~ JULY 1st-14th, 2007 ~

(the latest entries are always added to the top)

Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the Law. - AL I:40

Saturday July 14, 2007 – 3:10pm I received a nice email from Aisha this morning who promises to show her “butt tattoo of a single rose” the next time she’s up in Berkeley and she also asked, “Did you print up No.0?” ... I replied: Aisha 93! I missed you at this year’s party; yours hugs, your smiles & especially the etcs. You got a tattoo? I thought you hated them? What changed you mind? Anyway, yes, I printed up the Special Cornelia issue called No.0 [da Fool] which is titled My Birthday Issue, 56 Who NU? and I’ll save you a copy. I’m not sure I’ll ever release this as an ‘official’ issue. I don’t think there is much of a demand for it. See ya soon. Much love. 93 93/93 Jerry” ... Anyway, No.0 has no words, its just 50 pages of photos from my birth upward, lots of fun shot from childhood to Grady to Magickal Temples. Cheesy, I know but it was crowd pleaser last night. Great stories, great fun. I don't think anyone outside my Cirkle of friends will actually want a copy of this issue.  

12:10pm I’d like to report that I officially turn 56 today. Thank you all for the Birthday Wishes that you have sent. We celebrated my birthday last night at my apartment here in Berkeley to a packed crowd; with lots of food, cake, drink and loud noise and I probably annoyed everyone in my entire apartment building! The heads of the Clear Light Clerk House, The Double Wanded One Clerk House and even Star Splendour Clerk House all attended, plus numerous other AA students and friends. I think I had a great time. I'll slowly get the reports from others as they dribble in because I don't remember much. Amnesia is our brain's way of being merciful to our antics!

Here is a brief biographical sketch of myself for my readers: I was born on this date as Gerald Edward Cornelius in New Haven, Connecticut. I am the eleventh direct descendant of Captain Aaron Cornelius whose ship arrived in America in 1645; shortly after the Mayflower. I am also a direct descendant of Mary Sanford who was hanged in Hartford, Connecticut on June 13th 1662 for witchcraft.

I bought my first two Aleister Crowley books in 1968; the Goetia and Magick in Theory & Practice. Before I had graduated from High School in 1970 I had already read The Book of the Law and considered myself a Thelemite.

I was a member of the late David James’ New Haven Pagan Community in the mid70s as well as briefly involved with Viking order of Oak, Ash & Thorn.

In 1977 I began corresponding with Grady Louis McMurtry (1918-1985), Frater Hymenaeus Alpha 777 and after months of being an ‘Associate Member’ I finally joined the O.T.O. on November 18, 1977. I considered Grady a good friend and personal mentor. In fact, Grady spent time at my house in Connecticut on several occasions.

In 1977 I was chartered to run The Frater Achad Chapter of the O.T.O. in Connecticut which was elevated up Brocken Mountain Lodge in 1978; being the 4th OTO Lodge established outside Thelema Grand Lodge.

I also ran Brocken Publications and the Lodge Newsletter, Hellspawned, A Newsletter of Brocken Spectres.

I joined the AA in 1979 taking the motto Frater Verite Sans Puer.

In March 1981 Grady McMurtry initiated me into VIIIth Degree OTO.

I became known as Frater Achad Osher 583.

Grady McMurtry died on July 12th of 1985.

In 1986 I was chartered to run a Rose Croix Chapter at Brocken Mountain Lodge, OTO of which I have actively run for almost twenty-years now; despite it officially no longer being part of from OTO.

In August of 1989 I moved to Berkeley, CA where I became the sixth Lodge Master of the oldest continually operating Lodge in the world, Thelema Lodge, which was actually founded by Grady McMurtry in 1977. I held this position between 1991-1993. I was also placed in charge of the Neb-Het Chapter or the local Rose Croix in the Bay Area.

I have written such notable articles as Did Aleister Crowley Know the Identity of Jack the Ripper?, Myths of the Solar Lodge Revisited, Aleister Crowley in Novels, Crowley’s I-Ching Sticks, Poetical Flavours of the Beast, The Warrior Troubadour and dozens more.

In 1993 me and my ex-wife began releasing the publication entitled Red Flame, A Thelemic Research Journal which continued publishing issues up to our 13th before it closed in 2006.

On July 14th of 1993 I ‘grabbed the sword’ and officially assumed head of the Caliphate. [... this being after a lengthy discourse with Frater Sabazius and Frater Hymenaeus Beta who had both acknowledged in writing that the Caliphate was removed from the OTO and that it was no longer part of the Order.] The term ‘grabbed the sword’ is from Aleister Crowley’s letter to Grady dated November 21st 1943. At the very end of his letter Crowley has a ‘note’ where he acknowledges the “Caliphate is not mine” to give; followed by the quote of John Bunyan’s poem, “My Sword to him that can get it” and Crowley then adding, that “everyone can make him - or herself - of Presidential Timber.” In other words, as Grady would later put it, Crowley “simply left it open ended. I had certain advantages. If I could establish myself in the order of succession, fine and good.” ... For further info on the Caliphate succession read Grady’s bio In The Name of The Beast Vol.I, pg.55. ... I have proved beyond a shred of doubt that I have grabbed the sword because I have successfully run the Caliphate for these last fourteen-years as Frater Hymenaeus Gamma. Let my writings stands as a testimonial to my Thelemic faith.

Since his death in 1985, I have also been the head of Grady Louis McMurtry’s AA lineage and I am in charge of Love’s Sake Clerk House in Berkeley, California.

In April of 2004 I gleefully went inactive in the Ordo Templi Orientis and I am no longer a member.

I am the present writer and editor of the publication CORNELIA.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Friday July 13, 2007 – HAPPY FRIDAY THE 13th!

 

Thursday July 12th, 2007 – 2:00pm I received this comment in an email this morning. “I enjoy your writings. You seem to offer change and opinions to subjects that I have yet to understanding in regards to the original ideas.” ... Answer: I wish my mind would simply shut off at times but I fear my sanity is a fine line drawn in the sand and it would go mad if I could not dream. Most people are terrified to step over the line, fearing ridicule by their peers and in defense of their ego they do nothing while simply accepting Old Aeonic principles. Me, on the other hand, I look at the ways of the old while leaping forward to embrace the ideas of the new. Change only comes if you dream it be so. Here is a quote I like to occasional ponder upon; perhaps it may hold meaning for you to. ... “All men dream: but not equally. Those who dream by night in the dusty recesses of their minds wake in the day to find that it was vanity: but the dreamers of the day are dangerous men, for they may act their dreams with open eyes, to make it possible.” – T. E. Lawrence (1888-1935), who is better known as Lawrence of Arabia.

TODAY IS THE GREATER FEAST OF FRATER HA!I know that I should simply be mentioning this under my ‘history buff’ section but to me it deserves better attention. Twenty-two years ago today on this date in 1985 our beloved Frater Hymenaeus Alpha 777 aka Grady Louis McMurtry shed his earthly vehicle and died in California after a long illness. He was lying in his hospital bed at Brookside Hospital in San Pablo, discussing forms of meditation with a friend when he softly said, “I think my path is more the Sufi Path.” When questioned what he meant, he simply looked up and said, “I don’t know.” He then closed his eyes and quietly passed away. Grady once wrote that; “The moment of ultimate self-embarrassment is when you die. That is when you wake up.” In other words, you get to review your whole incarnation for all its good and bad, shake your head and then prepare for the next. On July 15th, his body was prepared at the Apollo Crematory in Emeryville, California. He was dressed as Saladin, in a turban with his favorite red robe. A bouquet of roses was placed in his arms shortly before he was cremated: click HERE for picture. ... Grady’s ashes remained in the possession of the O.T.O. for almost a year. Then, on July 12th 1986, a large group of individuals boarded a boat rented at Fisherman’s Wharf in San Francisco. About three miles past the Golden Gate Bridge, with help of the Neptune Society, his ashes were spread out across the Pacific Ocean. It was written, “From the fire of cremation to the waters of the great sea, by formula and verse did we rejoice him on his way” and then a 'single rose' was tossed into the water, cut from the same bush as the bouquet that had been placed in his hands when he was cremated. As his ashes slowly vanished beneath the waters, one of Grady’s poem was read to send him off on his last voyage - The Redeemer That is in  the Waters. I will be reading this poem while celebrating his Greater Feast tonight; I hope others will too.

THE REDEEMER THAT IS IN THE WATERS

O who will go with the mermen bold

With the mermen, wild and free

O who will rule from the castle old

In the Chasm of the sea

And who will brave the abyssal cold

For all eternity?

O I will go with the mermen bold

With the mermen, wild and free

And I will rule from the castle old

In the Chasm of the sea

And I will brave the abyssal cold

For one eternity!   

Wednesday July 11, 2007 – 10:41am In response to your latest email; sorry Aisha your Angel does not “have his friends stopping by to watch you.” Although, if you still lived in Berkeley I would be available. Next time you are up from LA let me know.

9:00am To answer your question; yes Aisha, your Angel is watching over you day and night, twenty-four hours a day which means yes; he’s watching you “doodle” with yourself. Does everyone automatically have a male Angel?  Answer: only if you want him to be.  [big smile here] Your other questions are too perverse to answer here, I’ll reply in email. I think you have too much time on your hands since graduating from UCBerkeley.

7:45am From one of my previously sent emails over the weekend: “You asked about Liber 440; it is a book written out of Canada from 93 Publishing written by Peter McFarland. It has nothing to do with Grady. He hated the book. It purports to be a glorious revelation on Liber AL vel Legis but it is actually quite ameturish. If a book has to sell itself as ’having’ great revelations rather than on the revelations themselves, then the buyer should beware. I have read it, I own it, I am not impressed but I believe it was the author’s Thelemic right to releash it as something uttering from his Universe. The error that Peter makes, which many Thelemites make, is that he claims the revelations are something which we should all embrace. Had he simply shared his Universe then people would have found tidbits to agree with and been more appreciative. Instead he turned off everyone by his pompetuity."

7:10am Here is a good quote from Aleister Crowley: "Chastity may thus be defined as the strict observance of the Magical Oath; that is, in the Light of the Law of Thelema, absolute and perfected devotion to the Holy Guardian Angel and exclusive pursuit of the Way of the True Will." - Little Eassays Toward Truth p.60

Monday July 9, 2007 – 10:15am John, let me address your questions and the comment you made. Yes, in Chapter I verse 50 of Liber AL vel Legis it does state that “the Hierophantic task” has three ordeals and that the first is where the “gross must pass through fire.” And, yes, I:40 does tell us the first grade wherein this ordeal occurs is called “the man of Earth” but to call the ‘man of Earth’ a “flaming MOE” in your next comment had me snickering, twitching and cringing because I attribute this phrase to a drink created by Homer Simpson in an episode of The Simpsons that aired on November 21, 1991. After running out of beer, Homer had created the drink by mixing together remnants of every drop squeezed from every empty liquor bottle he could find which even included cough syrup. It was said to taste horrible but when his wife’s sister Patty dropped cigarette ash into the drink; it exploded into flames. That is when Homer discovered that fire greatly enhanced the flavor of the drink. His sold his concoction to Moe’s Tavern; thus the “Flaming Moe.” ... Have you ever heard the Homer Simpson song with the line “Happiness is just a Flaming Moe away”?  Anyway, I guess since I am a serious beer drinker and the man of Earth grade does mimic ‘horizontal’ or this plane movement, we could call the little buggers ‘flaming MOEs but I reserve the right to laugh every time you refer to them as such.

Sunday July 8th 2007 – 3:10pm To another student I wrote thoughts on the Magickal Thesis; of this I commented: “... simply because you’ve taken the Oath of the Abyss doesn’t guarantee accomplishments. Any Tom, Dick or Harry can swear the Oath but only a magician can live it. Also remember; NO magician remains functioning above the Abyss; a successful crossing allows the MT to pick and choose his foundation below. ... I must be absolutely clear and remind you that unless you can solidify your claims above the Abyss then Qabalistically nature will automatically ‘right the wrong’ and it’ll be out of my hands; nature will choose your foundation below and it is always in relationship to where you are stumbling ..." 

2:45pm Here is another thought that I wrote in an email today to a student: "It was Grady’s belief that each and every one of us should reflect carefully upon our life in detail because our ‘magick’ is revealed in the steps that we have walked and these steps teach us the Laws of our Universe. Remember, to seek ‘forward’ anything is admittance that you’ve not obtained it; turn around and face your past; all the answers are there in the dirt."

2:00pm To another student I replied: he wrote: “I've been studying Liber Legis and struck by the vividness of this passage: Ra-Hoor-Khuit hath taken his place in the East at the Equinox of the Gods (Liber legis I:50-51) I've been making some lists of synonyms for the Thelemic Pantheon in Liber Legis. I came across a mention of Ra-Hoor-Khuit  as Ra-Herakhty- Ra (who is) Horus on the (Western) Horizon, while Hoor-Pa-Kraat (Har-par-khered) is Horus the Child on the (Eastern) Horizon." Is this a mistake?  ...  Answer: No, I do not think so; it is one valid interpretation as seen within the initiation chamber between the Pillars of East & West; being a required Neophyte understanding of the Equinox Ritual. However, remember, all Gods carry within themselves the sum total of every other God. What makes understanding this concept difficult is the realization that depending upon the type of function the requirements change in the God. ... As an example: Ra-Hoor-Kuit, is generally Solar, so naturally his birth (east), life (south) and death (west) and re-birth are depicted in the Sun’s travels and have different names depending upon his function at each station. ... I also agree that in some dynasties in ancient Egypt Hoor-paar-Kraat was simply the ‘child Horus.’  However, in other mythos Ra-Hoor-Khuit and Hoor-paar-Kraat are the twin brothers Horus and Set; one and the same. Set can even be seen as Horus’ sister; he being the Sun and she the Moon.  Confused?  The inherent problem when researching ‘old’ Gods is the centuries of attributes that become lumped onto them. Is this a bad thing?  No. Are the original interpretations of the Gods the best or is our evolving consciousness embracing them in better light?  ... Plus; if ‘As Above, So Below’ implies that you have the sum total of all attributes that are found on the Qabalistic Tree of Life within yourself, why isn’t this belief afforded each God? Are they not the sum total of their own Trees? And just as you work out of specific spheres in your travels, why not the Gods?  Are you really confused yet?"

12:00pm I’d like to share some thoughts which I wrote in response to a fellow traveler’s email. I wrote: “I am glad that you benefited from Grady’s biography; it was a labor of love to write. I knew that some of your previous comments and questions would be answered upon reading those books. The books dispense with many of the misconceptions about the man and they try to explain his worth. A problem that we are faced with in Thelema, unlike the previous Aeon, is that we must avoid elevating our prophets too high. What makes people like Crowley or Grady so fascinating is that they often show us all sides of humanity; good and bad and how to obtain through it all. Can any of us say we have not walked down similar paths?  Modern magicians often try to ‘white-wash’ their lives once they start attaining as if to imply perfection since childhood. This is why many of their students fail. The ‘expectations’ of the Teacher are frequently too high. Such teachers often lecture from where they stand on the Tree rather than from where they began. I wish I had a nickel every time I heard someone bellow out the advice: “I am perfect, be perfect like me” rather than, “Watch out for that stone, I tripped there.” In Grady’s bio I wanted to show his journey; all the good steps and the bad, as well as the times he fell and had to pick himself up. I believe that honesty is the best policy and so I told Grady’s life as it was; hard and difficult. His teachings were brilliant and the road that he traveled in his life; filled with war, sex, booze, drugs and wild experiences, are what made the man ‘think the way he did’ and become who he was. Without those experiences he would have been a totally different person. What makes him, or Crowley and several others so exceptional is that they realize that they incarnated in order to gain experiences and they grabbed the bull by the horns; they didn’t put ‘restrictions’ on their life and – most important – despite it all, they attained!”

9:10am Here is an Aleister Crowley quote to muddle over - "I don't like at all what you say about witch-craft. All this black magic stuff is 75% nonsense and the rest plain dirt. There is not even any point to it." - From a letter to Jack Parsons dated October 19th 1943. 

Saturday July 7, 2007 – 7:20pm Here is a headline in the NEWS worth quoting: "ABSINTHE BACK IN THE US AFTER 100 YEARS" -"Absinthe, the spirit of imagination to many, and the devil incarnate to the U.S. government, is being approved on a case by case scenario by the Feds. Banned since 1910 due to unproved health dangers from the substance thujone, found in wormwood, an ingredient in absinthe, it has been the subject of controversy for centuries. Many folk tales and rites and rituals have grown around it and its supposedly hallucinogenic properties. Several companies have been striving to recreate authentic versions similar to those made in the 1800s, many with low enough thujone levels to pass U.S. inspection. The first of these to do so is Lucid, imported from France by New York-based Viridian Spirits. Others will be following soon."... but with limited quanties of wormwood, how good can we expect it?

Wednesday July 4th 2007 – 2:00pm One of my friends just notified me of this headlines - "Beer Prices Are Going Up!" .... Is there no God? He included this blurb: "Americans hosting Fourth of July barbecues will pay more cold cash for the cold ones this year as beer joins the list of foods and beverages whose prices are jumping, in part because of the booming ethanol market." Damn those four-wheeled steel barley guzzling monsters! It is another reason to hate cars!

CLICK HERE TO GO DIRECTLY

TO THE NEXT DATES STORED IN THE ARCHIVE

"There were plants, And birds, And rocks And things”

-America's Horse With No Name

Love is the law, love under will. – AL I:57

RETURN TO MAIN PAGE

93

93