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Aleister Crowley Diary Entry Monday, 10 May 1920
I am thinking of going to Palermo, perhaps Tunis, to write that play. I think of a dissolute Roman, seeking fresh excess of 'mind and blood'; of a philosopher, bored with the rationalism and respectability of other cults, but ending 'of course they'll make Jesus respectable in ten years, so what's the good?' and so on.
But I certainly can't write the play in this harem. Shall I go to the city to do it? [I Ching Hexagram] XXVIII: a very emphatic 'yes'.
Shall I find my Yoni or my Lingam? [I Ching Hexagram] XXII: yes.
Must I go beyond Palermo? [I Ching Hexagram] Moon of Air. No: there's a place there. Perhaps the 4th place is the right one.
Give a symbol for writing my play. [I Ching Hexagram] Lingam of Air equals Creation of Matter: Big Air, retiring. (Evidently equals dispersion etc.)
Give a symbol for the degree of my success. [I Ching Hexagram] Water of Kteis. Collection. This is good. (Refers to the numerous odd things I wrote.) Hotel des Palmes, Palermo.
9.45 p.m. Opus[1]
XII,
Ninette [Ninette Shumway], p.v.n.[2]
Opus, Extra. Elixir, A1. Object: write my play. Mental
concentration lost, either very bad or very good. It was
connected in my mind with the idea of BLA
1—[Crowley conducts a magical sexual operation.] 2—[Per vas nefandum. By the unmentionable vessel, i.e. anal intercourse.] 3—[Capricorn, the sign of the goat. The colour of Capricorn is black. Crowley, dissatisfied by the two magical assistants at the Abbey, went seeking further magical partners in Palermo. 'Black' probably refers to a man. Cf. the 'Black King' Walter of the American period. The Beast wanted an XI° Operation with a male partner. It seems that he called at two brothels in Palermo but performed no Opus with either 'Pietrina' or anyone.]
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CK.