The Book of ceremonial Magic

ablution itself becomes symbolical. When the operator rises in the morning, during the
preparatory triduum prescribed by the Grimorium Verum, his hands and face must be
sponged with a clean white cloth, using water which has been previously exorcised
according to the indications of the Ritual 1 and reciting the
PREPARATORY PRAYER
Lord God ADONAY, Who hast formed man out of nothing to Thine own image and
likeness, and me also, unworthy sinner as I am, deign, I pray Thee, to bless and
sanctify this water, that it may be healthful to my body and soul, that all delusion may
depart from me. O Lord God, Almighty and Ineffable, Who didst lead forth Thy people
from the land of Egypt, and didst cause them to Pass dry-shod over the Red Sea! Grant
that I may be cleansed by this water from all my sins and may appear innocent before
Thee. Amen.
The Book of True Black Magic observes that the bath is most necessary for Magical Art, 2
and that it must be taken on
p. 148
the final day of the fast, when the exorcisor has been cleansed from all sins, when he has
written with the pen of the Art, upon virgin paper or parchment, all the conjurations and
exorcisms required in the practice, and has performed all the other preparatory
ceremonies. From the crown of his head to the soles of his feet he must purify himself
with warm exorcised water, saying as he does so: O Lord Adonay, Who hast formed me in
Thine image and in Thy likeness, deign to bless and sanctify this water, so that it may
become unto me the salvation of my soul and body, and that no wickedness may ever find
place within me. . . . The Psalms Dominus illuminatio mea and Dixit insipiens in corde
suo should be added. 1 Then he should dry himself.
The prayer following must be repeated--five times during the day and four times during
the night--for the space of three days: ASTROSCHIO, ASATH, à sacra BEDRIMUBAL,
FELUT, ANABOTOS, SERABILEM, SERGEN, GEMEN, DOMOS. O Lord God, Who
art seated above the heavens, Who beholdest the depths, grant me, I pray Thee, that those
things which I conceive in my mind may also be executed by me, through Thee, O Great
God, Who livest and reignest for ever and ever! Amen.
Footnotes
147:1 From these indications it follows literally that such water would hold quicklime in
solution. The passage stands thus: "Warning: The said water must be that which was
previously exorcised, wherein thy lime was put"--namely, for the dressing of the
lambskin. But water consecrated at the same time is most probably intended.