Magick in Theory and Practice (Section 3)

3- (Note to page 291). The Oracles of Zoroaster utter this : “And when, by often invoking, ail the phantasms are vanished, thou shalt see that Holy and Formless Fire, that Fire which darts and flashes through ail the Depths of the Universe; hear thou the Voice of the P'ire! “A similar Fire flashingly extending through the rushings of Air, or a Fire formless whence cometh the Image of a voice, or even a flashing Light abounding, revolving, whirling forth, crying aloud. Also there is the vision of the fire-flashing Courser of Light, or also a Child, borne aloft on the shoulders of the Celestial Steed, fïery, or clothed with gold, or naked, or shooting with the bow shafts or light, and standing on the shoulders of the horse, then if thy méditation prolongeth ’tself, thou shalt unité ail these symbols into the Form of a Lion.” This passage — combined with several others — is paraphased in poetry by Aleister Crowley in his “Tannhauser”. “And when, invoking o]ten> thou shalt see That formless Fire; when ail the earth is shaken, The stars abide not, and the moon is gone, Ail Time crushed back into Eternity, The Universe by earthquake overtaken; Light is not, and the thunders roll, The World is done: When in the darkness Chaos rolls again In the excited brain: Then, O then call not to thy view that visible Image of Nature; fatal is her name! It fitteth not thy Body to behold That living light of Hell, The unluminous, dead flame, Until that body from the crucible Hath passed, pure gold! For, from the confines of material space, The twilight-moving place, The gates of matter, and the dark threshold, Before the faces of the Things that dwell In the Abodes of Night, Spring into sight Démons, dog-faced, that show no mortal sign Of Truth, but desecrate the Light Divine, Seducing from the sacred mysteries. But, after ail these Folk of Fear are driven Before the avenging levin That rives the opening skies, Behold that Formless and that Holy Flame — 292 —