Magick in Theory and Practice (Section 2)

3- . We postulate that the intelligences whom we wish to consult are willing, or may be compelled, to answer us truthfully. Let us first consider the question of the compendium of symbols. The alphabet of a language is a more or less arbitrary way of transcribing the sounds employed in speaking it. The letters tnemselves h ave not necessarily any meaning as such. But in a System of divination each Symbol stands for a definite idea. It would not interfère with the English language to add a few new letters. In fact, some Systems of shorthand hâve done so. But a System of symbols suitable for divination must be a complété représentation of the Universe, so that each is absolute, and the whole insusceptible of increase or diminution. It is (in fact) tech- nically a pantacle in the fullest sense of the word. Let us consider some prominent examples of such System. We may observe that a common mode of divination is to inquire of books by placing the thumb at random within the leaves. The Books of the Sybil, the Works of Vergil, and the Bible hâve been used ’very frequently for this purpose. For theoretical justification, one must assume that the book employed is a perfect représentation of the Universe. But even if this were the case, it is an inferior form of construction, because the only reasonable conception of the Cosmos is mathematical and hieroglyphic rather than literary. In the case of a book, such a book as the Book of the Law which is the suprême truih and the perfect rule of life, it is not répugnant to good sense to dérivé an oracle from its pages. It will of course be remarked that the Book of the Law is not mereiy a literary compilation but a complex mathematical structure. It îherefore fulfiïs the required conditions. The principal means of divination in history are astrology, geo- mancy, the Tarot, the Holy Qabalah, and the Yi King. There aie hundreds of othersj from pyromancy, oneiromancy, auguries from sacrifices, and the spinning-top of some ancient oracles to the omens drawn from the flight of birds and the prophesying or tea-leaves. It will be sufficient for our présent purpose to discuss only the five Systems first enumerated. Astrology is theoretically a perfect method, since the symbols employed actually exist in the macrocosm, and thus possess a — x57