The Equinox (Volume I, Number I)

THE EQUINOX “ Before us glared a human face above a human body with arms and feet; but behind it, it was as the body of a lion. “Sappho then gave me the 0°=o° sign, which I returned, whereupon the great figure rose and blessed us, and we embraced. Then I knelt before Sappho and said: “You have given me of your strength and brought me into this place of blessing; I will now give you of mine.’ “For answer she held my hands in hers, and wonderful tinglings of glory and passion flowed into me like live fire. I raised my head to her bosom, and kissed her passionately, and then I noticed that I too was a woman! “ An angel approached me and advised restraint, and so with a great calmness I passed within her body, and at once felt all her passion and longings. A mighty joy and glory encom- passed me, and we became a great brown bird taking part in a mystic ceremony, the priest being the great man-lion ; then again we rose and re-assumed human shape, but larger than before. “ Now we saw standing before us a venerable, beautiful and kingly figure (Tiphereth), holding a flaming sword of dazzling whiteness. This he extended to us, whilst his attendants, who were angelic figures, sang a low, melodious tune. Then he placed it in our mouth, when at once there rushed from our lips an infinite and intolerable song, which presently ceased, when the sword was returned to the king. “ Then I noticed that the sun was burning below us, so once again assuming the form of the brown bird, we flitted round the sun, bathing in its fiery flames and molten substance. “Presently I wished to return; but could not separate myself from her, for I was absorbed in Sappho. Becoming 316