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Aleister Crowley Diary Entry
Wednesday, 27 June 1923
Die Mercury
The Adoration to Khephra!
12.07 a.m. The existence of chess throws light on the problem presented by the Qabalah. Here is a language: it was in part ‘invented’ by some ‘genius’, in part developed by experience & an intelligent counsel of experts. We do not wonder how it has come to pass that it affords scope for such boundless ingenuity; we do not credit the ‘genius’ with foreseeing the event, or fall prone in adoration of his ‘praeterhuman’ creative wisdom. The fact is evidently that any ‘language’ if sufficiently elastic—in all dimensions—affords the POET a medium of creating masterpieces . . .
The above fails to satisfy me: I cannot say why, but there is a suggestion of the argument in a circle about it. I feel however that the Qabalah presents problems far deeper than chess . . . & also that I am somehow failing to put my essential thoughts into words. 8 p.m. A spiritless day, somehow. Message about ‘Eddie Saayman’
[Walter/Kteis]
He should come to see 666. He must formulate his T[rue].W[ill]. [Line] 1. He has a good aspiration, but no idea how to go to work. This upsets him: his only proper plan is to ask our assistance. He must not mind temporary inconvenience. [Line] 2. 666 will lead him forward. No error: perfect sincerity. His small renunciations will bring admirable results. [Line] 3. He will be puzzled at first & inclined to despair. He must persevere, & will make no real mistake, though tempted to regret. [Line] 4. He will be lucky if he escape being misjudged & blamed (I assume by the profane.) [Line] 5. He will be appointed to an important office in our group. He must see to it that he devote himself so whole-heartedly to our Work that he never gives us a chance to doubt him. [Line] 6. He will experience the Trance of Sorrow. This may qualify him to become M.T. [Magister Templi]. in due season. He must not think that this Trance is evidence that he has gone wrong. On the contrary.
10 p.m. The ‘spiritless’ quality of the day has made me feel unable to cope with either LXV, iii, or [Heroin]. I studied the Chapter, but wrote nothing; & let myself go about [Heroin] from sheer tedium vitae or some similar frame of mind. Observe: I had a dream of diarrhoea in bed, which shared the privileges of that of the Young Man of Peru! & this hideous condition persisted till noon. My day’s work has been little more than some revision of Book 4, Part III.
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