Magick in Theory and Practice (Section 3)

psychical phenomena to the intention of “Astral” Beings, without committing ourselves to any theory. Cohérence is the sole quality demanded of us. 6) Magick enables us to receive sensible impressions of worlds other than the “physical” universe (as generally understood by profane science). These worlds hâve their own laws; their inhabitants are often of quasi-human intelligence ; there is a definite set of relations between certain “ideas” of ours, and their expressions, and certain types of phenomena. (Thus, symbols, the Qabalah, etc. enable us to communicate with whom we choose.) 7) “Astral” Beings possess knowledge and power of a different kind from our own; their “universe” is presumably of a different kind from ours, in some respects. (Our idea “bone” is not the same as a dog’s; a short-sighted man sees things differently to one of normal vision.) It is more convenient to assume the objective existence of an “Angel” who gives us new knowledge than to allégé that our invocation has awakened a supernormal power in ourselves. Such incidents as “Calderazzo” 1 and “Jacob” 2 make this more cogent. rebuttal. But most of these subtleties miss the point. Truth must be defined. It is a name, being a noun (nomen); and ail names are human symbols of things. Now Truth is the power to arouse a certain reaction (“assent”) in a man, under certain conditions; (“greenness”, weight, ail other qualities, are also powers). It exists in the object, whether latent or manifest; so experiencing both does and does not alter the facts. This is Solipsism, because we can only be conscious of our own consciousness; yet it is not Solipsism, because our consciousness tells us that its changes are due to the impact of an external force. Newton’s First Law makes this a matter of définition. “What is truth ? ”, beyond this, inquires into the nature of this power. It is inhérent in ail things, since ail possible propositions, or their contra- dictories, can be affirmed as true. Its condition is identity of form (or Structure) of the Monads involved. It requires a quality of mind beyond the <£normal” to appreciate 0°=X, etc., directly, just as H. H. Joachim’s reasoning demands a point-of-view beyond that of the Bushman. 1 See the story, infra, about the origin of Book 4. 2 See the story, infra, about Amalantrah. 247