Die Daily.

[42]

COMMENTARY ({Iota-Sigma})

This seems a comment on the previous chapter; the Stag-Beetle is a reference the Kheph-ra, the Egyptian God of Midnight, who bears the Sun through the Underworld; but it is called the Stag-Beetle to emphasise his horns. Horns are the universal hieroglyph of energy, particularly of Phallic energy.

The 16th key of the Tarot is "The Blasted Tower". In this chapter death is regarded as a form of marriage. Modern Greek peasants, in many cases, cling to Pagan belief, and suppose that in death they are united to the Deity which they have cultivated during life. This is "a consummation devoutly to be wished" (Shakespeare). In the last paragraph the Master urges his pupils to practise Samadhi every day.

[43]

17

{Kappa-Epsilon-Phi-Alpha-Lambda-Eta Iota-Zeta}

THE SWAN(11)

There is a Swan whose name is Ecstasy: it wingeth from the Deserts of the North;it wingeth through the blue; it wingeth over the fields of rice; at its coming they push forth the green.

In all the Universe this Swan alone is motionless; it seems to move, as the Sun seems to move; such is the weakness of our sight.

O fool! criest thou?

Amen. Motion is relative: there is Nothing that is still.

Against this Swan I shot an arrow; the white breast poured forth blood. Men smote me; then, per-ceiving that I was but a Pure Fool, they let me pass.

Thus and not otherwise I came to the Temple of the Graal.

[44]

COMMENTARY ({Iota-Zeta})

This Swan is Aum. The chapter is inspired by Frater P.'s memory of the wild swans he shot in the Tali-Fu.

In paragraphs 3 and 4 it is, however, recognised that even Aum is impermanent. There is no meaning in the word, stillness, so long as motion exists. In a boundless universe, one can always take any one point, however mobile, and postulate it a a point at rest, calculating the motions of all other points relatively to it.

The penultimate paragraph shows the relations of the Adept to mankind. Their hate and contempt are necessary steps to his acquisition of sovereignty over them.

The story of the Gospel, and that of Parsifal, will occur to the mind.

NOTE

(11) This chapter must be read in connection with Wagner's "Parsifal".

[45]

18

{Kappa-Epsilon-Phi-Alpha-Lambda-Eta Iota-Eta}

DEWDROPS

Verily, love is death, and death is life to come. Man returneth not again; the stream floweth not uphill; the old life is no more; there is a new life that is not his.

Yet that life is of his very essence; it is more He than all that he calls He.

In the silence of a dewdrop is every tendency of his soul, and of his mind, and of his body; it is the Quintessence and the Elixir of his being. Therein are the forces that made him and his father and his father's father before him.

This is the Dew of Immortality.