23.04.2013 Views

Israel Regardie - The Complete Golden Dawn System of Magic.pdf

Israel Regardie - The Complete Golden Dawn System of Magic.pdf

Israel Regardie - The Complete Golden Dawn System of Magic.pdf

SHOW MORE
SHOW LESS

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.

VOLUME NINE<br />

NOTE<br />

By<br />

G.H. FRATER S.R.M.D.<br />

It is here advisable to transcribe the following from Cornelius Agrippa:<br />

Of <strong>The</strong> Four Elements and <strong>The</strong>ir Natural Qualities:<br />

“It is necessary that we should know and understand the nature and quality <strong>of</strong> the Four<br />

Elements, in order to our being perfect in the principles and groundwork <strong>of</strong> our studies in the<br />

Talismanic or <strong>Magic</strong>al Art.<br />

“<strong>The</strong>refore, there are four Elements, the original grounds <strong>of</strong> all corporeal things, viz.:<br />

Earth, Air, Fire, and Water, <strong>of</strong> which elements all inferior bodies are compounded, not by<br />

way <strong>of</strong> being heaped up together, but by transmutation and union; and when they are destroyed,<br />

they are resolved into elements.<br />

“But there are none <strong>of</strong> the sensible elements that are pure. <strong>The</strong>y are more or less mixed,<br />

and apt to be changed into one into the other, even as earth being moistened and dissolved<br />

becomes water, but the same being made thick and hard becomes earth again, and being<br />

evaporated through heat it passes into air, and that being kindled into fire; and this being<br />

extinguished into air again; but being cooled after burning becomes water again, or else stone or<br />

sulphur, and this is clearly demonstrated by lightning.<br />

“Now every one <strong>of</strong> these Elements has two specific qualities: the former where<strong>of</strong> it<br />

retains as proper to itself; in the other as a mean, it agrees with that which comes directly after it.<br />

For Fire is hot and dry; Water cold and moist; and Air hot and moist; and so in this manner, the<br />

Elements, according to two contrary qualities are opposite one to the other, as Fire to Water, and<br />

Earth to Air.<br />

“Likewise the Elements are contrary one to the other on another account. Two are heavy,<br />

as Earth and Water; and the others are light, as Fire and Air.<br />

TABLE SHOWING QUALITIES OF ELEMENTS<br />

Fire<br />

Heat, dryness, excessive lightness, brilliance, excessive subtlety, motion rapid.<br />

Water<br />

Cold, moisture, weight, obscurity, solidity, motion.<br />

Air<br />

Heat, moisture, lightness, slight obscurity, subtlety, excessive motion.<br />

Earth<br />

Cold, dryness, excessive weight, excessive obscurity, excessive solidity, rest.<br />

79

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!