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Page 1 of 21930 · PDF PAGE 65
…product, This product, however named or described, is always a substance which represents the truth or perfection of the original “First Matter”; and its qualities are invariably such as pertain to a living being, not to an inanimate mass. In a Word, the alchemist is to take a dead thing, impure, valueless, and powerless, and transform it into a live thing, active, invaluable and thaumaturgie. The reader of this book will surely find in this a most striking analogy with what we hâve already said of the processes of Magick. What, by our définiti…
1930 · PDF PAGE 75
…ssential unity of their method and resuit. We may mention : 1. Operations such as évocation, in which a live spirit is brought from dead matter. 2. Consécrations of talismans in which a live spirit is bound înto “dead” matter and vivifies the same. 3. Works of divination, in which a live spirit is made to control operations of the hand or brain of the Magician. Such works are accordingly most dangerous, to be used only by advanced magicians, and then with great care. 4. Works of fascination, such as operations of invisibility, and transformatio…
1930 · PDF PAGE 68
…t he seems (both to himself and to others) to hâve turned from a noble and upright man into an unutterable scoundrel ; so does the First Matter blacken and putrefy as the Alchemist breaks up its coagu¬ lations of impurity. The student may work out for himself the varions analogies involved, and discover the “Black Dragon”, the “Green Lion”, the “Lunar Water”, the “Raven’s Head”, and so forth. The indi¬ cations above given should suffice ail who possess aptitude for Alchemical Research. Only one further reflection appears necessary; namely, that…
1930 · PDF PAGE 85
…the training in 1901 e. v. had put Him in the wav of discipline. 1 At the conclusion of this part of this book, one may sum up the whole matter in these words : There is no object whatever worthy of attainment but the regular development of tbe being of the Aspirant by steady scientific work; he should not attempt to run before he can walk; he should not wish to go somewhere until he knows for certain whither he wills £0 go. 1. Recent developments hâve enabled Him to correct these conditions, so that this Book (as now hnally revised for the Pre…
1930 · PDF PAGE 60
…ffect the Cnp of our Lady Bah al on lier self ; the Wand is that which Was and Is and Is To Corne. The Eucharist of two éléments has its matter of the passives, The wafer (pantacle) is of corn, typical of earth; the wine (cup) represents water. (There are certain other attributions. The Wafer is the Sun, for instance : and the wine is appropriate to Bacchus). The wafer may, however, be more complex, the “Cake of Light” described in Liber Legis. This is used in the exoteric Mass of the Phoenix (Liber 333, Cap:44) mixed with the bloocl of the Mag…
1930 · PDF PAGE 64
…n. They took advantage of the general ignorance, and the convention of mystery, in just the same way as their modem successors do in the matter of ail Occult sciences. But despite all.this, one thing is abundantly clear; ail serious writers, though they seem to speak of an infinity of different subjects, so much so that it has proved impossible for modem analytic research to ascertain the true nature of any single process, were agreed on the fundamental theory on which they based their practices. It appears at first sight as if hardly any two o…
1930 · PDF PAGE 36
…e postulate the existence of intelligences, either within or without the diviner, of which he is not immediately conscious. (It does not matter to the theory whether the communicating spirit so-called is an objective entity or a concealed portion of the diviner’s mind.) We assume that such intelligences are able to reply correctly — within limits — to the questions asked. 2. We postulate that it is possible to construct a compendium of hieroglyphs sufficiently elastic in meaning to include every possible idea, and that one or more of these may …
1930 · PDF PAGE 69
…pression in the physical world of human life. The Universal Medicine will be a menstruum of such subtlety as to be able to penetrate ail matter and transmute it in the sense of its own tendency, while of such impartial purity as to accept perfectly the impression of the Will of the Alchemist. This substance, properly prepared, and properly charged, is able to perform ail things soever that are physically possible, within the limits of the proportions of its momentum to the inertia of the object to which it is applied. It may be observed in conc…
1930 · PDF PAGE 67
…our proposed operations. This is that, as the formula of any Work eflfects the extraction and visualization of the Truth from any “First Matter”, the “Stone” or “Elixir” which results from our labours will be the pure and perfect Individual originally inhérent in the substance chosen, and nothing else. The most skilful gardener cannot produce lilies from the wild rose; his roses will always be roses, however he hâve perfected the properties of his stock. There is here no contradiction with our previous thesis of the ultimate unity of ail substa…
1930 · PDF PAGE 24
…e begmning of this chapter, does exist, and can exert certain powers which his natural body cannot do. It can, for example, pass tirough matter , and it can move freelv in every direction * ni ough space. But this is because “matter”, in the sense in which we commonly use the word, is on another plane 2. Now this fine body perceives a uni verse which we do not ordinarily . perceive. It does not necessarily perceive the universe which we do normally perceive, so although in this body I can pass through the roof, it does not follow that I shall b…
1930 · PDF PAGE 63
…ng of the article “al” and the adjective “khemi” which means “that which pertains to Egypt” h A rough translation would be “The Egyptian matter”. The assumption is that the Mohammedan grammarians held traditionally that the art was derived from that wisdom of the Egyptians which was the boast of Moses, Plato, and Pythagoras, and the source of their illumination. Modem research (by profane scholars) leaves it still doubtful as to whether Alchemical treatises should be classified as mystical, magical, medical, or Chemical. The most reasonable opi…
1930 · PDF PAGE 62
…of God; day by day bis mort ai frame, shedding its earihly éléments, will become in very truth the Temple of tbe Holy Gliost. Day by day matter is repîaeed by Spirit, tbe bmnau by the divine ; ulîimately the change will be complété; God manifest in flesh will be bis naine, This is the most important of ail magical secrets that ever were or are or can be. To a Magician thus renewed the attainment of the Knowledge and Conversation of the Holy Guardian Angel becomes an inévitable task; every force of his nature, unhindered, tends to that aim and g…
1930 · PDF PAGE 72
…he blood that they hâve surren- dered is treasured in the Cup of our Lady Babalon, a mighty I. See Liber 418, and study it well, in this matter. Equinox I, V. Sup¬ plément. — 192
1930 · PDF PAGE 66
…w the flag of the essential heterogeneity of the éléments. The doctrines of Evolution hâve brought the alchemical and monistic theory of matter into line with our conception of life ; the collapse of the wall between the animal and vegetable kingdoms has shaken that which divided them from the minerai. But even though the advanced chemist might admit the possibi- lity of transmuting lead into gold, he could not conceive of that I. See R. K. Duncan, “The New Knowledge”, for a popularisation of recent results. Aleister Crowley held this doctrine …
1930 · PDF PAGE 20
…ne need not doubt the propriety of this remark. Even if one is eaten alive by Malkah be-Tarshishim ve-Ruachoth ha-Schehalim, it does not matter very much, for it is over so very quickly. But the record of the transaction is I. He ought to be refreshed, more than after a full night’s deep sleep. This forms one test of his skill. — 140 —
1930 · PDF PAGE 54
…ncounted galaxies of suns; with another, endless orders of existence in the infinitésimal. With the prism we hâve analysed light so that matter and force hâve become intelligible only as forms of light. With a rod we hâve summoned the invisible energies of electricity to be our familiar spirit serving us to do our Will, whether it be to outsoar the condor, or to dive deeper into the démon world of disease than any of our dreamers dared to dream. Since with four bits of common glass mankind has learnt to know so much, achieved so much, who dare …
1930 · PDF PAGE 53
… oracles. On the contrary, the oracles fell mto disrepute just because they pretended to do more than they could. To divine concerning a matter is little more than to calculate probabilities. We obtain the use of minds who hâve access ro knowledge beyond ours, but not to omniscience. Hru; the gréai angel set over the Tarot, is beyond us as we are beyond the antj but, for ail we know, the knowledge of Hru is excelled by some mightier mind in the same proportion. Nor hâve we any warrant for accusing Hru of ignorance or error if we read the Taroi …
1930 · PDF PAGE 82
…not developed the brains to learn anvthing. The Hindus, understanding these difficulties, hâve taken the God-Almighty attitude about the matter. If you go to a Hindu teacher, he treats you as less than an earthworm. You hâve to do this, and you hâve to do that, and you are not allowed to know why you are doing it. 1 After years of expérience in teaching, The Master Tuerion is not altogether convinced that this is not the right attitude. 1. This does not conflict with the “go-as-you-please” plan put forward in the previous note. An autocratie Ad…
1930 · PDF PAGE 46
…e with the appréhension lest the hand fail to execute the required number. It is also troubled by fearing to exceed; but excess does not matter. Extra Unes are simply null and void, so that the best plan is to banish that thought, and make sure only of not stopping too soon.1 The lines being traced, the operation is over as far as spiritual qualifies are required, for a time. The process of setting up the figure for judgment is purely mechanical. But, in the judgment, the diviner stands once more in need of his mmost and utmost attainments. He …
1930 · PDF PAGE 29
…ntial to influence them. Their material analogues seem to serve as a fortress. Even where a temporary effect is produced, the inertia of matter draws it back to the normal; yet the power of the trained and consecrated will in a well-deveioped astral body is such that it can even produce a permanent change in the material upon whose Body of Light you are working, e.g. ; one can heal the sick bv restoring a healthy appearance to their astral forms. On the other hand, it is possible so to disintegrate the the Body of Light even of a strong man tha…