Magick Without Tears

38 MAGICK WITHOUT TEARS But there is a restricted and conventional sense in which the word may be used without straying too far from the above philosophical position . One might say: "Magick is the study and use of those forms of energy which are (a) subtler than the ordinary physical-mechanical types, (b) accessible only to those who are (in one sense or another) 'Initiates'." I fear that this may sound rather obscurum per obscurius; but this is one of those cases-we are likely to encounter many such in the course of our researches-in which we understand, quite well enough for all practical purposes, what we mean, but which elude us more and more successfully the more accurately we struggle to define their import. We might fare even worse if we tried to clear things up by making lists of events in history, tradition, or experience, and classifying this as being, and that as not being, true Magick. The borderland cases would confuse and mislead us. But-since I have mentioned history-I think it might help, if I went straight on to the latter part of your question, and gave you a brief sketch of Magick past, present, and future as it is seen from the inside. What are the principles of the "Masters"? What are They trying to do? What have They done in the past? What means do They employ? As it happens, I have by me a sketch written by M. Gerard Aumont of Tunis some twenty years ago, which covers this subject with reasonable adequacy. I have been at the pains of translating it from his French, I hope not too much reminiscent of the old traduttore, traditore. I will revise it, divide it (like Gaul) into Three Parts and send it along. Love is the law, love under will. Fraternally, 666