Magick Without Tears

"SERIOUS" STYLE OF A.C. 285 deadly, no poison more pernicious , no seduction more subtle than Spiritual Pride; it strikes, being solar, at the very heart of the Aspirant; more, it is an inflation and exacerbation of the Ego, so that its victim runs the peril of straying into a Black Lodge, and finding himself at home there. Against this risk we look to our insurance; there are two infallible: Common Sense and the Sense of Humour. To this rule there is, as usual with rules, an exception. Some states of mind are of the same structure as poetry, where the "one step from the sublime to the ridiculous" is an easy and fatal step. But even so, pedantry is as bad as ribaldry. Personally , I have tried to avoid the dilemma by the use of poetic language and form ; for instance, in AHA! It is all difficult , damned difficult ; but if it must be that one's most sacred shrine be profaned , let it be the clean assault of laughter rather than the slimy smear of sanctimoniousness! There, or thereabouts, we must leave it. "Out of the fulness of the heart the mouth speaketh"; and I cannot sing he words of an epithalamium to the music of a dirge. Besides, what says the poet? "Love's at its height in pure ove? Nay, but after When the song's light dissolves gently in· aughter." Oh! "One word more" as Browning said, "Actions speak ouder than words." Do you see what is my mark? It is you that I am going to ut in the dock about "being serious"; and that will take a eparate letter-part of the answer to yours received March Oth, 1944 and in to your entire course of conduct ince you came to me-now over a year ago. Love is the law, love under will. Fraternally yours, 666