The Hermit of Æsopus Island or The Book of the Great Auk
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MWT and MiT&P:
"All elements must at one time have been separate — that would be the case with great heat. Now when atoms get to the sun, we get that immense extreme heat, and all the elements are themselves again. Imagine that each atom of each element possesses the memory of all his adventures in combination. By the way, that atom (fortified with that memory) would not be the same atom; yet it is, because it has gained nothing from anywhere except this memory. Therefore, by the lapse of time, and by virtue of memory, a thing could become something more than itself; thus a real development is possible. One can then see a reason for any element deciding to go through this series of incarnations, because so, and only so, can he go; and he suffers the lapse of memory which he has during these incarnations, because he knows he will come through un-changed."
IAO131
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Magic in Theory and Practice has that quote as comming from one of AC's diarys and lists it as a rough note...
Magick Without Tears quotes that same rough note and has it attributed to the footnote listed above out of Magick...
I found a paper online that says this quote comes from The Book of the Great Auk, but I'm wondering if there is more.
Also, I had always entertained the notion that Auk, was like Joke, and I'd get it (the joke) after reading the book and understanding better how it relates to the dictionary definition of Auk which is:
Thanks"Any of several diving sea birds (family Alcidae) of northern regions, such as the razor-billed auk, having a chunky body, short wings, and webbed feet."
Any thoughts on why Auk was chosen?