43
It is convenient
therefore
for the
student
to express his
will by taking Magical
Oaths.
Since such an oath
is irrevocable
it should
be well considered;
and it
is better
not
to
take
any oath
permanently;
because
with
increase
of
understanding
may come
a perception
of the incompatibility
of the lesser
oath with the greater.
This
is indeed
almost
certain
to
occur,
and
it
must
be
remembered
that as the whole
essence of the will is its one-pointedness,^
a dilemma
of this sort is the worst in which
the Magus
can find himself.
Another great point
in this consideration
of Magick Vows
is
to keep
them in their proper
place.
They must
be taken
for
a clearly
defined
purpose,
a clearly
understood
purpose,
and they must
never be allowed
to go beyond
it.
It is a virtue in a diabetic
not
to
eat
sugar, but
only in
reference
to
his own condition.
It
is
not
a virtue
of universal
import.
Elijah
said
on
one
occasion:
"I
do
well
to
be angry;"
but
such
occasions
are
rare.
Moreover,
one
man's
meat
is
another
man's
poison.
An
oath
of
poverty
might
be very useful
for a man who was
unable
intelligently
to
use
his
wealth
for
the
single
end
proposed;
to
another
it
would
be
1 The Top of the Wand
is in Kether — which
is one ; and
the Qliphoth
of Kether
are the Thaumiel,
opposing
heads that rend and devour each other.