Poems by J.W. Brodie-Innes

ONE DAY.

I.

Once, on a golden summer's day,

We left the road, we climbed th brae.

The sweet hills all around us lay

In royal robes of heather.

Scarce felt the wooing scented air,

I only knew we two sat there

Jeannie and I together.

II.

O life hath brought full many a boon

When young blood thrilled in life's mid-noon,

In bounding time to love's sweet tune,

And loves and joys were many.

Yet sooth that hour was worth them all

To watch the lengthening shadows fall,

And hear the distant curlew call,

Out on the moors with Jeannie.

III.

And clear, and calm, and sweet to see,

The young moon rose o'er Logan lea,

With promise fair for her and me

of all love's dearest blisses.

All radiant hues of seas and skies

Reflect themselves in Jennie's eyes

And dreamland all around us lies,

As sweet as Jeannie's kisses.

IV.

So bide for aye thou lovely dream!

When from life's dark and gloomy stream

For ever fades that one bright gleam,

And, like some prisoned startling,

I cry to years grown dull and grey,

Oh, give me back my summer's day,

Out on the moors of Logan brae,

With my unforgotten darling.

-- J.W. Brodie Innes

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

THE GHOST OF AUNT ELIZA

OH! once I was gay

As a child at play,

I'm sadder now and wiser,

For it's mine to boast

I've seen the ghost

Of my maiden aunt Eliza.

I own, with a sigh,

That never I

Much did idolize her.

A Vigilant

Old termagant

Was my gaunt aunt Eliza.

I did not know,

When I laid her low

Beneath the ancient minster,

That her coffin lid

could fail to keep hid

That venerable spinster.

She told me oft

(But I hear I scoffed)

That nought on earth could stop her,

She'd rise from her grave

Should I behave

In a way she thought improper.

So I tried for days

Her ghost to raise,

Committed crimes by the dozen,

I forged a will,

Ran a private still,

 And scraged my second cousin.

But she heeded nought,

And I rather thought

Perhaps she didn't get out

From the place where she was gone to.

But on Christmas day,

Sad to say!

(It was somebody else's sister),

I saw her to

'Neath the mistletoe,

Then and there I kissed her.

Then, gaunt and grim,

through blue lights dim,

Appeared my aunt Eliza,

And from my bones

With moans and groans,

That I did surprise her.

And, since that night,

A weary wight,

Haunted by aunt I wander,

That vigilant

Old termagant

Keeps up her mournful daunder.

And never a whit

Cant I get quit

Of that grim moralizer,

I'm always watched,

and mostly "cotched,"

By my gaunt aunt Eliza.

--J.W. Brodie-Innes.

from The Beggar's Wallet (1905).

ALL SOULS' NIGHT

"And it is All Souls' Night.
And two long glasses brimmed with muscatel
Bubble upon the table. A ghost may come,
For it is a ghost's right,
His element is so fine
Being sharpened by his death,
To drink from the wine-breath
While our gross palates drink from the whole wine."

so sang W.B. Yeats in his superb "All Souls' Night".

I reproduced the scene by examining the text. The wine should be a sparkling wine made from muscat grape. I chose Reymos Moscatel from Spain. And the long glasses should be the type for sparkling wine, showing the little bubbles going upward as long as possible. I purchased two of those.

I'd like to make this an annual ceremony to commemorate those personalities who appeared in the poem, especially for Horton (I love him, and love the strange story of Horton and Amy Audrey Locke). I wonder if he responds to my call.

The muscatel is so sweet and tasty. Have to be careful not to drink too much.

Divine Feminine, Horton, and Audrey Locke.

painted by W.T. Horton

I Wonder Why

I Wonder Why (1920) by Alfred Scott-Gatty is a music score book with the words by Dorothy Bouviere and the pictures by W. Graham Robertson.

The pictures in the book feature mostly little boys and that makes the book unique among the works of WGR who are famous for his fondness of little girls. But looking at the pictures one by one helped me understand the nature of the book.  First, the boys are playing in the nursery, then outdoors, and in the bed at night and meeting with an angel. Published in 1920, I believe the book was a sort of "Requiem" for the British soldiers who died in WWI.

 WGR mentioned this book in a letter to his friend Kerrison Preston, "The Gatty-Bouvierie-Me book seems to be going well and is stocked at most strange, unexpected, places in London, such as Liberty's, and the Army and Navy store" (Letters from Graham Robertson, p53). Though WGR wrote "unexpected", it's no wonder they put the book on the shelves of Army and Navy Store.

masonic charity

"Above is a coloured reproduction of the famous picture painted by J. Stothard in or about 1790, showing the Founder, the Chevalier Bartholomew Ruspini, leading the children from the Masonic School into the Temple of the Grand Lodge in Great Queen Street, before His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales, afterwards King George IV, and other distinguished Freemasons.

For many years the original was in the Museum of Grand Lodge, but, in 1947, Bro. Beachcroft was able to acquire it from the Masonic Authorities (who most generously accepted a price greatly below its actual value).

It was by him presented to the School and now hang over the mantel of the Commitee Room, behind the Chairman's place." (Maurice Beachcroft, Memories of Rickkansworth,  p.31.)

GEORGE WASHINGTON, the father of our country

"Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come

unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven"

TO THE GRAND LODGES OF THE UNITED STATES

This print represents THE DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTIC OF MASONRY, CHARITY, bestowed on proper objects.

"Blessed are the pure in heart; for they shall see God."

The second picture is from Kitty Cheatham's A Nursery Garland (New York, G. Schirmer: 1921). It seems the second is a copy from the first, with some changes of the faces and figures. But for what end? 

I found these in my research on W. Graham Robertson. 

a dagger

Every country has its law on the weapon control.

A number of atrocious homicides by daggers outbroke in my country of 2008 and consequently the selling and possesing of daggers became illegal. The police was persuading the citizens who possesed a dagger to bring and give it up to the neaby police station by the 4th of July 2009. After that date, possesing of dagger was regarded as a crime and offenders will be fined or imprisoned. So I gave up my air dagger to a police station (after demagnetizing it) and have been using a small paperknife since then. But today I found a really good alternative "lawfuldagger". The hilt is natural wood and very easy to paint, the blade being genuine stainless steel yet without the edge, an ideal ceremonial tool. And it's not expensive, about 10 bucks. To tell the truth, the official name of the dagger is "oyster knife": a simple tool for fishermen to open and scrape oysters. The jurisdiction might interfere if the tool is unnecessarily sharp or hefty, but those now on the market is legally okay. I am a conformist.

Raphael

Of course "Raphael" was a nineteenth century astrologer named Robert Cross Smith (can we express his name as "R+"?) who wrote much about astrology and occultism including John Dee, John Pordage, geomancy etc. And he seemed to be a member of an esoteric group "The Mercurii".

I love the following description of serpentine movement.

"Although it is vey well known to astronomers and learned persons, that the path of the moon through the firmament has, from time immemorial, been symbolized by a dragon or serpent, yet many through whose hands this work may be expected to pass, cannot be sepposed to have any notion of these ancient symbols; it therefore becomes necessary to make mention of them in such a manner as to let every one understand their application. That no emblem could have been fixed upon to symbolize the moon's path, which is really serpentine, and to have done it more appropriately, than a serpent, will become evident to the least learned, by inspection of the following little cut and references.

Suppose the curve line A B to represent a portion of the ecliptic or orbit of the earth, along which let the earth be supposed to be moving from E to F, and from F to G, while at the same time, the moon, keeping nearly an equal distance from the earth, moves along the serpentine described by the body of the dragon, from C to H, from H to I, from I to D: at C, where the moon crosses the line of the earth's orbit from north to south, is the Dragon's Tail, marked in modern astronomy thus XX; and having made the semicircle C H, it ascends, crossing the earth's orbit from south to north, where it bends again in the semicircle H I; and having reached the earth's orbit again, it bend forward in the direction of the curve I D, where, as it is again ascending into the north, I place the Dragon's Head; and thus you see how very appropriatedly the moon's path about the earth may be denoted by a serpent or dragon. For the sake of showing the application of the emblem the more perfectly, it is here continued to four points of the ecliptic; but let it be understood, that in every descent of the  moon from north to south, she is in the tail, and in every ascent from south to north, in the head of the dragon. The most improtant astrological significations are attached to the head and tail of this emblematic dragon; and hence it was deemed by the Babylonian priesthood a fit object to promote superstition, and to effect the purposed of that sort of imposture which it was their desire to accomplish in those oriental nation." (from The Astrologer of the Ninetheen Century)

George Wither's SDA

I am not of their Minde, who thinke the Sun,
The Moon, the Planets, and those glorious Lights
Which trim the Sphaeres, doe in their Motions run
To no more purpose, then to please our Sights.
Nor for distinguishment of Nights, and Dayes,
Or of the Seasons, and the Times, alone,
Can I suppose the Hand of God displayes
Those many Starres, we nightly gaze upon:
For, both by Reason, and by Common-sense
We know (and often feele) that from above
The Planets have, on us, an Influence;
And, that our Bodies varie, as they move.
Moreover, Holy Writ inferres, that these
Have some such pow'r; ev'n in those Places, where
It names Orion, and the Pleiades;
Which, Starres of much inferiour Nature are.
Yet, hence conclude not, therefore, that the Minde
Is by the Starres constrained to obey
Their Influence; or, so by them inclin'd,
That, by no meanes resist the same we may.
For, though they forme the Bodies temp'rature,
(And though the Minde inclineth after that)
By Grace, another Temper we procure,
Which guides, the Motions of Supposed Fate.
The Soul of Man is nobler than the Sphaeres;
And if it gaine the Place which may be had,
Not here alone on Earth, the Rule it beares,
But is the Lord, of all that God hath made.
Be wise in him; and, if just cause there bee,
The Sunne and Moone, shall stand and wayt on thee.

from A Collection of Embleme, Ancient and Moderne by George Wither (1635)

*****

I happened to find this in my search of the symbolism of snail (as we see it in the Nine of  Pentacles of RWS tarot).

On The Street Where They Walked

 a photo of Farringdon Street from London Round (1896)

detail of map from Baedecker's London and its Environs (1889)

The first Vault was located in Thavies Inn which I believe was somewhere in the map. I need a more specified street guide of the late Victorian London. Anyway the Baedecker is a good starting point to make an armchair-exploration of the Capital of British Empire.

British Kumari

from The Baby's Day Book by W. Graham Robertson (1908)

WGR's literary executor Kerrison Preston wrote that WGR "acquired a reputation as a lover of children, with many little girls as friends in the manner of Lewis Carroll". The phrase was written in 1953 and innocent enough at that time. 

I am under the impression, admittedly without any substantial proof, that WGR was doing a sort of British version of "Kumari worship" by idealising Binkie (his deceased friend's daughter) as "The Woman", and writing many ritualistic plays of elemental nature for the baby-child. A similar attitude can be seen in some of the works of his friend Algernon Blackwood, notably in The Education of Uncle Paul. 

The Magic Bell

The Magic Bell for Invoking Spirits.

from a rare German Mss 

  This bell must be formed of electricum magicum, and fashioned as above described, round it the words + Tetragrammaton + and  +Sadai, + must be engraved in relief, and also the sign and planet under which you were born.

 Also inside thereof the word + Elohim, and on the clapper Adonai. It must be kept in a clean chamber, and when thou wouldest invoke the celestial agents or good spirit, make a fire with incense and proper perfumes, then rehearse devoutly an appropriate incantation, and ring the bell thrice, when the spirit will instantly appear before thee, and thou wilt be enabled to have thy wishes performed. But keep this a secret.

from Raphael's The Astrologer of the Nineteenth Century. p.512.

a new image of the bell

A shinto talisman

My town is going to hold a shinto festival next month and the preparation has begun. Today we made a lot of "shimenawa"s, a sort of small wreath made of rice straw. Then we brought shimenawas to a local shrine and made them consecrated ritually by a priest (the white paper signifies that the object is sacred). The shemenawa is now a talisman blessed by a local goddess --  Seoritsu-hime, a very mysterious goddess of purification --  and going to be presented to the households of the area which support the goddess and her shrine.

After the work we joined in a small party with "omiki" (sacred sake)  and beer (a common one). All in all a very impressive day.

Happy 30th Anniversary

The 30th aniversary of the Consecration of the Vault

I' m fully aware I'm not in a position to say congratulation to the G.H. Fraters & Sorors of the GD community on this happy occasion. A joker on the threshold may well stay away from the party scene and seek his own game. However, I've been learning many, many things from the works of Dr Regardie and the Ciceros so that out of gratitude I would like to join in the thanking chorus and sing a line or two. Thank you very much and happy anniversary to you all. (I wish I had a Facebook account.)

Oujupah

GURC Tablet Clip

as it is.

The first GD book in Japan

Mahou Nyumon. Written by W.E. Butler. Translated by Onuma Tadahiro. Published by Kadokawa Shoten. 1974.

Mahou Nyumon (roughly translated as "The Introduction to Magic") consists of the translation of two books by W.E. Butler, Magic: its Ritual, Power and Purpose and The Magician: his Training and Work. I read the book so many times that the cover got tattered, repaired and again tattered .... This book was the starting point for the Japanese students who by their fates or tastes somehow adopted the Western Esoteric Tradition for their spiritual pursuits.

Wicked Packs of Cards

A friend of mine came to my house today and showed me his collection of pre-WWII Rider-Waite-Smith Tarot Packs, Pamela-A, B, C, and D (classification by K. Frank Jensen).  I wonder why he carried such treasures in a brown Amazon delivery box!

Cross of Suffering

The Cross of Suffering. Experimental clip for further expansion. Constructed from a diagram found in a GD collection.

The Bookplate of Dennis Bardens

found in Muffs and Morals by Pearl Binder (1953).

Dennis Bardens (1911-2004)  was an English journalist, wirter, and psychic researcher. A self-taught man, he became a freelance writer in late 1920's London and made many friends among occultists, mystics and psychics of the day. After WWII his main field was in a TV script writing and producing of programs. The bookplate was made by Bardens's occult friend A.O. Spare.

The Bookplate of Fergus Hamel

Found in An Introduction to the Kabalah by Willliam Wynn Westcott (1910).

Fergus Hamel (1866-1942) was initiated into SRIA in 1903: V degree in 1909 and VIII in 1917. Apart from the membership, his connection with Wynn Westcott was deep as he was the husband of Westcott's second daughter Elsie Bridget. Sadly enough Elsie commited suicide in 1918, but despite the tragedy Hamel continued to stay in SRIA. Later Westcott nominated Hamel as a receiver of all his GD materials. It's an interesting fact that Fergus Hamel seems to be of German descent.

an advert for sweets by Pamela Colman Smith

from The Green Sheaf.

a rare work by AE

A supplement to The Green Sheaf (1903). Titled "A Million Years Later".

Via Lucis

Via Lucis

Where comest thou, O child of earth!
   With eager and wistful eyes?

Hither I come from the Land of Mirth,
   Where Pleasures is all they prize.

Whither art wending, maiden sweet!
   Arrayed in thy robes of white?

"Into the Darkness with trembling feet
   And vainly I seek the Light".

"Seeker of light! I've heard men tell
   That the Sorrow is Pleasure's Bride;
That Pain and Death, where Mirth doth dwell,
   Like tyrants rule side by side".

Truly they told thee -- but I would seek
   That Wisdom which Freedom brings,
And fain would soar to its light, but weak
   And untrained are earthy wings.
Canst guide me to where such freedom is,
   And Faith shall dissolve in sight?

Follow into the Darkness, child! I wis
   Therein thou shalt find the Light.


"The Light shinethe in the Darkness and the Darkness
                         comprehendeth it not."
                                    John i. 5.

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

A poem by Charles Rosher from his Poems (1897).
The illustration is by M. Bergson MacGregor (i.e. Moina Macgregor Mathers).
Anyone can decipher the inscripition on the wall?

experimental clip for solid table

Special Thanks to Fra A.M. of Light of a Golden Day.

A diagram for the Portal Grade

The embossed word  "見本”　means "sample".

Suicide by Wynn Westcott (1885)

A rare work by the deputy coroner of the central Middlesex.

"It has been seriously discussed in America, whether or not a believer in spiritualism is not  isop facto mad (Beckham) but without going to that extreme point of view, it is most wise to bear in mind that many cases of lunacy and many suicides have been assigned to this cause" (p140).

Swedenborgian Rite

A sort of brochure(?)  for the Swedenborgian Rite by Kenneth R.H. Mackenzie. (1877)
100mm x 160mm. 21pp. This small pamphlet tells a lot about the constitution of the Rite, but no explanation why it is "Swedenborgian". There are some descriptions about the jewels and clothing the members should wear Their Grand Seal seems to be Egyptian (no diagram).

photo of Dr R.W. Felkin

circa 1898.

Diary of John Dee, a miniature book.

Diary of John Dee. Hillside Press, Franklin, New Hampshire, 1963. Limited edition to 325.
50mm*60mm, 28pp. For doll house. Hillside Press also published the miniature sized books of William Blake, Dance Macable, Nostradamus etc.

Christian Rosy Cross

Dr John Todhunter

Violet Tweedale

A photo of A.E. Waite

Library Room of S.R.I.A.

W.T. Horton Esoteric Tarot

From Charles Rosher to Mrs Wieland (Ethel Archer)

Friday 8th Oct 1915

My dear Soror
                I expect to be in your neighbourhood at about one o'clock tomorrow and propose to call, and hope you will be in. I cannot keep my thoughts from Bunco and, strangely, from A.C. but only by way of comparison. Who -- of these twain --is the real Guru? A.C. & F.H. ought to be hung on a sour apple tree -- or given over to the tender mercies of Horatio Bumley and his barbarians.
            I have my ticket of embarkation notice and shall not have to leave until Tuesday morning when I will go by the special from Paddington at 11.5. or from Euston 12.5.  If you are disposed for an airing you might accompany me to Streatham and Croydon.
   Soror -- trust in love and kind thoughts -- we are glad your sister is with you

                                                            Fraternally yours 
                                                              C.R.

*Oujupah here expresses deep gratitudes to his friends at Aeclectic Tarot Forum who were kind enough to read and decipher several words for him.

an image -- hourglass

Clay Disk -- an attempt

a brave magician

 sorry, it's a sort of joke.

Concrete Temple

Lovely Ninon

Mrs Kingsford at age of 23

The bookplate of W.E. Carnegie Dickson

Rosamunda The Princess (1875)

frontpispiece from Rosamunda the Princess an Historical Romance of the Six Century; And other Tales. by Mrs Algernon Kingsford. (1875).

an old photo

an image - Red Wave

Isis Urania -- an image

Some pictures

The Unknown Mandara by William Blake

Titled "Spiritual Condition of Man".  Now in custody of a museum, this work was originally kept hidden from the public eyes by the owner W. Graham Robertson.