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THE BOOK
OF ENTRANCE
THIS is the Book of Entrance to the Seven Zones above the
Earth, which Zones were known to the Chaldeans, and to the
ancient races that preceded them among the lost temples of
UR. Know that these Zones are governed by the celestial spirits,
and that passage may be had by the Priest through those lands
that border on the Unzoned Wastes beyond. Know that, when
Walking thus through the Sea of Spheres, he should leave his
Watcher behind that It may guard his body and his property,
lest he be slain unawares and must wander throughout eternity
among the dark spaces between Stars, or else be devoured by
the wrathful IGIGI that dwell beyond.
Know that thou must Walk the Steps of the Ladder of Lights,
each in its place and one at a time, and that thou must enter
by the Gates in the lawful manner, as is put down in the Covenant;
else thou art surely lost.
Know that thou must keep purified for the space of one moon
for the Entrance to the first Step, one moon between the First
and the Second Step, and again between the Second and the
Third, and so on in like manner. Thou must abstain from spilling
thy seed in any manner for like period of time, but thou mayest
worship at the Temple of ISHTAR, provided thou lose not thine
Essence. And this is a great secret.
Thou must needs call upon thy God in the dawn light and upon
thy Goddess in the light of dusk, every day of the moon of
purification. Thou must summon thy Watcher and instruct it
perfectly in its duties, providing it with a time and a place
whereby it may serve thee and surround thee with a flaming
sword, in every direction.
Thy clothing for the Walking should be fair, clean and simple,
but appropriate to each Step. And thou should have with thee
the Seal of the particular Step whereupon thou Walkest, which
is the Seal of the Star appertaining thereunto.
Thou must needs prepare an altar to face the North, having
upon it the statues of thine deities, or some such suitable
Images, an offering bowl, and a brazier. Upon the earth should
be inscribed the Gate appropriate to the Walking. If above
thee is the Sky, so much the better. If there be a roof above
thine head, it must be free from all hangings. Not even a
lamp should be suspended over thee, save in Operations of
Calling, which is discussed elsewhere (if the Gods grant me
the time!). The only light shall be from the four lamps upon
the ground, at each of the four Gates of the Earth: of the
North, one lamp; pf the East, one lamp; of the South, one
lamp; and of the West, one lamp. The oil should be pure, with
no odour, or else sweet-smelling. The perfumes in the brazier
should also be sweet-smelling, or especially appropriate to
the Star where thou wouldst desire Entrance, after the fashion
of thy country.
And the Ritual of the Walking must follow the formulae herein
described:
First, thou must observe the moon of purification. In this
time, thou mayest not eat meat for the space of seven days
preceding the last day of the moon, and for the space of three
days preceding the last day of the moon thou mayest not eat
anything whatsoever, save to drink sweet water. On the last
three days, thou must invoke, in addition to thy God and Goddess,
the Three Great Elder Ones, ANU, ENLIL, ENKI, by their proper
invocations. And the Number of ANU is Sixty, the Perfect Number,
for he is Father of the Heavens. And the Number of ENLIL is
Fifty, and he is the Father of the Wind. And the Number of
ENKI is Forty a most excellent Number, and he is our Father,
of all who would tread these forgotten paths, and wander into
Lands unknown, among the Wastes, amid frightful monsters of
the Azonei.
Second, on the Night of the Walking, which must be the thirteenth
night of the moon, having begun on the previous thirteenth
night, thou must approach the Gate with awe and respect. Thy
Temple is exorcised. Thou must light the Fire and conjure
it, but the invocation of the God of Fire, and pour incense
thereon. Thou must make offering to the Deities on the altar.
Third, thou must light the four lamps from the flaming brazier,
reciting the invocation proper to each of these Watchtowers
in its proper place, summoning the respective Star.
Fourth, thou must recite the invocation of the Watcher, thrusting
the Sword into the Earth at Its station, not touching it until
it is the appointed time for Its departure.
Fifth, thou must take the Seal of the Star in thy right hand,
and whisper its Name softly upon it.
Sixth, thou must recite the Incantation of the Walking, loudly,
and in a clear voice, as thou walkest about the Gate in a
circular fashion, beginning at the North and walking to the
East, then to the South, and to the West, the Number of turns
being equal to the special Number of the Star.
Seventh, thou must needs arrive back at the centre of the
Gate, before thine altar, at which time thou must fall to
the ground, looking neither to the right nor to the left at
what may be moving there, for these Operations attract many
kinds of wandering demon and ghost to the Gates, but in the
air above the altar whereupon thou wilt presently see the
Gate opening for thee and the Spirit-Messenger of the Sphere
greeting thee in a clear voice, and giving thee a Name, which
thou must remember, for that is the Name of thy Passing the
Gate, which thou must use each time thou passeth thereby.
The same Spirit-messenger will meet thee and, if thou know
not thy Name, he will forbid thee entrance and thou wilt fall
to the Earth immediately.
When the First Gate has been entered and the Name received,
thou wilt fall back to Earth amid thine Temple. That which
has been moving about thy Gate on the ground will have gone.
Recite thine thanksgiving to the Gods upon thine altar, strike
the Sword of the Watcher that It may depart, and give the
incantation of INANNA which say how she conquered the realm
of the Underworld and vanquisheth ......
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