Magick in Theory and Practice (Section 2)

Spirit in a black box wiîh stinking substances, alï îiaving been properly prepared beforehand, and tlie magical links properîy made, so that lie is really tortured by the Operation. 1 This is a rare event, however. Only once in the whole of his magical career was Frater Perurabo driven to so harsh a measure. IV In this connexion, beware of too ready a compliance on the part of the spirit. If some Black Lodge has got wind of your operation, it may send the spirit, full of hypocritical submission, to destroy you. Such a spirit will probably pronounce the oath amiss, or in some way seek to avoid his obligations. It is a dangerous trick, though, for the Black Lodge to play; tor if the spirit corne properly under your control, it will be forced to disclose the transaction, and the current will return to the Black Lodge with fulminating force. The liars will be in the power of their own lie; their own slaves will rise up and put them into bondage. The wicked fall into the pit that they themseives digged. And so perish ail the King’s enemies! V The charge to the spirit is usually embodied, except in Works of pure évocation, which after ali are comparatively rare, in sonie kind of talisman. In a certain sense, the talisman is the Charge expressed in hieroglyphics. Yet, every object soever is a talisman, for the définition of a talisman is: something upon which an act of will (that is, of Magick) has been performed in order to fit it for a purpose. Repeated acts of will in respect of i. The précisé meaning of these phrases is at first sight obscure. The spirit is merely a récalcitrant part of one’s own organism. To evoke him is therefore to become conscious of some part of one’s own character; to command and constrain him is to bring that part into subjection. This is best understood by the analogy of teaching oneself some mental-physical accomplishment (e. g. billiards), by persistent and patient study and practice, which often involves considérable pain as well as trouble. 136 —