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

118
777 REVISED
Sandal is free from the sensuousness of its Red twin. Note that the
sympathy of Mercury and Venus is very strong, but it resembles that of
the epicene adolescent, the Amazon maiden on the languishing boy, as
opposed to the definitely sexualized youth in the romantic period of
rose-coloured spectacles. Nutmeg is probably attributed to Mercury on
account of its yellowish tinge. White Mace, the husk which covers it, is
Mercurial. Red Mace is probably solar. Storax—see line 8. Fugitive
odours are Mercurial for the obvious reasons.
13. The attribution of Menstrual Fluid to Luna depends not only on
the periodicity, but on the fact that Luna is herself the symbolical
vehicle of the solar light. Camphor—the white waxen appearance
suggests Luna, so also the perfume is peculiarly cleanly. It is supposed
by some to be useful as a disinfectant. It is in fact useful against moths.
This is sympathetic with the idea of lustration. The Mexican Aloes
furnishes an alcoholic drink, Pulque, whose cloudy whiteness suggests
Luna. Lignum Aloes is a wood in powder, whose physical appearance
suggests purity of aspiration to the sensitive observer. The connection
is therefore directly with the Path of Gimel—see line 25. Virginal
odours obviously suggest the Virgin Moon. Sweet odours are also
lunar, because the moon represents the physical senses and refers to the
common people. Similarly sugar and sweet things generally are much
liked by children (who are classed under Luna) and by that vast herd of
mankind, and espcially those woman whose sense of taste is not
sufficiently refined to appreciate real delicateness. Sweetness masks all
finer qualities unless they be peculiarly violent: hence the use of sugar,
chloroform water and similar compounds to conceal the unpleasant taste
of certain medicines.
14. Sandalwood—see line 7. Myrtle, the traditional plant of Venus.
Softness and voluptuousness are two of the principle qualities of Venus.
21. Saffron has brilliant purple filaments. An orange dye is
prepared from it which indicates the solar nature. But this is sympathetic
to Jupiter, and in any case refers to a watery element in its nature,
whereas this column deals with the airy constituents of the substance
described. The perfume of Saffron is intuitively perceived as generous,