Magick in Theory and Practice (Section 1)

The Cross is both the death of the “Saviour” 1 and the Phallic symbol of Résurrection. Will itself must be ready to culminate in the surrender of that Will: 2 the aspirations arrow that is shot against the Holy Dove must transmute itself into the wondering Virgin that receives in her womb the quickening of that same Spirit of God. Any idea that is thus in itself positive and négative, active and passive, male and female, is fit to exist above the Abyss; any idea not so equilibrated is below the Abyss, contains in itself an unmitigated duality or falsehood, and is to that extent qliphotic 3 and dangerous. Even an idea like “truth” is unsafe unless it is realized that ail Truth is in one sense falsehood. For ail Truth is relative ; and if it be supposed absolute, will mislead.4 “The Book of Lies falsely so called” (Liber 333) is worthy of close and careful study in this respect. The reader should also consult Konx Om Pax, “Introduction”, and “Thien Tao” in the same volume. Ail this is to be expressed in the words of the ritual itself, and symbolised in every act performed. II It is said in the ancient books of Magick that everything used by the Magician must be “virgin”. That is: it must never hâve been used by any other person or for any other purpose. The 1. It is the extension in matter of the Individual Self, the Indivisible Point determined by reference to the Four Quarters. This is the formula which enables it to express its Secret Self; its dew falling upon the Rose is developed into an Eidolon of Itself, in due season. 2. See Liber LXV and Liber VIL 3. See The Qabalah for the use of this Word, and study the doctrine concerning the Kings of Edom. 4. See Poincaré for the mathematical proof of this thesis. But Spiritual Expérience goes yet deeper, and destroys the Canon of the Law of Contradiction. There is an immense amount of work by the Master Therion on this subject; it pertains especially to His grade of 90 = 2°. Such profundities are unsuited to the Student, and may unsettle him seriously. It will be best for him to consider (provisionally) Truth in the sense in which it is taken by Physical Sicence. 62