Liber 777 (revised) (pdf) - Holy Order of the Golden Dawn Canada

EXPLANATIONS OF THE ATTRIBUTIONS
115
0. No attribution can be made here, 0 being the goal of a magical
operation by love under will, and any perfume will be an expression of
that love under will itself.
1. Ambergris has comparatively little perfume of its own, but it has
a virtue of bringing out the best of any others with which it may be
mixed. In the same way, Kether cannot be said to have any intrinsic
qualities, but its influence brings out the highest faculties of those ideas
which it illuminates.
2. The orchitic origin of Musk indicates Chokmah. This is the male
aspect of the Work.
3. Civet, “the uncleanly flux of a cat,” corresponds to Musk as
Binah to Chokmah, its origin being feminine. Myrrh is traditionally the
odour of sorrow and bitterness; it is the dark and passive side of Binah.
“ Brothers, I have brought him myrrh.
Sorrow black and sinister
Shall his name bring to the race.”*
“My incense is of resinous woods and gums; and there is no blood
therein: because of my hair the trees of Eternity.Ӡ
4. See Column XXXIX.
5. Tobacco. This attribution is due to Frater D.D.S. (who was a
chemist). It seems to me not altogether satisfacory. The idea is
presumably that it is the favourite perfume for men engaged in hard
work.
6. The correctness of this should be intuitively perceived at once by
every magician. Olibanum possesses a comprehensive catholic quality
such as no other incense can boast.
7. The sensuous seductiveness of Benzoin is unmistakable.
Contrast with line 24. Rose naturally suggests the more physical aspects
of the feminine symbol. Civet, however, is much more strongly sexual
than Rose, but this implies a more intense element of spirituality. The
student must eliminate completely from his mind any idea that sex is
* [Crowley, The World’s Tragedy, Act III. The New Falcon printing has “Mother, I
have brought …” I do not know which reading is correct. — T.S.]
† [AL I. 59.]