Magick in Theory and Practice (Section 2)

With regard to the préparations for such Sacraments, the Catholic Church has maintained well enough the traditions of the true Gnostic Church in whose keeping the secrets are. 1 Chastity 2 is a condition; fastrng for sonie Iiours previons is a condition; an carnest and continuai aspiration is a con¬ dition, Without these antécédents even the Eucharist of the One and Seven is partiaily — though such is its intrinsic virtue that it can never be wholly — baulked of its effect. A Eucharist of some sort sliould most assuredly be cou* summated daily by every magician, and be sboitld regard if as the main sustenance of bis magica! life, It is of more importance than any other magical ceremony, because it is a complété circle. The whole of the force expended is completely re-absorbed 3 yet the virtue is that vast gain represented by the abyss between Man and God. The magician becomes füled with God, fed upon God, intoxicaîed with God. Lit lie by little Ms hody will bec orne pnrified by fbe internai lustration of God; day by day bis mort ai frame, shedding its earihly éléments, will become in very truth the Temple of tbe Holy Gliost. Day by day matter is repîaeed by Spirit, tbe bmnau by the divine ; ulîimately the change will be complété; God manifest in flesh will be bis naine, This is the most important of ail magical secrets that ever were or are or can be. To a Magician thus renewed the attainment of the Knowledge and Conversation of the Holy Guardian Angel becomes an inévitable task; every force of his nature, unhindered, tends to that aim and goal of whose nature neither man nor god may speak, for that it is infinitely beyond speech or thought or 1. Study, in the Roman Missal, the Canon of the Mass, and the chapter of “defects”. 2. The Word Chastity is used by initiâtes to signify a certain State of soûl and of mind déterminant of a certain habit of body which is nowise identical with what is commonly understood. Chastity in the true magical sense of the word is inconceivable to those who are not wholly emancipated from the obsession of sex. — 182 —