The Vision and the Voice

[1] Choronzon is described by Sir Edward Kelly as "that mighty devil", as the first and deadliest of all the powers of evil. Rightly so, for although he is not a person, he is the metaphysical contrary of the whole Process of Magick.

[2] The three Governors of this Aethyr — Lexarp, Comanan, and Tabiton — are drawn from the "little black table of spirit," which united the four watchtowers of the elements. (See Equinox I, No. VII, Plate III; facing p. 234). The one extra letter, L, is the eighth of the reversed letters beneath the bars of the Calvary Crosses in the watch-towers to form trilateral names which designate malignant forces. These letters are thus impurities introduced into the perfection of the Elementary Schema. (That they should be attributed to the element of spirit, which harmonizes and sanctifies the four, is a sublime mystery. The arcanum is declared — as far as may be — in this Book 418 itself). The other 7 letters form the name PARAOAN, which is the central governor of the 22nd Aethyr; but here is a correspondence with I, the center letter of LIN; this Aethyr discloses the glory of the table 7 x 7, which is pure spirit — the rose which is the heart of Babalon.

[3] ZAX = Caput Draconis, Taurus, Spirit. Z is the Sun in His southern declination, i.e. at his weakest effect on an hemisphere. Follows the Bull, the type of the dying gods, and the element of Earth. This letter X occurs only in this, the 15th and 30th Aethyrs. In the 15th, Water is the prima materia which is treated by being placed between the pillars of judgement. In the 30th, it represents the reduction to mere matter of the false structure of the Aeon of the false formula. Here X is the basis, without constructive possibilities, of the universe; thus the whole formula represents the weakening of the energy of the Sun, and the falling into incoherent elements of all that is organized.

[4] For this arrangement see the Goetia of Lemegeton of Solomon the King.

[5] Concerning the bloody sacrifice, see Magick in Theory and Practice, part III, cap. 12. For the pigeons see the text.

[6] The greatest precautions were taken at the time, and have since been yet further fortified, to keep silence concerning the rite of evocation. The Major Adept is warned most seriously against attempting to emulate this operation, which is (in any case) improper for him to perform. To call forth Choronzon, unless one be wholly above the Abyss, is to ensure the most appalling and immediate catastrophe.

[7] These are given in the Equinox Vol. I, No. 2.

[8] Given in the French translation by Eliphaz Levi: and in the English by Aleister Crowley in "The Winged Beetle." ("The Magician" is the title of that poem, see p. 228.)

[9] See Book 4, part II, Cap. 4 and 8.

[10] It is very difficult to give a good metaphysical interpretation of this statement. But to one who is given this perception, the words will appear to be the natural and inevitable expression of the facts.

[11] These words are from some vision of old time: by them Adam was said to have opened the gates of Hell. These are the traditional words which open the Abyss.

[12] This (and many following assertions) must not be taken as true. Choronzon is in no sense the master of anything. It is the personification of a moral idea in a much more far-fetched way than that in which we say 'Venus is the Lady of Love.' One can imagine Venus as a living individual being, while Choronzon is essentially not any sort of person.

[13] Various elements had been bound up into a bundle by the energy of the Call, and thus constituted a momentary unity capable of sensation and of expression. The obsessing idea of any such being, conscious that it is not a true organism, and threatened with immediate dissolution — which in its rudimentary psychology it is bound to dread — is of necessity, fear; and fear breeds pain, malice, and envy. Above all there is an insane hatred for the supposed creator because the supposed blessing of creation has been withheld from the bundle.

[14] That of modesty, none less.

[15] Here the assumed character of this courtesan who was a marvelous mistress of irony as of fascination, intrudes upon that of the demon proper.

[16] He actually assumed these forms at the time.

[17] In this Aethyr are certain silences maintained.

[18] Choronzon = חורונזון‎ = 333 = 3 x 111. 111 = אלף‎ = א‎ = 1. 333 also is ακρασια, impotence, lack of control; and ακολασια, dispersion. The seer had no idea of these correspondences at the time — nor had Dr. Dee and Sir Edward Kelly, from whom we have the name.

[19] Daath. The doctrine of the Fall and the Stooping Dragon must be studied carefully. Equinox Vol. I, Nos. 2 and 3, have much information, with diagrams, in the Temple of Solomon the King. See also Liber 777. This question of the Abyss must be thoroughly understood. The entire system of initiation of the A∴A∴ depend on these theorems. (See "One Star in Sight" in Magick in Theory and Practice and also republished in Gems from the Equinox).

[20] Originally, for "understanding" was written "power". Choronzon was always using some word that did not represent his thought, because there is no proper link between his thought and speech. Note that he never seems able to distinguish between the frater and the scribe, and addresses first one, then the other, in the same sentence.

[21] This actually happened. On returning to Bou-Sâada on another journey this spot had begun to show signs of vegetation.