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MOONCHILD

(LIBER LXXXI - THE BUTTERFLY NET) A PROLOGUE

by ALEISTER CROWLEY

AUTHOR'S NOTE

This book was written in 1917, during such leisure as my efforts to bring America into the War on our side allowed me. Hence my illusions on the subject, and the sad showing of Simon Iff at the end. Need I add that, as the book itself demonstrates beyond all doubt, all persons and incidents are purely the figment of a disordered imagination?

London, 1929.

A.C.

CONTENTS

CHAPTER. PAGE.
I. A CHINESE GOD 9
II. A PHILOSOPHICAL DISQUISITION UPON THE NATURE OF THE SOUL 21
III. TELEKINESIS: BEING THE ART OF MOVING OBJECTS AT A DISTANCE 34
IV. LUNCH, AFTER ALL; AND A LUMINOUS ACCOUNT OF THE FOURTH DIMENSION 51
V. OF THE THING IN THE GARDEN; AND OF THE WAY OF THE TAO 64
VI. OF A DINNER, WITH THE TALK OF DIVERS GUESTS 78
VII. OF THE OATH OF LISA LA  GIUFFRIA; AND OF HER VIGIL IN THE CHAPEL OF ABOMINATIONS 91
VIII. OF THE HOMUNCULUS; CONCLUSION OF THE FORMER  ARGUMENT CONCERNING THE NATURE OF THE SOUL 104
IX. HOW THEY BROUGHT THE BAD NEWS FROM ARAGO TO QUINCAMPOIX; AND WHAT ACTION WAS TAKEN THEREUPON 117
X. HOW THEY GATHERED THE SILK FOR THE WEAVING OF THE BUTTERFLY-NET 132
XI. OF THE MOON OF HONEY, AND ITS EVENTS; WITH SUNDRY REMARKS ON MAGICK; THE WHOLE ADORNED WITH MORAL REFLECTIONS USEFUL TO THE YOUNG 145
XII. OF BROTHER ONOFRIO, HIS STOUTNESS AND VALIANCE; AND OF THE MISADVENTURES THAT CAME THEREBY TO THE BLACK LODGE 157
XIII. OF THE PROGRESS OF THE GREAT EXPERIMENT; NOT FORGETTING OUR FRIENDS LAST SEEN IN PARIS, ABOUT WHOSE WELFARE MUCH ANXIETY MUST HAVE BEEN FELT 171
XIV. AN INFORMATIVE DISCOURSE UPON THE OCCULT CHARACTER OF THE MOON, HER THREEFOLD NATURE, HER FOURFOLD PHASES, AND HER EIGHT-AND-TWENTY MANSIONS; WITH AN ACCOUNT OF THE EVENTS THAT PRECEDED THE CLIMAX OF THE GREAT EXPERIMENT, BUT ESPECIALLY OF THE VISION OF ILIEL 185
XV. OF DR. VESQUIT AND HIS COMPANIONS, HOW THEY FARED IN THEIR WORK OF NECROMANCY; AND OF A COUNCIL OF WAR OF CYRIL GREY AND BROTHER ONOFRIO, WITH CERTAIN OPINIONS OF THE FORMER UPON THE ART OF MAGICK 201
XVI. OF THE SPREADING OF THE BUTTERFLY-NET; WITH A DELECTABLE DISCOURSE CONCERNING DIVERS ORDERS OF BEING; AND OF THE STATE OF THE LADY ILIEL, AND HER DESIRES, AND OF THE SECOND VISION THAT SHE HAD IN WAKING 215
XVII. OF THE REPORT WHICH EDWIN ARTHWAIT MADE TO HIS CHIEF, AND OF THE DELIBERATIONS OF THE BLACK LODGE THEREUPON; AND OF THE CONSPIRACIES THEREBY CONCERTED; WITH A DISCOURSE UPON SORCERY 235
XVIII. THE DARK SIDE OF THE MOON 250
XIX. THE GRAND BEWITCHMENT 264
XX. WALPURGIS-NIGHT
XXI. OF THE RENEWAL OF THE GREAT ATTACK; AND HOW IT FARED
XXII. OF A CERTAIN DAWN UPON OUR OLD FRIEND THE BOULEVARD ARAGO; AND OF THE LOVES OF LISA LA GIUFERIA AND ABDUL BEY, HOW THEY PROSPERED. OF THE CONCLUSION  OF THE FALSE ALARM OF THE GREAT EXPERIMENT, AND OF A CONFERENCE BETWEEN DOUGLAS AND HIS SUBORDINATE 307
XXIII. OF THE ARRIVAL OF A CHINESE GOD UPON THE FIELD OF BATTLE; OF HIS SUCCESS WITH HIS SUPERIORS: AND OF A SIGHT WHICH HE SAW UPON THE ROAD TO PARIS. ALSO OF THAT WHICH THEREBY CAME UNTO HIM, AND OF THE END OF ALL THOSE THINGS WHOSE EVENT BEGAT A CERTAIN BEGINNING 322


“MOONCHILD” (LIBER  LXXXI - THE BUTTERFLY NET)

Copyright © Ordo Templi Orientis
Transcribed & 1st Proofread, 4/14/98 e.v. by Fr. Ra-Hoor-Hd III°/Camp Master of Xanadu O.T.O.

Additional work and design by John Griogair Bell of The Hermetic Library at Hermetic.com

{ } denotes footnotes and/or marginalia.
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