The Book of ceremonial Magic
The Book of ceremonial Magic
The Book of ceremonial Magic
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p. 139<br />
CHAPTER I<br />
<strong>The</strong> Preparation <strong>of</strong> the Operator<br />
§ 1. Concerning the Love <strong>of</strong> God<br />
THE rites <strong>of</strong> so-called Transcendental <strong>Magic</strong> are, ex hypothesi, divine and religious rites,<br />
and the counsels, spiritual and moral, which are found in its instructions are, in their<br />
meagre and puerile way, the vulgarised counsels <strong>of</strong> perfection, whatever element <strong>of</strong><br />
sovereign contra-reason may obtain in its experiments. 1 <strong>The</strong> Composite Rituals, despite<br />
the result <strong>of</strong> their analysis, also partake largely <strong>of</strong> the nature <strong>of</strong> substituted religious<br />
observances, at times Judaistic, at times Christian. In both cases this fact is readily<br />
intelligible; to communicate with the fabled Spirits <strong>of</strong> the Firmament and to practise an<br />
art which <strong>of</strong>fers to its adepts the regeneration <strong>of</strong> Enoch, King <strong>of</strong> the Inferior World, 2<br />
"who was not, for God took him," may well demand a high degree <strong>of</strong> sanctity from its<br />
candidate, to whatever ends it may lead him; while to dominate the so-called Spirits <strong>of</strong><br />
the Elements, the Kabalistic Kliphoth and the Evil Demons, it is reasonable to assume<br />
that the<br />
p. 140<br />
Magus must be free from common weakness, from common vice 1 and must be fortified<br />
by the grace and favour <strong>of</strong> the superior world. Given the magical standpoint in each case,<br />
the conditions essential to operation seem, in this respect, above challenge. Its<br />
recommendations, however, were more especially <strong>of</strong> times and seasons; they were for the<br />
work <strong>of</strong> the art in hand rather than for the high and transcendental art <strong>of</strong> holy life. But it<br />
will assuredly appear at first sight a bizarre anomaly that Black <strong>Magic</strong> should involve<br />
also religious observances and should exact similar conditions, both inward and outward,<br />
from those who would undertake its enterprises. It is not, as generally supposed, either<br />
Christianity à rebours or a reversed religion <strong>of</strong> Israel; it is not the intentional pr<strong>of</strong>anation<br />
<strong>of</strong> religious ritual and observance; it is something less outrageous but logically more<br />
insensate; so far as it has re. course to such ritual and such observance, it is not to do<br />
outrage to God in the interests <strong>of</strong> diabolism, but to derive power and virtue from above<br />
for the more successful control <strong>of</strong> Evil Spirits, and this obtains indifferently whether the<br />
purpose <strong>of</strong> the operator be otherwise lawful or not.<br />
<strong>The</strong> Divine Love, says the book <strong>of</strong> True Black <strong>Magic</strong>, 2 must precede the acquisition <strong>of</strong><br />
the Science <strong>of</strong> Solomon, son <strong>of</strong> King David, who said: <strong>The</strong> beginning and Key <strong>of</strong> my<br />
Wisdom are the fear <strong>of</strong> God, to do Him honour, to adore Him with great contrition <strong>of</strong><br />
heart, and to invoke His aid in all our intentions and aspirations; which fulfilling, God<br />
will lead us into the good way. 3<br />
To account for this anomaly it is insufficient to say that