Liber Stellæ Rubeæ
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@Blythe A. Blanche said
"7. "There shall be a fair altar in the midst, extended upon a black stone."
---- The extended alter being the extended phallus, the male upon the female, represented by the black stone, which I took to mean something like the "base metal" of this operation, to be transmuted into something greater."Yes the "black stone" is the phallus. (BTW, however authoritatively I assert anything about this, it's merely the 'delivery' of a particular commentary. You did ask for that sort of thing, so I'm being bold enough to answer. Such answers always presume that you'll make up your own mind! <s>)
"8. "At the head of the altar gold, and twin images in green of the Master."
---- The head being the head of the penis, gold as a metaphor meaning something like "filled with divine light." I took the "twin images in green" to represent the testicles of the male, with green as a metaphor which carried through into verse nine:"In the physical world, this was a description of Ada Levison, Crowley's mistress at the time; so the one known physical correspondence was to her. More abstractly, it refers to the female with various consequences of energy change (solar radiance about the head, twin energy streams of vegegative of veneral energy spiralling thereto, etc.).
"9. "In the midst a cup of green wine."
---- Where his semen, his "green wine," would be poured; the female's naturally lubricated (by blood? [verse five]) vagina."Generally taken to be love, and her heart chakra. (Green has other 'youthful' or 'springlike' meanings parallel.)
"10. "At the foot the Star of Ruby."
---- I thought this meant the Star of Ruby was located within or identified with the Muladhara chakra, at the "foot" of the phallic region. And then finally..."The Mars force at her base (yes, Muladhara).
"11. "The altar shall be entirely bare."
---- Meaning the penis was not to be contaminated with artificial lubricants or covered with a condom."Superficially saying the woman is naked. (There are deeper psychological meanings.)
If I get the chance to pull down an online copy, I'll try to give a few quicky keys to the setup of this. It does hit at several simultaneous levels (superficial physical details, more relevant physical details, psychological and bioenergetic, etc.). But there's a simple path through it.
The key of what it is about is "Apep deifieth Asar," i.e., Apophis turns Osiris into God: The sacred sexual force, cataclysmic and devouring, turns 'Natural Humanity' into God.
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A few general remarks - off the top of my head without reference to the longer commentary - partial but intended as "starters":
Asar, Asi, and Apep are Osiris, Isis, and Apophis. These represent
(1) the male, female, and orgasm in sexuality
(2) the three channels up the spine: pingala, ida, and sushumna, respectively
(3) corresponding psychological statesApep deifieth Asar. The sacred, cataclysmic sexual force turns 'natural humanity' into God.
This is the book of the most secret cult of the Ruby Star. It shall be given to none, save to the shameless in deed as in word. Ruby Star = Mars force, especially the martial sexual force. If you still have shame about sexual matters, you "just won't get it."
If the Ruby Star have shed its blood upon thee; if in the season of the moon thou hast invoked by the Iod and the Pe, then mayest thou partake of this most secret sacrament. Several layers of meaning, including: intercourse during menstruation; the psychological equivalent of this; I & P as initials of Ida & Pingala; and the priestess (Moon, Gimel) invoking by the hand (Iod) and mouth (Pe).
One shall instruct another, with no care for the matters of men’s thought. Isn't that how it's always been?
Altar: See above.
Ritual details follow that are fairly straightforward.
Also thou shalt excite the wheels with the five wounds and the five wounds. Then thou shalt excite the wheels with the two and the third in the midst; even Saturn and Jupiter, Sun and Moon, Mars and Venus, and Mercury. Then the five—and the sixth. Highly technical! Broadly, the "wounds" are the holes in the head: the two ears (attributed to Saturn and Jupiter), the two eyes (Sun and Moon), the two nostrils (Mars and Venus), and the mouth (Mercury). They are doubled for the two participants. There is a specific tantric formula here that sequentially applies hearing, then sight, then smell, before the mouth; this ties into the three channels up the spine, especially linked to the eyes (Sun and Moon); and the rest as stated above. (Sorry for racing through this. The full explanation is technical and long.)
Also the altar shall fume before the master with incense that hath no smoke.
I recall writing that this won't be obscure to any man (or, for that matter, woman) who has bowed deeply and devotedly between the legs of such an altar.That which is to be denied shall be denied; that which is to be trampled shall be trampled; that which is to be spat upon shall be spat upon. These things shall be burnt in the outer fire.
The "purification" for this includes cleaning up withholds, cleaning up stuff between the two, etc.Then again the master shall speak as he will soft words, and with music and what else he will bring forward the Victim. Also he shall slay a young child upon the altar, and the blood shall cover the altar with perfume as of roses. Then shall the master appear as He should appear—in His glory.
Etc. By now, probably fairly obvious as a description of the act itself; but don't miss the fact that the 'victim' is the ego as much as any other meaning. (A long stretch of verses talk about the process. To some extent, these are evident in the reading. Beyond that, I'd rather rely on the longer, more patient commentary than these quick-notes.)*Thou shalt assure thyself of the stability of the altar. *
Crowley often didn't take this instruction seriously enough.The book really divides in the middle - the first part giving details of technique, the last part describing the results obtained.
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"The instruction specifies a blond altar, but that's not really a requirement"
I take it, then, that the carpet does not have to match the drapes?
The most confusing part for me are the verses of "gibberish." I thought perhaps I should try "saying" them while invoking with the Iod and Peh -experimentation is always fun.
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WEH's comment on this book always makes me laugh: "There are suggestions that the sexual act involved both homosexual and heterosexual acts illegal in England at the time of the writing, hence it is characterized under a metaphor of 'child sacrifice'." Um ... was child sacrifice not illegal
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@Uni_Verse said
"The most confusing part for me are the verses of "gibberish." I thought perhaps I should try "saying" them while invoking with the Iod and Peh -experimentation is always fun.
"You have the translation for these, don't you?
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@Jim Eshelman said
"You have the translation for these, don't you?"
No, I do not have the translation. Where can I find it ?
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@Uni_Verse said
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@Jim Eshelman said
"You have the translation for these, don't you?"No, I do not have the translation. Where can I find it ?"
It is translated in LXVI & CDXVIII of Gems (ARN), as well as Equinox IV:2.
729
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@gmugmble said
"WEH's comment on this book always makes me laugh: "There are suggestions that the sexual act involved both homosexual and heterosexual acts illegal in England at the time of the writing, hence it is characterized under a metaphor of 'child sacrifice'." Um ... was child sacrifice not illegal"
Actually at the time, yes - both acts would be considered illegal acts. But alas, also at the time, it was illegal to write of acts of homosexuality (under obscenity laws), whereas child sacrifice could be written about in great detail so long as there was no proof the acts where ever committed.
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Here is is.
Silence! the moon ceaseth (her motion),
That also was sweet
In the air, in the air, in the air!
Who Will shall attain!
Who Will shall attain
By the Moon, and by Myself, and by the Angel of the Lord!Now Silence ceaseth
And the moon waxeth sweet;
(It is the hour of) Initiation, Initiation, Initiation.
The kiss of Isis is honeyed;
My own Will is ended, for Will hath attained.Behold the lion-child swimmeth (in the heaven)
And the moon reeleth: –
(It is) Thou! (It is) Thou! (It is) Thou!
Triumph; the Will stealeth away (like a thief),
The Strong Will that staggered
Before Ra Hoor Khuit! – Hadit! – Nuit!To the God OAI
Be praise
In the end and the beginning!
And may none fall
Who Will attain
The Sword, the Balances, the Crown! -
The black stone seems to me a reference to itarakhya lingam, and would involve concentration with the ajna chakra and a stilled mind.
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Aha! Thank you both for the information about the translation.
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@Jim Eshelman said
"A fairly detailed verse-by-verse analysis was published in Black Pearl No. 7."
Would you please upload the analysis from Black Pearl 7?
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@Tinman said
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@Jim Eshelman said
"A fairly detailed verse-by-verse analysis was published in Black Pearl No. 7."Would you please upload the analysis from Black Pearl 7?"
It's large, and requires formatting and a lot of "massaging" to fit the plaintext-only format of the forum. If I find myself with a couple of free hours, I may do all that.
FWIW, though, my notes above covered the most important points. Not deeply, but at least identifying them.
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Let's try it this way. Enjoy!
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Very much appreciated