Magick in Theory and Practice (Section 4)

4- The banishing rituals should be used at the commencement of any ceremony whatever. Next, the student should use a general invocation, such as the “Preliminary Invocation” in the “Goetia” as well as a spécial invocation to suit the nature of his working. 5. Success in these verbal invocations is so subtle a matter, and its grades so delicately shaded, that it must be left to the good sense of the student to décidé whether or not he should be satisfied with his resuit. V. 1. Let the student be at rest in one of his prescribed positions, having bathed and robed with the proper décorum. Let the place of working be free from ail disturbance, and let the preliminary purifications, banishings and invocations be duly accomplished, and, lastly, let the incense be kindled. 2. Let him imagine his own figure (preferably robed in the proper magical garments, and armed with the proper magical weapons) as enveloping his physical body, or standing near to and in front of him. 3. Let him then transfer the seat of his consciousness to that imagined figure 3 so that it may seem to him that he is seeing with its eyes, and hearing with its ears. This will usually be the great difficulty of the operation. 4. Let him then cause that imagined figure to rise in the air to a great height above the earth. 5. Let him then stop and look about him. (It is sometimes difficult to open the eyes.) 6. Probably he will see figures approaching him, or become conscious of a landscape. Let him speak to such figures, and insist upon being answered, using the proper pentagrams and signs, as previously taught. 7. Let him travel at will, either with or without guidance from such figure or figures. 8. Let him further employ such spécial invocations as will cause to appear the particular places he may wish to visit. 9. Let him beware of the thousand subtle attacks and déceptions that he will expérience, carefully testing the truth of ail with whom he speaks. — 387 —