Magick in Theory and Practice (Section 2)

CHAPTER XXI OF BLACK MAGIC OF THE MAIN TYPES OF THE OPERATIONS OF MAGICK ART AND OF THE POWERS OF THE SPHINX I As was said at the opening of the second chapter, the Single Suprême Ritual is the attainment of the Knowledge and Conver¬ sation of the Holy Guardian Angel. It is the raisin g of the complété man in a vertical straight line. Any déviation from tliis line tends to become black magic. Any otlier operation is black magic. In the True Operation the Exaltation is equilibrated by an expansion in the other three arms of the Cross. Hence the Angel immediately gives the Adept power over the Four Great Princes and their servitors. 1 If the magician needs to perform any other operation than this, it is only lawful in so far as it is a necessary preliminary to That One Work. There are, however many shades of grey. It is not every magician who is well armed with theory. Perhaps one such may invoke Jupiter, with the wish to heal others of their physical ills. This sort of thing is harmless,2 or almost so. It is not evil in 1. See the Book of the Sacred Magic of Abramelin the Mage. 2. There is nevertheless the general objection to the diversion of channels of Initiation to the Sea of Attainment, into ditches of irrigation for the fields of material advantage. It is bad business to pay good coin for perishable products; like marrying for money, or prostituting poetic genius to political purposes. The converse course, though equally — 190