Magick in Theory and Practice (Section 4)

liber rnaunn vel THISHARB SUB FIGURA CMXIII. ooo. May be. (oo. It has not been possible to construct this book on a basis of pure Scepticism. This matters less, as the practice leads to scepticism, and it mav be through it.) o. This book is not intended to lead to the suprême attainment. On the contrary, its results define the separate being of the Exempt Adept from the rest of the Universe, and discover his relation to the Universe.1 1. It is of such importance to the Exempt Adept that We cannot overrate it. Let him in no wise adventure the plunge into the Abyss until he has accomplished this to his most perfect satisfaction. 2 2. For in the Abyss no effort is anywise possible. The Abyss is passed by virtue of the mass of the Adept and his Karma. Two forces impel him : (i) the attraction of Binah, (2) the impulse of his Karma ; and the ease and even the safety of his passage dépend on the strength and direction of the latter. 3 3. Should one rashly dare the passage, and take the irrevocable Oath of the Abyss, he might be lost therein through Aeons of incalculable agony; he might even be thrown back upon Chesed, with the terrible Karma of failure added to his original imperfec¬ tion. 4. It is even said that in certain circumstances it is possible to 1. This book tells how to enquire “Who am I? ” “What is my relation with nature ? ” 2. One must destroy one’s false notions about who and what one is before one can hnd the truth of the matter. One must therefore under- stand those false notions before giving them up. Unless this be done perfectly, one will get the True mixed up with the remains of the False. 3. One’s life has hitherto been guided by those false notions. There¬ fore on giving them up, one has no standard of control of thought or action; and, until the truth is born, one can move only by virtue of one’s momentum. It is jumping off. 415 —