Magick in Theory and Practice (Section 4)

Thus a hostile being may appear clothed with glory ; the appropriate pentagram will in such a case cause him to shrivel or decay. io. Practice will make the student infinitely wary in such matters. il. It is usually quite easy to return to the body, but should any difficulty arise, practice (again) will make the imagination fertile. For example, one may create in thought a chariot of fire with white horses, and command the charioteer to drive earthwaras. It might be dangerous to go too far, or to stay too long; for fatigue must be avoided. The danger spoken of is that of fainting, or of obsession, or of loss of memory or other mental faculty. 12. Finally, let the student cause his imagined body in which he supposes himself to hâve been travelling to coincide with the physical, tightening his muscles, drawing in his breath, and putting his forefinger to his lips. Then let him “awake” by a well- defined act of will, and soberly and accurately record his expériences. It may be added that this apparently complicated experiment is perfectly easy to perform. It is best to learn by “travelling” with a person already experienced in the matter. Two or three experiments should suffice to render the student confident and even expert. See also “The Seer”, pp. 295-333, Equinox I, 2. VI. 1. The previous experiment has little value, and leads to few results of importance. But it is susceptible of a development which merges into a form of Dharana — concentration — and as such may lead to the very highest ends. The principal use of the practice in the last chapter is to familiarise the student with every kind of obstacle and every kind of delusion, so that he may be perfect master of every idea that may arise in his brain, to dismiss it, to transmute it, to cause it instantly to obey his will. 2. Let him then begin exactly as before, but with the most intense solemnity and détermination. 3. Let him be very careful to cause his imaginary body to rise 388