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Aleister Crowley Diary Entry Rex de Arte Regia Tuesday, 15 December 1914
Opus[1] XIV
11.40 p.m.
Lea Dewey. Dutch prostitute, rising. Big and tall but not fat; the muscular wolf type. Very dark hair on head; pubic hair fairer. Beautiful Yoni.
Object: ‘ΕΡΜΗΣ, [Hermes] i.e. a general invocation of his powers: magick, wisdom, eloquence, success in business, letters, etc. etc.
The Operation was most orgiastic, but I formulated the God well and called aloud after his name. The gluten of the Eagle was not very plentiful, and the Lion[2] not very thoroughly dissolved therein. Still, I think the Elixir was formed well enough.
This Operation was performed in my new temple, where I had spent all the evening (from 9.0 p.m.) in invoking ΘΩΘ and ‘ΕΡΜΗΣ[3] and reciting Enochian calls. Also in reading the Hermes operations record of January in Paris.[4] Also during the day I had written fully to my Viceroy in S. Africa [James Thomas Windram] with regard to the IX°. And since Sunday night, the 13th, I have been generally invoking Hermes or Mercury as the obvious God of this city of New York, and proposing to make this new temple a Temple of Hermes by getting eight people to assist, and by making a circle on the floor, with the idea of building up a great Mercurial force, a mighty Caduceus to rule this city.
These antecedent conditions were then very favourable indeed. The weather was fine and very cold, plus to 10°F.
Result: On returning to my hotel I found a dun (Mercury) from the man who attends to my mouth (Mercury)! In a.m. letters from George Macnie [George Macnie Cowie] and Bathurst [Leilah Waddell]. In p.m. my private secretary brought in an ink pot, eight daggers, a tray with Hermes on it, a phallic night-light hold and a Virgo tray! Later, dined with Quinn [John Quinn] who promised me $500 on a collection of books.
17 Dec. Duly received and banked the $500.
19 Dec. I now invoke Mercury daily as of old.
And now I must record one of the most curious experiences of my life. About 8.45 p.m. I was at 34th Street and Broadway looking for a soul-mate, a destined bride, an affinity, a counterpartel ego, etc., and should have considered the conditions satisfied by any orifice into which I might plunge my penis at a cost not exceeding $2.50. I now saw a girl who might have served but did not think it worth while to speak, as she looked expensive.
In disgust, I turned homeward, but was impelled to call loudly upon Hermes eight times. Instantly flashed into my mind, ‘Go to 42nd Street and Broadway—quick’. Obedient to the heavenly vision, I jumped into a trolley-car and got out at 42nd. There was the girl I had seen before! She was just crossing the road, but stopped in the middle and openly beckoned me. I obeyed, thinking speech with her might put the time and place right for the further order. But she proved to be one Mildred Rose, a pianist. We went back to 40 St. and stayed chatting and flirting—very mildly. I am to ring her up tomorrow or she is to come to my lecture.
28 Dec. This was apparently the boy trickster Mercury. (Cf. the first operation of the Paris series, January 1st 1914.)[5] She has given no sign since, and her address and telephone number fail to find her. A fish (sacred to Mercury) is in the water main, and we have been ‘dry’ since Dec. 29!
1—[Crowley performs a magical sexual operation.] 2—[‘The Gluten of the Eagle’ is the female sexual secretion; the Lion is the male seed.] 4—[The Paris Working.] 5—[Crowley blames Hermes for the lady’s lack of response. The first operation of The Paris Working did not go according to plan.]
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