Magick in Theory and Practice (Section 2)

V Of the powers of the Sphinx much has been written. * 1 Wisely they hâve been kept in the forefront of true magical instruction. Even the tyro can always rattle off that he has to know, to dare to will and to keep silence. It is difficult to Write on this subject, for these powers are indeed comprehensive, and the interplay of one with the other becomes increasingly évident as one goes more deeply into the subject. But there is one general principle which seems worthy of spécial emphasis in this place. These four powers are thus complex because they are the powers of the Sphinx, that is, they are func- tions of a single organism. Now those who understand the growth of organisms are aware that évolution dépends on adaptation to environment. If an animal which cannot swim is occasionally thrown into water, it may escape by some piece of good fortune, but if it is thrown into water continuously it will drown sooner or later, unless it learns to swim. Organisms being to a certain extent elastic, they soon adapt themselves to a new environment, provided that the change is not so sudden as to destroy that elasticity. Now a change in environment involves a repeated meeting of new conditions, and if you want to adapt yourself to any given set of conditions, the best thing you can do is to place yourself cautiously and persistently among them. That is the foundation of ail éducation. The old-fashioned pédagogues were not ail so stupid as some modem educators wx>uld hâve us think. The principle of the System was to strike the brain a sériés of constantly repeated blows until the proper reaction became normal to the organism. It is not désirable to use ideas which excite interest, or may corne spiritualism without ohvious bad results, and even with good results, within limits. But such exceptions in no wise invalidate the general rule, or in any way serve as argument against the magical theory outlined above with such mild suasion. i. In Liber CXI (Aleph) the subject is treated with profound and all- comprehensive wisdom. 200