Chapter I a Verses 57-59
79
58. I give unimaginable joys on earth: certainty, not faith, while 
in life, upon death; peace unutterable, rest, ecstasy; nor do I 
demand aught in sacrifice.
Commentary: These joys are principally (1) the Beatific 
Vision, in which Beauty is constantly present to the recipient of 
Her grace, together with a calm and unutterable joy; (2) the 
Vision of Wonder, in which the whole Mystery of the Universe is 
constantly understood and admired for its Ingenium and Wisdom.
(1) is referred to Tiphareth, the Grade of Adept;
(2) to Binah, the grade of Master of the Temple.
The certainty concerning death is conferred by the Magical 
Memory, and various Experiences without which Life is unintelli­
gible.
“peace unutterable” is given by the Trance in which Matter is 
destroyed; “rest” by that which finally equilibrates Motion.
“ecstasy” refers to a Trance which combines these.
“nor do I demand aught in sacrifice”—the ritual of worship is 
samadhi. But see later, verse 61.
59. My incense is of resinous woods & gums; and there is no 
blood therein: because of my hair the trees of Eternity.
Commentary: It seems possible that Our Lady describes Her 
hair as “the trees of Eternity” because of the tree-like structure of 
the Cosmos. This is observed in the “Star-Sponge” Vision. I must 
explain this by giving a comparatively full account of this vision.
The “Star-Sponge” Vision
There is a vision of a peculiar character which has been of 
cardinal importance in my interior life, and to which con­
stant reference is made in my magical diaries. So far as I 
know, there is no extant description of this vision anywhere, 
and I was surprised on looking through my records to find 
that I had given no clear account of it myself. The reason 
apparently is that it is so necessary a part of myself that I 
unconsciously assume it to be a matter of common knowl­
edge, just as one assumes that everybody knows that one pos­
sesses a pair of lungs, and therefore abstains from mentioning 
the fact directly, although perhaps alluding to the matter 
often enough.