The Book of BABALON
The
Collected Writings of Jack Parsons
The Book of Babalon,
The Book of Antichrist,
and other writings.
PART ONE: THE BOOK OF BABALON
January
4 - March 4, 1946 E.V.
INTRODUCTION
This book contains the record of a magical experiment relating
to the invocation of an elemental, the thereafter of the Goddess
or Force called BABALON, and the results thereof. An appendix con-
tains some details of the method, published for the first time.
The contents should be clear enough to those who are prepared for
understanding, and a little study and effort should make it so for
those who desire understanding. For the rest, each will no doubt
interpret it in accord with his own predilections.
A note
on the underlying philosophy. The present age is under the influence
of the force called, in magical terminology, Horus. This force relates
to fire, Mars, and the sun, that is, to power, violence, and energy.
It also relates to a child, being innocent (i.e. undifferentiated).
Its manifestations may be noted in the destruction of old institutions
and ideas, the discovery and liberation of new energies, and the
trend towards power govern- ments, war, homosexuality, infantilism,
and schizophrenia.
This
force is completely blind, depending upon the men and women in whom
it manifests and who guide it. Obviously, its guidance now tends
towards catastrophy.
The catastrophic
trend is due to our lack of understanding of our own natures. The
hidden lusts, fears, and hatreds resulting from the warping of the
love urge, which underly the natures of all Western peoples, have
taken a homicidal and suicidal direction.
This
impasse is broken by the incarnation of another sort of force, called
BABALON. The nature of this force relates to love, understanding,
and dionysian freedom, and is the necessary coun- terbalance or
correspondence to the manifestation of Horus.
It is
indicated that this force is actually incarnate in some living woman,
as the result of the described magical operation. A more basic matter,
however, is the indication that this force is incarnate in all men
and women, and needs only to be invoked to free the spirit from
the debris of the old aeon, and to direct the blind force of Horus
into constructive channels of under- standing and love. The methods
of this invocation are described in the text.
The background
of this material may be found in the Book of the Law, the Comment
thereon, and other writings of Aleister Crowley; also in various
magical, anthropological, psychological, and philosophical texts.
These are all necessary to an understanding and use of the material.
One further
point. It should be remembered that all human activi- ties, after
the vital functions are fulfilled, arise from the need to love or
to be loved. It is therefore quite literally true that in understanding
(i.e. that which embraces all categories of love) is all power given.
A grasp of the principle of bipolarity should make this clear.
With
this crude and rudimentary philosophical discourse, then, I present
the Book of Babalon:
A. CONCEPTION
In January 1946 I had been engaged in the study and practice of
Magick for seven years, and in the supervision and operation of
an occult lodge for four years, having been initiated into the Sanctuary
of the Gnosis by the Beast 666, Fra. 132, and Fra. Saturnus. At
this time I decided upon a Magical operation de- signed to obtain
the assistance of an elemental mate. This is a well known procedure
in Magick (cf. Ch. VIII in Magick in Theory and Practice), consisting
of the invocation of a spirit or ele- mental into tangible existence
by various magical techniques.
I decided upon the use of the Enochian Tablets obtained by Dr. Dee
and Edward Kelley, employing the *n*n*n square of the Air Tablet.
The technique was approximately as follows:
(January
4, 1946, 9:00 PM)
1. Prepared
and consecrated Air Dagger. (The other magical weapons were previously
prepared. This dagger served as the special talisman of the operation.)
2. Prepared
Enochian Air Tablet on virgin parchment.
3. Prepared
Parchment Talisman
4. Rituals
as follows:
»
Invoking Pentagram of Air.
» Invocation of Bornless One.
» Conjuration of Air.
» Consecration of Air Dagger.
» Key Call of third Aire.
» Invocation of God and King of Aire.
» Invocation of Six Seniors.
» Invocation of (RZDA) by *n*n*n and (EXARP), to visible
appearance.
» Invocaton of wand with material basis on talisman.
» Invocation with dagger.
» License to depart, purification, and banishing.
I followed
this procedure for eleven days, from January 4 to 15, with the following
entries in my record:
Jan 5.
A strong windstorm beginning suddenly about the middle of the first
invocation.
Jan 6.
Invoked as before. Wind storm continued intermittently all day and
night.
Jan 7.
Invoked twice. Wind subsided. Used Prokofief Violin Concerto No.
2 as musical background.
Jan 8.
Invoked twice, using blood.
Jan 9.
Invoked twice, replenishing material basis.
Jan 10.
Invoked twice. I retired about 11 PM, and was awakened at 12 PM
by nine strong, rapid knocks. A table lamp at the opposite corner
of the room was thrown violently to the floor and broken. There
was no window in this corner, and no wind was blowing at the time.
(Note:
I have had little experience with phenomena of this sort. Magically
speaking, it usually represents "breaks" in the opera-
tion, indicating imperfect technique. Actually, in any magical opeation
there should be no phenomena but the willed result.)
Jan 11.
Invoked twice, using blood.
Jan 12.
Invoked twice. A heavy windstorm.
Jan 13.
Invoked twice. Windstorm continued.
Jan 14.
The light system of the house failed about 9 PM. Another magician
who had been staying at the house and studying with me, was carrying
a candle across the kitchen when he was struck strongly on the right
shoulder, and the candle knocked out of his hand. He called us,
and we observed a brownish yellow light about seven feet high in
the kitchen. I banished with a magical sword, and it disappeared.
His right arm was paralyzed for the rest of the night.
Jan 15.
Invoked twice. At this time the Scribe developed some sort of astral
vision, describing in detail an old enemy of mine of whom he had
never heard, and later the guardian forms of Isis and the Archangel
Michael. Later, in my room, I heard the raps again, and a buzzing,
metallic voice crying "let me go free." I felt a great
pressure and tension in the house that night, which was also noticed
by the other occupants. There was no other phenomena, and I admit
a feeling of disappointment.
The feeling
of tension and unease continued for four days. Then, on January
18, at sunset, while the Scribe and I were on the Mojave desert,
the feeling of tension suddenly snapped. I turned to him and said,
"it is done," in absolute certainty that the operation
was accomplished. I returned home, and found a young woman answering
the requirements waiting for me. She is describable as an air of
fire type with bronze red hair, fiery and subtle, determined and
obstinate, sincere and perverse, with extraordinary personality,
talent, and intelligence.
During
the period of January 19 to February 27 I invoked the Goddess BABALON
with the aid of my magical partner, as was proper to one of my grade.
B. COMMUNICATIONS
On February 27 my magical partner went East for a visit, and on
Feb. 28 I went back to the Mojave, invoking BABALON. During this
invocation, the presence of the Goddess came upon me, and I was
commanded to write the following communication:
LIBER 49
1. Yea,
it is I, BABALON.
2. And
this is my book, that is the fourth chapter of the Book of the Law,
He completing the Name, for I am out of NUIT by HORUS, the incestuous
sister of RA-HOOR-KHUIT.
3. It
is BABALON. TIME IS. Ye fools.
4. Thou
hast called me, oh accursed and beloved fool.
5-8.
(Missing and presumed lost. Ed.)
9. Now
know that I, BABALON, would take flesh and come among men.
10. I
will come as a penelous (sic) flame, as a devious song, a trumpet
in judgement halls, a banner before armies.
11. And
gather my children unto me, for THE TIME is at hand.
12. And
this is the way of my incarnation. Heed!
13. Thou
shalt offer all thou art and all thou hast at my altar, witholding
nothing. And thou shalt be smitten full sore and thereafter thou
shalt be outcast and accursed, a lonely wanderer in abominable places.
14. Ye
Dare. I have asked of none other, nor have they asked. Else is vain.
But thou hast willed it.
15. Know
then that thus I came to thee before, thou a great Lord, and I a
maid enrapt. Ah blind folly.
16. And
thereafter madness, all in vain. Thus it has been, multi- form.
How thou hast burned beyond.
17. I
shall come again, in the form thou knowest. Now it shall be thy
blood.
18. The
altar is aright, and the robe.
19. The
perfume is sandal, and the cloth green and gold. There is my cup,
our book, and thy dagger.
20. There
is a flame.
21. The
sigil of devotion. Be it consecrated, be it true, be it daily affirmed.
I am not scorned. Thy love is to me. Procure a disk of copper, in
diameter three inches paint thereon the field blue the star gold
of me, BABALON.
22. It
shall be my talisman. Consecrate with the supreme rituals of the
word and the cup.
23. My
calls as thou knowest. All love songs are of me. Also seek me in
the Seventh Aire.
24. This
for a time appointed. Seek not the end, I shall instruct thee in
my way. But be true. Would it be hard if I were thy lover, and before
thee? But I am thy lover and I am with thee.
25. I
shall provide a vessel, when or whence I say not. Seek her not,
call her not. Let her declare. Ask nothing. Keep silence. There
shall be ordeals.
26. My
vessel must be perfect. This is the way of her perfection.
27. The
working is of nine moons.
28. The
Astarte working, with music and feasting, with wine and all arts
of love.
29. Let
her be dedicated, consecrated, blood to blood, heart to heart, mind
to mind, single in will, none without the circle, all to me.
30. And
she shall wander in the witchwood under the Night of Pan, and know
the mysteries of the Goat and the Serpent, and of the children that
are hidden away.
31. I
will provide the place and the material basis, thou the tears and
blood.
32. Is
it difficult, between matter and spirit? For me it is ecstacy and
agony untellable. But I am with thee. I have large strength, have
thou likewise.
33. Thou
shalt prepare my book for her instruction, also thou shalt teach
that she may have captains and adepts in her service. Yea, thou
shalt take the black pilgrimage, but it will not be thou that returnest.
34. Let
her prepare her work according to my voice in her heart, with thy
book as guide, and none other instructing.
35. And
let her be in all things wise, and sure, and excellent.
36. But
let her think on this: my way is not in the solemn ways, or in the
reasoned ways, but in the wild free way of the eagle, and the devious
way of the serpent, and the oblique way of the factor unknown and
unnumbered.
37. For
I am BABALON, and she my daughter, unique, and there shall be no
other women like her.
38. In
My Name shall she have all power, and all men and excellent things,
and kings and captains and the secret ones at her command.
39. The
first servants are chosen in secret, by my force in her -- a captain,
a lawyer, an agitator, a rebel -- I shall provide.
40. Call
me, my daughter, and I shall come to thee. Thou shalt be full of
my force and fire, my passion and power shall surround and inspire
thee; my voice in thee shall judge nations.
41. None
shall resist thee, whom I lovest. Though they call thee harlot and
whore, shameless, false, evil, these words shall be blood in their
mouths, and dust thereafter.
42. But
my children will know thee and love thee, and this will make them
free.
43. All
is in thy hands, all power, all hope, all future.
44. One
came as a man, and was weak and failed.
45. One
came as a woman, and was foolish, and failed.
46. But
thou art beyond man and woman, my star is in thee, and thou shalt
avail.
47. Even
now thy hour strikes upon the clock of my FATHER. For He prepared
a banquet and a Bridal Bed. I was that Bride, appointed from the
beginning, as it was written T.O.P.A.N.
48. Now
is the hour of birth at hand. Now shall my adept be crucified in
the Basilisk abode.
49. Thy
tears, thy sweat, thy blood, thy semen, thy love, thy faith shall
provide. Ah, I shall drain thee like the cup that is of me, BABALON.
50. Stand
thou fast, and I shall pass the first veil to speak with thee, through
the stars shake.
51. Stand
thou fast, and I shall pass the second veil, while God and Jesus
be smitten with the sword of HORUS.
52. Stand
thou fast, and I shall pass the third veil, and the shapes of hell
shall be turned again to loveliness.
53. For
thy sake shall I stride through the flames of Hell, though my tongue
be bitten through.
54. Let
me behold thee naked and lusting after me, calling upon my name.
55. Let
me receive all thy manhood within my Cup, climax upon climax, joy
upon joy.
56. Yea,
we shall conquer death and Hell together.
57. And
the earth is mine.
58. Thou
shalt (make the?) Black Pilgrimage.
59. Yea
it is even I BABALON and I SHALL BE FREE. Thou fool, be thou also
free of sentimentality. Am I thy village queen and thou a sophomore,
that thou shouldst have thy nose in my buttocks?
60. It
is I, BABALON, ye fools, MY TIME is come, and this my book that
my adept prepares is the book of BABALON.
61. Yea,
my adept, the Black Pilgrimage. Thou shalt be accursed, and this
is the nature of the curse. Thou shalt publish the secret matter
of the adepts thou knowest, witholding no word of it, in an appendix
to this my Book. So they shall cry fool, liar, sot, traducer, betrayer.
Thou art not glad thou meddled with magick?
62. There
is no other way, dear fool, it is the eleventh hour.
63. The
seal of my Brother is upon the earth, and His Avatar is before you.
There is threshing of wheat and a trampling of grapes that shall
not cease until the truth be known unto the least of men.
64. But
you who do not accept, you who see beyond, reach out your hands
my children and reap the world in the hour of your harvest.
65. Gather
together in the covens as of old, whose number is eleven, that is
also my number. Gather together in public, in song and dance and
festival. Gather together in secret, be naked and shameless and
rejoice in my name.
66. Work
your spells by the mode of my book, practicing secretly, inducing
the supreme spell.
67. The
work of the image, and the potion and the charm, the work of the
spider and the snake, and the little ones that go in the dark, this
is your work.
68. Who
loves not hates, who hates fears, let him taste fear.
69. This
is the way of it, star, star. Burning bright, moon, witch moon.
70. You
the secret, the outcast, the accursed and despised, even you that
gathered privily of old in my rites under the moon.
71. You
the free, the wild, the untamed, that walk now alone and forlorn.
72. Behold,
my Brother cracks the world like a nut for your eating.
73. Yea,
my Father has made a house for you, and my Mother has prepared a
Bridal Bed. My Brother has confounded your enemies.
74. I
am the Bride appointed. Come ye to the nuptials -- come ye now!
75. My
joy is the joy of eternity, and my laughter is the drunken laughter
of a harlot in the house of ecstasy.
76. All
you loves are sacred, pledge them all to me.
77. Set
my star upon your banners and go forward in joy and victory. None
shall deny you, and none shall stand before you, because of the
Sword of my Brother. Invoke me, call upon me, call me in your convocations
and rituals, call upon me in your loves and battles in my name BABALON,
wherein is all power given!
C. BIRTH
[March 2, 1946 E.V.]
On March 1 and 2, 1946 I prepared the altar and equipment in accordance
with the instructions in Liber 49. The Scribe had been away about
a week, and knew nothing of my invocations of BABALON, which I had
kept entirely secret. On the night of March 2 he returned, and described
a vision he had that evening of a savage and beautiful woman riding
naked on a great cat-like beast. He was impressed with the urgent
necessity of giving me some message or communication. We prepared
magically for this communication, constructing a temple at the altar
with the analysis of the key word. He was robed in white, carrying
the lamp, and I in black, hooded, with the cup and dagger. At his
suggestion we played Rachmanninoff's Isle of the Dead as background
music, and set an automatic recorder to transcribe any audible occurrences.
At approximately 8 PM he began to dictate, I transcribing directly
as I received.
THE SCRIBE:
"The
Angel of TARO. A three day retirement to greet her. Purify thyself.
The symbol is seven by three. It is BABALON. Keep secret. The communications
are sacred.
"These
are the preparations. Green gold cloth, food for the Beast, upon
a hidden platter, back of the altar. Disclose only when the doors
are bolted.
"Transgression
is death.
"Back
of main altar. Prepare instantly. Light the first flame at 10 PM,
March 2, 1946.
"The
year of BABALON is 4063.
"Beware
of the use of profaned rituals.
"She
is flame of life, power of darkness, she destroys with a glance,
she may take thy soul. She feeds upon the death of men.
"Beautiful
-- Horrible."
The Scribe,
now pale and sweating, rested awhile, then continued:
The
First Ritual