APPENDIX B

The Word Secret in the Book of the Law

In the original manuscript of the Book of the Law , each of the separate sheets is clearly numbered 1-22 in two sections and 1-21 in the third section. The whole book contains 220 verses (22 x 10). This is unlikely to be a coincidence, particularly as Crowley was utilising such devices and tarot correspondences in the few days ahead of the Invocation of Hoor which preceded the writing of the Book of the Law . [535]

Whilst there may be some significance in this – to which we will return in the second book of this trilogy – there is also another interesting and curious coincidence in the Book of the Law .

If we were to look for a secret within the text, knowing Crowley’s fondness for correspondence and world-play, we might just look for the word ‘secret’ itself.

When we do, it turns out that the word ‘secret’ occurs exactly 22 times in the book – the number of Major Arcana. Even if this is a neat coincidence, it is truly neat, as the 22 verses containing the word ‘secret’, taken in straight order, can be said to have a reasonable correspondence to their appropriate tarot card. In some cases, I admit, more of a leap than others, however, playing with correspondences and patterns can often unlock other thoughts and experiences beyond the original exercise – such is the purpose of permutation.

Here are the relevant extracts from the twenty-two verses, in sequential order, which contain the word ‘secret’ in the Book of the Law and their correspondences to the Major Arcana.