|
The Black Pilgrimage (From the Book of Antichrist)
By Jack Parsons
1. The Text
Woe unto thee, Chorazin! woe unto thee, Bethsaida! for if the mighty works had
been done in Tyre and Sidon, which have been done in you, they had a great while
ago repented, sitting in sackcloth and ashes .
Note: I will first produce the text of the Black Pilgrimage section of the
Book of Antichrist, as it is the most important section of that work and we
will, in the next chapter, analyze it in detail.
Now it came to pass even as BABALON told me, for after receiving Her Book I
fell away from Magick, and put away Her Book and all pertaining thereto. And
I was stripped of my fortune (the sum of about $50,000) and my house, and all
I Possessed.
Then for a period of two years I worked in the world, recouping my fortune somewhat.
But that was also taken from me, and my reputation, and my good name in my worldly
work, that was in science.
And on the 31st of October, 1948, BABALON called on me again, and I began the
last work, that was the work of the wand. And I worked for 17 days, until BABALON
called me in a dream, and instructed me on an astral working. Then I reconstructed
the temple, and began the Black Pilgrimage, as She instructed.
And I went into the sunset with Her sign, and into the night past accursed and
desolate places and cyclopean ruins, and so came at last to the City of Chorazin.
And there a great tower of Black Basalt was raised, that was part of a castle
whose further battlements reeled over the gulf of stars. And upon the tower
was this sign.
And one heavily robed and veiled showed me the sign, and told me to look, and
hehold, I saw flash below me four past lives wherein I had failed in my object.
And I beheld the life of Simon Magus, preaching the Whore Helena as the Sophia,
and I saw that my failure was in Hubris, the pride of the spirit. And I saw
my life as Giles de Retz, wherein I attempted to raise Jehanne Darc to be Queen
of the Witchcraft, and failed through her stupidity, and again my pride. And
I saw myself in Francis Hepburne, Earl Bothwell, manipulating Gellis Duncan,
that was an unworthy instrument. And again as Count Cagliostro, failing because
I failed to comprehend the nature of women in my Seraphina. And I was shown
myself as a boy of 13 in this life, invoking Satan and showing cowardice when
He appeared. And I was asked: "Will you fail again?" and I replied
"I will not fail." (For I had given all my blood to BABALON, and it
was not I that spoke.)
And thereafter I was taken within and saluted the Prince of that place, and
thereafter things were done to me of which I may not write, and they told me,
"It is not certain that you will survive, but if you survive you will attain
your true will, and manifest the Antichrist.
And thereafter I returned and swore the Oath of the Abyss, having only the choice
between madness, suicide, and that oath. But the Oath in no wise ameliorated
that terror, and I continued in the madness and horror of the abyss for a season.
But of this no more. But having passed the ordeal of 40 days I took the oath
of a Magister Templi, even the Oath of Antichrist before Frater 132, the Unknown
God.
And thus was I Antichrist loosed in the world; and to this I am pledged, that
the work of the Beast 666 shall be fulfilled, and the way for the coming of
BABALON be made open and I shall not cease or rest until these things are accomplished.
And to this end I have issued this my Manifesto.
|