11-Part COURSE ON CEREMONIAL MAGICK

by Phil Hansford

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The files in this archive are copyright (c) 1988 by

Phil Hansford. They are licenced for free non-commercial

distribution only. They may not be distributed or carried

on commercial bulletin boards, nor on boards which require

a fee or donation. They may not be copied or distributed

in any form when sold or used for profit. This copyright

may not be replaced by any other copyright or license by

any other person or entity except the author. This notice

must accompany this file.

        This set of files forms a complete introduction to

ceremonial magick. This is the latest version of material

which originally appeared as a printed correspondence course

from the 'College of Egyptian Mysteries'. I began writing

this material in 1974 and have been releasing revisions of

it ever since. It was first placed on my bulletin board

in electronic form in July 1986, where it has remained

until recently when I discovered that a commercial board

had it online despite specific restrictions against this.

Also, the commercial board had placed their own copyright

on the material and was attempting to claim ownership.

As a result I have 'pulled' the old files from all authorized

boards and am revising and re-issuing them in the present

form. This new release also contains a rather emphatic

copyright notice for this reason. I have never attempted to

make money off of this course material, nor from anything

I have ever done in the occult. My intention with this

material has always been to distribute it freely.

        The course starts at the beginner's level and

progresses gradually toward more advanced concepts which

include meditation, chakras, the Cabala and basic ritual.

Even if you have little interest in the subject here, you

may find the first 'lesson' which discusses parapsychology

to be worthwhile. I should point out that the material is

often revised, and that I will probably be adding additional

articles in this series from time to time.

                           --Phil Hansford, April 1988.

========

Phil Hansford, 4/88

Mysteria

(818) 353-8891 (modem)

P.O. Box 83

Tujunga, CA 91042

Copyright (c) 1988 by Phil Hansford. This article is

is licenced for free non-commercial distribution only.

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** MAGICK 1 -- WHY MAGICK **

        The ability to think seems to set us apart from

other creatures. And although we are concerned with

living in the physical world, we are mental beings. The

fact is we are thinking all the time. We plan, we brood,

we get depressed or elated -- all of it is thought. But

the universe is mental too, and if we could control our

thinking we would see magnificent results in the everyday

world.

        Many systems have been developed over the ages to

help us control our thoughts. A great amount of dogma too

has been kicked around in an attempt to make us into better

people. Magick (the occult kind, spelled with a 'k') is one

of the oldest and most general of these systems. Magick is

the study and application of psychic forces. It uses mental

training, concentration, and a system of symbols to program

the mind. The purpose of magick is to alter the self and the

environment according to the will.

        Most of the magick we see today comes to us from

ancient Egypt and Chaldea. The Chinese, Hindus, and Tibetans

developed their own unique types of magick. Western magick

was locked up by the Egyptian priests for thousands of years

and then supressed by the rise of Christianity. It was not

until medieval Europe that magical knowledge was rediscovered

by the alchemists and Cabalists. Only during the past hundred

years or so has western culture been open minded enough to

permit widespread investigation of the subject. Only since

the start of the twentieth century has science shown much

interest in it al all.

PARAPSYCHOLOGY AND PSYCHIC PHENOMENA

        Through parapsychology, we are gaining insights

into the hidden nature of man. Parapsychology is a branch

of psychology which studies psychic phenomena. It remains

something of a frontier, even today. Perhaps one reason for

this is that psychic phenomena are somewhat inconsistent.

Nevertheless, there is strong evidence from numerous cases

and experiments in support of psychic phenomena. Somehow,

under the right conditions, the mind can directly affect

the environment.

        We may theorize that the human mind and body

broadcasts a kind of psychic energy or force, much like

a radio station. Kirlian photography, temperature effects,

cloud chamber tests, and other experiments tend to support

this theory. Although the exact nature of this psychic force

is subtle and unknown, it is undoubtedly the energy behind

all psychic phenomena and magick. However, it is *not* a

radio wave, since it behaves somewhat differently. The

psychic force is too weak to be measured directly (at least

so far as we know). Everyone has some psychic ability. There

are numerous types of psychic phenomena. Parapsychology

separates them into two groups: ESP and PK...

EXAMPLES OF ESP

        ESP, the abreviation for extra sensory perception,

means the reception of information through paranormal means

(ie. not regular physical senses of sight, sound, touch,

smell, or taste). In theory, this is accomplished by

receiving psychic force from outside the body. Here are some

examples of ESP:

        1) Clairvoyance, or Remote Viewing -- the ability to

sense or 'see' (non-physically) distant objects, places, and

people. Individuals who see ghosts and spirits are probably

clairvoyant.

        2) Clairaudience, or remote hearing -- the 'hearing'

of paranormal information.

        3) Astral Projection (OOBE) or Traveling Clairvoyance

-- Full experience at a remote location while the physical

body sleeps.

        4) Psychometry -- the reading of information by the

touch of physical objects.

        5) Telepathic receiver -- the ability to directly

receive thought (communication) at a distance, with no

physical connection to the sender. There are many everyday

examples of this, in which we think something just as another

person is about to say it. This is an easy one to test for

through experiment. Very dramatic cases of telepathy have

been recorded; there is often an emotional element in such

cases.

        6) A 'channel' or medium, as in a seance, who is

in direct communication with a 'spirit' or entity.

        7) Experience with a Ouija board, pendulum, or

automatic writing.

        8) Precognition -- to forsee the future. Again,

highly emotional events are the ones most likely to be 'tuned

in'.

        9) Retrocognition -- knowledge of the past, by

paranormal means.

EXAMPLES OF PK

        PK, the abreviation for psychokinesis, is the active

or sending side of psychic phenomena. The theory here is that

psychic force is sent out from the individual. Examples of PK

include:

        1) Telepathic sender -- the transmitter in the

telepathy just discussed.

        2) Psychokinesis (or telekinesis) proper -- the

ability to move objects by means of psychic force.

        3) Somewhat along the same lines are poltergeist

(noisy ghost) phenomena in which objects move of their own

accord or noises are heard. There is always a human agent

involved -- frequently a teenage girl -- who appears to be

the source of psychic energy.

        4) Psychic healing -- the ability to heal various

illnesses and infirmities. There are many documented cases of

this. Usually it involves a healer and a subject, although

there are recent cases invloving cancer patients learning to

heal themselves.

        5) Teleportation, apportation, and levitation.

        Some occultists feel a magician producing PK effects

is simply a channel for universal energy. Others think the

force originates some way directly within the magician.

THE SUBCONSCIOUS

        Postulated by Freud and others, the concept of the

subconscious mind is an important one. Basicly, this is the

idea that part of the mind normally operates below or outside

of ordinary consciousness and awareness. Dreams and hypnosis

are examples of this. Also subconscious are the many

automatic functions of the physical body such as respiration

and digestion.

WHY DO MAGICK?

        Magick encompasses many things -- science and art,

philosophy and metaphysics, psychology and comparative

religion. Magick is an adventure at the borderlands of the

unknown. It can fit the pieces of the puzzel of life into a

meaningful whole.

        *Magick is fun* and interesting. Use magick to help

raise consciousness without drugs. Gain new experiences.

Fantacy can come alive through magick. Psychic phenomena can

be controlled and be fun and helpful.

        *Magick is beneficial*. It can help you to have

excellent health, and bring you good luck. With magick life

runs smoothly; life is good. Also use magick for personality

improvement, to control bad habits and to develop new

motivations.

        *Magick is powerful*. Never underestimate the

tremendous power of magick. Use magick to alter events and to

achieve your goals. Exert an influence over people and

phenomena. But power for its own sake is self defeating. The

power which magick can give you should not be your primary

reason for studying it.

MAGICK AND WITCHCRAFT

        A number of other occult disciplines are prevalent

today besides magick. There are many cults and sects which

profess their own views, but there are really few differences

between them. One popular area in the occult today is

witchcraft. This is far removed from the cliche of devil

worship. Real witchcraft is a nature religion (pagan).

Witchcraft has much in common with magick.

        Alchemy also has much in common with magick. It's

heritage comes from the middle ages. Alchemy fathered

chemistry and the physical sciences. But the avowed purpose

of alchemy, turning lead into gold, is too limiting to be

called magick. Sometimes the goal of alchemy is interpreted

in another way, as the transformation of man into a spiritual

being.

        Then there are the numerous modern day seers or

'pychics', as they like to be called, who operate within

their own somewhat unique systems. Although many of these

people are deluded frauds, some are very powerful occultists

indeed.

        Of course, everything I have said here is a

generalization. Magick, witchcraft, alchemy, or any occult

field are complex subjects. Suffice it to say that magick

includes them all (it is eclectic). For magick is undoubtedly

a philosophy which has, as the late Aleister Crowley wrote,

"The method of science -- the aim of religion."

REVIEW QUESTIONS

1) Define magick.

2) Define ESP and PK. Give examples.

3) What is the subconsicous?

BOOK LIST

Hal N. Banks, An Introduction to Psychic Studies.

Annie Besant, Thought Power.

Michael H. Brown, PK, A Report on the Power of Psychokinesis.

Richard Cavendish, The Black Arts.

Alexandira David-Neel, Magic and Mystery in Tibet.

Raynor C. Johnson, The Imprisoned Splendour.

Janet Lee Mitchell, "Is Anything Out There?", Fate magazine,

    May 1988.

Ostrander and Shroeder, Psychic Discoveries Behind the

    Iron Curtan.

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** MAGICK 2 -- THE SUBJECTIVITY OF EXPERIENCE -- **

        ' The universe is a projection of ourselves;

        an image as unreal as that of our faces in a

        mirror....We cannot affirm any quality in an

        object as being independent of our sensorium,

        or as being in itself that which it seems to

        us. Nor can we assume that what we cognize is

        more than a partial phantom of its cause.'

                  ( --Aleister Crowley, Magick, p. 110)

        Your awareness of the physical world and of your

place within it is mostly based upon the physical senses

(hearing, sight, smell, touch, taste). These five senses

continually send information to the mind, and it is up to

the mind to select and interpret them. If you could not do

so, your senses would overwhelm you and be meaningless.

Selection and interpretation of your sensory inputs is

essentially an automatic, mostly subconscious function of

the mind. The program or map which the subconscious follows

as its reference point is called a 'model'. The model is a

subconscious mental photograph of how you believe the world

looks (ie. worldview, mindset, egregore, or belief system).

It was built up from an early age by your religious and

cultural background through interaction with family and

others. It contains your experiences, attitudes, and

habits. And whether you realize it or not, most of your

behavior, thoughts, feelings, and habits are based upon and

conditioned by that model; even personality. The model is

one of the mind's master programs. Change in behavior

generally requires a change in the model. These limitations

built into our way of thinking cause our perceptions to be

subjective. That is why Hindu philosophy looks upon the

world as illusory (maya); the world itself (object) is not

an illusion, however from our viewpoint through perception

(subject) it is.

        Thus we are all conditioned by experience. Except

that our perceptions, hence our experiences, are first

conditioned and limited by the model. Our perceptions and

experiences tend to conform to what we expect. We tend to

misinterpret or ignore things which do not match our

preconcieved notions about them. This is automatic.

THE TRUE WILL

        The forgoing demonstrates how it is that there are

so many different versions of 'truth'. One's particular

view is almost arbitrary. Although numerous religions,

philosophies, and occult systems abound, they do not

contradict one and other as much as it might appear.

Rather, they describe the same (universal) reality taken

from different perspectives. For there can be no ultimate

truth in the physical world. We can only base our actions

upon assumptions and agreements. All experience is

subjective. I like to think of the universe as something

indescribable, perhaps a 4-dimentional 'thing'. As soon as

we attempt to put it into our 3-dimentional knowledge-base,

something changes and we only see an aspect of the big

picture. Just as a photograph can only show us a flat

*representation* of a greater thing, so it is with any

attempt to describe *spiritual reality* in physical terms.

        Yet, there is a separate reality within each of us

which is often ignored unless we seek it. This inner self

is in magick called the 'true will'. The true will is the

center of consciousness and identity. It is the 'real you'.

Everything else is an interface or link to it from the

outer (illusory) world. Since that interface is based upon

our model, it is conditoned and may sometimes produce false

information. 'Do what thou wilt' (Crowley) is an axiom of

magick; for the true will expresses our exact desires. And

what we truly want ('down deep') we tend to automatically

get. This isn't always in our best interests, since the

true will can be conditioned (tricked) by the illusion; and

then we might desire and obtain that which is not

ultimately good for us. (Karma strikes again!) The task of

the magician therefor is to awaken his awareneess of the

true will, to be free of conditioning, and thereby to

transcend maya. ('My will unconditioned is magical' --

Spare).

HAPPINESS IS BEING HAPPY

        There is no great secret to changing behavior or

habits. It is largely a matter of determination. It

requires that you ignore the 'pull' of the model when you

strive for changes within yourself. The model is, after

all, a collection of 'habits', some of which must be

unlearned for permananent change to occur. There are two

ways to do this: direct, through will power and awareness

alone -- observing and acting out in an unattached or

indifferent manner; and indirect -- through conditioning

such as affirmation (explained later), self-hypnosis, and

magick. Meditation may help too, by relaxing tension and

conflict.

        Emotions follow physical expression: smile and act

happy and you will tend to feel and be happy. The same is

also true for other emotions. Also, emotions can be

purposely used (or programed) to replace other emotions.

Using this technique, a magician is somewhat like an actor

in that he learns how to turn his emotions on and off at

will. Note that this is not 'fakeing it'; the magician is

probably more in touch with his true feelings than most

people. And for these reasons we say that happiness is

being happy.

SYSTEMS OF MAGICK

        Magick always involves self-hypnosis. However, it

may be more than that. For one thing, there are objective

forces involved (or so it would seem). Deities, spirits,

and cosmic force can have an independent existence. And the

repetitive physical movement sometimes involved in ritual

can itself generate PK force. On the other hand, it could

be argued that all of this is subjective to the magician.

Or that the deities and spirits are nothing more than

architypes or cosmic patterns which the magician energizes

with his own vitality. Perhaps all magical effects could be

produced through hypnosis alone. But the effects are

certainly real.

        Great complexity is not necessary in magick.

Although basicly magick is a medieval system of symbolism

(in a modern context), any cosmological system will work

from Cabala to Star Wars. We usually use the medieval one

in magick because it is convenient and traditional, and

because it seems to fit our thought processes well.

Traditional symbols have greater emotional effect on the

magician than modern ones because of his familiarity with

them. What really matters is that the model of the magician

be understood and programmed, and thus that the model and

the cosmological system do correspond.

REVIEW QUESTIONS

1) Contrast subjective with objective.

2) What is a 'model'?

3) Explain the task of the magician.

BOOK LIST

Eric Berne, Games People Play.

Fritjof Capra, The Tao of Physics.

Carlos Castaneda, The Fire From Within.

Arthur Koestler, The Roots of Coincidence.

John C. Lilly, The Center of the Cyclone.

------, Programming and Metaprogramming in the Human Biocomputer.

------, Simulations of God -- The Science of Belief.

Alan Watts, The Book (on the taboo against knowing who you are).

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** MAGICK 3 -- THE FOUR WORLDS **

        The ancients described man as mind, body, and soul.

Psychologists of the twentieth century added the

subconscious to that deffinition. This produces a four-fold

classification. The universe is also divided into four

corresponding parts ('worlds'), as shown below:

WORLD                   BODY                    QUALITY

=====                   ====                    =======

spiritual world    spiritual body (soul or kia) intuition

mental world       mental body (conscious mind) rational

                                                 thought

astral world       astral body (subconscious)   emotions

physical world     physical body            physical senses

        The astral body (subconscious) is the intermediary

for intuition, magical and psychic phenomena, and is the

'psychic link' to the physical world. J.H. Brennan says

that the astral is the realm of visual imagination. It

seems to be both a 'place' and a 'state of mind' at the

same time. Most occult and magical phenomena originate in

the invisible, non-sensate, non-physical realm (ie. without

physical senses). Each of the four worlds interacts with

the other worlds. Psychic energy flows from the spiritual

to mental to astral to physical. The physical world is a

projection (manifestation, reflection, or shadow) of the

higher worlds. Our center of consciousness is generally

within these higher worlds. "We are", to quote the rock

music group the Police, "spirits in the material world".

        There are many similar terms used by other occult

groups. For example, 'astral light' is another name for

astral world, although it may sometimes also refer to the

entire non-physical realm, as may 'inner planes' or 'the

invisible world'. Planes are essentially the same as worlds.

Vehicles or sheaths are the same as bodies. Some groups

include an etheric or vital body between physical and

astral: it is mostly 'physical' with a little of the

lower 'astral' besides. And sometimes astral and mental

are each divided into two parts (upper and lower). The

'causal body' is the upper 'mental'.

MICROCOSM AND MACROCOSM

        We have been describing 'traditonal' occult

philosophy here, and certainly an important part of the

tradition is the idea (and terms) microcosm and macrocosm.

The greater universe, known as the *macrocosm*, includes

everything that exists. It corresponds with the *microcosm*,

or tiny universe, ie. man -- who is thought of as a

miniature replica of the macrocosm (whole universe).

This basic magical relationship is demonstrated in the

Bible (Genesis 1.27), where God is the macrocosm; and in

the writing of Trismegistus ("As above so below"). Since

man is in the image of God (universe) it follows that God

is in the image of man (in other words, man and the

God/universe match each other). The magician, as a microcosm

is thus connected with the macrocosm. There is an intimate

relationship of energies between you and everything else.

The universe is reflected within us and we are projected

into the universe. This is an important theory behind magick

and astrology.

MAGICK WHITE AND BLACK

        'Personal magick' is that magick used to affect the

self; often involving affirmation, self-suggestion, and

self-hypnosis. 'Active magick' is outer directed magick (as

in PK) used to affect someone or thing, or to bring about

an event. 'Passive magick' is to be affected (as in ESP)

by an outside non-physical cause. Everyone possesses some

magical (and psychic) potential. Some are especially

gifted. Usually people are better at one kind of magick

(ie. active or passive) than they are at the other kind;

only rarely does an individual excell at both. Traning

and practice will, of course, improve ability somewhat.

        Although the forces of magick are neutral, various

systems may take on the qualities of good and evil. There

is so-called white magick or good magick, black magick or

evil magick, and gray magick between them. When many people

refer to white magick they mean magick for unselfish

purposes, also healing and mental influence with specific

permission. By black magick they refer to magick for

self-interest and healing *without* specific permission.

Using magick to forcefully control another's will is, in a

sense, black magick too. There are also some people on the

occult fringe who claim to be, possibly even think they are,

'Satanists', devil worshipers, or black magicians. These

people are most likely charlatans, hoaxters, dablers, or

merely misinformed. They may be attracted by the 'art' of

black magick, or even by the 'glamor' of doing something

against the 'rules'. But a real black magician is very

dangerous. Because he has dedicated his life to evil. We

usually think of 'white magick' as having *unselfish

intent*, and (in the extreme case) of 'black magick' as

being actual Satan worship, human or animal sacrifice,

dangerous unconventional magical practices, and other

bizarre stuff as makes a nightmare. It is all a matter of

degree. Most mild self-interest magick (one of the most

common kinds) would be called 'gray'. Better terms may be

*constructive magick* as being beneficial; and *aversive

magick* as magick intended to work against the natural

order, and to tear down. There is also the *high magick* of

spiritual alchemy (ie. spiritual growth), also known as 'the

Great Work'; and conversely there is 'low magick' which is

concerned with materiality.

        Any magick act is likely to produce side effects

regardless of whether or not the desired result is achieved.

Such side effects are no problem for constructive magick,

since they are benificial as well. However, aversive magick

can produce aversive side effects which may even harm the

magician -- aversive magick is dangerous!

MAGICK IS A CONTINUOUS PROCESS

        What we have been calling 'magick' is actually a

continuous process. Since your subconscious never rests,

your environment is continually being shifted into line with

your model. This is true whether you study magick or not.

For most people, these effects are usually very subtle, and

they are probably not aware of them. However, as you work

with the occult, the flow of psychic energy and your

awareness of it increases. Your true will is more likely

to be strongly expressed. Your luck may be affected (either

in a positive or a negative way). Remember, our lives tend

to follow what we want down deep. That is why a positive

outlook is so very beneficial to us.

THE MAGICAL DIARY

        Sometimes it is helpful to keep a diary of your

magical experiments and research. Such a diary should include

the date, perhaps even some astrological data (or anything

else you think may have a relationship to what you are doing).

This is also a good time to begin recording your dreams --

at least the important ones -- in a dream diary. Your dreams

can tell you a great deal about yourself, and may sometimes

reveal premonitions. Dreams are personal. Don't fall for the

commercial 'dream book' gimmick.

AFFIRMATIONS

        The mind is always open to suggestion -- especially the

subconscious. Most of the time we censor any suggestions

according to the model; but one way to break through the censor

is with repetition. An affirmation does this exactly. By

suggestion, we mean any statement which is capable of affecting

your model. Usually suggestion is in the form of a positive

statement (such as the hypnotist's patter -- " You are

becomming sleepy"). An affirmation is the same kind of thing --

a positive suggestion, which you repeat (affirm) to yourself

aloud or silently (for example, "I remember my dreams"). If

there is some quality you wish to change or develope within

yourself, an affirmation is ideal. Repeat it several times

every day at several different times throughout the day,

expecially when you go to bed. Affirmations are subtle and may

require a few months to work. Use them for changes, not

miracles.

SIMPLE BANISHING TECHNIQUE

        Visualization is another important method we use to

influence the subconscious. A good example of this is the

simple banishing technique which follows. Banishing is used in

magick to 'clear the air' of negative 'vibes' and

interference...

        Visualize a strong white light flowing out the top of

your head, flowing down around you and covering you. At the

same time imagine you are throwing away any 'problem' vibes.

Maintain the visualization for a half a minute or longer.

Good way to help you handle your emotions, and to control

worry or anger.

REVIEW QUESTIONS

1) What is a microcosm?

2) List the four worlds. Explain.

3) What is an affirmation? Give an example.

BOOK LIST

Geoffry Hodson, Theosophy Answers Some Problems of Life.

Marc Edmund Jones, Key Truths of Occult Philosophy.

Marion Weinstein, Positive Magic.

Nelson & Ann White, The Wizard's Apprentice.

Beatrice Bruteau, The Psychic Grid.

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** MAGICK 4 -- ELEMENTS AND FORCES **

        The Ancients divided the world into four basic

principles or *elements* -- earth, water, fire, and air.

That viewpoint has mostly changed with advances of science,

but the four elements are still accepted in magick, for they

are more closely linked with emotions, the human psyche, and

with nature than are modern explanations of the world. These

*magical elements* are also of some importance in astrology.

Many occultists think of the magical elements as forces, or

as *qualities* of energy; especially within the astral world.

Each element has a symbol and color. (Common symbols are --

fire: a triangle pointing up; air: a triangle pointing up

and with a horizontal line through the middle of it;

water: a triangle pointing down; earth: a triangle pointing

down and with a horizontal line through the middle of it.)

Colors of the elements are -- earth: brown and green;

water: blue; fire: red; air: yellow...The Eastern tattvic

system uses different symbols and colors. (The tattvic

symbols are briefly described later on in this course.)

The elements are often used in magick ritual.

        Magick sees relationships between things. These

relationships are called 'correspondences'. Although magical

correspondences are not literally equal to one another, you can

think of them that way (such as gold equals sun). Tables of

these relationships, called 'Correspondence Tables', are

available (an important one is Crowley's '777'). Thus one thing

or symbol can be used to suggest another. This is important in

magick, for the magician may surround himself with as many

appropriate correspondences as he can to vividly affect the

senses; thus making his magical contact with the inner planes

more lucid.

        The magical elements have correspondences with the

tarrot cards as the four suits. The four quarters (directions

of the universe as used in magick ritual) and the Archangels

also correspond with these same elements --

Element         Suit            Quarter         Archangel

=======         ====            =======         =========

earth           pentacles       north           Uriel

water           cups            west            Gabriel

fire            wands           south           Michael

air             swords          east            Raphael

        Astrological signs also correspond with the elements.

Taurus, Virgo, and Capricorn are earth signs. Cancer, Scorpio,

and Pisces are water signs. Aries, Leo and Sagittarius are

fire signs. Gemini, Libra, and Aquarius are air signs.

ELEMENTALS

        The magical elements are said to be peopled by spirits

and mythological entities called elementals or nature spirits.

These are grouped into four main categories --

Gnome (earth)   Undine (water)  Salamander (fire)  Sylph (air)

=============   ==============  =================  ===========

dwarfs          nymphs          jin (genies)       fairies

elves           tritons                            storm angels

brownies        mermaids

hobgoblins      mermen

lepricauns      sirens

                harpies

        Elementals are usually only visible to those with

clairvoyant sight and are more likely to be seen at night in

the mountains or country away from cities -- especially if you

are tired or sleepy. Although elementals exist naturally, it is

also possible to create one which will exist for a limited time

-- no elemental has immortality. A created elemental is called

an 'artificial elemental'.

        To the Ancients, elementals were the physical

explanation of the universe. However, some contemporary

occultists see them only as symbols for forces and otherwise

not 'real' at all. Another word sometimes used for elemental is

'familiar' (usually in medieval witchcraft); the term is

ambiguous, as it might merely be an ordinary household pet such

as a dog or cat.

YIN YANG

        Chinese philosophy and acupuncture talk of yin yang.

This is the idea of polarity, or opposite pairs, as shown --

        YIN                     YANG

        ===                     ====

        water                   fire

        contraction             expansion

        cold                    hot

        feminine                masculine

        moon                    sun

        negative                positive

        passive                 active

        ebb                     flow

        wane                    wax

The list could go on. In Chinese literature it is quite long.

Some occultists suggest everything can be similarly arranged

into related opposite pairs.

SIMPLE MAGICK

        Here is a simple magical technique you may wish to

try. It is a variation of affirmation, which was discussed

in an earlier lesson...To help you to achieve your goal

(magical or otherwise), find a word or short phase which sums

up what it is that you want to accomplish. Write the word (or

phrase) down 10 times each day until you achieve success.

REVIEW QUESTIONS

1) List the four elements.

2) What is an elemental?

3) What are correspondences?

BOOK LIST

William Britten, Art Magic (long out of print, but in some

    libraries).

Pete Carrol, Liber Null.

Wing-Tsit Chan, A Source Book in Chinese Philosophy.

Manly Hall, Unseen Forces.

----------------------------------------------------------

** MAGICK 5 -- CHAKRAS AND MEDITATION **

        According to East Indian philosophy, man possesses seven

major *chakras* or psychic centers on his body. Each of these

forms a bridge, link, or energy transformer; changing pure

(higher) energy into various forms, and connecting the four

bodies (ie. spiritual, mental, astral, and physical) together.

The chakras are located along the nadies (a network of psychic

nerves or channels) and follow the autonomic nervous system

along the spinal cord. Chakras correlate with major acupuncture

points along the 'governing vessel meridian' (acupuncture term).

The seven major chakras are connected together by three major

nadies which are parallel and near each other. The middle nadi

is called *sushumna* and it has neutral characteristics. The

nadi on the left (ie. nearest your left hand) is the *ida* nadi

which has yin characteristics. On the other side of sushumna

(nearest your right hand) is the *pingala* nadi, having yang

qualities.

        Chakras are visible to clairvoyant sight as varously

colored rotating circles or funnels. In the East they are

described as petaled flowers or lotuses. Sources disagree on the

colors.

        The first chakra, located at the base of the spine at

the perineum is the *root chakra*, muladhara. It primarily

relates to the element of earth and to psychic smell.

        The second chakra, known as the *sacral center*,

svadhisthana, is located above and behind the genitals. Its

dominant element is water, and it is related to psychic taste.

        Third of the chakras is the *solar plexus*, manipura,

located at the navel and corresponding with the emotions and

with the element of fire; also with psychic sight

(clairvoyance).

        The *heart chakra*, anahata, is the fourth chakra,

located over the heart and corresponding with the element of

air, and also with psychic touch.

        The fifth chakra is the *throat chakra*, vishuddha,

located at the base of the throat (thyroid) and corresponding

with psychic hearing (clairaudience).

        The remaining two chakras are very important. They

relate mostly to elevated states of consciousness. The *frontal

chakra*, (or 'third eye') ajna, the sixth chakra, is located

between, and slightly above, the eyebrows. Ajna is the center of

psychic powers and can produce many psychic effects. Meditation

on ajna is said to cure nervousness.

        Finally, the *crown chakra*, sahasrara, located atop the

head, (pineal gland) is the seventh chakra. It is referred to as

the thousand-petaled lotus and corresponds with astral

projection and enlightenment.

        There are also many minor chakras throughout the body.

Each chakra has a sound (letter) and a pitch which is sometimes

used to invoke it.

THE TATTVAS

        Some occultists prefer to describe the magical elements

as tattvas according to the Eastern system. Notice that these

symbols and colors are generally different than the western

symbols and colors for the elements.

element             tattva              tattvic symbol

=======             ======              ==============

earth               prithivi            yellow square

water               apas                silver crescent

fire                tejas               red triangle

air                 vayu                blue circle

(spirit)            akasa               black oval

YOGA

        Yoga originated in India. It is a physical or mental

discipline designed to condition and invigorate the mind and

body. There are many kinds of yoga, but they may be generally

divided into three main types...

        Hatha yoga -- affect the mind through the body using

physical exercises; improve physical health and endurance.

        Raja yoga -- affect the mind through mental training;

improve concentration.

        Mantra yoga -- affect the mind through chanting and

affirmation; achieve relaxation.

MEDITATION

        This is a much touted area of the occult. There are many

meditation techniques, and many claims made for the benefits of

meditation. Basicly, meditation has two functions -- relaxation,

and perhaps, improved concentration. There are two main types...

        1) concentration meditation (focusing),

        2) insight meditation (mindfullness).

Most kinds of meditation are the concentrative type. One simply

focuses his attention upon a single physical object (such as a

candle flame); upon a sensation (such as that felt while walking

or breathing); upon an emotion (such as reverence or love); upon

a mantra spoken aloud or even silently; or upon a visualization

(as in chakra meditation, see below)...Concentration meditation

is, simply put, a form of self-hypnosis.

        A mantra (or mantrum) is one or more words or syllables

which are repeated -- often chanted -- aloud...A simple yet

powerful mantra is to vibrate the mystical word 'OM'. This

mantra has long been associated in India with the godhead/unity.

Use it to aid in tuning into universal vibrations which promote

feelings of harmony, peace, and well-being. Use it before magick

ritual to 'get into the mood' and afterward to 'dismiss the

forces'. You vibrate a mantra by saying it slowly aloud in a

lower-pitched voice than your normal speech, and a more or less

constant pitch as well. Let the sound fade at the end of the

mantra. A powerful one such as 'OM' will seem to vibrate the air

around you. It should be vocalized for 5-10 seconds and repeated

a number of times with a few seconds rest between each

vocalization. Chanting of mantras may cause slight dizziness

from hyperventilation.

        The other main type of meditaiton -- insight meditation

-- is the analysis of thoughts and feelings in such a way as to

cause realization of the subjectivity and illusion of

experience. This is done in a effort to attain trancendental

awareness. Such statements as, 'This body is not me', fall under

this category. Buddhist meditations are usually of this type.

CHAKRA MEDITATION

        There is a special type of concentrative meditation

which we will call 'Chakra meditation'. This is basicly

Kundalini yoga -- the practice of causing psychic energy

(kundalini) to flow up sushumna, energizing the various

chakras along the way. The practice, considered dangerous by

some, will produce deffinite physiological sensations and

psychological effects if continued long enough. It should not

be attempted by epileptics or persons with an unstable mental

or physical condition, or with heart disease. Certain drugs and

medications, such as those used to treat epilepsy may retard

progress. Although the technique is very simple, it may

eventually produce powerful results. Results may at first appear

hours after the practice during sleep. As each chakra is

energized by this practice, it is said to add occult powers

(sidhis), until at last the crown chakra is reached, and with

it, full enlightenment is attained. Sometimes kundalini awakens

all by itself.

        To practice this chakra meditation, you simply

concentrate on the chakras, beginning with the root chakra, and

moving progressively up, as you visualize psychic energy from

the root chakra traveling up shushumna and vivifying each higher

chakra. As we mentioned the chakras have certain properties

associated with them, so that this type of visualization may

'raise consciousness', promote astral projection, and other

things -- once you have reached ajna and eventually the crown

chakra. You might typically meditate in this fashion for 15

minutes to a half hour a day. It might help to practice some

hatha yoga or other physical exercise in an effort to make the

spinal cord 'more flexible'. Diet may also affect the process.

The technique is also similar to the Tibetan 'Tummo' meditation.

The rise of kundalini is sometimes experienced as a 'vibration'

or buzzing, as light, or as heat.

HEALTH AND DIET

        Certainly the way you treat your physical body will

affect your mind. In magick you want an alert mind. Therefore,

your body must be as healthy as you can keep it. Take care of

your body. Exercise regularly. eat a good diet (with vitamin

supplements), and do not consume anything which will have a

negative effect upon the mind. Drugs, smoking,, and alcohol

should be restricted, or eliminated. (The mind can create any

condition which a drug can create.) A good rule here is

moderation in what and how much you consume. (Most of this stuff

is pretty obvious isn't it.) You may also want to cut down on

sugar and processed foods. Many occultists advise dietary

changes, expecially the non-eating of meat. We cannot deny the

physical, psychological, and spiritual effect which all foods

have. This effect may be described as the 'heaviness' factor of

foods. Various foods are so ranked in the chart, lighter to

heavier...

        1.  lettuce and other greens.

        2.  fruits and most vegetables.

        3.  wheat, rice, and other grains.

        4.  nuts, beans, and other legumes.

        5.  cheese, dairy products, including eggs.

        6.  fish, seafood.

        7.  chicken, poultry.

        8.  beef, pork, other red meats.

Note that meats, especially red meats are the 'heaviest' foods.

Generally, foods which are harder to digest, or which are higher

in protein are 'heavier' than those which are not. Animal

products are heavier than plants. Foods high in carbohydrate

(candy, bread, starch) are heavy. However, the 'heaviness' of

foods is not directly related to the amount of caleries.

        What this means is that for various reasons, the

heaviness of food in your diet will affect your magical

experiences. You may be able to increase your psychic

receptivity ('energy level') by eating lighter foods, or by

eating less. Conversely, emphasizing heavy foods in your diet,

or eating larger helpings, may help to 'bring you down to earth'

should you 'rent the veil' too much. These are generalizations,

of course, and it may take a number of days of dietary change

before you notice much effect. I do not advocate radical dietary

changes, excessive fasting, or malnutrition. Your good health is

far more important in magick than any temporary effect you get

from prolonged starvation. A change in diet will sometimes only

produce a temporary effect, until the physical body adapts to

the change. Healthy natural foods and lifestyle make it easier

for us to be healthy, but ultimately, good health is a mentual

quality (attitude).

THE FOUR-FOLD BREATH

        With physical exercise too, moderation is advised.

(You should be cautious, or not attempt it if you have a

respiratory or heart condition. Check with your physician if in

doubt, and don't overdo.) One of the most useful physical

exercises is pranayama, or controlled breathing (actually a type

of hatha yoga exercise). For this and any other calesthentics or

hatha yoga which you might choose to do a 'kitchen timer' is

suggested (many of these aren't accurate for under three

minutes, but are helpful for longer periods).

        The main purpose of pranayama is to relax the body and

mind. There are many kinds of pranayama, but a simple one called

the 'four-fold breath' will suffice. This consists of four short

quick inhallations, then four short quick exhallations; then

repeat, continuing until the allotted time is used up. It will

take about 1 1/2 seconds for the four inhallations, and about

1 1/2 seconds for the four exhallations; or about 3 seconds for

the complete in-out cycle ('rep' for repetition). There should

be no strain of any kind during your pranayama. You will

probably notice a slight dizziness, particularly at first, since

the effect of pranayama is to hyperventilate. Try sitting back

in a chair with your eyes closed when you do your pranayama.

Begin a minute a day for the first week and gradually increase

up to about five minutes a day. If you do the pranayama befor

your magical activity, it will help you to get 'into the mood'.

It is also an excellent aid to relaxation and tension release.

Pranayama should not be done during heavy air pollution. Other

exercises you might consider are hatha yoga, calesthentics,

walking or jogging.

REVIEW QUESTIONS

1) What is a chakra? List them.

2) Name the three major nadies. Which nadi is hot?

3) What is pranayama?

BOOK LIST

Arthur Diekman, The Observing Self.

W.Y. Evans-Wentz, Tibetan Yoga and Secret Doctrines.

Sandra Gibson, Beyond the Mind.

King and Skinner, Techniques of High Magic.

Swami Sivananda, Kundalini Yoga.

John Woodroffe (pseud. for Arthur Avalon), The Serpent Power.

----------------------------------------------------------

** MAGICK 6 -- THOUGHTFORMS AND SPIRITS **

        Although there are hundreds of kinds of divination,

the principle ones are astrology, geomancy, the tarot, the

I Ching, and direct psychic means (especially clairvoyance).

True divination is more than a mechanical system, for it

implies true psychic interpretation (receiving). Some form of

divination is often used in magick ritual to communicate with

the entity invoked.

        Since divination operates through the mind, it is

affected and biased by the mind. Our attitudes and fears may

alter it. Sometimes results are very detailed, and accurate

-- but not always. Often the future is plastic and changeable

anyway, and the use of magick may alter the result. Thus

divination shows tendencies only, which may be helpful, but

must not rule us.

DEVELOPING CLAIRVOYANCE

        It is possible to improve your natural ability with

clairvoyance through practice. A good start might be to look

around you, then close your eyes and try to picture your

surroundings. This is also good exercise for visualization. And

visualization is an essential talent in magick. Open your eyes

again and check your accuracy. Then close your eyes and try it

again. When you use your physical eyes, look at everything

like a child seeing it for the first time. Let the vividness

of color and form burn into you, until everything takes on a

veritable glow. Try to capture that glow when you close your

eyes now and picture your surroundings. It's just a simple

step to extend what you see with your eyes closed into what

you remember seeing in the next room, or what you *imagine*

seeing in the next building, the next city, even the other

side of the world. Don't expect perfect results, especially at

first. Just try to be even partly right. Another exercise is

to picture a clock face, and thereby tell the time

clairvoyantly.

THE AURA

        Under the right conditions, it is possible to

clairvoyantly observe a colored light around other people.

This is known as the 'aura'.  Sometimes the aura is seen as

multi-colored emanations around the person, built up of

various differently colored layers and zones.  Although many

occult dabblers claim to be able to see the aura easily and

under many varied conditions, I seriously doubt that they do.

There are optical illusions and qualities of sight which can

sometimes trick one into thinking he sees what he does not

see. In this area, the quality of sight known as after image

is especially pertinent. Do this: stare at any solidly colored

bright object for a few moments. Very intense red, green, or

blue are especially good for this. Now look away at a white

surface and you will see a phantom image of the object in its

complementary color (a red object will show green, a blue one

orange, etc.).    If the bright object is in front of a light

surface, you may observe a fringe of complementary color

around the object after a few moments. This is all very

normal, and is used by some magical groups as an aid to

visualization sometimes called 'flashing colors'. Some silly

people will stare at other people in the same way. And when

they see the after image of the person's clothing, they think

they are seeing his aura. What is more, various meanings have

been attributed to the colors of the aura. A psychic who can

see the aura is supposed to be able to determine that persons

emotional state. Thus psychic frauds can have a marvelous

time with auras.  One deluded psychic taught a class I

attended in which he performed instant psychoanalysis on the

basis of the supposed aura. It was obvious that he was

actually observing after images from the students clothes!

        This brings us to the chart of aura colors on the next

page.  It is a general guide, based mostly on Theosophical

material.  Various groups may attribute different meanings to

the colors.  The colors we show on the chart are emotional in

nature; useful if you plan to create an artificial elemental

or do healing.    Surrounding yourself with a particular color

will tend to produce the specific psychological effect

described in the chart.  That quality of color is useful in

magick ritual.

.pa (next page)

                        COLORS OF THE AURA

BLACK   malice

                        dark gray       depression

                        pale gray       fear

BROWN   materialism

                        muddy gray      selfishness

                          or

                        dull rust

RED    energy

                        bright red      anger and force

                        dirty red       passion and sensuality

                        dull red        selfish love

                        rose            unselfish love

ORANGE  pride

                        orange cloud    irritability

                        bright orange   noble indignation

YELLOW  intellect

                        yellow-green    low intellect

                        earthy yellow   selfish thought

                        lemmon          high intellect

                        bright gold     logical thinking

                        brt. red-yel.   spiritual thought

GREEN   empathy

                        gray-green      deceit, jealously

                        greenish-brown  jealousy

                        emerald green   unselfish resourcefulness

                        foliage green   sympathy & empathy

                        brt. apple-grn  strong vitality

                        brt. turquoise  deep sympathy & compassion

BLUE   devotion    (religious feeling)

                        gray-blue       fetishism

                        light blue      noble spiritual devotion

                        dark blue       religious feeling

                        brt. lilac-blu  lofty religious idealism

VIOLET  spiritual                       psychic & spiritual

                                          faculty

WHITE   purity/protection

.pa (next page)

THOUGHTFORMS AND SPIRITS

    Whenever we concentrate our thoughts, we draw psychic

energy together.  This is called a thoughtform.  Usually the

energy dissipates as soon as we break the concentration, but

it is possible to purposely concentrate energy in this way,

producing very strong thoughtforms.  Such thoughtforms are

vortexes or centers of psychic energy.    They can exist as

entities by themselves, at least for a while.  They are

basically inanimate, non-thinking forces.  Talking to one is

about as logical as talking to a chair.  In this way,

thoughtforms are similar to elementals, ghosts, and spirits.

All of these psychic entities consist of a psychic energy

vortex which could be described as a localized field or as a

discontinuity of the physical world.

    Psychic entities respond to certain electrostatic and

magnetic fields, and to other energy vortexes. That is why

they respond to magick ritual. Someday, we may accomplish the

same thing with electronic machines. Psychic entities are

sometimes able to affect our thought processes.

    Thoughtforms, elementals, and ghosts are usually not

very smart.  If they display any intelligence at all, it is

limited.  They are the morons of the spirit world.  Their

behavior is usually automatic, repetitive, robot-like (just

like some people).  We see that artificial elementals

are little more than astral robots.  Spirits and deities are

more intelligent and volitional.

DIRECTED ATTENTION

    Your mind follows your attention. Wherever you direct

your attention, there will your thoughts go too. By directing

attention to a specific place or purpose you *focus* mental

energy upon it.

    For example: you're having lunch in a cafeteria

crowded with people. It is a large place, and everyone there

is talking at once, so that the room is a constant jumble of

noise. You happen to notice a man accross the room; he

reminds you of someone. All at once he drops his fork and you

hear it hit the table. But would you have noticed the sound

of his fork if you had not been looking? No. Only by focusing

your attention there were you able to pick out that

individual event and associated sound.

    It is a dark night. You are walking and the only

light you have is from the flashlight you hold in your hand.

As you move the flashlight around, the beam of light from it

directs your attention first one way then another. Now, the

mind is something like that flashlight in the dark. And by

directed attention, you point the mind to one place or

another. As with that flashlight beam, you see where the mind

is pointed; nothing more. The rest is 'noise'. And so we

could define mental noise as anything not focused upon. In

another way, noise could be considered as negative emotions,

attitudes, and thoughts which make it more difficult to

direct the attention.

    Your emotions follow your thoughts quite easily. Your

emotions are not YOU, but are rather reactions prompted by

your model and ego -- like a performance or an act, while

the real you watches. In a similar way, directing your

attention toward a specific emotion will cause you to

experience that emotion.

VISUALIZATION EXERCISES

        Visual imagination and concentration are very

important in magick. Here are some exercises to help

in your development...

        A. Close your eyes and visualize a single digit

number as clearly as you can. Then a two digit number, then

a 3 digit one. Hold the visualization in front of your

'inner eye' for about two minutes. Repeat with a letter

or a word.

        B. Visualize a brightly colored green circleor spot.

Again hold the visualization for two minutes. Try again with

a different color.

        C. Visualize in succession, each one of the tattvic

symbols, in their proper color. Hold each symbol for at

least two minutes.

        D. Look through a tarrot card deck and pick out

several of your favorite cards. Then, after briefly studying

a card, visualize it vividly in detail. Hold the visualization

for at least two minutes. Do this for each card you selected.

        E. Repeat the above visualization exercises with

your eyes open.

REVIEW QUESTIONS

1) What is the aura?

2) What is a thoughtform?

3) How can you develope clairvoyance?

BOOK LIST

Annie Bessant and Charles Leadbeater, Thought Forms.

W.E. Butler, How to Develop Clairvoyance.

J.H. Brennan, Astral Doorways.

Piero Ferrucci, What We May Be.

Kilner, The Human Aura.

Swami Panchadasi, The Human Aura.

A.E. Powell, The Etheric Double.

Harold Sherman, How to Make ESP Work for You.

----------------------------------------------------------

** MAGICK 7 -- BASIC RITUAL **

        'The first part of every ceremony is the

        banishing; the second the invoking.'

                   (--Crowley, Magick, p. 104)

        It may be said that ritual is the very heart of

magick.  For it is through ritual that we achieve our magical

results. Ritual is a magical procedure or ceremony we perform

in order to change the environment. Usually we think of

ritual as bearing on active magick, although certainly, it

can also affect passive magick. Most often the change

achieved is subjective (it may be subtle) and in the physical

world. Outsiders may put them down to coincidence, but the

effects are very real. Magical goals for a ritual should not

be taken lightly.

        The successful practice of magick depends upon strong

belief. The simplest ritual of them all must be belief

itself. If you can believe in your desired results strongly

enough, that act is a magical ritual which will achieve your

results. Even a very complex ritual is no more effective than

strong belief. There are aids to concentration which may

help. Thus in *creative visualization*, imagination and

controlled breathing are brought into play.

CREATIVE VISUALIZATION

        When you want to magically achieve something, first

picture it clearly in your mind. The more deffinite and

specific your idea of what it is the better. Picture yourself

having it or doing it. Visualize it as vividly and as

intensely as you can and hold it in your thoughts for a few

moments. Concentrate on it intensely (it may help to hold

your breath). Feel the energy of desire welling up inside

you. Then suddenly feel the image or desire released from

your mind. Feel the energy filtering through the image and

intensifying it, as if the image is a 'stencil'. Imagine the

energy exploding out from you into the macrocosm in all

directions at once, and feel the universe 'tilt' as it reacts

to the force. (At the same time it may help to release your

breath suddenly). Feel the energy draining from you. Finally,

*believe* that your purpose *has* been accomplished; that it

HAS HAPPENED, perhaps saying something such as "so mote it

be", or "it is done".

THE BASIC PARTS OF A RITUAL

        Often rituals are more formal than the above, but any

full magick ritual must always reduce to these stages --

1) imaging; 2) building; 3) firing.  Sometimes a ritual must

be repeated every day for a while to achieve difficult

results or to overcome weak belief.

THE MAGICK CIRCLE

        Often an important part of formal ritual is the

magick circle. Medieval magicians considered the circle

essential, and placed great emphasis upon its exactness.

Elaborate designs were invented with many layers of complex

symbols and words. It was very important that the circle

be completely intact with no breaks in it. The magician

and any other participants stand in the circle during ritual.

The ritual began with a banishing of evil forces (using the

lesser ritual of the pentagram for example) to keep them

outside the circle. Today, circles are made on the floor

with chalk or paint, rock salt, or a rope. Whatever its

form, the circle is still an important part of magical

protection for the magician. This is especially important

for aversive entities and purposes. The circle also helps

in focusing the energy of the ritual toward its purpose,

that is, it keeps it contained until the magician is ready

to release it. Of course, the magick circle is basicly

only a symbol, but it may eventually be possible to

supplement the circle with electronic equipment for a

similar purpose. We are researching the practicality of

electrostaticly charged Faraday shields.

ARTIFICIAL ELEMENTALS

        An artificial elemental is useful for certain

tasks: 1) invisible watcher and observer, telling you what

it sees; 2) psychic guard; 3) it can be used in healing; 4)

it is helpful in other ways. Ophiel calls the artificial

elemental a 'familiar'. Producing your own artificial

elemental is fairly easy.  YOU MUST ASSUME THAT THE ACT HAS

PRODUCED RESULTS, EVEN IF YOU DO NOT IMMEDIATELY OBSERVE

THEM. It is entirely possible to produce one of these little

beasties and not know it (not being clairvoyant enough to

observe it directly). Therefore, and this is a general

principle of any magick, never ignore forces you have set

into motion. Even though you may not see the elemental, you

may nevertheless 'feel' it.

        WARNING -- Do not use artificial elementals for any

kind of aversive magick at this point; they can be nasty

little critters to get rid of. Should you have to eliminate

one of them which you created in error, you must re-absorb

it back into yourself through your will; or in some cases

you can 'exorcise' it.

HOW TO CREATE AN ARTIFICIAL ELEMENTAL

        You can create your own artificial elemental for

various purposes. An artificial elemental is basically a

thoughtform which has been strengthened with emotion. Refer

to the aura color chart in the previous lesson and decide

what color to make the elemental, based upon your intended

purpose. Apple green is a good choice for general purposes.

Then decide on a shape or outline. Do you want your elemental

to resemble some sort of animal? A simple circle or cloud is

a good place to start. With this in mind you can use ritual

to create your elemental. Creative visualization is good for

this. Visualize it glowing before you. A darkened room is

helpful for this.

        Communicate with your elemental with telepathy, by

talking to it, or with creative visualization. Your

artificial elemental is closely linked to you and your

subconscious attitudes.  It will generally not do things you

think it cannot do. As in any magick, results relate to

effort and belief. Another way of looking at an artificial

elemental is as an aspect of your personality (sub

personality) which has been detached from you.

INVOCATION

        Formal ritual usually involves the invocation

(ritually calling up) of a god or goddess, spirit, or other

entity. In this sense, magick is somewhat similar to pagan

religion and witchcraft. However, we consider magick ritual

a technique, not a religion. Worship need not be involved.

Sometimes the invocation of an entity creates an artificial

elemental.

        Crowley says there are three different kinds of

invocation --

        1) Devotion to the entity (as in the Bhakti yoga of

the Hare Krishna sect; the Faustian devil pact).

        2) Ceremonial invocation -- usual method of the

middle ages.

        3) Drama -- usually needs more than one person (as in

a mass).

        Because of the microcosm-macrocosm identity, when

you invoke the gods, you are invoking aspects of yourself.

Jung has referred to the gods as primitive archetypes.

This makes it sound like spiritual entities are illusions.

But in fact the microcosm-macrocosm identity does not

discredit the gods and goddesses. It instead helps to

illustrate our relationship to the cosmos.

>>CAUTIONS<<

        1. Balance is important in magick. Vary the entities

invoked in order to keep your personality in balance.

        2. Often as not a ritual may produce side-effects,

usually something similar to, though not exactly the desired

goal. If the true goal is delayed (as sometimes happens) we

may see the side effects first. And if for some reason the

goal is not achieved at all ('missing the target') the side

effects may be pronounced. Examples: 1) You use magick ritual

to hurry shipment of an anticipated package in the mail. Side

effect -- the next day an unexpected package (the

wrong one) arrives instead. 2) You use magick ritual to cause

a certain person to phone you. Side effect -- for several

days all sorts of people phone you...The sides effects will

not affect you (or anyone else) adversely unless that is

what you inwardly want.

        3. We may say with certainty that "something always

happens" when we perform a magick ritual. But like everything

else, magick follows the 'law of results'. This means that

results require effort of some kind. And if you don't work

hard enough at it you don't get results. Difficult goals have

greater resistance (magical inertia) to overcome. If the

ritual doesn't produce the desired results there is a good

chance that the reason for the failure is within oursleves.

Be certain there is no contradiction between your model

and your magical goals. Sometimes self doubt and mental

contradictions (wanting and not wanting at the same time) may

interfere. The first step in magick is to re-program your

model. And, of course you can help your magical results by

working on the physical level toward your goals. Don't expect

them to fall into your lap by themselves.

        4) A peculiar quality of magick is time displacement.

Results of a ritual are not usually instantaneous. There is

often a delay of 12 hours or more. Difficult tasks or weakly

performed ritual are more likely to be delayed. In most cases

a slight delay is alright, and it gives us time to get used

to the comming changes. And sometimes the effects of a ritual

appear to extend to before the ritual was performed!

        5) Because of the way magick works, a ritual may

create an emphasis in what is sought, and a de-emphasis in

everything else. Balance is therefore important here. Once

the magical result is achieved it may be 'bound' to you and

difficult to get rid of should you later decide to do so.

Example: You use a magick ritual to help you find and buy a

new house. Years later when you decide to sell it, you are

unable to do so. Consider your magical goals wisely so you

dont get stuck with something you don't really want. Note

that theory says you can always unbind through ritual what

was bound to you...theory says.

        6) Sometimes the environment appears to react against

the magick after the results are achieved. This is

particularly noticeable in using magick to affect the weather

(and the main reason why you should NOT use magick to affect

the weather). For example...Your performance of a ritual to

produce a sunny day produces a sunny day. The next day is

sunny, alright, but the rest of the month is cold and

overcast. Here the weather seems to react to the magick in

the opposite way to re-establish its natural balance. It is

something like pushing a pendulum to one side and releasing

it -- the pendulum swings to the other side. To quote

Emmerson -- "For everything you gain you lose something...".

I don't know that this is always true in magick, but it does

illustrate the point. And another reason not to use magick to

affect the weather is that it might foul it up in other parts

of the country (world??).

        7) Finally, magick ritual (or any magick or

occultism) is very dangerous for the mentally unstable. If

you should somehow 'get out too far', eat 'heavy foods' as

previously discussed (lesson on chakras) and use your

religious background or old belief system for support. But

remember too, that wierd experiences are not necessarily bad

experiences.

REVIEW QUESTIONS

1) What is creative visualization?

2) List the basic parts of a ritual.

3) What is invocation?

RESEARCH TOPICS (for independent study)

1) Examine the differences between western magick and oriental

   magick.

2) How do medieval grimoirs follow the basic ritual pattern?

3) Research and design your own formal ritual.

BOOK LIST

P.E.I. Bonewitz, Real Magic.

David Conway, Magic: an Occult Primer (or Ritual Magic).

Aleister Crowley, Magick in Theory and Practice.

Denning and Phillips, Creative Visualization.

Ophiel, Creative Visualization.

A.E. Powell, The Astral Body.

________, The Mental Body.

Joseph Weed, Wisdom of the Ancient Masters.

Julian Wilde, Grimoire of Chaos Magick.

----------------------------------------------------------

** MAGICK 8 -- HEALING AND BANISHING **

        Psychic or spiritual healing is a human potential we

all possess. Some people are especially good at this. It is

probably easier to heal someone else by occult means than

yourself. In addition to healing in the presence of the

person, there is 'absent healing' in which the healing

occurs at a distance. Note that there are some who maintain

that influence on another person without his specific

knowledge and permission (yes, even in healing and helping)

is black magick. (After all, everybody is living according to

his own true will, so that healing or helping someone

without permission is affecting his will). This means it is

important to tell the person what you are planning to do and

to ask his permission. The theory of psychic healing is that

sickness is characterized (although not necessarily caused)

by a deficiency and imbalance of vital energy. Psychic

healing transfers energy from the healer to the sick to

repair and rebalance his energies. If an inept healer

overdoes the process, or if he doesn't take the precaution

to 'disconnect' himself afterwards, he may find himself

becoming sick due to energy drain and a linkage to his

subject. Similarly, the healer should always be in a good

state of health or he could unintentionally transfer his

illness to the subject.

        The basic methods of psychic healing are: 1) creative

visualization, 2) prayer, 3) ritual. Creative visualization

is one of the easiest techniques. Mild illness may yield to

only one or two treatments; serious ills will require

many treatments over time. Psychic healing should always be

combined with medical care and treatment. It does not replace

doctors, medicine, or hospitals, since different levels

(worlds) are involved. In creative visualization, we

visualize the person being well. It may be helpful to utilize

the appropriate color from the aura chart (such as bright

apple-green, rose pink, or white) sent as a beam to the

person or as a cloud surrounding him. This technique can be

extended to include a simple kind of yoga in which we feel

energy sent as we exhale explosively; the energy sent either

via the breath or from one of the chakras such as the solar

plexus. Sometimes in absent healing it is helpful to arrange

a time for treatment in advance, asking your subject to be in

a receptive state of mind and to sit back and close his eyes.

THE BANISHING RITUAL

        One of the most basic and useful ceremonial rituals

of magick is called the *banishing ritual*, or lesser

ritual of the pentagram. A pentagram (or pentacle) is a

five-pointed star with the point up. The banishing ritual is

helpful in psychic protection and healing since it forms a

protective barrier against malevolent forces. The psychic

barrier it creates can be made to permit entry of desired

(constructive) forces and the exclusion of negative ones.

Thus, the banishing ritual is an essential first step in

almost any formal full magick ceremony. The ritual requires

that you use a magical implement or "weapon", such as a

ceremonial knife, wand, or simply point your index finger, to

"draw" the pentagram in the air at each of the cardinal

points (four directions). Also, you will be chanting

('vibrating') some Hebrew names of God.

        Holding your magical weapon and facing east, extend

your arm out straight in front of you. In this ritual you

will use the full sweep of your arm to draw the pentagram in

the air. Follow the description below by beginning at the

lower left and sweeping your magical weapon up toward the

right, etc. as shown. Do not bend your arm at the wrist or

elbow. While you do this, visualize the lines and eventually

the star as vibrant white, floating in the space before you.

You are projecting energy to do this, and the result will be

a gleaming 5-pointed star floating in the east; visualize

this as vividly as you can. Now you will energize it further

by piercing the center of it with your magical weapon and

vibrating (speaking slowly in a slightly lower than normal

pitch, remember) "Yod-He-Vau-He".

=============================================

        -- DESCRIPTION --

Approximate points on a round clock face --

1. Begin at 7:30 position.

2. Point to 12 oclock position.

3. Point to 4:30 position.

4. Point to 10:30 position.

5. Point to 2:30 position.

6. Return to 7:30 position.]

=============================================

        Then turn slowly to the next cardinal point in

sequence, and as you do so, with your arm still extended in

front of you, visualize a white line connecting around to

the cardinal point. Trace a similar pentagram with the

appropriate words and following the same procedure:

        South -- Adonai Tzaboath

        West  -- Eh-Ei-He

        North -- Agla.

Now complete the white line drawn back to the center of the

eastern pentagram. Note that the cardinal points must be

followed in a clockwise order, and the pentagram must be

drawn in the manner illustrated; to do otherwise would change

the function of the ritual. The result of all this should be

a large bright white pentagram visualized hanging in mid-air

at each of the four directions, all tied together by a bright

white line. You could now, for example, visualize the

pentagrams moving out to the circumference of your home,

thereby protecting all within.

        There is also a somewhat simplified version of this

ritual in which the pentagram is traced only once overhead

and then is energized with one of the four names, such as

"Eh-Ei-He". Oftentimes the simplified version is sufficient,

but naturally the effect of the full version is more

complete.

        One of the primary uses of this ritual is to ward off

psychic attack -- that is, when another is (consciously or

unconsciously) attempting to harm you, cause sickness,

accidents, bad dreams, emotional upset, or to force you to do

something against your will. Fortunately this doesn't happen

very often. The world of the magician is fairly safe for the

pure of heart. Psychic attack usually depends upon

vulnerabilities. If you are not vulnerable you are safe. Thus

unificaition with the true will is the greatest protection

possible. And the use of the banishing ritual is never

hurtful. You can even use it to hold off negative aspects of

yourself.

        Other forms of protection sometimes helpful

(depending upon one's model) are recitation of the 'Lord's

Prayer', the 23rd, and 91st Psalms.

REVIEW QUESTIONS

1) What is a pentagram?

2) What is psychic healing? List the basic methods.

3) What is the banishing ritual? Why is it used?

BOOK LIST

Dion Fortune, Psychic Self-Defense.

________, Sane Occultism.

Adeliade Gardner, Vital Magnetic Healing.

Max Heindel, The Vital Body.

Ernest Holms, The Science of Mind.

Mouni Sadhu, Theurgy.

----------------------------------------------------------

** MAGICK 9 -- ASTRAL PROJECTION **

        Astral projection (OOBE, out of the body experience)

is a popular area of occult literature; for traveling to see

other worlds and places while the physical body sleeps or is

entranced is an exciting notion. Astral projection is not

dangerous. It is as safe as sleeping. Most dreams are probably

unconscious astral projections, anyway. Although there has

been quite a bit written on the subject, astral projection

is difficult for many people. The main difficulty is the

tendency to forget dream consciousness upon awakening.

Accordingly, the successful practice of astral projection

requires work.

        Modern psychology discounts the idea of actual OOBE

(that the spirit temporarily vacates the physical body).

However, the idea is very ancient. The Tibetans have an

entire system of yoga (dream yoga) based upon astral

projection. And here we have an important assumption: you are

involved in an OOBE (at least to a degree) whenever you

dream. What sets it apart from a full OOBE is your hazy

consciousness during the experience and poor recall

afterwards. Many people forget most of their dreams

completely. Learning astral projection requires a kind of

inner mental clarity and alertness.

        Dreams are a door to the subconscious which can be

used for psychological and spiritual insight, and sometimes

for precognition. Dream content is influenced by external

sounds and sensations. For example, a loud external noise

(such as a train) will likely appear in your dream (if it

doesn't wake you up!). Dreams are also influenced by events

of the previous day, by your moods, and by suggestion.

Everyone normally dreams 4 or 5 times a night (about every 2

hours). The longest dreams occur in the morning. Everyone

dreams. You are more likely to remember the details of your

dream when you first wake up. By keeping a dream diary you

will improve dream recall. Have writing equipment or a tape

recorder at your bedside for this purpose; also a light

which isn't too bright. Suggest to yourself several times

before you go to sleep, "I will awaken with the knowledge of

a dream." Then when you do awaken, move quietly (sometimes

just turning over drives the idea away). Remember first,

then write the dream down, and then add as many details as

possible. The next day check for objective facts and expand

if you can (by remembering 'what happened before that'). Once

you start remembering your dreams in this way, it will

become easier to do so. (If you are unsuccessful at this,

and *really* want to remember your dreams, you could

arrange for someone to sit by your bedside all night long

with a dim light on. Then when he sees your eyes moving back

and forth -- rapid eye movements, a sign you are dreaming --

he can wake you and ask for a dream report.)

FORMS OF ASTRAL PROJECTION

        Astral projection may be subdivided into three basic

types: mental projection, astral projection (proper) and

etheric projection. And your OOBE may shift between them.

Mental projection is really simple clairvoyance ('remote

viewing'), and 'traveling in your mind'. Imagination plays

a key role. The experience of mental projection is not

particularly vivid, and you will more likely be an observer

than a participant. Nevertheless, mental projection is an

important 'way in' to astral projection proper.

        During mental projection and astral projection you

are able to travel through solid objects, but are not able

to act directly upon them or to move them (if they are in

the physical world). This is not true during etheric

projection. Whether it is simply subconscious expectation,

or whether it is a true etheric projection which in theory

means that part of your physical body has been relocated

with your projection (the etheric or vital part) may be

difficult to determine. Etheric projections generally travel

at or very near the physical world. There are even cases

reported (very, very rare ones) in which the entire physical

body is transferred to another location (teleportation), or

cases in which the physical body exists and acts in two

separate places at once (bilocation)!

        But our primary interest is astral projection

proper, and mental projection to a lesser extent. Astral and

mental projection are not confined to the physical world.

Travel in the mental and astral realms is feasible, and

often preferred. Nor are astral and mental projection

restricted to the realm of the earth (you could even go to

the moon and planets).

STATES OF CONSCIOUSNESS

        The electrical activity of the brain has been

observed and classified with EEG (electroencephalograph)

equipment; signals picked up from the scalp by electrodes,

then filtered and amplified, drive a graph recorder. Brain

activity has been found to produce specific ranges for

certain basic states of consciousness, as indicated in 'hz'

(hertz, or cycles/vibrations per second):

        delta -- 0.2 to 3.5 hz (deep sleep, trance state),

        theta -- 3.5 to 7.5 hz (day dreaming, memory),

        alpha -- 7.5 to 13  hz (tranquility, heightened

                       awareness, meditation),

        beta  -- 13 to 28 hz   (tension, 'normal'

                       consciousness).

As you can see, some form of physical relaxation is implied

in the alpha, theta, and delta consciousness. These states

are in fact reached through deep breathing, hypnosis, and

other relaxation techniques. OOBE occurs during these

states, and delta is probably the most important for it.

The problem is really, as we have said, one of maintaining

mental awareness and alertness while experienceing these

altered states. Experimental subjects hooked to an EEG do

not show a discrete change from drowsy to sleep; it is very

gradual.

        At the threshold between sleep and waking

consciousness is a drowsy condition known as the hypnogogic

state. OOBE seems to occur during this state, or a

variant of it. By careful control of the hypnogogic state

(not going beyond it) it is possible to enter OOBE directly.

BASIC TECHNIQUES

        Most methods of astral projection are methods of

conditioning. Some form of trance or altered consciousness

is always involved. No one ever projects consciously while

fully awake (some may think that they do). Although there

are many techniques used to produce an astral projection,

they boil down to ten of them. They all sort of overlap.

        1) Diet -- Certain dietary practices may aid in OOBE,

especially at first. These include fasting, vegitarianism,

and in general the eating of 'light' foods as discussed in a

a previous lesson. Carrots and raw eggs are thought to be

especially beneficial, but all nuts are to be avoided.

Over-eating should be avoided. And no food should be eaten

just before an OOBE attempt. If you intend to practice

during sleep, for example, allow 2 to 4 hours of no food or

drink (except water) before bedtime. In general, we see here

the same kind of dietary restrictions advocated for

kundalini yoga.

        2) Progressive muscular relaxation -- This is one

of the basic methods used in hypnosis and self-hypnosis.

Physical relaxation can assist one in attaining the

requisite trance state. These techniques involve beginning

at the toes and tensing, then relaxing the muscles,

progressively up the entire body.

        3) Yoga and breath -- Yoga, mantra, and breathing

exercises similarly aim at physical relaxation. The practice

of kundalini yoga is particularly relevant, since it is

concerned with altered consciousness. In fact the arousal

of kundalini requires a similar state of consciousness to

OOBE.

        4) Visualization -- This involves a type of extended

clairvoyance or picturing of remote surroundings. If you can

experience the feeling of being there, so much the better.

Although this technique is essentially mental projection, it

is possible to deepen mental projection into astral

projection through (you guessed it!) visualization. Crowley

taught a similar technique: a) visualize a closed door on a

blank wall, b) imagine a meditation symbol on

the door, c) visualize the door opening and yourself

entering through it. And J.H. Brennan describes similar

techniques wherein the door is shaped and colored like a

tattva, or alternately, a chosen tarrot card is visualized

and the student visualizes entering into it.

        5) Guided imagery -- In many respects similar to

visualization. Except in this case, there is a guide (or

perhaps a voice on tape) directing you by means of

descriptions. As with visualization, mental rather than

astral projection is most likely.

        6) Body of Light -- The old Golden Dawn technique.

Imagine a duplicate (mirror image) of yourself in front of

you. Then transfer your consciousness and sensation to the

duplicate ('body of light').

        7) Strong willing -- Sort of like creative

visualization experienced in the present. That is you

express your strong desire to project through your willpower

while you visualize yourself doing it.

        8) The Monroe techniques -- These are a series of

steps developed by Robert Monroe: a) relax the body,

b) enter the hypnogogic state, c) deepen the state,

d) develope the senstation of 'vibration', e) separate from

the body. The Monroe Institute has developed some cassete

tapes which are claimed to help in this.

        9) Dream control -- This is one of the most

important techniques. It involves becoming aware that you

are dreaming. There are several ways to do this. Oliver Fox

says to look for descrepancies in the dream to realize you

are dreaming. One occult student I know of visualized a

white horse which he could ride wherever he wished to go.

After a time, when the horse appeared in his dreams it was

his cue that he was actually dreaming/projecting. Don Juan

tells Castaneda to look at his hands while he is dreaming.

And even the tarot and Cabala may be used as dream signals.

Another method is to tell yourself each night as you go to

sleep, "I can fly"; then when you do, you will know you are

dreaming. Once you know you are dreaming you can control

your dream/OOBE and go anywhere you want. Repetitive

activities will also likely influence your dreams. For

example, if you are on an automobile trip and spend most

of the day driving, you will probably dream about driving.

You can condition yourself to be aware you are dreaming

by doing a repetitive activity many times (walking across

the room or a particular magick ritual, for example).

Then when you dream about it, you will know you are dreaming.

        10) Dream expansion-- A variation on dream control.

A dream may be *extended* by imagining it continuing from

where it was when you awaken. Then it is just a simple step

to 'astral project' by directing you 'dream'.

        Although all these techniques may appear

straightforward, they all require effort. Astral projection

is generally learned.

        The astral world is the "ghostland" into which one

passes after death. It is sometimes possible to visit with

the dead, or you might be called upon to reassure and assist

those who have just passed over (died) or those who are

consciously projecting for the first time. Many spirits,

elementals and ghosts exist in the astral world. The

magician should feel comfortable there. Tibetan belief is

that through proficiency in OOBE, you no longer need

reincarnate after death. The astral world is extremely

changeable and subject to your thoughts. Your will can

control your movements in the astral world, and if you seem

to be going somewhere non-volitionally ('astral current') it

is probably your true will causing it anyway. You might also

experience heightened magical ability while in the astral realm.

[This is a popular subject, and there may be other files online

about it. Check the MIND file area for OOBE.ARC. This file

includes the following articles --

MIAS.DOC.

MONROE.DOC.

OBEBOOK.AST

OOBE.THR.

TN.TXT.]

REVIEW QUESTIONS

1) What is the relationship between astral projection and

   dreams.

2) What is mental projection?

3) List the ten basic methods of astral projection.

BOOK LIST

H.P. Battersby, Man Outside Himself.

Susan J. Blackmore, Beyond the Body.

J.H. Brennan, Astral Doorways.

Robert Crookall, The Techniques of Astral Projection.

Denning and Phillips, The Llewellyn Practical Guide to Astral

     Projection.

Oliver Fox, Astral Projection.

Gavin & Yvonne Frost, Astral Travel.

Celia Green, Out-of-the-body Experiences.

Richard A. Greene, The Handbook of Astral Projection.

Herbert Greenhouse, The Astral Journey.

Jack London, Star Rover (historical occult novel).

Janet Mitchell, Out of Body Experiences.

Robert Monroe, Journeys Out of the Body.

Robert E. Moser, Mental and Astral Projection.

Muldoon and Carrington, The Projection of the Astral Body.

Ophiel, The Art and Practice of Astral Projection.

A.E. Powell, The Astral Body.

D. Scott Rogo, Leaving the Body.

J.M. Shay, Out of the Body Consciousness.

Susy Smith, The Enigma of Out-of-the-body Travel.

Brad Steiger, The Mind Travelers.

Yram, Practical Astral Projection.

-----------------------------------------------------------

** MAGICK 10 -- CABALA **

        Western magick is based upon the Cabala, a Jewish

mystical traditon first written down in 12th and 13th century

southern France and Spain.  It was oral before that; and it

contains the "lost" knowledge of the ancients, possibly going

back to Egypt and before.  The most important Cabalistic

books are SEPHIR YETZIRAH (The Book of Creation), and the

ZOHAR (Book of Splendor).  Through Cabalistic philosophy we

are able to classify and "pigeon-hole" all of existence.

        The four worlds are recognized in the Cabala, but

they are given Hebrew names.  Thus -- Assiah, physical;

Yetzirah, astral; Briah, mental; and Atziluth, spiritual;

as shown in the chart.

WORLD        NAME        MEANING             ATTRIBUTE

=====        ====        =======             =========

spiritual    Atziluth    Archetypal World    pure deity

mental       Briah       Creative World      archangels

astral       Yetzirah    Formative World     angels

physical     Assiah      Material World      action

The divine name of God is TETRAGRAMMATON (or name of four

letters) made from the Hebrew letters YOD HE VAU HE (English

YHVH). Of the four letters, YOD corresponds with Atziluth and

the element of fire; the first HE corresponds with Briah and

water. These first two letters make up a yang-yin pair

(respectively). The other two letters also form a yang-yin

pair (respectively), with the VAU corresponding with Yetzirah

and air; while the second HE corresponds with Assiah and the

element of earth.

        The Cabalistic parts of the soul use new names for

the three highest vehicles of consciousness. NESHAMAH

(Divine Soul) is the Spiritual body; RUAH (Moral Soul)

is the Mental body; and NEFESH (Animal Soul) is the

Astral body.

        An important attribute of the Cabala is the

SEFIROTIC TREE (or "Tree of Life", Otz Chieem).  The

Sefirotic Tree is a diagram of the universe made up of the

ten SEFIROTH (primal numbers or orders of creation) drawn

as circles upon the Tree in a decending pattern from the

highest aspect of God at the top to the most physical aspect

of our world at the bottom. As can be seen in the

accompanying diagram, the sefiroth are connected together

with numbered lines, called paths.

                 / (1)\

              /     |    \

           /        |       \

     (3) /----------|---------\ (2)

      |             |            |

      |             |            |

      |             |            |

     (5)\-----------|---------/ (4)

      |    \        |      /     |

      |       \     |    /       |

      |          \ (6)/          |

      |          /  |  \         |

      |       /     |    \       |

      |    /        |      \     |

     (8)/-----------|--------\ (7)

          \         |        /

            \       |      /

               \    |    /

                  \(9)/

                    |

                    |

                  (10)

This is my attempt to draw a Sefirotic Tree using ASCII

characters. Several paths are omitted (15, 17, 29, 31).

Please refer to a printed diagram (in most any book on Cabala)

for a better illustration.

----------------------------------------------------------

        Above the Tree is the infinite void -- the

unknowable, unmanifest God as Divine Light -- the three veils

of negative existence: Ain, Ain Sof, and Ain Sof Aur.  The

Divine Light (Ain Sof Aur) is made manifest by the first

sefira where it is transformed into positive existence.

Emanations of energy (magical current) flow from the first

sefira (Source) along the paths into other sefiroth which

transform and emanate to lower and lower sefiroth. In Adam

Kadman (primal or ideal man) the sefiroth fit upon the

physical body; note the similarity to the chakras.  The

process of creation is one of emanation from the spiritual at

the top of the Tree to the physical world (Sink) at the

bottom. All current which is Sourced into the Tree must also

be Sinked (earthed).  That is, magical energy set in motion

by ritual shoud be used up in the physical world whether or

not the ritual was a success.

        Sefiroth 1, 2, and 3 on the Tree form the Supernal

Triangle which is beyond normal human experience in the world

of Atziluth.  The first sefira, KETHER, is the supreme

*crown* of God; it signifies pure Being, and is the Source.

Kether is androgynous. Immediately arising from Kether are

two further emanations. The second sefira is HOKMAH, the

*wisdom* of God and the masculine force of the universe.

Third is BINAH, the *understanding* or intelligence of God;

this is the supernal mother.

        Between the Supernals and the other seven sefiroth is

the Abyss -- a great gulf which forever separates ideal from

actual. Within the Abyss an 11th sefira, DAATH, the *knowledge*

of God is sometimes placed.

        The second triangle, comprised of the 4th, 5th, and

6th sefiroth in the world of Briah, is sometimes called the

Mental Triangle. Sefira 4, HESED, the *love* or mercy of God,

is male and positive. The 5th sefira, GEVURAH, the power or

*strength* of God complements Hesed as justice. Sixth is

TIFARETH, as the compassion or *beauty* of God; the heart of

the universe.

        The third or Astral Triangle contains sefiroth 7, 8,

and 9 in Yetzirah. Sefira 7, NETSAH, is the lasting endurance

or *victory* of God. Complementing Netsah is 8, HOD, the

majesty or *splendor* of God. The 9th sefira, YESOD, the

*foundation* of the world, is linked with the moon, hence the

tides and the libido. Yesod is experienced as dream

consciousness, and is very important in magick and astral

projection.

        Finally, at the physical world of Assiah is the 10th

sefira, MALKUTH, the *kindgom* of God, and the basis of all

material creation. We experience Malkuth as sense consciousness.

        The Sefirotic Tree has three vertical columns or

*pillars*.  As you face the tree, the pillar on the right,

headed by Hokmah and ending with Netsah, is called the Pillar

of Mercy and has light/masculine (yang) qualities. The pillar

on the left, headed by Binah and ending with Hod, is the

Pillar of Severity with dark/feminine (yin) qualities. The

Middle Pillar between them equilibriates the two opposites,

and is the *Shekhinah*, or feminine counterpart of God.  The

*klippoth*, or evil demons, generally in Assiah, represent

unbalanced forces or excesses.

        All the attributes of the universe fit like pieces of

a puzzle upon the Sefirotic Tree.  Each numbered part is a

numeric key to the various correspondence tables, such as

Crowley's '777'.  The sefirotic tree has its parts variously

colored and each sefira has a color; in fact the paths which

run between the sefiroth have their own colors too.  There are

four major color scales for the sefirotic tree and each color

scale corresponds with one of the four worlds. That means

we are dealing with not just one sefirotic tree, but actually

with a separate tree for each of the four worlds; although it

is easier to think of it as the same tree with a different

color scale. The Queen (Briah) and King (Atziluth) scales are

the most important. There is also the Empress scale (Assiah),

and the Emperor scale (Yetzirah).

        The Queen and King scales for the sefiroth are

shown below. (Note that when 4 colors are listed toghether,

the sefira is divided into quarters and the first color is

assigned to the upper quarter, the 2nd color to the right

quarter, the 3rd color to the left quarter, and the last

color to the lower quarter.)

KEY     QUEEN SCALE                     KING SCALE

===     ===========                     ==========

1       pure white brilliance           brilliance

2       gray                            pure soft blue

3       black                           crimson

4       blue                            deep violet

5       scarlet red                     orange

6       yellow (gold)                   clear pink rose

7       emerald green                   amber

8       orange                          violet purple

9       violet                          indigo

10      citrine, olive, russet,         yellow

          and black

        The 22 paths connect the sefiroth together. These

paths correspond with the 22 letters of the Hebrew alphabet,

as based upon the SEFIR YETZIRAH. Due to the nature of

the Hebrew alphabet (some letters can take two forms)

SEFIR YETZIRAH divides each of two of the letters into

two (dual) parts. For this reason, it is necessary to divide

each of the two related paths into two (dual) parts. These

are numbered 31, 31b (bisected); 32, 32b.  Yet when these

paths are drawn on the sefirotic tree they are usually shown

undivided (and numbered simply 31, and 32).  The following

table shows the colors and location of the paths in relation

to the sefiroth. You will want to add the path numbers to

the illustration of the sefirotic tree, or draw a new tree.

Some writers may refer to "32 paths", by calling the sefiroth

"paths" 1-10.

KEY  JOINS SEFIROTH  QUEEN SCALE          KING SCALE

===  ==============  ===========          ==========

11     1 - 2         sky blue             brt. pale yellow

12     1 - 3         purple               yellow

13     1 - 6         silver               blue

14     2 - 3         sky blue             emerald green

15     2 - 6         red                  scarlet

16     2 - 4         deep indigo          red orange

17     3 - 6         pale mauve           orange

18     3 - 5         maroon               amber

19     4 - 5         deep purple          greenish yellow

20     4 - 6         slate gray           yellowish green

21     4 - 7         blue                 violet

22     5 - 6         blue                 emerald green

23     5 - 8         sea green            deep blue

24     6 - 7         dull brown           green blue

25     6 - 9         yellow               blue

26     6 - 8         black                indigo

27     7 - 8         red                  scarlet

28     7 - 9         sky blue             violet

29     7 - 10        buff, flecked        crimson (ultra-

                       silver-white         violet)

30     8 - 9         gold yellow          orange

31     8 - 10        vermilion            glowing orange-

                                            scarlet

32     9 - 10        black                indigo

31b                  deep purple,         white merging

                       nearly black         into gray

32b                  amber                citrine, olive,

                                            russet, black

        The queen and king scales are complementary. Also

complementary are the paths and the sefiroth. Traditional use

of the queen scale sefiroth will find the king scale as paths

and vice versa. The use of complementary scales is based upon

the idea of balance. A tree composed of sefiroth in the queen

scale and paths in the king scale is all you need for most

magick. Although correspondences are what work for you, there

is said to be an ancient tradition surrounding the

conventional color scales and it may be helpful to lock into

the energy associated with them.

        From the magical point of view, the Tree of Life is a

map of consciousness which is useful for understanding and

attaining various states of consciousness. In cabalistic

magick we are concerned with the linking of higher energy to

lower levels on the tree. That very thing takes place

naturally as well, in nature and in life. A subject in itself

is cabalistic meditation (pathwork, or the way of return), in

which we attempt to climb up the tree (ladder of lights) to

attain union with divinity.

[This bulletin board may also carry other related files.

Look for CABALA1.DOC in the MYSTERIA file area.]

REVIEW QUESTIONS

1) What is the sefirotic tree?

2) How is the queen scale used in magick?

3) What is a path? How many are there?

BOOK LIST

J. Abelson, Jewish Mysticism

Edward Albertson, Understanding the Kabbalah

Bernard J. Babmerger, Fallen Angels

Richard Cavendish, The Black Arts

______, editorial comments to "Cabala", Man Myth and Magic

Aleister Crowley, The Book of Thoth

______, 777 Revised

Denning and Phillips, The Magical Philosophy

______, Magical States of Consciousness (on pathworking)

A.D. Duncan, The Christ, Psychotherapy and Magic

Dion Fortune, The Mystical Qabalah

Adolphe Frank, The Kabbalah: The Religious Philosophy

     of the Hebrews

Perle Epstein, Kabbalah, the Way of the Jewish Mystic

William Gray, The Talking Tree

Stephan A. Hoeller, The Royal Road

Isidor Kalish, Sepher Yezirah: A Book on Creation

Alta J. LaDage, Occult Psychology

Bernhard Pick, The Cabala: Its Influence on Judaism and

     Christianity

Charles Ponce, Kabbalah: An Introduction and Illumination

     for the World Today

Henry B. Pullen-Burry, Qabalism

Israel Regardie, A Garden of Pomegranets

______, The Golden Dawn

______, The Middle Pillar

Leo Schaya, The Universal Meaning of the Kabbalah

Gershom Scholem, Kabbalah

______, Major Trends in Jewish Mysticism

______, On the Kabbalah and Its Symbolism

______, Zohar: The Book of Splendor

Arthur Edward Waite, The Holy Kabbalah

R.J. Zwi Werblowsky, "Cabala", Man, Myth and Magic

William Wynn Wescott, An Introduction to the Study of

     the Kabalah

______, Sepher Yetzirah

----------------------------------------------------------

** MAGICK 11 -- PSYCHIC ENERGY **

        We have seen in the theories of magick, that there

is a definite relationship between the 'inner' and 'outer'

worlds. We saw this in the theory of the microcosm and the

macrocosm; in the four worlds; in the theory of

correspondences; and also in the Cabala and Tree of Life.

This relationship between inner and outer is very important.

And it means quite simply that success (or lack of it) in

one world (inner or outer) influences success (or lack of

it) in the other. Therefore developing of magical ability

is more than meditation and magical practice, for it

implies mastery of the four worlds. The developed magician

is not only master of the inner worlds; he is also master

of himself.

        This is not to imply that successful magicians are

all millionaires (or whatever standard people measure

success by), but it should mean that they are basically

pleasant people, at least; no serious hangups. The developed

magician is described as a 'king' in the Book of the Law.

This means simply that he has full control over all aspects

of his physical and inner life. He should be who he wants to

be, doing what he wants to do.

PLANETARY CORRESPONDENCES

        The *numbers* in the tables and diagram of the

preceeding lesson on Cabala are the 'key' numbers which we

find in various *correspondence tables* (such as Crowley's

'777'). One important set of correspondences for the planets,

is shown below...

KEY   PLANET       METAL        ATTRIBUTE

===   ======       =====        =========

3     Saturn       lead         home

4     Jupiter      tin          luck, wealth

5     Mars         iron         anger, war-like

6     Sun          gold         vitality

7     Venus        copper       love

8     Mercury      mercury      knowledge

9     Moon         silver       emotions, travel

Notice that we have included the metal which is associated

with the planet, as well as common attributes of each

planet. The theory of Cabalistic magick is to select the

appropriate planet for the desired result. The attribute

column will assist in that selection. Once a particular

planet is determined, an entity is selected from the

correspondence tables by matching the key number. A

set of correspondence tables may be available on this

board as a separate file (777.ARC). Additionally, a

list of selected deities from several popular pantheons

and with a brief description about them may be available

on this board as GODS.LST.

        Although Hebrew Mysticism is the original source

of Cabalistic ideas, it is mostly unconcerned with the

magical implications of those ideas. How can a religious

philosophy which is monotheistic lend credibility to

a polytheistic approach? Various deities are understood

as *aspects* or *qualities* of the Supreme God. This

is not a contradiction, merely a restatement of the

microcosm-macrocosm idea once again. The Sefirotic

Tree, in its representation of the universe is

the Macrocosm. While it could be said that any

single sefiroth has its own separate qualities, it

remains, nonetheless, a part of the whole tree, and

a part of the macrocosm. As a result, virtually

any pantheon or belief system is compatible with

the Cabala.

WILLPOWER AND MAGICK

        Western magick has traditionally placed a great deal

of emphasis upon the use of willpower as a means of

development and self-mastery. But this may not be the best

method in the long run. Isaac Bonewitz describes how the

subconscious will sometimes rebel against willpower with

'spectacular results'. It is far better to run one's life

democratically.

        Hawaiian Kahuna magick describes the 'three selves',

ie. the lower self (or subconscious), the middle self (or

normal consciousness), and the high self (spirit or Holy

Guardian Angel). Enlightenment in the Hawaiian system

consists of unification of the three selves. They become

'buddies'. Enlightenment does not come from great change. It

comes from great acceptance. Continual effort at becoming

better takes you nowhere. For becoming it is not being it.

The unification is achieved by first developing

communication with the subconscious and later with the

high self also. Simple exercises with a pendulum, automatic

writing, raised finger responses, self hypnosis, recording

and analysis of dreams etc. facilitate communication with

the subconscious. At first communication with the high self

must be via the subconscious, but later it is possible to go

direct to it.

PSYCHIC ENERGY

        Many occult groups follow an energy model for magick

and the physical body. This model (or theory) equates

psychic energy with kundalini/prana/sexual or life force

energy. The ideal of kundalini yoga is thus to raise the

kundalini to the higher chakras (especially ajna and

sahasrara) thereby enhancing psychic/magick powers. The

release of psychic energy is also relevant to mental

control, good health and longevity, and the attainment of

'cosmic consciousness'. Meditation and yoga is used to

liberate psychic energy so that it can be used for magical

purposes. But there are other ways to liberate psychic

energy. Many of these techniques will act as a mental

catharsis in the sense of invigorating the psyche and

resulting in improved intellectual and physical performance.

        1) Psychotherapy of certain types which releases

pent up psychological energy.

        2) Overcoming mind games, hangups, and inhibitions.

This is the basis of all listed practices, as hangups waste

psychic energy. Certain psychotropic drugs may have this

affect. Also the 'kicks' from 'risks' like skydiving.

        3) Vigorous dance and physical exercise -- to the

point of 'second wind'.

        4) 'Desirelessness' and various religious practices.

        5) The way of return, and various other mystical

practices.

        6) Atavistic resurgence. This last item deserves

some extra mention. It was one of Austin Spare's methods.

It means to contact the primitive emotions deep within the

psyche. In a sense it is regressive. However, there is power

there, if you are able to control it.

        We have seen how magical theory is based upon the

assumption that psychic phenomena is real. If this is so,

then magick is also real. And we have also seen how magick

is the art and science of causing change in accordance with

the will by non-physical means. Magical philosophy is the

working system of terms, theories, and symbols upon which

magick is based. But magick goes further than that, for as

an ancient system of psychology, magick may be used as is a

means of self improvement and spiritual growth. For magick

and mysticism are parallel paths, each ultimately leading

to transcendence.

REVIEW QUESTIONS

1) What do we mean by the relationship between the inner

   and outer worlds?

2) What is wrong with willpower?

3) Explain the energy model of magick.

BOOK LIST

P.E.I. Bonewitz, Hawaiian Magic (tape).

Pete Carrol, Liber Null.

------, Psychonaut.

John Heriot, Teaching Yourself White Magic.

Allan P. Lewis, Clearing Your Lifepath.

Max Freedom Long, The Secret Science Behind Miracles.

------, The Secret Science At Work.

Stephen Mace, Stealing the Fire from Heaven.

ong, The Secret Science Behind Miracles.

------, The Secret Science A