Magick in Theory and Practice (Section 4)

examination j and in the event of your passing you will be given more complex and difficult exercises. III Asana — Posture. 1. You must learn to sit perfectly still with every muscle tense for long periods. 2. You must wear no garments that interfère with the posture in any of these experiments. 3. The first position : (The God). Sit in a chair ; head up, back straight, knees together, hands on knees, eyes closed. 4. The second position : (The Dragon). Kneel; buttocks resting on the heels, toes turned back, back and head straight, hands on thighs. 5. The third position: (The Ibis). Stand, hold left ankle with right hand, free forefinger on lips. 6. The fourth position: (The Thunderbolt). Sit5 left heel pressing up anus, right foot poised on its toes, the heel covering the phallus 5 arms stretched out over the knees 3 head and back straight. 7. Various things will happen to you while you are practising these positions j they must be carefully analysed and described. 8. Note down the duration of practice j the severity of the pain (if any) which accompanies it, the degree of rigidity attained, and any other pertinent matters. 9. When you hâve progressed up to the point that a saucer filled to the brim with water and poised upon the head does not spill one drop during a whole hour, and when you can no longer perceive the slightest tremor in any muscle j when, in short, you are perfectly steady and easy, you will be admitted for examination 3 and, should you pass, you will be instructed in more complex and difficult practices. IV Pranayama — Régularisation of the Breathing 1. At rest in one of your positions, close the right nostril with the thumb of the right hand and breathe out slowly and completely