The answer to this question is to be found almost solely in the field of esoteric psychology. The ability to work magick relies on certain aspects of the relationship that exists between the conscious and unconscious minds. Power resides in the unconscious. The ability to manipulate this power is one of the functions of the conscious mind. The major difference between the adept mage and the novice or non-initiate is that the adept has established a two way communication between the conscious and unconscious and the novice and non-initiate are victims of the fact that communication between the two sides of their minds is one way - conscious to unconscious. A further problem with the latter individuals is that this one-way communication is unconscious, that is, they are often not aware it is going on.

The unconscious is a creature that has an inbuilt ability to understand the language that the conscious mind speaks. The problem with an untrained individuals psychic state is that their conscious mind rarely understands the language that their unconscious speaks. This is because the unconscious does not speak using words, as does the conscious mind, instead its language is the language of symbolism and its medium of communication is not the written word or the human voice but the imagination.

The unconscious does try to communicate with the conscious mind through the medium of the subconscious in dreams and fantasy. All dreams are filled with symbolic images and scenarios that represent ideas that the unconscious is trying to communicate to the conscious, or which need 'fixing' in the conscious. Some time in the ancient past of the mystery tradition some cunning observer discovered some important facts about this whole relationship that we shall now consider, for it is from these facts that the rationale for magick and ritual arose.

1. The unconscious must obtain the images it uses as symbols to represent ideas from the individuals outer environment.

2. For lack of any other alternative the unconscious uses images and situations that the individual has developed certain clear ideas about as its symbols. Therefore many of the symbolic images and situations that are contained in dreams have a specific meaning only to the individual dreaming them. Nevertheless some symbols in dreams are universally understood as representing specific ideas.

3. The unconscious can be trained to use a different symbol system than the one developed unconsciously through the individual’s life.

This last idea was of the utmost importance to the Mage for it meant that he could teach his unconscious to speak to him in a language that his conscious mind understands, in this way setting up a two-way conversation. Here is the motive for the construction of magical alphabets such as Hebrew and the Yetziratic alphabet of the Golden Dawn system.

The basic idea to keep in mind when constructing a magickal alphabet which will effectively set up a communication between the conscious and unconscious is that each of its symbols must have definite meanings and these meanings must be directly related to universal truths or laws and the whole alphabet must form a coherent unit. In this way as the mage learns the intricacies of magickal symbolism he is teaching his unconscious a new language. Sooner or later the new symbols begin to appear in dreams and in active imagination meditations.

This is where we begin to understand the rationale behind ritual, and ceremonial initiation rituals are the best example we can use to illustrate our lesson.

A magickal temple is a composite or complex symbol. At its most basic level a magickal lodge can be considered the symbol of the magickal anatomy of an individual - in the case of an initiation the 'candidate'. Every item in the lodge represents some aspect of the candidate’s inner and/or outer nature. There are no superfluous symbols in such circumstances. The magick circle or pavement itself represents the candidates ground of activity - if you like - or sphere of influence. The altar, which could be situated anywhere inside the circle, or pavement, represents the candidate himself. Its shape and colour also having important meaning. At certain times during the rite and at different levels of initiation and advancement the altar bears various items which also have a symbolic nature. The most common items are the four weapons of the mage and a lamp. These weapons each represent one aspect of the fourfold psyche - the subconscious, the conscious mind, intuition and Will. The lamp upon the altar represents the unification of these functions in the activity of the higher self.

At each of the four quarters of the circle burns a lamp representing the macrocosmic forces related to the four weapons. At the west of the Lodge is a gateway, sometimes marked by two pillars, representing the division between the conscious self and the unconscious or lower self. In the east, likewise, there is another gateway which leads to the higher self, realms or transcendent nature.

During the rite proper every individual ritual act is symbolic of some idea that the Mage wants his (or the candidates) unconscious to understand. The rite as a whole is designed to effect some change in consciousness, which change can only be effected through a co-operation between conscious and unconscious. Therefore not only is the lodge a complex symbol but the rite worked in the lodge increases its complexity as it makes the symbol come alive.

For example, when the mage takes up the magick wand he is telling the unconscious that the requires some manipulation of his Will - for the wand represents the will. If he takes the wand to the east and draws an invoking pentagram there he is saying that he requires his Will (or that of the candidate) to assist in a purification of his (or the candidates) Will in its most 'airy', or intellectual, division.

As some of you might be aware many ceremonies involve many and various ritual actions, some of great complexity. In this way it can be understood that a magickal ceremony can be a very complex formula for change, projecting detailed suggestions into the unconscious by-passing the conscious mind in a manner which enables the greatest effect to take place.

It will be recognized, then, that ceremonial ritual works best when the practitioner has an intimate understanding of the meanings behind every symbolic act and image. Nevertheless because some ceremonies have built up powerful thought forms in the astral because of the share numbers of individuals who have worked them in the same way, they have thus inherited a certain degree of power of their own which can effect even the uninitiated.