Outer Gateways, second edition

[N0T 2]

I wish to commend Michael and Starfire on the stunning new Starfire edition of Outer Gateways.

I was lucky enough to receive a copy of each of the three new bindings (standard, quarter leather, full leather), and am almost as blown away by the excellence of the physical aspects of the books as I have always been by the text. Outer Gateways, as noted elsewhere, I regard as Grant's most potentially powerful, "direct experience" work.

The deluxe edition's binding is exceptionally haunting - it seems to express on an aesthetic level the exact nature of the current within its boards, and I see new faces and forms in its glittering voids every time I gaze upon its surface.

I still think the Skoob edition of Outer Gateways is perfect, too - it was an excellent tome and I am therefore particularly pleased the triple vesica decorative motif from this edition was retained. Somehow it just belongs there.

If any book could claim to incarnate "The Primal Grimoire", it's this one.

[stephen]

Hi NOT 2,

Good to see you back on the forums.  I'm a bit of a standard edition man myself, and already having the previous editions, the main buzz for me with the new Starfire Editions is seeing the new and enhanced plates.

With Outer Gateways, we get two plates of Steffi Grant's beautiful illustrated manuscript of Crowley's poem "Thirst" and in full colour.

And I really have to mention her untitled work featuring the three angelic entities: Metatron, Hagiel and Seraphim which must certainly be a companion piece to her illustration to Carfax Monograph IX: Magical Creation, "three telesmatic images constructed on G.'.D.'. principles." The three sigillised standing stones with their reflections in the astral waters overshadowed by the appropriate spiritual emanations."  The same three angelic entities are represented there.

See:  theprimalgrimoire.proboards.com/thread/122/entreating-stones#ixzz4Bdz2xd5g


For context (And a grandeur of style that needs to be taken with a pinch of salt):

TELESMATIC IMAGES AND ADONAI  By V.H. FRATER D.D.C.F. (Mathers)


Now there is also a mode whereby, combining the letters, the colours, the attributions and their Synthesis, thou mayest build up a telesmatic Image of a Force. The Sigil shall then serve thee for the tracing of a Current which shall call into action a certain Elemental Force. And know thou that this is not to be done lightly for thine amusement or experiment, seeing that the Forces of Nature were not created to be thy plaything or toy. Unless thou doest thy practical magical works with solemnity, ceremony and reverence, thou shalt be like an infant playing with fire, and thou shalt bring destruction upon thyself. See well also that thou makest the Image as pure and beautiful as possible, for the more impure or common the figure, the more dangerous is it unto thee.
Write upon the breast its Sigil, upon the girdle its Name, and place clouds below the feet. And when thou hast done this with due solemnity and rigid correctness of symbolism, shunning as thou wouldst shun death any suggestion of coarseness or vulgarity in an Angelic symbol, then hear what it shall say unto thee.
Seraphim will give thee an Angelic Figure like a Warrioress with Flame playing about her, and a countenance glorious like the Sun, and beneath her feet the stormy Sea and thunder clouds, and lightning about her, and a glow as of Flame. She has a triangular helmet or headdress of Flame like the symbol of Fire.
Graphiel will give thee a Great Angel like a Female Warrior with a most glorious countenance, crowned with the Crescent and flashing with Light, and surrounded by Flame and Lightning and with Four Wings.
The termination EL always gives to Angelic Forms the Wings and Symbols of Justice. The ending YAH will make the Figures like enthroned Kings or Queens, and with flaming glory at their feet.

[Michael Staley]

Thank you, NOT 2 & Stephen, for your appreciative remarks. The deluxe edition of Outer Gateways turned out very well. I selected the binding paper from samples viewed from a website, so I was delighted that it worked so well. It's probably my favourite of the deluxes we've issued so far.

So far as the two plates from Steffi Grant's illustrated rendition of Crowley's 'Thirst' is concerned, I would have loved to publish more but it wasn't appropriate in the context. I would like to publish the whole series one day, as well as the illustrated/illuminated The Book of the Law which Steffi did in the 1940s and which has been well preserved.

Yes, I was pleased to retain the triple vesicas from the Skoob edition, and well as the masonic device used similarly in Beyond the Mauve Zone. These devices were supplied by the author, but one for The Ninth Arch was not supplied.

[N0T 2]

I agree, Stephen, the new inclusions are worth the acquisition of the new editions for sure, particularly the Steffi items, which I shall study more carefully over coming weeks. It was with great reluctance that I parted with my old editions of the Trilogies last year, with the one exception of that copy of the Skoob Outer Gateways, which I shall keep for as long as I may. One can never have too many copies of Outer Gateways, really. But I am interested in the updated versions, and the artistic flair with which the deluxes have been produced has been quite a journey to follow.

All the older editions of Grant that I have seen are excellently designed, and I enjoy the old paper sizes and so on, there's something about the way things used to be done before the rapid improvement of digital technology in the last decades that I will always love. I actually think the old paper sizes were nicer, and they'd evolved over centuries of human experience, only to be chopped around for commercial reasons. However, the thrill of passing on Kenneth's wonderful books in those editions to new readers balances out my bereavement somewhat, although I think I'll probably re-collect all of them again one day, simply because those vintages will always have something to say.

[N0T 2]

Jun 15, 2016 14:10:11 GMT Michael Staley said:

...
So far as the two plates from Steffi Grant's illustrated rendition of Crowley's 'Thirst' is concerned, I would have loved to publish more but it wasn't appropriate in the context. I would like to publish the whole series one day, as well as the illustrated/illuminated The Book of the Law which Steffi did in the 1940s and which has been well preserved.
...

It is an inspiring prospect to know that such treasures as these await, Michael. I have really come to love Steffi's Art.

[kylefite]

I can only echo the above words of praise for both OG and Starfire's recent republication of this Masterwork. It was the first of Grant's writings I ever read. At the time, I found it baffling beyond belief. Despite this fact, the pages of OG held a mesmerizing allure, a compelling call to voyage into the Mysteries of which it spoke. All these years later, those Mysteries still call, the Tunnels burrow ever deeper into the Matrix of Reality and OG remains my personal favorite from the Trilogies.

Also, enthusiastic agreement with NOT 2 re: Steffi's gorgeous art!

[Gregory Peters]

I could not agree more with Kyle and Not 2. I have kept all of my Skoob editions, even as I am eagerly buying up every of the new Starfire editions Every time I dip into them it is another layer of initiation, another gate opening

[N0T 2]

Jun 16, 2016 1:12:22 GMT kylefite said:

I can only echo the above words of praise for both OG and Starfire's recent republication of this Masterwork. It was the first of Grant's writings I ever read. At the time, I found it baffling beyond belief. Despite this fact, the pages of OG held a mesmerizing allure, a compelling call to voyage into the Mysteries of which it spoke. All these years later, those Mysteries still call, the Tunnels burrow ever deeper into the Matrix of Reality and OG remains my personal favorite from the Trilogies.

Also, enthusiastic agreement with NOT 2 re: Steffi's gorgeous art!

Hello Kyle,

I read your post with a shared sense of adventure and awe which you must have felt when first encountering this book, and it prompted me to reflect upon my first encounters with Kenneth's work, and this one.

 I cannot think of a better introduction to not only Kenneth's work but to the entire menagerie of his subjects, independently of his works featuring them. It is a Way, in and of itself. In this respect, I believe it is unique.

 It is a book which certainly, as you put it, "calls to voyage into the Mysteries".

It also does some things without announcement. And the Tunnels into the Matrix, as you put it, yep, this book, of all books, certainly brings them to the party (with their tunnellers - - or perhaps They brought It? They reburied themselves too rapidly for me to enquire).

Ah, the call...