Magick in Theory and Practice (Section 4)

LIBER O vel MANUS ET SAGITTÆ SUB FIGURA VI. I. 1. This book is very easy to misunderstand; readers are asked to use the most minute critical care in the study of it, even as we hâve done in the préparation. 2. In this book it is spoken of the Sephiroth, and the Paths, of Spirits and Conjurations ; of Gods, Spheres, Planes, and many other things which may or may not exist. It is immaterial whether they exist or not. By doing certain things certain results follow; students are most earnestly warned against attributing objective reality or philosophie validity to any of them. 3. The advantages to be gained from them are chiefly these: (a) A widening of the horizon of the mind. (b) An improvement of the control of the mind. 4. The student, if he attains any success in the following practices, will find himself confrontcd by things (ideas or beings) too glorious or too dreadful to be described. It is essential that he remain the master of ail that he beholds, hears or conceives; otherwise he will be the slave of illusion and the prey of madness. Before entering upon any of these practices the student must be in good health, and hâve attained a fair mastery of Asana, Pranayama and Dharana. 5. There is little danger that any student, however idle or stupid. will fail to get some resuit ; but there is great danger that he will be led astray, even though it be by those which it is necessary that he should attain. Too often, moreover, he mistaketh the first resting-place for the goal, and taketh off his armour as if he were a victor ere the fight is well begun. — 375 —