Magick in Theory and Practice (Section 1)

the decay which causes it. Inanimate objects are sensitive to certain physical forces, such as electrical and thermal conductivity ; but neither in us nor in them — so far as we know — is there any direct conscious perception of these forces. Imperceptible influences are therefore associated with ail material phenomena; and there is no reason why we should not work upon matter through those subtle energies as we do through their material bases. In fact, we use magnetic force to move iron, and solar radiation to reproduce images.) (14) Man is capable of being, and using, anytbing which he perçoives, for everything thaï he perçoives is in a certain sense a part of his being. He may thus subjugate the whole Universe of which he is conscious to his individual Will. (Illustration: Man has used the idea of God to dictate his Personal conduct, to obtain power over his fellows, to excuse his crimes, and for innumerable other purposes, including that of realizing himself as God. He has used the irrational and unreal conceptions of mathematics to help him in the construction of mechanical devices. He has used his moral force to influence the actions even of wild animais. He has employed poetic genius for political purposes.) (15) Every force in the Universe is capable of being transformed into any other kind of force by using suitable means. There is thus an inexhaustible suppiy of any particular kind of force that we may need. (Illustration: Heat may be transformed into light and power by using it to drive dynamos. The vibrations of the air may be used to kill men by so ordering them in speech as to inflame war-like passions. The hallucinations connected with the mysterious energies of sex resuit in the perpétuation of the species.) (16) The application of any given force affects ail the orders of being which exist in the object to which it is applied, whichever of those orders is directly affected. (Illustration: If I strike a man with a dagger, his consciousness, not his body only, is affected by my act; although the dagger, as such, has no direct relation therewith. Similarly, the power of — XXI