A Thelemic Formula
31 + 13 = 44
AL:I.50 “There is a word to say about the Hierophantic task. Behold! there are three ordeals in one, and it may be given in three ways. The gross must pass through fire; let the fine be tried in intellect, and the lofty chosen ones in the highest. Thus ye have star & star, system & system; let not one know well the other!”
Here we present an example of personal exegesis gleaned from rumination in the qabalistic tradition and employing a gematric process to numbers of great import in both the Thelemic (31) and English (13) Qabalah. And from the mystical insight provided by this, an inner dialogue unfolds to produce that Aha! experience.
AL:I.51 “There are four gates to one palace; the floor of that palace is of silver and gold; lapis lazuli & jasper are there; and all rare scents; jasmine & rose, and the emblems of death. Let him enter in turn or at once the four gates; let him stand on the floor of the palace. Will he not sink? Amn. Ho! warrior, if thy servant sink? But there are means and means. Be goodly therefore: dress ye all in fine apparel; eat rich foods and drink sweet wines and wines that foam! Also, take your fill and will of love as ye will, when, where and with whom ye will! But always unto me.”
AL:I.52 “If this be not aright; if ye confound the space-marks, saying: They are one; or saying, They are many; if the ritual be not ever unto me: then expect the direful judgments of Ra Hoor Khuit!”
The idea of considering the numbers 31 and 13, the Key to AL and its ThRShRQ together is to render it into a mathematical equation; using addition (31+13), which leads us to the sum total of the two, or 44; 31+13=44. And for 31, 3+1=4, as well, for 13, 1+3=4; presenting an illustration of 44 (4 and 4 situated next to each other) and suggesting balance on both sides of the equation and hence, giving us a value of ONE; though neither of the two numbers adds to 40 for a mathematical illustration. So with the expression of this formula, we can then next proceed to the examination of its component parts in search of further mystical exegesis.
31 is the Key to AL, which is a formula of Initiation for the planet at this time in history. Mother Earth is said to be ruled over by Horus, who has taken the throne of Ra; the Sun that rules over or brings life to the Earth. Its tri-fold expression; 31+31+31 (Nuit+Hadit+Ra-Hoor-Khuit) is 93, which can be expressed as the fraction Thelema/Agape (and equals ONE or Unity/Achad). And 9 +3=12, which by AIQ BKR reduces to 3, which points to the threefold expression of 31.
13 is the ThRShRQ of 31 and represents ‘the work completed,’ which can be the alchemical exchange of energy between a man and woman in copulation, as it is also the transformation of matter into spirit and the secret of the Eucharist connected to the work of Sexual Magick. 13, as does 31 reduces to 4 in the same way that 9+3, as 12 reduces to 3. The 4 and 3 then add to 7, a number of power and the number of sacred planets or demi-gods. This is also the number of Netzach (Victory) and of Isis, the Initiatrix—the Goddess—She being the lady of the Moon and of the Earth, which is more directly or the first influence upon the human soul.
44 represents ‘the rigidity of matter’—N.O.X. with 4+4=8. There are 4 principal Thelemic Syzygies or pairs of archetypes giving us the 8 or the infinite. These are Baal/Ashtoreth (Shaitan or Pan), Babalon/Beast, Hadit/Nuit and the Mage with his Scarlet Woman. By adding the 7 found on a deeper level examination of the first half of the equation to the 8 that results from the second half of the equation, we get 15—Shaitan or Pan. And of course, this reduces to 6—Tiphareth/H.G.A./Augoeides; L.V.X.
AL:I.54 “Change not as much as the style of a letter; for behold! thou, o prophet, shalt not behold all these mysteries hidden therein.”
AL:I.55 “The child of thy bowels, he shall behold them.”
AL:I.56 “Expect him not from the East, nor from the West; for from no expected house cometh that child. Aum! All words are sacred and all prophets true; save only that they understand a little; solve the first half of the equation, leave the second unattacked. But thou hast all in the clear light, and some, though not all, in the dark.”
Note the L.V.X is found only when both sides of the original formula are added together, which shows the L.V.X. as the result of humanity being seduced or entranced by the Initiatrix—the Earth/Moon Goddess of the Mysteries (N.O.X.), as was Christian Rosencreutz in the Chemical Wedding. Crowley notes in his commentary to the last verse above: The “equation” is the representation of Truth by Word; our truth being purported here is that of the evolution unto spirit in the syzygy of the Mage and Scarlet Woman.