PRACTICAL OCCULTISM consists, first, of a perfect mastery of the
individual's _own spirit_. No advance whatever can be made in
acquiring power over other spirits, such as controlling the lower or
supplicating the higher, until the spirit within has acquired such
perfect mastery of itself, that it can never be moved to anger or
emotion--realizes no pleasure, cares for no pain; experiences no
mortification at insult, loss, or disappointment--in a word, subdues
every emotion that stirs common men's minds.
To arrive at this state, severe and painful as well as long continued
discipline is necessary. Having acquired this perfect _equilibrium_,
the next step is _power_. The individual must be able to wake when he
pleases and sleep when he pleases; go in spirit during bodily sleep
where he will, and visit--as well as remember when awake--distant
scenes.
He must be enabled by practice, to telegraph, mentally, with his
fellow associates, and present himself, spiritually, in their midst.
He must, by practice, acquire psychological control over the minds of
any persons--not his associates--_beneath_ his own calibre of mind. He
must be able to still a crying infant, subdue fierce animals or angry
men, and by will, transfer his thought without speech or outward sign
to any person of a mental calibre below himself; he must be enabled to
summon to his presence elementary spirits, and if he desires to do so
(knowing the penalties attached), to make them serve him in the
special departments of Nature to which they belong.
He must, by virtue of complete subjugation of his earthly nature, be
able to invoke Planetary and even Solar Spirits, and commune with them
to a certain degree.
To attain these degrees of power the processes are so difficult that a
thorough practical occultist can scarcely become one and yet continue
his relations with his fellow-men.
He must continue, from the first to the last degree, a long series of
exercises, each one of which must be perfected before another is
undertaken.
A practical occultist may be of either sex, but must observe as the
first law inviolable chastity--and that with a view of conserving all
the virile powers of the organism. No aged person, especially one who
has not lived the life of strict chastity, can acquire the full sum of
the powers above named. It is better to commence practice in early
youth, for after the meridian of life, when the processes of waste
prevail over repair, few of the powers above described can be
attained; the full sum never.
Strict abstinence from animal food and all stimulants is necessary.
Frequent ablutions and long periods of silent contemplation are
essential. Codes of exercises for the attainment of these powers can
be prescribed, but few, if any, of the self-indulgent livers of modern
times can perform their routine.
The arts necessary for study to the practical occultist are, in
addition to those prescribed in speculative occultism, a knowledge of
the qualities of drugs, vapors, minerals, electricity, perfumes,
fumigations, and all kinds of anaesthetics.
And now, having given in brief as much as is consistent with my
position--as the former associate of a secret society--I have simply
to add, that, whilst there are, as in Masonry, certain preliminary
degrees to pass through, there are numerous others to which a
thoroughly well organized and faithful association might advance. In
each degree there are some valuable elements of practical occultism
demanded, whilst the teachings conveyed are essential preliminaries.
In a word, speculative occultism must precede practical occultism; the
former is love and wisdom, the latter, simply power.
In future papers I propose to describe the two Ancient Cabalas,
and the present attempts to incarnate their philosophy in
modern--so-called--Theosophy.