Quid Coitu Illud?
? ? ?
Jupiter Jones investigates the case of the missing genitive case.
Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the Law.
| Ordo Stellae et Serpente (now defunct) |
“The Order of the Star and by the Serpent”. This is doubtless a mish-mash of the titles of the books called Liber Cordis Cincti Serpente and Liber Stellae Rubeae. |
| Liber Pennae Praenumbra | The translation “The Book of the Preshadowing of the Feather” is given in the text; however, the Latin (without the ‘n’ in “praenumbra”) gives either “The Foreshadow(ing)-Book of the Feather” or “The Very Shadowy (or, Imperfect) Book of the Feather”. That the translation may be correct, substitute “Liber Praeumbrantis de Penna”. |
| Argentinum Astrum | “The God-of-Silver-Money Star” (see Lewis & Short, “Argentinus” is here used adjectivally). |
| Argentum Astrum | “The Star is Silver”, or perhaps, badly, “The Silver Star”. The word “Argentum” is not an adjective, however it may be used so in extremis, or in foolishness. “Argenteum Astrum” may be truly written. |
| era vulgari | Signifies “By the common mistress”; vulgarly, for “aera vulgari”, which signifies “In the common era”. (The same being so, “era nova” for “aera nova”.) |
| Ordo Templi Orientis | The translation is “The Order of the Temple of the East”; but I think not “The Order of Oriental Templars”, because “Templar” is signified by the words“Templaris”, “Templator”, etc.; but most frequently by “Templarius”. In order to denote the same, write “Ordo Templariorum Orientis”. |
| Ordo Hermetica Dominus Nox | “The Order-Lord is the Hermetic Night”. This name is odious and ridiculous, and pathetically ignorant. Why make an attempt, without learning? Hear ye, o imbeciles: if you wish to signify “The Order of the Hermetic Lords of the Night” (which they indicated in an e-mail, as well as saying “...there is no easy translation of the name of our order...”; but what is a “Hermetic Lord”?), say “Ordo Hermeticorum Dominorum Noctis”, or say it in English! (And surely you don't seriously suggest that “Dominus” means “Knight”? And what, moreover, is a “Hermetic Lord”?) |
| Ecclesia Ordinis Caelestis Templum Olympicus | “The Church of the Celestial Order...” what? It is given in the web-page as “The Celestial Order and Olympic Temple” (without “Church” in the translation), therefore “... et Templum Olympicum” (for "The Olympic Temple)? Don't give up the day job! |
| Ambrosii Magi Hortus Rosarum | The translation is “The Rose Garden of Ambrosius the Mage” (which may be seen in The Collected Works of Crowley) and not otherwise; nevertheless “The August Congress Of the Acting Council of Elders” (otherwise known as "pj"), of the Order of the same name, wrote in an email that it should be “The Magick Nectar of the Rose Garden”. |
| Thelema Lodge Calendar (1988-9): Translation of the Spirit-Actions of John Dee |
Where shall I begin? This is nothing but a joke – even the agreement of adjective with noun is enough to perplex them! |
In the words of Catullus, “O Thelemic generation: no taste, no culture, no imagination!”
Love is the law, love under will.
Jupiter Jones
11th March 2004 a.v.
65/5/99 a.n.
[Translated by Mr. Quisquis Bang Bang.]