The spirits of the Goetia are portions of the human brain.
Their seals therefore represent (Mr. Spencer’s projected cube) methods
of stimulating or regulating those particular spots (through the eye).
The names of God are vibrations calculated to establish:
(_a_) General control of the brain. (Establishment of functions relative
to the subtle world.)
(_b_) Control over the brain in detail. (Rank or type of the Spirit.)
(_c_) Control of one special portion. (Name of the Spirit.)
The perfumes aid this through smell. Usually the perfume will only tend
to control a large area; but there is an attribution of perfumes to
letters of the alphabet enabling one, by a Qabalistic formula, to spell
out the Spirit’s name.
I need not enter into more particular discussion of these points; the
intelligent reader can easily fill in what is lacking.
If, then, I say, with Solomon:
“The Spirit Cimieries teaches logic,” what I mean is:
“Those portions of my brain which subserve the logical faculty may be
stimulated and developed by following out the processes called ‘The
Invocation of Cimieries.’”
And this is a purely materialistic rational statement; it is independent
of any objective hierarchy at all. Philosophy has nothing to say; and
Science can only suspend judgment, pending a proper and methodical
investigation of the facts alleged.
Unfortunately, we cannot stop there. Solomon promises us that we can (1)
obtain information; (2) destroy our enemies; (3) understand the voices
of nature; (4) obtain treasure; (5) heal diseases, etc. I have taken
these five powers at random; considerations of space forbid me to
explain all.
(1) Brings up facts from sub-consciousness.
(2) Here we come to an interesting fact. It is curious to note the
contrast between the noble means and the apparently vile ends of magical
rituals. The latter are disguises for sublime truths. “To destroy our
enemies” is to realize the illusion of duality, to excite compassion.
(Ah! Mr. Waite, the world of Magic is a mirror, wherein who sees muck is
muck.)
(3) A careful naturalist will understand much from the voices of the
animals he has studied long. Even a child knows the difference of a
cat’s miauling and purring. The faculty may be greatly developed.
(4) Business capacity may be stimulated.
(5) Abnormal states of the body may be corrected, and the involved
tissues brought back to tone, in obedience to currents started from the
brain.
So for all other phenomena. There is no effect which is truly and
necessarily miraculous.
Our Ceremonial Magic fines down, then, to a series of minute, though of
course empirical, physiological experiments, and whoso will carry them
through intelligently need not fear the result.
I have all the health, and treasure, and logic, I need; I have no time
to waste. “There is a lion in the way.” For me these practices are
useless; but for the benefit of others less fortunate I give them to the
world, together with this explanation of, and apology for, them.
I trust that the explanation will enable many students who have
hitherto, by a puerile objectivity in their view of the question,
obtained no results, to succeed; that the apology may impress upon our
scornful men of science that the study of the bacillus should give place
to that of the baculum, the little to the great—how great one only
realizes when one identifies the wand with the Mahalingam, up which
Brahma flew at the rate of 84,000 yojanas a second for 84,000
mahakalpas, down which Vishnu flew at the rate of 84,000 croces of
yojanas a second for 84,000 crores of mahakalpas—yet neither reached an
end.
But I reach an end.
_Boleskine House,
Foyers, N.B._
Footnote 4:
This, incidentally, is perhaps the greatest argument we possess,
pushed to its extreme, against the Advaitist theories.
Footnote 5:
Thought is a secretion of the brain (Weissmann). Consciousness is a
function of the brain (Huxley).
Footnote 6:
Apart from its value in obtaining one-pointedness.
PRELIMINARY DEFINITION OF MAGIC.
LEMEGETON VEL CLAVICULA SALOMONIS REGIS.
Magic is the Highest, most Absolute, and most Divine Knowledge of
Natural Philosophy,[7] advanced in its works and wonderful operations by
a right understanding of the inward and occult virtue of things; so that
true Agents[8] being applied to proper Patients,[9] strange and
admirable effects will thereby be produced. Whence magicians are
profound and diligent searchers into Nature; they, because of their
skill, know how to anticipate an effort,[10] the which to the vulgar
shall seem to be a miracle.
Origen saith that the Magical Art doth not contain anything subsisting,
but although it should, yet that it must not be Evil, or subject to
contempt or scorn; and doth distinguish the _Natural Magic_ from that
which is _Diabolical_.
Apollonius Tyannaeus only exercised the _Natural Magic_, by the which he
did perform wonderful things.
Philo Hebraeus saith that true Magic, by which we do arrive at the
understanding of the Secret Works of Nature, is so far from being
contemptible that the greatest Monarchs and Kings have studied it. Nay!
among the Persians none might reign unless he was skilful in this GREAT
ART.
This Noble Science often degenerateth, from _Natural_ becometh
_Diabolical_, and from _True Philosophy_ turneth unto _Nigromancy_.[11]
The which is wholly to be charged upon its followers, who, abusing or
not being capable of that High and Mystical Knowledge do immediately
hearken unto the temptations of _Sathan_, and are misled by him into the
Study of the _Black Art_. Hence it is that Magic lieth under disgrace,
and they who seek after it are vulgarly esteemed _Sorcerers_.
The Fraternity of the Rosie Crusians thought it not fit to style
themselves Magicians, but rather Philosophers. And they be not ignorant
Empiricks,[12] but learned and experienced Physicians, whose remedies be
not only _Lawful_ but _Divine_.
Footnote 7:
This Preliminary Definition of Magic is found in very few Codices, and
is probably later than the body of the work.
Footnote 8:
Or Actives.
Footnote 9:
Or Passives.
Footnote 10:
Or Effect.
Footnote 11:
Or the Black Art, as distinct from mere Necromancy, or Divination by
the Dead.
Footnote 12:
Or Quacks and Pretenders. Vide note on p. 10.