Magick Without Tears

FASCINATIONS 193 curious circumstances, and I was too lazy-or perhaps a little afraid-to reject it and write what I wanted." He fastened on one point: "You don't know what it means?" I repeated that I did not, even now that he had claimed it as important. He explained it to me, as to a child. I was merely surprised; it didn't sound possible. (Sister, all this while I've been lying to you like an Archbishop; it is connected with fascinations; indeed, it has very little to do with anything else!) Finally, he won me over, I went down to his G.H.Q ., took the Oaths , was installed in the Throne of the Xo of O.T.O. as National Sovereign Grand Master General, and began to establish the Order as a going concern . Well, you say, that is a very simple story, nothing specially hard to believe in it. True, but consider the dates. That scene in Victoria Street, is as clear and vivid in my mind, in every detail, as if it were yesterday. That secret is published only in that passage of that book. And-the book was not published until three years later, and from an address of which in 1910 I had not so much as thought of. The date of my adhesion to the O.T.O. (which, by the way, upset every principle and plan that I had ever held) is equally certain by virtue of subsequent published writings. Now go away and explain that! Well I've given you a fair account of some of the principal fascinations; as to the rest, bewitchments, sorceries, inhibitions and all that lot, it is enough if I say that they follow the regular Laws of Magick; in some, fascinations proper plays a prominent part; in others, it is barely more than walking on to say "My lord, the carriage waits!" But-even that can be done well or ill, and a small mistake may work a mighty mischief. Love is the law, love under will. Yours fraternally, 666