and fiery-skinned demon with forked tail and having horns on his head. He was rather bent in appearance and was climbing a sort of withered branch of a tree, without bark on it. I commanded him in the name of Adonai and by the power of the Pentagram to show me that part of the Qlipoth in which he lived. There appeared behind him, as it were, a lake of fire with volcanoes in the distance and there were other creatures in this lake also, but I did not notice them very carefully. After watching this scene for a time the spirit not appearing to be capable of much conversation (he seemed dull and half stupid) I turned to the North and commanded visions to appear. This time, I saw a lake of dark bluish water and suddenly therein appeared a sort of water-snake or dragon, coming quickly towards me with a wave like motion. His mouth was open, but he stopped at the boundary of the circle. I almost felt afraid for a moment as his appearance and manner of approach were strange and unexpected. I commanded him to show me more, and there appeared a number of similar creatures only smaller, all over the surface of the water. I told him to cause these creatures to form a pyramid and himself to climb to the top and report the view. Having done as I bid, he reported that beyond the waters was fire in this direction also.
Turning to the West, I perceived a house, at the entrance, or just inside which sat a man with a basket, in which were some small objects. He told me they were babies, dead babies, and represented thoughts. All thoughts he said, died at birth here. And he wept. I left him to it and turned to the South. Here I saw a number of whirling spirals. They were fiery creatures, ever moving, and their centres alternatively advancing and retreating. At right angles to these appeared other spirals. They travelled about in a disordered way and seemed to me something like an enlarged idea of the spirals of atoms, but without order of any sort.
This completed the circle, so I astrally turned round once or twice and these ideas still remained in their places. I then ventured to rise, keeping within the circle, but was immediately spun quickly round and round. I felt this was not at all right, so threw out my arms in the form of a cross and by an effort of will stopped the whirling and immediately descended till I stood again in the circle. Tightened up muscles and took several long breaths. Rose, went round the circle with bowl of incense. Performed L.B.R. thoroughly. Gave thanks and returned to the house to enter this record.
[Aleister Crowley's Comments]
Comment. This is very good. This is the way in which things should be done, but again it is too short. Instead of two pages there should have been 40. O.M. [Aleister Crowley]
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