as trutli in the perceptible imiverse; every idea when 
analysecl is fornid to contain a contradiction. It is quite 
useless (except as a temporary expédient) to set up one class of 
ideas against another as being "more real”. The advance of man 
towaids God is not necessarily an advance towards truth. Ail 
philosophical Systems hâve crumbled. But each class of ideas 
possesses true relations within itself. It is possible, with Berkeley, 1 
to deny the existence of water and of wood; but, for ail that, wood 
fioats on water. The Magician becomes identical with the imrnor- 
tal Osins, yet the Magician dies. In this dilemma the facts must 
be restated. One should preferably say that the Magician becomes 
tonscious of that part of himself which he calls the immortal 
Osins j and that Part does not “die”. 
Now this interior body of the Magician, of which we spoke at the 
begmning of this chapter, does exist, and can exert certain powers 
which his natural body cannot do. It can, for example, pass 
tirough matter , and it can move freelv in every direction 
* ni ough space. But this is because “matter”, in the sense in which 
we commonly use the word, is on another plane 2. 
Now this fine body perceives a uni verse which we do not 
ordinarily . perceive. It does not necessarily perceive the 
universe which we do normally perceive, so although in this body 
I can pass through the roof, it does not follow that I shall be able 
to tell what the weather is like. I might do so, or I might not; 
Dut if I could not, it would not prove that I was deceiving myself 
m supposing that I had passed through the roof. This body, 
which is called by varions authors the Astral double, body 
of Light, body of fire, body of desire, fine body, scin-laeca 
and numberless other naines is naturally fiited to perceive 
objects of ils own class... in particular, the phantoms of 
the astral plane. 
1. 1 he real Berkeley did nothing of the sorti the reference here is 
to an imaginary animal invented by Dr. Johnson ont of sturdy British 
ignorance. 
2. We do not call electrical résistance, or économie îaws, unreal, on 
the ground that they are not directly perceived by the senses. Gur magical 
doctrine is universally accepted by sceptics — only they wish to make 
Magick itseîf an exception! 
H4 —