Magick in Theory and Practice (Section 2)

serve as an element in some Sacrament; also, each spiritual Grâce should possess its peculiar form of Mass, and therefore its own “materia magica77. It is utterly unscientific to treat “God77 as a universal homogeneity, and use the same means to prolong life as to bewitch cattle. One does not invoke “Electricity77 indiscrimi- nately to light one7s house and to propel one’s brougham; one Works by measured application of one7s powers to intelligent analytical compréhension of the conditions of each separate case. There is a Eucharist for every Grâce that we may need; we must apprehend the essential characters in each case, select suitable Eléments, and devise proper processes. To consider the classical problems of Alchemy: the Medicine of Metals must be the quintessence of some substance that serves to détermine the structure (or rate of vibration) whose manifestation is in characteristic metallic qualities. This need not be a Chemical substance at ail in the ordinary sense of the Word. The Elixir of Life will similarly consist of a living organism capable of growth, at the expense of its environment ; and of such a nature that its “true Will75 is to cause that environment to serve it as its means of expression in the physical world of human life. The Universal Medicine will be a menstruum of such subtlety as to be able to penetrate ail matter and transmute it in the sense of its own tendency, while of such impartial purity as to accept perfectly the impression of the Will of the Alchemist. This substance, properly prepared, and properly charged, is able to perform ail things soever that are physically possible, within the limits of the proportions of its momentum to the inertia of the object to which it is applied. It may be observed in conclusion that, in dealing with forms of Matter-Motion so subtle as these, it is not enough to pass the Pons Asinorum of intellectual knowledge. The Master Therion has possessed the theory of these Powers for many years; but Elis practice is still in progress towards perfection. Even efficiency in the préparation is not ail; there is need to be judicious in the manipulation, and adroit in the admi¬ nistration, of the product. Ele does not perform haphazard miracles, but applies His science and skill in conformity with the laws of nature.