Aleister Crowley Diary Entry

Thursday, 27 October 1921

Slept well. Summoned to wait on Sub-Prefect of Police on Friday; Ninette [Ninette Shumway] summoned for today. Went with her: S-P in campagna! Wrote a note of excuse, and made ready "to start upon The Great Adventure for the Fortune of the Law. (A mistake; 'twas the Pretori).

9.21 P.M. Arrived—6 P.M.—at the Hotel de France, Palermo. Shopped; unpacked; dined.

The Great Venture for the Fortune of the Law. The General Symbol is: [I Ching Hexagram] Water of Water. LVIII Tui. Water is the strongest thing in the world; yet its virtue is Harmony of Complacent Satisfaction. Thwan: be firm and correct—firm as water, which is incomprehensible; correct as water, which reacts simply to every stress. Be pure. moreover, and transparent to Light while reflecting it. Dissolve all things, and make them apt for Change; yet be the foundation of all organic structure.

Line 1. Let no self-solid cloud the homogenous lucidity of my Being.

Line 2. Delight in being simple and sincere.

Line 3. Beware of seeking pleasure in external things.

Line 4. Beware of "lust of result", and of permitting the distraction which may arise from doubt as to what course to pursue in order to find satisfaction.

Line 5. Beware of subtle attack upon my integrity.

Line 6. Find my delight in leading and attracting others to The Law. (P.S. Nothing to blame myself for.)

Indicate the proper terms of The Oath of The Venture. [I Ching Hexagram] Air of Earth LIII Khien. Gradual Progress. (Thwan:)

 I, To Mega Therion 666   9º = 2^o   A∴A∴   make Oath and sing: I will be a Virgin Bride to AIWAZ my Lord and my Lover, firm in devotion to Him, and correct in chastity.

(Line 1) I swear to enter forcibly upon The Work, not heeding aught that may be spoken against me.

(Line 2) I swear to live joyfully and easily the life of The Work, making The Law my refuge, as it were a Mighty Rock.

(Line 3) I swear to undertake any Adventure, however dangerous and irrevocable to accept any opportunity, however unfruitful it may seem. I swear to use the whole strength that I possess to the utmost that I may endure to the end of any such undertaking.

(Line 4) I swear to pass through whatever wilderness may be in my path, and to attain to the Place of Green Growth, where I may repose for a season.

(Line 5) I swear to make my way to the Summit of the Earth, compelling Nature to fulfil my Will by creating such Forces as constrain Her by Her own Laws.

(Line 6) I swear to advance steadily and surely to the Heights of Fortune, and to manifest my Powers, by whose Virtue I am come thus far, as Ornaments of the Law of Thelema; whereby shall all men, admiring, seek after that which hath borne me through the Heaven.

All this do I swear with a mighty Voice, from an enkindled Heart, with an enlightened Mind, closing the Right Hand of my Power over the Phallus beneath whose Column lies the Lion-Serpent whose Name is Aiwaz within the Vault of the Temple of the Holy Ghost in the Mountain of the Caverns BIA GENOS: for I who utter this Oath am naught but the Word of mine Angel, of AIWAZ, but whom giveth He form to His ineffable Being.

In this Oath is it moreover to be understanded of all that I make myself as Pure Water, without desire this way or that, but the Menstruum and Vehicle of His Will, even as Water itself reflecteth and transmitteth the Light without heed to itself. So therefore will I distil myself utterly from the contamination of the man Aleister Crowley, being warned by my failure in the City of Lutetia in Gaul at the end of the Sixteenth Year of the Aeon; for thus is it enjoined upon me by [I Ching Hexagram] Kien, that is Air of Earth.

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