Magick Without Tears

92 MAGICK WITHOUT TEARS Of what nature is this Power, this Authority, this Understanding, this Wisdom-Will? (I go up from Geburah to Chokmah.) Of the passive side it is comparatively easy to form some idea; for the qualities essential are mainly extensions of those that all of us possess in some degree. And whether Understanding-Wisdom is "right" or "wrong" must be largely a matter of opinion; often Time only can decide such points. But for the active side it is necessary to postulate the existence of a form of Energy at their disposal which is able "to cause change to occur in conformity with the Will" -one definition of "Magick." Now this, as you know, is an exceedingly complex subject; its theory is tortuous, and its practice encompassed with every kind of difficulty. Is there no simple method? Yes: the thaumaturgic engine disposes of a type of energy more adaptable than Electricity itself, and both stronger and subtler than this, its analogy in the world of profane science. One might say, that it is electrical, or at least one of the elements in the "Ring-formula" of modern Mathematical Physics. In the R.R. et A.C., this is indicated to the Adept Minor by the title conferred upon him on his initiation to that grade: Hodos Chamelionis-the Path of the Chameleon. (This emphasizes the omnivalence of the force.) In the higher degrees of O.T.O.-the A :. A:. is not fond of terms like this, which verge on the picturesque-it is usually called "the Ophidian Vibrations," thus laying special stress upon its serpentine strength, subtlety, its control of life and death, and its power to insinuate itself into any desired set of circumstances. It is of this universally powerful weapon that the Secret Chiefs must be supposed to possess complete control. They can induce a girl to embroider a tapestry, or initiate a