Aleister Crowley Diary Entry

Sunday, 11 November 1923

 

 

I start a new study of Samekh in the light of AL, II, 55. The English Vowels symbolize Energy or Motion.

 

     (Ai)

A

Free-flowing, undetermined latent form of O.

     (Bi)

E

Latent form of I.

     (B2)

I

Determined, concentrated, indrawn.

     (A2)

O

Determined, controlled, steadily flung forth.

     (A3)

U

— O becoming ecstatic.

     (A4)

W

Combined U and following vowel.

     (B3)

Y

Combines I and the following vowel, or is merely duplicate of I.

(Thus Yam — I — I — Am, Ready — Readi.)

     

There are thus really only two true vowels, as one would expect from the symbolism.

     

A, O, U, (W) the Outward Positive Magical Current.

     

E, I, (Y) the Inward Negative Magical Current.

     

The Consonants represent modes of differentiating these Currents by hindering the free flow in various ways.

     

There are three main modes:—

          

5 (8) Gutturals X, K, G, Q, (Ng), 'H, H, C(hard);

               

D[itt]o modified (palatal, etc.) (S Z) 2nd class;

          

7 (10) Dentals T, (Th), DoN, L, S, Z, R, (Sh) (C soft)

               

D[itt]o modified (linguals, etc.)

 

5 Labials P, F, B, M, V.

     

Gutturals: C or K, G, H, Q, X, (Ch),

     

Dentals: D, N, L, R, S, T, (Th), Z.

     

Labials: B, F, M, P, V.

 

 

Actual Characters

 

7

 

 

7

 

     Vowels

5

 

 

7

 

 

26

 

 

     Gutturals

— the open throat

— Kteis.

     Dentals

— the closed throat

— Phallos.

     Labials

— the moving lips

— Agape.

 

     Correspondences:

 

 

     Tenuis

K, T, P, (C);

 

     Media

G, D, B;

R — Dental modified,

     Nasalis

(Ng), N, M;

J —       D[itt]o

     Sp:asper

H, S, F, (ç);

 

     Sp:lenis

, Z, V, J,

 

     Semivocalis

Y, L, R, W,

 

 

     

 

Inst.

(plus)

Act.

Inst.

(minus)

Motion

 

     A

Air

    S

   F

   H

L

free-flowing.

     E

Earth

  Z

 V

C(=Ch)

J

syncopated.

     I

Water

    D

   B

   G

N

vibrating.

     O

Fire

  T

 P

K

R

radiant.

     U

Spirit

 

 

 

M

silent and still.

 

                    THE FUNDAMENTALIST ALPHABET.

A plus.

Ba.

Gk.

        Dph

     E minus

A

 

 

 

 

 

B

 

 

 

 

 

C=K

 

 

 

 

 

        D

     E

 

F

 

 

 

 

 

G

 

 

 

 

H

 

 

 

 

 

 

     I

 

 

 

        J

 

 

 

K

 

 

 

 

 

        L

 

 

M

 

 

 

 

 

 

        N

 

O

 

 

 

 

 

P

 

 

 

 

 

(Q)

 

 

 

 

 

        R

 

 

 

 

S(C=S)

 

 

 

 

      T

 

U

 

 

 

 

 

V

 

 

 

(W)

 

 

 

 

 

 

(X)

        (X)

    (V)

 

 

 

         Z

 

 

     ? Could we say

 

 

 

B

C

D

ways of modifying

A

     F

G

 

 

 

E

 

H

 

 

 

 

 

L

M

N

balance of A and E

I

     P

R

 

 

ways of modifying

O

 

S

 

 

 

 

 

T

 

 

 

 

 

V

 

 

   "     "        "

U

 

Z

 

 

 

 

 

There are now only three true Gutturals, but 9 Dentals and 5 Labials. Clearly Th Sol[sign for] = "Babalon and The Beast conjoined" as per Tarot. It is the letter of the IX° or Sex-Magick.

 

     T = the Male

The Mother = G

     D = the Father

The Female = K

 

     

I omit C as either K or S. (No, it is Ch.)

     

Q W X Y as compounds, leaving 21 as in Enochian.

     

Plus Vowels   A  O  U     3

     

  "       "        I   E          2             (Omit F and V)

     

Gutturals      K  G  H  C (=Ch)  3   (as — Ph and Bh)

     

Dentals D J L N R S T Z            8

     

Labials  B F M P Z                    5

     

Of the Dentals J L N R are not pure

     

We might insert Ch, a very definite sound as a guttural. Yes: this is the true C. Gutturals clearly = Moon.

     

K = Kteis.     G = Womb.     H = side of O.     D J N L R S T Z

     

Dentals = Sun.

     

L = Vibration of Light (flowing).

     

N = Vibration of Creative Energy.

     

T = attack. Cf S.

     

D = Father, achievement. Cf. Z.

     

S = Combustion, sudden.          of T.

     

Z = Energy, steady.

     

R = D[itt]o, explosive, tearing.

     

J = D[itt]o, D[itt]o  cur short.

     Labials

P

Explosion

 

B

Banishing

 

M

Silence (after)

 

F

P plus .

 

V

 

    

Gutturals go as negative with E  I.

     

Dentals as positive with A O U

     

Labials and Compounds as balanced.

     

Palatials, etc. as neuter.

 

A

plus

J

plus/minus?

S

plus

B

plus/minus

K

minus

T

plus

C

.

L

U

plus

D

plus

M

0

V

plus

E

minus

N

0

W

plus

F

.

O

plus

X

.

G

minus

P

plus

Y

minus

H

minus

Q

Z

plus

I

minus

R

0

 

 

          

B, etc. the act L R N M the motion

          

So we have

 

          1. The Energy plus

(

 

          2.     D[itt]o    minus.

(

Good, this is

          3. The Instrument plus

(

coherent and balanced.

          4. The Instrument minus

(

 

          5. The Act.

(

 

          6. The Motion.

(

 

 

 

Energy.

Instrument (Plus)

Act

Instr(-)

Motion.

     Air.

A

S

F

H

L

     Earth.

R

Z

V

C

J

     Water.

I

D

B

G

N

     Fire.

O

T

P

K

R

     Spirit.

U

 

 

 

M

                              

W  Y  Compound vowels.

                              

Q   X     "    "      Consonants.

     

E = Energy;   i = Instrument;   a = Act;   m = Motion.

Classify as Eternal, long and short

                     

M N S L Z            B G D           P K T

                        

etc.                    etc.              etc.

 

S U M M A R Y

 

A

e

plus Air, Wonder     LIFE.     Lungs: vital energy.

 

B

a

     Water. Considered reaction

     (Ch)

C

i

minus Earth Impatience (?)

 

D

i

plus Water Defence, finality

 

E

e

minus Earth Sense of Animality      EASE.     Automatic energy.

 

F

a

Air Spiritualization of

 

G

i

minus. Water. Greed.

 

H

i

minus. Air. Initiative: determination

 

I

e

minus Water. Fear: withdrawal concentration.    Breath

 

J

m

Earth? Contempt     Sensory energy.

 

K

i

Fire. Hunger      Kteis.

 

L

m

Air. Love     HARMONY.

 

M

m

Spirit. Silence: rest—doubt delay.

 

N

m

Water. Vibration—combustion; Speech and Silence.    Nerves

 

O

e

plus. Fire, Lust—attempts; Will to overwhelm.    Motor Energy

 

P

a

Fire. Swift reaction.

 

R

m

Fire. Radiance.      Heart.

 

S

i

plus. Air. Warning defiance; Anger; alarm.

 

T

i

plus. Fire Attack       Phallos

 

U

e

plus. Spirit Delight; Pain      ECSTASY.    Creative Ecstatic

 

V

a

Earth./ Disapproval based on "b"      (Energy.

 

Z

i

plus. Earth.      Spine.

 

     AIWASS

A

the Positive Life-Force

I

withdrawn and concentrated

W

is ecstatically

A

expressed in Life-Energy

S

(through the articulate (double) vibration of calling the attention

S

(of the hearer to "Man in Action".

     HOOR-PA-KRAAT:—

P

the (Kiss or) Budding,

A

of the Life-Force

K

the Virgin Desire of

R

the Solar Vibration causes

A

(the Life-Force in

A

(double manifestation

T

as a Male Unity (Point-of-View).

     Heru Ra Ha:—

H

The Spiritual Feminine Idea

E

inspires the Earth-Energy

R

with Solar Vibrations

U

which produces Ecstasy

R

(The Solar-Life-Vibration-Energy

A

 

H

(the Spiritual aspect of the

A

(Life-Force (as a quality of Nuit).

 

Sunday. Saw Luna [sign for] very clear and bright with the old moon in her arms.

     

8.30 p.m. Notes on the way to El Oued.

     

1st Day. 36 km. to Bordj. (bad Water). Shushet al-Yuden. Hair of Jews.

     

2nd Day. 27 km. to Bir-el-addal-Bordj. (Springs on road: Good water)

     

3rd Day. 20 km. to Bir-shash-Kaddour Bordj in mins. (very good water)

     

4th Day. 21 km. to El Oued. Hotel Mme. Sajmier. Commandant Mars, Lieutenant De Bruce.

     

10.20 p.m. As usual in a big Magick, illness interferes. Mohammed [ben Brahim] was ill the night he was wanted, and now Bab has fever of sorts, stopping our proposed work for to-day.

     

10.30 p.m. Working this p.m. on English Alphabet—to fill in the gaps in last night's work.

 

 

Energy

Mars.

Venus.

Phallus.

venus inverted [sign for]

     Air.

A

S

H

F

L

     Earth.

E

Z

C

V

S

     Water.

I

D

G

B

N

     Fire.

O

T

K

P

R

     Spirit.

U

 

 

 

M

 

     Each consonant should have some vowel especially sympathetic to it—not necessarily the vowel of its element. E.g., K being a thin inward force, goes with I.

     

11.35 p.m. I have analysed tentatively a few important words from AL with rather good results, but not so very striking. There must, of course, be a way of combining two or more wide primitive ideas to produce very definitely characteristic complexes. Thus such words as BAT, CAT, FAT, HAT, MAT, NAT, PAT, RAT, SAT, TAT, VAT differ immensely, despite their two-thirds identity. It must be rather as triangles with two common points

 

 

The AT in BAT   CAT   RAT

shows them all as lively and selfish;

but how is B   :C   :R   : :   Bat:

Cat : Rat?

 

C(Ch) is a fair cat-determinant; but I don't see a Rat as very Solar, or a Bat as specially Water Sprit [signs for]—like, unless as a symbol of twilight flitting, love of the dark, hot evil smell, leathern wings, and demonic mimicry of the human. Yes: it's Rat that fails to fit as it should. What of Dog and Frog?—Oh Hell, I'm tired—11.45 p.m. Shit! Me to hit the hay!

 

TENTATIVE INTERPRETATION OF A FEW WORDS.

     

AL  Indeterminate positive Energy rippling freely and unchecked in rhythm.

     Thelema (Greek) ((Greek) 4th letter—'h'—must be an emphatic form of e: the earth-element acting as a positive energy).

 

Th(eta)

T)

The force and Fire of the Phallus conjoined with

 

H)

the (spiritual aspect of the) kteis.

 

e

creates a Magical current of indeterminate passive nature, on the

 material plane

 

l

which flows forth rhythmically in waves of Love,

 

e

so becoming an active control of the Earth-currents

 

m

which sets up a Motion of the nature of Spiritual Control, silencing

 all lower types of motion,

 

a

thus endowing th Earth with a new current of Life, indeterminate still

 yet positive. It is the establishment of the Ruach in place of the

 Nephesch.

AGAPE(Greek).

A

the Energy above defined acts upon

 

G

the Sensorium of Malkuth, encompassing

 

A

it about. She is thus led to invoke

 

P

the attracting Will (the kiss of the Bride-

 

E

groom) which creates the active Earth-Energy.

NUIT:

N

The Eternal Vibration of the Dragon of Heaven produces

 

U

Ecstasy (of the type created by the direction of the Will-Energy

 0 to the Mystic Marriage)

 

I

which is represented by Withdrawal into the Negative.

 

T

The process ends by the formulation of positive simple

 aggressive Unity.

HADIT:

H

The Feminine Desire (of Nuit)

 

A

Invokes the Life-Force which

 

D

creates a Father-Idea; whose

 

I

Will it is to simplify itself to

 

T

T(the True Self) by Withdrawal into Nuit (as above).

RA-HOOR-KHU:

R

The Solar Vibration, the

 

A

Source of the Life-Force

 

H

aspiring to the Spiritual

 

O)

by the Energy of Double Power

 

O)

 

 

R

completes the cycle of Sol

 

K

The Virgin     )

 

H

Spiritual        ) crowns this Work.

 

U

Ecstasy         )

THE BEAST

T

666 and 156 [Leah Hirsig] Formula

 

H

 

 

E

The "Normal" Earth-Energy.

"The" means therefore that this Formula creates the idea of the definite Thing.

 

B

The Act of

 

E

Earth-Energy (Nephesch) Life latent.

 

A

Air-Energy (Ruach) Life expressed.

 

S

The complete Man in action.

 

T

(T the True Self, S the Male Lust).

666 is thus the exponent of Perfecting Man by the Formula of the IX°.

THE SCARLET WOMAN

 

 

 

THE

(as above)

     (This gives the

S

Serpent-activity (Male Lust).

     Formula of the

C

of her virgin lust

     Vibration of

A

demands the Life-Force

     light called

R

and the Solar Vibration

     Scarlet.)

L

by means of Love flowing free in

 

E

waves of Earth-Energy

 

T

from each of her lovers.

 

 

 

 

W)

The Ecstasy which crowns

     (This is the

O)

Will-Energy produces

     formula of any

M

the Spiritual Absorption of all

     woman of course.)

A

Life-Force, thus setting up

 

N

a continuous Vibration through Death and Life.

 

1.31. p.m. Heard from Achad [Charles Stansfeld Jones]: an importative of the Integrality of the Relationism of the Ipsissimissity of his Remarksosity is pleasantatious to my Sireanity, and has makated the Urge of my Soulology pyramidalize in a Wayiam hithertoly almostiful as strangeiferous as I can remembranceify in this Incarnationality.

     

10.55 p.m. About 10.30 Bab finished her Opus[1] p.v.n.[2] (Bij la Sem) to put us both into first-class Magical form. Opus began about 9.30 and I got good results practically at once, my thought moving freely in the right channels. I made the important Meditation recorded in X Cap: II (See back of typed pages in my bound MSS 414-6).

 

1—Refers to a magical sexual operation.

2—Per vas nefandum. By the unmentionable vessel, i.e. anal intercourse.

 

 

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