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PRESENTED
TO
PRESENTED
TO
SONE PHILOSOPHY
,
OF THE
HERMETiCS
see
LONDON:
MESSRS. KEGAN, PAUL, TRENCH, TRUBNKR & COMPANY
(LIMITED)
All Rights Reserved.
/
I
<
BY D.
P.
CONTENTS.
PAGE
PREFACE
HERMETICS
PHILOSOPHY
FAITH
13
CONCENTRATION
18
5
7
PRACTICE
22
MEMORY
26
IMAGINATION
31
37
41
47
ONE DAY
53
SECRET GRIEF
COLD DESPAIR
BEAUTY ART POWER
56
SPIRITS
AND DEVILS
DEATH WHAT OF
NATURE S JEST
YOUR FRIEND
THE ONE THING
THE DEVIL
THE PAIRS
IT?
61
65
70
73
79
83
86
9
94
ADONAI
98
MAGIC...
103
PREFACE.
Nature has a way of concealing and
She
revealing.
tells
priestcraft
and
The Sage
the
supernatural.
repudiates
takes his cue from his mother; like Nature,
he conceals and reveals. He who would
see other than the smiling, scowling face
Hermes must search the dark places
of
by the
light of his
own
candle
Hermes
latter,
The
She speaks
in poetry
and in prose.
Man
THE HERMETICS.
Who
were they
What
are those
They
believe in silver
silver silence is
and gold.
gold."
They
"
If speech is
believe in the
many
elixir of
rado
and
life.
realize
They
eternity.
They
comprehend
They
tion to evolution,
row.
They
insist
being.
To find
discover
him next
door.
He
is
is to
as likely to
and as
He
is
are treasured.
Enough, save
true.
"
this
Chaos, order.
many."
PHILOSOPHY.
With your
Philosophy
blood surges
up
to
only a thrill of
it.
SOME PHILOSOPHY
io
Yourself-
closed
yourself in the
yourself everywhere;
Philosophy s eyes
Philosophy s voice
all;
Life!
Life!
Open
air
breathe
breathe
at the
sky
soft rain
breathe.
I ve traveled the spaces by thinking
I ve
mounted the zenith by wishing I ve floated
in air by a longing
I ve melted in mist
when a dreaming I have flashed in the fire
by desiring I have blended in water by
looking I have entered a soul by aspiring.
I am many or one
I am one or the many.
is
mine
Each day
own not anothers; each
day
is all
sucked
and dripped
SOME PHILOSOPHY
12
in the
Ah
Life
and Philosophy
Wisdom and
Life!
Do you ask me
the reason of
all, I give
the
reason
of
do
ask
me the
you
none;
you
reason of none, I give you the wisdom of all.
You burn with desire and you thrill;
OF THE HERMETICS
13
FAITH.
We will
accomplishing
results.
We
advise
you
Take
Most people
find certain
dominant tend
SOME PHILOSOPHY
14
trouble to penetrate.
If you see a leaf floating on the wave at
sea,
land
is
near.
May
it
to
think that
waters.
The
lesson
we would teach
them
faith
create in
;
follow
is this,
observe
how
let
insignificant
a sort of conditional
you
them up and
see
what you
will
discover.
The
scientist is
tional faith
it is
not absolute
faith,
but a
When
OF THE HERMETICS
15
It is what might be
and the only excuse for
its
Suppose
for instance,
you
find at
some
The
faith
such as the
SOME PHILOSOPHY
16
it.
tigates spiritualistic,
psychic and
who
inves
sleight-of-
student of Philosophy.
down
as
an axiom by
all
It
should be laid
beginners in the
Truth
is
safe
enough
OF THE HERMETICS
17
To
find
method, which
is
scientific
supreme
faith
which
is
It is
that
and
when you
hoped
the day when the first sign of land appeared,
was to him and the whole of Europe an
image and a dream.
SOME PHILOSOPHY
i8
CONCENTRATION.
We
of his
;
own
he expects
own mind.
He
figures on
becoming king
OF THE HERMETICS
of opportunity
Notice
and creating
it
19
at his
own
him
view something
gets to singing a new tune and
He
else.
byway
to
He
forgets the first stanza of the old one.
knows people and forgets their names, or he
knows
He
their
names and
forever
;
SOME PHILOSOPHY
20
you plucked a
leaf
and threw
it
away
you
the lock,
of a pin
"Can
you look at the point
and look and look.
Can you
on a premise, and think and think
rest
up
to the
facts
on
21
fixed in
are
the capture.
We
at the
very inception of
the study ot Philosophy, that you must have
two kinds of faith; one absolute, the other
tell
you now,
tice.
Look
to
grapple with
into yourself
indicates concentration
and see
;
if
if
it.
your past
not, begin.
SOME PHILOSOPHY
22
PRACTICE.
There
lives
who
same time
that
tice
you
is
stated times to
to avoid a
method of prac
To take
by habit.
become good (say Sundays), is
backed
and
and
manner
of our system;
who
what
is
life is
from
its
pleasures to
its
know
agonies;
OF THE HERMETICS
from
its
feasts to its
graveyards
23
and the
more
practice, I
mean
that
you are
world
Cloisters are
Philosopher.
Monasteries are old fashioned
to stay
where
the living
out of date.
is
they belong
middle ages.
People must clash with each other in
order to live must feel each other s pulse,
and jostle shoulder to shoulder they must
;
to the
SOME PHILOSOPHY
24
While
a certain
amount
and
much
of
it is
bad.
Learn to concentrate
ACT
Have
Your
time, everywhere.
Philosophy should stick to you closer than
the hairs of your head, and should put in an
night;
all
the
25
it
It is also
a sort
if
you
die, it
whom you
pays up to
have left
is
not,
and
if
SOME PHILOSOPHY
26
MEMORY.
When
Sun
It is a
the
dark place
OF THE HERMETICS
In your pursuit of Philosophy, understand
that your path will not be all sunshine.
Philosophy
Mercury.
lets
Dame Nature
somewhat
a
as a good
stubborn
nature
husband
does with
spouse
Philosophy manages
through her own attributes. A
;
is
memory.
brings it to bear
at the right time, and reaps the reward.
Philosophy has much tact, just as a wise
Philosophy knowing
husband
this,
has.
To
tial
forgetter, is as necessary as
to be a
good
SOME PHILOSOPHY
28
There
is
Some memories
the
more
29
Even
in this
this
makes you
safe
safe in
your mind,
your heart
have remembered.
When
any trouble
gloom
mood, en
sun
Olympus
and black
to day.
like that
will
of a friend s eyes
SOME PHILOSOPHY
30
This
is
is
the
office
if
of
memory.
Memory
your servant,
it,
is your slave, and all slaves
impose
upon their masters when allowed.
Put impertinent memories to sleep wake
up the right one at the right time and
cheat Dame Nature into believing that she
has conquered Philosophjr.
memory
31
IMAGINATION.
To imagine something
image
in the
mind by
untary imagination.
is
to call
the will.
This
up an
is
vol
Involuntary imagina
own
Most lewd,
of
associates.
Imagination
is
man
SOME PHILOSOPHY
32
will decorate
in
it;
you
ment that
crude
will so overpower
outer
surroundings
cease
to
trouble you.
and sting
when you are totally unable to combat it, is
to be abhorred and dreaded.
Not that he is
forever ugly
the serpent has an unrivaled
and
is
a marvel in color not that,
grace,
but he is unreliable, treacherous and poison
ous; he may not sting, but if he does the
antidote is hard to find.
Worse than that,
he is eternally reproducing himself; he
itself to coil
its
turn
ma
33
He
loves
lot;
The
woman.
will
On
coward lackey
He
34
SOME PHILOSOPHY
upon him.
He
being alone.
He
is
and dreads
fettered
is
The
port.
some
offspring,
ever he goes.
This
fate is inevitable to
In time,
his imagination to go rampant.
his will falls to sleep and he becomes like
one in fever the prey to uncanny dreams
or like the brandy-soaked victim who is ever
terrified at the reptiles which his diseased
let
it
though
on the
bit
even
To have
35
gutter.
some form.
in
them leave
is
all
to
there also.
The
by an
effort
substitution.
It is
ation,
of pure will or by a
just as easy to substi
forever suspecting,
bad
is to
to
suspicion,
tenant. To be
go through
life as
a kitchen, sniffing
SOME PHILOSOPHY
commodities with a
pair of test scales, under pretext of detect
ing theft; or like one who steals into
places at unsuspected times on the lookout
fault;
weighing
for scandal
all
ing like
windows, over-hauling coat-pockets, rum
maging desk drawers, talking in ambiguous
phrases, dealing in hints, implying every
imagination
trail
OF THE HERMETICS
37
No
come
nor
it
covered
will
to you,
some
thickly
priest
taken down
Judgment Day.
SOME PHILOSOPHY
38
neverthe
less, and its pages can be counted by
hundreds. It is in many volumes, bound
in skins finer than that of the sheep or the
chamois. Its letters are written in the
three fundamental colors intershaded by
tints
many
some
exists,
some of them
flash fire,
and
It is fully illust
The
answer,
where
"Look
behold the
The
this
you ask; I
within, read yourself, and
is
book,"
revelation"
inclose a
covers
the
fire.
The blank
It is the
Book
of
Mystery
the record of
OF THE HERMETICS
39
this
last
It
land.
SOME PHILOSOPHY
40
It is
your
coffin.
It is
Bible
est
with
its
own
light,
It
is
illuminated
can understand
the letters,
the dictionary
you may
find its
OF THE HERMETICS
41
It is
is
the usual
vice of all
is
comes
consciousness of strength
self-respect, or in other
call
conceit.
them.
love
self
We
condemn
and
is,
to
check
all
further advancement
respect of self
is
SOME PHILOSOPHY
42
of self, in the
Do
is
in this;
no danger
of
the object of
names
in
or,
any manner,
to
lower your
moral standard.
Other people will honor your concentra
tion and the results produced by it.
You
have no need to contemplate yourself, or
43
attracts
young
as he never did
love with
pursuit (say
truth) to rise above this enervating con
sciousness of self (this is wrong).
We
way
is
to
able.
plation only.
SOME PHILOSOPHY
44
self,
This
is
When
the
self.
upon
to Christ
and
own goodness.
not mistake us. Your final object is
to find yourself, but you never can do it by
As you never have seen
self-admiration.
forget his
Do
your own
To
self,
look into
self,
own
soul; if
analyze
self,
you
will
do,
some
grow with
it
45
your whole
will take
Unit of Force
to pull it out.
true Philosopher does not carry his
Before he enters the
pride with him long.
narrow path he is stripped naked and his
The
He is allowed nothing
first.
about
him, and pride is heavy; he
heavy
has to run, for he is after something which
His eye must be
eludes and evades him.
pride falls
on the object or
steadily fixed
it
will escape
He
brance.
it
The
"
He
that
is first
He
shall
be
last."
SOME PHILOSOPHY
46
The object
power; not
till
in the dirt.
Save your energy
fool
supposed
much
to
you are
your self-love
whimpers and whines, get rid of them all.
They will block your way where ever you
turn; and as long as you harbor these
vices you will get no where. Your haughty
looks will set others to laughing; and you
self-respect
still
lingers;
if
it
OF THE HERMETICS
47
are cranks
Who
are they
These
First let me
questions are easily answered.
say, that there are all degrees of cranks,
evil.
it
goes
He will not have a mountain-top sweep, but
he can make out a horse or a dog as truly
.
SOME PHILOSOPHY
48
as could
Lord Bacon.
vision
is
adjust
ness
of the crank.
If the crank is not born an Egoist he very
soon becomes one, for it is almost invariably
He
longs
for
him
some
into
sort of
OF THE HERMETICS
fame, any sort.
The
idea of the
49
love of
people stare.
he begins
he gets a following,
If
to believe in
is inspired
having no
of
he
love
does more
but
fame,
balance,
only
and more absurd things until the world
concludes that he
hisses
His
him down.
his
light of
a vast proportion
SOME PHILOSOPHY
50
"
"
"
"Is
"
authority.
tized
by
They
They
fools
more
glory in the
Kingdom
of
Fooldom and
long
fists at
You
reason.
will find the
OF THE HERMETICS
street of every city in
51
Arch Crank
is
rarer;
and
But the
Devil
is
his
In
or
feet
fact,
a crank,
his
is
You ask
honest
"
"
By one simple
rule
common
SOME PHILOSOPHY
52
"
Yes, a few.
who have
They
^generaliza
something in one
but their vision is narrow
particular line,
they see straight ahead, but they cannot look
out at the sides. They have a defect of vis
;
The
all points of
eyes
"
"
be.
OF THE HERMETICS
53
ONE DAY.
In the dark we dream of the dawn and
divine youth
We
youth
starry-eyed.
and
for
the
the
flash
a
morning
pray
sky
warm with the bud of passion a form softlimbed and strong. It comes We have
prayed. It comes morning youth.
We stand somewhere on a high place, and
and the sunrise.
thrill with our blood
on
the sky like the
The bud steals up
But
it is
opening
The sky
youth is fulfilled
is on fire.
passion
rising
Alas
We stare at the sun and he puts
out our eyes the new sun the young sun
he stabs us with needles of light till
pleasure is pain. And our passion the
is
our soul
SOME PHILOSOPHY
54
flower of our
through
Alas
till
climax
pierces us
through and
ecstacy weeps.
We
and
youth
long
the zenith.
for
We
the
noon
the
go in the dark
wait.
Up
dark.
the zenith
are blind
through with
its darts.
We
Alas
we
were ripe our muscles and nerves were
tense our heart beat time to the march of
our feet We lifted our arm, our strong
right arm, and hurled the lance It was
noon it struck at the sun in the zenith
!
OF THE HERMETICS
55
to
heart beat
for
the quiet
of
sleep
for
comforting dreams.
Alas the sun goes down and we stare
in its face but our eyes are gone
eaten
worms
the
worm
of
And
we
fall
by
age.
to the ground for our limbs are weak
they shake with years. And we look within
but we cannot see, for our blood is cold and
thick our heart is ice, and beats with a
noise like the cracking of snow.
Alas! Alas!! But wait !!! The GODS
do face the sun. BE GODS.
!
SOME PHILOSOPHY
56
SECRET GRIEF.
You
ble
will understand
it is
it,
would go
to
hide
It
secret.
Your
to seek
is
yours,
it
will
the
pierce to
emphatically yours.
it,
or
if
is as life
is.
It
is
something so foreign
to
57
It is altogether
Civilization.
It is not so
gilds its edge.
that you have done, as a
much something
felt
and
still feel;
which God
It
suffers.
may be
may
It
a secret hate,
be an unful
filled
SOME PHILOSOPHY
58
ture.
It is the
pulls
Think
on
!
moment
Now do you know? Do you
the
planets.
understand.
There are open
Stop a
secrets,
honorable sor
OF THE HERMETICS
forters
come and
go,
in black;
59
when
light
able black
for the
wearing of black
He
despair.
loves the
him and
is
lost
again
deep
deep in his
heart.
SOME PHILOSOPHY
60
women
fire-side.
they know
s
not.
He
He
talks with
smiles
in
dances, eats
spends.
The
Grief
left it
is
there
when he
tis
died.
61
COLD DESPAIR.
phantom
fiend.
To
is
to the dregs.
reserved for the elect.
drain
call
it
its
own
light
the lurid,
in white mist
through
Where
Hope
is,
all
is
white
mist
the
fog of
SOME PHILOSOPHY
62
illusion.
of
scales
blood,
warm
you.
You
his chance.
He
smoulders.
Despair waits
He
catches
he
seizes
will arouse
will
wander
and
off
veil
your
face
and Despair
What
appear
if
he
"Fore
warned, fore
armed."
two,
you can
HEXME TICS
OF THE
not
63
to feel.
fail
other dwells.
for
and
dazzling while
it
shroud of truth.
It is
microscopic lens.
telescopic
woman
eye.
s face.
soothes,
It is
It
is
It is
is
the
mask upon
the fool
cap on the
Sage s head.
In flying from Despair you leave
Hope
of
behind.
Fair
dreams
your
amber-eyed.
Hope
the
fair
The
aphrodite
golden-haired the
!
Fair
something yet
thing yet unknown.
Truth will have none of her, for like a
harlot, she conceals within her ample skirts
her brother Cold Despair. She hides him
mid the
sun
her
partner
hugged
madly
close
in the
to
her
SOME PHILOSOPHY
64
breast
forth.
Sometimes
but
she understands.
is
essence,
more glittering than illusion in the glare of
fire, more brilliant than all the suns above,
more
real
the Fates.
temple there
is
writ
in
Hope
blood,
behind.
"
He who
OF THE HERMETICS
65
is
Is
it
for ?
a heart
it
you
desire,
What
Beauty?
to please a friend ?
Is it to win
Is it to gain admiration, flattery
or fame, or
is it for
the love of
it ?
you love
it,
but
still
more
for the
of power.
Now pay close attention.
sense of Beauty is in some sense the
sake
The
most
a
it
is
is
that
sense
it
is
abstractions.
The
all
other
The same
things thrown
some other way, would be gov
erned by another abstraction which would not
of the combination.
together in
be that of Beauty.
SOME PHILOSOPHY
66
which appeals
//
engage.
to
preciate, and
fails
You
desired.
comes
are
you as you ap
to
to
do
duped,
The
work
the
and
love of
have
Beauty
Alas
you
feel
OF THE HERMETICS
67
in
suit.
eye,
all
pany.
self for
the Beauty
sake,
and in
divine abstraction
this
be
even though
different
from
harmony manifested
in
Real
the
Beauty
lover.
his divine
He
is
association
supremely happy in
and smiles back on
SOME PHILOSOPHY
68
for
whom ?
"
own.
It
sort.
OF THE HERMETICS
69
foundation
rock-granite
earth, and
But the tower
of
warm him
sky
him
Art the
own
Let
me whisper a secret
kneel
only
you only
more, while you
crawl near his skirts and pick flowers, he
He will
is likely to tread on your form.
think you a worm. Rise up. Stand near,
and measure stature with him. Though
he towers to the stars, stand near. Dare
And
thou
to
Power
Beauty
Art Power !
SOME PHILOSOPHY
70
SPIRITS
We have
AND
DEVILS.
mind, which is
nothing other than one bent on knowing
for the knowing s sake if you are sure of
If
scientific
of
hard
fact.
Do
not
congratulate
that
possible
you have not
yourself;
as yet evolved the scientific mind.
But wait a moment, there is another
it is
condition
71
you have.
this
The
"
set
"
will
know
this,
you singing again only
there
is
danger. In
you head,
lilies
the wet where the
grow, the devil is
;
that where
hid
sits,
He
scarlet
SOME PHILOSOPHY
72
and
for
Some day we
OF THE
HERMET1CS
73
DEATH WHAT OF
"
If I should
"
die,"
you
say,
IT?
If I
should
but death!
life
What
corpse,
with truth ?
The
charnel-house
to
do
a dreary
even the mauso
is
"
"
Arctic
more
Death
chill
!
SOME PHILOSOPHY
74
brother
sleep
and
your eyes.
sit
sea
low
You
when
the
sea sighs.
When
you
you
die
you
will
grow
so cold that
be frozen hard
chick
is
till
the tide
Remember
that death
is
the soil of
life
OF THE HERMETIC*
75
and
life is
goeth
in,
cometh
in the
tomb
When
three days.
you take up
the thread and weave it into the warp where
if you find it
it dropped the night before;
knotted Alas you left it so. When you
wake from the ebb-tide of death and open
sleep,
now
there,
like the sisters
You
spin as the
spider spins, and fasten yourself to the web.
You spin with the silver cord, as fine as a
of fate.
life.
SOME PHILOSOPHY
76
The
in the heat.
and
spin,
spin?
The genius
her
"
feet
seeks his
O muse!
that I
into
spaces
the
sea.
the
of
77
Your muse
saints
calls
heaven
the cherubs
to
help her
the seraphs
the
the an
God.
the arch-angels
She dares
gels
with her eyes the terrible glitter of the dog
star.
She shifts her gaze to the awful flash
of
Arcturus.
She appeals
to the
majesty
sleep on.
When
SOME PHILOSOPHY
78
When
your muse
eternal
fires.
will
conquer
Fear
not.
hell,
and
face the
OF THE HERMETICS
NATURE S
Our whimsical
old
79
JEST.
Mother Nature
is
ap
She may
be
more
in
imagine.
Madame Beauty
and weeps
in rags,
bitter tears as
but
Poverty,
in the corner,
is
SOME PHILOSOPHY
8o
and her
Tears make them brighter as dew
to fasten
eyes!
it
Beauty
the skin
is
too poor
Her white
half covered
is
breast
is
but
coldest.
Madame Ugliness
They shine in her
gather scandals and
gobbles the
flies
ears
OF THE HERMETICS
81
where
it
clings
to
to scratch
thy limbs.
is thy
sun
the white of
love.
Thou
holdest
SOME PHILOSOPHY
82
But Ugliness
Ah
fish,
while
Nature
you jest, unless time and
causes long gone can be caught to weigh
down things as they seem.
!
OF THE HERMETICS
83
YOUR FRIEND.
Is
he hateful today
remember
his
smile.
last week.
Has
his
think of tomorrow,
Is he scowling, recall
tongue twisted
itself
SOME PHILOSOPHY
84
It will
paste nor pebble, but a gem.
flash in a comparatively dark place, brighter
than in the sunshine. Wear it on your
breast,
light
is
him,
him.
if
He may
for you.
you make
By no amount
of polishing can
may
watered by tears.
Be just
OF THE HERMETICS
It
may
85
You
You may
find the
would
eat, possibly
a pearl before
you set it. If it is precious conceal it, for
If it is luminous
there are thieves about.
at the retailers.
Be sure
it is
hide
it,
for
it
aspect of you
is
SOME PHILOSOPHY
86
Every thing
tires
When
mountain to a star.
he closes his eyes.
alive.
to lie
He
is
OF
This
is
l^HE
HERME TICS
the natural
87
its
mouth
in the
breath
one to
Is there a
?
ecstasy by
song that
one sings always? Is there a land where
the grass never withers ?
Alas no. The
One Thing is subtle and mighty It dwells
out of sight. No eye has beheld it nor ear
heard its voice. Philosophy Truth fas
its
change
linking
SOME PHILOSOPHY
88
and matches
The
fits
inood
reveal the
ONE THING
The charm
charm
of the
This
normal
The
its
essence the
ecstasy of creation
forever tired
perity,
new
woman
OF THE HERMETICS
the wind
89
and
stone of fate
finds the
new
to a
Christ.
mystery
One Thing
given the
Create.
is
men
All other
the
They
tire.
power
to
sicken with
shapes
the same.
of the wheel
They
start
at
He
grave the same But the Sage
touches the old A Philosopher s touch
as soft as the falling of snow the kiss of a
to
friend
and
lo
the
new
SOME PHILOSOPHY
90
THE
DEVIL.
He
"
enough to shake at
his phantom, so they deny him. They stand
in their pulpits and preach goodness, love,
have not
theology
fist
They
believe in
as
deaf
When
as
it is
They hear
stones
cold,
they
sit
it is
nothing.
over their church
warm.
They
are
OF THE HERMEJICS
one-sided
as
another
as
they
face,
"
namby-pamby.
We
face facts.
a black.
moon.
the
It is
sides.
have
This is
If they
conceal
We
91
it.
gush.
believe
that every
an up,
If there is
that lilies
helpless victims.
You may call the Devil by whatever name
you choose, evil is a fact or good could not
be.
We
believe in the
Pairs
the
Paral
Pain
lels.
Life and death go arm in arm.
and pleasure are close linked. Heaven is
God implies the
on the verge of hell.
We believe he takes a thousand
Devil.
forms, a million, a billion.
He
is
not con-
SOME PHILOSOPHY
92
fined to hoofs
his coat is
and claws.
"
We have
many-colored."
told
you
to practice.
and
We have
ask with
spoken emphatically,
you
On what ?
On the Devil. He
is the best muscle developer known.
He
a
can put you through
He
regular course.
will teach you to aim a straight blow and
To be sure you will
hit between the eyes.
be knocked down over and over again, but
To lie and groan is to give him a
get up.
chance. You must be quick, as quick as he
is.
You will grow as strong as a Greek
athlete, and be ready for the ring on all
He does you a good turn in giv
occasions.
"
reason"
your own
is
the
"
bete
noire"
of
the
man
is
He
more
is
so
sarcastic,
93
but the
fire
fights
side of heaven,
outer
The
for
SOME PHILOSOPHY
94
THE
One
s illusions
PAIRvS.
real
tomorrow
will be a
We
dream.
are building day after day upon
the shifting sand, and the tide comes up and
washes the shining bits away.
Hopes
fondly cherished break like bubbles or drown
our hearts in tears.
By and by our
we
hoping for,
At this
believing in, wanting nothing.
we
reverse
and
look in. Something
point
some
and
that appearance, that
appears,
one,
one makes the illusion plain. This appear-
OF THE HERMETICS
95
He
dies.
No
castle ever
When
love
When
flies
to
off
SOME PHILOSOPHY
96
ing stream. Ah
the water-rushes.
When
drowning in the
cruel
deep within
comes back.
Look well
to the
are faithful.
opposites.
It
The
Pairs
illusion, is the
shimmers
goes and comes
It
like
like
OF THE HERMETICS
the
moon
97
and
tale of Zeus.
tells
Iris
the
SOME PHILOSOPHY
98
ADONAI.
To
You
call
ness, the
You throw
yourself,
a state where
soul
by an
is
of being.
effort of will, into
manifested in
its
its
form
is
is abandoned, drudgery
and
conventionality is no more.
forgotten,
All things common are hid from view. It
OF THE HERMETICS
99
the shadowy.
the illumined
splendor
Here time ceases, the past melts away, the
future is unforeshadowed.
You
We
ask,
ls
Adonai a
answer, there
is
a Being?
Being, there are
"
spirit,
and
forth
Adonis
free soars
upward.
SOME PHILOSOPHY
loo
Can we
"
"
"
by bad smells
their
in illshaped skulls
ary,
all ordinary.
to*
discern
what
will
OF THE HERMETICS
101
Your
man who
kill
live
sisters
stuff rag
stomach
your
And gnats and insects suck your blood.
You have no heaven nor hell. You serve
the common place.
But lo how this doth change when you
laugh
wife
courts
full
meaning
the illumination
the glory.
When you see him, your feet
scorn the earth When you hear him, you
answer back.
SOME PHILOSOPHY
102
are beautiful.
is
another like
Beware of
the
common
place.
Better
into
your house in
up your linen, and eat
set
Beware of
the
common
place That
mood where you yawn and stretch, and hunt
out your aches and pains as old people do,
who gloat over sores and decay. Beware of
scavengers, buzzards and flies.
103
MAGIC.
You may
ing grave,
Buddhism
skeleton with
sometimes
when
the
mood
is
on
SOME PHILOSOPHY
104
her
sometimes.
the purity of the gull till he rivals a whitethroated angel On winter she breathes, and
fire
out
of ice.
unlike
Her
it
food
is
is
the
aspect of her
she gives
not
all.
Veiled in glamour
her
smile, and bewitches,
you
clear-cut
OF THE HERMETICS
The
half
known
transfixes
you
105
its
The
side
Love
We
spell
man
Magic
the
is
in
We
SOME PHILOSOPHY
io6
tantalizes
She
She
The
poet
is
He
He
is
radiates
it
own
He
fire.
He
is
warms
fingers.
Cold
They touch
his skirts
electric heat.
Like
warm.
sets
Each word
something on
of his
fire.
is
a spark, which
is rich with
He
and
OF THE HERMETICS
107
He
is
He
is
What
of the love
the
down
pillows
of ether
What
of the
when
splendor of Eden,
in
its
place
of a spirit s
orbs
will unloose
when,
lo
SOME PHILOSOPHY
io8
But look
still
Hark with
backward
down
the ears of
mists,
sun
weary
drop,
spirit
Listen to
captain shouts in a storm at sea.
the strange note of a long-lost bird that
lived in the days of a terrible sun.
Listen
to the voice which spoke to you, ere Christ
ing still.
Away with the fakir fraud, who
Magic
while truth is
lie
for a paradox
a
gives you
!
truth.
act
Away
with the
mummery
of a false
OF THE HERMETICS
osopher
stone exists.
109
with
Away
the
devil s cauldron or
by the witches of
science, is seething
Would you
be a magician,
stir
your own
up
the
fireside.
smoldering coals at
hot
in your
blood
burn.
Feel
to
your
Begin
veins.
Warm yourself with memories of
sun-tinted dreams. Pray pray $ray at