TAARP - Appendix E -
Letter to the Ordo Templi Orientis
Disclaimer: The address and phone number for Fred Howard in this document are no longer valid.
| 31 October 1994 | ||
| From: |
Mr. Fred E. Howard III 2124 Stocker Dr., Apt. 3 Kettering, Ohio 45429 (513) 298-6719 | |
| To: |
Ordo Templi Orientis Attn: Hymenaeus Beta JAF Box 7666 New York, New York 10116 | |
The enclosed document conveys my serious and sincere interest in the pursuit of knowledge, notwithstanding the errors and ignorance presented therein. The objective of sending you this document does not extend beyond demonstrating to you this seriousness and sincerity.
It would be of great benefit to me if you could put me in contact with individuals who are in-depth experts on Aleister Crowley and his works, and who would communicate with me by mail and/or telephone.
It would enhance my education if I could have discourse with these experts on such questions as:
1. Are there any publications that carry on the concept of "The Astrological Complex" that Mr. Crowley presented in "The Complete Astrological Writings of Aleister Crowley"? Where did he get the horoscopes for the observations he made in "The Complete Astrological Writings"? If he cast the horoscopes himself, what are the birth times he used for the very famous individuals like Shelley and Shakespeare? The only birth time I have for Shelly gives a different rising sign than the one Mr. Crowley gives in his book. Did he use a book called "1000 Horoscopes", or "1001 Horoscopes", or something like that? If so, what is the correct title of the book and where can I purchase it?
2. The writings of Kenneth Grant are the only works that I have "bumped into" that present any real spark of innovation and creativity when it comes to taking Mr. Crowley's ball and running with it. For example, besides providing a meager link between Mr. Crowley and Carl Jung, Israel Regardie is pretty boring to me. Works that I am familiar with by Crowley scholars, other than Kenneth Grant, are primarily regurgitations of Mr. Crowley's work. All of these regurgitations are helpful to one degree or another, but where is the really original work? I am referring in particular to analytical knowledge and to the results of performing such rituals as the one presented in Liber Samekh. In what publications will I find these original works?
I claim that the color reproductions of three of my art pieces in the enclosed document are clear evidence that I have communed densely with the Creative Spirit as a result of my Magickal research. Where is the evidence of enlightened creativity amongst Crowley scholars? I can see it in Kenneth Grant, but I cannot see it anywhere else. What am I missing here? What works by Mr. Duquette, Hymenaeus Beta, and Dr. Hyatt demonstrate an integration of the conscious ego with the Creative Spirit. Of course, these works must be in existence, but I just do not know the titles and where to purchase them. It is impossible to delve, with any depth, into Mr. Crowley without mingling with the Creative Spirit.
3. Where can I find a detailed opinion on what various Crowley scholars think and the reasons for their thoughts vis-a-vis "Tzaddi is not 'The Star"'? All of the relevant material in Mr. Crowley's "The Book of Thoth" is contradictary and confusing, as we all know. Hymenaeus Beta's comment on this issue, in the footnote on page xvii of "The Heart of the Master" certainly does not help me very much. For example, what does Hymenaeus Beta really mean when he says, "For this edition, the texts for Trumps IV and XVII have been transposed to agree with their facing Trumps. Is he implying that, in another edition, the text "Pour water on thyself..." was attributed to "The Emperor" and "Use all thine energy..." was attributed to "The Star"? Who in the world would have ever made these attributions? On page 40 of "The Book of Thoth", Mr. Crowley says, "The card which must be exchanged for "The Star" is "The Emperor"...This proves very satisfactory. But it became infinitely more so as soon as it, was seen that this substitution cleared up the other mystery about "Strength" and "Justice"' He goes on to infer a similarity between the "revolution" of Leo and Libra about Virgo and the "revolution" of Aries and Aquarius about Pisces. If this is a "complete" similarity, then the "mystery" about "Tzaddi is not 'The Star"' is simple because the only effect (relative to Qabalah) of the Leo/Libra "revolution" about Virgo is to switch the placements of Lamed and Teth on the Tree of Life. In other words, the entire set of attributions for Lamed remain intact and the same is true for Teth. So, do we do the same thing for Tzaddi and He'? Of course not. This is made clear by Mr. Crowley's stipulation that Tzaddi should be "The Emperor" and He' should be "The Star". Who has really studied this issue and in what publication does this investigation appear? Also, on page 40 of "The Book of Thoth", Mr. Crowley refers the reader to Godfrey Higgins and his school for help on this matter. What publication by Mr. Higgins and his school are available on this issue?
4. Who has done work on understanding the essence of DNA with its four base organic molecules of adenine, quanine, thymine, and cytosine in terms of Mr. Crowley's elaborations on Tetragrammaton and his elaborations on Fire, Air, Earth, and Water? Who has done work on the quaternion and the quadratic equation in terms of Mr. Crowley's elaborations on 4-ness?
5. In "The Magick of Thelema" by Mr. Duquette, there is a figure of the Tree of Life that references Mr. Crowley's "Magick without Tears", "777", and "The Book of Thoth". Furthermore, it is stated that the diagram is "reproduced by Hymenaeus Beta". So far so good. However, the diagram attributes Pluto, the God of the Underworld, to Kether, the Crown. Two points about this:
6. Why don't I see any Crowley experts writing books on the evolution of the Alphabet, which is what all this stuff (i.e., Thoth, Hermes, Secret Lore, etc.) is really about anyway?
7. Why don't I see any Crowley experts writing books that analyze "A Brief Abstract of the Symbolic Representation of the Universe Derived by Doctor John Dee Through the Skrying of Sir Edward Kelly" in terms of modern concepts of physics, mathematics, and cosmology? My own research and inspirations have indicated a close relationship between quantum mechanics and the XVII Tarot Trump, "The Star". Where are the works by Crowley scholars along these lines that I can compare against my own ideas?
8. Why hasn't a Crowley scholar published something which synthesizes Aleister Crowley, Carl Jung, Joseph Campbell, Robert Graves, and John M. Allegro (author of "The Sacred Mushroom and The Cross")? Is Kenneth Grant really the only one doing anything like this? If so, then why don't other Crowley scholars refer to him? Us feeble-minded ones of the mundane sphere need "crutches" in order to help us understand Mr. Crowley's works.
Well, the questions go on and on. I need a Crowley scholar or two to give me some advice. I readily pass on to others everything I learn. In fact, I spend a great deal of time and energy talking about Mr. Crowley in an attempt to get people to consider his works. So, any time and energy a Crowley scholar spends on me will not be wasted. I am driven to pass things on to others.
I have earned the right to receive advice from Crowley scholars and, therefore, I request that you put me in touch with such scholars.
After examination of the enclosed document, please return it in the enclosed, stamped, self-addressed envelope.
Sincerely,
(Signed) Fred Howard
Fred Howard
cc: Mr. Lon Milo Duquette, Hymenaeus Beta,
Dr. Christopher S. Hyatt, Mr. Kenneth Grant, and many others
