NEMONCLATURE: a dialogue for one voice
(by Frater A.T.T.)
The commentary: this dialogue represents, in dramatic verse, the
passage of a candidate from Probationer through Ipsissimus of the
so-called Order of Astrum Argenteum. The key derives from the Word of
a Neophyte, which Crowley tells us adds to 93, and begins in Silence
and ends in Silence (hence in col. CLXXXVII of Liber 777 it is
indicated by "M....M"). The Word is associated in 777 with LAShTAL,
and as we read in the appendix to Magick in Theory and Practice, "ShT
supplies the last element; making the Word of either five or six
letters, according as we regard ShT as one letter or two. Thus the
Word affirms the Great Work accomplished : 5o=6°."
Applying this same "LAShTAL"
approach to the Word of the Neophyte yields a ten-fold permutation,
corresponding in value to each grade from Neophyte to Ipsissimus (e.g., BT is Zelator[2o=9°] while
TB is Magus[9o=2°]), and thus the Word of the Neophyte serves as a
master-key for all the Words of the Grades. If we read Crowley's
"M....M" as implying letters between the dots instead of concealed by
them then the word is only five letters; thus, to the oathbound but
untested Probationer the Word is presented in an unelaborated formula
(where the zero of the Fool (potential Neophyte) is represented by the
central A) which yet nonetheless is symmetrical with the system as a
whole.
As for the dialogue above, the even numbered lines correspond to
the formulas (i.e.,Words) of the grades: 0o=0° [MUAUM]; 1o=10° [MAAIAM]; 2o=9° [MABTAM];
3o=8° [MAGChAM]; 4o=7° [MADZAM]; 5o=6° [MAHUAM]; 6o=5° [MAUHAM]; 7o=4° [MAZDAM];
8o=3° [MAChGAM]; 9o=2° [MATBAM]; 10o=1° [MAIAAM]. The odd numbered lines
correspond to the central "fifth letter" (i.e., ShT) of each Word.