by

1996

A Guide To Working With The Interconnectedness of The Universe.

It is assumed that the student will have read and achieved success in the allied works or have studied higher meditative practices, astrology, and have some knowledge of the Kabbalah.

Throughout this work the word 'magick' has been used to differentiate the practise of natural magick from stage illusion - known popularly as 'magic'.

In this, the last section of our work, we will examine some home truths and basics of Magickal work, then, employing the meditative, visualisation and vitalisation techniques learned so far with the imagery and traditional meanings of the placement of the planets in the science of Astrology; the rich symbolism and tradition of The Tarot and the pathways of the Major Arcana, with the imagery and correlspondences of Kabalah and Ritual or Ceremonial Magick, which will draw upon your awakened psychic abilities in harmony with the energies and forces of the elements and the matrix of the Web of Life.

The meditative and concentrative exercises should now be a natural part of your daily routine, and we will utilise the resultant heightened powers of perception and intuition in our work as well as combining the imagery and visualisation from the symbolic representations of each of the Magick arts which are the basis of all correspondences in our Magickal meditations and workings.

The art of Magick encompasses many things. Science and art, philosophy and metaphysics, psychology and comparative religion. It is an adventure at the borderlands of the unknown, but most of all it is an expression of the true Will of the individual.

In order to grasp the inherent similarities in each of the arts or systems and their underlying principles, we will be proceeding in conjunction with further lessons of the various pathways to the Sefiroth in the Kabalah and the correspondence between this and the principles and imagery of each of the arts so far discussed.

"As Above........

So Below"

Katherine Kerr

You will have discovered that there are as many definitions of the words 'Magick' and 'sorcery' as there are practitioners of the various disciplines, systems or traditions.

To "Know" is one of the four cornerstones of occult knowledge and is the starting point of the seeker. You as a practitioner must know before you can do, therefore it is imperative that you possess an intimate understanding of the forces you will invoke and the correspondences of those forces or energies within the framework of the Web of Life and the Natural Order. In and through our art, we are endeavouring to work in harmony with the Natural energy of the Universe - particularly that of our own planet and it's denizens.

So, the study of Magick is the study of the 'hidden' relationships and correspondences within Nature {the interacting energies being part of the One energy matrix} and how we may influence and direct these energies and activities using the concepts of Will, Wisdom and Love for the benefit of the Spiritual evolution of all humanity. As the late Aleister Crowley once wrote "Magick is a philosophy with the method of science and the aim of religion"

Occultism (Latin occulere, "to hide"), belief in the efficacy of various practices—including astrology, alchemy, divination, and Magick—regarded as being based on 'hidden'{not readily discernable to the five senses} knowledge about the Universe and its mysterious forces. [The Oxford dictionary]

Occult knowledge is based upon the concept of correspondences, or the interrelationships that unite all things—stars, planets, plants, gemstones, colours, parts of the human body and life events — to one another and to invisible or 'hidden' realities as well. Those who practice the art can use occult knowledge to effect healing or to predict the future. Occultism also includes a belief in beings, such as angels, deities, and spirits, who can be appealed to for aid by those who possess the appropriate knowledge. Occult knowledge is obtained through initiation by those who already have such knowledge, or through the earnest study of the ancient texts and dedicating yourself to applying the principles of the Ancient Wisdom to your everyday life.

There are occult practices within nearly all traditional civilizations. Western Magick is derived from that of ancient Egypt, Babylon and Chaldea, especially as recorded and transmitted through Neoplatonism and the Hermetic books.

The Chinese, Hindus, and Tibetans have developed their own unique systems of Magick.

The Egyptian priests held the knowledge to their select and at the rise of Christianity it was suppressed for thousands of years. It was not until the alchemists and Cabbalists of the Medieval Period that the Magick of the West was ‘rediscovered’. Powerfully augmented by Jewish mysticism, occultism was an obscure but important presence in the European Middle Ages (5th century to 15th century). Medieval occult practice included astrology, alchemy, and ceremonial Magick rites for evoking spiritual beings. Eminent scholars such as 13th-century Italian theologian Saint Thomas Aquinas and his contemporary, English philosopher Roger Bacon, practiced the skills of alchemy and other occult arts.

Along with the rediscovery of classical learning, the Renaissance Period (15th century to 17th century) witnessed a burgeoning of occultism. In Florence, Italy, the court of the Medici sponsored a revival of Neoplatonism by establishing a Platonic Academy.

Neoplatonism is a type of idealistic monism in which the ultimate reality of the universe is held to be an infinite, unknowable, perfect One. From this One emanates nous (pure intelligence), whence in turn is derived the World Soul, the creative activity of which engenders the ‘lesser’ Souls of human beings. The World Soul is conceived as an image of the nous, even as the nous is an image of the One; both the nous and the World Soul, despite their differentiation, are thus consubstantial with the One.

The World Soul, however, because it is intermediate between the nous and the material world, has the option either of preserving its integrity and imaged perfection or of becoming altogether sensual and corrupt. The same choice is open to each of the ‘lesser’ Souls. When, through ignorance of its true nature and identity, the human Soul experiences a false sense of separateness and independence, it becomes arrogantly self-assertive and falls into sensual and depraved habits. Salvation for such a Soul is still possible, the Neoplatonist maintains, by virtue of the very freedom of Will that enabled it to choose its sinful course. The Soul must reverse that course, tracing in the opposite direction the successive steps of its degeneration, until it is again united with the fountainhead of its being. The actual reunion is accomplished through a mystical experience in which the soul knows an all-pervading ecstasy.

Doctrinally, Neoplatonism is characterized by a categorical opposition between the Spiritual and the carnal, elaborated from Plato's dualism of Idea and Matter; by the metaphysical hypothesis of mediating agencies, the nous and the World Soul, which transmit the divine power from the One to the many; by an aversion to the world of sense; and by the necessity of liberation from a life of sense through a rigorous ascetic discipline.

Later, figures such as 16th-century Swiss metaphysician Paracelsus, blended Neoplatonic philosophy with a rigorous empiricism, and hence, personified the transition from ancient occultism to modern science. Fraternal orders such as the Rosicrucians also pursued illumination through Esoteric Wisdom.

In the late medieval and early modern period (13th century to 15th century), however, as previously discussed in our earlier work introducing divination, occultism came to be increasingly regarded by the Church as connected with the worship of Satan. This occurance is astounding as the Church wilfully subsumed practices of the Old Ways and still performs those practices today.

This development resulted in the persecution of witchcraft during the Renaissance, when thousands of people were tortured and killed under the accusation—usually false—that they engaged in occult practices.

Despite both religious persecution and the rise of modern science, occultism continued in secret as an intellectual presence in Europe in the 18th and 19th centuries. During this period, occultism came to be valued more for its Spiritual meaning than for its pre-scientific world view. For the father of hypnotism, late-18th-century Austrian physician Franz Anton Mesmer, the occult offered a means of affirming both the fundamental nature of the Universe as Undifferentiated Consciousness and the power of the human Mind to interact with the Universe directly.

From this Spiritual perspective, occultism easily moved into alignment with 19th-century romanticism and its emphasis on the past, on symbolism, and on the creative power of imagination. These themes were important in such 19th-century "reinventions" of occultism as the Spiritualism movement, the Theosophical Society (1875), and the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn (1889). The last two groups in particular included many members of the symbolist movement, in addition to other artists, poets, and philosophers.

It is only during the last hundred years that western culture has been open minded enough to permit exploration of the occult realms, and only since the start of the twentieth century has science shown much interest at all. In the 20th century, another rebirth of occultism can be seen in the counterculture movement of the 1960s, with its interest in astrology, divination, and Magick. The New Age movement of the 1980's and the Spiritual Warriors of Gaia of the 1990's may be considered manifestations of occultism. Though severely criticized by some orthodox religious groups and mainstream scientists, {even though modern scientific discovery is giving credence and slowly coincidng with beliefs of the Ancient Wisdom with such discoveries as Quantum Physics, Fractal Geometry/The Mandelbrot Set, and Chaos Theory }, occultism has and will remain vital to Man's well being and our evolving Spirituality.

Of Paracelsus and The Church

Phillipus Aureolus Theophrastus Bombastus von Hohenheim {1493-1541}, -better known as Paracelsus, was a courageous man, who history reveals as a brilliant Swiss meta-physician, alchemist and philosopher of the 16th century.

In a time of supreme persecution of occult practices as heretical notions by the Church of Rome on the Continent, he dared to meld and unite the Platonic theories on the mysticism of Nature with Christian dogma in a manner which argued a heirachical ladder of creation ascending from base matter to God. He also defended the need to pull down the barriers between ritual practised in and out of the Church.

Paracelsus considered that all should be considered manifestations of the same God. "Holy Scriptures," he argued, "call sorcerers - without distinction - all those who were versed in supernatural things and were not at the same time holy. But this matter must be given some consideration ... we must not regard as sorcerers all those who are so called in the Holy Scriptures ... Magick is an art which reveals its highest power and strength through faith ... for there are holy men in God who serve the beatific life; they are called Saints. But there are also holy men in God who serve the forces of Nature and they are called Magi. God shows his miracles through his holy men, both those of the beatific life and through those of Nature: what others are incapable of doing they can do, because it has been conferred on them as a special gift."

He argued that everything was part of the Divine Matrix and that all ultimately desends from what he described as: " the Mysterium Magnum which is the one mother of all things and of the elements and a grandmother of all stars, trees, and creatures of the flesh ... earth is the 'mother' of man who shares 'mother earth' with the plants, minerals, and certain spiritual emanations."

At a more humble level than that of Paracelsus, few 'pagan' practitioners of the arts of Nature were in a position to commit their views to the record, and much of the comment and terminology was therefore supplied from a Christian viewpoint. In a time blighted {in contrast to our modern living standards}, humanity wanted cures for its ailments and its sick animals, fortunes prophesied, charms to help recover lost possessions, potions to bring love. To this end, the simple folk beseeched the local 'wise man/woman' or 'wizard/witch'.

These things, identified as Magick and witchcraft, were a part of the pagan vestige that the Catholic Church fought against, and still does to this day, and now, thankfully, has arguably lost.

Magicians in Christendom fell into two categories, according to whether they used their Occult arts for benefit or harm. "White" and "Black" Magick respectively. {- although this brings to point another argument - that there is no 'white/good' or 'black/evil' Magick as the power of each lies within the forces of Nature and Nature is both - it can be cruel and loving at the same time - therefore the true nature of the Magick, lies within the heart of the Magician or witch, not in the power of itself. Nature will exact Her price to maintain harmony and order}.

What distinguishes those who practised the occult arts in Christendom from those who practised in other religious cultures is that they were regarded by the Church, irrespective of their intent, to have made a pact with that peculiarly Christian character, the devil. For who created that oddity of psuedo esotericism/eroticism called diabolism but the Catholic Church?

Was this to frighten the superstitious public into the arms of the waiting and benevolent {not to mention money driven} Church and away from the natural order of Nature into materialism? No one today has the right to condemn or can say, but the fact stands that the Catholic Church is still in this day and age one of the most powerful establishments on the face of the earth in terms of socio/political power, manipulation and material wealth.

Yet in practice it all comes down to a nicety of words.

Whilst the Church condemned Magickal incantations it was not averse to adopting them when they suited its purpose. The Church for its part, encourages the belief that sacred artefacts carry mystical auras and breathe supernatural powers.

The whole of the Catholic establishment took on an animistic èclat and its trappings became charged with Magickal currents. This ambivalence was one of the principle stimulations for the occasional 'splits' of the Church which manifest in rebels like Martin Luther, Hugh Latimer and John Knox.

In its public ideaology, the Church accepts no compromise or middle ground with the occult arts. - Supernatural forces have emanated either from Saints and Angels dispensing the omnipotence of God {through the supervision of the Church} or they have been of diabolical origin.

This has been the subject for much hypocrisy and racial and religious bigotry since the humble beginnings of the Roman Catholic Church with Peter and the other disciples after the prophet Jesus.

Jesus' teachings {like the earlier Buddha and later Muhammad} were of Love and unabiding Faith, yet that hardly seems to be the case when one looks at the Church today.

The Church has resorted to Magick as whole-heartedly as any occult practicioner, and whilst officially, it judges according to the shifting view of the formulation of the natural world, the evaluation of God's handiwork at any one time is open to interpretation.

The result is that those who sit in ecclesiastical judgement of whether a practice, ritual or incantation is appropriate or otherwise, arbitrate according to what suits their personal interests and the designs of the Church at any one time {in that order of priority}.

In the modern occultists view, God and Nature need no temples because they are everywhere at once, and can therefore be worshipped at any time in any place and in any circumstance, through the power and faith of our Mind. It is man who requires the temples, trappings and the structured hierarchy such things invoke.

Suffice it to say that if a person does good, no matter what that person's beliefs, then God can be the only judge of that individual, and that individual will know in their own heart whether they have acted in the interests of the Light and their fellow man or not.

Nature has her own way of restoring the Natural Order and that is called Karma.

Those who distort the Natural flow of the Universal energies to their own ends, resulting in harm to others, whether that harm be physical hurt or that of Mind or Spirit, will face The Law of Causation, Balance and Compensation at some inevitable point.

All an individual does in one life rebounds and has effect in the next [- if the Balancing tendency of Nature that the previous action has invoked has not already caught up in this one].

The choice always remains that of the individual, in terms of ‘right’ conduct or action, which simply refers to the sanctity of self and consideration for all.

In the third century before Christ, a section of the 'cumulative writings' of Hermes Trismagistus stated in the 'Emerald Tablet' :-

"That which is below is like unto that which is above, and that which is above is like unto that which is below, for the performing miracles of the one thing."

To this you may add that 'all is connected in the Web of Life'. This is the basic precept you have observed earlier in our exercises of Mind.

-"As Above; So Below". You have explored this precept in fact.

You are now embarking on the final stages of your journey into the lore of the Ancient Wisdom by combining all facets of the knowledge that you have thus far gleaned and putting it to practical use.

The 'preliminaries' of your earlier endeavours should by now be just a part of your every day life and should be applied in the case of your every undertaking to ensure maximum benefit/success.

In ceremonial, ritualised Magick (the basic form that has been handed down in Europe over the centuries), the Magician works within a circle and uses consecrated tools and the Magickal names of various 'entities' to evoke or invoke Power(s). These 'Powers' are raw and potentially dangerous Natural psychic forces which are directed through exertion of the Magician's Mind and Will.

Rituals don't always work. {This broad statement is based upon personal experience.} Sometimes nothing appears to happen {But something always does} and sometimes you will get unexpected results. I put this down to the fact that time as we know it differs in the altered states achieved in ritual and the fact that it is hard to stand in the same place in the same river twice. -Sometimes you will be right on target and at other times that elusive spark will wander and 'earth' on it's own. Your strength of Will is the driving force.

The idea that the physical universe is the end product of a process of Undifferentiated Consciousness is a first principle in all traditions.

Magickal ritual differs from other ceremonial or ritual observations in that it always has its emphasis on the causing of shifts in consciousness with a consequence of causing effects which are 'normally' considered impossible or improbable. The key to ritual (or working Magick) is within the Mind of the person who is capable of manipulation of altered states of consciousness and without that manipulation or shift, the ritual itself becomes empty posturing.

The 'space' of potential consciousness spreads out in many axes, like moving in space with several different dimensions, and this means that the Magician can enter a large number of distinct states, all of which can be considered different aspects of Magickal consciousness.

Magick and Magickical consciousness take us beyond the 'normal'; disrupting the cosy certainties or habit track of the everyday five sense existence that most people have; to explore new territory.

In this aspect, to the person trained in the Magickal tradition, 'normal' becomes a balancing act of complex proportions.

Real, detectable shifts in consciousness should always be entered into warily, or 'en-garde', and the determined ritualist treads a thin line between successful Magick and physical and psychical illness.

The grosser forms of Magick are more difficult still, as the body and mind fight any attempt to move into these regions of altered conscioussness. In confronting these altered states of consciousness, the Magician is forced to become somewhat of a mystic.

Hear now the word of the witches, the secrets we hid in the night.

When dark was our destiny's pathway, That now we bring forth into Light

Mysterious Water and Fire, The Earth and the wide ranging Air,

By hidden Quintessence we know Them, and we will keep silent and dare

The birth and rebirth of all Nature, the passing of Winter and Spring

We share with Life Universal, rejoice the Magickal Ring

Four times in the year the Great Sabbat, returns, and the witches are seen

At Lammas and Candlemas dancing, on May eve and old Halloween

When daytime and night time are equal, when the sun is greatest and least,

The four lesser Sabbats are summoned, again the witches gather in feast

Thirteen silver Moons in a year are, thirteen is the Coven's array

Thirteen times at estabat make merry, for each golden year and a day

The power has passed down the ages, each time between woman and man,

Each century unto the other, ere times and ages began

When drawn is the Magickal Circle, by sword or athame of power

Its compass 'tween two worlds lies, in the land of shades of that hour

Our world has no right to know it, and the world beyond will tell naught,

The oldest of Gods are invoked there, the great work of Magick is wrought

For two are the Mystical Pillars, that stand at the gate of the shrine,

And two are the powers of Nature, the forms and the forces Divine

And do what thou wilt be the challenge, so be it in love that harms none,

For this is the only commandment, By Magick of old it be done

Eight words the Witche's Rede fulfil:

If it harms none, Do what Thou Will.

There are no true ‘legislative’ laws or rules to the practice of Magick other than the fact that as a Servant of the Light you are charged with a duty to aid all and harm none.

The ‘laws’ of Magick like those of physics or musical harmony, are practical observations made by practitioners of the mystical arts, that have been accumulated over thousands of years. These ‘laws’ or more truly - observations, have remarkable similarity in almost all human cultures and traditions. The following listing of these observations is by no means exhaustive but should provide a good guide to the primary ‘laws’ applicable.

Some important points to remember which may be described as "Rules of Nature" or "Karmic Laws", are as follows:-

Rule 1:

The Threefold Law. Also Known as The Law of Return.

That is to say that the "casting" of a spell or power thought must be considered carefully, as the consequences of the use {or mis-use} of power or energy can come back to the caster in the order of three to one. Think carefully and remember the old admonishment of "Do unto others...." which is common to all religions. Courtesy to all is paramount

Rule Two:

Greatest Attainment of Power for a working is achieved at 'coven' level. When 'Forming a circle" - that is to say, forming a coven of witches for the purposes of ritual worship - greatest attainment of power is reached when 4 to a maximum of 13 members are present on a certain phase of the moon,{As there are 13 Moons to the year} and star/planetary patterns align for the greatest benefit of the proposed working. {Provided that all work to the common good of the coven and percieve symbolism in the same manner - meditate, contemplate the symbols and practice together at every opportunity} See section on Phases of the Moon and Astrology.

Rule Three:

Prepare for the purpose of the gathering or working

Prior to attempt of undertaking any working, ensure adequate preparation has been attended to, paying particular attention to the "footprint" of the working and any material requisites that may be required - that is to say a full and utter understanding of the power you are invoking; the method of invocation; the direction of the focus of power and of course the consequences to the energy flow of the Web of Life once undertaken. Contemplate carefully the Karmic effects and the chain of consequences that will follow your actions.

This cannot be enforced enough.

The true power of the Craft lies within, sometimes though, certain tools can be useful in the channeling and directing of energies.

The essential steps involved in ritual Magick according to Ancient Tradition are as follows:- Preliminaries including ritual bathing.

1. Casting The Circle:

The circle is the place in the physical that Magickal work is carried out. This may be literally a circle on the ground, or it could be a church, a stone ring, or a temple. It may even be an 'imagined' circle inscribed in the ether {or 'aethyr'}, or simply a spot or place hallowed by tradition. It is the first important limitation to Magickal working and is defined by the space where your Magick is carried out and the rest of the world carries on as normal. Unless you are working with specific Natural and defined powers or energies, the circle is the first useful tool or focus that you will use. The circle is both a barrier and container. (Remember that in Magick "sanity" and "sanitary" have more in common than just spelling, so bathing is of great import).

Casting a circle usually involves drawing a circle in the air or on the ground accompanied by an invocation to guardian spirits, or the elemental powers of the quarters, or the archangels or whichever 'guardians' you find most comfortable to work with {The important thing is not to 'muddy' the etheric current by mixing traditions - so a definate plan or map of association is neccessary prior to commencing any undertaking}. The other important element at this stage is that it is practised until it can be performrd in your sleep and it should be carried out with the same martial attitude and sense of discipline as a soldier on formal guard duty. You are establishing a perimeter under the watchful eyes of whichever guardians you have chosen to call upon.

2. Opening the Gates.

The gates in question are the boundary between normal and Magickal consciousness. Just as casting the Circle limits the ritual space, so opening the Gates limits the ritual in time. Not eveyone opens the gates as a separate activity; in fact the casting of the Circle can be considered a 'de-facto' opening of the Gates, but there are good reasons to consider keeping the activities separate.

First, it is more convenient to cast the Circle without going into a Magickal state or trance.

Second, the Gates in question can be tailored to suit the specific type of Magickal consciousness that you are trying to enter.

Third, just as missile launchers have two keys, so it is prudent to have a key or control so that you are not likely to enter a Magickal state on a whim without conscious volition, and the more distinct steps that are required, the more that conscious effort is required.

3. Invocation to The Powers.

Invoking a specific state of altered consciousness takes practice and not a little cajoling of the Mind, so the invocation is two fold in purpose: {1}. to set the Mind to the right frame or perspective and {2}, to invoke the ancient nexus of power and protection desired for the working. Using ritual to invoke the altered state desired is not difficult. Getting the result you want without unexpected and unwanted 'side-effects' is. Ritual Magick is not a 'rational' proceedure. The symbolism of Magick bubbles out of a very deep well; and the whole process of ritual effectively bypasses the rational Mind, so expecting the outcome of a ritual to obey the dictates of reason is simply irrational. The invocation may be described as the harness for an unbroken horse - a guide only - it is another limit whereby the powers are kept under the control of the Magician.

4. Statement of Intention and Sacrifice.

Magickal ritual is usually carried out with specific intent. Be it healing, divination, personal development or the like. The more precise the statement of intent i.e. the formation of thought in the mind and directed into the ritual - the more precisely the energy of the ritual is concentrated or directed to a single purpose.

To this end your ritual will only succeed if certain aspects are true:-

a) You are a being of awesome will

b) You have allies. The universe is changing, there is always potential for change, and if your intention coincides with an existing Will to bring about that change, your ritual can act as a catalyst.

c) You limit your intention to minimise opposition.

Nature has a tendency to run it's own course and the Mind has a tendency to leave things as they are, so the more you can minimise opposition, the more chance you have of being successful in using ritual to bring about change. Always analyse the possible outcomes and consequences of your intentions as by minimising opposition, you are limiting the amount of 'backlash' you can expect - quite often the simplest 'earth' for the energies invoked is through the Magician and if opposition to your intention is great enough, this is exactly what happens, as when you invoke power, you are acting as the channel or medium of that power.

In respect of sacrifice, no-one gets something for nothing, and if the balance in nature is to be preserved then something or someone must be given in return. This does not mean animistic or human sacrifice of life - that is simply abhorrent in any terms, and you can not sacrifice something which is not yours to give. What it means is a personal sacrifice of the Magician - perhaps privation, fast or dedicating oneself to some specific purpose for the good of humanity or the planet. Generally, it is common practice to link the terms of sacrifice to the intent of the ritual in such a way that the energy of the sacrifice focuses energy along the direction of intent. As an example, one of my cats was sick and not eating, so I carried out a ritual to restore health and appetite - as my terms of sacrifice I fasted for 24 hours and used my hunger as a drive to the intent of the ritual and he began eating and healing the following day.

Just as a ritual is intended to change the world in some way, so your sacrifice forces you to change in yourself in some way and that act liberates Magickal energy.

If you want to heal someone, don't just perform the ritual and leave it at that - get actively involved in caring for them, as this deed can act as a channel for the powers that you have invoked. If you want to help someone out of a mess, provide them with active material or mundane support as well.

From a Magickal perspective each one of us is a Magickal being with a vast potential for power, but normally, that is denied to us by an innate, fanatical, and deep rooted desire to keep things in a regular routine to serve our own needs. Self-sacrifice disturbs this equilibrium and lets out some of that pent up energy, and that is why egoless devotion and self-sacrifice has a reputation for working miracles.

5. The Main Ritual.

Ritual is more of an art than science, and once the Gates have been opened and the Powers are in attendance, whatever science there is in ritual gives way to art. Magicians operate in a world where the most ordinary of things have complex symbolic meanings or correspondences, and a selection of consecrated implements or power objects are utilised in this work. The Magician can use this palette of symbols within a ritual to 'paint a picture' of their intent in a non-verbal or non-rational way and it is this ability to communicate an intention through every sense of the body, through every level of the mind which gives the ritual power.

Everyone who practices Magick develops their own personal sense of symbols which works best for them as individuals.

6. Dismissal of Powers

Once a ritual is completed to the Magician's satisfaction, the Powers are thanked and dismissed or dispersed - this begins the withdrawal of consciousness back to it's pre-ritual or 'normal' state.

7. Close Gates

Closing the Gates and thus closing off the altered state of consciousness to return to 'normality' is very important as if the Magician fails to do so, the altered state will manifest itself in everyday doings and all manner of unplanned and unexpected mischiefs will occur. Prior to banishing the circle it is a good idea to do a 'sanity check' and if there is any suspicion that an altered state has not completely withdrawn then begin the close down sequence from start to finish until satisfied that it has.

A related problem that every Magician will face sooner or later is the discovery of an altered state that compensates for some sort of perceived inadequacy (not unlike that extra drink at a party) and they will not wish to let go of it because it makes them feel so good. This can have obvious problems and should be a matter of deep contemplation and meditation until resolved.

8. Banishing the Circle

When completely satisfied that the altered state has withdrawn or 'shut down' the circle is closed or banished and the Magician returns to the everday normal 'five-sense' world.

As you have seen, Magickal correspondences play a major part in visualisation for ritual work and if consciousness is imagined as a space we can move around in, then it is a space of several dimensions. An indispensable tool for any Magician, is a method for describing this space and it's dimensions, - a method to specify the "co-ordinates of consciousness" as it were, somewhat akin to giving a map reference. The Magician uses such a descriptive method to say "this is where I wish to get to", and the ritual can be described as the fuel which transports the Magician to the destination and back again. A useful system of 'navigation' for this purpose is the Kabbalah or pathways and pathworkings of the Tree of Life, {on which we have touched lightly in this work}, there are many other maps or systems in use, but as the Kabbalah has been tried and true for centuries, it is the one we will use in this work.

What matters is that the Magician have a clear map, and with it the ability to invoke different aspects of consciousness by utilising the symbolism of the system chosen. The word clear has been italicised as there is a tendency today to mix different systems or traditions, and as most of these systems have been around for millennia, that mixing tends to muddy the etheric and muddle clarity of thought, so that like a palette of paint, they end up in shades of muddy brown. Correspondences and their symbolism are like intentions: the more clearly and sharply defined they are, the better they will work.

All Magickal work comes at a cost. The more effective a Magickal system or framework is in limiting, engaging and mobilising the creative power of consciousness, the more effective it is in ensnaring consciousness within it's own assumptions and limitations of expression. To this end I personally believe that the 'best' system of correspondences is one which allows consciousness to roam the greatest range of possibilities, and permits it the free will to choose it's own limitations.

In summation, ritual is a technique for focussing Magickal power through the deliberate use of limitation, which comes from the belief system of the Magician and the set of correspondences used to create symbolism within the ritual. Further limitation comes from within the structure of the ritual itself and ultimately from the statement of intention. With practice, these elements add up to the single mindedness of Will, which can effectively 'shift' consciousness to realms of wonder and power.

Not every human being is equally able to sense the currents of Natural forces/energies flowing in the Web of the Etheric which interpenetrate the Physical {and the Astral}, connecting all things; nor are we equally able to utilise {channel and direct} them.

Hence the common use of aids or 'tools' of empowerment to facilitate the channeling and directing of these energies.

Ordinarilly these tools are made personally by the Magician and consecrated to the Light empowering them for their intended purpose.

If not personally made by the Magician, then they are usually personalised and empowered by the use of glyphs or other adornment corresponding to their intended use.

Material requisites for ritual Magick are as follows :-

Other personalised items you will add to your 'wardrobe' as you proceed to learn and understand the currents and eddies of the energies and forces pertaining to each plane of consciousness.

As you become more proficient in your arts, you will require the aid of 'tools' less; and more powerful workings you will learn as you explore the realms of consciousness, natural correspondences, and the human psyche.

May you learn well and serve well.

{Refer to Paracelsus' Table on page 71 of this work}

The Celt’s lifestyle and the environment around them dictated their religious diary. The gods were celebrated at key moments of the pastoral year as opposed to the agricultural. The year was neatly split into two seasons -warm and cold. Effectively the whole of the natural world was sacred to the Celtic people, and all features of Nature’s landscape held religious significance.

Candlemas/Imbolc : Northern Hemisphere - February eve; Southern Hemisphere - August 2nd

Whisperings of the Springtide are heard as the Goddess Gaia or Danu, nurtures Her young Son, Oengus. Marks the end of the domain of darkness and the renewal of life in nature.

Spring Equinox/Ostara: Northern Hemisphere - March 21st; Southern Hemisphere - Sept. 21st

The first true day of Springtide. The days and nights are now equal in length as the young God -Oengus, continues to mature and grow. We begin to see shoots of new growth and swelling buds on the flora.

Energy is building as the days become warmer with promise.

Beltane : Northern Hemisphere - May eve; Southern Hemisphere - October 31st

The land represented by the Goddess is now ripe and fertile, and the young God expresses his love for her. The most vigorous of the fertility festivals. The time to light the bonfires of old in honour of the god Belenus {The Dagda in younger aspect} one of the most ancient of the Celtic fertility gods. Beltane inaugurates the ‘awakening’ phase, which reaches it’s high point at mid summer.

Summer Solstice/Midsummer: Northern Hemisphere - June 21st; Southern Hemisphere - Dec. 22nd

The days of the first harvesting of herbs as the earth now begins to share her bounty. The time of the longest days are celebrated as a fire festival. The season between the planting and the harvest, June is also the traditional month for handfastings in the North.

Lammas : Northern Hemisphere - August eve; Southern Hemisphere - February 22nd

Celebrating the tide of the harvest, and the sweep onwards once again until it meets the dark tide of Halloween

Lugnasadh: Northern Hemisphere - August 1st; Southern Hemisphere - January 21st

The time of First Harvest. Plants are setting seed already for the next year as the cycle of Nature continues. The Sun continues to burn brightly, but already the days are beginning to show the burden of the coming autumn. The time of the Brythonic god Lugh.

Autumnal Equinox/Mabon: Northern Hemisphere - September 21; Southern Hemisphere - March 21st

The Second or Continuing Harvest. Now, as at Ostara, the days and nights are equal once again.

Gardens are in full bloom and heavy with Nature's bounty.

There is a slight nip to the air and preparations begin for the long cold months which are to come.

All Hallows Eve/Samhain: Northern Hemisphere - October 31st; Southern Hemisphere - April 30th

The Last Harvest. This is a time to honour those who have gone before; a time to reflect and a time to 'see'. A time when the Spirit forces are at large, and the invisible barriers between temporal and other worlds are disolved. A time when the Mother Goddess and The Dagda meet and couple. It is a night of fertility and death.

It is an ancient feast of the dead and the last day of that year, which descends to it’s lowest point at the winter solstice.

Winter Solstice/Yule: Northern Hemisphere - December 21st; Southern Hemisphere - June 22nd

The time of the great darkness and the longest night of the year.

The winter solstice had been associated with the birth of a Divine King long before the rise of Christianity. The Sun is considered to represent the male divinity in many pagan traditions, this time of year is celebrated as the return of the Sun God where He is born of the Goddess.

Specific Days/Dates are dedicated to various entities. for example:-

*Lilith's Day: November 2nd - After lilith' of ancient Hebrew legend

*Lilith's Sabbath: Saturday at the turn of midnight to Sunday.

*Michaelmas - September 29 - The day of St. Michael the archangel.

*Martinmas - November 11 - The day of St. Martin.Bishop Tours 4th c

*The three traditional nights of Faerie are :-•May 1st- Day following Walpurgis -A Moving Day •June 24th - The Nativity of St. John The Baptist •November 1st- All Saints Night - A Moving Day

Sunday : The day sacred to the Sun, stands for all that is full of light power and strength, and which gives forth light. Those born on a Sunday love colour and brightness; and have an inborn joy. Yellow gold or yellow is the colour and gold the metal; rock-crystal {clear quartz} the crystal. Sunday is the best day for power Magick, health, prosperity spells, children, buying/selling and speculating.

Monday : Is the Moon’s day. The day of subtlety and psychic forces. Silver is the charm for this day; white/silver the colour; moonstone the crystal. Auspicious for spells concerning business of any kind.

It is also the day to perform spells pertaining to intuition, dreams, psychic abilities, spirituality and female fertility.

Tuesday : Named after the Norse god of war-Twi. A carnelian charm should be worn by those born on this day. A day for Mars. Jasper is the crystal; iron the metal; and red the colour. For spells concerning travel, passion, surgery, energy, breaking of negativities.

Wednesday : The day of Odin or Woden {Wind or air in motion}. A day for the planet Mercury. Tiger Eye is the crystal; silver the colour; and mercury the metal.{Usually an alloy of mercury, silver, tin}. A day for special wishes, divination, knowledge and wisdom.

Thursday : Thor’s day . Thor was the god of unrest - hence many travellers are born on this day. The swastika charm should be worn by all travellers. The planet Jupiter's day. Purple is the colour; Topaz the crystal. A day for knowledge, happiness, luck, material wealth, healing, male fertility and legal matters.

Friday : After Freiya - the Norse goddess of love and marriage. All handfastings should take place on a Friday. Venus' day. Copper is the metal; green the colour; and emerald the crystal. The day for music, poetry, love, sexual matters, marriage and friendship.

Saturday : After Satur - the beasts fought by the Norse gods in the great cataclysm in which the world came to an end only to wake again to greater beauty. A day of rest. The day of the planet Saturn. Lead is the metal; lilac or black, the colour; Lapis lazuli and aqua-marine are the crystals. A day for psychic abilities, meditation, transformation, defense and clairvoyance.

By working to planetary hours you can add the power of an additional correspondence to your working, minimising opposition to your intent or goal one step more. Consider the intent of the working and it's planetary influence and you can work out the time of day best suited to that requirement.

How to Calculate the Planetary Hour:-

Multiply the hour by 60 {for the number of minutes in the hour}

On the day you intend, Sunrise is 6:00am and Sunset is 5:00pm.

= 11 hours of daylight, multiplied by 60 is 660 minutes

Therefore, hour 1 = 6:00am-6:55am

hour 2 = 6:55am-7:45am and so forth.{ie: The ist or 8th hr}

To work after sunset, use the same principle:-

Therefore, hour 1 is from 5:00pm to 6:05 pm

hour 2 is from 6:05pm to 7:10 pm and so forth.

SUNRISE {Light}

SUNSET {Darkness}

[Moon through Anglo Saxon -monas=the measurer from ma=to measure, make, form. produce, create, the base for Mother = Moon]

Successful Magick as you have discovered, depends upon many factors, including timing of spells and rituals with the planetary phases and of directing the energies in harmony to acheive an end result. {See also, the phenomenology section of this work}.

When the Moon is waxing, it is growing larger in the sky. The waxing period lasts from New to Full Moon. From Full to New Moon is the waning phase, where the Moon seems to disappear; until finally it is not visible to the eye for three nights. For this reason, this phase is sometimes called the Dark of the Moon or the Black Moon. The New Moon is a time that brings about new energy and self motivation.

The waxing Moon is the best time to undertake a spell for growth, beginning new projects, initiation, or enhancement. At First Quarter, it brings about crises in relationships, a shift and focussed activity.

The waning moon is best for spells to banish negative influences, lessen or remove obstacles and illness, and to remove harm.

The three days immediately after the New moon are the most powerful times to work spells for growth and beginnings which should manifest at Full Moon which brings intensity, heightened awareness and occasionally tension.

The Last Quarter Moon brings a crisis of consciousness, and examination of problems and consolidation.

The days just prior to the Full Moon are most favourable for meditation and contemplation. The Black Moon is the most auspicious time for banishings and neutralising.

**The mid point between New Moon and the Full is called the 1st quarter; the last quarter is the mid point between Full and New moon.**

Of consideration to timing also, is the influence of the Sign of the Zodiac that the Moon is in; and the influence of the positions of the planets at a particular time upon the desired undertaking. As these aspects have great influence over the Magickal aspect of the Moon.

The Moon in Aries is the best time for spells involving authority, rebirth, leadership; healing spells of the face and head.

The Moon in Taurus is the best time for spells of involving love, money, acquisition; healing spells for the throat and neck.

The Moon in Gemini is the best time for spells involving communication, writing, travel; healing spells for the arms, hands and lungs.

The Moon in Cancer is the best time for spells involving the home and for honouring the Lunar Gods and Goddessess; healing of the chest and stomach.

The Moon in Leo is the best time for spells involving authority, courage, fertility; healing of the upper back spine and heart.

The Moon in Virgo is the best time for spells involving employment, health, diet; healing of the intestines and nervous system.

The Moon in Libra is the best time for spells involving justice, unions, balance, artistry; healing of the lower back and kidneys.

The Moon in Scorpio is the best time for spells involving power, psychic growth, sex; healing of the reproductive organs.

The Moon in Sagittarius is the best time for spells involving travel, sports, truth, horses; healing of the liver and thighs.

The Moon in Capricorn is the best time for spells involving organization, ambition, career, politics; healing of the knees, bones and teeth and skin.

The Moon in Aquarius is the best time for spells involving science, freedom, friendship, breaking bad habits or addictions; healing of the calves, ankles and blood.

The Moon in Pices is the best time for spells involving music, art, telepathy, dreams; healing of the feet and lymph glands.

An example of positive thought empowerment and projection which utilises Moon phase timing is given In the section titled "The Magickal Rites"

Green is the colour. Rules spells pertaining to fertility, jobs, money, business, health, ecology and stability.

Air: A masculine element of the powers of the East.

Yellow is the corresponding colour. Rules spells pertaining to memory, intellect, examinations, divination, psychic powers, travel and drug addiction.

Fire: A masculine element of the powers of the South.

Red is the colour. Rules spells pertaining to success, sex, banishing illness, protection, legal matters, competitions, strength, energy and general health.

Water: A feminine element of the powers of the West.

Blue is the colour. Rules spells pertaining to love, friendship, meditation, healing, dreams, childbirth, clairvoyance and purification.

****************************************

The sole Purpose of this book has been to set you the seeker on the path to knowledge. It is designed as a "course work" to self development in the principles of the Ancient Wisdom and follows the tradition of dedicating oneself to "one year and one day's" study of the Craft.

It cannot be overemphasised that your philosophical knowledge must be in balance and slightly ahead of your knowledge of Natural power

By now you should be proficient in the following Craft aspects:-

How to :-

Be well versed in:-

principles and doctrines of the old ways and be able to differentiate between the two

Know the:-

Know and understand a little group psychology

Have studied a little of the histories and religions of the world as well as the world's myths and legends with discernment.

Be prepared to continue to study, learn and serve the Light for the remainder of your Soul’s existence. -Read as much as you can.

Prepare the area - assemble all tools and arrange altar

"Raphael, Guardian of Air, I do summon, stir and call you now to witness this rite and guard this circle. Powers of Air, be with me as I journey between worlds".

Point to your knees and say - "Blessed be my knees as I kneel at the altar of my faith - not in supplication, but in thanksgiving".

Point to your groin and say - "Blessed be my seed {or womb as the case may be} that holds and produces the creation of human essence. I vow to protect and teach the children of the world"

Point to your heart and say - " Blessed be my heart that it may beat steady and true. May the warmth of my love spread throughout humanity and the cosmos."

Point to your lips and say - " Blessed be my lips that they shall utter truth and purity of Mind and Spirit, May Wisdom flow for the benefit of all".

Point to your third eye and say- "Blessed be my Astral Sight that I may see through the veil of life with the truth of the Divine".

Turn deosil and face the Altar again, raise your hands in the Air and say- " I, {your name} in the presence of the Lords of Light, do of my own free will and mind, most solemnly swear that I will ever abide by Thy Will. I shall neither harm my fellow man with the secrets that I learn, nor shall I flaunt my beliefs or power before them. Henceforth - from this day I shall be reborn as {Your new Craft and most secret name} and shall honour respect and cherish this oath that I have taken."

Take the wine and say - " As I take this wine into my body, I partake of the essence of the Light and seal my oath for eternity".

Drink half the wine, hold it to the sky and say "Accept this wine as my offering of thanksgiving".

Place the wine on the Altar and say "I, {Your name} give thanks for presiding over this dedication, may we walk together in the Halls of Light forever".

Close the circle, starting in the East -thanking both the Angel and Elemental Power and follow with South, West and North.

Face the Altar again and say "The circle is open, but never broken"

A First Channeling of Moon Energy

The Full Moon in Gemini is known to be a time that allows an outflow of Divine Love into the consciousness of humanity. It is a time for Students of the Light and all enlightened souls to demonstrate through focussed meditation the Light that they have developed within themselves. It is therefore a time of deep invocation and appeal, of a basic aspiration of fellowship;

of human and spiritual unity.

i. Perform usual preliminaries, burn rosemary and sandalwood on the brazier, and enter into quietness. Stilling and centreing. See your physical, emotional and lower mental bodies in alignment.

ii. Visualise your Personal Energy or Light joining with others and that of the Light {energy} of the Moon; pouring out upon the world its blessings; all directed through the very centre of your being.

iii. Creatively meditate upon the seed of thought given below. See it actually being brought into the physical by the servants of humanity

" Heaven and Earth; Heaven and Earth as one; the anchoring of the Kingdom of heaven; the spiritual principles in open expression on Earth; thus leading to Universal recognition that All is One ".

Intone out loud:

"The children of humanity are One, and I am One with them,

I seek to love, not to hate;

I seek to serve and not exact due service,

I seek to heal, not to hurt.

Let the soul control the outer form,

And life and all events;

And bring to light the love,

Which underlies the happenings of the time.

Let vision come and insight,

Let the future stand revealed;

Let inner union demonstrate and outer cleavages be gone.

Compassion to all beings

North; South; East; West; Above; and Below

Compassion to all"

In traditional Magick, the Kabbalah takes on a new form - that of the Qabbalah. It defines Magickal ritual and ceremonial practices that the Magician draws from the Kabbalah and makes use of the pathways of the Sefiroth as a focus for attainment of higher states of vibration, to move through the spheres and consult with the Guardians {or Great Ones} in various undertakings that may be involved. In other words, it is analagous to a 'map' or street directory of the higher consciousness and Natural Energies that has been successfully used for millennia. To do this, it is necessary to be in your 'inner sanctum' having prepared the way through meditation and careful and considered contemplation of the undertaking. The 'altar' is prepared with any special requisites, suitable colours affinite to the purpose will adorn the room and altar, candles and incense will be prepared and the room should be magnetised to as fine an attunement to Self and Nature as is possible.

By using the imagery of the Sefiroth of the Qabbalah as a focus for meditation and visualisation of your objectives, you, as a Magician are utilising thought forms which have been vitalised by adepts for millennia, and are as such an ancient nexus of power {that you yourself in imagining are vitalising further}, having developed an independence and permanence of their own in the Astral.

First, begin by drawing a chalk Magick circle or alternatively, depending upon your level of proficiency, an imaginary circle of blue flame around yourself and continue concentrating until this vision is clear in your mind at which point you then proceed to 'force' the vision out of your eyes until it becomes a three dimensional 'reality'. The circle is necessary to keep out any maleficent forces and when drawing it, the Magician leaves a gap that can entered through after having completed the preliminary preparations of the working.

To the East of the circle draw a triangle, the purpose of which is to contain any demonic or angelic being that may be conjoured up. On completion of this, turn out all lights except a single altar candle, step into the circle and close it, and banish all undesirable influences by making the sigil of the Qabbalistic cross. Standing within this circle, imagine a great cloud of light above your head. This is the light of Kether. Raising your right hand, draw in some of the light down to your forehead, then down to your solar plexus and touch your right shoulder and left shoulder saying "Malkuth", "Din", "Hesed" as you do so, all the time visualising the stream of Ketheric force trailing from your finger.

You are projecting your body onto the Tree of Life, and imagining your body and the Tree growing to tremendous size and standing above the Universe with the stars at your feet.

Returning to normal size, trace pentagrams in the air in front of you with a sword of etheric blue flame, one pentagram for each point of the compass. These pentagrams represent additional barriers against inimicable forces, and are also your points of contact with the Four Guardians of the Elements in the Astral. The Guardians are the Archangels of the Bible and are associated as Raphael, Gabriel, Michael and Uriel (The four 'planetary spirits'). You must greet these archangels with great compliments chanted in Latin. At the same time imagine them {in the imagination that is not imaginaton} in all their splendour. Above your head contrive a six pointed star, with two interlaced triangles, representing the fusion of the physical self with that of the eternal cosmic forces. Now you are ready to travel from Malkuth {Earth} to Yesod, the Gateway to the Astral and the other Sefiroth. Travel along path 22, the path of Saturn. On the way you may well meet the Tarot symbol corresponding with this path, which is a naked young woman garlanded with flowers, carrying two wands and dancing. This represents Joy, a release from Earthly cares, and entry into a higher Magickal world. Alternatively, you may meet a crocodile, the symbolic creature of Saturn. Arriving at the threshold of Yesod, entry is gained in the name of Gabriel and you must humbly confesses to the Guardians of your ignorance of the mysteries which surround you.

Inform them of which Sefira you wish to work with, and then proceed along the appropriate paths toward your destination. As you travel, you visualise around yourself the creatures, plants, colours and other attributes that you would expect to find on each particular path.

To project the Astral body along the paths it is necessary to have acheived attunement to the vibration of each,{ie. gained proficiency} otherwise you will be turned back by the Guardians and they will attempt to hinder your progress as you are unknown to them. Assuming that as a Magician, you have the required studies, you will now visualise the required Sefirothic form in the triangle outside your Magick circle, making it materialise in the traditional image associated with it.

If you are working with the powers of Hesed for example, the form will be a crowned king on a throne, and if with Netsah, the form will be that of a beautiful naked woman. It is at this stage that the Magician has to contend with and banish the evil negative qlifahs . The Sefirothic form cannot enter the circle, but the force it represents can through the Guardians or the pentagrammatic gates. The force may even be visible as a swirling cloud of vapour. In order to build up the force even more, you will also have to visualise within the triangle the planetary force associated with your chosen Sephira. When sufficient force has built up, you must prepare yourself for the climax of the operation by inducing a trance like state {hypnogogic}, in order to draw the elemental forces down into yourself. Visualise behind you and within the circle, a goddess form materializing, growing, towering immensely above you. You must refrain from looking directly at this form. Open yourself to the power of the goddess and at the moment of contact, visualise the thing that you wish to accomplish. Expel the accumulated force and bid it to go to fullfil its purpose. If your Magick involves another person, you will normally utilise an article of clothing, a lock of hair or finger nail clippings or some such in order to 'put the Magickal force on target'.

Having summoned up the Magickal forces, you now make your way back to Malkuth. You go back the same route you have come, thanking the guardians you meet upon your way for their help and hospitality.

Finally, you must banish and dismiss the forces summoned during the undertaking by making the sign of the Qabbalistic cross.

Classical Texts:

It is recommended that the reader examine the following texts for more illumination on the tradition of the Kabbalah:-

The Zohar: 13th century, translated as "Book of Splendour". Zohar literally means "radiance". Main viewpoint: Scripture is like man and has flesh {literal meaning}, soul {allegorical interpretation}, and spirit {mystical revelation}; these can be understood by a fourth level: "understanding according to the mystery of faith".

Sepher Yetzirah: oral tradition claimed from the time of Abraham, first known references in early Talmudic period, translated as "Book of Creation" Main viewpoint: The Torah was formed by God before creation; the study of the letters and their numerical equilvalents allows for understanding of the universe on multidimensional levels.

Yet another pathworking using the Major Arcana of the Tarot, and the pathways of the Tree of Life of the Qabballa, that is attributed to Merlin of Arthurian legend, is that of the Creation Vision.

In this working, the numbered paths are representative of the Tarot's Major Arcrana and the visions that are met are the imagery of the card's number as depicted in the diagram below.

Know that this is the Divine Light of Kether.

The words that you have said translated from Hebrew to English:-"For Thine is the Kingdom, the Power and the Glory, eternally, Amen".

On the following page are some notes on the vibratory use of Power words.

It is not enough to know the words of power without knowing how to use them.

According to Israel Regardie, a respected modern day Kabbalist, when the time comes to use the Divine names in the ritual, the Magician should inhale deeply, slowly, and forcefully, visualising that the God-Name is being inhaled with the Air.

Picture the name or power word in the the Air in letters of etheric fire and flame and, breathing deeply, draw it down down into the lungs, then further down through the abdomen, thighs,and legs into your feet. The entire body should be infused with the fire of the Divine name.

Then, adopting one of the poses of the Egyptian God, Horus, as depicted in the Book of the Dead, exhale the breath that is now charged with the power of the name, visualising it surging up from the wells of your being, through your body, and pronounce the name in a mighty shout of triumph.

If at this moment you feel your body to be full of force and energy, and if the name thunders through your entire being, you will succeed in Magickally vibrating the name.

The effect of this vibration, is to set up a strain in the upper Astral, in response to which the entity summoned hastens.

The ancient belief in the constructive use of sound is illustrated in Genesis. The Universe was created by the Word of God. The divine intention or Will was not enough in itself. It had to be expressed in the Word.

Similarly, the Hindus and Buddhists believe in the power of words and sounds as is illustrated in their use of mantra.

Science has supported this belief with the advent of the 'tono-scope' invented by the Swiss physicist, Hans Jenny in 1968.

5. Formation of a Circle/Initiation at Coven Level

Requisites at Coven Level: High Priest/Priestess and a minimum of four coven members, each to call to the Guardians of the four elements and corresponding Watch-Tower.

Magick Circle; Sword of Power; incense; Pentacle; consecrated oil and wine; bell; Ritual Athame; Athame for dedication to the initiate; "Gifts" of the craft for the initiate from each coven member.

Preparation:

Best day for entering a circle is Saturday preferably coinciding with one of the Sabbaths.

A circle is drawn and the High Priest/Priestess conjures up a Cone of Power over the Pentacle, calling upon the Lords of Light.

A Power Chant is performed to attune and intensify the cone of power generated on invoking the names of the powers of the four elements of air, fire, water and earth:-

Once the chant has achieved the desired level of vibration, each of the main participants {East, South, West and North}, invoke as follows:

{This is the general form of opening and generation of a Cone of Power, to any ritualised Magick}.

High Priest/Priestess: [Arms outstretched to the sky]

Initiate rises and moves sun-wise around the circle toward the High Priest/Priestess.

High Priest/Priestess: [Holds Athame point first at initiate's throat]

Initiate's Response:

High Priest/Priestess: [Lowers blade]

[Participants embrace in symbolism of brother/sisterhood and prepare offertory wine with a drop of blood from a pin pricked finger of all attendants to the ritual, and the initiate is daubed with the consecrated oil and wine in the shape of the Celtic Cross over the third eye]

The wine is offered to all; who in turn and prior to taking the ritual drink attest to the powers :- "I drink of my brothers and sisters; and take into myself the power to---{a power of desired undertaking beneficial to your evolution and hence the members of the coven}.

On completion of the opening ceremonies and prior to further undertakings of the evening, use the banishing ritual of the Kabbalistic cross whilst saying out loud the ritual words of "Blessed be". and then in unison or singularly if performing a solo ritual -the phrase-"As above; So below" - pointing the athame towards the heavens at the beginning of the ritual words and thrusting the athame into the earth at the close of the words will also suffice in place of the cross.

6.Spells and Charms Employing Thought Empowerment

Apart from a knowledge and recognitian of the vital correspondences within Nature as being the links to directing the Natural energies and forces, in most spells the major ingredient is that of Mind and the ability to create vitalised thought form, so supreme concentration of your Will is of the utmost importance to ensure success.

Pay particular attention to Rule Three: Preparation.....Cause and Effect, etc.

Abstinance for at least 12 hours prior to the undertaking or working is desireable as a form of sacrifice and to heighten perception.

The spoken or chanted text may be repeated 5 times to ensure the spell's effectiveness. 5 is representative of the Pentacle, Mars and the Female Earth. {3,5,7, 9 & 13 are the numbers used in this context}.

Prior to undertaking any workings ensure that you have dedicated yourself to service to the One Light. Examine carefully and practice the following - Casting a Circle and calling the Quarters; Dedicating Objects; Opening and Closing of Ritual.

7. The Art of Healing with Natural Magick

Psychic or Magickal healing is a potential that we all possess. Some individuals are especially gifted. It is usually easier to heal someone else by occult means than it is to heal yourself.

Healing with the Natural energies can not replace traditional medicine and therapy, however, it is an excellent adjunct to it.

The Natural energies are invoked to adjust the imbalance of the body's own vital energy circuit, {boosting the immune system} which aids and accelerates the healing process.

In preparation to a healing, the healer should refrain from eating meat for at least two days prior to the healing cermony, and fast for 12 hours.

As the chakras are the main energy centres of the physico-etheric, stimulation of the individual chakras is required and specific crystals {shape and type} are often employed as tools {conductors of energy} for this purpose.

Bathe in a Water bath, and have the patient bathe in a Fire bath.

The patient should be lying down on a massage table or something similar, as comfortably as possible, and covered in a green cloth. Place a white onion, cut in half above the patient's head.

Perform preliminaries

Cast the Circle

Light an empowered red candle in the South; Burn angelica, sandalwood and mugwort on the brazier in the East; place rosemary, sage and cinnamon in a cauldron of hot water to the West; and placing a bloodstone in a receptacle of Earth to the North, visualise energy flowing into the stone from that element.

When you can see the stone glowing with your Astral Sight, pick up the bloodstone in your left hand and touch it to your heart once.

Beginning with the root chakra {red}, visualise a shining ball of yellow-gold light welling up inside you between your abdomen and chest.

Holding in your left hand the bloodstone, clasp the stone between your right and left hand, just above the right hand's wrist. Imagine the energy of the stone being passed into the left hand and flowing up your arm, across and down your right shoulder to your right hand, making a complete circuit.

At the same time, visualise your internal light charging up through your own chakras, through your shoulder, down into your right arm; sucking out and combining with it the stone energy and out through the finger tips of the right hand.

Place the hand about 10cm above the individual's root chakra and visualise the energy field snapping between your hand and the patient's root chakra in a one way flow to them.

Physically strain as though pushing a heavy object and visualise the flow of energy travelling up each of the patient's chakras and cleansing and vitalising them until you reach the crown chakra.

Visualise the energy flow as the illness being forced along and out of the individual's chakra circuit until it is finally forced through the crown chakra into the onion halves.

Wrap the onion halves in black cloth or paper and dispose of far from the patient.

Repeat daily until healing is complete.

Correspondences play a part in the healing process too, so as with all Magick, timing to the Moon phases for particular ailments, colour and essences are all vitally important for healing to be truly effective.

This basic technique can be adjusted to any illness by substituting the correspondences accordingly.

Remember, Magickal healing is NOT a substitute for medical treatment, but simply an aid to the body's natural healing process.

8.Healing Spell for Addictions

Sometimes people have an emptiness in their Soul that is either openly felt, or deeply rooted in their sub-conscious, which they try in vain, to fill with such things as food, alcohol, gambling or drugs.

By a conscious effort on the part of the participant; attuning to the Powers of Air and through the protection of the Achangel Raphael, this can be overcome. See also "Stellar Healing".

Requirements:

Chair: for participant

Brazier: for burning coals representing Fire, and incense

Chalice: For the ritual wine representing Water

Small bowl of earth: representing that element

Candles: Yellow for the Powers of Air and Black to banish the addiction

Herbs: Sage and Thyme to be burnt on the brazier and herbs for bath.

Principle Element/Guardian: The Powers of Air and the Archangel Raphael

Instruction:

A basic instruction as to the ritual and explanations of the imagery should be presented to the participant prior to undertaking the working.

In the light of the Waning Moon {in the sign of Aquarius for best results} on a Sunday or Thursday

Bath for Healer: Standard Air Bath.

Bath for Participant:3 parts Lavendar,2 parts rosemary,1 part each of mint and geranium

All negativities should be dispelled by purifying the area.

Pick up the Chalice holding it toward the participant who should say " From this moment I begin a wonderful new life. I can feel the love of the Universe fill my Soul and still enjoy a social drink".

Each sip the wine, embrace and pour the remainder outside the circle as libation to the Powers of Water.

Close the Circle

9. The Art of Scrying

Scrying is an old metaphysical term used for a process of meditation that utilises a 'wide-eyed' state, and a 'reflective' object as a focus.

It is the art of 'seeing' distant people and places. This may be extended to viewing past, present and future events by employing various means as an aid or catylyst to the process.

In some individuals, the ability to scry on the Spirit of the Elements is well developed from birth, yet untrained, and when the visions do occur or manifest, people will often refer to it as a touch of 'The Sight' or ‘Second Sight’.

The various mediums or foci traditionally associated with the art:-

In utilising these foci the Magician can, by employing various incenses, smokes, and herbs, aid and amplify the faculty of scrying to encompass past and future events.

It is however usually very difficult to interpret the visions as to whether they are past or present, so some knowledge of history in general and a knowledge of the history specifically associated with the subject is useful.

To 'view' a person, you must have physically seen that person and viewed their aura in order to successfully scry for them.

It is very useful to have at hand an article that the person may be particularly attached to {or a photo, lock of hair, nail clippings etc.} in order to amplify and 'zero in' on the subject's energy as perceived in the Web of Life.

The herbs and wood that are best for smoke and incense as an aid for this art are:- mugwort, yarrow, sandalwood, cedar, apple wood and rosemary. {You may have to experiment with quantities}.

i. Place your chosen focus upon an affinite silk cloth and place one lighted candle off to the right. In a lit brazier or hearth to the South {or behind}, place a mixture of the above herbs, dried and powdered and in equal parts of one teaspoon and whilst holding an object attuned to that individual. Perform preliminaries, concentrate on your chosen focus by allowing your eyes to go slightly out of focus {the Tibetan Squint}.

ii. Stare at your chosen focus - not hard, ... but gaze; like you would at sunset - and look beyond its surface into it's interior. You may notice that the area of your third eye throbs - pay no attention and relax whilst directing your gaze upon the centre of your focus.

iii. Start by just allowing the images to appear. Once a cloudy 'vision' is evident, think clearly of the person you wish to 'view', building an image of them in your mind, and allow no other thought to enter, and retain your directed gaze into the interior of your focus.

Allow 20-30 minutes for each daily meditation initially.

iv. After a while the 'cloudiness' should clear and with practice you will be able to direct your thoughts with more power, allowing a clearer and wider view of the surrounds of the individual.

Mirrors, true crystal balls, and pools or bowls of water are the best choices for the beginner as the shine/reflection aids in keeping the Mind focussed and in maintaining a 'self-hypnotised' state which is a more open or receptive state of awareness for taking in of psychic impressions.

Clear quartz crystal, apophyllite, and obsidian make exceptional crystal balls for the beginner as their energies tend to allow easier access to the sub-conscious.

It is possible to send thoughts to the person using this method, and indeed, two adepts who have practised together, can communicate effectively over surprising distances.

10.The Planetary Talismans

A talisman is an object that is worn or carried as a charm. It serves the purpose of either attracting or repelling various influences.

It is an object charged with definite and strong etheric, and more subtle vibrations which through their overtones tend to awaken in whoever comes in contact, corresponding octaves of emotional and mental response.

Talismans are either:-general; adapted for a particular individual; ensouled as a definite or independant centre of radiation; or linked with the maker as an outpost of his consciousness.

To be effective, a planetary talisman should be made at a time when the planet is at its maximum intensity, and should consist of an image engraved on the stone or metal associated with the planet.

It should be made by the person who is going to wear it, who should cast their own horoscope to determine the hours most favourable for the undertaking.

The talisman should be consecrated by being exposed to fumes produced by a corresponding mixture of herbs burned in an earthenware vessel over a fire made of the corresponding types of wood

Here then is a brief outline of the seven planetary talismans as described by Paracelsus, their making, consecration, use, and the powers traditionally ascribed to them.

Of primary importance, is the need of the Magician to fast and meditate upon the undertaking.

 The Talisman of Saturn is engraved on a plaque of pure lead. On one side is an image of a bull's head enclosed in a six pointed star, and on the other a scythe in a pentagram.

It must be made on a Saturday, and consecrated over flames of alum, scammony, and sulphur burned on a fire of cypress and ash.

It is worn in a blue silk pouch.

It protects the wearer against death by apoplexy, cancer, consumption, or paralysis, against being buried alive while in a coma, and against assassination, poison and ambush.

It protects women in child birth and is also useful in war because the enemy will not be able to cross any place where it is hidden

 The Talisman of Jupiter is engraved on a plaque of pure tin. It has on one side an image of an eagle's head in a six pointed star, and on the other a crown in a pentagram.

It must be made on a Thursday, and consecrated over fumes of frankincense, ambergris, balsam, cardamom and saffron on a fire of oak, poplar and fig.

It is worn in a sky blue pouch of silk.

It protects the wearer against death by diseases of the liver or lungs or by unforseen accidents, and it draws good will and sympathy.

The Talisman of Mars is engraved on a plaque of pure iron. It has on one side an image of an lion's head in a six pointed star, and on the other a two crossed swords in a pentagram.

It must be made on a Tuesday, and consecrated over fumes of absinth and rue on a fire of oak, poplar and fig. It is worn in a red pouch of silk.

It protects the wearer against death by ulcers or epidemic, and affords powerful protection against enemies.

If concealed in a besieged citadel it ensures that no attack will succeed.

 The Talisman of The Sun is engraved on a plaque of pure gold. It has on one side an image of a human head in a six pointed star, and on the other a snake eating its tail in the form of a circle in a pentagram.

It must be made on a Sunday, and consecrated over fumes of cinnamon, saffron, and red sandalwood on a fire of laurel and dried heliotrope stalks.

It is worn in a yellow pouch of silk.

It protects the wearer against death by heart disease, epidemic, or conflagration and draws the favour of good-will of people in high places.

The Talisman of Venus is engraved on a plaque of pure copper. It has on one side an image of a dove head in a six pointed star, and on the other a 'sigil for the letter G in a pentagram.

It must be made on a Friday, and consecrated over fumes of violets and roses on a fire of olive wood.

It is worn in a green pouch of silk.

It protects the wearer against death by poisoning, and, women in particular against cancer.

It preserves harmony in marriage, and if dipped into an enemy's drink will turn him into a friend for life.

The Talisman of Mercury is engraved on a plaque made of an alloy of silver, tin and mercury. It has on one side an image of an dog's head in a six pointed star, and on the other a caduceus in a pentagram.

It must be made on a Wednesday and consecrated over fumes of benzoin, mace and storax on a fire of dried stalks of lilies, narcissus, and marjoram.

It is worn in a purple pouch of silk.

It protects the wearer against attacks of epilepsy or madness, and against death by murder or poison.

If buried under a shop or place of business it ensures prosperity, and if placed under the head during sleep, it brings prophetic dreams.

 The Talisman of The Moon is engraved on a plaque of pure silver. It has on one side an image of a goblet in a six pointed star, and on the other a crescent in a pentagram.

It must be made on a Monday, and consecrated over fumes of white sandalwood, camphor, aloes, amber and cucumber seeds on a fire of dried stalks of artemesia, selenotrope, and ranunculus.

It is worn in a white pouch of silk.

It protects the wearer against death by dropsy, apoplexy, madness, or shipwreck and also protects people travelling in foreign lands.

The making of a personal planetary talisman involves detailed astrological calculations and requires great dedication and patience.

It is the philosophy of correspondences linking man with nature and the Universe, which is the foundation of all Hermetic belief.

11. Invocation to The Spirit

Manu -The Anima Mundi

A Power Chant performed to intensify the circle of power generated on invoking the names of the powers of the four elements of air, fire, water and earth:- Now is the time;

This is the hour;

Ours is the Magick;

Ours is the power.

Once the chant has achieved the desired level of vibration, each of the main participants {East, South, West and North}, invoke as follows:

"Hail to the Guardians of the watchtowers of the East; Powers of Air and invention hear me;

Hail to the Guardians of the watchtowers of the South; Powers of Fire and feeling, hear me;

Hail to the Guardians of the watchtowers of the West; Powers of Water and intuition, hear me;

Hail to the Guardians of the watchtowers of the North; by the Powers of mother and Earth, hear me."

High Priest{ess}

Aid me {us} in my {our} Magickal working on this May's Eve.

Servant of old; Ruler of the deep; Guardian of the Bitter Sea.

Show us your glory, show us your power.

I {We} pray of thee.......I {We} pray of thee.....

I invoke thee.

O Sacred Ones, hear my {our} call, hear my {our} prayer;

Ancient Wise Ones teach us {me} thy ways. Guide us {me};

We {I} summon and stir thee.

Aid us {me} in our {my} undertaking,

that we {I} may take our {my} small parts in the Great Plan;

Guide Us {me}. We {I} Pray of Thee ;

We {I} invoke thee; We {I} invoke thee.

Close the rite in the traditional manner

12. Of the Lore of Faerie

Whether it is Leprauchauns in Ireland, Mini Hunas of Hawaii, Gnomes and Elves of Germany, the Hathors of Ancient Egypt, the Gandharvas of Sanskrit legend, or Pixies and Sylphs in England, all cultures would appear to have an oral tradition of a fascinating race of beings that co-exist with humanity. There are similarities between all these legends.

The oldest known legends are that of Ancient Persia and the ‘Peri Wife’.

For centuries these oral traditions taught the people certain basic truths of the interrelationships between all things {- something that enlightened ecologists are struggling to teach modern man today}.

Plants have reactions to the energy fields around them; physiscists have discovered that even the smallest particle makes choices and can therefore be said to have consciousness.

Everything around us is alive in the matrix of the Etheric.

All cultures prior to the rise of the ‘rationalist’ theories believed in the sanctity, sentience and sensitivity of their environment. The old tales were in fact true revelations and taught the people how to live and deal with the Old People or the Daonie Sidhe who are the Earth Spirits who once ruled the land.

In all the tales, these ‘faeries’ are Magickal beings of pure energy, who are able to manifest in both worlds and live in Nature as one with their environment. It is man who has encroached and taken the land, corrupting it to his own end. Man with his disrupting metals, engines of war, and in modern times the ‘hated’ electricity -science isonly learning the effects of long term exposure to magnetic fields such as.

These beings are able to manifest in the physical because they have corporeal qualities just as Man has Spiritual qualities. Their world is ‘different’ from ours, but it overlaps, and we can each enter the other through what we call Magick.

The Old People can present an illusion to our five senses, creating the stronger feelings of desire, passion, fear, and terror - taking the form that will be most accepted by our thought patterns or psychology. In all the recorded manifestations a strong and spicy ‘woodland’ scent both alluring and repulsive on a primal level is reported.

In Celtic mythology, on certain nights throughout the Wheel of the Year, the Daonie Sidhe of the land of faerie are abroad in what is known as The Wild Hunt. It was not unusual for humans to be the game in the old days.

The Wild Hunt was led by the Elf King and ruler of the Dark Court -the Amadan-na-Briona, wearing shining armour with ivory antlers arising from his helm; riding a shimmering white war-horse with glowing golden eyes and his coursers on similar steeds.

The Amadan-na-Briona has no love for humans since we learned the arts of Magick, metals and now, electricity, and hence have the balance of power over his people.

Accompanying this troupe is a veritable menagerie of every type of being imaginable, from the sprites of legend to gnomes and the three White Ladies of impossible beauty. On nights of the Wild Hunt, the legends all say "To be seen by the Fool is to be lost".

The three traditional nights of Faerie are :-

•May 1st- The day following Walpurgis Night-A Moving Day

•June 24th - The Nativity of St. John The Baptist

•November 1st- All Saints Night - A Moving Day

Moving Days are days that the legends tell faeries move their Realm from one place of power to another place of power - every six turns of the Moon to maintain the balance and harmony within Nature.

These places of power are natural occurances within the earth’s surface that focus the Cosmic energies and are found on what have now come to be known as ley lines -or lines of electro-magnetic force which intersect the earth’s crust. {Terrestrial electricity and magnetism}. Usually these ‘places’ are a mound or hillock set in or within sight of forest land and may be anywhere in the world.

The Daonie Sidhe are pleasure seeking beings in all things and whilst conscious beings, are without conscience as we know it and capricious. They have the power to enchant humans to do what they otherwise would not and can cloud our minds to make us forget what they Will.

Legend tells that a river stone, washed smooth and with a hole worn in the middle, found on a dry bank is one charm or ward of protection against the touch of the Daonie Sidhe.

The other charm is the Charm of True Sight which enables one to see through any illusion or glamour the Daonie Sidhe may spin and is made of clover leaves crushed and steeped in holy water - the green stain mixture is smeered on the eyelids. Silver as a metal is the only weapon of use. As beings of energy the prescence of a strong field of electrical force disrupts and weakens them.

There are two Courts according to the legends, - the Light orSeely Court, led by The Queen of the Faeries { who is variously known in the legends as Titania, Gloriana, Ahriman} and the Dark orUnseely Court, led by the Amadan-na-Briona or ‘The Shining One" {Known variously as Oberon, Elberich, Ormuzd} . Both Courts have their perils.

If you do encounter one of these such mounds, to enter the land of faerie, you must walk 9 times widdershins around the hillock, whilst facing the Westering Sun, and the entrance will appear as a moss covered cave mouth. Once through the cave, you will find a road or path.

Once you set foot on the path, say aloud: " By the Blessed St, John, The Lady and the Lord, guide my way", and a ‘Quest Guide’ will appear. The legends tell of differing forms of guides, but one that recurs frequently is the tale of a ball of shimmering, floating, golden light.

The guide will lead you to your goal. Do not stray from the path, save to follow the guide.

Many temptations will be put before you in order to sway you to stray from the path, but do not falter from your goal, as if you do you will become lost to the land of faerie for all time. Do not tarry or you will lose the guide. Trust no one that you may meet save one who is known as True Tom - A scottsman and warrior poet that legend tells fell under the Queens enchantment in the 16th c. for he is sworn never to lie.

At the end of the road legend says that you will meet "The Fool" -a being dangerous beyond comprehension simply because he has no concept of right and wrong, is utterly reckless and knows no fear. He inflicts pain and degradtion as a lover would a kiss.

He may wish to take you into his Court for his amusement, a most perilous choice- as the pain and pleasures inflicted will deform your very flesh as well as your mind to the point where all humanity is lost. Or he may wish to lure you to the Hall of Ancient Seasons where every doorway leads to unimaginable and unending torment.

You must call him by his true name "Amadan-na-Briona", which will give you power over him to grant you one request.

You should say aloud and in commanding tones to him:

"Amadan-na-Briona, I command you and your Court by our Lady and Lord of light to allow me unmolested and free passage through these lands and beyond for all time".

Be most careful to use this phrase as stated. The Fool will attempt to thwart your designs in any manner he can, but he will be compelled by the geas you have placed upon him to honour your request.

Once your quest is complete, you must venture straight to the Queen’s Court by way of the White Path, and there, after presenting Her with a small tithe of gold the Queen will aid you in anything you desire and on your final journey home to the lands of men.

Whilst every effort has been made to include words and terms that the reader may be unfamiliar with and has not been explained within the text, it is beyond the scope of this work to include a 'complete' dictionary of the occult.
The reader is encouraged to seek information for themselves and your local library or the internet are sources of inexhaustible knowledge in this context.