The Book of ceremonial Magic
The Book of ceremonial Magic
The Book of ceremonial Magic
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MYSTIC FIGURES FROM THE TITLE-PAGE OF THE "GRIMOIRE OF HONORIUS"<br />
p. 266<br />
may have no foundation in fact, and may be eminently foolish, but it is not a superstitious<br />
assumption. It has been well pointed out by Éliphas Lévi that the term superstition<br />
signifies survival; that is to say, it is the sign surviving the idea. Thus, the Catholic<br />
doctrine <strong>of</strong> Transubstantiation, in its open theological sense, may or may not be true<br />
doctrine, but in neither case can the worship <strong>of</strong> the consecrated elements be superstitious,<br />
because such worship draws directly from the idea which has created the outward sign. If<br />
a time could be supposed when the Elements should continue to be worshipped after the<br />
doctrine itself had passed away, that would be a superstitious observance. But the<br />
etymological conception <strong>of</strong> superstition connects also with the idea <strong>of</strong> redundance. Thus,<br />
a double consecration <strong>of</strong> the Eucharistic elements would be a superstitious observance, as<br />
well as blasphemously absurd, because the first consecration is effectual by the<br />
theological hypothesis. But the repetition <strong>of</strong> the Angelical Salutation in the devotion <strong>of</strong><br />
the Holy Rosary is not superstitious, because the first recitation is not necessarily<br />
effectual by the devotional hypothesis. So also the magical practice which consists with<br />
the magical hypothesis will not be superstitious, though it may not consist with reason.<br />
<strong>The</strong> slaughter <strong>of</strong> a kid with a view to securing a virgin parchment is not a superstitious<br />
but a precautionary or assumptive measure. <strong>The</strong> conversion <strong>of</strong> this slaughter into a<br />
sacrifice is not superstitious, because it has a purpose which consists with the magical<br />
hypothesis, namely, the increase <strong>of</strong> virtue by the consecration <strong>of</strong> the religious motive.<br />
<strong>The</strong> importation into such sacrifice <strong>of</strong> ceremonies which are not precautionary, and do<br />
not, by the hypothesis, increase the virtue, are redundant and so far superstitious. Such<br />
<strong>of</strong>fices do not occur in the Grimoires, with the exception <strong>of</strong> that <strong>of</strong> Honorius, in which<br />
Ritual they are further characterised<br />
p. 267<br />
by brutal features. <strong>The</strong> slaughter <strong>of</strong> a black cock and the extraction <strong>of</strong> the eyes, tongue<br />
and heart, which must be reduced into powder, and that powder subsequently sprinkled<br />
on the lambskin, is a redundant and monstrous observance. Were I therefore an occultist,