Bartzabel and the New Aeon


A Martial Prophecy


Crowley’s record of his performance of the famous ‘Bartzabel Working’ on May 9, 1910ev; with his notes and editorial comments by Frater Zephyros.

In the working, Crowley attempts to discern the following in the intent he declared after the opening purification, banishings and invocations…as quoted:

Firstly, that the Kingdom of Ra-Hoor-Khuit may be established in the Aeon.

Secondly, that we may succeed in that particular design of which it is not lawful to speak, even before Thee.

Thirdly, that we may have power to help the weak.

Fourthly, that we may be filled with the courage and Energy of Mars for the prosecution of the Great Work.

And, lastly, that we may obtain the service of Bartzabel that he may be obedient unto us thy servants, that between him and us there may be peace, and that he may always be ready to come whensoever he is invoked and called forth.

Question 1:

How shall the kingdom of the Aeon be established?

B. I may not speak this thing save thou give sign of 3rd Vault. I’ll tell thee the sign that was given thee secretly in the 3rd Vault.

Editorial Comment: The 3rd vault seems a reference to the ‘Third Testament’ or the ‘Third Temple’ that is to be built in so-called fulfillment of Biblical prophecy.

CM. What hast thou to do with the 3rd Vault?

B. I’ve given you the sign. The Aeon shall be reestablished when the slain child is placed on the Altar of Ra Hoor Khuit.

Editorial Comment: This seems a certain reference to AL III.43: "Let the Scarlet Woman beware! If pity and compassion and tenderness visit her heart; if she leave my work to toy with old sweetnesses; then shall my vengeance be known. I will slay me her child: I will alienate her heart: I will cast her out from men: as a shrinking and despised harlot shall she crawl through dusk wet streets, and die cold and an-hungered." And Motta’s comment to this is of interesting note as well: [“I will slay me her child”: Remember the Sign I.R.! This is a hint for Members of a certain Grade.]

CM. Say more regarding this child. Is it that child that was carried to death by [Ouarda]?

B. Nay

CM. (repeated)

B. He shall spring from the 3rd lotus of the 7th Star.

(Crowley notes: “There are three. One—date read from my aura by Bartzabel—past. The 3rd Lotus of the 7th Star, Child of [Luna] and [Saturn] seems to refer to a matter known only to myself and one other.” This has been speculated to be the self-induced abortion by Ouarda. “But is that place the C[ity] of the P[yramid]s? That too is only known to me and one other and suits description.” This is purported to be Crowley’s Magister Templi initiation in 1909ev, with the “one other” being Victor Neuberg.)

CM. Speak. Hast thou not suffered torments from Graphiel? Speak plain.

B. I don’t want to be imprisoned in this form. What dost thou want?

Crowley’s sidebar note: “? Time of sacrifice…Will success attend that particular design of which it is not lawful to speak?” This is the second question.

B. 4th month of 3rd year of Aeon—thou shalt not be there.

CM. This hour is past. Do not lie … (etc.)

B. Why should I tell thee, who are thou?

CM. I am …(etc.). Speak again regarding sacrifice to Ra Hoor Khuit.

B. I know not.

CM. The slain child.

B. I have lied.

CM. Tell truth.

B. Can’t.

CM. I charge thee.

B. Ask again.

CM. Who is the child?

B. Ask again.

CM. (repeats question)

B. He shall be the child of [Luna] and Saturn. He shall bear on his forehead sevenfold [star] of midnight. He shall be slain as was spoken in that place which was known only to thee and one other.

CM. Vivit?

B. Vivit.

CM. Quo?

B. He dwells in that place—I have no words.

CM. Speak in figures, etc. Qabalah, etc.

B. He shall be sought near a stream of water running between two mountains. The child is yet unborn. He shall be the child of those who have sought love in the valley of the [stars], sojourned in a cave, and been on summit of Abiegnus.

Editorial Comment: I write in my article: The Alchemical Half of the Jews and the Thelemic Rose Cross; “Specifically, for the Rosicrucians, the supernova explosions that were observed in the constellations of Cassiopeia in 1572ev and Ophiuchus in 1604ev were thought to represent the ushering in of the ‘Age of Aquarius’. Cassiopeia is one of the titles of Isis; the Rosicrucian Goddess of Initiation as per the Chemical Wedding of Christian Rosencreutz. And Ophiuchus is Aesculapius the Serpent Holder. Thus we have symbolism representing the ‘Crown of Light’ in Rosicrucian lore, which was signified by the letter A given twice as AA. Further, in the constellation of Cassiopeia, there is a double A star formation which was combined with the sacred Sumerian twin-peaked mountain known as KUR-KUR.”

"None, breathed the light, faint & faery, of the stars, and two." AL I.28

CM. Then this sacrifice is to come?

B. Yes.

CM. What is his number?

B. 43

CM. Thou liest.

B. 77-91

CM. And the great number?

B. Won’t tell.

CM. (commands him to speak)

B. May not speak.

CM. (threatens)

B. Ask me not that.

CM. (repeats)

B. 8.

(Crowley notes: “the numbers 43-77-91-8 are obscure.)

Editorial Comment: 1943ev has us in WWII and the American adoption of Zionism as per the Balfour Agreement of 1917ev; 1977 has the Middle East rising up against America with the student takeover of the American embassy in Iran; 1991ev has the collapse of the Soviet Union, which leaves us 2008ev and what’s to come.

CM. And when shall the sacrifice be accomplished? Thou dost lie saying soon.

B. It shall be thrice accomplished.

CM. When will the second time be?

B. 2nd year, 3rd month, 22nd day, 9th hour.

(Crowley notes: “Time 2 years 3 months 22 days 9 hours from now, i.e., about end July 1912.)

CM. And the third sacrifice?

B. 130th year, 6th [moon], 2nd day, 4th hour, 8th hour, and 12th hour—these things will be fulfilled. (This is calculated to be November 11, 2040ev) Let me go.

(Crowley notes: “The third sacrifice is distant, and matters nothing to us now.”)

Editorial Comment: Sacrifices are made in Temples, so it seems to me that the phrases, “third sacrifice” and “third temple” are mutually interchangeable. As well, on this day, all seven sacred planets will be visible on the surrounding horizon just after moonrise.

(CM threatens and cautions B to speak truth)

CM. Will the particular design succeed, etc.?

B. Yes.

(Crowley notes: “The ‘particular design’ may be identical with this 2nd sacrifice; for the 7 stars are on (or near) the horizon in that secret place.)

Editorial Comment: The ‘7 stars’ on the one hand seem a reference to the Star of Babalon. But the original moving stars were the seven planets of the ancient world. And so I’d wonder that some alignment of these stars. Of course, by 1912ev a lot of the forces are in play for WWI “The Great War”, which would be the start of America’s journey through three interconnected wars, WWII and WWIII (if one chooses to view the present conflict that started 9-11-01ev as the opening to this sacrifice).

CM. How knowest thou that our thoughts coincide?

B. By the symbols I see.

CM. What are they?

B. Rose and Cross (Row).

CM. Give me the particular symbols.

B. Silver snake, waning moon and 12 triumphant and three submerged in sea of matter. 7 [stars] on the horizon for a sign.

CM. Will the heart perish?

B. Yes.

CM. And by that which is sworn to destroy it?

B. Yes—that and something else.

CM. What else?

B. A black curse.

Third question re: helping the weak. “We shall obtain power to aid the weak; in what manner? Give us a sign.”

B. Thou shalt take those who are fitted—and they shall aid the weak.

CM. What sign shall be given unto us?

B. A sword and a ring. Ring = silver snake with ruby eyes around an opal.

CM. Thou liest regarding snake because silver snake is subject of my thoughts. Regarding sign of sword, explain.

B. A sword of destruction and sacrifice.

CM. How dies that aid the weak?

B. By slaying them.

CM. When shall sign of sword be given?

B. 17 days, 303 days, and then 560th day from now.

(Crowley notes: “The Sign of the sword—17 days, i.e., May 25, and dates in 1911.”)

CM. When shall sign of ring be given?

B. After 3 [moons].

(Crowley notes: “The Sign of the Ring—before 3 weeks, i.e., Sunday, May 29.”)

B. Thou shalt take those who are fitted—and they shall aid the weak.

CM. What sign shall be given unto us?

B. A sword and a ring. Ring = silver snake with ruby eyes around an opal.

CM. Thou liest regarding snake because silver snake is subject of my thoughts. Regarding sign of sword, explain.

B. A sword of destruction and sascrifice.

CM. How dies that aid the weak?

B. By slaying them.

CM. When shall sign of sword be given?

B. 17 days, 303 days, and then 560th day from now.

CM. When shall sign of ring be given?

B. After 3 [moons].

Fourth question “Give us a sign of the Courage and Energy of Mars that floweth and shall ever flow through us by virtue of this ceremony.”

B. A black [Tau] inverted (head down). May I depart?

CM. Nay.

AFK. [Commander Marston of the British armed forces who was also involved in this rite along with Leila Waddell and Victor Neuberg] Shall nations of Earth rise up against one another?

B. When?

AFK. Soon.

B. Yes.

CM. When?

B. Within 5 years. Turkey or Germany.

Editor’s Comment: We have a strong reference here to the start of these ‘wars to end wars’ in order to establish that ‘new world order’ that is the full establishment of the new aeon or Horus upon the throne of Ra. The reader is referred to the Tower Atu essay in Crowley’s Book of Thoth. Most fascinating here is the answer that seems to be to countries, but note that America’s Founding Fathers had debated two possible national symbols, the turkey (remembered in our national holiday, Thanksgiving) and the eagle (adopted by the Third Reich as well as being the national symbols of Egypt and Rome as well as America. The Third Reich attempted to become an empire, Egypt, Rome and America became empires. I make reference to this in my article; The Starry Gnosis).