CHAPTER X 
Of THE GESTURES. 
This chapter may be divided into the foliowing parts: 
1. Attitudes. 
2. Circumambulations (and similar movements). 
3. Changes of position (This dépends upon the theory of the 
construction of the circle). 
4. The Knocks or Knells. 
I 
Attitudes are of two Kinds: natural and artificial. Of the first 
kind, prostration is the obvious example. It cornes natural to 
man (poor créature!) to throw himself to the ground in the 
presence of the object of his adoration.1 
Intermediate between this and the purely artificial form of 
gestures cornes a class which dépends on acquired habit. Thus it 
is natural to an European officer to offer his sword in token of 
surrender. A Tibetan would, however, squat, put out his tongue* 
and place his hand behind his right ear. 
Purely artificial gestures comprehend in their class the majority 
of definitely magick signs, though some of these simulate a natural 
action — e.g. the sign of the Rending of the Veil. But the sign 
of Auramoth (see Equinox I, II, Illustration “The Signs of the 
Grades”) merely imitâtes a hieroglyph which has only a remote 
connection with any fact in nature. Ail signs must of course be 
studied with infinité patience, and practised until the connection 
1. The Magician must eschew prostration, or even the “bending of 
the knee in supplication”, as infamous and ignominious, an abdication of 
his sovereignty. 
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