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Aleister Crowley Diary Entry Monday, 30 July 1923
Die Luna
Hail to Kheph-Ra!
12.01 a.m. Yesterday I was quite ready as well as fit to begin Opus 1. What stopped me was the sheer contentment with 'Dolce far niente'. I deliberately preferred to slack it. This is a marvellous good sign: but 'having come thus far by the grace of God', I must really keep to the programme. Thus, bar being summoned to Hamman-Lif I resolve firmly on the following plans:—
3 [p.m.] [Dr.] Domela[1] stretch urethra; 4 [p.m.] Jeweller Mark of Beast; 4.30 [p.m.] Opus 1, or at least make connection; 6 [p.m.] Chess Club. 7.45 [p.m.] (Not later) Dinner; 9 [p.m.] Opus 1 at any cost, Failure to make good punished by fine of 20 francs.
12.35 a.m. I had just composed myself to sleep, when there came a double knock, very distinct & loud, apparently in the air quite close above me. I have had a number of such experiences lately (November [19]22-May [19]23. None since coming to Tunisia) but thought them not worth recording. Somehow the effect is that I want to take Ether though dropping with sleep. I do so.
Goethe's remark: 'A time may come when gambling is the soundest business'—a parallel.
A time is come (at least I won't swear it isn't) when the 'mercenary adventurer' of Victorian solid prosperity is the wisest & noblest of statesmen.
1.30 a.m. THE XIXth CENTURY Democratised Communication
(Essay—Qabalistic & all else—on this—my most important thought this twelvemonth!)
The main point is: it used to be a privilege, the key to power, wealth, & success of every sort. It has become common; but, by that very fact, necessary to mere life. Stop means of instantaneous messages, & a town or nation would starve in a week!
Now then, 'war engine'! Let O.P.V. [Norman Mudd] find a man who will devise a means of throwing all existing apparatus out of gear.
[Marginal pencil note:] P.S. Mr. Grindell Mathews!
Note: 'with it ye shall smite the nations' (not individuals or armies) Theory of Going.
1.57 a.m. Awkward about insanity, for example: no 'normal' to get back to! But better, philosophically, even so; insanity being a going other than proper to the nature of the Star in question. God! how it will tax their minds, whose Will is to find proper environments for Stars! To bring out their qualities by opposition, for one thing! Oh Lord! . . . Oh Lord! Indeed I thank Thee for the 'mysteries that no Beast shall divine'!
2 a.m. I conceive the state of Thelema. (It is the Church again, of course; but-well, I'm serious!) I propose that a man, adhering to Thelema, shall become a 'man without a country' abiding by the laws of, but regarding himself as a stranger visiting, any country where he may be. Now, look here! Either my whole idea of human psychology is wrong, or there is hardly a state on the planet whose citizens will not in great number hasten to join. In short, citizenship is now everywhere a burden, not a privilege. Yet they encourage 'Le Tourisme'! God! it's all such utter incoherent insanity that Choronzon is the. only possible Prime Minister!!!
2.10 a.m. I want an ISLAND. It must be fortified, etc., so as to be diplomatically recognized. Then we can issue passports to all nations. They lose little but the vote (!)(!)(!) Obviously, the advantages are such that trouble would arise at once: the issue will lie between owners of land & the rest directly. But if we can work it 'few and secret' we may get into the saddle. We can start by having Thelemites appear mere travellers or colonists.
3.26 p.m. States are founded on the fact that the voluntary association of men has proved advantageous to the individual. Once this advantage disappears, anarchy will return. The particular question of the moment is: Does it pay to be the member of any state? Is not this why the Jew is on top? Because he is a stranger everywhere? And Alastor the Wanderer—uber alles!
! !! !!!
3.33 p.m. The only time the police ever caught me, it was on my coming back to a place I called my own—the moral is obvious. Note that increased facilities of transport have made the Wanderer a much more important factor in the world than ever before. Yet who can tax him—without destroying Commerce?
6 p.m. Have had a somewhat disturbing conference with O.P.V. Against the rules. Luckily there is good news to balance it.
1—Crowley’s doctor in Tunis, who he went to see about stopping his heroin habit.
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