Book 4 (Part II)

I02 bringing it into harmony and proportion you will find the hidden stone, the same stone of the philosophers of which mention has already been made, which turns all into gold. This oil which can eat into the steel, is further that which is written. Liber LXV, i, i6: "As an acid eats into steel ... so am I unto the Spirit of Man." Note how closely woven into itself is all this symbolism ! The centre of Ruach being the heart, it is seen that this Sword of the Ruach must be thrust by the Magician into his own heart. But there is a subsequent task, of which it is spoken —Liber VII, V, 47. " He shall await the sword of the Beloved and bare his throat for the stroke." In the throat is Daath —the throne of Ruach. Daath is Knowledge. This final destruction of knowledge opens the gate of the City of the Pyramids. It is also written, Liber CCXX, iii, 11: " Let the woman be girt with a sword before me." But this refers to the arming of Vedana with Saniia, the overcoming of emotion by clarity of perception. It is also spoken, Liber LXV, v, 14, of the Sword of Adonai, "that hath four blades, the blade of the Thunderbolt, the blade of the Pylon, the blade of the Serpent, the blade of the Phallus." But this Sword is not for the ordinary Magician. For this is the Sword flaming every way that keeps Eden, and in this Sword the Wand and the Cup are concealed — so that although the being of the Magi-