THE MAGICIAN:

HIS TRAINING AND WORK

by

w. E. BUTLER

By the SQtrU! author:-«

MAGIC: ITS RITUAL. POWER AND PURPOSE
APPRENTICED TO MAGIC
HOW TO DEVELOP CLAIRVOYANCE

~ 8jJ~

0)fiMu/te [Bod; rri~

12015 Sherman Road . No. Hollywood. CA 91605

 First Published 1959 PREFACE
Second Impression 1%3
Third Impression 1967 THIS book is really a continuation. though in greater detail. of my
Fourth Impression 1969 former book Magic: its Ritual. Power and Purpose. So many
questions were asked by readers of that little work. that it was
thought that a more detailed treatment of the subject would help
to meet the evident need for information on this subject.
TO MY WIFE I recognise. of course. that my efforts do not reach the standard
of those who are the acknowledged stars of the magical firmament
-Eliphas Levi. Dion Fortune. Israel Regardie and many others--
but it may be that. from the standpoint that is mine. I may be able
to help those who are "desirous of knowing in order to serve" to
take the first step along the road of magical achievement
''Through Wisdom is an house builded: and by
understanding it is established." My thanks are due to many who have helped me in magical
(Prov, 24, \I 3.) work throughout the past forty years. Catholic priests. Free Church
ministers. occultists of both the Western and Eastern Traditions.
doctors and psychologists. all have helped in various ways, and to
them all I am most grateful.
Particularly in connection with the writing of this book am I
indebted to the late Bishop Robert King (who was my first teacher
in these things) and another. a true Master of Magic. who by his
© W. E. Butler 1959
own wish must remain anonymous.
i also wish to gratefully acknowledge the help afforded me by
Mrs. Hilda Eastburn of Peaslake, who. amid the duties of a busy
life so kindly made time to voluntarily and freely type the manu-
script of this book.
As in my former book. so in this. I have endeavoured to give
the principles involved in such a way as to encourage the reader
to do some constructive thinking in applying them in actual practice
-my distaste for "tabloid information" being as strong as ever!

THE AUTHOR.

Printed in the United States of America

ISBN 0-87980-212X
 CONTENTS

Preface 7
PART I. GENERAL
Chapter
I Why the Book was Written .. . 15
II The Basis of Magic ... 25
ill The Tree of Life 32
PART II
THE TRAINING OF THE MAGICIAN
IV Preliminary Notes 47
V The Astral Light 50
VI The Invisible Body 56
VII Visualisation and Audition .. , 61
VIII Words of Power: The Magical Use of Sound 71
IX The Words and Names in Magical Working 76
X The Flashing Colours 80
XI The Vestments 86
XII The Subconscious 88
XIII The Interwoven Light 94

PART III. THE MAGICAL KEYS

XIV Magnetism 103
XV The Tattvic Tides 110
XVI The Body of Light 114
XVII The Magical Personality 122
PART IV. MAGICAL RITES
XVIII The Construction and Use of Forms 131
XIX Building a Ritual 139
XX Talismanic Magic 146
XXI The Way of Magical Attainment 151
XXII L'Envoi 158
Appendix A Relaxation and Breathing Exercises 161
Appendix B The Banishing Ritual 166
Appendix C The Exercises of the Middle Pillar 170
Bibliography 173
 Chapter I

WHY THE BOOK WAS WRITTEN

THE question may be asked, "why another book on Magic?

Surely there are too many already written. In any case, they
are all cut from the same pieee----they are all descriptive of other
peoples' experience-and simply mean that their respective authors
take in each others' literary washing."
This particular question was, in point of fact. put by a friend
of many years standing. Although, of course, it is an exaggerated
description of the situation, there is an element of truth in it, and
it made the present writer endeavour to think the matter out
The trouble is that magic has lain so long under a cloud of
superstition, ignorance and fear on the one hand. and on the other,
been obscured by a smoke-screen of secrecy engineered by those
who feared loss of power and prestige if the subject was brought
into the light, that it is very difficult for the average writer to do
more than give a general outline of the subject He is compelled
to draw his material from the published work of others. who were
also under the same limitation.
DIAGRAMS The position was further complicated by the fact that those who
36
could have given a first-hand account were muzzled by terrible
I The Tree of Life oaths of secrecy, and the breaking of an initiation oath is no light
n The Colour Scales 81 matter. Of course, some did break their oath of silence and loyalty,
III The Principle of the Flashing Colours 82 but as a general rule they did so, not to enlighten the general public,
but to enhance their own power, and although they purported to
IV The Tattvas ... 111
give out all the secrets, yet they retained certain essential keys. They
then formed around themselves groups, sworn to secrecy and obedi-
ence, and the whole story was repeated.
Now, the breaking of an oath is a serious matter, and involves
the honour of the individual concerned. But the exaction of oaths
of secrecy where no secrecy should be present, is also dishonourable.
It was Aleister Crowley, who gained considerable notoriety, both as
a magician (black variety), and as an oath breaker, who bitterly
wrote that his initiators swore him to silence by dreadful oaths,
and then revealed to him the Hebrew Alphabet and the names of
the planets I
The general body of magical knowledge can be roughly divided
into two groups. The first, in quantity if not in quality, is the general
body of ceremonies and magical practices which is the stock-in-
trade of the average "occult" organisation. All of this, with few
IS
 THI! MAGICIAN: HIS TRAINING AND WORK: WHY TH'I! aoox WAS WIUTTBN

exceptions, is composed of material already existing in books which use of correct ritual. But because they are thought-built. they can
are accessible to the public. The Bible, the Qabalistic "Book of be affected by thought. and for that reason they are kept secret in
Formation," the "Wisdom literature" of the Hebrews, and the many order that the work which is being done by their aid may not be
Apocalypses both pagan and Christian which appeared in the first interfered with.
centuries of our era, together with the fragments of the Gnostic We may say that the component parts of the ritual-patterns
books, all provide inexhaustible quarries from which we may obtain resemble various metal strips and pieces and following a certain
the material we need. Nor, as that great occultist. Dion Fortune plan they are welded together to form a metaphysical lock. Into
once wrote, are we tied by any ordinance to one region alone, but this lock certain keys are inserted and turned, and the door of
may bring gold from Ophir or cedar from Lebanon, as it suits our superphysical consciousness and power swings open. Since the con-
purpose. There are innumerable books and manuscripts in both struction of the lock gives some idea as to the type of key which
East and West. from which we may draw; such books, for instance, will open it, the lodges jealously guard the pattern-rituals with
as Nature's Finer Forces, by Rama Prasad, M.A., and the works which they work. Apart from this, too, as I have already said in
of the Roman Catholic Sir John Woodroffe ("Arthur Avalon") The my former book," inexpert use of the magical images renders them
Serpent Power, Shakti and Skakta, etc. Or, to come nearer home, in useless. At the same time it should be kept in mind that it is pos-
a later section of this book mention is made of the Elizabethan sible to make and use magical images quite openly without such
astrologer and occultist. Dr. John Dee, and the curious communi- deterioration. All depends upon whether the keys are in the hands
cations received by him. Now this Enochian tongue, as it was of the rulers of the order or fraternity.
termed, is employed in the rituals of one very powerful magical These keys are of two kinds, the major and the minor keys.
order, but it is well to note that it already existed in published With the major keys we will deal presently. The minor keys consist
form under the title of Concerning Dr. Dee and some spirits, by of physiological, psychological and psychic techniques which have
Edward Casaubon. been handed down from the past. or have been built up by a process
The question arises, why should the various magical orders have of experimental work. The various yoga exercises are such tech-
sworn their initiates to secrecy concerning these things which are niques. A good deal is "public domain," but there are various
of common knowledge? The answer is, that in those orders and technical devices which are very powerful in their effects, and which
fraternities which were genuine the information given in these require due preparation on the part of the person using them. These
various sources was combined in a particular pattern, and it was keys are therefore kept secret. The present writer doubts whether
this pattern which was the real object of secrecy. this secrecy is always advisable. It may prevent certain people from
The ritual-patterns used in any particular magical order, are rushing into unwise experiments, but generally speaking, those who
kept secret for a very good reason. The power of thought is little are liable to come to harm along these lines usually have not enough
realised by the ordinary person, but in the magical workings of a perseverance and power of concentration to do much harm, either
lodge, constructive visualisation is practiced, and definite "thought- to themselves or others. Possible exceptions are mediumistic sensi-
forms" are created. If any of my readers should be inclined to tives, who should not "dabble" in these matters. With them, it is a
query the idea of thought-forms, I would refer them to Yoga and matter of thorough training in the technique, under careful super-
Western Psychology, by Dr. Geraldine Coster, and another book by vision, or of leaving it severely alone. There is, of course, no reason
one of the most erudite of the members of the Society for Psychical why a properly developed and stabilised psychic should not follow
Research, the late G. N. M. Tyrell, entitled Grades of Significance. the path of ritual magic, if he sincerely wishes to do so.
The clairvoyant observations of Dr. Annie Besant, Bishop C. W. These minor keys constitute the main keys in the hands of the
Leadbeater, Geoffrey Hodson and Mrs. L. J. Bendit (phoebe Payne) rulers of the lodges. But the major keys are an entirely different
may also be mentioned in this connection. proposition. The minor keys may be communicated to others, who
However, without entering into any argument on the matter, it may practise the technique and acquire dexterity therein, but with
is an article of faith in the occult lodges, based upon repeated clair- these major keys such a process is impossible. Again quoting Dion
voyant observation, that these thought-forms may be built by the • Magic: Its Ritual. Power and Purpose (Aquarian Press).
16 17
 THE MAGICIAN: HIS TRAINING AND WORK WHY THE BOOK WAS WRITTEN

Fortune, I am of the opinion that the real secrets of occultism could Dion Fortune's Fraternity, he gave the usual oath of secrecy con-
be proclaimed from the housetops without anyone being the wiser cerning its teaching and rituals, and this oath he still respects.
except those who were ready to receive them. "He that hath ears Nothing herein is in any way part of that which he swore to keep
to hear, let him hear!" secret and inviolate.
But if the major keys cannot be communicated from initiator But from his first teacher and his Eastern associates, and from
to neophyte, how then can the pupil receive them? Well, though Dion Fortune herself, he received a considerable body of know-
they cannot be communicated, they can be implanted within the ledge, without any restrictions upon its use except, of course, the
pupil by a process of "induced realisation" or "impactation," as it general warning which is well expressed by the notice which was
is sometimes termed. placed above an American sawmill "Don't monkey with the Buzz-
This may be effected by the use of certain of the minor keys, saw! "
and is, in fact so done where a lodge or order is working on "true Having upon at least one occasion "monkeyed about" with one
contact." It must be remembered, however, that such "apostolic buzz-saw, he now appreciates the force of the injunction. Therefore,
succession" of the major keys depends entirely upon the grade of the practical instructions herein given are prefaced by the warning
the initiator and the preparedness of the pupil. that in these matters one must realise one's limitations. This is
When this method, an outline of which can be found in Paul really the only warning necessary. As one occult writer, Israel
Brunton's book A Search in Secret India, is used, there is always Regardie, says very truly" "here is no place to utter portenteous
some effect, but whether that initial "seed" grows, as it should, into warnings about the use and abuse of magical powers and spiritual
a new type of consciousness, depends upon the nature of the soil knowledge. Within the psyche itself is a sentinel who never sleeps.
wherein it is implanted. It is a guardian of the moral law whose punishment is so dire and
Enough has been said to give some idea of the reasons for the devastating that there is no appeal, save by expiation of the crime.
secrecy of the magical orders and fraternities, and it now remains From the dicta and judgements of this inner Self, there is no escape,
for the present writer to indicate his own position in the matter. except through the admission and the acceptance of the abuse,
For this purpose, a certain amount of autobiography is needed. He followed by a grim determination forever to avoid a similar deed."
has been, in his opinion at least, exceptionally fortunate in having This warning will seem to some readers to be insufficient, so
had, at the two crucial periods of his occult experience, the guidance we had better, perhaps, give some explanation of our point of view.
of wise and experienced teachers. From the age of seventeen until In so many esoteric groups and fraternities one hears such porten-
the present day, he has been instructed and advised by his first tous warnings given against magic that it is as well if we try to
teacher, a man who possesses both occult knowledge and power. discuss the subject in the light of day.
During a later period, when in India, he came into contact and Is there any danger in the practice of magic? The answer is
worked with a group of Hindu occultists, again people who "Why, yes; of course there is. Anything can be abused, and the
not only knew, but had power in these matters. more powerful for good the thing is, the greater the evil if it should
Later, following a mystic "leading," he came to the doors of the be misused." But this is true of many things we meet in daily life,
Western Mysteries, and was helped and taught by one who herself and one should preserve a sense of proportion in these matters.
has the reputation of being one of the most upright and fearless The dangers of magical work may be divided into spiritual, mental-
occultists of the West, the late Mrs. Penry-Evans, better known in emotional and physical dangers. Let us briefly study them in this
the occult world as Dion Fortune. order. Spiritual danger! What do we mean by this? Simply that
In the course of his wanderings duriug some forty years since overweening and Satanic pride. by which. as the poet says "the
his first contact with these matters, the writer gained experience angels fell." This is the characteristic vice of the follower of the
in many fields, and it is this experience, plus the framework of the occult path. and by far the greater number of magical students
instruction given him by his teachers, which is written herein. His follow that path. The intellectual aloofness and cold contempt for
first teacher has never exacted from him any oath of secrecy, nor the "ignorant herd" is very common in occult circles, and since
did the oriental occultists with whom he worked. As a member of • The Middle Pillar, pqe 77.
18 19
 THE MAOICIAN: HIS TRAINING AND WORE:
WHY THE BOOr:: WAS WIlITTEN

the magical rites demand a very concentrated and continuous appli- driven up into the conscious levels, becomes integrated with the
cation, the student begins to feel himself in some way superior to normal consciousness. The symptoms of unbalance disappear, and
the others around him . So he is, but that should make him very the student has definitely gained by the experience. But sometimes
humble, since he should be beginning to realise that the only justi- such a happening as this cannot take place. The buried complexes
fication for the practice of the magical art is in order that he may are charged with power, but cannot emerge into, and be integrated
be better able to help his fellow men. "I desire to know in order with consciousness. The result is a more or less complete disruption
to serve," says the neophyte of the Mysteries, and this is the only of the mind. But is must be remembered that this is a very rare
reason why we should train ourselves along these lines. One who occurrence, though when it happens, it seems to justify the parrot-
disregards this advice and does not subscribe to this undertaking cry that magical study makes one go insane.
has taken the first step on the downward path, and though great Magical study may make .some people psychopathic cases, but
power and knowledge may be gained .~y him, yet is ~e in danger it must be kept in mind that the psychopathology was already there
of becoming one of the Sons of Perdition, a Wandermg Star, for
before the student commenced his magical work. All that magic
whom is reserved the blackness of darkness for the Ages of the
did was to bring it into active manifestation. The study of things
Ages. But this is the destiny of but few, for the Christs of Evil are
mysterious attracts a certain class of psychotic, and it does not much
as rare as the Christs of Good. Nevertheless, the "inflation of the
matter whether the attraction be to magic, spiritualism, or Seventh-
false or empiric ego" as the psychologists term it, does mean that
at one point or another spiritual disaster awaits the one who has Day Adventism. Spiritualism has been most unfairly credited, along
attempted to isolate himself in proud contempt from his brethren. with magic, as a cause of insanity. The statistics issued by the
What are the mental-emotional dangers? To answer this ques- authorities of the mental hospitals in this country give the lie to
tion it is necessary to remember that the personality is built up this. Indeed, doctors, lawyers and clergymen would appear to be
during earth life by the experience it meets , and its reactions thereto. far more predisposed to mental disease, if the figures given are any
Since these experiences are many and varied, and since the per- guide. It is important here to point out that all such statistics can
sonality reactions are exceedingly complex, we usually arrive at be mis-read, or distorted. If, for instance, three out of every twelve
middle-age with a personality which has been built up without My spiritualists became insane, there would seem to be a case to be
definite plan. Here we have fought circumstances, there we have made out against the subject, even though, in the total number of
given in to them. Here we have faced adverse conditions and learnt psycho-pathological cases, the figure for spiritualists would be low,
the lesson they had to teach, their power being thus obtained for as the spiritualists form but a relatively small section of the entire
ourselves, there we have attempted to escape from such conditions population of the country.
and from the necessity of having to make a decision concerning It is upon the insanity percentages within the spiritualists or
them. And so it goes on, so that it will be seen that the temple of occult or magical organisations that the verdict should be given,
our personality is usually a very curious structure, built with ill- and judging by this all three of the above-mentioned emerge trium-
assorted materials, and showing very little trace of any coherent phantly.
plan. Into this structure we draw down the forces and powers of But there is one thing which causes some difficulty in assessing
the universe, and it is small wonder if it happens that this house of the tendency of any of these movements to cause mental unbalance.
the personality is overthrown by the lightning-flash of the forces What was the mental condition of the person before he entered the
invoked. In simple language, the presence of the power invoked movement? It is a commonplace idea for the general public that
acts upon all parts of our "psyche," and the repressed "complexes" mediums and psychic sensitives "hear" and "see" things which are
as well as the integrated consciousness feel that pressure. So it not visible to those around them. But so do certain mentally-
sometimes happens that a student of magic begins to show signs unbalanced individuals, and it does happen that these unfortunates,
of mental instability. Under the supervision of a wise teacher, such hearing of the visions and voices of psychics, will gravitate to the
a condition may become what is known in psychology as a mental psychic organisations. If they are recognised for what they are,
"catharsis" or purification, and the repressed material. having been mentally sick people, then all is well. They can be steered out of
20
21
 THE MAGICIAN: HIS TllAINING AND wosx WHY THE BOOK WAS WlllTTEN
the organisation concerned. and it may be that through an under- again are dangers which can be avoided by anyone who uses com-
standing of their case, they may receive healing treatment which, monsense. It must be remembered that one of the direct results of
although unorthodox from the medical point of view, may be very magical work is a tremendous enhancement of the vital energies,
effective. For not all psychopathologies can be explained in the and this enhanced power, as we have already said, affects all the
terms of orthodox medicine, and not all "alternating personalities" personality. Now part of the personality is the physical body, and
are splits in the patient's mind. its nerve-systems and nerve-centres. Closely associated with the
Where, however, such unbalanced people are allowed to attempt nerve-plexi are those very wonderful chemists' laboratories of the
psychic or magical work, then the responsibility rests fairly and body, the endocrine or ductless glands. Also associated with them
squarely on the shoulders of those who are the leaders in such are the various instinctive and emotional factors of the mind, and
work, and they must not grumble if, when the unbalanced one we know that the secretions of the endocrine glands, the "hormones"
finally breaks down and has to be removed, people say "There! or "messengers" conveyed by the blood stream to all parts of the
That's what comes from dabbling in spiritualism-or magic." In- body, do cause far-reaching effects on both body and mind. If by
cidentally, anyone who "dabbles" with anything along these lines magical practices we increase the vital energies, and if by concen-
is asking for trouble, but I have yet to read in the daily press that tration upon the various psychic centres (which are situated near
Mr. So-and-so has been removed to the mental home as a result the physical nerve-plexi) we direct an excessive amount o.f this in-
of "dabbling" in the Salvation Army or Anglo-Catholicism; yet coming energy to them, then we may expect that the mereased
members of both do, on occasion "go slightly off the hooks," to activity of the nerve-centre and gland concerned will result in the
use the phrase of the learned Doctor Hooker, the writer of the excessive release into the blood-stream of its hormones. Just as the
Anglican classic, The Laws of Ecclesiastical Polity. No, there is mind can thus affect the body processes, so these can affect the
a definite press bias against the spiritualist, the occultist and the mind. There is a "psycho-physical arc," and under such conditions
magician, and as the general public forms its opinions in these it is easy for a definite out-of-balance activity to be set up. The
matters largely from the daily press, the misunderstanding is likely way in which this may be avoided will be given later in this book,
to persist for some long time yet So anyone who tries to assess in the section dealing with the training of the magician.
the psychological dangers of magic and psychism, does well to Another psycho-physical danger comes when magical practices,
remember this bias, and to rely only on definite facts and figures. mystic-meditations and psychic techniques are jumbled together
One of the most courageous men of his time, the late Dr. Forbes- without any real knowledge on the part of those concerned. It is
Winslow, once publicly asserted that there were forty-thousand as if a child were to say, "here is some black stuff the grown-ups
spiritualists in the asylums. Challenged by the spiritualists to prove call charcoal, here is some yellow dust they call sulphur, and here
this, he began a careful investigation of the subject, and finally is some white salt they call saltpetre. I'll mix them together and see
announced, again in public, that his former statement was entirely what happens." If by chance he should mix them in a certain pro-
erroneous. portion, and should then set light to the resulting mixture, the results
But although one has seen him quoted many times as making might well be disastrous. So one of the first rules is "don't mix the
the original statement, one has yet to see in the press any reference techniques, unless you know what you are doing." Even, then, don't
to his retraction of that statement. So much for fair-play in these mix them until you have brought each particular technique under
matters. your conscious, positive control.
So when the would-be magical student receives grave warnings There is another danger, the pseudo-magical lodge or group.
of possible mental unbalance if he takes part in magical work, it Here a little knowledge is dressed up in grandiloquent terms, and
is useful if he immediately asks for chapter and verse; not an certain psychological or physical "tricks" are employed by the
account given by one whose cousin's friend knew someone who leaders of the group. To take one thing only. Incense, as we shall
went insane because they practised magic. Usually, such a frontal show in another section, has a very powerful psychic effect on the
attack reveals the baselessness of the warning. consciousness. But there are many kinds of incense, and not all
We come now to the psycho-physical dangers of magic. There produce a beneficial psychic result. Hashish produces curious
22 23
 THE MAGICIAN: HIS TRAINING AND WORK
Chapter II
dream-visions, as do also marihuana and peyotl. All these are
noxious and illegal drugs, though Anhalonium Lewinii, the Mexican THE BASIS OF MAGIC
cactus bean is not a habit-forming drug. Nevertheless, the use of
any such drugs is not only an offence in law, but also an extremely
unwise thing to do.
In one such lodge, known to the writer, hemp seeds (containing
As quotations
we have said books on magic seem to be largely made up of
from and comments on other books on magic, ~d
this, in the end gives very little enlightenment People who enquire
the hashish drug) were separated from parrot-food and burnt with
into the subject are disappointed by this negative result. They want
the incense. The results were startling, but definitely bad. In the
to know not merely what magic is, but how it may be practised.
magical groups wherein these practices take place, the use of drugs
To be able to do a thing oneself is much more satisfying to many
and sex-attraction is one of the principal methods employed, and
of us than simply to hear or read about what other people have
the effects of such practices are thoroughly and completely evil.
seen or done. Kipling, in "The Ballad of Tomlinson" indicates,
In the accounts of the witchcraft trials of the middle ages and
from another angle, the futility of second-hand knowledge and ex-
later, the use of ointments to produce supernormal results is
perience.
mentioned. Such ointments (the recipes of several are known)
In his former book. the writer tried to show some of the general
usually contained drugs which have a strong effect on the heart and
principles governing the Magical Art, and as a result of the recep-
nervous system, as well as producing hallucinatory effects. The use
tion of that book, he now feels that it may be as well if he provides
of such drugs is as old as humanity. In all cultures we find them
whatever practical instructions may safely be given out openly.
used, but always the effects, when assessed over a long enough
Obviously, there are increasingly complex depths in magic, and for
period, are seen to be so deleterious, that in all civilizations their
one who is unprepared to try to plunge into those depths is the
use has been banned. As we have said, they are still used by some
sheerest of follies. But for anyone who is prepared to work steadily
occult groups, but any group using them as sensational adjuncts
and to avoid unnecessary risks, there is everything to be said in
to the rites, does, by that very fact, proclaim its indifference to the
favour of such general instruction. In any case it carries implicit
moral standards laid down by the Lodges of the Light. Well in-
within it a perfectly satisfactory regulating mechanism, as anyone
formed and careful research by trained seers into the properties of
misusing it will find by personal experience. Others, who follow the
these drugs is another matter, but such researches a~e. not .carrie:<f
out in the general lodge work. So the would-be magician, If he IS system given will be rewarded by an in~~sin~ sen~e of fulfi~ent
and satisfaction, with wider and deeper insight into life and destiny,
wise, will shun any group or fraternity when such things are offered
and with increased powers with which to serve their fellows. Arcane
as inducements to join it. Such inducement sometimes takes very
knowledge and power give great respons~bility, but also great ~oy
subtle forms, and it is easy to become involved before one is aware
and happiness as one begins to take part 10 the Great Work which
of it
ever goes on in the souls of men.
For this reason. it is wise to have a standard of reference. to
"I desire to know, in order to serve"-such is the password
which one may tum in times of doubt. The writer's standard of
which admits to the arcane knowledge, and those of my readers who
reference is the Lord Jesus. It is not necessary to accept all or any
can honestly affirm this can safely essay the way of magic. Safely,
dogmatic views of Him. but His life and teachings do giv~ us a
that is, if they obey instructions. One of the many traps. that b~t
standard against which we may set the teach mgs or practices of
the student of these matters is the temptation to expenment WIth
whose nature we are in doubt. Others may prefer other standards,
and "to each man his own master." But some standard should be "bits and pieces," adding something here, subtractin~ so~eth~g
adopted before the seeker joins any occult or magical group. there, "taking a chance" somewhere else. Such behaviour IS silly
and dangerous.
The enquirer desires to learn the Magic Art. What guarantee
can we give him that he will be successful? Can anyone be a
magician? What are the qualifications? How can he make a start?
24 2S
ill THE MAGICIAN: HIS TRAINING AND WORK THE BASIS OF MAGIC

What are the signs that he is gaining proficiency? All these, and early years were brought under her conscious control. as Sinnett
many more questions have been put to the writer since the publi­ records in Incidents in the life of Madame Blavatsky .
Ii cation of his first book. The present work is by way of an answer The other type of magical work is perfectly illustrated by Dr.
II to some at least of these questions. Paul Brunton in his book A Search in Secret India .
One of the most cogent of these is "Can anyone be a magician?" Between these two extremes of objective and subjective magical
The answer is yes, anyone can become a magician, but there are phenomena. there are many grades, and every sincere student who
phases of magic which are not within the capabilities of some is willing to obey instructions and to persevere, can find some aspect
Ili l people, though they are in others. The Victorian novelist, Bulwer­
Lytton, in one of his stories" which gives its title to the book of the
of magical power which he can develop and use for the common
good.
same name, quotes from Albertus Magnust to the effect that the Many books on our subject give exhaustive lists of magical
description of the magical process he describes "will instruct and practices (indeed, that is all that many-of them seem able to give)
:llli avail only to the few . . . that a man must be born a magician! ", that but in this book we shall only touch briefly upon the various
I
is. born with a peculiar physical temperament, as a man is born a practices which are included under the name of magic. We have
poet. Now this is very true, but it is not the whole of the truth. already shown the basic division of the magical art-"objective"
Poets are born, not made: that is great poets. But many minor poets and " subjective" phenomena. All feats of magic combine the two,
spring up. and though their verse is not of the quality of that of and. in fact, the main difference between the various magical hap­
the great immortals, yet do they find satisfaction in the exercise of penings is the proportion of "objective" to "subjective." Always
their modest powers. and so do they also add to the enjoyment of there is definite interaction between the magician and his environ­
many. ment, and here we come to one of the fundamental principles of
There are two aspects of magic which appertain to the spectacu­ magic.
lar. One, "Evoking to Visible Appearance" is the high-light of The modem world, with its increasing use of scientific know­
I" ledge. and its lack of faith in anything except matter. as it is com­
phenomenal magic,-the other, the "Transmutation of Conscious­
monly thought of. has divorced man from his environment and
ness." though less objectively spectacular is equally important. It
I" is found in practice that certain people are expert in one or the
made him simply a fortuitous form of life on a second-rate
planet revolving around a second-rate sun. It has become the fashion
IIIII1 other of these aspects, whilst others seem to have little: or no power to think with kindly contempt of the ancients who regarded Man
in either of them. On investigation it will be found that invariably and Nature as parts of one living universe. "Great is Science of the
the successful evokers to visible appearance possess the peculiar Modem World" is their cry, as their predecessors cried in similar
1111­
psycho-physical type of body which characterises what the spiritu­ terms "Great is Diana of the Ephesians." It is true, of course. that
alists term the materialisation medium. A classic example is solitary members of the race have risen up and protested against
Madame Blavatsky. This does not mean. however. that the magician this deification of modem science, and it is true also that the more
is a medium in the ordinary sense of the word. This is not the place advanced scientists of our day, when unhampered by political
to discuss the merits or demerits of mediumship, but put briefly the ideologies, are beginning to regard man and the universe in a differ­
difference between the magician and the medium is that the one is ent light. But popular opinion has been said. quite rightly, to be
controlled and influenced by his own spirit self, the other is the always fifty years behind the growing point of knowledge; even
channel for the forces and influences of others. Of course, there are though it uses the latest terms and symbols of that knowledge. By
no cut and dried lines in these matters, in many mediums the inner a process of unconscious "rationalisation," as the psychologists call
spirit-self is working through their mediumship. In the case of it, popular opinion charges the new word-symbols and ideas with
Madame Blavatsky, the unregulated "physical phenomena" of her the old interpretations of fifty years ago, and fondly regards itself
- - - - - - - _._ .•.._- - _. - _ ._ - ~- -- ... -~. - . _ - _ . _ - - --- - - - ---- - - ' - as being up-to-date in scientific knowledge!
• Th e Haunters and the Haunted. page 122. Deep within humanity there is a desire for stability, for security
t Albertus Magnus (1193-1280) was one of the teachers of 81. Thomas and for safety, and this desire operates always in the direction of
:1 Aquinus . He was one of the leaders of Dominican thought in Germany.
26 27
1IIIi
 ~

THE BASIS OF MAGIC

THE MAGICIAN: HIS TIlAINING AND WOllE:
had followed the Manichean philosophy before his conversion to
maintaining whatever status quo it regards as embodying that state Christianity, and traces of it are to be found in his teachings. As
of safety, of stability and security. Whatever intellectual, philoso­ he later became a great authority for the Roman Catholic Church,
phical or religious system they may adopt, it will be found that for some of his views distorted the Christian philosophy, and even
them this is a veritable ark amidst the roar and turmoil of the tem­ today they cloud the teachings of some of the sects. But the doctrine
pest of the world. But those there are who in divine desire for "Light of the evil nature of matter is not a part of the Christian philosophy
-more Light" scorn the safe refuge, and press fearlessly onwards or, indeed, of any of the great philosophic systems of East and West.
into the Unknown-to find, in the words of a great scientist of The doctrine of the unreality of material manifestation, however,
today, that "the universe is friendly." is part of several Eastern systems, and in certain Western systems
If it is in this direction that true and unfettered science is today which owe their inspiration to the East it is also to be found.
moving, then perhaps we may look back to those ancients and
It is not, however, an essential part of the true magical philo­
briefly consider the philosophy which underlies the whole of their sophy. It has sometimes been said that the magical doctrines are
teaching. We in the Western world, having had our main philoso­ doctrines of "emanation," and in one sense this is so. But if by this
phical systems mediated to us through the Schoolmen of the Great
it is thought that they teach that (in all reverence) God emanates
Western Church, tend to think in terms of what may be described the universe from Himself as a kind of Cosmic Spider spinning His
as "dualism." Always we are setting the Eternal Source, God, over
Web from Himself, then such a conception is entirely foreign to
against Its manifest creation. the magical scheme.
But the philosophy which underlies magic is the philosophy
The magi teach that the whole universe of matter in all its
which appears in the Indian "Vedanta" the philosophy of
grades, physical and non-physical, is the manifestation of the very
"Monism." In this philosophy God and His Universe are seen to
Essence and substantial Being of the Eternal."
be one and the same. But this, it will be said, is Pantheism pure
So the physical universe, so far from being evil or "low," as so
and simple. It would be if we were so foolish as to regard Nature
many "spiritually minded" folk would have us believe it to be, is
as the whole of God. We do not only hold the idea of His being
as holy as any other plane of being-there is nothing common or
in and through His Universe, but also we believe He transcends it·
unclean. "The ignorant man gazeth upon the face of Nature, and
An Immanent, and Transcendent Being is the God of the
it is to him darkness of darkness. But the initiated and illumined
magical philosophers. But both these terms can easily be misunder­
man gazeth thereon and seeth the features of God."
stood. If, by "immanent" we think of "something" behind manifest­
So it is not matter which is unreal, only the appearances it pre­
ation as we see it, then we are beginning to use the philosophic
sents to our consciousness, and as that consciousness is evoked and
counters of Aquinas, "substance" and "accident." Though this is
expanded, so do we begin to see in all things the Presence and very
a perfectly valid distinction, the magical philosopher would go
Being of God. Thus the magical path is no mere way of escapism,
further and say that all manifestation exists as an expression of that
even though many try to use it as such. It is an adventurous, God­
substantial Being, and because of that it possesses Reality after its
seeking quest, as true and as holy as any Mystic Quest of the Grail.
own kind. It has been said that the touchstone of a philosophic Indeed, it is that Quest, undertaken "after another manner."
system lies in its use of the word "Real." In one Eastern prayer it
The basic ideas of this magical philosophy are embodied in a
is said "From the Unreal lead me to the Real," and those monistic very wonderful "glyph" or composite symbol known as "The Tree
philosophies which stem from the Eastern teachings are mainly
of Life," Otz Chiim, and this is the meditation symbol or mandala
. based upon such an idea. which is used by the Western magician, since it is the philosophical
In the early Christian Church certain Gnostic "heretics" taught symbol of that system of Hebrew thought which is known as the
such things, and for this reason were repudiated by the great Quabalah. This is that body of esoteric teaching which was im­
councils. Such heretics were the Docetae and the Manichees. One • ct. The Liberal Catholic Liturgy of the Mass.... .. Who abiding un·
of the greatest figures of the early Church, St. Augustine of Hippo, changeable within Thyself, didst nevertheless in the mystery of Thy
boundless Love and Thine eternal Sacrifice, breathe forth Thy own divine
• "With a fragment of Myself, I create the Universe . . . and remain." Life into Thy Universe . • . ..
(The Bhagavad Gita).
29
28

~. \
"
THE MAGICIAN: HIS TRAINING AND WORIC THE BASIS OF MAGIC

parted "from mouth to ear" as its very name implies," It was into the magician's consciousness that nothing can obliterate it, for
regarded by the Rabbis as the inner spirit of their religion, even as it is a true touchstone of safety. It will be seen that this is a very
the Torah or Law was its body, and the Talmud its soul. It is this far-reaching principle, in fact some of its implications are as yet
basic Hebrew theosophy, enriched as it is by the Egyptian, ChaI­ beyond the grasp of any embodied consciousness. Here we come
dean, Greek, Persian and Arabian elements, together with the up against one of the knotty problems of both philosophy and
mystical stream of the inner Christian Schools, that forms the tradi­ theology, the question of "objectivity." Berkely and Kant have had
tion to which the magical student is heir. their say on one side of the problem, Schopenhauer on the other.
,, 1111
It is therefore necessary to consider the Tree of Life in some Perhaps it will be as well if the would-be magician steers a midway
detail, though, of course, we can give it but very elementary treat­ course between the extremists, and holds to a belief in the reality
ment here. There are, however, several books which deal with the of both the objective, and the subjective, remembering that both of
Tree very fully. They will be found listed in the Bibliography at them are aspects of the true Reality, which exists and subsists "after
the end of this book, and it is only fair to the student to say that another manner."
III some grasp of the philosophy of the Qabalah is essential to the
Western magician if he is to do successful work in his chosen field.
Now the first principle of the Qabalah is the Unity of All. Here,
as we have said, the modem scientist and the ancient initiate stand
side by side on common ground. The philosophy of the Qabalah
I, treats of the relationship of the part of the Whole, and the glyph
of the Tree shows this relationship in its design. For the practical work of magic, the idea which w
ever before us is that we are all like the Lady o
Tennyson's poem, we are all engaged in viewing in a
universe in which we live, and a mirror, moreover, w
stantly changing. This mirror is our own personal un

II!j
"subconscious mind," and was known to the older occ
"Sphere of Sensation." In modem terms it is the "au
psychic atmosphere which surrounds everyone. Tha

Man is termed the "microcosm," or small universe in the macro­ .

cosm, or greater universe around him, and it is taught that in his Sensation is the glass in which all things are mirrored and the first
nature there are potentially present all the powers and forces of
that greater universe. He is, in fact, an epitome of the macrocosm
tasks of the apprentice-magician are designed to give him control
over this magic mirror. He may not, except indirectly, work upon
I
'II As the initiate of the Mysteries declared, "There is no part of me the outer world, but he can directly alter and remould his own I
that is not part of the Gods." subjective world, and this will cause him to come into such new ~
It follows, then, that all the Beings and Intelligences of that relationships with the outer world, that he finds it shaping itself i
greater universe have their aspects within the consciousness of man, in accordance with his new point of view, since these deeper aspects .
the microcosm. If he evokes the ~e~l be!~ __~~ , .~oe,~ , so by of himself are part of the corresponding depths of the collective .
virtue of their correspondences . within him, for his physical. unconscious of the race, and of the universal consciousness.
emotional andIileniar vehicies "or bOdies'-are'bUilt up by the action This being the case, it is imperative that the magician should
of countless elemental "lives." If he invokes the Mighty Ones, the have some key to the forces and powers of that under-lying sea of
Spiritual Lords and Vice-Regents of the Eternal. then through their consciousness-some idea of the tides that ebb and flow therein,
correspondences within his own nature do they descend into his and the living creatures to be found within its depths. Different
consciousness. If he invokes the Lord of the Roses, then through cultures have used different glyphs, but the Western magical glyph
the indwelling Light within does that Lord answer him, and if he is the Tree of Life which we will now discuss briefly in the next
invokes the Eternal, then the Power of the Eternal rays down upon chapter.
him through that within him which is the separate manifestation of To those who are acquainted with the standard books on the
the One. subject, the exposition given by the present writer may seem strange,
So, and this is of the utmost importance. all ma~ical work begins but if they will try to translate the ideas therein given into their own
within a'l4Js. proiecJe.d. olltwardly. This is oneoft e first princfples terms, they will find that they have not wandered from the standard
of magIc. and it must always be kept in mind. It must be so built explanations. The Tree has only been described from another point
• The word " Q B L" has the meaning "from mouth to ear." of view.
30 31
 THE TREE OF LIFE

Chapter ill mutilated fragments of this philosophy which formed the back­
ground of medieval magic.
THE TREE OF LIFE Several books on the Tree of Life have been published in recent
years. The most important of these are mentioned in the biblio­
graphy at the end of this book. For this reason, it is not proposed
ALLandoccult traditions worthy of the name employ certain diagrams
pictorial devices in the training of their members. As we to give a detailed exposition of the Tree in these pages. But what
is intended is to give the magical apprentice another point of view
have already pointed out, the Western Tradition is a composite one,
embracing the mystery teachings of Greece, Egypt, Chaldea and with regard to this ancient glyph.
I11
Israel, and because of this it has a large store of such mandalas, as Briefly stated, the Tree is a wonderful diagram of forces; not
III I
things. If we consider the universe in which we live, and then con­
they are termed in the East.
sider the nature of our own immediate contact with it, we come to
But the mandala par excellence is that which is known as "The
Tree of Life," and this comes from the Chaldean and Hebrew see we are living in a universe in which one of the supreme mani­
festations of the underlying reality is that phenomenon which we
esoteric schools. It has been referred to as "The mighty, all-embrac­ term "vibration." All things, all forces and all beings are finding
ing glyph of the universe and the soul of man," and this is a very
expression in the universe by means of vibrations. When anyone
good description of it. It is, in itself, a complete diagram of a philo­ speaks, the vibrations of his voice are carried by the air. When we
sophy which is known as the Oabalah, and at the same time it can see, the light vibrations are affecting our optical machinery. The
be used in connection with the various pantheons and philosophies vibrations of sound affect our ear, and there is cause to believe that
of Egypt and Greece, as well as those of the Northlands and the the sense of smell does not entirely depend on the wide diffusion
Middle East. of small particles of the substance smelt. When we consider both
It is an occult Rosetta Stone, which like the original Rosetta light and sound we find they have an ascending scale of frequency,
Stone, enables us to translate languages previously unknown to us and into this scale all manifestations of light" and sound can be
into one with which we are familiar. As the reader will be aware. fitted. So the whole universe in which we live is the theatre of an
it was the fact that the original Rosetta Stone contained a decree infinity of interweaving forces, and these forces are at work in both
which had been written in three languages; one of which was the the objective and the subjective levels of both the universe and the
Egyptian (which at the time when one of Napoleon's officers found soul of man. The Qabalah declares there is an enormous field of
the Stone. was an unknown language, the key to it having been acting and reacting forces and lives. and this field of the concourse
lost). By deciphering the Latin and Greek inscriptions which were of forces is generally known as "The Adam Kadmon," the Heavenly
identical in meaning, it became possible to commence the transla­ Man.
tion of the Ancient Egyptian characters, and from this start, the In the body of this Heavenly Man, we literally live and move
ill work has gone on until the language of ancient Khemi is no longer and have our being, though we must be careful not to identify the
:1 unknown. the Body of the Heavenly Man with His essential Nature . Truly,
So with the Tree of Life. Once we have found the meaning of in the midst of the Concourse of Forces, we exist, and equally truly
the Hebrew names upon it, we can "place on the Tree," to use a in that Immanent Spirit which is the Heavenly Man Himself, we
Ii' technical term, any other system of philosophy and be able to see human spirits subsist; since, as the Greek poet wrote, "we are also
II how it will work out. This in itself is of great importance, but there His offspring."
are many other uses which may be made of the Tree . We are living parts of a living organism : an organism which is
I
It is essential to realise, however. that the Tree is not a map of pervaded, and is actually created, by the Eternal Spirit who is at
the undiscovered country of either the soul of man or the universe the same time immanent in it, and transcendent to it.
in which he lives, but is rather a diagram of the mutual relationship
• This is not to dismiss the "Quantum" hypothesis of light. It has its value
of the underlying forces of both. Together with the Tree we have both in physics and in magic, but a consideration of it here would carry
inherited a large body of philosophy based thereon, and it was the us too far from our chosen field.

32 33
 THB MAGICIAN : HIS TRAINING AND WOR~ THB TRBB OP LIPB

By experience over thousands of years the illuminated mystics senses. They provide the "imagery" which defines and forms the
of Egypt and Chaldea, from whom this system is derived. worked various concepts.
out a system of notation which would enable them to classify some Even when we come to so-called "abstract" thinking the same
of the forces with which they had come in contact. and so gradually process is at work, though the connection is more difficult to
a body of knowledge was formed which could be handed down to observe.
succeeding generations of students. The very name Q B L signifies Now it used to be a dictum of the psychologists (and still is
"from mouth to ear:' i.e, it was an oral tradition. never written for some of them) that nothing exists in the mind which has not
down until the School of Moses de Leon first gave the Sepher come in by the gateways of the physical senses. This we now know
'I
Yetzirah, the "Book of Formation:' and the Zohar, the "Book of to be incorrect, but if we alter the statement to read "there is nothing
I: Splendour" to the outer world. in the mind which has not come in through the senses," then we
But although the arcane knowledge was passed down in oral are nearer the truth. For the superphysical senses are also recording
II their perceptions in the mind.
form. there was also elaborated a diagram by means of which the
relationships existing between the various forces of the universe There is. however. one great difference between the physical
could be deduced. The diagram or glyph is known as Otz Chiim, and the superphysical senses. The first group derive their images
the Tree of Life. from the external world. the second from the Inner Worlds. Since
A cynic once said that words were used not to convey our the personality has been built up by reaction to physical stimuli.
thoughts. but to conceal them. Up to a certain point. of course, he all its concepts are in terms of physical objects and beings, and
was correct, but the purpose for which spoken language evolved concepts which are built in terms of the Inner Planes are meaning­
was to convey information from one individual to another. less to it. One often meets people who bewail their lack of power
In the infancy of the race. a certain unconscious exercise of to "bring through" into consciousness the knowledge gained on
telepathy was the basis of communication. but with the evolution the levels of the Inner Planes . Yet, curiously enough. it very often
of the cerebro-spinal nerve system the images which had hitherto happens that they have actually brought through a great deal of
been transmitted by telepathic means were now linked with certain such knowledge. but because the concepts so built up are of a
sounds. So arose the sequence of thought which we now use: per­ different order to those built up through the physical senses they
ception. concept, word. Where it is a question of passing on infor­ remain unnoticed by the conscious self.
mation. then the process is concept and then word. But it was Now the levels of the Astral Light have been worked upon by
perception by one or other of the physical senses which gave rise the mind of man. and the earth imagery has been imposed upon
to the concept. Let us explain this in more detail. The little grand­ that sensitive astral substance. and so it happens that general des­
son of the present writer is now just beginning to talk. and his criptions of the Inner Planes. such as are given by clairvoyants or
efforts give a good indication of the process at work in his mind . communicated through mediumistic sensitives. are relatively true.
He has evidently one or two pretty clear concepts which have been since they describe what we may term the "humanity-conditioned"
built up by his sense-perception, but they are very comprehensive. levels of the Astral Light.
All living animals are "Sals" (the name of the household dog being But if we wish to study the basic Forces of the Astral Light.
"Sallie"). All men are "dads." and all plants are "f1o-f1os" (flowers). then we have to use some form of concept based. not upon optical
It is evident that each of these very comprehensive concepts or sensory properties. such as size. weight, hardness. colour or
will have to be split up into many more subdivisions. but the general sound. but upon pure relationship. It must of course be remembered
concept has been built and linked with a particular word sound. that the mind will always use images of some kind or other. and if
Now. all our lives we are constantly varying the mental concepts the waking consciousness has no stock images by which it may
I'III. which we have built up throughout our existence. either expanding realise such a form of perception. it will use some of the sensory
I' their meaning. or narrowing down according to custom. tempera­ images derived from the action of the physical senses.
ment or conditions. But it must be clearly kept in mind that the This is quite all right, so long as we clearly understand that such
bases of all these concepts are the perceptions of the five physical images are being used in a representative capacity. and are not the
34 3S
i THE TJlEE OP LIFE

actual things perceived by the inner senses. Of course. a great deal

III
I, "IN
in the Astral Light that concerns the more or less immediate after­
"IN SOl'H
death conditions of humanity is capable of being fairly accurately
AlN SOPH AUIl
expressed through such physical plane images. since the action of
\111
human minds. incarnate and discarnate. upon the plastic astral sub­
stance has resulted in the building-up of forms very similar to those
of the physical plane. This is done more or less automatically by
both incarnate and discarnate minds. but it may also be done con­
sciously and deliberately. and this is what has been done by genera­

1111111'1\

IINAH
,,
,
,.
-
13
,,
• I"

••
tions of occult students working on the glyph of the Tree of Life.
The various forces of the Astral Light have been assigned to their
own particular symbolic images. and when a certain astral force
is perceived by the clairvoyant who has been trained along these
- - '" "'. .'" #
lines. it is seen as a being of a certain type. Now many of these
11 11," representative images are arbitrary and do not afford any true pic­
ture of the reality. Such for instance are the "Deva-forms" seen by
Hindu psychics. and the "Angel-forms" seen by many Western
psychics. Such too are the traditional gnomes. sylphs. salamanders
CHESEO
GEllURAH and undines of medieval ;magic. In the same class are all the
"spirits" personified by the ancient Greeks as oreads, nymphs.
dryads. etc.• and when the astral beings concerned are perceived by
a psychic who sees in the Greek mode, because of some tempera­
mental bias thereto, then those beings will be seen in that
mode. The same applies to those in whom the medieval mode is
NETZACH strong. They will see the astral beings and forces under the appear­
ance of the gnomes. salamanders. etc.
It must be borne in mind. too. that the tendency of all elemental
life (descending. as it is. into more material forms of substance) is
to take any available form presented to it, and such forms are to
be found by the million in the rolling billows of energy which we
know of as the Astral Light. In this book, unless it is otherwise
stated. the term Astral Light refers to those levels of the basic Astral
Ether which have been modified by the action of the minds of all
living creatures upon this planet, including the mind-consciousness
THE TREE
of the planet itself. and which present to the observer certain definite
AND
forms. Forms as such are not native to that realm of living energy­
substance which we have termed the Astral Ether. and the forms
THE PATHS
to be found in it are the results of the creative activities of minds
working downwards from the higher mental levels, or upwards from
the material levels. So the Astral Light divides naturally into the
'II Upper Astral with its background of mind and spirit, and the Lower
J Astral with its background of physical matter.
11 1
11 :' 36
37
III
1

ill,
 THE MAGICIAN: HIS TRAINING AND WORK: THE TREE OF LIFE

But apart from the forms, the true Astral world continues to thought-images we may construct, what might be termed. an "up­
manifest under its own laws. and the genius of the adepts of the to-date" Tree of Life. Indeed, it is necessary that we should do this,
Qabalah has been to devise forms which may be used as indicating but the true apprentice of magic learns also to follow the example
symbols of the particular forces concerned. So a mighty and com­ given in the New Testament. of the "wise householder, who brings
plex system of living imagery has been built up around the central forth from his treasure-house, things old and new."
glyph of the Tree of Life, and generations of students, through Although our forefathers were ignorant of much that is elemen­
hundreds of years, have used and meditated upon this root system tarY knowledge to us. they still had keen minds and still encountered
of metaphysical symbolism. This has built up in the Astral Light the same basic human problems that perplex and worry their clever
what may be termed the Egregore of the Tree; the composite living descendants of today. In the established system of relationships
"soul" of which the glyph of the Tree is the physical body." which is the Tree of Life, they found a key to open the door of
Those who "work with the Tree," come into sympathetic Wisdom, and their meditations thereon have built up into the
relationship with this Egregore, and may gain from it. by a species Egregore of the Tree much that still has a value today. So when we
of telepathic action, light on their present-day problems. and know­ make our very modem Tree. it is well to realise that if we in this
ledge of the inner realities which transcends that which they could way make our contribution to that group-thought-form, it. in its
reach without such assistance. turn, can work through the archaic images within our deeper minds.
Il l! All magical operations, when carried out by those who have The glyph of the Tree may be used for meditation purposes and
been trained in the Schools of the Oabalah, are based on, and also as a plan upon which practical, objective work may be done,
utilise, the store of images in the Egregore of the Tree. All astral but these two aspects of work upon the Tree (we may term them
forces which may be used in such magic have their own symbolic the subjective and the objective aspects) use different diagrams.
personifications in that group of associated images, and by con­ Different in colour, that is, for the method of using the forces in
sciously manipulating these representative images, the forces of meditation is different from that of using them in practical magical
which they are an expression are likewise manipulated. work, and this difference is shown in the colours of the Tree.
Since the level of the mind which deals with such images is the When considering the colours used for the Tree diagrams, it
so-called "sub-conscious" mind, it is an axiom in magic that it is should be remembered that for objective magical work and ritual
the subconscious mind which is the magical agent (the High initiation. the psychic structures which are built up are linked with
Priestess of the Tarot) whilst the conscious mind is the directing the appropriate Sephiroth, and these are coloured in a higher scale
and controlling factor (the Magician of the Tarot). than the connecting Paths between them. But for meditation work
Thus. all magical operations by the personal consciousness are concerned with action upon our own weaknesses, the psychic struc­
indirect. The actual operation is performed by the subconscious ture, or Astral Temple, should be in the same colour scale as the
level of the mind. working through the appropriate images. This is connecting Paths. This enables one to work upon the corresponding
one of the most important laws of Magic. centre in ones own aura. In this connection. it will be seen that the
As the reader will see at a later stage, it is possible to make our cards of the Tarot pack are alloted to the Paths of the Tree, and
own Tree. In fact we must do so if we are to do any real work with by meditation on the card concerned. the appropriate centre may
this system. But this does not mean that we should blindly accept be stimulated. Direct concentration upon the psychic centres is in­
the classifications handed down to us from our more ancient breth­ advisable; the conscious mind can so easily upset their delicate
, reno In this matter we should be ourselves originators. It must equilibrium.
be remembered that with the increasing knowledge which is such Careful study of the books already written upon the Tree of Life
a feature of our present times, there are so many new avenues of will enable the student to use the Tree in its different colour-scales,
thought which were closed to our predecessors, and from those new and for this reason we will not here give detailed instructions.
If we indicate the principles. then the practical use of them can
• Of course, the Egregore of the Tree is also built in realms far above the
illII! I!! Astral Light, but the same law holds good. The higher realms we may be essayed by the student. and it is far better that he should be
term the "Divine Astral." allowed to make his own approach. even though it may be faulty
38 39

11 11\
11 ; 1

TUB TRBE OF LIFB

THE MAGICIAN: HIS TRAINING AND WORK

in its initial stages, than simply follow blindly the instructions of Since the appeal of any system of suggestion is to the subcon­
another. At least, so we think. scious. it is evident that a system which uses the archaic symbols
When using the glyph of the Tree of Life, whether for meditation will be far better able to affect the subconscious levels. since it
or for magical purposes, it is important to remember that the sym­ speaks in their language. than any arbitrary conscious. symbol­
bols must be used systematically, in accordance with their functional system could do.
relationship, for this relationship is the very essence of the Tree, as We come now to a very important point. When we study the
we have already pointed out. The Tree is a diagram of relationships . various forms of musical instrument, (apart from percussion in­
It is also advisable to work with the opposites, i.e, meditation or struments) we find there is a clear division into two classes. In the
magical operation using the Sphere of Mars" should be followed one. which includes the piano. the organ and the various wood-wind
instruments. the notes are already made for the musician. He de­
by one using the symbolism of Jupiter.t In this way a balanced
developement is assured, and we are told that "Equilibrium is the presses the keys of the organ. or the stops of the wood-wind. and
basis of the Great Work." the corresponding musical notes are sounded. In the second class.
which is composed of the stringed instruments, the musician makes
This is particularly important when we attempt to use the Tree his own notes by his fingering, i.e. he shortens or lengthens the
for such things as psychic diagnosis. Dream interpretation by the effective vibratory length of the string. thus causing it to emit the
use of the Tree is a most promising line of work, since the forces chosen notes when put into vibration by the bow or plectrum.
portrayed by the symbolism of the Sephiroth are to be found in the When working with the Tree in practical magic. we are in the
microcosm of the soul of man as well as in the macrocosm of the position of the musician of the second class. we first learn how to
outer universe. As the Life-force descends into manifestation in the produce the right psychic "notes" as required. This is done by using
personality it may be deflected or thwarted at any level, and the the symbols of the Tree as objects in our meditation. Unless we
type of symbolism shown in the prevailing dreams of the patient have done this properly, our magic will usually be ineffective.
will show which Sephirothic level is at fault. So, in our meditation we take the various symbols of the Tree.
When considering this matter of the colour-scales, it must be and consider them in their two aspects, for all these symbols have
realised that the colours are not purely arbitrary but are based upon two sides to their nature. There is the "form" side, i.e. the actual
a real relationship between them and the forces they represent. This pictorial symbol itself, and there is also the "force" side. which is
relationship may be based upon a common identity, or may be one the energy of which the symbol is an expression. This energy exists
which has been given by the meditations of generations of students, under its appropriate aspect on all levels of the soul and the uni­
and which, thereby. is built into the Egregore of the Tree. The same verse, but on the plane of the Astral Light it is manifest as emotional
is true of all the symbols used on the Tree. They have this two-fold energy.
nature. In building up our symbol-system in meditation we have to
The student will have perceived that the Tree of Life is a stupen­ learn to link, deliberately and consciously, a symbol with its appro­
dous memnonic system; a system which makes useof the natural priate force, and to become so expert at it that the mere fact of the
modes of action of the conscious. subconscious and superconscious symbol arising in consciousness brings with it a surge of emotional
levels of the soul. He may. therefore, ask why could we not make energy of the type associated with that symbol on the Tree. Equally,
up a Tree of our own and use it for auto-suggestive purposes? Why we must be able, by opening ourselves to a certain aspect of
bother with the symbolism of the past? It is, of course, quite pos­ emotional energy to perceive inwardly with the "minds eye," the
sible as we have already said, to make such an up-to-date Tree, but symbol which represents that energy.
as we already possess, in our deep Unconscious, all the archaic In this technical meditation work, the linking-up of the astral
symbols of the racial past, we may as well use them in our conscious energies with their corresponding forms is best done by building a
work, thus linking our conscious and subconscious mental levels. "phantasy scene" based upon the emotional significance of the
symbol. The more clearly the phantasy is built, the more closely
• The Sephirah Geburah. do you come into contact with the energy concerned. This is one
t The Sephirah Gedulah.
40 41
I

'I
THE TREE OP LIPE
THE MAOICIAN: HIS TRAININO AND WORK

aspect of th~ ,,:ork· The compl~mentary aspect is developed by with the corresponding forces through the conscious manipulation
consciously linking the symbol WIth the energy by meditating upon , •. of the symbols concerned.
the emotional charge behind it. and then allowing various emotional .; It will be seen. then. that steady and prolonged meditation on
states to develop within our minds. visualising the appropriate :')dte Tree is necessary if any practical use is to be made of it. It may
symbol-forms at the same time. After steady practice on this. there '8lso be pointed out that since all the manifold objects of physical
will come a time when the mere thought of the emotion will throw , life can be placed on their appropriate level on the Tree. that the
up into the waking consciousness the symbol-form concerned. ,\' 'relationships existing between the various Sephirothic groupings
When this has been attained. we have begun to work with the .(, Will gradually build up an innate philosophic system within the
alphabet of a new language. and we learn to put together the various ; ,"Dlind of the magician.
energised symbols in such a way as to build up what might be des- This process is assisted by the use of what are known as "seed-
cribed as the language of the Mysteries. When these images and .. meditations." In using these seed-meditations. the particular
their corresponding forces have been so linked. we may use them "itatement is meditated upon. and then passed down into the Un-
in two ways. In the receptive mode. if we have leamt the psycho- conscious. It disappears. but at a later date it reappears quite sud-
logical "trick" of allowing the images to rise. which we discussed denlY in consciousness together with a host of associated ideas. plus
earlier on. we may use these linked symbols to indicate to our • realisation of its true meaning which would never have been
waking consciousness the fluctuating pressures and tides of the ,obtained by mere conscious meditation upon it. All the symbols on
emotional self. and since this emotional side of our nature is con- the Tree. and more particularly the curious and cryptic "Yetzirasic
tinually being affected by the forces and intelligences of the Astral texts" which are attributed to each Path. can be used in seed-
Light, our symbols as they rise on the mental screen will be a trans- IDeditations in this way.
lation into physical terms of the awareness on its own plane. of
the astral body. In other words. we have a controlled and disciplined
psychism. Such a system of psychic perception has the great advan-
tage of being capable of check. since the sudden emergence of sym-
bols of another type will show that the vision is mixed. With prac-
tise. this type of psychic perception becomes very accurate indeed.
and merges into a form of direct perception of the astral levels
without symbols.
This form of psychic training is one of great value and has the ","
advantage of being entirely under the control of the waking self.
It is important to make this clear. In the Qabalistic systems of
psychic training. the various "planes" or vibration-levels are kept
isolated from one another. To use the expression coined by Sweden-
borg. they are "discrete and not continuous." This means that the
Qabalistically-trained psychic does not suffer from any sudden
eruption of astral vision into his daily waking life. Only when he
deliberately wills it are the veils between the physical and the inner
levels removed.
On the objective side. the discipline of the "linking-meditation"
allows the magician to construct his astral temple and charge it
• The Spiritual Exercises of Ignatius Loyola. who was the founder of the
Jesuit Society. are a good example of what is wanted, though they are
purely Christian-and Roman Christian at that.
42 43
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 Chapter IV

PRELIMINARY NOTES

..'" . IN this section of the book, it is intended that the student should
. be given some idea of the training which he must undergo if he
Would be a practical magician. It will be seen as the instruction
"~':' "Uafolds, that it is no light task; indeed to attain the higher stages
M; of magical power demands an application, an intensity of effort.
.... iDd a perseverance greater than those required for any other pursuit
In
life. For indeed this is a Magnum Opus, a Great Work, nothing
c1Jc in fact than the disintegration and reintegration of the student's
own personality.
Since our personality has been built up in this earthly life by
general appreciation of the principles of pleasure and pain, it
1. \ Will be seen that it presents a rather untidy appearance. Our house
~. of life has been built of material selected haphazardly from the
~j workshop of the Architect, and because we ourselves did the select­
, f big. we tend to overrate the results of our selection . The student
bas to gain the power to rid his personality of those things which
are not true to plan, and to substitute those which are. This calls
.r., for what has been termed "The first virtue of the Path": Discrimi­
:., .DIltion. It is evident, of course, that he needs guidance in the early
atages, in order to develop this quality of Discrimination, and the
best guidance, apart from personal supervision by his teacher, is to
iead and meditate upon some one of the many manuals of mystical
devotion and thought. Some such are Spiritual Exercises, God Call­
Ing, The Practise of the Presence of God, Interior Castles, Christ in
70u, Light on the Path, The Voice of the Silence, The Ascent of
Mount Carmel, the Gospel of St. John, The Cloud of Unknowing,
A Serious Call, and many more.
; .: . The reading of these books and meditation thereon will serve
'11,1 1
to "key" the student to a certain level of spiritual thought, and he
.:, .wi11 find that they will give him a touchstone which will help him
to see those things in himself which are out of place in the true plan
Of his personality, and also see with what other materials he may
.: correctly replace them.
In attempting such alterations to the personality the student
II must remember that it is necessary to proceed with caution. It may
. be that some particular thing in the personality is a keystone which
',:' IUpports the weight of much of the personal self. To attempt to re­
II move this before the correct substitute has been lifted into position
'I I

I 47

!I"
 THE MAGICIAN: HIS TRAINING AND WOR~ PRELIMINARY NOTES

is to risk the ruin of one's house of life. As we have expressed it ..~:. aunosphere cannot be given in a book. but the book may help the
in the motto on the title page of this book. "Through Wisdom is apprentice to train himself to the point where such a personal link
an house builded; and by Understanding it is established." with one of the Craftsmen of the Spirit becomes possible. Then. by
"Wisdom" and "Understanding" are two of the three topmost an eternal law. when the apprentice is ready. the Teacher appears.
Sephiroth of the Qabalistic Tree of Life. But long before this. he will have met that Teacher through the
Let us for a moment consider what happens when we do certain personalities who have successively guided him along the path. for
things. We are moved to action by two types of stimuli. The first whenever he is ready for the next stage of his training. the necessary
is the stimulus we gain from our own self-initiated will and desire. teacher for that stage comes to him. If this was more fully under­
We desire certain things to happen. and we determine that they stood. there would be less "self-bamboozlement" amongst occult
shall happen . The sequence is desire-will-act. working from students. less seeking after "masters" and "initiates." The true
within. masters and initiates exist. but they do not advertise.
The second type of stimulus comes from persons or conditions Finally the apprentice must remember that in the end. there is
outside ourselves. The sequence here is stimulus-thought-feeling
only one master for him. the indwelling '~Being of Light." whose
-and resultant action. This sequence we may term reaction. persona or mask he is.

Reaction may be voluntary or involuntary. Usually it is involun­ That Higher Self. itself a facet of the Eternal. one with all other
tary. and our house of life is enriched(?) by a stone selected for us facets. is the ultimate court of appeal. the True Master. and indeed
by someone or something not ourselves. In the unregenerate man. the True Magician.
such instinctive reaction is the usual order of things. and by a wise
use of this. it is possible to lead the average man into all kinds of
queer paths . It will be evident that the more passionate and in­
voluntary the reaction may be. the easier it becomes to guide the
person concerned into good or evil ways. The classic instance of
the Irishman who got all his pigs to market in record time by pull­
ing them in the opposite direction is a very good illustrat ion of this
tendency of the human mind. and the tendency is used by the
occult student in his training. When we come to the building of
the Magical Personality it will be seen how this is effected. but it
is necessary to mention it here. In some Eastern systems of train­
ing. great stress is laid upon Ekagrata or one-pointedness of mind.
and the Yoga Aphorisms of Patanjali describe Yoga as the
conscious modification of the thinking principle. The student must
learn how to inhibit the irrational reaction which his personal self
offers to stimuli from other people or other events. and be himself
the conscious originator and modifier of whatever changes of con­
sciousness he decides to bring about. So we have come to the defi­
nition of magic given in the writer's first book- "Magic is the art of
'1 11':1' effecting changes in consciousness at will."
Now we come to a point where the best and most detailed in­
"II' structions lapse. There is a peculiar and personal interaction between
the personalities of the magician and his apprentice. and it is in the
1 atmosphere of that interaction that the best work can be done. This
'11 1 • Magic: Its Ritual. Power and Purpose (Aquarian Press).

48 49

 -- THE ASTRAL LIGHT

Chapter V On the physical plane we are accustomed to its type of matter
manifesting mainly under the form-aspect. It is stable and fixed;
THE ASTRAL LIGHT in fact it is difficult to make it obey any force brought to bear upon
it.
HE next phase of existence beyond this physical world is usually
, T known to the Spiritualists as "The Spirit World." The Theoso­
Once moulded into a form, it persists in that form (we are now
referring to what we term "solid" matter). Thus, when we wish to
,'\ phists term it "The Astral Plane" and the Hindus speak of it as build a house or make a dress, we have laboriously to piece together
Kamaloka. We are using the old name current in the Western our material, we have to have our material made, and we have to
Schools, "The Astral Light," and we do this for a very definite employ tools of all kinds to shape and build our house or make our
reason. dress. This is because that type of matter which we term "physical"
" Both the Spiritualistic and Theosophical names give the idea manifests mainly under the "form" aspect. There are certain forms
of a "place." and this is somewhat misleading. Although, to a cer­ of dense matter which are also manifest to some extent under the
tain extent it is correct to speak or the next phase of existence as a force aspect. Such are radio-active elements of which radium is
place, yet this obscures its most salient point. The more important the chief. But even here, though the radio-active elements emit
aspect of this Astral Light is its aspect as a state of consciousness. force and themselves change in the process, such change is towards
By using the term Astral Light, we avoid the rigid limitation of more stable and inert types of matter-the form aspect becoming
the idea of "place." more powerful than the force aspect.
The name "a stral" comes from the Latin, relating to the stars. But the substance of the astral levels manitests chiefly under
This name was used by the old occultists and it aptly describes the the force aspect of its nature. and for this reason, the "accidents"
substance of the higher astral levels. There is another interesting or appearances of the astral are quite different from those of our
point here. The old Anglo-Saxon word steran, which is based on physical level. Since astral substance thus manifests, it does not
the same root as the word "astral," means "to steer," and is itself take any form naturally. It may be pictured as an interpenetrating
the root of our present-day word. So the astral is the steering or atmosphere of "energy-substance" reflecting like a mirror the
directing level, and this is very true. forms impressed upon it either from the spiritual realms above it,
We have referred to the "substance" of the astral levels; what or from the etheric and physical realms below it.
is really meant by that term? Is the matter of the astral light real? Thus we have a natural point of division in the Astral Light,
Yes, but its reality is of another order. It is taught that there are and these two divisions are known as the "Higher Astral" and the
two aspects to everything; that ' which a thing really is, and that "Lower Astral."
which it appears to be. Since the appearances or "accidents," as We have, therefore, two distinct types of "appearances," the
'-­
they are termed, are the manifestations of the realities, they have one which is the natural expression of the astral substance and the
a reality of their own, but this "reality" is a dependent and not a other which is the expression of the consciousnesses of all living
primary one. beings, including those who are the true natives and fauna of the
Now each level of existence has its own type of "substance," Astral Light. and those who are sojourning there either temporarily
and each grade of substance has its own appearance or "accident." or semi-permanently, but whose origin and true home is elsewhere.
We distinguish here between the basic reality of the particular level, It may be said, "But surely the descriptions given through
and the appearances it presents to the consciousnesses of those
'" dwelling on it. But there is another definite division which affects
psychics portray a very material and definite state." This is true,
but always these appearances are the "creations of the created";
us more directly. Every level of substance manifests under the dual they are formed by the power of thought by the dwellers in the
aspects of Force and Form. In the great glyph of the Tree of Life, Astral Light. There are, it must be remembered. many kinds of
these two aspects are symbolised as the Right and Left-Hand Pillars, dwellers in the Astral Light.
and in the Masonic Order, as the Pillars of King Solomon's Temple. Here we must digress slightly, and consider the "body" or
Jachin and Boaz, "vehicle" which is our natural expression in the Astral Light.
so Sl

-' ('
 THE MAGICIAN: HIS TRAINING AND WORk
THE ASTRAL LIGHT
Ordinarily. we express ourselves through both thought and emotion.
even though their relative proportions may vary according to the the earth plane by the hosts of their subordinate servants. give to
particular circumstances and temperament of our personality. all the phenomena of earthly beauty that atmosphere of ecstatic
So this persona or "mask" is built up by us. through thought awe which affects all who are in tune with it.
and emotion. According to our level of thought and emotion will So in these higher realms these thoughts of the Shining Ones
be the particular grade of astral and mental substance which we are are nearer to their source in the Infinite. and hence evoke in the
building into it But only a small part of our habitual thinking is minds of the dwellers there. the same ecstasy but in far greater
really conscious and deliberate. All our lives we are building up degree. and this is reflected in their minds by the corresponding
subconscious thought-habits. and these are always affecting our earth-images. and so the indescribable thought-forms of the Shining
conscious thinking. even as they are always building into our astro­ Ones are given "a local habitation and a name"; are imaged and
mental bodies types of astral substance which are in tune with the seen under the forms of earth. Not yet is the soul ready or capable
general sum of our subconscious activity. It will be seen that attend­ of seeing these things in the terms of their own nature-for we must
ance at Church on Sunday is very definitely off-set by our daily walk before we can run.
thought activity during the rest of the week. for this daily thought It will be seen that we are not dealing only with the thoughts
is always working towards the establishment of subconscious of discarnate man when we are dealing with the Astral Light. We
thought-habits. So the type of astral body we possess is determined are also concerned with the thoughts and feelings of man in the
by the majority vote of our subconscious complexes. When we ter­ physical body as well as with those of the Lords of Light and the
minate our incarnation on the earth. and the "silver cord" is Shining Ones.
loosened. then we pass into the astral realms which correspond. The great formative and creative forces of the Universe pour
in their grade of astral matter. with the matter which during our down through the Astral Light towards their materialisation in
life-days we have built into the Ruach or astro-mental body. dense physical matter. and it is in the Lower Astral that these
Thus. as the Scriptures say. "Every man goeth to his own place." divine forces are most powerful.
Moreover. because of the law of sympathetic vibration. we find our­ These forces, too. are working through our subconsciousness.
selves ill the company of those who also have built into their astral and therefore those instincts and passions which we are inclined
bodies similar grades of astral matter. to regard as low and earthly are in reality divine; it is only when
If. then. our habitual thoughts and emotions have been mainly they are out of balance that they become evil. The emotions and
on the level of the good. the beautiful and the true. then we find passions should be so governed by the Self that they may be used
ourselves in most congenial company and our thoughts. working in temperately in the service of the God within. This attitude of the
their habitual subconscious fashion. form the plastic astral sub­ magician is poles asunder from that which would regard the divine­
stance around us into the forms which. to our earth-developed ly working instincts as evil. and to be trodden underfoot
minds represent such goodness. beauty and truth. So we find our­ They provide the basic elemental force which can be directed
selves in a place of hills and mountains. of trees and rivers. a land into the true channels of creation. not only on physical. but on
of natural beauty-the "Summerland" of the early Spiritualists. It spiritual levels also.
may be thought that even the grouped minds of many people think­ Now the "creations of the created." the great thought systems
ing along such lines could not produce such stupendous appear­ of the minds of men incarnate and discarnate are the "appearances"
ances. The human mind is capable of much greater feats than at of the Astral Light. But in itself the basic Astral Ether is far differ­
present appear possible to it, but we are not dealing with human ent It is not a realm of forms. except as these forms are built up
minds alone. We have said that the Upper Astral reflects the mental out of its substance. and beyond and through the phantasmagoria
and spiritual realms beyond. where dwell those great Intelligences of the Astral Light, the great tides of force in the Astral Ether ebb
who have gained that relative perfection which is the goal of the and flow.
earthly pilgrimage. In that realm dwell also the Shining Ones of The ever-fluctuating billows and currents of the Astral Light
another order of being. whose thoughts. materialised down here on engender. by sympathetic induction. definite states of mind and
emotion in all who dwell in the sphere of Earth. These induced
52
53
 THE MAGICIAN : HIS TRAINING AND WORK: THE ASTRAL LIGHT

emotions and thoughts are again imaged in the rolling tides of the and make potent those images, bringing them a stage nearer their
Light, and reinforce those images and currents which brought them materialisation in the physical world.
into being. So action and reaction are set up and intensify their So the Astral Light, in and through which the magician works,
rhythmic swing, until finally the accumulated and intensified power must be thought of as an interpenetrating atmosphere of pure
is discharged and materialised in earth conditions. From the lower energy-substance, fluidic and plastic, reflecting like a mirror the
realms of the Astral Light proceed those moral and psychic epi­ forms impressed upon it either from mental and spiritual realms
demics which astonish the world, and from its higher realms come above it, or from the physical realms below it.
those spiritual impulses which make for the regeneration of the Such is the Astral Light, and in this Light exist forces and
race. powers which may lift us to the eternal stars, or drag us down to
For the Astral Light is dual. Like a glittering fiery serpent the abysmal slime.
lower levels of the Light wind their evil coils around the earth;
they inspire earth's wickedness, they contaminate its inhabitants,
and gain in a vicious circle by the perverted power and energy which
is poured out in response to their stimulus.
This is the terrestial dragon, "earthly, sensual and devilish,"
and within its realms are to be found the darkest abortions of the
human and animal-human mind. Here are the matrices of evolu­
tionary time, here are the discarded moulds of early days, the "dog­
faced demons of the Pit."
Here, too, acting as channels for the influences of the Lords of
Unbalanced Force, are the astral simulacra-ideas of the "gods" of
death and destruction, of lust and wanton evil; the tribal gods and
fetishes of primitive tribes; and here also are the powers of darkness
in whose image ignorant man has made his gods.
So the human race peoples its "current in space," and its
thoughts and emotions, coalescing with the semi-intelligent forces
of the lower astral, assume a semi-independent life of their own.
But there is also a Celestial Dragon, the Upper Astral, whose
glittering radiance encircles the earth. From her flow harmony,
peace, happiness; although far below the Supreme Nature, yet of
her also it may be said that "her ways are ways of pleasantness
and all her paths are peace."
Within her realm are to be found the heroic images of the past
Here are those mighty ones of past epochs, their traditional forms
still imprinted in the Astral Light, and to this region there ascend
all images of the good, the beautiful and the true.
But forms as forms , are not native to the Astral Light. Just as
in our minds the latent memories persist as "tendencies," not definite
images, but may gather around them and build up appropriate
images, so in the Astral Light the forms perceived therein are due
to the image-building power of the mind.
But if the mind provides the images, the astral energies vivify
.,,:-.
54 S5
 THE INVISIBLE BODY

Chapter VI which all else must be judged, and it is therefore a cardinal-indeed

the primary-principle of the Magical Art. For a fuller considera­
THE INVISIBLE BODY tion of the monistic philosophy, the reader is referred to the works
on the subject listed in the bibliography at the end of this book.
Though this is the cardinal principle of magic. there is another
W heHENis very
the average person begins to take an interest in magic,
often discouraged by what he feels to be the com­ which is a very close second. This is the "Hermetic axiom," said
plexity of the magical systems. But this is simply because he is to have been engraved on the famous Emerald Tablet of Hermes:
without any guiding principles which, like Ariadne 's thread would "As above, so below." We must, however. be careful not to reverse
lead him through the maze. When, however. these principles have it when we consider its applications, since we "below" can have
been understood. then the whole magical complex becomes relative­ but an imperfect comprehension of the nature of anything. and
ly simple. It is an essential law of the true magical tradition, that therefore our mental concepts will of necessity fall far short of the
the neophyte should start with the study of certain definite laws and reality.
principles which underlie the whole subject. When these have been But "above" is the Reality, of which " below" is an expression.
mastered. the various details of magic fall into place. and the whole a true expression and correspondence under its own mode. but not
magical system can be viewed as a unity. For behind all the various the Reality in itself.
systems there is one philosophical thought-form, based upon that Although the "below" is necessarily imperfect, nevertheless it
particular philosophy known as Monism. Briefly. this philosophy is one aspect of the Whole, of the "above." and therefore any action
teaches that all things. manifest or hidden. are "parts of one stupen­ in the phenomenal worlds (whether those worlds are physical or
dous Whole." and that there can be nothing which is outside that superphysical) which is a true "correspondence" with some aspect
Whole. "By Him (the Logos) were all things made; yea all things of the "above," will tend to link up the levels of consciousness.
both in heaven and earth; with Him as the indwelling Life do all and "draw through" the Cosmic Energy. or Grace of God. It is
things exist. and in Him as the transcendent Glory do all things stated in the Qabalah that the physical plane, Malkuth on the Tree
live and move and have their being."· of Life, causes an influence to descend from K ether, the highest
We do not propose here to discuss the thorny problem of the Sephirah on the Tree.
existence of evil. etc., except in so far as it directly affects our sub­ In a magical rite, therefore, apart from the psychological effects
ject. In any case, it is the faith of the magician that our three­ it may produce subjectively within the mind of the magician. there
dimensional brain-consciousness is unable at the present time to is a "drawing through" of power. and this power may be used in
apprehend the realities behind the .veil of appearances. That form many ways.
of mystical consciousness which develops from the magical work Now. the closer the "correspondence" between any magical act
gives an illumination which enables the personal consciousness to and the realities "above," the more effective such an act will be.
rise above the "pairs of opposites," and to see the cosmic scheme and for this reason, it is very necessary for the magical student so
from another point of view. At first this higher perception will only to construct his magical ritual , that it may effectively draw through
show itself in very brief flashes. but as the magical training proceeds, the maximum amount of power he is able to handle without risk.
these flashes (if illumination increase in duration. until finally, it This must be emphasised. It is no part of the magical work to take
is possible for the trained magician to live entirely on the higher unnecessary risks. either alone or in company.
ranges of his spiritual nature. Since, however. the brain-conscious­ The next principle with which we must deal is that of the
ness is under a heavy strain when this higher perception is active, Egregore, or group-consciousness. When two or three or many
we find that all the great occultists recommend a rhythmic people gather together in one place to perform certain actions. to
"approach-and-withdrawal" in order to check spiritual "lopsided­ think along certain lines. and to experience emotional influences.
ness" or "out-of-balance." there is built up. in connection with that group. what may be termed
This concept of the unity of all life is a background against a composite group-consciousness. wherein the-emotional and mental
• Part of the Eucharistic Liturgy of the Liberal Catholic Church. forces of all the members of the group are temporarily united in
,6 57

,"
, .
 THE MAOICIAN: HIS TRAININO AND WORIt THB INVISIBLB BODY

what is known in occultism as a group-thought-form, or "artificial great archaic rituals are used, the growth has been in progress for
ilill elemental." This group consciousness seems to have a much greater many, many centuries, in some cases for many thousands of years,
power than the simple sum of the objective minds in the group and much has been built into them which is not in true correspon­
would suggest. This is because, not only is it a group-thought form dence with the overshadowing impulse. At the same time it must
built up by the conscious minds of those concerned; it is also formed be remembered that where such a psychic attribution is made over
through a linking-up between what we may call the "free-floating" many years, it has become a true channel for the energy of the
parts of the subconscious minds of all who help to build it up. Egregore, though a secondary one. An instance is the attribution
Since those subconscious minds reach back on the one hand into of the lily to the Virgin Mary. This is a secondary attribution,
the Collective Unconscious and on the other reach upwards into whereas Her blue robe is a primary one, linking up in the Christian
the realms of the superconscious, the group-thought-form is psychi­ Egregore with primordial cosmic Archetypal images. In the
cally linked with, or contacted on to, many aspects of thought and Christian religion, the Church is regarded as the "mystical Body"
many forms of psychic-mental energy. Thus it is greater than any of Christ, and it must be remembered that the Church, according
sum of its parts.
to its own authorities, includes the Church Militant here on earth,
When the group ceases to meet, this artificial elemental tends the Church Expectant in the After Life, and the Church Triumphant
to become passive and quiescent, but when once more a group is in the Heavenly Places. Also it extends through all time, since as
founded, whether it be the original group or not, then the over­
St. Augustine puts it, "That which is now called Christianity has
shadowing group-thought-form makes contact with it, and works
never at any time since the creation of the world ceased to exist.
through its members. Now, the use of any form of ritual and
ceremonial tends to make a stereotyped form, which will, if the same Only now has it been called Christianity." In its deepest aspects,
ritual and ceremonial be used, as was used by its founders, manifest this Mystical Body subsists in the timelessness of Eternity, and for
itself in the same way. Where such ritual and ceremonial work has this reason some of its teachers declare that its central ceremonial
been carried out for many years, or even centuries, the resultant arti­ brings its members into a timeless contact and experience of that
ficial elemental is built up into a very powerful centre of conscious­ Mystery which was expressed in earthly time and space through
ness, and one which has had built into it the powers, faculties and the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ
ideals of all those who through the years have used those forms of We may thus define the Egregore. It is the resultant, in the Inner
words.and actions. Not only those in the body, but the group work­ Worlds, of the united concepts, emotions, and symbolic words and
ing behind the Egregore on the Inner Planes, will also contribute to actions of the followers of the particular cult or faith, throughout
the building up of the form; for, as the Yetziratic text has informed the whole of its history. Just as we have an Egregore for every
us, Malkuth causes an influence to flow from the Prince of Counten­ religious faith, so have we a Magical Egregore for what we may
ances which is in Kether. In other words, we form a group on the term the Planetary Tradition of the Earth. But within this all­
physical plane, and simultaneously we draw into union with our­ embracing group-thought-form (which, it must be remembered,
selves a similar group on the Inner Planes. Upon each level of the exists as a living entity on the Inner Planes) there are differentia­
Inner Planes is a similar group built, until we come to the realms tions. The first differentiation is into two main traditions, the
where the primal impulses which first began the work of creation Eastern and the Western. Though basically at one, the methods of
are still to be found, vibrating their notes, which are the realities these two traditions are adapted to the conditions of the races of
behind all phenomenal appearances on all the planes of life. the East and West respectively. On philosophic levels, and in their
. Now, according to the type of group will be the impulse under higher degrees, the two traditions unite to form the Planetary
which it works," this is that upon which the group-thought-form is Tradition, but in their lower aspects, and in their methods of train­
built, and by which it is maintained. Now, upon this primary struc­ ing, there is considerable divergence.
ture there have been formed what correspond to the flesh and blood There is no reason why the Western magician should not study
of the body, and this "body" is a thing of slow growth. When the the philosophy and principles evolved by his Eastern ' brother, but
• Such impulses are personified in the "Lords of the Rays" Archanaels. etc. when it comes to the practical work, there is danger in what may
58 S9
 THE MAGICIAN: HIS TIlAINING AND WOllE:
Chapter VII
be called "magical mis-mating." All magical work should be done
within the Egregore of the appropriate tradition. VISUALISATION AND AUDITION
Although we have stated that the relevant tradition should be
followed. this does not mean that we must only use such traditional FOR successful magical work it is absolutely essential that the
forms as have been handed down to us. Some such traditional forms operator should be able to build up mental images. since. as
have of late years been given out publicly. but a careful examina­ we have seen. the forces of the Astral Light are directed and con­
tion will show that quite a lot of the detailed work is. in point of trolled by such mental images. It is therefore evident that the would­
fact. unnecessary. Here again. we see that secondary attributions be magician must gain proficiency in this image-building if he is
have often been mistaken for primary ones. However. since they to do any effective work.
have been so used. they will work in the right hands; but we may. There are several points to be remembered when one is begin­
if we will. construct our home-made rituals. basing them upon the ning to train the mind along these lines. One. and most probably
primary principles. and by them we may succeed when the initiate the most important of them all. is that the mind strongly opposes
of a genuine magical school. though using the traditional ritual and any attempt to train it. and will resort to the strangest of tricks in
ceremonial. may fail ignominiously through his lack of realisation order to prevent its owner in any way attempting to do so. These
of the principles involved. psychological tricks vary from a simple forgetting to do the exercise
If our home-made ritual is built up on the lines of the true to a very definite feeling of headache. palpitation and general
principles of the Egregore of our tradition. then by a process of in­ malaise. The mind judges. and usually quite correctly. that any
duction we may draw power from that tradition. and become linked adverse physical symptons will alarm us and so tend to make us
with it. Now behind every magical school. behind the Eastern and drop our training. The reason for this trait of the mind is simply
Western Traditions. and again behind the Planetary Tradition. there that the mind is a creature of habit. and once certain patterns have
are people. men and women of all grades of development. and these been established within it. it tends to work exclusively along those
people. who are the Stewards or Guardians of their respective lines. Any new suggestions which tend to break up the existing state
Mysteries. are only too glad to work with and through any of things arouse strong subconscious opposition. But if the effort is
earnest student who is working along their line. It therefore happens persevered in. there comes a time when the new pattern is accepted
that an individual group of magical workers is drawn into psychic and henceforth it will be as difficult for the person concerned to
and spiritual contact with the Guardians of the Mysteries. From revert to the earlier pattern. as it was for him to adopt the later
thenceforward it becomes a centre through which they may work. one.
Such a great privilege brings with it increasing responsibilities. How. then. may we best go to work in this training? Modern
but also increased opportunity for work in the service of the Elder psychologists tell us that it is impossible to stop the flow of the
Brothers of humanity. conscious mental images in the waking consciousness. and still
Each country has its own group of "Watchers" and the normal remain awake and conscious. But the Yogis say it is possible to be
magical evolution of any member of that country is within the fully awake and at the same time to keep the mind perfectly blank.
sphere of that group. But to every man his own master. Some there This for them is a matter of personal experience. In practice one
are. who are Easterns in Western bodies. of whom the late Annie finds it is possible to keep the mind clear of images. yet alert and
Besant was one. but they are the exception rather than the rule. ready to act. But in order to do this. the mind must be trained. and
the statement of the psychologists omits this consideration.
For success in this. as in all magical work. it is essential that
we keep ourselves firmly anchored on the objective levels. and this
is best done by building images which are mental pictures of things
around us. and only when considerable proficiency has been gained
should abstract and purely mental concepts be visualised.
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 THE MAGICIAN: HIS TRAININO AND WORK:
VISUALISATION AND AUDITION
There are two different methods of mental form-building and the man. representing the conscious level of the mind. looks at the
each complements the other. So the path of true wisdom in these woman. perceiving in her. as in a mirror. the angel she perceives
matters lies midway between. Both methods should be carefulIy directly.
and persistently worked with. and it will be found that they both Some modem systems of concentration and visualisation do try
have their justification. so that one is hindered by the absence of to control the subconscious by force. but the results they obtain are
the other.
negligible.
In one case the experimenter trains the mind to construct some Since. however. the subconscious levels are affected by the un­
image. not too simple. and such construction is carefully carried seen psychic and psychological tides of the universe (tides which
out. We may term this method the "Creation of Images." The reason work through the magnetic sphere of the earth) it will be found in
why the image should not be too simple is that the mind requires
practice that there are times when it is far easier to establish the
variety and wilI soon tire of a simple picture. and tend to slip away
from it. necessary contact between the conscious and subconscious levels
In the second case. the mind is held by the will in a quiet and than at others. and every apprentice to the magical art should care­
passive condition. and the images are allowed to rise in conscious­ fully. note these times and draw up a chart of their fluctuations.
ness. This method may be termed the "Evocation of Images." Then by comparing his chart with objective data. he wilI find that
Now the impressions received from the five physical senses pro­ the positions of the planets and the moon seem to be linked with
vide excellent material for the work. and by the very fact that they certain phases of the subconscious life. If this work is done steadily
are derived from the physical plane. they tend to keep "the mind in and conscientiously. the "dry periods," when work with the images
touch with the objective realities of physical life. Although we have appears almost impossible. may be checked. and provided against.
only referred in the title to two of the five. the visual and audible It is foolish to endeavour to swim against the tide (though some­
images. the images from alI the senses must be worked upon. The times this must be done deliberately in order to develop independ­
folIowing exercises along the two lines already indicated will show ence of action). "The wise man rules his stars; the fool obeys them,"
how the training works. and any amount of similar exercises can This is true. but in this. as in alI occult work. discrimination is the
be devised by the experimenter himself. It is well to remember that first virtue. The real virtue is to know when and how to act or
the pictures seen when we are just falling asleep. or when we are .:... refrain from action. but for the beginner it is welI if he observes
just awakening. are both of the "images rising" type known to the set of the tides and works accordingly. At a later date he can
psychologists as the "hypnopompic" and "hypnogogic" images. essay the deeper waters and swim against the tides if needs be.
When the two types of exercise have been practised for a little The regular and conscientious performance of allowing the
time. it will be found that there is a very real difference between images to rise will tend to establish a channel by which many mental
them. conflicts which were hitherto held in the unconscious. may come
The development of the power of visualisation along the lines up into the daylight of the conscious mind. This is alI to the good
of the "image-arising" is greatly facilitated by the exercises here for it enables the self-consciousness to deal with such repressions.
given. but it must be borne in mind that the relationship between " to break them down and to restore the locked-up psychic energy
the conscious and subconscious levels of the mind. when performing which ensouls them. back to the general river of energy. thus in­
these exercises. must be that of the two principals in the Tarot card creasing the available force of the individual.
"the Lovers," i.e. one of happy co-operation; not an attempt to There is in magical work. an operation known as exorcism.
.bully the subconscious into obedience. Whereby "evil" spirits are driven out of the individual or place in­
In this connection the remarks of a writer on Alchemy are fested by them. The Christian Church. in its older branches also
worth remembering. He says.· and he is speaking of one aspect of practises such exorcism. as also do many spiritualists. But whether
the subconscious. "She yields to nothing but love." In the Tarot it be the magician or priest or leader of a spiritualist "rescue circle,"
card above mentioned the woman looks to the angel above. whilst one thing must be done if the exorcism is to be effective: the spirit
• Coelum Terrae. by Thomas Vaughan (pub . 1650). to be exorcised must first be brought into material conditions as
62 63
 VISUALISATION AND AUDITION
THE MAOICIAN : HIS TllAININO AND WOllK:
very simple one. being "Kim 's game" as recorded in the book Kim.
fully as possible. It is not possible to exorcise a spirit who isn't by Rudyard Kipling. A number of articles are placed on a tray
there I So evocation must always precede exorcism. and covered by a cloth. Then the cloth is removed and the experi­
Now the practice of allowing the images to rise does mean that menter looks at the assorted objects for one minute. Then the tray
the repressed complexes. which are semi-independent mental is again covered. and the student writes down the description of as
groups. and may therefore be legitimately personified as "spirits." many of the articles as he can remember, and their position on the
are evoked and begin to rise. and at first it seems likely that the tray. This sounds so very simple. but in actual practice it is much
waking consciousness may be drowned in the rising sub-conscious
sea. At a later date such a submergence. but a willed submergence. more difficult than it appears.
This exercise very often reveals to the student some of the weak
of the "flyer." i.e. the waking consciousness. in the "sea" or sub­
spots in his mental functioning. For instance. if he finds that certain
consciousness. must be attempted, but at the commencement of the
1IIIIIIIIi exercise this must not be done as it usually leads to a form of trance articles are almost invariably forgotten when used in this exercise.
~I I i" which is not in itself productive of anything worth while. he may be fairly certain that this is due to some psychological
,I
Notes should be kept of the complexes which arise during the happening in his mind. and is not simply chance.
period when we are doing these exercises. and it must be remem­ By using the object thus indicated as the starting point of a
bered that as the psychic energy which was locked up in those meditation. he may be able to draw up from the depths of the sub­
complexes is released. there will be some pretty violent emotional consciousness the particular thought-complex which is causing the
fluctuations taking place in consciousness. This phase. which is a trouble. When the repressed emotion locked up in this complex
definite stage on the "path of self-knowledge." must always be ex­ has been discharged. it will be found that the object connected there­
pected and arrangements made to deal with it. It is the period when with has ceased to be in any way different from the other articles
the "dross and scum" mentioned by the alchemists begins to rise to used in the exercise.
the surface. When comparative efficiency has been reached with this exercise.
But the apprentice must not think that. once this mental scum the next may be commenced. Actually it may be started at the same
has ceased to rise. the purifying process is completed. There will time. if the apprentice magician has the necessary time to devote to
always be a purging process as the self advances to higher levels, it. Incidentally . these exercises may be attempted at any time which
but the first purging is the most obvious. the later ones are far more is convenient. but if a regular time can be set apart for them. so
subtle. much the better . There is much to be said for using a definite time
Here we come to one of the uses of the method of the "creation for the work. but under the conditions prevailing around the student
of images." If the mind has been trained to build definite images it may well be impossible to do this. This should not be regarded
at will. then it can build up barriers which will prevent the unwanted as a great drawback. but the exercises should be carried out when
intrusion of these uprising thoughts and emotions. and so keep the it is possible to do them. The ingenuity of the apprentice can be
mental field clear for whatever may arise from the depths or descend used to adapt the exercises to his daily work. For instance. a store­
from the heights of consciousness. keeper could make his work one long exercise in ·"Kim's game."
The two methods employ distinct and different mental powers. and as proficiency is gained. he would become a better storekeeper.
In the case of the "evocation of images" the mind is brought into The next exercise is somewhat different. It consists of gaining
a controlled state of passivity and the images arise on the blank the peculiar knack of the re-focussing of perception. a cardinal men­
mental screen. tal power. and is performed thus : -"Transfer the vital effort from
In the "creation of images." such images are deliberately built the optic nerve to the mental perception. or thought-seeing as dis­
up by the conscious mind. In the first case. what is required is a
tinct from the seeing with the eye. Let one form of apprehension
certain psychological knack of controlling the mind. In the second
glide on into the other. Produce the reality of the dream vision by
case. the steady application of the will and the visualising faculty
is needed. positive will in the waking state ... . ".
Let us now consider the first exercise in image-building. It is a • Instructions given in The Golden Dawn, Vol. 4. page 16.
65
64
c
 THE MAOICIAN: HIS TRAININO AND WORK VISUALISATION AND AUDITION

This was the instruction given in The Golden Dawn in connec­ should be observed, and the perception transferred in the usual
~'
tion with what are known as the Tattva visions, but purely as a way to the subjective mental screen. Meanwhile a monochrome
mental exercise it is of the greatest value. Actually it is twofold, surface, such as a white disc on a black surround, or a black disc
for it should also be practised "in reverse," i.e. efforts should be on a white surround, or a crystal or black concave mirror, should
made to transfer a mental picture into apparent objectivity so that have been placed so that the student can use it as a screen upon
it may be seen, apparently, by the physical sense. Actually of course, which to project his mental picture.
it is not seen by the physical eye (except in certain rare cases) but He should now open his eyes sufficiently to see the disc or mirror
it appears to be observed. The vision seen by a clairvoyant seer in (which should be in a dim light) whilst still holding the picture on
a crystal or black mirror is an example of such a "projected" mental the mental screen. Then by a quiet, calm effort of will he should
picture. It is well to remember that this is a willed or voluntary project the picture outwardly onto the screen.
projection. since it is a characteristic of certain forms of psycho­ Again, there is a psychological knack to be gained, but once it
pathology that such projections of mental pictures occur to the is gained, and stabilised by subsequent practise, a very great step
sufferer, but are involuntary. It is well, therefore, if the student forward has been taken. It must again be emphasised that this pro­
always so arranges this particular exercise as to make it an entirely jection should only be done deliberately at the will of the apprentice
voluntary happening. It should never be done except when he wills magician, and any involuntary projections should be sternly resisted.
to do it, and this must never be when he is occupied with the ordi­ When the knack has been gained, it is possible to project such
nary mundane duties. Also, and this too is important, he must care­ a mental image so clearly that it is to all intents and purposes as
. "' :.
fully select the thought picture which he wishes to project, and though one were perceiving it with the physical eyes. .
must not allow (at least for this exercise) any chance mental picture A further stage in this mental projection is one which is not
to be used. often met with outside the occult lodges. It is possible, if the
The present writer has found that one of the best ways of carry­ magician has the materialising type of body, or can employ a
ing out the first part of this exercise is to place the object in a good materialising medium, to cause such mental images to be clothed
light on a monochrome surface, either dark or light, and use a paper with ectoplasmic substance and become visible to the physical
or cardboard tube some eight inches long and two and a half inches senses of all present.
inside diameter, through which to gaze at it, using the left and Another way in which an apparent objectivity can be given to
right eyes alternately. Or the tube may be made rectangular, so that the projected images, is by a process of "telepathic radiation." Here
both eyes may be used at the same time. Then, as the object is the projected image, localised in one point of space, becomes what
being steadily held in the field of vision, the eyes should be slightly the psychic researchers term a "phantasmogenetic centre," and the
thrown out of focus, as we sometimes do when we are "day-dream­ simultaneous telepathic radiation by the magician induces what is
ing," and the visual picture now apparently brought mentally within known as a "collective hallucination" in those around. Again, this
the head. This is a psychological "trick" which is usually only is not usually experienced outside the lodges, except apparently
acquired after a great deal of effort and failure. It is analogous to .aecidentally.
the knack of learning to balance when we first attempt to ride a The technique of this latter method depends upon certain train­
bicycle. Once the knack has been gained, it will be found increas­ , ',
ing which allows the conscious mind to be more closely linked with
ingly easy to bring this visual image into mental apprehension. A :"« its subconscious levels. The magical feat known as the "Operation
further development is to close the eyes-during the first attempts of. Invisibility" is based on this technique, though, in some cases,
.only slightly, then more fully in subsequent ones, until the final something more enters into it, for the ectoplasmic substance can
stage is reached when the student is able to see clearly inside his produce some very unusual effects. The present writer once took
head, as it were, the picture of the object concerned, his eyes being a photo of a high grade occultist. On developing the film, there
closed in the meantime. ~ no trace of the figure of the person concerned, though all the
Once this has been accomplished, and practise has made it fairly chair in which he was sitting at the time showed quite clearly. It
easy, the complementary half should be essayed. The object chosen was just as though a photo had been taken of an empty chair. In
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 THE MAGICIAN: HIS TIIAINING AND WORK VISUALISATION AND AUDITION

the East there is a tradition of such "akashic shields" which can and the projection of the audible images is assisted by using the
produce invisibility. and it may be that further research into the old gipsy trick of "listening to the sea" in the large sea-shells. so
properties of the substance we know of as "ectoplasm" will bring commonly used as ornaments in Victorian times. If we wish to
new facts to light. bearing upon this subject. In the case of the provide a more modem "audible screen" upon which we may pro­
purely mental operation of invisibility. it is to be remembered that ject our audible image. we may use a pair of headphones which
we normally notice those things which either strike us forcibly. or are energised by an electric current so regulated as to give a steady
in which we have some definite interest. or which are sufficiently "note" in the phones. and capable of being so adjusted as to allow
isolated as to attract our attention . But a great deal of what we of varying notes being used. This variation in the audible screen
see is not noticed consciously at all. though. as hypnotic experiments '.,'., is the analogy in sound of the "Flashing Colours" used in the medi­
- I" ~

prove. the memory is retained in the mind and can be brought up ... .....'
tations based on the glyph of the Tree of Life. As with the visual
into consciousness. work. so in the audible; involuntary audible projections must be
If. therefore. the one who wishes to be unnoticed adapts such absolutely left out. If they persist. a visit to a good psychologist
mannerisms. or alters any unusual appearance he may have. it is (preferably one of the School of lung) is indicated. together with
quite possible for him to pass in a crowd without being noticed by an immediate cessation of all magical work. .
us. If. in addition. he has gained the knack of telepathic suggestion. It is no part of the magical training that one shall acquire new
then he affects those around him as the hypnotist affects his en­ powers at the expense of one's sanity. It is for this reason that the
tranced subject, when he tells her that she will be unable to see genuine occult schools and orders insist that any "natural psychic"
another person who is in the room.• who wishes to join them. must close down his faculties until he
The occultist. Dion Fortune. termed this particular occult oper­ has been thoroughly trained along the occult line; and experience
ation "psychological hocus pocus." and so it can be. But just as has proved the necessity for this rule, which is found in both Eastern
"hocus pocus" is the ultra-protestant garbling of the Words of and Western traditions.
Consecration in the Roman Church. "Hoc est Corpus Meum." ... When doing the audible exercises. a very good method is the
so the operation of invisibility is a misuse (as a general rule) of that following, which has been used successfully by the present writer.
r-
mighty power within by means of which the trained magician may It involves co-operation with a sympathetic helper. so under certain
produce changes of consciousness in others. It will be remembered circumstances it may be out of court. but where it can be used it
that we referred to the two types of magician. and here we have is very effective.
them at work. In all magical work these two types will be found. Let the helper. whose voice should be familiar to you. speak
but trouble arises when one school of thought dwells exclusively slowly in his normal voice. taking some piece of poetry or some
upon one or other aspect. However. the physical materialisation general piece of reading. Using the same method as in the visual
of the image is much more uncommon than the collective mental. work. transfer perception to the mental levels. (After a minute. the
but it does take place. helper should stop speaking and remain quiet).
So far we have been dealing with visual form building, but the When the shift of audible perception has become fairly easy.
training of the magician extends to all the senses. The technique the reverse projection should be attempted. the shell or earphones
we have here given for visual work. should be extended to cover brought into use. and the audible images projected until they appear
all the other senses. In practice it will be found that the usual scale .: objective.
_of success in these evokings will be headed by either visual or A further stage. when this proficiency has been attained in some
audible images. followed by taste. smell. and touch. in that order. measure at least, is to "hear imaginatively" someone. whose voice
When training for audible image-making. the use of a gradually is familiar to you. giving a lecture. The lecture must first be formu­
diminishing sound. such as the note of a tuning fork is a great help. lated by you. but at some one point you should cease to formulate
• The story given in St. Luke, Chap. Y, 30, suggests that Jesus made use of and simply "listen" mentally; the subconscious will carry on the
such an operation of invisibility on occasion. lecture. and you will simply listen to it. The final stage of this is
68
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 THE MAGICIAN: HIS TRAINING AND WORK

11'1 when the audible images are projected and you hear the voice appar­ Chapter VIII
III :11111
ently objectively." Again the warning: projection of the audible
images MUST BE VOLUNTAR Y and under the control of the WORDS OF POWER: THE MAGICAL USE OF SOUND

I, ~I I
1
waking self.
.1;
This exercise is invaluable when the student essays the work of
the "Chaldean method," where the Names of Power are "vibrated."
"
MOSTof us have memories of the many stories told us in our
childhood wherein were certain words and phrases which
III: li'l When the mental training has been brought to a fair pitch of pro­ were held to have magical power and significance. The "Open
I ficiency the visual and audible images arising will be capable of Sesame" of Ali Baba's treasure cave, the "Abracadabra" of the
being used for purposes of communication between the conscious magiCian, and many more such magical phrases, all focussed our
and superconscious levels of the student's nature, and will form the attention upon the possibilities latent within certain words and
basis of the voluntary and controlled psychism which is required names. But we were not unique in this. In all ages, and in all parts
for the deeper ranges of the work. of the world, the idea that names and words had magical power
The student from his own ingenium will be able to construct bas been held.
similar exercises for the other three senses. More particularly in the East this subject has been made the
It is important to relax thoroughly before attempting these exer­ object of deep study and research, though our own Western Scrip­
cises, and slow deep breathing should be employed in order to .tures show that the same idea was held by the people from whom
reduce the excessive speed of the mental action. much of our Christian teaching was primarily derived. It was an
If these exercises are carried out methodically until proficiency ancient Mystery teaching that "God spake, and the worlds became:'
is gained, the apprentice magician will be equipped for the next and this idea underlines both the teaching of the Alexandrian Jew,
stage of his training. Philo, and that of the author of the magnificent prologue to the
Gospel of St. John.
In the Old Testament we read of the Creator giving a name
to the first man, and then that first man giving a name to the first
woman. We read also that the animals were brought before Adam
.and by whatsoever name he called them, that was their name. (The
present writer, as a child, regarded this naming feat of Adam as
, something in the nature of a major miracle! To invent names for
all living animals seemed to call forsupernatural imagination.)
Later we read of Abram, whose name was changed to Abraham,
and we learn, too, of the wrestling of Jacob with the Angel at the
ford, "Except thou tell me thy Name, I will not let thee go," and we
are told that because he had so wrestled with the Angel of the
Presence, his name was changed to Israel ("Striver with God").
Later comes the account of the Theophany in the Burning Bush,
when Moses was given the Name of his God. This Name which is
translated in the Authorised Version as I Am That I Am, is, in the
Hebrew, Ehieh Asher Ehieh, which Moffat translates as I Will Be
What I Will Be, and this seems a far better rendering of the Hebrew;
• This gives a clue to the phenomena known to the spiritualists as "direct
I have been told by a Hebrew scholar that it could be even more
voice." The direct voice medium is of the physical or materialising type, truly translated as I Am The Ever-Becoming.
and discarnate entities produce through him the same phenomena as those But the sacred Name par excellence amongst the Hebrews was
produced by the voluntary effort of the magician who has the natural
materialising type of body. the Tetragrammaton, or Four Lettered Name. So sacred was it held
70 71
 THE MAGICIAN: HIS TRAINING AND WORK WORDS OF POWER : THE MAGICAL USE OF SOUND

to be, that a substitute Name, Adonai (My Lord) was used. In accumulated much which has reference to our subject. By the
Christian usage, the Tetragrammaton has been turned into the name term "Christian Church" is meant not only the more orthodox and
Jehovah, but, in point of fact, this particular form seems to have "respectable" streams of its being, the great Catholic Churches of
been either invented or copied from some unknown source by the Eastern and Western Obediences together with the various Re­
Tyndale, in whose translation of the Bible it appears for the first formed and Nonconforming Churches, but also some of the many
time. heretical sects which have "hived off" from the main stream of
Some may here protest that the books of the Old Testament are Christian tradition. The Gnostics of the early Church formed a
simply the record of the ethical and philosophical progress of a group of such sects, and their teachings have for many centuries
wandering Bedouin tribe, as it enlarged its concepts from the god been regarded as heretical and evil. In some of its aspects the
who walked in the garden in the cool of the day, as any other Gnostic teaching certainly justifies such condemnation though
eastern chief might do, to the magnificent conception of the post­ modern scholarship has done much to rehabilitate some of the most
exilic prophet "Thus saith the High and Holy One Who inhabiteth prominent teachers of the Gnosis.
Eternity, Whose Name is Holy." A progress, moreover, which But quite apart from their specific theological views, the Gnostics
brought it as a nation to a monotheism not apparent in any con­ placed very great stress upon the efficacy of names and sounds.
temporary nation. This, of course, is true, but there are other angles By the name, declared some of them, Jesus worked His miracles .
of approach, the normal Christian view that the Hebrews were a name which He had stolen from the Holy of Holies of the temple.
being guided by the Eternal into larger concepts is one such angle, By the mystery of the name, declared another writer. was man's
and there is another which is of greater relevance to the subject of regeneration and deification effected, and in his knowledge of his
Words of Power. The ancient Rabbis said that the Torah: the Law, own true name, lay his true peace.
was the Body, but the Qabalah was the spirit of their religion. So Coming down to more recent times we find a floating tradition
the record of the history of the Hebrews, interwoven as it is with of a language "spoken in Paradise" the sound of which gave mastery
the folklore of the race and the racial memories of Abraham's over nature. Some curious communications received by the Eliza­
descendants, is but the outer appearance. Within this outer appear­ bethan occultist and astrologer, Dr. John Dee gave fragments of
ance was, and is, concealed that towering metaphysical system which what was called "The Enochian Tongue," and as Casaubon has
we know of as the Qabalah. As the word implies, the teaching of shown, it was no mere gibberish, but possessed grammatical form
the Qabalah was transmitted "from mouth to ear" until about the and syntax.
12th century, when certain of its teachings were published in book In the latter part of the eighteenth century there arose in Poland
form. a curious Qabalistic sect known as the "Chassidim." Some of its
These Qabalistic books formed the basis of the great systems members were known as "the wonder-working rabbis," and these
of magic which sprang up in the West in the Middle Ages, and in wonder-workers made great use of the Sacred Names. The leader of
these magical systems Names and Words of Power played a very the Chassidim was Rabbi Israel Baal Shem Tov, "The Master of
great part. As we shall see at a later point, the Names of Power the Divine Name." In some of the circles of the Chassidim the
of the Qabalah form a very interesting group of magical sound­ language of Paradise was heard, and by its use the rabbis worked
forms. wonders and showed signs.
In the folklore of many nations and races, the use of Words of The revival of the Western occult tradition through the Order
Power, of "charms" and "spells" is to be found, but in the East of the Golden Dawn and its offshoot Stella Matutina made use of
there has been built up a massive system of philosophy, based upon both the Enochian language and the Qabalistic Words of Power,
and constantly checked by a mass of experimental data. and, indeed. for the construction and use of the Telesmatic Images
This system is usually referred to as "Mantra Yoga," and its such words are essential.
fullest exposition is to be found in the Tantric work known as The Today, in countless ways the glamour of the Words of Power
Garland of Letters. and the Magical Names still persists for many millions of people,
The Christian Church in its pilgrimage through the ages has and in the new political groupings which are emerging upon the
72 73
1:1

I',,'
'II

i,'1l''I1:'il'
I! ~:I :

l
 I~i
THE MAGICIAN: HIS TRAINING AND WORI: WORDS OF POWER: THE MAGICAL USE OF SOUND

world-stage we are witnessing the actual birth of such words and invented a curious little instrument known as the "Eidophone," It
names which will in the years to come be charged with magical was really an adaptation of what are known as "Chladni's Figures,"
power over the minds and hearts of men. an experiment in which a violin bow was drawn gently along the
Before we commence to study what we may term the more edge of a plate of glass covered with fine sand. The vibrations set
ill' "occult" aspects of sound, it is as well to spend some time in con­ up by the bow caused the sand to take up definite patterns. The
,UI"'I sidering the subject from the purely physical point of view. We Eidophone consisted of a cylinder over the open end of which was
may define it as a series of vibrations set up in matter. These vibra­ stretched a rubber diaphragm. Into the side of the cylinder was
ill
tions are not all audible to the human ear, which can only receive built a metal trumpet which served as a concentrator of sound.
within certain fairly definite limits. An empiric test of the range Upon the rubber diaphragm was sprinkled the fine spore-dust of
of human audition may be made by trying to hear the high-pitched the common "puff-ball" (Lycopodium). When anyone spoke or sang
cry of the bat, at one end of the scale, and the deep note of the into the instrument, the lycopodium powder formed itself into in­
diapason pipe of a large organ. It will be found that to many people, tricate patterns, and these patterns were constant for any given
the bat's cry is inaudible, and many more will confess that they do sound or note. By lowering a prepared paper onto the surface of
not hear, but rather they feel the vibration of the diapason pipe. the diaphragm, a permanent record of the sound-form could be
There is another proof of the limited range of human hearing in obtained, but of course, it is obvious that the actual sound vibration
the curious "supersonic whistle" sometimes used as a dog-whistle. is three-dimensional. In recent times one American Rosicrucian
The sound given out by this whistle is far beyond the range of organisation has perfected an instrument by means of which such
human perception, but immediately attracts the attention of all dogs t· ~ three-dimensional sound forms may be viewed.
within its radius. Some of the sound-form patterns are wonderfully intricate and
Sound does not only travel through air, but also is transmitted they show how the sound vibrations affect surrounding matter. The
through water, earth, and all material substances, and the contours long-continued sounding of one particular note tends to set up a
of the ocean floor and the depths of mineral lodes in the earth sympathetic vibration or resonance in all the surrounding matter,
have both been investigated by the reflection of sound waves. It and this sympathetic vibration may have queer effects. It is recorded
is important to remember that although we hear sound by means that on one occasion, when a military band was playing beneath
of specialised sense-organs, we are actually bathed in a sea of the walls of an old ruin, they played a piece which was apparently
sound all our lives. The intensity of sound is measured in terms of based upon the dominant "note" of the wall, which collapsed upon
a standard unit, the "decibell," and it has been found that there is them! For this reason, soldiers, when marching over a light bridge
what may be described as a danger-point in the amount of sound are ordered to "break step," i.e, to walk out-of-step and unrhyth­
to which human beings may safely be subjected. In actual practice mically, in order to avoid setting up a vibrational "swing" in the
it is found that the conditions of some of our large industrial cities ~..
bridge structure. In the light of these things, the story of the fan
come very near this danger line as do also some factory conditions. of Jericho as recorded in the Bible may be profitably studied.
In studying the occult effects of sound, this must always be remem­ The converse side of this is to be seen in the stimulating effect
bered. We are apt to limit its effects upon us solely to our auditory upon wearied men of a stirring military march tune, and this brings
consciousness, but a little thought will make us aware that of course us to another point. We have so far been studying the effects of
the sound which strikes upon our eardrums is only a small part of sympathetic vibration upon material structures, but its power ex­
the actual sound vibration, and it is this greater part which is tends much further. It has tremendous effect upon the mind and
striking both upon one's body and upon the surrounding surfaces. the emotion, and not all of this effect is produced in the surface
This is, of course, well recognised when we are dealing with consciousness.
"acoustics" in connection with the sound-reflecting properties of
public halls, churches, etc., but is liable to be overlooked when
dealing with sound from the purely "occult.. point of view.
In the latter part of last century, Mrs. Watts-Dunton Hughes
74 75

::;
 THE WORDS AND NAMES IN MAGICAL WOJlIClNG

So our gramophone record, if played in an empty room, will

Chapter IX 'ca use certain things to happen. The physical matter of the walls
, of the room will be set into sympathetic vibration, and its living
THE WORDS AND NAMES IN MAGICAL WORKING ., or "etheric" aspect will begin to act as a channel of energy between
the inner and outer planes. But because the type of consciousness
IN the Magical Workings, it has been found that in order efficiently :.: which is the vital principle of physical matter is of an extremely
: simple and primitive type, the simple vibration of the word or name
to use the Words and Names of Power, certain methods must
be used . The value of the Words and Names depends upon two . wiIl not produce much of a positive nature, unless something else,
things . The first is their own intrinsic power as vibratory forms of ~l some other factor, is brought into play. This other factor is
energy which by their correspondence with certain superphysical :..organized consciousness, and more especially concentrated self­
forms of force can act as the means whereby the forces of the Inner " consciousness. Ifthe vibration of the word or name is imposed upon
Planes may affect the physical levels. The other is the psychic ,\ IOmeone who has, by the active use of his self-conscious will,
"charge" which is stored up in the " thought-forms" which are linked att uned himself to the energies of which the word is an expression,
with them . · then such a one is a true mediator between the planes, and the
In considering th~ first point, we may make it more clear by • power of the higher is brought through into the lower by his acti­
asking the question "If a gramophone record of a Word of Power · vities. If now, several people work together in the same way. then
were played in an empty room, would it produce any result, or is Cbey form a united link between the planes ; a link which is not
the effect of such a word simply dependent upon the associations · merely the mathematical sum of their minds. but which is far
in the minds of those who have been conditioned to it?" greater than that. So two or three gathered together may well trans­
The Swedish seer, Swedenborg, taught that the different planes mit more power than ten or twenty persons who are each working
of the universe were each separate from the other; were "discrete," individually. It is for this reason that all the great religions have
not "continuous." Certain "occult" teaching at the present day seems . -developed a corporate aspect. In fact, in Christianity this concept
to contradict this, but from both the arcane tradition and from per­ of the corporate nature of the Church is an integral part of its
sonal experience many believe the Swedenborgian teaching to be " ~pbi1osophy .
correct. But, although the planes are separate manifestations, so . If, moreover, the word be vibrated by the group, the results will
that, for instance, those on the astral plane cannot normally perceive be correspondingly greater than if they are merely being sounded
physical matter, and those on the physical plane cannot normally in the presence of such listeners. But this matter of "vibrating" a
perceive astral matter, there are two definite points of contact Name of Power is somewhat difficult to explain and even more
between the planes. The first of these is what in the philosophy of difficult to teach. It is a psychological "trick" somewhat akin to
the Qabalah is known as the Mezla, the divine spiritual influence that whereby, quite suddenly, the beginner on the bicycle suddenly
which is the impelling cause behind the activities of all the mani­ finds himself balancing the machine and actually riding.
fested universe, and which by its presence binds all the diversities The only way in which the practice of vibrating th e names can
into a unity. This Divine Life pervading all things does therefore be indicated is to say that the voice must be made as vibrant as
link all the planes together, and therefore to that extent they are IS possible, and this is best done by deliberately lowering the key
continuous. Since the vibration-ratios of the Words and Names pf the voice and at the same time endeavouring to hold in the mind,
have their basis in the ultimate archetypal life, then if they are as clearly as possible, the idea or group of ideas which are associ­
sounded forth, they will link the planes. Apart from this, also, ated with the particular name or Word of Power. An interesting
the elemental life-wave which is even now pouring into this universe exercise in this vibration of the names is to vibrate the name in the
constitutes what may be described as the "life-side" of matter. All palm of the hand, or from the solar plexus, or from the forehead.
matter is, in its degree, living matter; there is no such thing as This at first sight seems an absurdity, but with steady practise the
"dead" matter in the material sense of the word. All creation is -'odent suddenly finds himself able to locate the vibratory power
alive, it is the luminous living garment of the Eternal. This again ;~ -!It the band or elsewhere. When this has taken place, it becomes
the Chaldean Oracles declare.
77
76

. c
 --
THE MAGICIAN: HIS TRAINING AND WOR~ THE. WORDS AND NAME.S IN MAGICAL WORltlNG

easy to extend the practice to any other part of the body, and this us as a result of an endeavour to incorporate as many of the family
can have a very beneficial effect upon the health of the part so names as possible in ours, nor yet the name which they took from
"vibrated." their favourite novel! One knows how soon, when school-days
Now there are four kinds of vibration which we may use for commence, we receive what we call a "nick-name," and it is this
our Words of Power. They are rhythm, pitch, vowel sounds and which is the personal name, since it is usually the result of sub­
consonantal sounds. The first two can be produced on musical in­ conscious perception on the part of our fellow-pupils, and fits
struments, the other two by the voice. To induce emotional states, our personality quite well. Sometimes, of course, our baptismal
rhythm is the greatest of them all, and this rhythm can be regular name seems to be found to fit our personality, and we never seem
or irregular. Syncopation is an example of rhythm-and-break which to get a "nick-name." In this case, the baptismal name is the per­
has an enormous value in the evocation of certain emotional states. sonal name.
There are sounds which affect the subconsciousness, even though The poet Tennyson, in private conversation used to refer to an
the conscious mind may not like them at all. They are the mental experience he had when, repeating aloud his own personal name;
analogues to the condiments of the dinner-table acting as emotional he suddenly passed into a curious trance in which he became aware
irritants and stimulants. It is evident, however, that like the condi­ of some greater aspect of himself. He used this experience as the
ments, they should only be taken in small doses. basis for the poem "The Ancient Sage." In this poem he makes the
There are certain factors in ceremonial magic which make for Sage say : ­
success. One, which has been dealt with elsewhere, is incense; the And more than once, my son, As I sat all alone,
other is "chanting." Now there are chants many, and in the religious Revolving in myself the word that is the symbol of myself;
The mortal limit of the self was loosed and passed into the
field one which has always been a very great help in corporate Nameless,
worship is the so-called "Gregorian." Its peculiar bar-less beat is As a cloud melts into heaven.
extraordinarily efficacious in magical work. Now the ideal magical The Sage goes on to say that he found himself with a body of
chant must appeal to the subconsciousness, and part of this sub­ a different order, and with a consciousness which far transcended
consciousness is very primitive. Hence, the chant needs reiteration. his waking mind. This experience, one type of the so-called "astral
. But the reiteration of the same musical phrase can be very boring projection," has been recorded by many occultists, and the use of
to the conscious mind, and for this reason the chant must be strong­ the personal name for this purpose is definitely taught in certain
ly rhythmical and its reiteration must be made to rise and fall by occult schools.
change 0/ key.
We are accustomed in the Western world to music which is
constructed round the pitch commonly known as "concert pitch,"
and it is to this that the ordinary piano is tuned. But the music of
the mantra is half a tone lower, the so-called "primitive" pitch.
and rises and falls in quarter-tones.
To anyone hearing this mantric music for the first time, it usually
brings a feeling of exasperation, especially as the full singing voice
is not used. but it is a matter of practical experience that the magical
chanting when done at the ordinary pitch and with the ordinary
singing voice is practically ineffective.
Before we leave the subject of Words and Names of Power,
there is another aspect of the use of vibrations which we can con­
sider with profit. This is the use of our own personal name for
certain occult and magical work. By the personal name we do not
necessarily mean the name which our fond parents bestowed upon
78 79
 ~

(/) (/)
c~
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(/)
Chapter X ~~
(/)

~
~u ~~5 >o&l
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j:l.,UJ..J z~ o !!a~~
~~
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THE FLASHING COLOURS :§ f-o~ f-o:>lJ. ~..J ~~lJ.
-..J _..J
0..J
~lJ.
UJ~
Ol:l:l >..J ~u..J Z..J
0<lJ. -lJ.
u~O
~ ;t:1:I:l~ ~lJ. ~:>~ :llJ. ~~ <>o..J
~6..J
..J)1
I N practical magical work, the Qabalistically trained magician
makes great use of the technical device known as "The Flashing '"' o
o
~ '0
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~..J
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o ~
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'I! Colours." But the rationale of the technique has been little under­ >0 >0
stood even by those who have successfully employed it. It may be
said that there are several keys to the use of the flashing colours, ~ >Of-o ::c c
..J
and only one of these is dealt with here. ~ U ~Z
UJ
~g;~g~
~~Z ~UJ ~z f-oG Z f-o!!a f-o ~~
j:l.,..J ::C..J ::co~ ::c~~ ~O
1:3
It is, of course, not essential for the magician to understand the .~ ~!::~ .(/)
\.:)u ~~ UJj:l., \.:)~ u)1z \.:)OUJ 1::J~ ~s:
mental and psychic machinery he is using, but when it is possible ~ :>::C..J ..J_ <0 ~~
-< -..J- -..J~ <~ ~:l{/)~UJ
~ j:l.,:>..J ~O O~ 0:> ~u ~<j:l., ~..J\.:) :>~ f-oo:>u r:-l
to obtain such an understanding, it enables him to use the method >.. 0>­ <­ I:I:l c.. 1:I:l{/) (/) co ~ ~ O~ U ~<-
~ ~~
to greater advantage. It is for this reason that a brief consideration I:I:l j:l.,­ >0 ..J
I:I:l tI)
of the technique of the flashing colours has been included here. It uJ
will be clear to the reader that colour is of primary importance in ...l
the magical work, and, in fact is one of its chief keys. Briefly, the <t:
~ II~~~ f-o c
50 ~..J
magician employs colour as a means of "tuning-in" to the various ~
..J ~~f-o~ U
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forces with which he is dealing. We have said in another part of UJ
~ ~:>
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this book that the magician is in the same position as regards his " o ..J Ol:l:l <~ ~
~
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f-o..J:>..J t:l:::
I:I:l u >0 )1 o S; UO~1:I:l
art, as the violinist is in regard to his music. Both have to make ~ (/)
~ ::>
I:I:l
their own " notes," psychic or musical, and in the case of the magi­ o
cian, the psychic tuning-in is based upon a methodical building up ...l
of symbols, colours and sounds all linked together by certain mental o
and emotional concepts. Each Sephirah on the Tree of Life, and U
~ Ii: z ~
each of the twenty-two Paths which connect the Sephiroth, is -s ~ o~
(/):>
o j:l.,G
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coloured according to a traditional system. This system, which has =:::
(/)
UJ..J Z I:I:l ..Jj:l., ..J
:i tli..J )1 ~o < ~
..J~ o~ is ..J :I:
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been handed down in the esoteric schools through many generations
of students is, as we have already said, partly based on actual
correspondence between the colour, sound and symbol, and the
'"'
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actual nature of that aspect of the universe and the soul of man

which is being dealt with. But there are many such attributions

which are arbitrary, and which do not have any factual relationship ,....., ,.....,
"'0 "'0
Q) «l
with the aspect concerned. Nevertheless, if the constant use of them ~ '"
Q)
-B
over the generations has built them into the psychic structure of ~ ..c::
~
the magical Egr egore, then such a magical correspondence will have :;:: S '-' :I:
o :I:
been established. This applies to the whole of the magical art. To <t: :I: :I: [ij :I: :I:
give out the principle involved in the use of the colour scales is
exceedingly difficult, but perhaps the consideration of the ordinary
:;::
.g
t:l:::
u.l ::E
~
:I:
<t:
S
<t:
t:l::: t:l:::
-e ~ §
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o c c
musical scale may be helpful. If we study the action of the ordinary
piano, we find a large number of wires of increasingly finer dia­
V) E-<
u.l :I: ....I:Q
Z u.l
o
I:Q
u.l
o
....~ [ij o VJ
uJ ~
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meter, and these wires, when struck, give out sounds varying from
80 81
 THE FLASHING COLOURS

a very deep-sounding note at one end of the keyboard, to a very

high shrill note at the other. In between, we have several eightfold
divisions. If, for the sake of the argument, we have four such divi­
sions, then we may name them A, B, C and D. Now we may
number each thus:-AI, 2. 3, 4, 5. 6, 7, Bl, 2, 3, 4. 5. 6, 7, CI.2,
3. 4. 5, 6, 7, DI, 2, 3, 4, 5. 6, 7. Then B is the end of the series
A-B, and the beginning of series B-C, and C is the end of the
series B-C and the beginning of series C-D.
Or to use the terms of the Qabalah, B is the Malkuth of A-B,
..:;:. and the Kether of B-C. Whereas in music we have an eightfold
scale, in the Qabalistic system we have a tenfold scale, but the
principle is the same. In musical practice we have taken a certain
.. .;
section of the gamut of vibrations which lie around us, audible
section, and have established a certain arbitrary musical code upon
it. In magical practice we have taken that vibrational range, all of
it, and have established thereon a similar code of interpretation.
The magical notation is to be found in the "Tree of Life" and its
associated correspondences and the relationships involved are in­
dicated by the flashing colours.
Some of the colour attributions seem to be very arbitrary, and
have been over-complicated by some of the leaders of the modem
esoteric schools. There are actually four colour-scales in connection
with the Tree of Life. These are known as the King, Queen,
Emperor and Empress Scales.
When we consider the complexity of the scheme of four com­
plete Trees with their appropriate colour scales, we may be excused
if we feel that the subject has been unduly complicated. But
although for most purposes we can use the first two colour scales
only. we must not forget that more advanced work will necessitate
the use of the other two. However, for ordinary work the first two
scales. the "King" and "Queen" scales will be sufficient. and they
have been included herein.
It is important to remember that these scales are tuning-in
devices, and before they can be of any great use to us, we must
r..: build them into our consciousness.
This building-in is dual. There is first the definite visualisation
THE PRINCIPLE OF THE FLASHING COLOURS and conscious building up of the colours concerned, together with
a conscious presentation of the philosophical concept which is re­
presented by the Sephirah with which we are dealing. Reference
to Dion Fortune's Mystical Qabalah and Regardies Tree of Life
will give the particular philosophical concepts required. But when .
the colour connected with a certain Sephirah has been built into
82 83
 ....-.
THE MAGICIAN : HIS TRAINING AND WORK:
THE FLASHING COLOURS
the consciousness and linked with its appropriate concept, we have
done only half the work. This complete visual and philosophical So the flashing tablet is a true contacting device which has the ad­
"constellation" or associated thought-group must now be passed vantage of having a definite physical plane basis, and being there­
through the dividing veil, or rather the threshold of the subcon­ fore a more stable link than a purely mental image.
scious must be raised until the thought-group can be taken up by it. In constructing such a flashing tablet it is necessary to get clearly
This is the "willed co-operation" of which we will speak in the fixed in the mind the fact that the ground colour is the key colour
chapter on "The Subconscious," and this willed co-operation or with which we are working. The "charge" colour placed on the
auto-hypnosis is accomplished by the use of the technical device ground is the complementary. Thus in our example, the colour red
of the flashing colours. is the one we are working with. as we wish in this case to contact
What do we mean by a "flashing colour"? The usual authorities the energies of the Sephirah Geburah on the Tree.
give a quasi-mystical explanation which, although true is no real It is important to note that for meditative work alone, we can
explanation, merely a "blind," which puts the frivolous off the use the second colour-scale. so that our work remains subjective.
scent. Not that the frivolous could employ the technique of the This is very important. especially in the early stages of training.
flashing colours to any real purpose; they have not the application To make contact suddenly with the objective energies concerned
and perseverence required! can be very startling. to say the least.
They may essay the use of the flashing colours. with the most
curious results, but the essence of the matter eludes them. So we
may quite openly describe the use of the flashing colours as a
technical Oabalistic method of auto-hypnosis. This auto-hypnosis
is produced by the utilisation of a simple optical effect. As we have
noted in our remarks on the Tattvic tides, if one gazes for any
length of time at a coloured disc or other figure, and then looks
away at any white screen one sees thereon the outline of the figure
one has been gazing at, but in the complementary colour. Thus, if
we have been gazing at a red disc, we shall see the complementary
image of the disc on the white screen, but its colour will be a vivid
green which is the complementary colour of red.
If now we construct a red disc whose surface is cut in facets
or outlined in diamond shapes, and in the centre of each red facet
we insert a brilliant green point, then we have a device which can
prove very effective in bringing about this "willed co-operation"
between the conscious and subconscious levels. '
As we gaze quietly at it, centring our attention upon the red
I "field," there comes a time when the muscles of the eye relax slight­
I ly, and its focus alters. Then immediately the complementary green
flashes up, and at the same time the complementary red of the green
"charges" flashes up, and the result is that the disc appears to be
II alive with brilliant flashes of red and green. Quiet and prolonged
gaze at this "flashing tablet" will induce a condition wherein we are
I ,Ii
tuned in to the particular psychic energy in both ourselves and in
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the objective planes which is represented by the "field" colour red.

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THE VESTMENTS

Chapter XI the operation in hand. Merely to vest oneself in the robes of one's
grade automatically quickens the emotional link which we have
THE VESTMENTS with our group or fraternity. This is a great help in the first part of
a magical rite, when we are concerned with the operation of the
A S we have seen, when we considered the colour scales, the various "Preparation of the Place of Working."
.n. levels of the Unseen are symbolised each by their own colour. From another angle, the robes are of use. During the many
Though in some cases these symbols may be arbitrary and bear little magical operations undertaken through the years, the robes become
initial correspondence to the plane they symbolise, yet if they have "charged" with a certain etheric energy or "magnetism," and though
been in use long enough, they will have been built into the Egregore the fairly frequent cleaning processes, which are necessary, though
and will therefore be effective in keying the student to that parti­ not always carried out, will disperse some of this magnetism, they
cular level. If they are truly in correspondence with the plane con­ soon become charged up again. In this state they playa part in the
cerned, their power will be proportionately greater . In this matter interplay of etheric forces which occurs in the Magical Lodge.
there exists a great need for a thorough revision of much of the A word of warning. When you have once used your magical
magical tradition. One of the weak points of the Order of the robe, never under any conditions, thereafter use it for any purely
Golden Dawn was its excessive eclecticism. It tried to include far secular purpose; never parade it before others even in private, and
too much, and some very doubtful attributions crept into use. never, never follow the example of one lady, an actress of note and
Though through use these attributions do act as channels of power. a prominent member of the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn.
a good deal would be" gained if they were, by process of neglect who attended a fancy-dress ball clad in the robes of her grade in
and the cultivation of the true correspondence, allowed to slip back the order'·
into disuse.
But the use of the colours is fundamental. They are to be found
throughout the whole magical scheme, and the use of the Flashing
Colours is foundation work.
As the colours key us to certain forces, it follows that the use
of vestments of the appropriate colour will help us to link up with
those forces. That is the simple rationale of the vestments. Since
the Western Tradition has been strongly influenced by the Greek,
Hebrew and Egyptian traditions on the one hand and the medieval
Catholic Church on the other, it will be found that the robes worn
in the magical fraternities reflect one or other of these sources.
Many of them are magnificent pieces of work, but it is necessary
for the student to remember that their value does not depend merely
upon their magnificence. Plain robes of the appropriate colour are
every bit as effective as the most exotic designs'
Apart from their value as "colour-suggestions," they serve a
very useful purpose; they screen off the personality of the operator.
and so make for impersonality.
This is of very great importance, especially when magical work
is being done by a group comprising both sexes. In some lodges, • The present writer once broke this rule-and on entering his lodge some
days later, was greatly surprised to receive a thorough "telling-off" from
cowls or hoods are used, and this gives even greater impersonality. the ruler of his degree, whose clairvoyant faculty had evidently made
The robes have another interesting effect They act as a very him aware of the incident which had happened several miles away, and
strong auto-suggestion, which has the power of keying the mind to of which he could not normally have been aware. It was a salutary lesson I

86 87

,-,;;:, , -0.' . , , ~.
 THE SUBCONSCIOUS

Chapter XII senses and more particularly through the perceptions of the five
physical senses. This aspect of the mind is usually referred to as
THE SUBCONSCIOUS "the lower" mind, and together with the emotional aspect of our
natures, it makes up what the Qabalists term the Ruach or
"Reasonable SouI." This Ruach is the instrument of the Higher Self,
A certain knowledge of psychology is necessary if the apprentice
magician is to make the most use of his art, but this psychologi­ its mask or persona. and it is here that what has sometimes been
cal knowledge must always be "held lightly." What a short time ago called the "false ego" is centred. This false "I", which seems to
was termed "The New Psychology" has developed so swiftly that the ordinary person to be himself, is in reality an illusion in so far
it now suffers from embarasse de richesse and the beginner finds it as it is thought to be the true Ego.
most difficult to follow intelligently the intellectual mazes of the Below the Ruach or Reasonable Soul, we come to the Nephesh
Freudian, Jungian and Adlerian Schools of Psychology, to mention or Animal Soul, and this can be equated psychologically with the
only the primary schools. The many schools depending upon these subconscious. Perhaps the Jungian term "Personal Unconscious" is
three, but expressing themselves from differing angles, need not be a more correct term.
mentioned here, since their general teaching is the same. All the aspects of man centre in and are expressed through the
What are the simple outlines? This question is most difficult to Guph or physical body, and here it must be remembered that as
answer. since any simplification is bound to omit points which seem psycho-somatic medicine has pointed out, there is no separate
to many to be of primary importance. physical body, it is one aspect of the living whole, and is in very
What we will here attempt is not a simplification of modem truth the Temple of the Holy Ghost.
psychological theories. but rather a restatement in psychological Now the subconsciousness is related most closely to that system
terms of the magical teaching concerning the mind of man; or of nerves known as the "sympathetic system," and it is this sympa­
rather. to be more exact. the soul of man. thetic or involuntary nerve system which carries on the multitudi­
The first point to be considered is the nature of the soul, and nous activities of the physical organism-the processes of digestion
here the magical schools declare with one voice, that man is a Spark and elimination, the beating of the heart, the respiratory action and
of the Eternal Flame, a "god" in the making. This is the true man. the complex activities of the glands. All these, which now are auto­
the "In dweller of Light," as the old Gnostics termed him. matic or subconscious activities, were at one time conscious actions.
This immortal Self. for reasons which lie outside our present Their particular form of activity has been stereotyped through aeons
terms of reference, is making contact with. and manifesting in, the of evolution, and now operates without the aid or knowledge of
material worlds of physical and super-physical matter. the conscious self.
The instrument by means of which this contact and manifesta­ It is possible, however, to bring this automatic control back
tion is maintained . is known as the "personality:' and it is indeed, under conscious control, though it is not always wise so to do. But
as the etymology of the word suggests. a persona or mask through when this is done, then it is possible to consciously control many
which the true self works. ' of the purely involuntary mechanisms of the body, and even, under
So we come to the statement ascribed to the old Greek initiates certain circumstances, to affect the purely automatic functioning
"I am a child of earth. but my Race is from the Starry Heavens." which is the basic level of the physical somatic life. We have said
The personality we may term "the lower self." Now the mind that such conscious control is not always advisable. This is true,
of man* is the point of contact between these two aspects of himself. for the clumsy probing of the conscious mind may easily upset the
and we therefore find that part of his mind is conditioned by, and delicate mental and physical mechanisms. It is on record that Sir

~~
linked to. his immortal Self, whilst the other part is linked to, and Francis Galton, the pioneer in Eugenics, experimented in gaining
conditioned by. his material consciousness. Now the material con­ conscious control of his breathing. Having at last gained the power

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sciousness is largely built up through the perceptions of the material to shut off the automatic breathing impulse, and to remain without
• The wor d "man" is derived from the Sanscrit Manas which means. "the
any effort of breathing, he found to his dismay that he had some­
, . ,~ thinker." how lost the power of automatic breathing, and had to spend a very
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I!III!
THB MAGICIAN : HIS TRAINING AND WORK THB SUBCONSCIOUS

anxious day and night taking each breath consciously and with an of observing very many people, of greatly varying types of men­
effort of will, before the automatic function returned. Various yogis tality, working with the trance-state under varying conditions. Some
can be found in both East and West who can perform various of these people were definitely the worse for their experiences, but
psycho-physiological tricks, such as altering the heart-beat, stop­ they formed a very small minority. The real trouble with the nega­
ping the breathing, or reversing peristaltic action at will. The tech­ tive forms of trance is that they either open up the subconscious in
niques used vary according to the grade and status of such people, a very haphazard and wholesale way, or else they allow of the
and are best left alone by the apprentice magician. There are other uncontrolled emergence of various psychologicaland psychic patho­
ways by which he may eventually come to this physical dominion logies which were already present but held down below the sub­
over his body, and these ways are safer than the usual techniques. liminal threshold.
But although we want neither an uncontrolled irruption of the Without going into the technical points involved. it may be
subconscious into the normal consciousness, nor yet a clumsy inter­ stated that the negative trance state usually involves complete un­
ference by the conscious mind into the subconscious processes, it consciousness of the physical plane, and as a general rule of the
is desirable that we shall have some reliable method whereby we inner planes also. The thread of consciousness is broken at the
may be able to bring through into the waking consciousness the point of departure, and again at the point of return. In the ascending
knowledge and the energies which are all around us awaiting our degrees of trance, up to the most positive form, the thread of con­
efforts. We have access to forces and energies beyond our normal sciousness begins to remain without a break, and in some cases a
ken, if we will but open the doors in the right way. Now here we curious dual consciousness develops. In this dual consciousness. the
come again to the saying of Bulwer-Lytton's Rosicrucian Adept, psychic is more or less fully aware of the physical plane surround­
Mejnour, "Man's first initiation is in trance." This will be indig­ ings, whilst at the same time he is fully conscious and active on
nantly denied by many of the so-called "positive" people. In their the Inner Planes. In this particular field an ounce of practice is
estimation, trance is retrograde and entirely undesirable. With cer­ worth a ton of theory, and the present writer can assure his readers
tain reservations we may agree with this facile generalisation, but that trance, per se, is not necessarily dangerous. At the same time
the reservations cover quite a lot of country! In a period of over it is true that under certain conditions the voluntary or involuntary
forty years of practical occult, psychic and magical work one has induction of trance is undesirable, and may even be dangerous.
obtained certain data on this point. Under these conditions it is advisable for the 'prentice magician to
We agree that the induction of the purely involuntary negative aim at the positive end of the psychic range.
trance state under no protective conditions at all is both undesirable It is also to be remembered that at a certain point in his develop­
and psychologically dangerous to the normal individual, though ment it will be necessary for the flyer to be deliberately plunged
some race-types can safely practise it. into the sea. "The flyer" is an old alchemical term for the conscious
In the purely negative trance, the doors of the subconscious are self. and the "sea" is their name for the Unconscious. But until the
thrown open and a general jail-delivery of subconscious thoughts conscious self is properly integrated or knit together, a premature
and energies pours . out into the conscious self. Such an irruption immersion in the psychic sea of the Unconscious is not advisable.
can be most harmful. . Short of the deeper trance conditions, however, there are distinct
But there are several degrees of trance, ranging from the passive, advantages in a willed co-operation between the conscious and sub­
involuntary trance of pathological dissociation, through the nega­ conscious parts of our mind, and these have been used in the
. tive, but willed trance of many spiritualist mediums, to the volun­ magical technique. The process is one of "auto-hypnosis." This
tary positive power of trance projection, wherein the personality. term in itself will, in all probability, cause some of our "ultra­
consciously and deliberately, temporarily vacates his body. positive" critics to frown. but let us hasten to say that this particular
But even in the pathological trance of dissociation, there need form of auto-hypnosis is most carefully controlled and directed, and
be no danger if it is dealt with aright, and in the cases of the other is at all times fully under the dominion of the conscious will.
varieties of trance, the establishment of certain protective conditions Having reassured the fearful, let us proceed. The principle used
will obviate any risk. The present writer has had the opportunity is that known as the "conditioned reflex." A typical conditioned
'I"'.';.' I
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THE SUBCONSCIOUS
THE MAGICIAN : HIS TRAINING AND WORK
how to pass the symbol through to the open and sensitised sub­
reflex is the watering at the mouth of a dog when it sees food. Here consciousness.
the reflex is physical. In the case of the magician. the reflex is The process is similar to that of learning to play the violin. The
mental and emotional. Briefly. a visual. audible or other sensory musical symbols on the score are mentally interpreted as musical
symbol is passed into the subconscious mind. and this evokes a sounds. and the appropriate string of the violin is "stopped" with
response in accordance with the type of symbol used. If this symbol the finger to produce the note required. Now the correct point to
is one of. or is mentally associated with. one or other of the arche­ "stop" the string is acquired by the subconscious reflex. but for a
typal images in the depths of the Unconscious. then the response long time the movement of the fingers must be consciously brought
may be very strong. and care has to be taken to see that the up­ about. until the mental. emotional and physical reflexes have been
welling energies evoked by the symbol are run into safe channels. properly "conditioned." Then we speak of automatic habit . It is
If the magician is working with the Qabalistic glyph of the Tree fairly evident that any attempt to short-circuit this necessary con­
of Life. then he will be working with such channels already pro­ ditioning work is doomed to failure. yet the writer has met many
vided. who did try to evade it in magical work. However. the reader may
In order to pass a symbol into the subconsciousness in such a be assured that although the use of certain short-cuts may provide
way as to be able to evoke any particular response. it is first neces­ some spasmodic magical activity. such activity will be unregulated
sary to "sensitise" the subconscious. or raise its level nearer to the and out of conscious control.
waking consciousness. This willed emergence. or outcropping. of Let us briefly recapitulate. Within the depths of the personal
the subconscious is imperative; unless it is done. the symbol does and collective Unconscious in each one of us lie the powers and
not "take." i.e. evoke an immediate response. and this is one of the energies which we essay to evoke into appearance in our conscious
primary keys of art magic. It is to be noted that the passing of the self in order to effect those "changes in consciousness" which. by
symbol into the subconscious must be an effortless act. to use an our definition of magic, are our declared aim.
Irishism. Beyond the immediate clear-cut conscious "intention" to In order to do this, we employ the device of the "conditioned
transmit the symbol. no further effort is required. Indeed any such reflex:' by passing certain symbols into the sensitised subconscious
further effort will frustrate the purpose in hand. A very good simile in such a way as to evoke the required forces into the waking self.
is that of the electric light switch. It requires only a small momen­ Since the personal subconsciousness is very largely a pictorial
tary physical exertion to press down the switch and so produce type, we use visual and other sensory symbols in preference to
light. No matter how long we keep our finger pressed on the switch. audible images, i.e, words. (Certain "Words of Power" are used not
we shall obtain no more light. neither will it be put out if we for their literal meaning. but for their vibration. and the conditioned
remove our finger entirely. Indeed. our undue pressure on the switch images which have been built around them.)
may cause it to be put out of action. and so produce just what we The means whereby the subconsciousness is sensitised or
were trying to prevent. brought nearer to the threshold of the waking self is the technical
So it is with magical work. But before the symbols can be the auto-hypnotic device known as the use of the "Flashing Colours:'
starting points of conditioned reflexes. it is necessary that the re­ This is used in conjunction with the colour scales and correspon­
quired conscious mental effort must have been used with them. and dences on the Tree of Life.
this is done through the training exercises which are to be found
in all magical schools. The symbols must be built up by the image­
building power of the mind. as described in the section of this book
devoted to "Visualisation and Audition."
Then conscious meditation must be made upon the spiritual .
mental and emotional aspects of the symbol. together with the
energies connected with it. Here the Tables of Correspondences
used in the qabalistic method prove their value. When sufficient
work has been done with the conscious mind. the student learns
93
92
 THE INTERWOVEN LIGHT

Chapter XIII successes may come, but only by steady and disciplined effort can
the true magical certainty and ability be gained.
THE INTER WOVEN LIGHT In another chapter we used the simile of an electrical switch­
board to illustrate the difference between the mere ceremonial
IT is a common part of modem occult and psychic teaching that magical actions, and the same actions when the magical power has
been contacted and allowed to flash down into the physical levels.
everyone is surrounded by an invisible atmosphere, usually
termed the "aura" or the "auric egg," and it is very often thought This chapter deals with the method used to make this contact.
of as a separate part of the human personality. It is actually the -~:
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but before going further it will be as well, perhaps, if we briefly
extension of the various bodies or sheaths of the spirit. In the < treat of the role of the physical body in this work. The Manichean
(. heresy, of the total depravity of physical matter and the physical
physical it shows itself as the emanation from the etheric double
which is itself the framework upon which the physical body is body, is no part of the true magical doctrine, though at various
formed. times the magical schools have, like orthodox Christianity, become
This etheric, or "health aura," as it is sometimes called, extends infected by it. In the Qabalistic scheme, the physical plane, like
for a number of inches from the surface of the body, and it does all other planes, is an expression of Ain Soph, the Eternal Infinite.
show the state of the physical health of the man by the disposition Therefore, physical matter and the physical body are not merely
of the substance composing it. It is in and through the etheric body expressions of the creative Will of the Logos, but actually are that
and its radiating aura that the various psychic and "magnetic" Logos manifesting in this particular way.
So the old "legion," discovered at Oxyrhincus, speaks truly
forces work down on to the physical levels. For this reason the
when it quotes the Logos as saying "Where two or three are to­
magical schools have developed a technique of etheric training and gether, I am there, and where there is one only, he is with God.
control, and this technique is of the greatest importance. One of Raise the stone and thou shalt find Me, cleave the wood, and I am
the weaknesses of the modem occult students in the West, is to there."
fight shy of this basic training, on the plea of its dangers. There So the physical body is a manifestation of the Eternal, and is
are dangers in this etheric training, but only when instructions are rendered even more holy, if this were possible, by its use as the
disregarded. The same argument applies to the crossing of a busy vehicle of consciousness of a living spark of the Eternal Flame.
London street; yet there are those who regularly perform this Within every atom of matter which composes our physical
dangerous feat! body, there is a living point of the Eternal Light, with its accom­
If the student wishes to become a successful practitioner of panying modes of expression on the various "planes."
ars magica, then it is imperative that he undertakes this basic etheric Now as we have said before, there is a constant flux of physical
training. Otherwise, he may develop a subjective psychic awareness. substance within the physical body.
but magical power will not be his. New substance is being taken in and incorporated into the bodily
It is assumed that the student is in earnest, and is prepared to structure, and at the same time cell substance is being continually
train his etheric body, and its auric emanation, so we will com­ broken down and passed out of the physical system. During their
mence by giving him a word of warning. stay in the body, however, the "vibration aspects" of these physical
This basic training, once it has been under way for a little time atoms and molecules are reacting upon our consciousness, tending
becomes intensely boring, and after the first few attempts (when the
to tune it automatically to their level. At the same time our own
. emotional stimulus of newness is present) it yields very little for
consciousness is acting upon them and tuning them to its vibration­
quite a long time. This, in itself. is both a test of the student's power
rate. Man is indeed, as he is termed in one of the Rituals, "The
of application and also one of the barriers which automatically rise
Rescuer of Matter." Now when the magical contact has been made,
as training is continued. the inpouring energy stimulates all the energy-activities of the
Unless these barriers are surmounted, the magical power lies various bodies, until it surges through the physical body itself. Here
beyond the student's grasp, at any rate in its entirety. Spasmodic it intensifies and fans to greater vigour the lesser energies of the
94 95
 JII'!2.

THE MAGICIAN : HIS TR.AINING AND WORK: THE INTERWOVEN LIGHT

physical substance. and it is because of this that certain dietary current should start from the part of the Sephirah Malkuth upon
rules have been evolved. But this does not necessarily mean that which the right foot is placed. and should move over to the left
the magician must immediately adopt a vegetarian diet. or savagely foot and pass behind it. This is given in the description of the exer­
ascetic mode of life. It does mean. however. that physical excess cise. but is repeated here because of its importance.
of all kinds is to be avoided. and during the performance of certain An important point is that once the Middle Pillar has been
magical operations. abstinence from many forms of quite legitimate brought into active use. its activity will tend to induce a similar
activity may be necessary. activity in the auras of those who are near to its user. and "near"
As the inflowing energy begins to surge through the physical is not confined to the physical plane proximity. Herein lies the key
body. so it begins to eject from it that type of matter which is of to certain types of "initiation." as well as to some of the phenomena
a coarse order. and the result is that finer types of matter are built of evangelical and mystical "conversion." He that hath ears to hear.
into the body. and these finer types of matter present less resistance
let him hear.
to the inflowing formative energy.
If we seem to have touched far too briefly upon this basic magi­
Thus. by the action of the magical energy. the physical body is
truly purified and becomes a better channel for the outflow of that cal procedure. this is of set purpose. The essentials have been given.
energy. It is obvious. of course. that this purging process goes on and from them the further work unfolds. Get the principles firmly
in all the bodies. not only in the physical. but it has been thought established. and the detailed application can be left to the magician's
desirable to emphasise the importance of the functioning of the own ingenium.
physical body as a channel of the Universal Power. It remains now to consider the source of the energy which is
When we come to use the technique which is now to be des­ drawn through by the Middle Pillar technique. In that exercise we
cribed. it is necessary to remember that we shall be dealing with have visualised it as springing from the Sephirah Malkuth which.
all the bodies. or vehicles of consciousness. together with their ex­ in the subjective Tree of Life. is located below the feet. But this
tensions or auras. The combined auras may be conveniently referred Sephirah is a point of contact between our subjective self. and the
to as "the sphere of sensation." and this term will be used through­ Earth-Soul. as the Sephirah Kether, which is formulated above the
out this chapter. head is a contact point with the Cosmic Unmanifest.
First. the "Qabalistic Cross." described in Appendix B should Although we draw the basic energy through these two points
il of contact, we also retain a considerable store of latent energy which
be traced. and the consecrated circle formulated as described. Then.
ll
having been practised until comparative skill has been obtained. is under the control of. and located in the subconscious mind. This
the apprentice magician should proceed to the exercise of the inter­ store of latent energy can be brought into action either spontane­
woven Light. usually known as the Middle Pillar Exercise. and des­ ously. under the influence of the deeper emotions of the self. as in
cribed in Appendix B. certain types of religious conversion. or deliberately by the use of
As will be seen. this exercise of the interwoven Light is designed the occult techniques. One method of Yoga. known as Kundalini
to set up certain currents of energy in the sphere of sensation. and Yoga brings these latent reserves of power into action by direct
to bring these forces through into the physical levels. The first two conscious action. but the Western systems usually work on the
parts of the Middle Pillar exercise are designed to create in the billiards principle of "cannoning off the cush" i.e, they use the
auric "sphere of sensation" two great currents of energy. When these consciously directed imagination to arouse the subconscious acti­
parts of the exercise have been mastered. the next step may be vity. and this. through the psychic mechanism which has been con­
taken. and a circulatory current started in the aura. commencing at structed by the Middle-Pillar exercise. taps the latent energies.
the feet in the Sephirah Malkuth. This should be visualised as a But in order to do this. the Malkuth centre must be isolated
broad. bandage-like band of white light. and it should be wound from its normal earth-contact. and identified with the storage-centre
mentally around the body as though one were wrapping a mummy of subjective energy. which in Yoga is known as the Muladhara,
in its swathing bands. It is important to note that the direction of and in the Qabalistic system is equated with the Sephirah Yesod
the bandaging should be from the right to the left, i.e. the energy of the Tree of Life.

96 97
 THB MAOICIAN: HIS TRAININO AND WOIlI: THE INTERWOVEN LIGHT

There are many curious ideas concerning this question of isola­ the release of some of the latent reserves, these fires are fanned into
tion from the Earth-Soul. Many who use their psychic faculties for greater activity, and the person concerned becomes capable of feats
the purpose of divination for water or minerals. state that if they which are not normally possible to him.
wear rubber-soled shoes they find themselves cut off from the earth­ The regular graded development of this power to tap the reserves
forces and unable to use their faculty. But it has been found by of energy results in the charging-up of the whole personality, and
practical experiments that this is a purely mental inhibition. If the when such a one engages in the "magical" work, the lights will flash
diviner thinks he is wearing rubber soled shoes. then he subcon­ {~: and the meter needles move on the magical switchboard as the
sciously inhibits his power. If. however. he thinks he is not wearing '" cosmic energy surges through the channels provided for it. By using
"
such shoes (though actually he is) then the faculty works freely. the padmasana or allied postures (in which the earth-contact is
When in India, the present writer talked with Yogis who used a .,"
h. "shorted" out) during the meditative building up of the "magical
small mat composed of the roots of certain grass. Upon this mat f' personality," this latent energy will be linked with that magical
they sat during meditation in order to cut themselves off from the
earth. Other yogis one met did not use such a mat, but claimed to
., personality and as one is evoked, so will the other appear. Again,
there is more here than the bare statement suggests.
obtain the same result by mentally visualising such an insulating
barrier.
In the case of the diviners in Western countries, the probable
basis of their belief in the inhibitory powers of rubber-soled shoes,
is to be found in the use of rubber as an insulator in electrical
work.· "
The yogi posture known as the "lotus-posture," or padmasana,
does identify the Malkuth centre below the feet with the Yesod
centre at the base of the spine, since in this posture the yogi sits
cross-legged and the two centres are thus brought together. This
is, however a difficult posture for the average European, and it is
quite possible for such a one to break some of the small bones of
the foot in his efforts to achieve it. To those who find it impossible
to adopt this posture the following may be found of use.
Sit on a comfortably padded surface such as a folded carpet
and adopt the cross-legged position; then slip a small cushion under­
neath the crossed ankles so as to raise them slightly. This works
quite well. One magician known to the writer habitually meditated
in this way whilst seated on a large high-backed chair. This enabled
him to keep his spine erect with the minimum of discomfort.
However, those who can sit in the padmasana should do so. ')
When the earth-centre of the aura is identified in this way with the
Yesod centre, then certain magnetic currents in the etheric body are
. re-directed, and the latent magnetic reserves are made available.
Of course, a certain proportion of these reserves is always available
and active, being the normal body-energy which in the Eastern
teaching is known collectively as "the fires of the body." But with
• There are, however, certain purely electrical currents in the earth's surface
which are, of course, cut 011 by the use of insulators.
98 99
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 Chapter XIV

MAGNETISM

AS nate
we have said elsewhere. the term "magnetism" is an unfortu­
one when we are considering the subtle force which is
one of the principle factors in magical work. The use of the word
comes from the experimental work of the followers of Dr. Mesmer.
and though they did attempt to make it clear that the subtle energy
which, according to their philosophy. permeated the whole universe
was not the phenomenon which the scientist terms "magnetism,"
the misuse of the word has persisted up to the present day. The
mesmerists termed this subtle force "animal magnetism" since. they
stated it was the power which accompanied physical magnetism,
but which was also found in all living things.
At a later date the German. Baron von Reichenbach. studied
the subject exhaustively. and his findings have much of value for
the practical magician. As far as it has been possible for the present
writer to check his results they appear to be correct. and as they
certainly enter into all magical work, it may be helpful if we give
here a general outline of them.
Briefly. von Reichenbach stated that there was a force which,
. without being identifiable with them. yet seemed to underly the
physical forces of electricity, magnetism. light and heat. To this
force he gave the name of "Od.'
Through his researches, he came to the conclusion that this
"odic force" was, as he put it, "the odic garment of the universe";
present everywhere, but manifesting most strongly in certain things.
Such things are the light radiations from the stars and the sun,
all crystalline bodies, "permanent magnets" and "electro-magnets,"
chemical action of all kinds. and most important of all, living vege­
table. animal and human organisms.
In some magical lodges, a great deal of experimental work has
been done upon this particular subject, and we may here indicate
some of the conclusions reached. It must be remembered that thous­
ands of experiments have been made and the results tabulated in
the lodge archives. Dr. Rhine and his followers are not the only.
or even the first. workers in this field!
All living animal forms appear to have two vertical definite
"poles." to use the magnetic term. The right side of the body is of
one polarity and the left side of the reverse odic polarity. There is
also an horizontal polarity; the upper part of the body being of
f.' 103
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 M AONETI SM
THE MAOICIAN: HIS TRAININO AND WORK

one polarity and the lower half of the opposite polarity. The same people whose auric energy seems to act as an "enzyme" or ferment,
applies to living vegetable forms. and in their presence even opposing auras seem temporarily to
The vibrations of sound have the power of liberating the odic blend. Such people are invaluable in lodge working, since the lodge
force, and combustion which is, of course, a form of chemical phenomena work through such a blended aura.
action, does the same. They are of the greatest value in spiritualistic "seances," when
All substances radiate their own quality of "odic" force, as do their presence will often tum what would have been a failure into
also all electrical manifestations. In connection with this latter, a a successful sitting. It has been noted, in this connection. that many
very interesting series of experiments was made at the Theosophical of these human "enzymes" are of the auburn and red-headed types.
Research Centre, using the clairvoyant faculty of one of the mem­ It is obvious that each individual brings his own unique poten­
bers: Mr. Geoffrey Hodson. It was found that he could correctly tialities into magical lodge and psychic circle alike. and the unfold­
indicate when a current of electricity was flowing in a wire placed ment of these powers. and their interaction with the powers of others
before him, the push-button controlling the current being actuated in the lodge. not only opens up many possibilities. but also presents
by someone in another room. the lodge with new problems. It is true that the lodges have. through
It is of interest to note that it was the sensations experienced by the centuries built up a fairly comprehensive body of knowledge
a Bishop of the Protestant Episcopal Church in America when even by means of which they can meet such problems, but at the same
in total darkness he accidentally touched anything made of brass, time. since these powers are emerging under modem conditions, and
which led to investigations by Prof. Buchanan and Dr. Denton into new types of psychic make-up are coming into the lodges, there
the phenomenon now known as "psychometry." will always be forces and combinations of those forces which will
In certain magical work, use is made of the breath of the oper­ tax the powers of the rulers thereof.
ator, and in the Catholic ritual used every year for the consecration It is important to remember that the operation of any power or
of the "Holy Oils" the Bishop and his attendant priests breathe force in the human personality has its subjective side. and the sub­
over the oils in the sign of the Cross. This particular use of the jective expression of "magnetism" is "emotion." For the purposes
breath, apart from the symbolism as explained by theologians, is _of the magician, magnetism and emotion are the same.
based upon the fact that the breath is strongly charged with the Stir the emotions, and the magnetic flow increases. Induce the
odic energy. magnetic flow. and emotions arise.
But the whole body radiates this energy, as we have seen, and This is very apparent in the relationship between the sexes;
the odic field of force around every person has received the name indeed a certain debased form of the tantrik . magic deliberately
of the "health aura," since its appearance indicates to the trained makes use of this for its own not very exalted purposes. and this
seer the health conditions of the physical body. not in the East alone l " Physical movements of a rhythmic type
Vital energy of all types is drawn into the etheric body and also tend to liberate magnetism. and certain forms of musical sound
specialised for use therein. The surplus is radiated out and forms do the same.
an energy field around the body. The late Dr. Kilner by the use To the clairvoyant vision. the psychic atmosphere of a dance­
of dicyanine screens observed and recorded the health indications hall present a most interesting spectacle, particularly when certain
given by the "etheric aura," as this field of living force is called. forms of music of negroid origin are used.
It has been established that the "auric fields" of human beings It is clear that many people would seem to possess very little
tend to affect each other in various ways. Some auras unite easily emotional force indeed. They appear to be, and often are. frigid
with certain other auras, but are strongly repellent to others. Since both in their everyday life and in their sexual outlook. Psychologists
such attraction and repulsion induces certain subconscious and con­ know, however, that in many of these cases, the lack of emotional
scious reactions, it is essential that the operators in a magical cere­ drive is the sign that the greater part of the emotional power of the
monial should be magnetically in harmony, as the blending of their • It will be noticed that we refer to a debased form of Tantrika. This philo­
auras is one of the foundations upon which the ceremony rests. sophic and occult system , has also its heights as well as its depths, a
It is of interest to note in this connection, that there are certain point often forgotten by many occult students.

104 105
 THE MAGICIAN: HIS TRAINING AND WORK MAGNETISM

personality has for some reason or other been locked up below the and one of these, "elemental energy", flows in through the etheric
threshold of the conscious mind, and is therefore not available for body. It is to be remembered that this magnetic force, though
conscious use. The methods of psycho-analysis disperse the re­ it has many effects upon the physical body, circulates in, and
pressed emotional forces, and allow them to rise freely into con­ through. the etheric body. There are, of course. detectable electric
sciousness, there to be integrated into the normal emotional circuit. currents in the physical body, but this still more subtle force is not
Such a release of suppressed energy quickly restores normality, and part of the physical forces, though its operation may be determined
the abnormal frigidity of body and mind disappears. by the position and action of the physical vehicle, since the etheric
In the magical lodge, this redirection of the emotional energies body and the physical are interlocked most closely. This is the
also takes place, partly due to the emotion-stirring ritual, basis of so many of the Yogic asanas, or postures; they determine
and partly due to the inclusion of the individual in the the circuit in which the magnetic energies may flow.
general magnetic circulation of the lodge. Under the graded It will have been noticed that we have used a special term
system of the Western lodges, as also under the guru-chela relation­ "elemental energy" to describe this subtle force. This has been
ship existing in the East between the teacher and his pupil or done for two reasons. It is the term used in the particular occult
apprentice, this redirection of the emotional energy and its accom­ fraternity in which the present writer received much of his training.
panying magnetism takes place gradually and under control. When, and by using the term one covers all the various names. magnetism.
however, one is working alone, or with only one or two fellow­ odic force, prana, etc.
workers, care has to be taken that the magnetic energy does not There remain two points to be borne in mind by the magical
escape from control. ..·iI "
apprentice. The first is that this elemental energy in one of its forms
There is, as a matter of psychic observation, a constant circula­ is the underlying "pre-matter" from which physical matter as we
tion which goes on in the finer bodies of man, and this process is know it is condensed or "materialised." It therefore equates with
easily affected by the mind. This mental control is exercised invol­ the prana of the Hindu systems. Many western students, mislead
untarily and pathologically in the cases of suppression and mental by some of the popular presentations of the Eastern systems of
dissociation, but it is part of the magical training for the aspirant to yoga, limit the term prana, to that aspect of it which is utilised in
:::.
gain the power of conscious control of the magnetic energies. If ;;;'
the exercises of pranayama, or breathing-control.
these energies are aroused or liberated or increased (all perfectly But in the philosophy which underlies the yoga systems. the
valid lines of action), their corresponding mental channels and term prana is much more comprehensive. The earthly prana, which
physical expression must be so directed and adjusted that the tur­ manifests in all the living beings and organisms found on earth. is
bulent stream of energy may be safely diverted into the fertilising a modification of the solar prana, which in its tum is a modification
irrigation channels instead of sweeping chaotically over all the men­ of the cosmic prana which is the undifferentiated cosmic matter
tal and emotional field. termed Prakriti." This is mentioned here in order to maintain the
Such enlarged and controllable channels are provided by the correct perspective in the student's mind. In one of the cryptic texts
magical ritual if it is properly carried out, and for this reason alone, of the Sepher Yetzirah , it is said that "The Tenth Path (Malkuth)
ritual magic can be a safer and more efficient method than any causes an influence to emanate from the Prince of Countenances.
amount of Freudian psycho-analysis. the Angel of Kether (the highest point of the Tree of Life)." In
As we have pointed out, the psycho-magnetic flow of energy other words, by our actions in earthly matter and pre-matter we
can be controlled by the mind, and in this way the available mag­ are also acting on and reacting to the highest spiritual levels.
netism may be increased not merely by the release of suppressed All magical work must be seen in this perspective if the magical
energies but by an increase in the actual intake of those energies. (. apprentice is to become anything more than a mere "sorcerer." a
One of the methods, and when properly employed one of the best, meddler with occult forces. It is for this reason and as a potent
is the exercise which we have described more fully elsewhere: the reminder of it. that the magician, during his operations, wears upon
Key exercise of the Interwoven Light.
• This is more fully worked out in the Sanscrit work, the Shivagama, one
Now the personality of man receives energy from two sources, chapter of which deals entirely with this energy and its modifications.
106 107
 MAGNETISM
THE MAGICIAN: HIS TRAINING AND WORK.
have come into contact seem to work somewhere between these two
his breast what is known as the "lamen," This is a symbol which opposites, veering one way and the other as they react to their own
represents the spiritual aspect of the work in which he is engaged, inner nature.
and it is by virtue of this spiritual intention that he asserts domi­ Although, theoretically, the elemental energy can be projected
nance and control over the creatures of the elements. without any physical action, i.e., by mental effort alone, it has been
To return to our consideration of the elemental energy. The key found in practice that this projection is far more thorough and effici­
.,
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to its use is that it can be "tied," mentally, to the breath, which in ~l ent when certain gestures and signs are employed, and certain defi­
h"
itself is said to be an expression of the dual energy of the Eternal, nite thought-forms built up. The "Signs and Sigils" with which we
the outbreathing and inbreathing of Brahm. The actual exercises dealt in Section II of this book, are all designed to act as vehicles
are simple, and tedious! The ones which form the foundation of for the elemental energy, and may be so used.
such control of prana are given in the next chapter, but, of course, It is important that the magician keep ever before him the key
there are many variants and specific adaptations of the basic exer­ idea that though he may draw down spiritual power from the
cises. Before the student attempts any of them, it is imperative that ) heights, he must, if he is to give that power full expression, draw
he learns to do them without any strain. This is the most important up from the earth-soul that elemental force which, as it ascends
rule, and any infringement of it may lead to most unwelcome within him, changes its nature of manifestation from crude sex
results. energy, as it passes through the centre attributed by the Qabalists
In practical training, therefore, the apprentice magician learns to Yesod, to a radiating and harmonising force as it passes through
to release the body mechanism from the convulsive grip of the con­ the centre of Tiphareth.
~?;
scious mind. This is done by the exercise known as the "relaxation This harmonised energy may now be discharged into the mental
exercise." This will be found in the next chapter. forms which have been built, and will truly serve as an effective
_~. -
Once control over the intake of the elemental energy has been .,
1:;, link between the spiritual forces invoked, and the thought-forms
obtained, such energy may be dealt with in various ways. It may through which they manifest.
be used within the student's own etheric and physical bodies, and Most thought-forms partake of the nature of the sparks from the
very real self-healing may be brought about thereby. Or it may be smith's anvil. These fly upwards for a foot or so, and are extin­
directed outwardly on to people and things, producing very real guished. So most of the thought-forms created by the average person
effects thereby. never leave the aura of their creator. Only when they have already
When considering its use in the physical and psychic bodies, it been charged and vitalised by the elemental energy have they suffi­
should always be remembered that it is quite possible, if the student cient power to go forth. And in this connection we would again
is careless or pays no attention to instructions, to disorganise repeat, emotion and magnetism go together. A long continued
seriously the subconscious psychological workings of the body, and emotional "brooding-over" some problem will generate and charge
many students have found this out, to their cost. Undue concentra­ some pretty effective thought-forms. Though such emotional brood­
tion upon anyone of the psychic centres or chakras should be ing is usually employed in the wrong way, it can and must be used
avoided for this reason, if for none other. The great psychic centres in a constructive spiritual way by the aspirant to the Magic of Light.
lie close to, and directly influence the endocrine, or ductless, glands,
which play such a great part in the chemistry of the body. To stimu­
late the centres in a balanced way is one thing; to disorganise the
entire physical economy is quite another!
When the elemental energy is projected outward towards others
or towards other objects, then it may be used for healing, for the
spiritual illumination and initiation of those persons, or for hurt
and deceptive illusien, according to the spiritual status and intention
of the magician. These are, of course, the two poles of such activity.
In practical experience, most of the magicians with whom we
109
108
 Chapter XV

THE TATTVIC TIDES

THERE are tides in the Unseen, and the success of our magical
working depends very largely upon the set of those tides. They

are of several kinds, and produce different results. We may roughly

divide them into five: Stellar, Solar, Planetary, Lunar and

YELLOW
Terrestial. 1'.

In actual work the influences of the stellar, solar and lunar tides
"EARTH"
work upon us through the magnetic sphere of the Earth , since it is

in the sphere of the Earth that they produce their effect. We, being

children of earth, as well as of the race of the Starry Heavens,

respond to the varying tides of oui mother-planet.

VAYU
PRJTHEVI
In the West, very little has been given out publicly concerning
the Earth tides, but in the East, where the subject has been studied
without any danger of the student being persecuted, a body of
knowledge concerning these things has been built up. The tides are
known as the Tattvas, and that unseen medium in which they flow
is known as Prana. This is understood to be the state of matter
which is the next stage above terrestial matter, and we may term it
"etheric matter"; surrounding the Sun and in which move the earth TEJAS
;1,:
and other planets. This we may understand to be the "free etheric , ..
substance," whilst prana surrounding our planet, as well as the r;
~'~'"
others of this solar system, may be called the "bound ether," or
AKASHA
magnetic sphere of our planet.

As the earth revolves on its axis, and also travels at the same

time around the sun, centres of stress are set up in the magnetic

sphere of the earth . During the day of any part of the earth's sur­

face, that part sends out a positive current from East to West. So

there is a steady current, or tide, in the magnetic sphere of the

earth, flowing from East to West.

As the earth moves round the sun, a magnetic current passes

from the north to the south during six months, and the reverse is

the case for the remaining six months. These "seasonal" tides are

also of great practical value. They are marked by the solstices and
APAS
equinoxes and are classified as follows:­ TEJAS Of APAS
The Tide of Destruction : December 23rd-March 21st.

The Tide of Sowing: March 21st-June 21st.

The Tide of Reaping: June 2lst-5eptember 23rd.

The Tide of Planning: September 23rd-December 23rd.

The corresponding aspects of these tides for the Southern hemi­

110 111

_.\... sa . S
 "P!""':'""

THE MAOICIAN: HIS TRAININO AND WORX: THE TATTVIC TIDES

sphere can be worked out by the reader. The above are given for into Tejas, and this into Apas, and finally Apas merges into Prithivi.
the Northern hemisphere. Of course. they are not so sharply defined; Then the cycle is repeated.
they merge one into the other and the "cusps." where this merging Each tattvic tide is composite. For instance. in the first flow of
takes place. are of mixed influence. As the author of Ecclesiastes the tide at sunrise. Akasha is the dominant. but together with
says. "there is a time for sowing and a time for reaping. a time to Akasha are the four other aspects of the tide. and these build up
be born and a time to die. and for everything under the sun there in power until. as the dominant phase of Akasha begins to weaken.
is a time." the phase of Vayu becomes dominant. to be followed by the others
This does not mean that the magical student must meticulously in succession. So all the five tattvic currents are always flowing. but
"observe times and seasons," but it does mean that when working their individual power varies in a rhythmic fashion. Now each
as a magician. it is advisable to perform your operation when the tattvic aspect produces certain conditions in the magnetic sphere of
right tide is flowing. the earth. and so will help or hinder the magician in his particular
The positive currents emanate from the northern centre. the work. A knowledge of what tide is flowing is therefore very helpful.
negative currents from the southern centre. and the eastern and There are certain symbols used to denote the tattvas, and these
western channels of these currents are known as the Pingalii (E) are:­
and Ida (W) of the planet. They have their counterparts in the AKASHA-Ether Indigo or Black
human body. in the positive and negative currents which flow VA YU-Air Blue
through the etheric counterpart of the spine. TIDAS-Hre Red
Generally speaking. the limit of the magnetic sphere of this APAS-Water Silver
planet is around the limits of the atmosphere. and within this sphere PRITHIVI-Earth Yellow
of force. every atom of earth is a centre of action and reaction for These tattvic symbols are of very great use when the student is
the tattvic tides. working with the visualising exercises detailed in the preceding
Thus all that has been done upon the earth is herein recorded. section. They may be combined. i.e. the red triangle of Tejas may
and by a process of induction. these terrestial records are imprinted be placed in the centre of the yellow square of Prithivi, and they
also on the pranic sphere of the Sun. All these records are under are undoubtedly splendid objects for the exercises.
the influence of the negative tattvic forces. whose controller is the They can also be used as "gates" into the Astral Light. as key
Moon. For this reason. on the Tree of Life. Yesod the Moon-sphere symbols which will open up to the student the corresponding level
is termed the "Treasure-House of Images." of the astral.
The Lunar tides work in a rhythm of that lunar month. and are
roughly divided into two: the tides of the waxing moon. and the
tides of the waning moon. It is customary not to essay practical
occult works (unless it is imperative they should be done) during
the "waning phase of the moon." The last quarter or "dark of the
moon" is usually reserved in the occult circles for simple lectures.
and so on.
The planetary tides as we have seen. affect us through the mag­
netic sphere of the earth. but their influence is subject to great
alteration by the terrestial magnetic currents.
Now. the tattvic tide which swirls around our planet from East
to West is five-fold. and each of its components has its maximum
and minimum periods. The Element of Akasha is strongest at sun­
rise. then it merges into the element of Vayu. This in its turn merges
112 113
 THE BODY OF LIGHT
Chapter XVI and discharge from the body. The individual cell lives are ener­
gised by the permanent (for this life) etheric body. and will therefore
THE BODY OF LIGHT build the new atoms into the old pattern. So our body retains its
"pE Body of Light" is a technical term used in the Western distinctive appearance. though. as the years go by. the power of the
cell-life to build truly on the etheric pattern begins to lessen. and
esoteric schools to refer to what may be described as an arti­ false patterns are built in. An example of this sometimes occurs in
ficial body or vehicle of consciousness which is used by the magician the nervous system where. instead of the true nerve-substance being
to project his consciousness from his physical body. In some Eastern built up. the cell-life builds into the nerve that particular type of
schools. this body is known as the Manumayakosha which may be substance known as "connective tissue." This is a very useful sub­
roughly translated as " the thought-ereated sheath or body of stance in its proper place. but when it is built up into a nerve it is
illusion:' In other words it is a mentally-produced vehicle of con­ as though we replaced part of a wire which carries electricity. by a
sciousness which appears to be a replica of the body of the magician length of rubber. The rubber. being a non-conductor of electricity
(though it need not take that form). will prevent any current flowing. and in like manner. the connective
The particular psychic operation which has been popularised of tissue which may be built up into parts of a nerve. does not trans­
late years in western occult circles. the so-called "projection of the mit the nerve-current. and renders the nerve useless. Some forms
astral body:' is an example of the use of the Body of Light. At the of deafness in aged people are due to this faulty rebuilding of the
same time it should be realised that in some cases. far more than aural nerves.
a simple thought-form is projected. This brings us to the crux of Now the etheric matrix or "double:' normally remains in close
the matter. Anyone with a good visualising power can build up a union with the physical body. and is only separated therefrom. and
thought-form. and with training may succeed in transferring his then only partially. by certain drugs. general anesthetics, mes­
personal consciousness thereto. But for the further stages of this merism and hypnotism.
operation. it is essential that there should be what may be described When the etheric is driven out of the physical body by anyone
as a "splitting up" of the subtle inner bodies. Most people nowadays of these means. a certain amount of it remains with the physical.
are familiar with the idea of "split-personality:' but this is not what and between the exteriorised etheric double and the part still re­
we mean in this connection. In order to make our meaning perfectly maining on the physical levels, there is what has been termed the
clear. it is necessary to touch briefly upon the vehicles or bodies "silver cord:' Should this cord be broken. then death has occured.
possessed by man. It is important to realise that although the etheric double is the
We are all aware that we possess a physical body, since it is
permanent mould of the physical. it is in itself "fluidic:' i.e. it can
perfectly evident to our waking consciousness. We fail. however.
be split up into several more etheric duplicates of itself. The double
to realise the existence of the inner bodies. because cognition of
is. also, both the channel for the vital energies which keep the
them does not extend into the normal waking consciousness.
physical body going, and the link between the physical brain and
Nevertheless. the various inner bodies do exist. For our present
purposes we will briefly deal with the three inner bodies which are the corresponding centres of consciousness of the inner bodies.
normally employed in the practice of astral projection. These are To remember. or "bring through" the recollection of an astral
the so-called "etheric double:' the "astral body" and the "mental plane activity. it is necessary to so work upon the etheric body. that
body," The etheric body is really the true physical body. since it is a certain amount of its substance vibrates in harmony with our
the matrix or mould into which flows the physical substance gained astral consciousness. When this has been done. then it is possible
from food and drink. But as we know. this material substance is to induce in the physical brain some memory of what has been
in a constant state of flux or movement. and in the course of a few seen and done on the inner planes, though since inner plane experi­
years all atoms of matter which make up the physical body have ences are not of the material order. it will be found almost impos­
been replaced by new atoms. So there is a constant intake of matter. sible to bring through a full realisation of such experiences; the
its assimilation by the living cells of the body. and its later rejection essence will usually escape us. In the Western schools a system of
114 115
 T /I r. M A (; I C I AN : HIS T R A I N I N G AND W 0 R Ie
THE BODY OF LIGHT
symbol-building is used to enable the magician to deal with the
superphysical experiences. the Body of Light results in the sleep of the physical, and this sleep
The alteration of the vibration rate of part of the etheric double may vary from so light a condition of unconsciousness that such
is sometimes known as the "splitting of the moon," since the etheric a thing as a check in the circulation of the blood, due to a tight
double is like our moon, a reflector of light received from another article of clothing, or a change in temperature, may bring back the
source. The exercise described in the section dealing with the "inter­ projected consciousness into the physical body, to a state of cata­
woven light" has the effect, among many others, of splitting the leptic rigour, in which the whole body is stiff and rigid.
etheric, or, more precisely, adapting part of it to the vibration ratio Normally, . however, the "trance of projection" is not so deep
of the astral body of the student. as the cataleptic condition . It is interesting to note that in the deeper
The astral or "psychic" body is usually well developed in most stages of trance there are well-defined changes in the chemical com­
people, and the astral senses (or rather sense) active. But because position of the blood-stream. Many beginners are afraid that if they
of a lack of contact between the physical brain and the astral centre are successful in projecting the Body of Light, they may be "locked
of consciousness the perceptions of the psychic senses are not trans­ out" as it were, and unable to get back. * They need have no fear
mitted to the physical plane consciousness. What is known as on this score. The difficulty, especially in the early stage, is to keep
psychic development makes such links of contact, and equally the out of the physical!
magician's training is intended to build up such links between the We said that the etheric double, whenever it partially or wholly
consciousness on the outer and inner planes. leaves the physical body, is connected with it by a connecting etheric
When, after the preliminary work with the interwoven light, the link or "cord," This etheric "cable tow" is extremely sensitive to
magician comes to the work of formulating and using the Body of changes occurring in the physical body, and constantly tends to
Light, he will find that, although the technique is simple enough, draw the extruded etheric substance back into the body. Such with­
there are several "critical points," where failure may ensue. But drawal is sometimes practically instantaneous. The writer has seen
persistent practice will in the end produce the desired result. Indeed, the body of a medium marked with very definite bruises when the
it may be stated that persistence is one of the most important traits ) . extruded double, together with a certain amount of ectoplasmic sub­
to be developed by the magician. Again and again will the endeav­ stance had returned suddenly and violently to the physical body
our to formulate the Body of Light be unsuccessful, but again and from which it came, this sudden return being because a sitter had
again must he try until, suddenly he one day finds that he is no suddenly grasped the materialised form .t
longer in the inert physical body, which he sees resting on the bed We have dwelt upon this point in order to reassure those who
or couch before him. Like Tennyson's "Ancient Sage," the mortal feel that to project out of the body is akin to jumping into deep
limit of the self has been loosed, and the student stands, fully con­ water when you are unable to swim. You may get out, or you may
scious in the Body of Light. not! In projection, however, such a danger is so remote that, for
This is a tremendous experience, and the present writer well all practical purposes, it does not exist. A far more definite danger
remembers the time, now some forty years ago, when, under the If is that the practice may throw a strain upon the heart. (But no one
guidance of his teacher, he first stood forth in the Body of Light, should attempt practical magical work if they suffer from any
and gazed on his earthly form lying in deep trance on the couch. organic disease of the heart. If such a sufferer wishes to become
Whoever has this experience knows in a mode of absolute know­ consciously aware of the astral world, let him develop the links
ledge, that he is not the physical body with which he has for so between the astral and physical levels of his consciousness by the
long identified himself . It is possibly one of the greatest experiences use of a "symbol-chain" when falling asleep, and again when wak­
which can happen to man, and perhaps the novelist, Lord Bulwer ing._He may in this way attain without risk to his health, practical
_ _ _ _ _ __ _ _ _ _______ _ . __ ._ _ 00_. _
Lytton, was thinking of this in his book Zanoni, when he makes the
Rosicrucian adept Mejnour remark, "Man's first initiation is in • Cf. a story by H. G. Wells, "The Stolen Bodv," which deals with such a
dilemma!
trance ."
t This phenomenon of the infliction of injury upon the medium by injury
The transference of the consciousness from the physical body to inflicted on the extruded etheric form is known as "repercussion," and
figures in much of the evidence in the trials of witches in medieval times.
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 THE MAGICIAN: HIS TRAINING AND WORK THE BODY OP LIGHT

knowledge and experience of the inner worlds.) How is the formu­ way, the thir? stag~ may be started. The experimenter is now trying
lat ion and projection of the Body of Light accomplished? The first to transfer his waking consciousness into the form .
step is quite easy, the more so if the visualising exercises already For this stage, the first step consists in making the Body of Light
described have been systematically used. do certain things. move about, speak, etc., as though it was a puppet
The student should be seated in such a position that he is free actuated by remote radio control. When the visualised form can be
from any undue worry about his physical body. The less he receives clearly kept in the mental vision and made to move easily. the final
in sensations telegraphed to his brain consciousness by the nerves act of identification can be made. First of all, the mental " intention"
of sensation, the better. Some European students attempt to sit in to project consciousness into the form is made by a strong momen­
one or other of the various asanas or postures which are commonly tary effort of will. Do not keep on "willing"; the definite "intention"
used in the Orient. But, although, when they are mastered they can or act of will sets the appropriate etheric and astral forces in action.
be most comfortable. they are usually anything but comfortable to The next step is to step forward in thought and enter the form
the European type of body. Now since the student is endeavouring which stands before you. and immediately make an imaginative
to take the consciousness out of the body, it seems rather foolish effort to see and hear and feel from the standpoint of the figure.
to adopt a position which will continually be calling the conscious­ This is the crucial point in the operation, and as we have said the
ness back into the body. student may try many times before success is achieved. Usually.
It is true that certain yoga postures do "short-circuit" and link when one is at last successful. there is heard a curious sound, some­
together some of the magnetic currents of the body, but for the what like a sharp metallic "click."
purpose of projection, intricate etheric postures are not necessary. The student is now standing out of his physical body and is
So let the posture be one of comfort. Quite a good one is sitting clothed in the Body of Light. At first he will clearly see the physical
in an easy chair so arranged that the body leans slightly back from plane surroundings, all apparently self-luminous with a clear bluish
the perpendicular, and the back is kept straight. light. His sleeping physical body lies before him. and a thin silvery
Or the student can lie flat on his back on a couch or bed, but cord of misty light connects him with it.
whatever position he is in, he must, when he commences this exer­ If. however. he wishes to go any distance from his physical body,
cise, visualise his Body of Light as being in identically the same he must, again by a momentary effort of will. send back some of
position . the denser etheric substance in which he is now working. When this
Before attempting the actual projection, the Banishing Ritual has been done. the Body of Light is less susceptible to physical
of the Lesser Pentagram should be used. plane disturbances of various kinds and it can be projected to much
Then, seated in his particular posture, the student should care­ greater distances.
fully visualise (subjectively) the shape of that form he desires to Always the student will, in the earlier stages at least, feel the
project. pull of the silver cord. as it responds to the varying physical plane
Next he should extemalise this mental image, and see it appar­ impressions coming in via the physical body, but with increasing
ently objectively. The figure may be clothed as is the experimenter, dexterity, the tendency to move back into the physical will lessen.
or as his fancy dictates. A good image, so the present writer found During projection it is comparatively easy. if any "automatic­
out many years ago, is of a robed and hooded figure, the details of writing" ability has been developed, to concentrate mentally upon
robe and figure being clearly pictured and projected. the physical brain. causing the hand to write automatically and so
When this has been done, the second stage in projection may be record the observations one is making. Or concentration may be
attempted. Here the experimenter is splitting the etheric and trans­ made upon the throat and the physical voice will record the tele­
ferring the tenuous etheric, astral and mental substance to the pathic impressions being sent in from its owner . But these are later
thought-form which he has projected. Such transference can be developments, as such concentration on the physical body tends to
achieved by the use of the exercise of the interwoven light, and draw one back into it.
the breathing exercises based upon it. It is when the student first stands forth in the Body of Light
"
';
that his troubles begin . For he is as a child newly born on the etheric
When the thought-image has been "charged" with energy in this
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~:
 THE MAOICIAN: HIS TR/.NINO AND WORI(
THE BODY OF LIOHT
plane . The surging magnetic tides of the etheric earth will tend to When the "star of consciousness," with its associated astral
drift him aimlessly along. and his ill-controlled imagination will memories, has been transferred into the physical, the student should
switch him instantaneously from one set of conditions to another. visualise the Body of Light , in which he has been working, as stand­
Here. too. he will find that what were but "symbols" on the physical ing before him.
plane, are living things, and here will he find that many of the fixed He should then . by a steady effort of will. draw it back into
"laws of nature" concerning which he has so proudly spoken, are himself. This should never be omitted. The form will subsist in his
reversed and work in a very different way. astro-mental sphere, and be more easily formulated and sent forth
It is necessary to have some clue to the astral maze, and this in the future. But to leave such a form , or forms, drifting idly around
clue is to be found in the use of the symbols associated with the in ones psychic atmosphere is definitely unwise.
pivotal diagram of the Western Magical Schools. the "Tree of Life." One curious point emerges here, a point with which the student
By using these symbols as "doors" through which one makes con­ will make practical acquaintance as time goes on. The Body of
tact with the astral powers, it is possible for the student to bring Light may show alarming signs of being itself an independent being,
order and method into his astral wanderings, and thus avoid becom­ and will not respond to its formulator. When this occurs, the prac­
ing one of those whom one occult teacher I knew referred to as tice ot projection should be preceded by a meditation on the prin­
"astral tramps"! ciples used to build up the magical personality, and the errant Body
The student should always remember that, in the words of of Light disciplined and controlled." Never allow it to break away
Marcus Aurelius, "we are never less alone than when we think we or become dominant. It is your vahan , your vehicle, and you
are alone." There are guides and teachers who may not at first be should be its master, and it must be your servant.
perceived, but who will make themselves known to him. Always he
should test such teachers by the moral and mental standards which
he has built by his series of meditations when he was engaged in
building his "magical personality ."
These standards he will have embodied in certain symbolic
figures and gestures, and these he will use to test those who appear
in the astral and claim to guide and teach him.
Having left the physical and worked in the Body of Light, the
student must now return. For some time there will have been an
increasing pull from the physical, and he has only to yield volun­
tarily to this pull for him to be instantaneously "yanked" back into
the material body. "
Such a rapid return tends to break the consciousness link
and also the memory ehain which enables him to recollect his
astral experiences.
Th e return should therefore be deliberate. This is not easy at
first, as the pull of the physical is increased as one comes near it.
If the student has gone out by the way of the Pylon Door of
some train of associated symbols, then by that door he should return
until. in his Body of Light he stands once more gazing down upon
his sleeping physical organism.
The "intention " to return slowly into the physical should be --- -- - - - - ,-- - __
. - ._..-. .. - - - - -- - ­
made. and the same projection of consciousness as that used in the • Of course. as we have said, all magical work, including the project ion. of
the Body of Light, should be preceded by the assumption of the "magIcal
stepping-out should be made, but, of course, "in reverse." personality."
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 THE MAGICAL PERSONALITY

Chapter XVII your meditation. Here is a typical meditation on the power aspect.
"I am meditating on Power-with a capital P.-Why a capital?
THE MAGICAL PERSONALITY -why. all manifestations of energy are individual expressions of
the one energy which lies behind them all-the flaming crater of
THERE are several ways in which what we may term the the volcano. the mountainous waves of the tempest-tom ocean. the
"magical pressure" in the personality may be increased. and of devastating fury of the hurricane. the roaring terror of the avalanche
these the "magical personality" is one of the most important. As -all are expressions of the primal energy . So. too. are the mani­
the psychologists have proved through the study of those curious festations of power in the realms of life-the strength of the masto­
states of mind known as "alternating" or "split" personalities. our don. and the great saurians. the fury of the lion and the conquering
ordinary personality is a rather unstable thing. constructed hap­ wills of those men and women who in their day and generation have
hazardly. and easily affected by outside conditions. It is possible altered the destinies of the nations.
for us to remould that personality. indeed at some time or other All these were but partial manifestations of that Strength which
in our magical career we shall have to do this. but long before the guides Arcturus and his sons. which upholds all creation by the
permanent alteration is effected we can have commenced to build might of Its Power.
up an alternative personality which shall serve as an efficient instru­ And I. son of earth. feeble and ignorant. am also of the race
ment for our magical work. There are definite rules for the con­ of the Starry Heavens. a spark of that Mighty Flame. and within
struction of such a magical personality. and if they are carefully me also is that Power.
observed. the result will be of the greatest help to the magician. I aspire towards that radiant Source of all Power. 0 Thou. the
It must, however. be kept in mind that the personality-splitting. Eternal. Whose spark dwells within me. I strive to realise Thee
or "schizophrenic" tendency. has to be reckoned with in this work. within myself. May Thy Power descend upon me and work through
We see a similar state of affairs in connection with certain actors me. that Thy Will may be done. and Thy Plan brought to its con­
and actresses who have to play some particular character in a play summation within me. To the Greater. I submit."
which enjoys a very long run . The stage character they have been This. of course. is but a rough draft of such a meditation. but
portraying for so long seems to gain a certain kind of individual the idea will be seen. In the same way. similar meditations should
existence in their mind. and does at times appear to intrude into be made on the other two aspects-Love and Wisdom. In all these
and supersede the normal waking consciousness. But this. of course, meditations the aim should be a realisation of the unity of all the
is what we do not want to happen in our magical work. In that work manifestations of the particular aspect which is being considered.
we must always be positive and dominant masters of the temple of followed by an aspiration towards union with that transcendent
our personality. This is one of the cardinal points in magical work. Unity.
Although the personality must be held open to any inflow of power. It is most important that the building up of the form-aspect of
light or wisdom from the deeper self within. it must be so built and the magical personality should not be commenced before these
trained that no involuntary alterations can take place in it. When three aspects of Life have been thoroughly meditated upon. and
we begin to build up the magical personality. therefore. we must some realisation of their nature gained. Now comes the next step.
so work that all involuntary manifestations of it are stopped at This must be taken carefully. and all details fully worked out.
source. The magical personality must never be allowed to manifest To build up a faulty magical personality is worse than useless; it
suddenly unless the will and waking consciousness of the normal can cause quite serious troubie under certain circumstances. So the
. personality concur. So rule one is-always build the magical per­ apprentice magician should most carefully consider what he is do­
sonality positively. and never allow it to manifest without your ing. and patiently carry out the routine training .
definite personal agreement. We have already said that this artificial magical personality must
In order to build up a balanced magical personality. construct be fully under the control of the magician's will. and should not be
it around the three basic aspects of life: Power, Love and Wisdom . allowed to manifest in any way except when the conscious self so
Take each one of these in tum and use it as the central idea in wills it. Also. when the purpose for which it was summoned forth
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THE MAGICAL PERSONALITY

THE MAGICIAN : HIS TRAINING AND WORK
to think and feel himself to be that character. In the beginning of
has been fulfilled, it should be positively dismissed by the operator, this exercise, he has three character parts to play, and his routine
and returned into the subconsciousness. These two points are of the training should be so arranged that each of these characters is used
I I highest importance, and anyone who attempts this exercise without in turn. At a later stage, the three are fused together into the one
having developed the power to control the manifestations of the magical personality, but it is necessary to develop each aspect separ­
magical personality is simply asking for trouble. ately before attempting such a fusion.
II The exercise should be started by the operator selecting some Our apprentice-magician has already carried out his basic medi­
object which is to be closely identified with the magical personality tations on the three aspects of Life: Power. Love and Wisdom.
which is to be constructed. A ring is one of the best objects for Now he will take one of them and try to think and feel as if he
this purpose. A symbol made of metal may be worn as a pendant were the physical embodiment of that aspect. It is more than prob­
over the heart, but since this is the position in which the magical able that most people would choose the Power aspect for a start
breast plate or "Lamen" is worn, the ring is the better object of. and this. of course, is very natural. But the next time the magical
the two. personality is assumed, the aspect chosen must be one of the com­
In the various "grimoires," or books of magical instruction, great plementary aspects of Love and Wisdom. This rule must never be
stress is laid upon the "virginity" of the various articles used in broken or relaxed in any way, until the fusion of the three aspects
. the rites. This simply means that the object should be one that has of the magical personality is complete. Even then it will be found
not been used for any other purpose, and one that has therefore, no in practice that one or other of the aspects seems to predominate
association links with other things and no "magnetic" charge which when the magical work is being done. and the integrated magical
would link it with other influences. It is also laid down that the personality will be found to be temporarily "biassed" toward such
operator must make and consecrate his own magical instruments, an aspect, the aspect evoked being related to the type of work being
and it is certainly a very good exercise for the operator to do this, done.
as it implies a concentration upon the article which will be far In the exercises, the apprentice should think. feel, speak and
greater than that which could be exerted upon a ready-made article. act as if he were the channel and expression of the aspect chosen.
But since it is not so easy to make a ring, at least not easy for those Since speech is important, it is advisable to carry out this exercise
who are not mechanically minded, a shop-bought ring certainly somewhere where there is freedom from interruption. A simple
saves time. ritual should be devised by the operator, and this ritual should be
If, however, the ring is bought at second-hand, it will in all prob­ performed with the idea that he is identified with the magical per­
ability be charged with influences from its past history, and will sonality. that he is it, and every thought and feeling should be
therefore be unsuitable for our purpose until it has been magneti­ directed towards this one end.
cally cleansed and charged. A way in which this can be greatly intensified is to use the ring
In all cases, whether the object chosen is new or second-hand, as an auto-hypnotic device by turning it bezel inwards, and quietly
it is recharged with the idea (held firmly in the operator's mind) contemplating the symbol engraved thereon, at the same time affirm­
that when this ring is put on the magical personality is assumed ing the intention of assuming the magical personality. Since at the
through that action, and when it is removed, then the magical per­ present point of training the operator is not attempting contact with
sonality is put off, and returned to the subconscious levels. Again any other levels of being, but is using a purely psychological tech­
it is repeated: the magical personality must never be assumed, nique, the Qabalistic symbol of Malkuth, the Kingdom of Earth, is
except at the conscious command of the will. and for these training a very good one to use.·
purposes, such assumption must be keyed to the deliberate action Having assumed the magical personality. the student should
of putting on the magical ring. now vroceed to the controlled use of "phantasy," i.e. the image­
The ring has been placed upon 'the finger, and the operator is building faculty which he uses when he is, as we say, "day-dream­
now about to assume the magical personality. How is this done? ing." He should picture mentally a number of characters engaged in
Let him see himself as an actor assuming a certain character in a • See diagram of the Tree. page 36.
play. It is not necessary to visualise any particular form, but simply
125
124
 .......

THE MAGICAL PEIlSONALITY

THE MAGICIAN: HIS TIlAINING AND WOllE:
personality should then be dismissed from memory until the exer­
doing some particular thing. and from the standpoint of his magical
cise is again due.
personality. he should put himself into the phantasy and see and Once the technique has been learnt, and the magical personality
feel himself as one of the characters. stabilised, the time of the exercise may be lengthened, but by then
Thus. we will assume that the "Wisdom" facet of the magical the operator will have commenced some at least of the elementary
personality has been adopted by the student. He builds up his magical rites, and will know how long the magical personality must
phantasy. shall we say one in which a number of men and women be assumed for the work in hand.
in an office are apparently in a glorious confusion because of lack It should be clearly understood that the magical personality
of method. The student in his magical personality steps down into must be used throughout any ritual operation. which is undertaken.
the picture and brings order out of chaos, organises and systematises It forms also the basis of the so-called "Body of Light" which is
the work that is being done by the actors in his little mental play, used in the magical operation of "astral projection" or, more accur­
and then retires from the picture. leaving the situation balanced ately, the operation of "Rising on the Planes:'
and co-ordinated.
Should the Power facet of the magical personality have been
assumed, then a situation is visualised in which power is seen to
be absent. with resultant non-action. The student in his Power per­
sonality steps into the picture and applies power in a balanced
form. thus energising the static conditions visualised in the mental
picture.
Similarly with the Love facet. It must always be kept in mind
that this is not only a mental exercise, it should bring in all the
appropriate emotions, not only in the magical personality but also
in the actors on the mental stage.
Once the technique has been mastered it will be found that.
although. as will be seen, the magical personality is dismissed from
consciousness and returned to its place in the subconscious. it will.
nevertheless, continue to operate indirectly upon the normal con­
sciousness. For this reason it is a very great help in the building up
of the balanced earth-personality.
Again. the student is warned that the direct expression of the
magical personality should always be under the full control of the
waking consciousness. and its evocation and dismissal must always
be voluntary.
At the commencement of the exercise, the magical personality
should not be assumed for longer than ten minutes. At the end of
that time the operator should visualise a silvery veil behind him,
and mentally see the robed and hooded figure of the magical per­
sonality pass through it and disappear. The ring should be taken
off and put away. and the operator should stamp once on the
ground, thus asserting symbolically that he has returned to normal
everyday consciousness. The success or otherwise of the exercise
should be noted down in a diary kept for this purpose. The magical
126 127
 CI)
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Q., u....
0
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...

Chapter XVIIl

THE CONSTRUCTION AND USE OF FORMS

WE come now to what is sometimes known as the "invisible

work" of the magical lodges. It is invisible to the physical
senses, but very perceptible indeed to trained clairvoyant vision.
Before we commence to examine it in detail, it will perhaps be as
well if we outline the aim of such work. Briefly, for most of us.
our minds are linked so closely with matter that they are to all
intents and purposes fixed. Now the magical student has to learn
how to detach the mind from its fixation in matter. Next, when
this has been done, and the free-flowing mental energy is at his
disposal. he has to learn how to control it. Then the power of matter
can be used to help the mind. for if the mental energy is now
attached to objects that do not belong to the world of sense, though
derived from it. the subtle energy can be controlled and directed.
So the reflections in the mind of the objects of the material world
may be used as channels through which the forces may be directed.
Here we come to the use of "material action." If we mentally
visualise the sign of the cross. we do indeed build up a thought
image. but if we reinforce our mental picture by making the sign
with our hand in the air before us as we build the picture. then
the effect of the gesture is to cause the thought-form to become more
clearly defined. quite apart from the " magnetic" stresses we may
be causing. So. whenever we can: we link symbolic gesture with
thought-form construction. As we shall see when we consider the
signs and sigils, in certain thought-forms and signs there is a true
"correspondence" with much deeper aspects of creation, and the
association between the gesture and the thought-form is an organic
one; they are the two aspects of an invisible reality.
Before attempting to build the Great Forms. the magical appren­
tice has to learn how to build up lesser forms. and acquires dexterity
thereby.
The principle thought-forms built up in a magical lodge are
"The Astral Temple" and the "God-forms." and these are built up
most carefully according to a well-established system. In an old­
established lodge. there will always be some of the "senior brethren"
who are expert in this form construction. and their trained minds
will form an invisible foundation into which the inexpert efforts of
the "juniors" will be fitted. So. the telesmatic images. as they are
termed. are built up -by the seniors. but the "temple-form" is built
131
,." -' THE MAGICIAN: HIS TRAINING AND WORK
THE CONSTRUCTION AND USB OF FORMS
up by all. each member working according to his knowledge and moonlight. They the Children of Atlantis, seeking in stern and rude
grade. Usually, the energy to be built up is indicated by a series of conditions of Nature, relief from the degenerate luxury of their Horne­
descriptive passages which are read aloud by one of the brethren land, established in this land a Centre of Light which through the
ages has stood and shall stand until that day when the purposes of
before the actual ritual is started. the Lord of the Aeon have been accomplished .
As we have seen, the colour-symbolism employed in magic is Around arise mighty forests .
of cardinal importance. and the temple-form is built up in those As we have said, this journey ends in the temple-form of the
colours. and their complementaries, which in the magical symbo­ particular station on the Tree with whose forces we desire to work.
lism have been assigned to a particular type of manifested force. The senior brethren present will have built up the temple-form in
Thus, an operation of Venus will need a temple-form coloured in great detail, and the telepathic pressure of their trained minds will
green and its complementaries. whilst an operation of Luna will cause the crude efforts of some of the junior brethren to be modified
call for a temple in mauve and silver. and the complementaries sufficiently to enable them to be built into the "form" which has
thereto. been constructed. Indeed at times it does happen that one of the
When the magical work is being centred upon the individual lesser brethren finds that instead of his own personal images arising
consciousness of the magician. as in the "path-workings'r" so called. in response to the description of the vision-journey, a set of strange,
then the imagery assigned to the particular path is built up later yet potent images arise within his consciousness. This is due to
in the ceremony. but the "temple-form" will be that of the Sephirah his psychic rapport with one or other of the senior brethren, or
at the head of the path chosen. For example. the 32nd path leads with the temple-form they have built up.
from Malkuth to Yesod on the Tree. and the temple would be built The layout of the temple as described in the key-reading with
according to the imagery of Yesod. its symbolic furniture, of which the physical plane temple is a
It is well to remember here that the Sephiroth on the Tree of replica, will build up an astral counterpart to the latter, and it is in
Life represent the points where the individual subjective conscious­ this astral temple, built without hands, and in itself symbolising
ness makes contact with the objective energies of the spiritual another temple. eternal in the heavens, that the invisible forces
universe around him. Again it must be reiterated that the whole of invoked and concentrated by the ritual will flow in their proper
the Tree. the ten holy Sephiroth and their twenty-two connecting channels. The symbolic furniture of the lodge. which is "magnet­
paths. can be used in the colour scales, and the effect will then be ised" by the presiding magus, becomes both a channel of the forces.
according to the scale used. and a series of indicators, by means of which we may know how
Here is an excerpt from some descriptive passages which are those energies are operating at any given moment.
used in this way. It is part of a ritual designed to make contact with But indicators and channels alike are useless unless there is
the Celtic forces and images in the racial mind:­ power present. Many people who have tried their 'prentice hand
Brethren, allow th is vision to rise before you. We stand upon a with magical ritual fail to realise this. They are like someone who
high hill in the presence of the Holy Angel in whose care is the
sleeping city below. Hi s mighty figure tow ers above us and His bless­ stands before a switchboard which is crowded with indicators and
ing is upon us as we turn our faces westwa rd and forward towards our switches.
goal.
We are travelling alike in Time and Space, and as we proceed. They see the switches are "on:' and they think the current is
there rise around us the scenes and cond itions of prirnteval Britain ; flowing. But the main switch is " off." and all the lesser switches
that Britain whose children we are. are without power. Should the main switch be put "on," then
Beneath our feet is the close green turf of the ancient road, above
us the Moon shines brilliantly in the star-studded indigo vault of the immediately the switchboard is " live," the needles on the meters
Heavens, and around us gradually appear the outlines of that Elder move to indicate the power. and the indicating lamps light up.
Britain wherein is contained the Sanctuary of our worship. This is
the Britain of Arthur and Merlin, yea, and the Britain also of those Quite a definite change.
who built this road, who reared these guiding mounds of earth, and So it is with the magical lodge. The astral temple may have
first devised these dew-ponds which shine placidly before us in the been built and linked with its physical counterpart, but before the
• In this use of the term "Path" we are omitting the ten "Paths" usually astral energies can flow. the equivalent of the main switch must be
known collectively as the Sephiroth. operated. and its power passed through its correct channels to the
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THE MAGICIAN : HIS TRAINING AND WORK: THE CONSTRUCTION AND USE OF FORMS

lodge. This is done by the use of the Telesmatic Images. and in the which the lodge (of which he was a member) was situated. were
very first part of the ritual. known as "The Preparation of the closed twenty minutes before the time fixed for the lodge meeting.
Place." some of these images with their appropriate signs are built By a mischance. he arrived late. and though he got in. he could
up in order that all vagrant astral and etheric forces may be cleared not go up into the lodge room. but had to sit down below until the
from the temple. conclusion of the ritual.
One form of this preparation of the place may be seen in any Sitting quietly in the room immediately below the actual lodge­
Catholic Church at the commencement of the Mass. when the cele­ room. he suddenly ,became aware that the psychic atmosphere
brant performs the "Asperges." He sprinkles "magnetised" or around had quite definitely altered. and the whole "feel" of the room
"Holy Water" around the altar and sanctuary and towards the con­ was that of the purified astral conditions of the lodge-room itself.
gregation. holding in his mind the "intention" of purification. and The theosophical clairvoyant, Bishop C. W. Leadbeater, in his
reciting part of a Psalm "Thou shalt purge me with hyssop 0 Lord. book The Science of the Sacraments, gives a similar description
and I shall be clean .... . " of the purified psychic atmosphere of the Church after certain ritual
This being done. he invokes the assistance of the "Angel of the work has been done.
Mass." that this Being may "guide. guard. visit. protect and ~,
Sir Ronald Fraser. in his occult novel Sun in Scorpio. refers to
cherish" those who have met together for worship. In the lodge this purified atmosphere as producing some degree of dizziness, or
rituals this preparation of the place is done by one of two methods. even slight nose-bleeding in those who enter it unprepared. The
The first and most generally used in the lodges of the Lesser present writer can vouch for this happening. in some cases at least.
Mysteries is what is known as the Banishing Ritual of the Lesser It is within this atmosphere. which constitutes a veritable "forcing­
Pentagram. house" of magical power. that the work of the lodge is done. and
The actual Sign of the Pentagram or Five-pointed Star is one its effects upon the members thereof is to quicken into activity the
which has been used in magical work for many centuries. but the latent powers which they alI possess. This astro-etheric atmosphere
Ritual of the Pentagram seems to owe its origin to the synthetic is not always the same. It varies greatly in intensity. and no two
genius of the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn. that magical ritual-workings are ever exactly alike. although the ceremonial in
system which is the fount from which most of the Western magical both cases may be the same.
systems have been derived. The Banishing Ritual of the Lesser Pentagram is designed to
There are several ways of tracing the pentagram. and these are be applied from a particular mental angle. If it is used blindly and
referred to the four elements. The Banishing Pentagram is the without any knowledge of the principles which underlie it, then.
Pentagram of " Earth." although it works up to a point. it does not produce the maximum
The ritual is described by Israel Regardie in his book The purification possible. It is a ritual which is designed to bring through
Middle Pillar. and the relevant part will be found in Appendix I certain forces into the psychic atmosphere of the lodge. These forces
at the end of this book. proceed from the Intelligences who direct those aspects of elemental
The circumambulation around the lodge-room. which is 'part life which are known in occultism as the four elements of Earth.
of this Banishing Ritual. has the effect of building up. in the astral Air. Fire and Water.
temple. of what appears to clairvoyant vision to be a shimmering Only the very ignorant and naive critics of Magic still believe
wall or barrier of swiftly-moving light. This seems to surround the that the occultists think of these "elements" as being the material
whole of the lodge. and takes the shape of a half-sphere. whose earth. air. fire and water. They are actually the elemental energies
highest point is directly over the altar; which, in the rituals. is placed which lie behind and express themselves through the physical plane
in the centre of the lodge floor. Presumably the psychic wall is a full elements. All manifestation is sacramental. the outward and visible
sphere. the other half being under the lodge floor. That this is the sign being a channel of that spiritual power of which it is the ex­
case. in some instances at least. was brought home to the writer in pression in the phenomenal worlds.
a very definite manner. In all magical work punctuality is of the So the basic "inertia" of the physical element. earth is the ex­
utmost importance. and to ensure this. the doors of the building in pression of an energy whose mode of manifestation it is. So it is
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THE MAGICIAN : HIS TRAINING AND WORK THE CONSTRUCTION AND USE OF FORMS

with all the four elements of the magicians. They are the "self­ shall dominate the elemental beings, since we come in the names
relationships," if we may use such a term, through which the cosmic and the powers of their most potent rulers.
life is manifested in matter. In order to dispel any doubt, the esoteric Let the would-be magician meditate upon this; let him endeav­
schools refer to the occult "elements" as the Water of the Wise, our to follow the hints thrown out in the various magical books ,
the Earth of the Wise, the Air of the Wise, and the Fire of the and as he begins to realise the true nature of the rulers, he will find
Wise, thus tacitly pointing out the distinction between them and that the elemental kingdoms become his servants. He will have
their physical plane expressions. seen a plan placed upon the tracing board, eternal in the Heavens,
We have spoken of "directing intelligences." These are some­ and in that plan he will have discerned his own place and oppor­
times termed the "Kings of the Elements," sometimes "The Deva tunity , and will have surrendered himself to it. Then having nothing,
Lords," and those who have heard of the "Four Crowned Kings" but gaining all things, dying to the personal self that the true Self
will realise that the story reveals and yet conceals the mysteries of may be served, he will have become one with the rulers of the
"Another Place." elementals, and in their name will he speak the Words of Power.
These Kings of the Elements, then, are the directing Beings Then the elemental host will obey him, for upon his brow will they
under whom comes the ocean of evolving life, and this evolving life behold the sigils of their kings.
is behind and working through the matter of this physical plane. This is the ideal which the would-be magician must hold ever
Now the elemental life is not individual, as is ours. It is a wave of before him, and though, of course, its perfection is not to be gained
life, not a group of lives, even though individual wavelets on the in an instant, it must always be held in his consciousness as in the
crest of the wave appear to be individual and independent. This is name of the Eternal, he evokes the elemental hosts.
but an appearance, not yet are the masks to be lit by the flame of In the Pentagram Ritual, the four Arch-angels, Michael, Gabriel,
the eternally proceeding Word, and to become living souls. Although Uriel and Raphael are invoked as the rulers respectively of Fire,
possessed of the normal powers of their plane, powers which to us Water, Earth and Air, and the telesmatic images should be built
appear supernormal and "miraculous," it must never be forgotten up in detail. With the success of the concentration and visualisation
that they are below man in spiritual evolution. exercises such image-building should become easy for the appren­
Any attempt to drive a bargain with them or to attempt to tice magician. Although the telesmatic images of the Pentagram
bribe or appease them in order that they may be induced to act Ritual afford excellent objects for such visualisation practice, it is
on our behalf brings us on to their level, and results in our becoming advised that the apprentice should gain his proficiency by using
their slaves, not their masters. other images which have no immediate significance, and reserve his
Nor may we adjure and curse them by the mighty Names to visualisation of the Archangelic images for the times when he begins
render obedience to us, for such use of the mighty Names can only to practise the use of the Pentagram Ritual.
be operated from the level of the personality, with all its faults and Just as the aspirant to the Catholic priesthood performs the
imperfections, and again will expose us to the risk of being domi­ ceremony of the Mass again and again for practise, but without
nated by the forces we invoke. ' deliberately invoking the spiritual forces which are brought through
But. if we approach the elemental hosts having in our aura the thereby, so the magical aspirant should perform this ritual daily,
signs of the Elemental Kings, then we come as light-bearers to the attempting each time to build up the tclesmatic images in all their
lesser lives; we are channels to them of the glory of their rulers, detail and colouring, but being careful not to invoke the forces of
and our employment of them works along the plan which those which they will be channels at some future date.
Mighty Ones have for their evolving children. Since the meditation above described will have begun, the
Buthow may we become the servants and ambassadors of those work will proceed "from above to below"; as the spiritual realisa­
Mighty Ones? Simply by rising in meditation to a realisation of tion gained is brought through into the personality, and "from
their nature and spiritual degree. In so far as we do this, so those below upwards," as the visualising faculty builds up the forms
aspects of our personality which correspond to them, which are through which the forces will work.
actually parts of them, will glow and evolve, and automatically we Finally, the time will come, unmistakeably made known to the
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THB MAGICIAN: HIS TRAINING AND WORK

Chapter XIX
student. when the forces at last flow through the forms. A routine
exercise may have been commenced in the usual way. Then. quite BUILDING A RITUAL
suddenly. as the telesmatic images build up in the mental vision.
there is a spasm of will which appears to be independent of the THE title of this chapter may be somewhat surprising to many
normal consciousness. and is almost a pain within the heart. the students of magical work. since they have a fixed idea that one
realisation of previous meditations are suddenly present in the mind, should only use those rituals which have been handed down from
and as the words are vibrated there comes the sudden thrill of awe. the past. and when such ancient rituals are used. not one single
the shiver of the personality as the higher powers flood through it. word should be altered. Although one should not alter a ritual
Then into the magical Names and Words there comes a majesty without good reason. and though. as the "Chaldean Oracles" declare
and a power. the voice "rings" with the true magical "note" and the "barbarous names" of evocation should not be changed. it re­
through the personality pours the power of the rulers. and the teles­ mains that the practising magician often makes use of rituals con­
matic images live and shine with the radiant life and light of Those structed by himself. They meet an immediate need. and are quite
whom they represent.
as effective. in their own way. as the traditional rites. For the pur­
Thereafter will the student be able effectively to employ this pose of his training. the apprentice magician is also made to con­
ritual.
struct rituals dealing with the various forces with which he is work­
What has been written concerning the telesmatic images of the ing. and these rituals are carefully checked by his teacher. They
Pentagram Ritual. holds good for all the other images: the God­ are based upon the principles he has been given. and are an excell­
Forms. etc.• used in the lodge and also in the construction of what ent test of his grasp of those principles.
are known as talismans. i.e. articles which have been "charged" So it has been decided to give the principles of such ritual con­
with certain psychic energies. and have thus been linked up or
struction in this book. If a rite is properly constructed then it can
"contacted" with the underlying spiritual forces of the macrocosm.
be of the greatest value to those who use it, but it is first of all
With talismans we will deal separately. since their production necessary for the student to get a clear idea in his mind as to the
forms a very important part of practical magical work.
purpose for which the ritual is required.
As we have seen in that part of this book which deals with the
building of the magical personality. there are three main aspects
under which the Inner Plane forces present themselves to us. and it
is along the appropriate line that we must work.
It is therefore necessary that before we begin to construct a
ritual we should. by careful meditation. get our reason for working
this rite crystal-clear in our mind. This is not always easy. as associ­
ated secondary motives usually make themselves known. but with
perseverance they can be resolved. and the main reason for our
proposed working isolated in our mind.
In the Catholic Church. such special reasons for the celebration
of the Mass are known as "Intentions." and in the magical work
such an Intention is absolutely necessary, for the mind of the
magician must be one-pointed if the invoked and evoked forces are
to be wisely directed. The mind supplies the forms and channels
through which the forces work. and the more definite the chann~I,
the more control can be exercised over the forces flowing there~.
Having determined our Intention. the next step is to ascertain

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THE MAGICIAN: HIS TRAINING AND WORK BUILDING A RITUAL

what beings and forces must be invoked or evoked for the work in our Intention, and we will suppose that this is for "Illumination
hand. and the magical correspondences must then be checked up. from our true Inner Self." our higher spiritual consciousness, that
In practical magical training. tables of correspondences are used part of our nature which, according to Christian mysticism, is the
as part of the routine exercises. The most important of these. as "ground where God and man meet."
far as the Ten Stations of the Tree of Life are concerned. are given " The station of the Tree, therefore is Tiphareth. We are now
in Dion Fortune's The Mystical Qabalah, There are many other faced with the choice of three magical images: a child. a majestic
correspondences. but these are the primary ones. Since we are deal­ king and a sacrificed god. We may use whichever of these three
ing with Western magic, it is the Qabalistic Tree of Life upon which is most expressive of our Intention. Since this is illumination from
we draw for our work. our higher consciousness. then either the Child or the King will
Other systems. as we have seen. have other mandalas. or glyphs. be appropriate.
which are equally effective for those who are working along these For various reasons, some not unconnected with the tendency of
lines, but it is imperative that the magician should keep strictly the lower or "false ego" to identify the higher with itself rather
to one system. This canot be too greatly emphasised. Though we than the reverse, the magical image of the Child is by far the better
may learn from the philosophies and techniques of other systems. of the two for the beginner. It points out that the process of illumi­
we are inviting trouble if we mix the practical methods. We may nation is a gradual one, and this is something which must be realised
adapt them for our purpose when. at a later date. we have the by the beginner. In many books and articles on the subject of magic.
requisite knowledge. but this adaptation is work for the magus. not the results obtainable by the trained magician after many years of
the neophyte. practice are indicated as being within the grasp of the beginner.
From the tables of correspondences then. we may now select Now in certain cases this may be to some extent correct. We
those we need. Here we are guided by our Intention, for this will come to the magical work bringing with us our natural talents, and
clearly indicate the station of the Tree on which we shall work. in some people the magical capacity seems to be so near the surface
A point to be remembered here is that we are working within that its awakening is both rapid and spectacular. But, in the majority
the Earth-Sphere. Malkuth on the Tree, nor in any direct sense of cases. the ecstatic heights of the Mountain of Illumination are
do we transcend that station. If we invoke the divine forces of not for the neophyte. In the traditional magical schools, those who
Atziluth, it is by a process of induction that they work upon the show such spectacular promise are usually put through the routine
corresponding levels in the objective earth-sphere. and our own training mill a great deal more thoroughly than their less-gifted
subjective sphere of sensation, stimulating into activity our own brethren, in order that they may bring a balanced personality to the
inner forces. Great Work.
In passing. it may be noted that the power of a great teacher Since the Sephirah Tiphareth is also the station of the Sun, we
lies not in his teaching. which may be simply a re-presentation of find the colour scale to be golden amber for we desire to bring
existing teaching. nor is it due to .his personal power over his I the higher consciousness through into the physical brain conscious­
followers. Rather it is a catalytic action, whereby what he is causes ness.
the inner nature of his followers to emerge from the depths. thus This colour must be somehow used in the furnishing of our
bringing their personal selves through the death of the lower self place of operation or in the vestments we use. If we are not using
to a resurrection and a "rebirth in eternity." vestments, then we must visualise the colour around ourselves as
Now in the depths of the earth-sphere there are the archaic a vesture of golden light.
images. which through all the millenia of man's existence have been We come now to the God-Name. under the presidency of which
the conditioning channels through which the universal life was the station of Tiphareth is placed. This name is Tetragrammaton
mediated to the sons of men. and these images are the mundane Aloah Va Daath. This Name may be meditated on in the interpre­
expressions of the bright archetypal images through which the tation given in The Mystical Qabalah, "God made manifest in the
material world has been projected into materialisation. sphere of the mind." .
The archaic images used will, as we have seen, depend upon The archangel is Raphael, the healer; and, if we think of
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BUILDINO A RITUAL
"health" in its meaning of "wholeness." then we see how appro­
priate is the attribution of the archangel of healing to the sphere Having thus linked ourselves with the great deep within us. we
of harmonised balance. now aspire to the Eternal. But we do this in the name and power
"
The angels are the kings of the elements and here we are linking of the great archangel of the sphere of Shemesh, the Sun. even
with those spiritual principles which manifest in our world as the Raphael the healer, vibrating his name and at the same time build­
elemental instincts. Concerning these we have already written. ing up the telesmatic image which shall be the channel of his power.
The breast-jewel or lamen, is the Rose-Cross. and in the usual Now we approach the climax of our operation. We build up
form this is a Latin cross with exfoliated arms. and in its centre a the magical image of Tiphareth, in this case the image of the Child
red rose of thirty-two petals. thus linking the symbol with the glyph 'i. and affirm our Intention.
of the Tree of Life. Then. holding our mind upon that image, we remain mentally
The altar should be a double cube. This is the symbol of poised, like a seagull floating apparently motionless in the gale. We
Malkuth, the Kingdom of Earth. whereas the symbol of Tiphareth know. when we see the gull thus motionless. that there is a very
is the cube. But as we are in intention bringing through the forces real effort being made. and only by that effort can it maintain its
of Tiphareth into Malkuth, the altar of the double cube is quite posit ion in the face of the wind. So it is with this invocation of light.
appropriate. Upon the ritual. as upon a four-square foundation, we have erected
Upon the altar should be set a light. symbolising the "Light that a pyramid of thought and effort, and now, standing upon its trun­
lighteth every man." which shines ever within the heart. Upon the cated summit we reach forth into the divine aether and wait, poised
altar, also. should be placed the volume of the sacred scriptures of thus in an ecstasy of aspiration.
ones own race, as a symbol that we are working not by our own Now it may be that we reach this point many times without any
personal desires but in obedience to the Law of the Eternal. whose apparent result. Results there will be. however. for the repeated
children we are. use of the ritual is building a power within us. and one day. as we
The covering of the altar should be white or gold. and this aspire towards the Divine Child standing with the light of the Super­
should also be the colour of our vestments. nal Sun raying out around Him. there will come that burning force
The incense burning in our temple should be one of the Diony­ which surges through us, the mental scene will disappear and we
siac perfumes; Cinnamon is ascribed to Tiphareth. shall find ourselves in the station of the Sun which rises with healing
We must now commence to devise our ritual. We begin by "pre­ in its wings. Around us will flame the glory of that Sun, as we
paring the place of working." This means that we cleanse the etheric become for a moment identified with the Eternal Child, and on
and astral atmosphere of our room by the use of a banishing ritual, either side of us will flame the Wings of Glory. Then the forms of
such as the ritual of the Lesser Pentagram. which cleanses the room the mind will fade from view and a new mode of consciousness.
and at the same time erects a formidable barrier of psychic force. different entirely from our normal consciousness. will dawn upon
a barrier which prevents intrusion from the swarming astral lives us, and for that brief moment we shall know as that spirit which
which are attracted like moths to a flame. by our magical work. is our True Self always knows.
Having cleansed the place of working (and, by the same token. But even before this. there will have been periods when, having
having cleansed ourselves also by the performance of this rite) we reached out in aspiration in this way. some less phenomenal contact
now make our psychic contacts with our assistants. who are func­ will have been consciously experienced.
tioning as fellow-priests of the Mysteries. If we are working alone. Usually this will take the form of a curious clarity of the mind.
then we make an interior psychic contact with those aspects of our The ordinary mental processes seem for the time to be curiously
own nature which would otherwise be represented by the assistants. interpenetrated by another mode of consciousness which is felt to
This psychic contact is made by a series of questions and answers. be working at an entirely different rate and manner; a mode of
It is to be remembered that when we thus awaken and co-ordi­ consciousness which apprehends directly. instead of having to follow
nate our forces. we are making contact with the telesmatic images a definite train of thought. ?I
which are linked with them. and through which they flow. Of course. in the early days. such a new mode of consciousn~
is somewhat unreliable; we have not had enough experience of It;
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THE MAGICIAN: HIS TRAINING AND WORK BUILDING A RITUAL

but as it recurs. and becomes more frequent. then we begin to build Finally. the magician should remember his own motto and
up in the waking consciousness a set of symbolic images which will having known. dared. and willed. should keep silent. To gossip
enable us to use it to the ful1est advantage. about his experiences is to draw upon him thought-currents which
When. in our ritual work. we have reached the stage of invoca­ may seriously hinder his magical progress.
tion and have reached out to the Infinite. we must remember that It will be found that in the construction of a rite. the majestic
we have to return to the physical level. we "cannot at the shrine beat and rhythm of the Elizabethan English is of the greatest help,
remain." In fact. to so do would be to nullify the contact we have and this is particularly the case with the magnificent language of
made. for it is essential that the illumination we receive should be the Authorised Version of the Bible.
brought through into the physical consciousness if it is to be of use
to us.
. -,;
The use of the technical device of Commemoration. already
described. should not be lost sight of in the construction of the rite.
Therefore we must return from the pyramid on the heights of It should be a simple matter for the apprentice magician to
Abiegnus, and descending that Mountain of Illumination pass select suitable characters for such commemorative work in the
through the Pylon Gate into physical sensory consciousness. sphere of Tiphareth.
We. therefore. again formulating the magical image and vibrat­
ing the God-name. adore the Eternal through that symbol. and then.
recalling the telesmatic image of the archangel of the sphere we
thank him for his assistance.
Then in the names of the elemental kings we give the benedic­
tion of the Eternal to the elemental beings who have assisted us.
and dismiss them to their own place. In more precise terms wemay
say that. having set up a series of stresses in the Astral Light. we
now release those stresses.
We then withdraw our contacts with the assistants who have
been our fel1ow-priests of the Mystery. or if we have been working
alone. we draw back into latency in our sphere of sensation the
telesmatic images we used to evoke the corresponding aspects of
our inner nature.
We are now back on the physical plane. and we should now
perform some physical action which will symbolise our return into
the sphere of Malkuth. I .,
One such device is to use a gavel or other instrument to make
a knock or series of knocks. These. since we are asserting our return
to Malkuth, may be in two groups of five. or five groups of two.
thus formulating the number ten which is assigned to this station
on the Tree.
These knocks or .. knells," as they are sometimes termed. have
an added virtue, since they do tend to awaken us from any slight
dreaminess. and so bring us more fully into mundane awareness.
Only two things are left. It is important that. immediately after
such a magical experiment. a record be made. If this is not done.
the finer and more delicate aspects of the experience will tend to be
forgotten.
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". TALISMANI.C MAGIC

since it regards the physical talisman as a storehouse of Super­

Chapter XX physical power.
The other theory is that everything physical is linked by our
TALISMANIC MAGIC "concept" of it with our minds, and with the Universal Mind in
such a way that the relationship between the object perceived and
FOR most people the word "talisman" conjures up a picture of the perceiver results in a normal mental relationship between the
"lucky charms", oriental amulets, and such like devices, whilst two.
Protestants of the narrower type would also include St. Christopher If now, the object is perceived in the mind as being in other than
medallions, scapulars, rosaries and crucifixes under the same head­ the normal relationship with the perceiver, then it becomes a sacra­
ing. mental thing, "an outward and visible sign of an inward and
But in point of fact, such things as "lucky pigs" or zodiacal spiritual grace." To affect this change of perception, the one making
birth-stones are poles apart from St. Christopher medallions, etc.; the talisman must lift up his heart and mind to the highest concept
the whole idea behind them is different. he can mentally reach, and there realise for a brief moment the
Since magical work very often involves the use of talismans, it particular virtue for which the talisman is being made. The talisman
is necessary that we should consider their fashioning, and under­ is now linked, through his mind, with the divine power it is being
stand the theory of their action. That they do act, is a matter beyond made to evoke, and because all minds are one at the deeper levels,
dispute, for those who have carefully studied the subject, though then the object is linked in this extra relationship with its maker,
all do not act, neither are those that do equally effective. the one for whom it is made, and with that aspect of the divine
There are two distinct lines of thought in connection.with the mind which is the root of the particular virtue which-the talisman
use of talismans and curiously enough these two modes of approach is designed to help.
are to be found in the two great sections of Christendom, the Roman There is another theory, quite a simple matter-of-fact idea, held
Catholic Church and the Eastern Orthodox Churches. by the Roman Church, or at least by some of its priests. We think
The first line of thought which we will consider is what may be it was the Roman Catholic writer, Monseignor R. H. Benson, who
termed the material line. In general terms it may be stated as wrote, "When the Catholic Church blesses a bridge, and invokes
follows. Material substances are capable of being "charged" with an angel to guard it, she confidently expects that God will send
certain super-material forces, under certain conditions. Some sub­ down such an angel."
stances are better than others for this class of work. As life is imma­ Now the magical theory actually covers all three of these
nent in all things, since all things are an expression of the One Life, theories, and it is a theory which has been checked and tested by
the substances of the material plane are the expressions, or "acci­ clairvoyant seers over many years.
dents," of the true underlying reality or .. substance." The magical ritual regards the physical base of the talisman as
As living forces of all grades are ever flowing through the world, being in its own wayan expression of the Immanent Life, but as
and through all living things, it follows that these forces will 'be also being contaminated by the mixed emanations from other lives,
altered in intensity or nature by the action upon them of other of all grades o~ consciousness. So, like his Catholic brother, he first
living consciousnesses. So it is held, an object which is to be used "exorcises" the object.
as a talisman must first be "purified": the mixed "magnetisms" it That is to say, he drives out of the object the heterogenous
has picked up in its travels must be banished from it. Then by will "magnetisms" it has accumulated.
Then he re-charges it with his own "magnetism" and according
and thought a fresh charge of living energy is poured into it, and
to the work which it has to do, he links it with the appropriate grade
this charge of energy is in some mysterious way stored in the of being on the inner levels. Again, like his Catholic brother, be
material talisman. Anyone wearing the talisman will be affected by invokes the help of an angel and again he is certain, from the obser­
it, and tuned to its own "vibration" (to use the occult cliche); they vations of seers through the ages, that the angel invoked does maDl­
will tend to feel, think and act, in accordance with the intention of fest and is linked with the object.
the maker of the talisman. This we may term the "charge" theory.
147
146
 TALISMANIC MAGIC
THE MAGICIAN : HIS TRAINING AND WORK
So when the magician is "charging" his talisman. he recites the
His concept of angels is. however. somewhat different from the names of those who in their earth-days were the channels of the
conventional winged and robed figures of Christian art. Those who divine force with which he desires to charge the object. His "naming
may have read the late Charles William's novel The Place of the them with intention" links him with their psycho-magnetic "trace"
Lion will perhaps understand more clearly than it can be expressed in the Astral Light. their exalted consciousnesses strike down with
here, the nature of those beings whom we term "angels." a momentary flash upon the consciousness of the magician. and the
In the Eastern religious systems they are termed devas or Shining deva-life of the corresponding grade links up with the object in the
Ones. and they are held to be the subordinate intelligences behind
appearance of the person so commemorated.
all natural phenomena. Many grades of these beings are recognised. But since this has linked the object with the mind of this being,
ranging from great solar angels down through countless levels to
it has also linked it with the corresponding level of the collective
the infinitesimal consciousnesses behind the life of the cells of the
unconscious, and through that with the divine archetypes in the
physical body, and beyond to the infra-microscopic electronic
systems of the atoms. mind of the Logos.
All departments of life and activity in this planet and its attend­ It will be seen that a talisman may be made which is simply a
ant subjective spheres of consciousness are under the control of storage battery for some of the magnetic energy of the operator,
these beings who in their tum are. as it were. the living mirrors or by his "intention," a thought-form charged with that energy may
from which the plan of the logos is reflected into this earth. be linked with it; the appropriate deva-life may be evoked to bring
In my former book," in a chapter dealing with the magical such an energy to bear upon the user of the talisman. or the article
images. this subject of the de va-lives was touched upon in connec­ having been purified by exorcism and charged with the operator's
tion with the technical device of "Commemoration." One was deal­ magnetism. the appropriate de va-life may be evoked through his
ing there with the use of the living personality as a focussing point deliberate linking-up through the magnetic trace in the Astral Light
for the great magical images of the collective unconscious. and the with one who was. and still is. a channel for that power. Such a
deva side of things was not stressed. commemorative linking puts the operator in touch through this
Nevertheless it is true that the very substance of our emotional being with the divine archetypes.
and mental bodies is part of the being of the de vas and all our It will easily be seen which is the most effective of these methods.
emotions and thoughts are to some extent affected by the conscious­ but naturally they are all three used as conditions appear to indicate.
nesses of these beings. In the Christian Revelation we learn of the The material used for the making of a talisman varies according
Seven Mighty Spirits before the Throne, and these mighty ones to the nature of the force concerned. The Tree of Life gives the
are the seven archangels of Judaic-Christian thought. Of these the I metals, jewels, etc.• appropriate, For example. a talisman for in­
four best known are Gabriel, Michael. Raphael, and Uriel. It will I !. spiring martial power would be made of iron or steel. since this is
be noted that these four find their place in the Banishing Ritual of the metal associated with Mars. whilst one for the helping of
the Lesser Pentagram, and on the stations of the Tree of Life•. all I emotional stress might be made of copper. the metal of Venus.
seven are duly classified. . Parchment is a good retainer of "magnetism." So is olive oil. Water
In the Roman Church the saints are often called upon in this quickly absorbs it. but soon loses it. Clay absorbs and holds it for
matter of "blessing" a particular object. and because the saint. both a long period. Silk and glass are both bad substances for talismans.
in his earth-life and now in the spiritual realm, is a channel for ". In fact silk is often used to wrap up a completed talisman in order
..;. ; a certain aspect of the divine power, so the deva-agents of that to preserve its "charge,"
phase of divine energy work through that saint. even as the hosts The best talisman is one which you make for yourself. However
of the mighty Raphael, the healer archangel, work through all who it often happens that because of the lack of the particular power i~
are called by profession or vocation to the ministry of healing, question you are unable to effectively manufacture one. In thiS
doctors. nurses. psychic, occult and metaphysical healers alike; aU case, recourse must be had to someone who can make it for
are under the care of the archangel of healing. you.
• Magic: Irs Ritual, Power and Purpose (Aquarian Press).
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 · THE MAOICIAN: HIS TIlAININO AND woax
This will always be done for you without any charge being made.
for the true magician is bound to exact no fee for such work. Chapter XXI
In the last resort" remember the talisman is but a device to
help you to full activity along its particular line. There should come THE WAY OF MAGICAL ATTAINMENT
a time when you can cheerfully discard it. since it will have served
its purpose. Each talisman is personal to the one for whom it was IT. is ~ow time to l.ook back upon that which w~ have written
made. and cannot therefore be given to someone else suffering from in this book. and give the reader some instruction m the sequence
a similar trouble: the diagnosis may be quite different! of training in the magical art.
This is very important. since second-hand talismans do appear It will have been noticed that this training is based entirely upon
now and again. and their use can cause much trouble. "When in the personality of the would-be magician and this carries with it
doubt, cast it out" is a good maxim when dealing with such a thing. many important implications. In the early stages of our magical
but where this for any reason is not possible. the talisman concerned training. our motives are usually mixed. but from the beginning
should be taken to a competent magician to be de-magnetised. or one motive must be present in our minds if we wish safely to tread
if the owner has the necessary knowledge he may do this himself. the magical path. This motive we have already referred to. It is
When once a talisman has been charged. it is ipso [acto linked the desire to know in order to serve. and it must be the primary
with the one who has charged it. and it is necessary to break this motive of our interest in magic. Other motives. such as intellectual
psychic link if the operator does not wish to be so linked. curiosity. emotional appeal or aesthetic appreciation. may co-exist
This is done by using a "locking" prayer. and by breaking. in with this primary desire. and may each in their own way be catered
the mind. the silvery thread which is visualised as the link between for. But this motive of service must always come first.
the operator and the talisman. It is important to realise that the service of the magician to his
When a talisman has to be destroyed it is first de-magnetised. fellow-men takes two definite forms. It may. and does. help them
For various occult reasons. this is important. by what the magician does, but also (and always) they are helped
A very important aspect of this technique of charging or magnet­ by what he is. For the human race is one. in its deeper levels. and
ising physical objects is the consecration of objects and buildings when one man begins to think and work in a certain way. he affects
to be centres of radiation of spiritual forces. the whole of the group-soul of the race to which he belongs. It is
The writer recently attended the dedication service of a rebuilt not primarily necessary that he should teach others either publicly
Presbyterian-Congregational United Church building. and was or privately. though of course he usually does.
amused to hear the minister who dedicated it say in his sermon Neither is it essential that he should organize bodies pledged
"We of the Reformed Tradition know that in this dedication we to certain political. religious or social problems. though. once again.
have performed no magical action. have made no change in this many do so work by forming such bodies. But the simple fact that
building." he is what he is. is sufficient to influence the deeper mind of the
As a matter of psychic fact. the writer had observed clairvoy­ race. and so affect all those myriad individuals whose minds make
antly a very decided change in the psychic atmosphere therein! up that racial mind. So through wisdom does the magician build
his house of life. his personality. anew, and by understanding is it
established.
It will be seen later. how this is brought about. At the moment
we are stressing this essential point that the primary service which
the magician renders to his fellows is that he becomes a stable
centre through which the Hierarchies of Light may lift up humanity.
In conversation with a fellow-priest. the present writer was told
that the difference between the magician and the priest was that in
the one instance powers were exercised by the magician. whilst in
the other. power was exercised through the priest. But this is really
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a false antithesis. Both priest and magician do certain things. and In the beginning. however. it is important that he is trained to
through both of them power is made manifest. The real difference perform the external ceremonies in such a way that on their own
lies elsewhere. and does not enter into our present discussion. It is plane they are as perfect as it is possible to make them. Those who
sufficient to say here that the magician affects other s both by that have read magical fiction will no doubt have read of the dire results
which he does and by that which he is. following upon an ill-drawn pentagram. or the wrong pronunciation
Now that which he does is very important. for it is building up of a name.
into his personality certain magical reaction-habits. and it is these Though the occult reasons for such unfortunate happenings are
which in the end are far more important than the outward cere­ cogent enough. the real point at issue is that the outward ceremony
monial and ritual of the magical act. should be perfect on its own plane.
For the adept-magician. though he may use the age-old cere­ In the yoga systems of the East there are three main paths ;
i
monies, does not depend upon them. The observances which were I Raja yoga. Bhakti yoga. and Gnani yoga. the paths of Power. Love.
the outward visible symbols of inner states of emotion. mind and
spirit. have. through the training he has undergone. been withdrawn i'l and Wisdom respectively. but there are secondary preparatory yogas
such as Hatha yoga which prepare the aspirant in readiness for the
into and made components of his inner consciousness. Then the time when he will commence to tread his chosen path .
preparation of the place is effected within the Ring-Pass-Not. the So. in the magical act. there is a definite path of preparation.
limiting boundary of his own aura. the angel of the operation is and part of this is devoted to the training of the personality on the
invoked therein. and the mystical temple is built in his mental physical plane and through the physical body, and this is begun
sphere. Then into this temple not made with hands. there descends by the physical plane ceremonial training.
the divine Shekinah, the Glory of the Eternal. and She abides over I How many people realise that the "primordial language" of
the Seat of Justice between the Cherubim in the Holy of Holies of mime still speaks through our subconscious actions. gestures . man­
the magician's heart. I· nerisms. etc.• and is so communicated to those who are with us?
Long ago it was said by a great mystic who wrote under the But this is a very real factor in ceremonial; in fact it has been said
name of Angelus Silesius: that a magical rite could be celebrated without ritual words if the
Though Christ a thousand times I signs appropriate are used. and this is no idle statement. as the
In Bethlehem be born,
And not within thy heart, i
I
present writer has become aware .
Thou art all forlorn .
I So our ceremonial actions must be correctly carried out, and
The Cross on Calvary every gesture. every movement . be done in such a way that the
Thou lookest to in vain.
Except within thy heart whole ceremony. as the Roman Catholic writer. R . H. Benson.
It be set up again.
But. it will be said. this is mysticism; what has that to do with I
once said. is offered as a jewel. perfect of its type. He was referring
to Catholic ceremonial. but the principle applies to all magical
magic? The answer is. that in the high reaches of both magic and ceremonial work.
mysticism we come to a common ground; that light within which The "spell of woven paces and waving hands" is not likely to
lighteth every man. the indwelling spirit. our true Self. be one hundred per cent. efficient. if at the same time. by our sub­
Both magic and mysticism here find their true raison d'etre, and conscious physical gestures. we are asserting the opposite point' of
because of this. all the great religions of the world combine. in vary­ view!
ing proportions. these two paths to the eternal. So the magician-to-be must practise correct movement, poise
We have stressed this truly religious nature of magic in order and balance of the physical body. This is not easy. particularly
to make quite clear to the beginner that although in the beginning when he is working alone. but it is something which must be done.
his interest in magic may be simply motivated by intellectual Along this line of physical train ing lies also the care of the
curiosity or emotional appeal. against the background of his desire physical body. Always the aim should be to make the body the
to serve humanity. yet as he progresses he will find himself irresist­ willing steed of the spirit. False asceticism has no place here. If
ibly brought to a point where the truly religious nature of his chosen things are eschewed, it is simply in obedience to "if this. then not
path becomes clear.
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 THE MAGICIAN : HIS TRAINING AND WOIl~ THE WAY OF MAGI CAL ATTAINM ENT
:. ~

that." Certain physical habits may have to be deleted for the time, magical results are unlikely if the work is done in the spirit of the
in order that certain work may be done, but the magical bow must atheist who is reported to have prayed "Lord-if there is a Lord­
not always be kept taut. There is deep wisdom in the story of the save my soul-if I have a soul."
devotee who sought to speak with St. John. and found him playing A clear idea of the nature of the magical Egregore. or group­
with a tame partridge. As he gazed with a certain scorn at the form. should be built up in the mind in order that the aspirant may
apostle's occupation, the venerable man inquired of him whether, understand what part he plays in the whole complex scheme, and
being a soldier. he always kept his bow tight strung! thereby may know how closely he is guided and aided in his chosen
So it is with the physical. In magical work we require a work.
well-trained. well-adjusted and harmoniously balanced physical Returning now to the physical plane, the apsirant should begin
body, and this we shall not obtain by any excessive or false asceti­ to collect together his magical impedimenta ; his robes. wand, ring,
cism. So the first exercises in the magical training are concerned etc., and the furnishings of his magical oratory. Here the general
with willed relaxation of the body, and the control of the breath. rule is that he should make his own things, and not buy them ready­
These are essential basic exercises. Here it is necessary to reiterate made. Of course with regard to certain things this is not possible,
that all the work which the aspirant may undertake at a later date but wherever it can be done, it is a great help to the magician, since
depends entirely (apart, of course, from any exceptional natural by making such things himself, the symbolic values attached to
magical ability) upon the faithful practise of these basic exercises. them are firmly fixed in the mind. and the whole becomes, as it
This is a point of which we often lose sight. The early exercises were. an extension of his own personality.
are regarded as dull routine which can be done perfunctorily and Here a word of warning is indicated. Whatever is thus made
then forgotten as the beginner moves on to more exciting work. In for the magical work must be made as perfectly as possible within
point of fact, these exercises provide the essential foundation upon the range of the maker's skill. Nothing should be slip-shod in con­
which all else must ultimately depend. To omit them is as though struction; neither should it be some commonplace article disguised,
one essayed the heights of the higher mathematics without any for the inevitable association links with its usual uses will prevent
training in simple arithmetic! it being of service.
When the aspirant comes to the use of the signs and words of If a number of broom-handles be used to make a tall candle­
power. it is equally important that he should not only make the stick, they should be bought for the purpose and so combined that
signs and speak the words correctly, but also that he should have they cease to have their individual character as broom-handles any
carried out a definite series of meditations upon the inner meaning more. All such things should also be dedicated to the work in which
of those signs and words. This meditation should not be a purely they will be used.
intellectual approach, but should include the emotional content also. A simplicity and dignity of both the oratory and the magical
By this steady emotional and mental work, the signs and words appurtenances must be the ideal. A room "cluttered-up" by a host of
become effective in the hands of the aspirant. Here the training of symbolic "bits and pieces" can effectively bring to naught the magi­
the visual and audible imagination finds its place. But it must be cal work essayed therein. All the symbols. etc., must relate directly
remembered that all such meditative training must be co-ordinated, to the central idea of the work being done.
and this is best done by having some general plan into which all Now comes the key-work of the magical act. that which we have
the symbols fit. and which displays their various inter-relationships. dealt with in section three (The Magical Keys). Upon the faithful
Such ground-plans are, in the East, termed mandalas, and the stan­ performance of this work all else depends. First of all. the "magical
dard and ideal mandala for the Western student is the mighty glyph personality" must be built. using for this work the power gained
of the universe and the soul of man : the "Tree of Life" of the by the previous visual and aud ible exercises.
Qabalah . Then the exercises of the Interwoven Light must be commenced.
The doctrine of the Astral Light must be carefully studied, and and the training of the Body of Light put in hand. At the same time
for the time, at all events, it must be accepted as a working theory. the cultivat ion of the basic "magnetic" energies should enable the
Later experience will prove its truth and validity, but successful aspirant to begin certain simple talismanic work.
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 THE WAY OF MAGICAL ATTAINMENT
THE MAGICIAN : HIS TRAINING AND WORK

The flashing colours should now be carefully experimented with, This means that at least at times. and increasingly so, the magi­
until the requisite subconscious "trick" of consciousness-shift is cian is impelled and motivated from .his own true spiritual nature
obtained at will. and all the technical perfection of the personal self which has been
As the aspirant gains in proficiency, he may begin to experiment gained through the magical training is surrendered to the will of
in various ways with his newly developed magical power. remem­ the higher Self: then all the intricate machinery of conditioned
bering always that it must not be used against the will of those reflexes and subconscious capabilities lies under the control of that
concerned, nor for any other purpose than service. reigning spiritual Self. The outer complexity has been taken inwards
Apart from any experiments along these various lines. the aspir­ and it is no longer necessary for the arousing of the inner powers.
ant should steadily work the ritual designed to bring him into con­ So in the Great Mysteries. "the Abyss" is passed. and the per­
scious contact with his own Higher Self, the "Holy Guardian Angel" sonal man is "reborn in eternity."
of the Qabalistic teaching. This should be the primary aim of all How far this result is due to his own efforts. how far it is due
his magical work. and he cannot be an Adeptus Minor. in the true to the efforts of his spiritual Self and the mediation of the indwelling
sense. until this essential contact has taken place. This. and this Christ, is outside the scope of this book; but we may repeat the
alone. should be the primary motive. the ever present ideal. and Qabalistic statement that "It (Malkuth. the Kingdom) causes an
the continually repeated magical work should be its ceremonial influence to emanate from the Prince of Countenances. the Angel
embodiment. of Kether" (the highest Sephirah on the "Tree of Life").
All other magical work. interesting and instructive though it Or we may quote Sir Oliver Lodge, "It is evident that there is
may be. and of definite training value to the aspirant, can become. something very valuable in the personality."
if duly concentrated upon. a diversion from the path of the true So the end of the magical way is the surrender in loving service.
magic. of the lesser personality and will to the indwelling spiritual Self.
In the great mystical traditions to be found in Buddhism. that the will of the eternal may be done on earth "amid the legions
Hinduism and Christianity alike. preoccupation with secondary of the living."
results is condemned. often in harsh terms. But the instinct is sound. This consummation will bring to the magician that true and
such things can divert us from our true aim. though at the same harmoniously balanced consciousness which is the true ideal to­
time they can assist us thereto. wards which the whole creation is striving. that union with and
The present writer believes. from his own experiences in this response to the divine Will. Of this union. the blessed souls in
realm. that many of the strictures of the Buddhist and Catholic Paradise spoke truly to Dante when they told him. "In His Will
mystics are somewhat too severe. and that there is a via media. a is our Peace."
way between undue absorption in the lesser magic and the occult So may it be in the days to come with those of my readers who,
and psychic powers on the one hand, and the high austere flights having set out on this magical journey. have, by the grace of the
of the soul as practised by such mystics as St. John of the Cross Eternal, "obtained these things."
on the other.
The middle way has its virtues. and this has been sufficiently
indicated herein.
When once the mystic union with the Higher Self has been
obtained, and stabilised. which is another matter altogether. then, as
the sage Abramelin says in his teachings to his son. "Now at this
point I commence to restrict myself in writing. seeing that by the
Grace of the Lord I have submitted and consigned you unto a
Master so great "
The personal will, dedicated as it has been throughout the magi­
cal training, to the service of God and man, is now linked with the
true will of its higher spirit Self. 157
156
 L' E N voI
Chapter XXII
in and part of the greater universe around him. Because of this, his
L'ENVOI action on all levels of being, physical, emotional, mental and supra­
mental affects his environment, and this in its tum conditions his
OUR labours are ended, and the work is done. Perhaps it may life in the physical.
Because of this mystical interplay between man and his environ­
be of value if we briefly summarise what has been given.
First of all, our intention has been to write on the subject in ment, magic becomes possible, since by our definition magic is the
such a way as to give the essentials of the magic art, and to give art of producing changes in consciousness at will.
them in such a way that the sincere seeker might safely begin his If we change our consciousness, then we act directly upon the
labours in this field. At the same time, although we have not left inner worlds around us, and thus, ultimately, upon the objective
out any essential principles, we have so written that only the really world.
Here is one of the keys. In magical work, all is done, in actuality,

~
earnest seeker will realise the full value of the book.
Those who are familiar with the magical art , and more particu­ by the action of the conscious mind upon the subconscious both
larly those who are initiates of the various esoteric magical schools, personal and collective. The objective conscious mind provides the
may think that we have given out some things which should not have igniting spark which throws into motion the subconscious machin­
been given out. This is a valid criticism, though we have high ery, and it is the reaction between the personal unconscious and
authority for doing this; "There is nothing hidden that shall not the universal unconscious that causes the manifestations of magic.
be revealed." Thus we come to the use of technical devices, such as the Flash­
Much of the prejudice against the subject arises from the foolish ing Colours, the Tattvic exercises, and the visualising work, all
and unworthy secrecy maintained by many of the chiefs of the designed to train the mind along certain lines, and to make it a
magical orders, a secrecy mainly designed to foster the self-aggran­ matter of acquired skill to bring about a "willed dissociation" of
disement of the people concerned. consciousness, as a commencement of the work that eventually leads
For this reason we have endeavoured to give the magical essen­ to the "willed integration" which is the goal of both magic and
tials in such a way that the sincere aspirant may make a start with religion.
the matter . As he increases in proficiency, so his deeper understand­ Throughout this book the cardinal principle has been to lead
ing of the principles will reveal new depths of meaning, until, when the aspirant to the realisation that true magic brings one into con­
he makes conscious contact with his true spiritual self, he finds the scious union with the indwelling Self, the God within, and though
real teacher who will lead him into the paths of peace. the practice of the magical arts may stop at some point perhaps
We have indicated that the higher ranges of magic are for the remote from this, yet in the end the aspirant will find an inner
most part for those who are truly "born magicians," and we have compulsion to complete the journey and find his true peace.
stressed this point to avoid giving our readers an unduly optimistic The general details which have not been included, owing to lack
view of the work required. . of space, will be found in the books dealt with in the Bibliography
At the same time it should be borne in mind that much of what at the end. From these can be obtained the detailed rituals, but it
might be termed the "Minor Arcana" lies open to all in varying should always be remembered that such rituals were built upon
degrees. the principles here laid down. As we have said, it is within the
~
Perseverance in this "lesser" magical field will prepare the aspir­ power of the individual worker to build such rituals himself, and
ant for the greater work that lies ahead We may say that such minor if they are built upon sound principles, they will work.
magic is the magical equivalent of the "five-finger exercises" so We have tried also to show the stages of psychological and
painfully gone through by many of us in the past! ethical training required of the aspirant, and we have also indicated
It may be as well if at this point we say that one of the essential how all the outer complexity of ritual and ceremonial is in the end
principles of magic is that man is part of, and one with, Nature; subsumed into the inner temple of the heart, and becomes part of
that he is truly the microcosm of the macrocosm, the little universe the automatic mental machinery by the use of which the personality
makes its contact with the divine nature .
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Thus. as Iamblichus in The Mysteries truly says. "from suppli­ Appendix A

cation we are in a short time led to the object of supplication.
acquire its similitude from intimate converse. and gradually obtain RELAXATION AND BREATHING EXERCISES
divine perfection."
If it is thought that this book is somewhat discursive and un­ THE closely r~lated exercises of con ~cious relaxation and con­
co-ordinated. the writer cheerfully agrees that this does appear to trolled ~r~athmg are two of the baSIC elements in the training
be the case. But it was done with intention. and underlying the of the magician . Indeed, they are of value in ord inary life quite
apparent lack of co-ordination there is a true plan upon which it ~part. fr?m any specia~ise~ ~raining, sin~ they can be most helpful
has been constructed. m building up and mamtammg the physical body in a really healthy
This plan is, however. based upon the psychological laws gov­ condition. Since. the body acts upon the mental processes. such a
erning the subconscious aspect of the mind . healthy body will act most favourably upon the mind. and since
We have written to instruct the conscious mind of the reader. the mind and emotions affect the glandular system of the body,
and to influence his subconscious following the methods of training there is set up a circle of beneficial influence which can be of the
used in the schools of the Qabalah. greatest value.
Finally we would say to the reader: a way is herein shown forth. Let us consider the art of relaxation. for an art it really is. and
by which you may pass from darkness into the light. and this book. one. moreover, that is practised only by a small minority of people.
however imperfectly. indicates the stages of that way, and is the Many people think that relaxation is a very simple thing. "one just
result of our own personal experience. We testify to that which we relaxes." and that is all. However. when the practice is undertaken
have seen. and we speak that which we do know . seriously. one finds there is much more to it than that!
That this may also be true of some at least of those who read It is of interest to note one's reactions during a holiday spent
herein is our sincere wish. quietly. say amid country surroundings. Usually three or four days
elapse . and then one suddenly realises that somehow or other. one
has "let go." and there is an unmistakable feeling of restfulness.
Why should there be this period before one lets go? The answer is
that all day and every day we have .been tensing ourselves mentally,
emotionally and physically against the feverish rush and clamour
of modern life. Many people. in estimating the harmful effect of
the terrific noise of our towns, fail' to realise that. although our
appreciation and registration of sound waves is by the medium of
the ear, it is nevertheless true that the whole surface of our body
is being continually assailed by the continuous impact of the sound
vibrations around us. and it is this continuous bombardment which
is a great factor in the establishment of a state of muscular tension
in the body.
The first stage. therefore. in the relaxation exercise. will be com­
menced under conditions as free from outer noises as possible.
Later. the exercise can be carried out under conditions of noise,
etc.• which would have spelt failure in the early days.
Start by sitting in a comfortable chair. or lying on the back ~n
a couch or bed. It is as well to point out here that at one point
of the exercise there may occur a strong muscular spasm. and this
sudden tensing of the muscles very often leads the beginner to think
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that some psychic experience is at hand. Certain accounts of "astral We now direct our attention to the top of our head and see if
projection" have helped to create this impression, but in the greater the scalp muscles are relaxed or tensed. If the latter, and this is
number of cases, the cause is purely physical, though the pheno­ the usual thing, we deliberately relax them and pass down to the
mena may, and often does, accompany certain forms of psychic forehead. Here we shall usually find very definite tensing of the
activity. muscles, and these should now be relaxed. It will often be found
Usually, however, it is due to a simple physical mechanism. that the accommodation muscles of the eyeballs have become in­
If we stand erect and close our eyes, we find that our sense of volved in this muscular tension. and will have to be deliberately
location is brought about by the interaction of certain definite relaxed. This is not quite so easy as one might think, especially in
physical sensations. If we commence to lose balance, we at once the early stages. Now we come to the muscles of the face and mouth.
perceive the compensatory action of certain of the body muscles, and the same procedure is carried out. The muscles of the neck
and we perceive also that the localised area of the foot from which are considered and relaxed, and with them the relaxation of the
we gain our balance shifts as our weight is re-distributed, and this head is complete.
causes us to bring other muscles into play to correct our balance. Now, in case we should be inclined to congratulate ourselves
If we are lying flat on our back on a bed, then we have the upon our ability to relax, we turn our attention back to the top of
weight of the body pressing down upon the whole of the back of the head, and in eight cases out of ten we shall find that we have
the head, the shoulders, the buttocks and the underside of the thighs unconsciously tensed up the scalp muscles again! So once again
and knees, down to the buck of the heels. If this position is main­ we start to relax consciously! Eventually we arrive at a point where
tained without movement of the body for some time, there comes we have definitely relaxed all the head, face and throat muscles.
a point where the steady pressure upon the nerve-endings all over and can now move down the trunk and the arms to the legs and
that part of the body sets up a paralysis of sensation. finally the feet.
We no longer feel the bed beneath us, for a fraction of a second By starting with the head muscles and gaining some control
we seem to be "falling free." Since uncontrolled falling is usually over them before going on further, we break up the exercise and
detrimental, our subconscious immediately tenses up the muscles improve our technique. By taking the arms and trunk as our next
in a powerful spasm in order that some effort may be made to objective. and finishing with the legs and feet, we are doing the
keep fixed and safe. This is one of the usual mechanisms resorted exercise in the most effective manner.
to by the subconscious when the "kinesthetic sense," the sense of When once we have achieved .full relaxation in each section of
location, has been lost. It operates during "astral projection" for the body. we can work for full relaxation through the whole body
the same reason, but its occurrence is not, in itself, a sign of such as one unit.
psychic activity. This particular point has been dwelt on because The aid of a sympathetic friend may be enlisted to check one's
of its liability to be misinterpreted. success in the matter. When we have successfully relaxed. say. the
Having seated ourselves comfortably in a chair, or stretched right arm, we ask our friend to lift it up and let it drop down
ourselves out on the bed or couch, we are ready to start. It is most again. If our relaxation has been successful the arm will fall back
important that no article of clothing should be tight or in any way as a "dead weight." A similar test may be made with ~he le~s.
uncomfortable. We are going 10 relax the physical, and do not wish Another rather more stringent test may be made by arranging WIth
to have constant messages coming from various parts of the body our friend to strike down at our hand or arm as it lies in the relaxed
calling for some relief. Here it may be noted for those who prefer condition, but not of course to actually hit it.
the on-the-back position, that the pillow used should support the If we are not completely relaxed, we shall find that there will
neck as well as the back of the head. be the usual involuntary "start," but if we are relaxed, the.n there
If this is not the case, then the head is liable to be forced for­ will be no reaction at all. In point of fact, when relaxatIon has
ward, and the breathing restricted. This we must avoid, and for been complete, it very often takes a definite effort to take up the
this reason a little experimentation with pillows or cushions is necessary muscular tensions again. . ' .
helpful, until one finds the best height required. Someone has said that the effect of this relaxatIon exercise 111
163
162
 ~

THE MAGICIAN : HIS TRAINING AND WORK

RELAXATION AND BREATHING EXERCISES
that one "rests in the waters of peace," and this is a very apt des­
cription of it. The most useful of the breathing exercises for general use is
It must be remembered. however, that apart from this very what we may call the fourfold breath.
helpful use of the exercise, it is essential to the magician in training Let the student sit or lie in a relaxed condition and breathe in
as a vital preliminary to the breathing exercises which constitute the following way:­
l , Inhale slowly, mentally counting one, two, three, four. Now
the next step of training.
hold the breath, counting one, two.
Much nonsense has been spoken and written concerning breath­ 2. Exhale at the same speed. again counting one, two, three,
ing exercises. They have been condemned as dangerous, they have four. Now hold the lungs without movement, counting one.
been lauded as miraculous and they have been wrenched from two.
the context of the systems to which they belong and have inevitably Repeat this cycle of operations for a~out five minutes, not
been misused. longer, at the commencement of the practise. Later on the time
We shall here consider one form of breathing exercise which is may be extended.
linked up with the practise of relaxation on the one hand and the It is important that until the student is thoroughly proficient
intake of psychic energy and etheric vitality on the other, and which in this basic technique of relaxation and fourfold breathing, he
is, if carried out as here described, perfectly safe. should not attempt the exercise of the circulating light, or the
Here we must point out an important part of the exercise. It Middle Pillar technique.
will be seen that the practitioner is required to "hold the breath" In the following appendix these two exercises will be considered.
for a stated time.
Most people attempt to "hold the breath" by closing the throat
and nasal passage by an effort of will. As far as these breathing
exercises are concerned, such a method is DANGEROUS, and
should never be attempt ed. It is because of this that many people
run into trouble in this matter.
The correct method of retaining the breath is to breath in for
the allotted period, using the chest muscles and the great diaphragm
muscle which lies between the chest and the intestinal area, to
expand the chest and so fill the lungs with air. The chest should
now be held expanded and the diaphragm muscle held down. The
lungs are full of air. and this is being retained. But, and this is the
test, if the chest is tapped sharply the air is partly expelled; there
is no barrier in the throat or mouth.
Th is way of retaining the breath does not throw any strain upon .
the lung tissue, which is one of the chief dangers of breathing
exercises. If this procedure is correctly carried out, there is no
danger at all so far as the physical level is concerned. Having
made this point quite clear, we may proceed to consider the exer­
cise itself. We may note in passing, however, that most people USe
only a fraction of the total lung-area at their disposal, and certain
cases of neuroses use even less than the average. From this view­
point alone, then, the practise of breathing exercises is beneficial.
164
165
 Appendix B
THE BANISHING RITUAL

occult schools as the "Genius." By virtue of the psychic corres­

pondences between that Being and the psychic centre situated in
l
..~: ,\..,:' THE BANISHING RITUAL the aura above the head, we draw down into our auric sphere the
radiant light-force.
THE "Banishing Ritual of the Lesser Pentagram" is that technical Now the shaft of light which, in our visual imagination we have
magical operation known as "The Preparation of the Place." pictured as coming down with our hand as we moved it down to
It is used as a means of defining and purifying the area in which the forehead, is taken down towards the feet as we bring down the
the magical work is to be done, and this we may term the "objective" hand to the solar plexus and vibrate the word Malkuth. This action
aspect of the rite. has now formulated a line of white light extending from above the
There is, however, a subjective aspect to the matter, since all head down to the feet.
the outer rite is an externalisation in symbolic form of the inner Now we touch the right shoulder and vibrate Geburah. From
emotional, mental and spiritual purpose of the magician and his this we move the hand over to the left shoulder, at the same time
assistants. This dual nature of all magical rites needs to be kept visualising a line of white light-force as emanating from our right
in mind if the full benefit of the work is to be gained. shoulder and being drawn across to our left. Thus is formed in the
In the Banishing Ritual we have, first of all, what is known as aura the Cross of Light. This cross should be strongly visualised
the Qabalistic Cross. This is done as follows:­ as we bring the hands together on the breast in the attitude of
(a) Touch the forehead with the right hand and say Ateh. prayer.
(b) Lower the hand to the breast and whilst touching it say Although the cross has been formulated in the personal aura.
Malkuth. an attempt should be made. whenever it is so built up, to increase
(c) Touch the right shoulder, saying Ve Geburah. its size. to visualise it and oneself as becoming huge and towering
(d) Bring the hand across the body and touch the left shoulder, in height. This is in itself a powerful suggestion that can help to
saying Ve Gedulah. release the cramped personality from some of its self-imposed limi­
(e) Clasp the hands on the breast and say Le Olahm Amen. tations. and so tend towards the ultimate union between the starry
If the glyph of the Tree of Life is studied, it will be seen that Dweller of Eternity. who is our own true and deeper self, and our
the names Geburah and Gedulah are the names of two of the limited and self-imprisoned personal self.
opposing Sephiroth of the Tree. It will be seen that, looking at the When the cross has been formulated as described, we commence
diagram as a glyph of the universe, i.e, as it is shown, the Sephirah the next part of the work. Still facing East, as we did when we
Geburah is on the left hand pillar, and the Sephirah Gedulah on began the Qabalistic Cross. we raise the right hand from a point
the right hand pillar. This is correct for the macrocosmic Tree, but on our left side about midway between the hip and the knee. We
when we are using the glyph as a diagram of the microcosm within then move the right arm up to a point above the head. and bring
us, then we "back into the Tree," i.e., we visualise it as if we stood it down again to the corresponding point at our right side. It will
,. with our backs to it. The Sephirah Geburah now comes near 'our be seen that we have described an inverted "Y". Now move the
right shoulder, and Gedulah is found on our left. It is this micro­ right hand to a point slightly above the left shoulder. then to a
cosmic Tree that we are using in this rite. similar point above the right shoulder, and then from that point
In an earlier section we considered the question of the esoteric bring it down diagonally to the point from which the figure was
use of sound vibrations, so it will suffice here if we refer the reader started . Again, each movement of the hand must be seen mentally
to that section in order that he may understand how to vibrate the to draw a line of white light-force. so that when we have completed
words of the Cross Ritual. It must be understood that the ordinary the movement. there glows in the air before us (mentally perceived)
speaking voice is not of use in this connection. a pentagram of white light. This pentagram must now be charged
When we raise the hand above the head and lower it to touch with energy. and this is done by moving the hand rapidly to the
the forehead, we are dealing with the symbolic expression of the centre of the figure with a sharp stabbing motion, at the same time
highest spiritual nature within us: that radiant Being known to many vibrating the name Yod-Heh-Vau-Heh .
166 167
 THE MAGICIAN : HIS TRAINING AND WORK THE BANISHING RITUAL

Turning to the South. with our outstretched hand drawing a Now we conclude with the words "For around me flame the
line of light. we again build up a pentagram of light. this time pentagrams. and above me shines the six-rayed star." and again
vibrating Ah-Doh-Ni. formulate the Qabalistic Cross.
Then turning to the West. the pentagram is formulated again It will be obvious that much hard work will have to be put
and the name Eh-He-Heh is vibrated. Now we tum to the North. into the development of the visualising faculty if these Telesmatic
vibrating Ah-G/a and finally we return to the East. where we stand Images are to be properly built and contacted with the living forces
with arms outstretched in the form of the cross as we formulate they symbolically represent.
the Telesmatic Images in our visual imagination. Here is Labour-but it is basic work. and without it the Work
It will be remembered that we have formed four energy-charged may not be done.
thought-forms by the figures we have built at the four
cardinal points of the compass. These forms we are now going to
use as the focal points of the protecting barrier we have built. and
we therefore build up behind them the telesmatic images of the
four great archangels. As the forces of the universe are in the last
resort living forces. emanations of the Universal Mind. so we may
think of these telesmatic images as the psychic means whereby we
are able to make contact with the living and intelligent forces which
are personified in the great archangels. The form we build is a
symbolic thought-form. but the life which fills it is the life of the
great cosmic Being which we draw through that part of our nature
which is in correspondence with Him. or. to be more accurate.
which is a part of Him. As the old initiates declared "there is no
part of me which is not of the gods."
So. facing East. we say " Before me Raphael. (Ra-fay-el) and
formulate a mighty figure in a yellow robe in which shimmers the
complementary mauve . As the East is the station of Air. we should
mentally feel a gentle breeze coming from around the figure.
Now we say "Behind me Gabriel" (Ga-bree-el), The figure we
build behind us in the Station of Water. the West. is robed in blue
with orange complementary tones. and a crystal cup of blue water
will be visualised as being held aloft by the figure. Water should
be sensed as flowing from behind this figure.
Now we say "On my right hand Michael (Me-kay-el) and the
telesmatic figure glows in robes of red. with vivid green overtones.
A great sword of steel is uplifted in its hand and a radiant heat
should be sensed as proceeding from it.
Finally "On my left hand Uriel" (Auriel). Here the figure will
be robed in a parti-coloured robe in which citrine, olive. russet
and black are intermingled. Around it should be visualised fertile
ground (for this is the station of Earth) with grasses and wheat
springing out around.
16 ')
168
 THE EXERCISES Of THE MIDDL E PILLAR
"....
Appendix C Now let him visualise an inch or so above the crown of his
head. a glowing whirling sphere of brilliant white light. and let
THE EXERCISES OF THE MIDDLE PILLAR him endeavour to realise that here is the upwelling fountain of
the divine life within him. He should now "vibrate" the name
THE exercise we are about to consider is in itself one of the most Eheieh (Eh-he-yeh), Let him now picture a ray of brilliance shining
effective means of arousing within oneself the basic magical down to the nape of his neck. where it shines out as a luminous
power without which ceremonial becomes simply a psychological sphere. Here the name to be vibrated is Jehovah Elohim (Ye-hoh­
method of approach to the powers of the Unconscious. Though. of vo E-Ioh-heem).
course. the psychological method is of the greatest importance. it Let the ray of light be now seen mentally as it strikes down to
is only when it is supplemented by the magical energy brought into the centre of Tiphareth, located over the region of the physical
play through such an exercise as that of the middle pillar that the heart. i.e, a little above the solar plexus. Here the name is Jehovah
full range of the magical art may be experienced. Aloah-Va-Daath (Ye-hoh-voh E-Ioah-va-daath).
It is the contention of the present writer. and he is not alone in Now the ray of light descends to the centre of Yesod, which is
this. that if the magical fraternities and orders were to train their located over the generative organs. and the name Shaddai-El-Chai,
members from the commencement of their lodge training. in the (Sha-dai-el-kai) is sounded. Lastly the ray descends to the feet.
practise of this exercise. they would greatly gain thereby. where it ends in the centre of Malkuth. The name here is Adonai­
For the philosophical and theoretical considerations of this Ha-Aretz (Ah-doh-nai-ha-aretz).
exercise. the reader is referred to the bibliography given in the last This completes the exercise. At first it suffices if the student
part of this book. Here it will be sufficient if we give just an outline passes fairly quickly down the body. merely formulating the spheres
of -the theory. and then describe the practice in detail. of the centres and vibrating the names. Later. as he becomes more
Briefly the magical theory behind the middle pillar exercise is proficient in the visualisation of the stations and the light-ray. he
that by appropriate action upon the individual psychic machinery must begin to pause in contemplation at each station. meditating
of the human personality. certain of its aspects may be aroused into on the particular powers and activities attributed to it.
activity. and this in its tum will cause external. objective energy to When this technique has been fully mastered. the student should
be drawn through into the "sphere of sensation" or "auric field" of begin to visualise the stations in their appropriate colour. Kether,
the personality. thus charging it with vitality of a very powerful the centre above the head is seen as a white brilliance. Daath, as
kind. This inflowing force may be used and directed as the magician a lavender coloured sphere, Tiphareth, as golden-yellow. Yesod,
wills. to effect those changes in consciousness. of himself or others. as purple, and Malkuth as dark olive green. or jet black.
which we have stated to be the object of all true magical work. It is not sufficient. however. that the student simply awaken the
The magical schools teach that there exist in the psychic body middle pillar centres in this way. It is necessary that the energies
certain centres of activity. and these centres are located in the same so drawn into the psychic field should be put into circulation. and
general positions as the chakras of the eastern systems . We say this is done by the exercise of the Interwoven Light. Part of this,
the same general positions. since there are certain variations from the "formula of circumambulation" as it is termed . we have already
the theosophical classification. These do not. however. affect the described in the chapter entitled "The Interwoven Light."
results obtained and for this reason it is not our intention to enter When the middle pillar techn ique has been thoroughly grasped.
into any comparison between the two systems. and the exercise mastered. the energies which are now being brought
It is sufficient for our purpose that the student should visualise into the psychic organism may be directed by the visualising faculty
himself as standing with his back to the diagram of the Tree of in the following manner.
Life. The right-hand pillar will then be on his left hand. and the Having performed the exercise, and reached the station of
left-hand pillar on his right. The middle pillar. comprising the Malkuth, the magician should bring his attention back to the station
Sephiroth Kether, Daath, Tiphareth, Yesod and Malkuth will then of Kether, above the head. Now the flaming white brilliance is
be equated with his spinal column and feet. willed and mentally seen to descend to the left shoulder. right down
170 171
 ---.,

THE MAGICIAN : HIS TRAINING AND WORK

BIBLIOGRAPHY
through the left side to the left foot. Here it passes through the
sphere of Malkuth, enters the right foot, travels up the right side IT has been suggested to the writer that it would be of great assist­
~. ' ':'; of the body to the right shoulder, and so back to Kether. This is ance to students of magic if, instead of a simple list of books on
the first phase of the exercise, and should be practised until pro­ the subject. he gave a brief commentary on those which were likely
ficiency is gained. to be most useful to the reader.
Now the second part can be commenced. Again the attention is We start. therefore. with some works by two of the foremost
directed to Kether. Then the white brilliance is visualised as coming writers on magical subjects. Israel Regardie and Dion Fortune.
down from that centre in front of the face and down the front of .. The three books The Garden of Pomegranates. The Tree of Life
the body and legs to the toes. From these it travels along the soles and The Middle Pillar. all by Regardie, are invaluable and all earn­
of the feet, back up the calves and the back of the thighs, up over est students are indebted to him for these books alone. Another of
the spine and the back of the head to the station Kether. his works, The Art of True Healing . although small. is splendid
It will be found helpful if the breathing is synchronised with value. Having worked ~n the magical Order of the "Stella
this visualisation, the exhalation being performed as the visualised Matutina," Regardie decided. for reasons which he gives, to publish
power travels downward, and the inhalation being done as the the secret rituals of the Order. This step has led to a considerable
power travels upwards . amount of bitterness on both sides. but whether one agrees with his
The third part of the exercise has already been described in the action or not. there is no doubt that the four volumes of The
chapter on the Interwoven Light. Golden Dawn. published in 1940, are veritable mines of informa­
There are, of course, other exercises in connection with the tion.
middle pillar, but they do not need mention here. since they belong Dion Fortune has to her credit what is possibly the finest book
to the more advanced levels of magical training. of Qabalistic exegesis ever written-The Mystical Qabalah. Other
He who perseveres until he has mastered the basic exercises will books of hers in this connection are The Esoteric Orders and their
learn, from one source or another, of the more advanced exercises. Work. The Training and Work of an Initiate. The Esoteric Philo­
The student is never entirely without instruction. sophy of Love and Marriage. Sane Occultism and Psychic Self­
The present writer would urge all his readers who desire serious­ Defence. all published or to be published by The Aquarian Press.
ly to practise the magical art. to train themselves thoroughly in Psychic Self-Defence is particularly recommended by the present
this technique of the middle pillar. It is the key to practical magic. writer. who knew fairly intimately many of the people mentioned
therein.
Coming now to the standard writers on Magic, the two books
The History of Magic and Transcendental Magic. by Eliphas Levi.
are the source from which many modem writers have built up their
own expositions of magic. They are valuable not because of their
factual statements but rather for the stimulus they can give the en­
quiring mind.
Translations by A. E. Waite of these two books are published
by Riders.
Two of the early Theosophical books dealing with our subject
are Natures Finer Forces. by Rama Prasad. and Magic: Black and
White. by Dr. Franz Hartman. A book dealing with the occult
aspects of Christian ceremonial. The Science of the Sacraments, by
the Right Rev. C. W. Leadbeater, of the Liberal Catholic Church.
is published by the Theosophical Publishing House. Madame
173
172
 THE MAGICIAN: HIS TRAINING AND WORIl: ':::.•r- BIBLIOGRAPHY
Blavatsky's monumental work Isis Unveiled, is well worth studying, that is illuminating in his works. but they will then be able to deal
although the present writer agrees with Maeterlinck that it is "like selectively with his teachings.
· '-;.
a builder's yard"; it contains enough raw material for the building Coming now to the books which throw light from the psycho­
of innumerable mental edifices!
logical angle upon our subject. the foremost are The Secret of the
Two source books which must not be overlooked are Sepher Golden Flower, by Wilhelm and Jung, The Integration of the
Yetzirah, by Dr. Wynn Westcott, and The Qabalah Unveiled, by Personality and The Psychology of the Unconscious, both by Dr.
S. L. Magregor Mathers . These two men were, together with Brodie
Jung. Suggestion and Auto-Suggestion, by Baudoin, and Hypnotism,
Innes, a Scotch " Writer to The Signet," the founders of the "Magical
by Dr. Moll give some idea of the working of the subconscious
Order of the Golden Dawn." This is the parent stock from which
mind. whilst Dr. Mary Harding's book Women's Mysteries is full
many of the modem occult orders have stemmed. A word of warn­
of real information on feminine psychology. A book which attempts
ing here. These two books should not be attempted until the begin­
to bring together the East and the West is Dr. Geraldine Coster's
ner has acquired quite a solid foundation of knowledge. He will
Yoga and Western Psychology.
then be able to read them with advantage.
Three books by Sir John Woodroffe (Arthur Avalon) are in­ Two works dealing with the psychic faculties are Man's Latent
valuable for giving a clear idea of the Hindu Tantric systems. Powers, by Phoebe Payne. and Paranormal Cognition by Dr. L. J.
These three are the The Serpent Power, Shakti and Shakta, and Bendit. Both these books are published by Faber.
Some very interesting books dealing with the ceremonial of the
The World as Power.
A fine work on Egyptian magic is The Occult Arts of Ancient Masonic Order are The Meaning of Masonry, and The Masonic
Egypt, by Bernard Bromage (Aquarian Press). Initiation, both by Bro. W. Wilmshurst, and Freemasonry and the
A book which throws much light on certain magical practices Ancient Gods, by Bro. J. S. M. Ward.
is The Projection of the Astral Body, by Muldoon and Carrington On the subject of Magnetism, the following works are worth
(Riders). and another which deals with magic from the Theosophical attention. Letters on Od and Magnetism, by Reichenbach (Hutchin­
angle is The Ritual of Higher Magic, by Furze Morrish. sons). Animal Magnetism, by Gregory. Vital Magnetic Healing,
Mention is often made of the wonderful symbolic system known by Adelaide Gardner (T.P.H.), Magnetism and Magic, by Baron
as the Tarot. The present writer considers the book by Paul Foster de Sennevoy (Allen & Unwin). The Rationale of Mesmerism, by
Case. The Tarot (Macoy Pub. Co.), to be the best published account A. P. Sinnett. and The Human Atmosphere, by Dr. Walter Kilner.
of this very wonderful system. It is the belief of the present writer that much can be gained
Finally. there is the book Magic : its Ritual. Power and Purpose. from fictional representations of magical work. and for that reason
by the present writer (Aquarian Press). the following books have been included. They are of various grades
This is really an introductory study of the subject. leading up of value, but the discerning reader will be able to see who is writing
to the more detailed exposition of this present writing. For this with 'the authority of knowledge concerning these things.
reason. quite apart from any pecuniary interest in royalties. it is DION FORTUNE-
recommended that it be obtained and studied by the serious student. The Demon Lover; Secrets of Dr. Tavener; The Winged
Having dealt with the chief works on magic we will proceed to Bull; The Goat-foot God; The Sea Priestess; Moon Magic:
note some works dealing with the psychological basis of magic. The Memoirs of a Mistress of that Art.
Before we do this. however, we must return to our first list of
books on magic. It will be seen that none of the writings of that BRODIE INNES-
strange being Aleister Crowley have been listed herein. This is The Devil's Mistress; For the Soul of a Witch; Old as the
because. whatever the value of his teaching may be. and there is World.
much of real value therein. his literary style is so uneven. descending SIR RONALD FRASER-
from sublime heights to depths of grossness. that he is no guide Sun in Scorpio; Glimpses of the Sun; Circular Tour; Fiery
for the beginner in these matters. Advanced students may find much Gates; Bird Under Glass.
174 175
,.... THE MAGICIAN : HIS TRAINING AND WORK

MARJORIE LAWRENCE­
No.7 Queer Street.
ALGERNON BLACKWOOD-
John Silence; Julius Le Vallon; The Bright Messenger.
DENNIS WHEATLEY-
The Devil Rides Out; Strange Conflict.
J. M. A. MILLS-
Tomb of the Dark Ones; Lords of the Earth; There Will
Your Heart Be.
JOAN GRANT-
A PERSONAL WORD FROM MELVIN POWERS,

Winged Pharaoh; Eyes of Horus; Lord of the Horizon. PUBLISHER, WILSHIRE BOOK COMPANY

L. ADAMS BECK- .
House of Fulfilment.
TALBOT MUNDY­
My goal is to publish interesting, informative, and
Black Light; Om. inspirational books. Youcan help me to accomplish this by
BULWER LYTTON- sending me your answers to the following questions:
Zanoni; A Strange Story.
H. RIDER HAGGARD­
Did you enjoy reading this book? Why?
Wisdom's Daughter; Queen of the Dawn; Morning Star; What ideas in the book impressed you most? Have you
The World's Desire.
applied them to your daily life? How?
W. B. Yeats. the Irish poet and dramatist. was one of the early Is there a chapter that could serve as a theme for an
members of the magical Order of the Golden Dawn. and his auto­ entire book? Explain.
biography The Trembling of the Veil is of considerable value.
Another of the early G. D. members was Arthur Edward Waite. Would you like to read similar books? What additional
and his autobiography. Shadows of Life and Thought is also of information would you like them to contain?
interest.
The Irish writer ..A.E.... though not a member of the G.D., never­ If you have an idea for a book, I would welcome dis­
theless was in touch with many of its initiates, and his book The cussing it with you. If you have a manuscript in progress,
Candle of Vision (Macmillan & Co.), is worth reading. write or call me concerning possible publication.
Ethel Archer, who was connected with the group which centred
around Aleister Crowley, has written a very interesting story, The
Hieroglyph, and another helpful piece of fiction is High Magic's Melvin Powers

Aid, by G. B. Gardner.
12015 Sherman Road

There are, of course, many other books on our subject. and lists
of these will be found in some of those mentioned here. North Hollywood, California 91605

Unfortunately many of these books are now out of print, and (818) 765-8579
can only be obtained through the second-hand market.

176