The Law is for All

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.