The Star in the West

248 THE STAR IN THE WEST Gematria , Temurah , and Notariqon , which on the very face of the argument seem to condemn a system which aimed at supplying mankind with a great and beautiful truth . We should not like to say that Aleister Crowley's poems are entirely guiltless of the accusation of ob scurity ; but to the uninitiated more lies below the surface than is ever dreamt of ; and we do not consider that the use which he frequently makes of words , or rather names of an inward grace , should be considered as obscure . It is not difficult for the most uninstructed in the Qabalah to discover that Binah is equivalent to inspiration or understanding , that Chokmah means wisdom or revelation , or in fact to grasp the simpler ideas contained in the Sephirotic Scheme . Without such knowledge , in fact, half the pleasure is lost in not understanding these poems , and a false idea of an attempt to “ flummox ” the reader's mind arises . A mystery is simply an unanswered riddle . If to a person who knows not a single word of Urdu , I use such expressions as “ suar," " sala , ” “ bahinchut ,” they to his mind will be entirely sterile of meaning ; but not so , however , to the initiated , who would highly appre ciate them (unless applied to himself ) . Such use of words appears only absurd to those who fail to under stand their meaning. A word may be charged with meaning just as a battery may be charged with electricity . Unconditionally there is little difference, beyond the literation , between “ Hocus pocus " and “ Gee- up .” If I say the latter to my towel -horse , I do not expect it to break into a canter ; if, however , I say it to my pony , and it holds the key of this mystery , I do ; so with any other word . I say “ hocus-pocus ," and the gullible are wrapped in mystery ; or better I