FLYING ROLL No. IV An Example of Mode of Attaining to Spirit Vision and What was seen by T

                      FLYING ROLL No. IV
          An Example of Mode of Attaining to Spirit
           Vision and What was seen by Two Adepti--
            S.S.D.D. and F. on November 10th 1892

Secure for an hour or for longer absolute freedom from
interruption.  Then alone, or with one or two other Adepti,
enter the vault, or private chamber. Remain in silence and
contemplation for several minutes.

  Rise, and perform the Qabalistic Cross and prayer.  Then
proceed to contemplation of some object, say a Tarot
Trump: either by placing it before you and gazing at it, until
you seem to see _into_ it ; or by placing it against your
forehead or elsewhere, and then keeping the eyes closed; in
this case you should have given previous study to the Card, as
to its symbolism, coloring, analogies,etc.

  In either case you should then deeply sink into the abstract
ideal of the card; being in entire indifference to your
surroundings.  If the mind wanders to anything disconnected
with the card, no beginner will succeed in seeing anything
spiritually.

  Consider all the symbolism of the Tarot Card, then all that
is implied by its letters, number, and situation, and the
paths connected therewith.

   The vision may begin by the concentration passing into a
state of reverie; or with a distinct sense of change.,
something allied in sensation to a faint, with a feeling
urging you to resist, but if you are highly inspired, fear
not, do not resist, let yourself go; and then the vision may
pass over you.

   If you have anything occur or disturb you, you will come to
readily enough-- or as from a doze; otherwise the vision ends
of itself,or some can check it by will, at any stage, others
can not, at first, at any rate.

                           EXAMPLE:

The Tarot Trump, the Empress was taken; placed before the
persons and contemplated upon, spiritualised, heightened in
coloring, pruified in design and idealised.

In vibratory manner pronounced Daleth. Then, in spirit, saw a
greenish blue distant landscape, suggestive of the mediaeval
tapestry. Effort to ascend was then made; rising on the
planes seemed to pass up through clouds and then appeared a
pale green landscape and in its midst a gothic temple of
ghostly outlines marked with light.  Approached it and found
the temple gained in definiteness and was concrete, and seemed
a solid structure.  Giving the signs of Netzach Grade (because
of venus) was able to enter; giving portal signs and 5*=6*
signs in thought form. Opposite the entrance perceived a cross
with three bars and a dove upon it; and beside this, were
steps leading forwards into the dark, by a dark passage.  Here
was met a beautiful green dragon, who moved aside, meaning no
harm, and the spirit vision passed on.  Turning a corner and
still passing on in the dark emerged from the darkness on to a
marble terrace brilliantly white, and a garden beyond, with
flowers, whose foliage was of a delicate green kind and the
leaves seemed to have a white velvety surface beneath.  Here,
there appeared a woman of heroic proportions, clothed in green
with a jewelled girdle, crown of stars on her head, in her
hand a sceptre of gold, having at one apex a lustrously white
closed lotus flower, in he left hand an orb bearing a cross.
She also had a shiled with a dove upon it.

She smiled proudly, and as the human spirit sought her name,
replied:
   `I am the mighty Mother Isis; most powerful of
   all the worlds, I am she who fights not, but is
   always victorious, I am that Sleeping Beauty who
   men have sought, for all time; and the paths
   which lead to my castle are beset with dangers
   and illusions. Such as fail to find me
   sleep;--or may ever rush after the Fata Morgana
   leading astray all who feel that illusory
   influence-- I am lifted up on high and do draw
   men unto me, I am the world's desire, but few
   there be who find me.  When my secret is told,
   it is the secret of the holy grail.'

Asking to learn it, she replied:--
   `Come with me, but first clothe in white
   garments, put on your insignia, and with bared
   feet follow where I shall lead.'

Arriving at length as a Marble Wall, pressed a secret spring,
and entered a small compartment, where the spirit seemed to
ascend through a dense vapor, and emerged upon a turret of a
building. Perceived some object in the midst of the place, but
was forbidden to look at it until permission was accorded.
Stretched out the arms and bowed the head to the Sun which was
rising a golden ord in the East. Then turning, knelt with face
torads the center, and being permitted to raise the eyes
beheld a cup with a heart and the sun shining upon these;
there seemed a clear ruby colored fluid in the cup. Then `Lady
Venus' said:

   `This love, I have plucked out of my heart and
   have given it to the world; that is my strength.
   Love is the mother of the Man-- God, giving the
   Quintessence of her life to save mankind from
   destruction, and to show forth the path to life
   eternal. Love is the mother of the Christ--

   `Spirit, and the Christ is the highest love--
   Christ is the Heart of Love, the heart of the
   Great Mother Isis-- The Isis of Nature.  He is
   the expression of her power-- She is the Holy
   Grail, and He is the life blood of spirit, that
   is found in this cup.'

After this, being told that man's hope lay in following her
example, we solemnly gave our hearts to the keeping of the
Grail; then, instead of feeling death, as our human
imagination led us to expect, we felt an influx of the highest
courage and power, for our own hearts were to be henceforth in
touch with hers-- the strongest force in all the world.

So then we went away, feeling glad that we had learned that
`He who gives away his life, will gain it.' For _that_ love
which is power is given unto him,--who hath given away his all
for the good of others.


Taken from Astral Projection, Ritual Magic, and Alchemy By
S.L. Magregor Mathers and others. Edited by Francis Ring.

* should be a degree sign.  

S.S.D.D. was Florence Farr and F. Was Elaine Simpson,
Crowley's mistress.