Liber Samekh

Theurgia Goetia Summa

(Congressus Cum Daemone)
sub figur DCCC
being the Ritual employed by the Beast 666
for the Attainment of the Knowledge and Conversation of his Holy Guardian
Angel
during the Semester of His performance of the peration of the Sacred
!agic" of ABRA!#$%& 'H# !AG#(
)repared An *+%% Sun in +irgo at the Abbey of 'helema in Cephalaedium
by the Beast 666 in service to ,RA'#R )RGRA-%R
OFFICIAL PULICATIO! of A"
"
"A"
"
"
C#ass D for the Gra$e of A$e%tus &inor"
)%&' %
Evangelii Textus Redactus
'H# %&+CA'%&
!agically restored. with the significance of the
BARBAR/S &A!#S
#tymologically or 0abalistically determined
and paraphrased in #nglish(
Se'tion A"
'he ath
1( 'hee % invo"e. the Bornless ne(
2( 'hee. that didst create the #arth and the Heavens(
3( 'hee. that didst create the &ight and the -ay(
4( 'hee. that didst create the dar"ness and the $ight(
5( 'hou art ASAR /&6&#,#R 78!yself made )erfect89:
;hom no man hath seen at any time(
6( 'hou art %A6B#S< 78the 'ruth in !atter89(
=( 'hou art %A6A))HRAS< 78the 'ruth in !otion89(
>( 'hou hast distinguished between the ?ust and the /n@ust(
A( 'hou didst ma"e the ,emale and the !ale(
1B( 'hou didst produce the Seeds and the ,ruit(
11( 'hou didst form !en to love one another. and to hate one another(
Se'tion Aa"
1( % am A&KH 6 , 6 & 6 KH&S/ 'hy )rophet. unto ;hom 'hou didst
commit 'hy !ysteries. the Ceremonies of KH#!(
2( 'hou didst produce the moist and the dry. and that which nourisheth all
created $ife(
3( Hear 'hou !e. for % am the Angel of )'AH 6 A) 6 )HRAS< 6 RA 7vide
the Rubric9: this is 'hy 'rue &ame. handed down to the )rophets of
KH#!(
Se'tion "
Air
Hear !e: 6
AR 8 breathing. flowing SunC8
'h%A,
(
8 Sun %A,C $ion6Serpent Sun. 'he Beast that whirlest forth. a thunder6 bolt. begetter of $ifeC8
Rh#%B#' 8'hou that flowestC 'hou that goestC8
A6'h#$#6B#R6S#' 8'hou Satan6Sun Hadith that goest without ;illC8
A 8'hou AirC BreathC SpiritC 'hou without bound or bondC8
B#$A'hA 8'hou #ssence. Air Swift6streaming. #lasticityC8
AB#/ 8'hou ;anderer. ,ather of AllC8
#B#/ 8'hou ;anderer. Spirit of AllC8
)h%6'h#'A6S# 8'hou Shining ,orce of BreathC 'hou $ion6Serpent SunC 'hou Saviour. saveC8
%B
8'hou %bis. secret solitary Bird. inviolate ;isdom. whose ;ord in 'ruth. creating the ;orld by its
!agic"C8
'h%A, 8 Sun %A,C $ion6Serpent Sun. 'he Beas that whirlest forth. a thunder6 bolt. begetter of $ifeC8
The conception is of Air, glowing, inhabited by a Solar-Phallic Bird, the !oly "host, of a
#ercurial $ature%
Hear me. and ma"e all Spirits sub@ect unto !eD so that every Spirit of the ,irmament and
of the #ther: upon the #arth and under the #arth. on dry land and in the waterD of ;hirling
Air. and of rushing ,ire. and every Spell and Scourge of God may be obedient unto !e(
(
'he letter , is used to represent the Hebrew +au and the Gree" -igammaD its sound lies between those of the #nglish
long o and long oo. as in Rope and 'ooth(
Se'tion C"
,ire
% invo"e 'hee. the 'errible and %nvisible God: ;ho dwellest in the +oid )lace of the Spirit: 6
AR66G6G6R/6ABRA
8'hou spiritual SunC Satan. 'hou #ye. 'hou $ustC Cry aloudC Cry aloudC ;hirl the
;heel. my ,ather. Satan. SunC8
S'/ 8'hou. the SaviourC8
!/-R% 8SilenceC Give me 'hy SecretC8
)hA$AR'hA 8Give me suc". 'hou )hallus. 'hou SunC8
8Satan. thou #ye. thou $ustC8 Satan. thou #ye. thou $ustC Satan. thou #ye. thou $ustC
A#)# 8'hou self6caused. self6determined. eEalted. !ost HighC8
'he Bornless ne( 7+ide supra9(
The conception is of &ire, glowing, inhabited by a Solar-Phallic 'ion of a (ranian nature%
Hear !e. and ma"e all Spirits sub@ect unto !e: so that every Spirit of the ,irmament and
of the #ther: upon the #arth and under the #arth: on dry $and and in the ;ater: of ;hirling
Air. and of rushing ,ire. and every Spell and Scourge of God may be obedient unto !e(
Se'tion D"
;ater
Hear !e: 6
R/6ABRA6%A,
(
8'hou the ;heel. thou the ;omb. that containeth the ,ather %A,C8
!R%-! 8'hou the Sea. the AbodeC8
BABA$&6BA$6B%&6ABA,'
8BabalonC 'hou ;oman of ;horedom( 'hou. Gate of the Great God &C 'hou $ady of
the /nderstanding of the ;aysC8
ASA$6&6A%
8Hail 'hou. the unstirredC Hail. sister and bride of &. of the God that is all and is none.
by the )ower of #levenC8
A)h#&6%A, 8'hou 'reasure of %AC8
% 8'hou +irgin twin6seEedC 'hou Secret SeedC 'hou inviolate ;isdomC8
)h'#'h 8Abode of the $ight (((((((((((((((((
ABRASA* 8((((((of the ,ather. the Sun. of Hadith. of the spell of the Aeon of HorusC8
A#/ 8ur $ady of the ;estern Gate of HeavenC8
%SCh/R# 8!ighty art 'houC8
!ighty and Bornless neC 7+ide Supra9
The conception is of )ater, glowing, inhabited by a Solar-Phallic *ragon-Serpent, of a
$eptunian nature%
Hear !e: and ma"e all Spirits sub@ect unto !e: so that every Spirit of the ,irmament and
of the #ther: upon the #arth and under the #arth: on dry $and and in the ;ater: of ;hirling
Air. and of rushing ,ire: and every Spell and Scourge of God may be obedient unto !e(
(
See. for the formula of %A,. or rather ,%A,. Boo" 4 )art %%%. Chapter +( 'he form ,%A, will be found preferable in
practice(
Se'tion )"
#arth
% invo"e 'hee: 6
!A 8 !otherC 'ruthC8
BARRA%
8'hou !assC8
(
%#$ 8Hail. 'hou that artC8
K'hA 8'hou hollow oneC8
A'hR6e6BA$6 8'hou Goddess of Beauty and $ove. whom Satan. beholding. desirethC8
ABRA,' 8'he ,athers. male6female. desire 'heeC8
The conception of of Earth, glowing, inhabited by a Solar-Phallic !ippopota+us
*
of a
,enereal nature%
Hear !e: and ma"e all Spirits sub@ect unto !e: so that every Spirit of the ,irmament. and
of the #ther: upon 'he #arth and under the #arth: on dry land and in the ;ater: of ;hirling
Air. and of rushing ,ire: and every Spell and Scourge of God may be obedient unto !e(
(
8!ass8. in the sense of the word which is used by physicists( 'he impossibility of defining it will not deter the intrepid
initiate 7in view of the fact that the fundamental conception is beyond the normal categories of reason(9
*
Sacred to AHA'hR( 'he idea is that of the ,emale conceived as invulnerable. reposeful. of enormous swallowing
capacity etc(
Se'tion F"
Spirit
Hear !e:
A,' 8!ale6,emale SpiritsC8
ABA,' 8!ale6,emale SiresC8
BAS6A/!G&
8Fe that are Gods. going forth. uttering A/!G&( 'he ;ord that goeth from 7A9 ,ree Breath( 7/9
through ;illed Breath( 7!9 and stopped Breath( 7G&9 to Continuous Breath( thus symboliGing the
whole course of spiritual life( A is the formless HeroD / is the siE6fold solar sound of physical life. the
triangle of Soul being entwined with that of BodyD ! is the silence of 8death8D G& is the nasal sound of
generation H "nowledge(
%SAK 8%dentical )ointC8
SA6BA6,' 8&uithC HadithC Ra6Hoor6KhuitC Hail. Great ;ild BeastC Hail. %AC8
Se'tion Ff"
1( 'his is the $ord of the Gods:
2( 'his is the $ord of the /niverse:
3( 'his is He whom the ;inds fear(
4( 'his is He. ;ho having made +oice by His commandment is $ord of all 'hingsD
King. Ruler and Helper( Hear !e. and ma"e all Spirits sub@ect unto !e: so that
every Spirit of the ,irmament and of the #ther: upon the #arth and under the #arth:
on dry $and and in the ;ater: of ;hirling Air. and of rushing ,ire: and every Spell
and Scourge of God may be obedient unto !e(
Se'tion G"
Spirit
Hear !e: 6
%#/ 8%ndwelling Sun of !yself8
)/R 8'hou ,ireC 'hou SiEfold Star initiator compassed about with ,orce and ,ireC8
%/ 8%ndwelling Soul of !yself8
)/R 7+ide Supra9
%A,'h 8Sun6lion Serpent. hailC All Hail. thou Great ;ild Beast. thou % A C8
%A# 8Breaths of my soul. breaths of mine Angel(8
%/ 8$ust of my soul. lust of mine AngelC8
ABRASA* 7+ide Supra9(
SABR%A!
8Ho for the SangraalC Ho for the Cup of BabalonC Ho for mine Angel pouring Himself forth within my
SoulC8
8'he #yeC Satan. my $ordC 'he $ust of the goatC8
,, 8!ine AngelC !ine initiatorC 'hou one with me 6 the SiEfold StarC8
A-6&6A6%
( 8!y $ordC !y secret self beyond self. Hadith. All ,atherC Hail. &. thou Sun. thou $ife of !an. thou
,ivefold Sword of ,lameC 'hou Goat eEalted upon #arth in $ust. thou Sna"e eEtended upon #arth in
$ifeC Spirit most holyC Seed most ;iseC %nnocent Babe( %nviolate !aidC Begetter of BeingC Soul of all
SoulsC ;ord of all ;ords. Come forth. most hidden $ightC8
#-# 8-evour thou meC8
#-/ 8'hou dost devour !eC8
A&G#$S '&
'h#&
8'hou Angel of the GodsC8
A&$A$A 8Arise thou in !e. free flowing. 'hou who art &aught. who art &aught. and utter thy ;ordC8
$A% 8% also am &aughtC % ;ill 'heeC % behold 'heeC !y nothingnessC8
GA%A
8$eap up. thou #arthC8 7'his is also an agonising appeal to the #arth. the !otherD for at this point of
the ceremony the Adept should be torn from his mortal attachments. and die to himself in the
orgasm of his operation(9
*
A#)#
8'hou #Ealted neC %t 7i(e( the spritual IsemenI. the AdeptIs secret ideas. drawn irresistibly from their
IHellI
+
by the love of his Angel9 leaps upD it leaps forthC
,
-%A'HAR&A
'HR&
8$oC the out6splashing of the seeds of %mmortality8
(
%n Hebrew. A-&%. 65( 'he Gnostic %nitiates transliterated it to imply their own secret formulaeD we follow so eEcellent an
eEample( & is an Arcanum of ArcanaD its significance is taught. gradually. in the ('(( Also A- is the paternal formula.
HaditD & is its complement &/%'D the final Fod signifies 8mine8 etymologically and essentially the !ercurial 7transmitted9
hermaphroditic virginal seed 6 'he Hermit of the 'aro 6 'he use of the name is therefore to invo"e oneIs own inmost
secrecy. considered as the result of the con@unction of &uit and Hadit( %f the second A is included. its import is to affirm
the operation of the Holy Ghost and the formulation of the Babe in the #gg. which precedes the appearance of the
Hermit(
*
A thorough comprehension of )sycho6analysis will contribute notably to the proper appreciation of this Ritual(
+
%t is said among men that the word Hell deriveth from the word 8helan8. to hele or conceal. in the tongue of the Anglo6
SaEons( 'hat is. it is the concealed place. which since all things are in thine own self. is the unconscious. 'iber -./
0Aleph1 chap% 23
,
But compare the use of the same word in section C(
Se'tion Gg"
'he Attainment
1( % am HeC the Bornless SpiritC having sight in the feet: Strong. and the %mmortal ,ireC
2( % am HeC the 'ruthC
3( % am HeC ;ho hate that evil should be wrought in the ;orldC
4( % am He. that lighteneth and thunderethC
5( % am He. from whom is the Shower of the $ife of #arthC
6( % am He. whose mouth ever flamethC
=( % am He. the Begetter and !anifester unto the $ightC
>( % am He. 'he Grace of the ;orldsC
A( 8'he Heart Girt with a Serpent8 is my nameC
Se'tion -"
'he 8Charge to the Spirit8
Come thou forth. and follow me: and ma"e all Spirits sub@ect unto !e so that every Spirit
of the ,irmament. and of the #ther. upon the #arth and under the #arth: on dry $and. or in
the ;ater: of ;hirling Air or of rushing ,ire. and every Spell and scourge of God. may be
obedient unto meC
Se'tion ."
'he )roclamation of the Beast 666
%A,:SABA,
(
Such are the ;ordsC
(
See eEplanation in )oint %%(
)%&' %%
Ars -ongressus -u+ *ae+one
Se'tion A
$et the Adeptus !inor be standing in this circle on the sJuare of 'iphereth. armed with his
;and and CupD but let him perform the Ritual throughout in his Body of $ight( He may burn
the Ca"es of $ight. or the %ncense of AbramelinD he may be prepared by $iber C$**+. the
reading of $iber $*+. and by the practices of Foga( He may invo"e Hadit by 8((( wine and
strange drugs8 if he so will(
(
He prepares the circle by the usual formulae of Banishing
and Consecration. etc( He recites Section A as a rehearsal before His Holy Guardian Angel
of the attributes of that Angel( #ach phrase must be realiGed with full concentration of
force. so as to ma"e Samadhi as perfectly as possible upon the truth proclaimed(
$ine 1
He identifies his Angel with the Ain Soph. and the Kether thereofD one formulation of Hadit
in the boundless Body of &uith(
$ine 2.3.4
He asserts that His Angel has created 7for the purpose of self6realiGation through
pro@ection in conditioned ,orm9 three pairs of opposites: 7a9 'he ,iEed and the +olatileD 7b9
'he /nmanifested and the !anifestD and 7c9 the /nmoved and the !oved( therwise. the
&egative and the )ositive in respect of !atter. !ind and !otion(
$ine 5
He acclaims his Angel as 8Himself !ade )erfect8D adding that this %ndividuality is
inscrutable in inviolable( %n the &eophyte Ritual of G - 7As it is printed in #JuinoE %. %%.
for the old aeon9 the Hierophant is the perfected siris. who brings the candidate. the
natural siris. to identity with himself( But in the new Aeon the Hierophant is Horus 7$iber
CC**. %. 4A9 therefore the Candidate will be Horus too( ;hat then is the formula of the
initiation of HorusK %t will no longer be that of the !an. through -eath( %t will be the natural
growth of the Child( His eEperiences will no more be regarded as catastrophic( 'heir
hieroglyph is the ,ool: the innocent and impotent Harpocrates Babe becomes the Horus
Adult by obtaining the ;and( 8-er reine 'hor8 seiGes the Sacred $ance( Bacchus becomes
)an( 'he Holy Guardian Angel is the /nconscious Creature Self 6 the Spiritual )hallus( His
"nowledge and conversation contributes occult puberty( %t is therefore advisable to replace
the name Asar6/n6&efer by that of Ra6Hoor6Khuit at the outset. and by that of oneIs own
Holy Guardian Angel when it has been communicated(
$ine 6
He hails Him as B#S<. the !atter that destroys and devours Godhead. for the purpose of
the %ncarnation of any God(
$ine =
He hails Him as A))HRAS<. the !otion that destroys and devours Godhead. for the
purpose of the %ncarnation of any God( 'he combined action of these two -#+%$S is to
allow the God upon whom they prey to enter into en@oyment of eEistence through the
Sacrament of dividual 8$ife8 7Bread 6 the flesh of B#S<9 and 8$ove8 7;ine 6 the blood or
venom of A)HRAS<9(
$ine >
He acclaims His Angel as having 8eaten of the ,ruit of the 'ree of Knowledge of Good and
#vil8D otherwise. having become wise 7in the -yad. Cho"mah9 to apprehend the formula of
#Juilibrium which is now His own. being able to apply Himself accurately to His self6
appointed environment(
$ine A
He acclaims His Angel as having laid down the $aw of $ove as the !agical formula of the
/niverse. that He may resolve the phenomenal again into its noumenal phase by uniting
any two opposites in ecstasic passion(
$ine 1B
He acclaims His Angel as having appointed that this formula of $ove should effect not only
the dissolution of the separateness of the $overs into His own impersonal Godhead. but
their co6ordination in a 8Child8 JuintessentialiGed from its parents to constitute a higher
order of Being than theirs. so that each generation is an alchemical progress towards
perfection in the direction of successive compleEities( As $ine A asserts %nvolution. $ine 1B
asserts #volution(
$ine 11
He acclaims His Angel as having devised this method of self6realiGationD the ob@ect of
%ncarnation is to obtain its reactions to its relations with other incarnated Beings and to
observe theirs with each other(
(
Any such formula should be used only when the adept has full "nowledge based on eEperience of the management of
such matters(
Se'tion Aa"
$ine 1
'he Adept asserts his right to enter into conscious communication with His Angel. on the
ground that that Angel has Himself taught him the Secret !agic" by which he may ma"e
the proper lin"( 8!osheh8 is ! H. the formation in ?echidah. Chiah. &eshamah. Ruach. 6
'he Sephiroth from Kether to Fesod 6 since 45 is Sum 16A while Sh. 3BB. is Sum 1624.
which superadds to these &ine an eEtra ,ifteen numbers( 7See in $iber -. the meanings
and correspondences of A. 15. 24. 45. 3BB. 345(9 45 is moreover A - !. !-A. man(
8!osheh8 is thus the name of man as a God6concealing form( But in the Ritual let the
Adept replace this 8!osheh8 by his own motto as Adeptus !inor( ,or 8%shrael8 let him
prefer his own !agical Race. according to the obligations of his aths to ur Holy rderC
7'he Beast 666 Himself used 8An"h6f6n6Khonsu8 and 8Khem8 in this section(9
$ine 2
'he Adept reminds his Angel that He has created 'hat ne Substance of which Hermes
hath written in the 'able of #merald. whose virtue is to unite in itself all opposite modes of
Being. thereby to serve as a 'alisman charged with the Spiritual #nergy of #Eistence. an
#liEir or Stone composed of the physical basis of $ife( 'his Commemoration is placed
between the two personal appeals to the Angel. as if to claim privilege to parta"e of this
#ucharist which createth. sustaineth and redeemeth all things(
$ine 3
He now asserts that he is himself the 8Angel8 or messenger of his AngelD that is. that he is
a mind and body whose office is to receive and transmit the ;ord of his Angel( He hails his
Angel not only as 8un6nefer8 the )erfection of 8Asar8 himself as a man. but as )tah6
ApophrasG6Ra. the identity 7Hadit9 wrapped in the -ragon 7&uit9 and thereby manifested
as a Sun 7Ra6Hoor6Khuit9( 'he 8#gg8 7or Heart9 8girt with a Serpent8 is a cognate symbolD
the idea is thus eEpressed later in the ritual( 7See $iber $*+ which eEpands this to the
uttermost(9
Se'tion
'he Adept passes from contemplation to action in the sections now following B to Gg( He
is to travel astrally around the circle. ma"ing the appropriate pentagrams. sigils. and signs(
His direction is widdershins( He thus ma"es three curves. each covering three6fourths of
the circle( He should give the sign of the #nterer on passing the Kiblah. or -irection of
Boles"ine( 'his pic"s up the force naturally radiating from that point
(
and pro@ects it in the
direction of the path of the !agician( 'he sigils are those given in the #JuinoE +ol( %. &o( =.
)late * outside the sJuareD the signs those shewn in +ol( %. &o( 2. )late 8'he Signs of the
Grades8( %n these invocations he should eEpand his girth and his stature to the utmost
*
.
assuming the form and the consciousness of the elemental god of the Juarter( After this.
he begins to vibrate the 8Barbarous &ames8 of the Ritual(
&ow let him not only fill his whole being to the uttermost with the force of the &amesD but
let him formulate his ;ill. understood thoroughly as the dynamic aspect of his Creative
Self. in an appearance symbolically apt. % say not in the form of a Ray of $ight. of a ,iery
Sword. or of aught save that bodily +ehicle of the Holy Ghost which is sacred to
BA)H!#'. by its virtue that concealeth the $ion and the Serpent that His %mage may
appear adorably upon the #arth for ever(
$et then the Adept eEtend his ;ill beyond the Circle in this imagined Shape and let it
radiate with the $ight proper to the element invo"ed. and let each ;ord issue along the
Shaft with passionate impulse. as if its voice gave command thereto that it should thrust
itself leapingly forward( $et also each ;ord accumulate authority. so that the Head of the
Shaft may plunge twice as far for the Second ;ord as for the ,irst. and ,our 'imes for the
'hird as the Second. and thus to the end( !oreover. let the Adept fling forth his whole
consciousness thither( 'hen at the final ;ord. let him bring rushing bac" his ;ill within
himself. steadily streaming. and let him offer himself to its point. as Artemis to )A&. that
this perfectly pure concentration of the #lement purge him thoroughly. and possess him
with its passion(
%n this Sacrament being wholly at one with that #lement. let the Adept utter the Charge
8Hear me. and ma"e8. etc( with strong sense that this unity with that Juarter of the
/niverse confers upon him the fullest freedom and privilege appurtenant thereto(
$et the Adept ta"e note of the wording of the Charge( 'he 8,irmament8 is the Ruach. the
8mental plane8D it is the realm of Shu. or <eus. where revolves the ;heel of the Gunas. the
'hree forms
+
of Being( 'he Aethyr is the 8a"asha8. the 8Spirit8. the Aethyr or physics.
which is the framewor" on which all forms are foundedD it receives. records and transmits
all impulses without itself suffering mutation thereby( 'he 8#arth8 is the sphere wherein the
operation of these 8fundamental8 and aethyric forces appears to perception( 8/nder the
#arth8 is the world of those phenomena which inform those perceived pro@ections. and
determine their particular character( 8-ry land8 is the place of dead 8material things8. dry
7i(e( un"nowable9 because unable to act on our minds( 8;ater8 is the vehicle whereby we
feel such thingsD 8air8 their menstruum wherein these feelings are mentally apprehended( %t
is called 8whirling8 because of the instability of thought. and the fatuity of reason. on which
we are yet dependent for what we call 8life8( 8Rushing ,ire8 is the world in which wandering
thought burns up to swift6darting ;ill( 'hese four stages eEplain how the non6#go is
transmuted into the #go( A 8Spell8 of God is any form of consciousness. and a 8Scourge8
any form of action(
'he Charge. as a whole. demands for the Adept the control of every detail of the /niverse
which His Angel has created as a means of manifesting Himself to Himself( %t covers
command of the primary pro@ection of the )ossible in individuality. in the antithetical artifice
which is the device of !ind. and in a balanced triplicity of modes or states of being whose
combinations constitute the characteristics of Cosmos( %t includes also a standard of
structure. a rigidity to ma"e reference possible( /pon these foundations of condition which
are not things in themselves. but the canon to which things conform. is builded the 'emple
of Being. whose materials are themselves perfectly mysterious. inscrutable as the Soul.
and li"e the Soul imagining themselves by symbols which we may feel. perceive. and
adapt to our use without ever "nowing the whole 'ruth about them( 'he Adept sums up all
these items by claiming authority over every form of eEpression possible to #Eistence.
whether it be a 8spell8 7idea9 or a 8scourge8 7act9 of 8God8. that is. of himself( 'he Adept
must accept every 8spirit8. every 8spell8. every 8scourge8. as part of his environment. and
ma"e them all 8sub@ect to8 himselfD that is. consider them as contributory causes of himself(
'hey have made him what he is( 'hey correspond eEactly to his own faculties( 'hey are all
6 ultimately 6 of eJual importance( 'he fact that he is what he is proves that each item is
eJuilibrated( 'he impact of each new impression affects the entire system in due measure(
He must therefore realiGe that every event is sub@ect to him( %t occurs because he had
need of it( %ron rusts because the molecules demand oEygen for the satisfaction of their
tendencies( 'hey do not crave hydrogenD therefore combination with that gas is an event
which does not happen( All eEperiences contribute to ma"e us complete in ourselves( ;e
feel ourselves sub@ect to them so long as we fail to recognise thisD when we do. we
perceive that they are sub@ect to us( And whenever we strive to evade an eEperience.
whatever it may be. we thereby do wrong to ourselves( ;e thwart our own tendencies( 'o
live is to changeD and to oppose change is to revolt against the law which we have enacted
to govern our lives( 'o resent destiny is thus to abdicate our sovereignty. and to invo"e
death( %ndeed. we have decreed the doom of death for every breach of the law of $ife( And
every failure to incorporate any impression starves that particular faculty which stood in
need of it(
'his Section B invo"es Air in the #ast. with a shaft of golden glory(
(
'his is an assumption based on $iber $egis %%. => and %%%. 34(
*
Having eEperience of success in the practices of $iber 536. BA'RA*6R#&BKS!!A*%A(
+
'hey correspond to the Sulphur. !ercury. and Salt of AlchemyD to Sattvas. Ra@as. and 'amas in the Hindu systemD and
are rather modes of action than actual Jualities even when conceived as latent( 'hey are the apparatus of
communication between the planesD as such. they are conventions( 'here is no absolute validity in any means of mental
apprehensionD but unless we ma"e these spirits of the ,irmament sub@ect unto us by establishing right relation 7within the
possible limits9 with the /niverse. we shall fall into error when we develop our new instrument of direct understanding( %t
is vital that the Adept should train his intellectual faculties to tell him the truth. in the measure of their capacity( 'o despise
the mind on account of its limitations is the most disastrous blunderD it is the common cause of the calamities which strew
so many shores with the wrec"age of the !ystic Armada( Bigotry. Arrogance. Bewilderment. all forms of mental and
moral disorder. so often observed in people of great spiritual attainment. have brought the )ath itself into discreditD
almost all such catastrophes are due to trying to build the 'emple of the Spirit without proper attention to the mental laws
of structure and the physical necessities of foundation( 'he mind must be brought to its utmost pitch of perfection. but
according to its own internal propertiesD one cannot feed a microscope on mutton chops( %t must be regarded as a
mechanical instrument of "nowledge. independent of the personality of its possessor( ne must treat it eEactly as one
treats oneIs electroscope or oneIs eyesD one influence of oneIs wishes( A physician calls in a colleague to attend to his
own family. "nowing that personal anEiety may derange his @udgment( A microscopist who trusts his eyes when his pet
theory is at sta"e may falsify the facts. and find too late that he has made a fool of himself( %n the case of initiations itself.
history is scarred with the wounds inflicted by this -agger(
%t reminds us constantly of the danger of relying upon the intellectual faculties( A @udge must "now the law in every point.
and be detached from personal pre@udices. and incorruptible. or iniJuity will triumph( -ogma. with persecution. delusion.
paralysis of progress. and many another evil. as its satraps. has always established a tyranny when Genius has
proclaimed it( %slam ma"ing a bonfire of written ;isdom. and Haec"el forging biological evidenceD physicists ignorant of
radioactivity disputing the conclusions of geology. and theologians impatient of truth struggling against the tide of
thoughtD all such must perish at the hands of their own error in ma"ing their minds. internally defective or eEternally
deflected. the measure of the /niverse(
Se'tion C
'he adept now invo"es ,ire in the SouthD flame red are the rays that burst from his
+erendum(
Se'tion D
He invo"es ;ater in the ;est. his ;and billowing forth blue radiance(
Se'tion )
He goes to the &orth to invo"e #arthD flowers of green flame flash from his weapon( As
practice ma"es the Adept perfect in this ;or". it becomes automatic to attach all these
complicated ideas and intentions to their correlated words and acts( ;hen this is attained
he may go deeper into the formula by amplifying its correspondences( 'hus. he may
invo"e water in the manner of water. eEtending his will with ma@estic and irresistible
motion. mindful of its impulse gravitation. yet with a suave and tranJuil appearance of
wea"ness( Again. he may apply the formula of water to its peculiar purpose as it surges
bac" into his sphere. using it with conscious s"ill for the cleansing and calming of the
receptive and emotional elements in his character. and for the solution or sweeping away
of those tangled weeds of pre@udice which hamper him from freedom to act as he will(
Similar applications of the remaining invocations will occur to the Adept who is ready to
use them(
Se'tion F
'he Adept now returns to the 'iphereth sJuare of his 'au. and invo"es spirit. facing toward
Boles"ine. by the active )entagrams. the sigil called the !ar" of the Beast. and the Signs
of $(+(*( 7See plate as before9( He then vibrates the &ames eEtending his will in the same
way as before. but vertically upward( At the same time he eEpands the Source of that ;ill 6
the secret symbol of Self 6 both about him and below. as if to affirm that Self. dupleE as is
its form. reluctant to acJuiesce in its failure to coincide with the Sphere of &uith( $et him
now imagine. at the last ;ord. that the Head of his will. where his consciousness is fiEed.
opens its fissure 7the Brahmarandra6Ca""ra. at the @unction of the cranial sutures9 and
eEudes a drop of clear crystalline dew. and that this pearl is his Soul. a virgin offering to his
Angel. pressed forth from his being by the intensity of this Aspiration(
Se'tion Ff
;ith these words the Adept does not withdraw his will within him as in the previous
Sections( He thin"s of them as a reflection of 'ruth on the surface of the dew. where his
Soul hides trembling( He ta"es them to be the first formulation in his consciousness of the
nature of His Holy Guardian Angel(
$ine 1
'he 8Gods8 include all the conscious elements of his nature(
$ine 2
'he 8/niverse8 includes all possible phenomena of which he can be aware(
$ine 3
'he 8;inds8 are his thoughts. which have prevented him from attaining to his Angel(
$ine 4
His Angel has made 8+oice8. the magical weapon which produces 8;ords8. and these
words have been the wisdom by which He hath created all things( 'he 8+oice8 is
necessary as the lin" between the Adept and his Angel( 'he Angel is 8King8. the ne who
8can8. the 8source of authority and the fount of honour8D also the King 7or KingIs Son9 who
delivers the #nchanted )rincess. and ma"es her his 0ueen( He is 8Ruler8. the
8unconscious ;ill8D to be thwarted no more by the ignorant and capricious false will of the
conscious man( And He is 8Helper8. the author of the infallible impulse that sends the Soul
sweeping along the s"ies on its proper path with such impetus that the attraction of alien
orbs is no longer sufficient to swerve it( 'he 8Hear me8 clause is now uttered by the normal
human consciousness. withdrawn to the physical bodyD the Adept must deliberately
abandon his attainment. because it is not yet his whole being which burns up before the
Beloved(
Se'tion G
'he Adept. though withdrawn. shall have maintained the #Etension of his Symbol( He now
repeats the signs as before. save that he ma"es the )assive %nvo"ing )entagram of Spirit(
He concentrates his consciousness within his 'win6Symbol of Self. and endeavours to
send it to sleep( But if the operation be performed properly. his Angel shall have accepted
the offering of -ew. and seiGed with fervour upon the eEtended symbol of ;ill towards
Himself( 'his then shall He sha"e vehemently with vibrations of love reverberating with the
;ords of the Section( #ven in the physical ears of the adept there shall resound an echo
thereof. yet he shall not be able to describe it( %t shall seem both louder than thunder. and
softer than the whisper of the night6wind( %t shall at once be inarticulate. and mean more
than he hath ever heard(
&ow let him strive with all the strength of his Soul to withstand the ;ill of his Angel.
concealing himself in the closest cell of the citadel of consciousness( $et him consecrate
himself to resist the assault of the +oice and the +ibration until his consciousness faint
away into &othing( ,or if there abide unabsorbed even one single atom of the false #go.
that atom should stain the virginity of the 'rue Self and profane the athD then that atom
should be so inflamed by the approach of the Angel that is should overwhelm the rest of
the mind. tyranniGe over it. and become an insane despot to the total ruin of the realm(
But. all being dead to sense. who then is able to strive against the AngelK He shall
intensify the stress of His Spirit so that His loyal legions of $ion6Serpents leap from the
ambush. awa"ening the adept to witness their ;ill and sweep him with them in their
enthusiasm. so that he consciously parta"es this purpose. and sees in its simplicity the
solution of all his perpleEities( 'hus then shall the Adept be aware that he is being swept
away through the column of his ;ill Symbol( and that His Angel is indeed himself. with
intimacy so intense as to become identity. and that not in a single #go. but in every
unconscious element that shares in that manifold uprush(
'his rapture is accompanied by a tempest of brilliant light. almost always. and also in
many cases by an outburst of sound. stupendous and sublime in all cases. though its
character may vary within wide limits(
(
'he spate of stars shoots from the head of the ;ill6Symbol. and is scattered over the s"y
in glittering galaEies( 'his dispersion destroys the concentration of the adept. whose mind
cannot master such multiplicity of ma@estyD as a rule. he simply sin"s stunned into
normality. to recall nothing of his eEperience but a vague though vivid impression of
complete release and ineffable rapture( Repetition fortifies him to realise the nature of his
attainmentD and his Angel. the lin" once made. freJuents him. and trains him subtly to be
sensitive to his Holy presence. and persuasion( But it may occur. especially after repeated
success. that the Adept is not flung bac" into his mortality by the eEplosion of the Star6
spate. but identified with one particular 8$ion6Serpent8. continuing conscious thereof until it
finds its proper place in Space. when its secret self flowers forth as a truth. which the
Adept may then ta"e bac" to earth with him(
'his is but a side issue( 'he main purpose of the Ritual is to establish the relation of the
subconscious self with the Angel in such a way that the Adept is aware that his Angel is the
/nity which eEpresses the sum of the #lements of that Self. that his normal consciousness
contains alien enemies introduced by the accidents of environment. and that his
Knowledge and Conversation of His Holy Guardian Angel destroys all doubts and
delusions. confers all blessings. teaches all truth. and contains all delights( But it is
important that the Adept should not rest in mere ineEpressible realiGation of his rapture. but
rouse himself to ma"e the relation submit to analysis. to render it in rational terms. and
thereby enlighten his mind and heart in a sense as superior to fanatical enthusiasm as
BeethovenIs music is to ;est African war6drums(
(
'hese phenomena are not wholly sub@ectiveD they may be perceived. though often under other forms. by even the
ordinary man(
Se'tion Gg
'he adept should have realised that his Act of /nion with the angel implies
(
the death of
his old mind save in so far as his unconscious elements preserve its memory when they
absorb it. and
*
the death of his unconscious elements themselves( But their death is
rather a going forth to renew their life through love( He then. by conscious comprehension
of them separately and together. becomes the 8Angel8 of his Angel. as Hermes is the ;ord
of <eus. whose own voice is 'hunder( 'hus in this section the adept utters articulately so
far as words may. what his Angel is to Himself( He says this. with his Scin6$aeca wholly
withdrawn into his physical body. constraining His Angel to indwell his heart(
$ine 1
8% am He8 asserts the destruction of the sense of separateness between self and Self( %t
affirms eEistence. but of the third person only( 8'he Bornless Spirit8 is free of all space.
8having sight in the feet8. that they may choose their own path( 8Strong8 is G B R. 'he
!agician escorted by the Sun and the !oon 7See $iber - and $iber ===9( 'he 8%mmortal
,ire8 is the creative SelfD impersonal energy cannot perish. no matter what forms it
assumes( Combustion is $ove(
$ine 2
8'ruth8 is the necessary relation of any two thingsD therefore. although it implies duality. it
enables us to conceive of two things as being one thing such that it demands to be defined
by complementals( 'hus. an hyperbola is a simple idea. but its construction eEacts two
curves(
$ine 3
'he Angel. as the adept "nows him. is a being 'iphereth. which obscures Kether( 'he
Adept is not officially aware of the higher Sephiroth( He cannot perceive. li"e the
%psissimus. that all things soever are eJually illusion and eJually Absolute( He is in
'iphereth. whose office is Redemption. and he deplores the events which have caused the
apparent Sorrow from which he has @ust escaped( He is also aware. even in the height of
his ecstasy. of the limits and defects of his Attainment(
$ine 4
'his refers to the phenomena which accompany his Attainment(
$ine 5
'his means the recognition of the Angel as the 'rue Self of his subconscious self. the
hidden $ife of his physical life(
$ine 6
'he Adept realises every breath. every word of his Angel as charged with creative fire(
'iphereth is the Sun. and the Angel is the spiritual Sun of the Soul of the Adept(
$ine =
Here is summed the entire process of bringing the conditioned /niverse to "nowledge of
itself through the formula of generation
(
D a soul implants itself in sense6hoodwin"ed body
and reason6fettered mind. ma"es them aware of their %nmate. and thus to parta"e of its
own consciousness of the $ight(
$ine >
8Grace8 has here its proper sense of 8)leasantness8( 'he eEistence of the Angel is the
@ustification of the device of creation(
*
$ine A
'his line must be studied in the light of $iber $*+ 7#JuinoE *%( p( 659(
(
'hat is. Fod He realiGing 'hemselves ;ill and /nderstanding in the twins +au He. !ind and body(
*
But see also the general solution of the Riddle of #Eistence in 'he Boo" of the $aw and its Comment 6 )art %+ of Boo"
4(
Se'tion -"
'his recapitulation demands the going forth together of the Adept and his Angel 8to do their
pleasure on the #arth among the living(8
Se'tion ."
'he Beast 666 having devised the present method of using this Ritual. having proved it by
his own practice to be of infallible puissance when properly performed. and now having
written it down for the world. it shall be an ornament for the Adept who adopts it to cry Hail
to His name at the end of his wor"( 'his shall moreover encourage him in !agic". to recall
that indeed there was ne who attained by its use to the Knowledge and Conversation of
His Holy Guardian Angel. the which forsoo" him no more. but made Him a !agus. the
;ord of the Aeon of HorusC
,or "now this. that the &ame %A, in its most secret and mighty sense declareth the
,ormula of the !agic" of the B#AS' whereby he wrought many wonders( And because he
doth will that the whole world shall attain to this Art. He now hideth it herein so that the
worthy may win to His ;isdom(
$et % and , face all
(
D yet ward their A from attac"( 'he Hermit to himself. the fool to foes.
'he Hierophant to friends. &ine by nature. &aught by attainment. ,ive by function( %n
speech swift. subtle and secretD in thought creative. unbiassed. unboundedD in act gentle.
patient and persistent(
Hermes to hear. -ionysus to touch. )an to behold(
A +irgin. A Babe. and a BeastC
A $iar. an %diot. and a !aster of !enC
A "iss. a guffaw. and a bellowD he that hath ears to hear. let him hearC
'a"e ten that be one. and one that is one in three. to conceal them in siEC
'hy wand to all Cups. and thy -is" to all Swords. but betray not thine #ggC
!oreover also is %A, verily 666 by virtue of &umberD and this is a !ystery of !ysteriesD
;ho "noweth it. he is adept of adepts. and !ighty among !agiciansC
&ow this word SABA,. being by number 'hree score and 'en
*
. is a name of Ayin. the
#ye. and the -evil our $ord. and the Goat of !endes( He is the $ord of the Sabbath of the
Adepts. and is Satan. therefore also the Sun. whose number of !agic" is 666. the seal of
His servant the B#AS'(
But again SA is 61. A%&. the &aught of &uithD BA means go. for HaditD and , is their Son
the Sun who is Ra6Hoor6Khuit(
So then let the Adept set his sigil upon all the words he hath writ in the Boo" of the ;or"s
of his ;ill(
And let him then end all. saying. Such are the ;ordsC
+
,or by this he ma"eth
proclamation before all them that be about his Circle that these ;ords are true and
puissant. binding what he would bind. and loosing what he would loose(
$et the Adept perform this Ritual aright. perfect in every part thereof. once daily for one
moon. then twice. at dawn and dus". for two moons. neEt. thrice. noon added. for three
moons. afterwards. midnight ma"ing up his course. for four moons four times every day(
'hen let the #leventh !oon be consecrated wholly to this ;or"D let him be instant in
continual ardour. dismissing all but his sheer needs to eat and sleep(
,
,or "now that the
true ,ormula
/
whose virtue sufficed the Beast in this Attainment. was thus:
%&+K# ,'#&
0
So may all men come at last to the Knowledge and Conversation of the Holy Guardian
Angel: thus sayeth the Beast. and prayeth His own Angel that this boo" be as a burning
$amp. and as a living Spring. for $ight and $ife to them that read therein(
666
(
%f we adopt the new orthography +%A+ 7Boo" 4 )art %%% Chap( +(9 we must read 8'he Sun666the Son8 etc( for 8all8D and
elaborate this interpretation here given in other ways. accordingly( 'hus 7of ,9 will not be 8'he ,ifteen by function8
instead of 8,ive8 etc(. and 8in act free. firm. aspiring. ecstatic8. rather than 8gentle8 etc( as in the present teEt(
*
'here is an alternative spelling 'GBA6, ;here the Root. 7ABG9 8an Host8. has the value of A3( 'he )racticus should
revive this Ritual throughout in the $ight of his personal researches in the 0abalah. and thus ma"e it his own peculiar
property( 'he spelling here suggested implies that he who utters the ;ord affirms his allegiance to the symbols A3 and
61 that he is a warrior in the army of ;ill and of the Sun( A3 is also the number of A%;A< and 6 of 'he Beast(
+
'he consonants of $GS. 8;ord8. add 7Hebrew values: sG$9 to A3( And #)H. 8;ords8. 7whence 8#pic89 has also that
value: #%-# 'A #)H might be the phrase here intended: its number is 41>( 'his would then assert the accomplishment
of the Great ;or"D this is the natural conclusion of the Ritual( Cf( CC**( %%%( =5(
,
'hese needs are modified during the process of %nitiation both as to Juantity and Juality( ne should not become
anEious about oneIs physical or mental health on a priori grounds. but pay attention only to indubitable symptoms of
distress should such arise(
/
'he racles of <oroaster utter this:
8And when. by often invo"ing. all the phantasms are vanished. thou shalt see that Holy and ,ormless ,ire. that ,ire
which darts and flashes through all the -epths of the /niverseD hear thou the +oice of the ,ireC
8A similar ,ire flashingly eEtending through the rushings of Air. or a ,ire formless whence cometh the %mage of a voice. or
even a flashing $ight abounding. revolving. whirling forth. crying aloud( Also there is the vision of the fire6flashing Courser
of $ight. or also a Child. borne aloft on the shoulders of the Celestial Steed. fiery. or clothed with gold. or na"ed. or
shooting with the bow shafts or light. and standing on the shoulders of the horse. then if thy meditation prolongeth itself.
thou shalt unite all these symbols into the form of a $ion(8
'his passage L combined with several others L is paraphrased in poetry by Aleister Crowley in his Tannhauser(
8And when. invo"ing often. thou shalt see
'hat formless ,ireD when all the earth is sha"en.
'he Stars abide not. and the moon is gone.
All 'ime crushed bac" into #ternity.
'he /niverse by earthJua"e overta"enD $ight is not. and the thunders roll.
'he ;orld is done:
;hen in the dar"ness Chaos rolls again
%n the eEcited brain:
'hen. then call not to thy view that visible
%mage of &atureD fatal is her nameC
%t fitteth not thy Body to behold
'hat living light of Hell.
'he unluminous. dead flame.
/ntil that body from the crucible
Hath passed. pure goldC
,or. from the confines of material space.
'he twilight6moving place.
'he gates of matter. and the dar" threshold.
Before the faces of the 'hings that dwell
%n the Abodes of &ight.
Spring into sight
-emons. dog6faced. that show no mortal sign
f 'ruth. but desecrate the $ight -ivine.
Seducing from the sacred mysteries(
But. after all these ,ol" of ,ear are driven
Before the avenging levin
'hat rives the opening s"ies.
Behold that formless and that Holy ,lame
'hat hath no nameD
'he ,ire that darts and flashes. writhes and creeps
Sna"e6wise in royal robe
;ound round that vanished glory of the globe.
/nto that s"y beyond the starry deeps.
Beyond the 'oils of 'ime. 6 then formulate
%n thine own mind. luminous. concentrate.
'he $ion of the $ight. a child that stands
n the vast shoulders of the Steed of God:
r winged. or shooting flying shafts. or shod
;ith the flame6sandals(
'hen. lift up thine handsC
Centre thee in thine heart one scarlet thought
$impid with brilliance of the $ight aboveC
-rawn into naught
All life. death. hatred. love:
All self concentred in the sole desire 6
Hear thou the +oice of ,ireC8
0
See #JuinoE %. +%%%. 22(
)%&' %%%
Scholion on Sections " 4 "g
The Seeds of /++ortality5
'he Adept who has mastered this Ritual. successfully realising the full import of this
controlled rapture. ought not to allow his mind to loosen its grip on the astral imagery of the
Star6spate. ;ill6Symbol. or Soul6symbol. or even to forget its duty to the body and the
sensible surroundings( &or should he omit to "eep his Body of $ight in close touch with the
phenomena of its own plane. so that its privy consciousness may fulfil its proper functions
of protecting his scattered ideals from obsession(
But he should have acJuired. by previous practice. the faculty of detaching these elements
of his consciousness from their articulate centre. so that they become 7temporarily9
independent responsible units. capable of receiving communications from headJuarters at
will. but perfectly able
(
to ta"e care of themselves without troubling their chief. and
*
to
report to him at the proper time( %n a figure. they must be li"e subordinate officers.
eEpected to display self6reliance. initiative. and integrity in the eEecution of the rders of
the -ay(
'he Adept should therefore be able to rely on these individual minds of his to control their
own conditions without interference from himself for the time reJuired. and to recall them in
due course. receiving an accurate report of their adventures(
'his being so. the Adept will be free to concentrate his deepest self. that part of him which
unconsciously orders his true ;ill. upon the realiGation of his Holy Guardian Angel( 'he
absence of his bodily. mental and astral consciousness is indeed cardinal to success. for it
is their usurpation of his attention which has made him deaf to his Soul. and his
preoccupation with their affairs that has prevented him from perceiving that Soul(
'he effect of the Ritual has been
a( to "eep them so busy with their own wor" that they cease to distract himD
b( to separate them so completely that his soul is stripped of its sheathsD
c( to arouse in him an enthusiasm so intense as to intoEicate and anaesthetiGe him.
that he may not feel and resent the agony of this spiritual vivisection. @ust as bashful
lovers get drun" on the wedding night. in order to braGen out the intensity of shame
which so mysteriously coeEists with their desireD
d( to concentrate the necessary spiritual forces from every element. and fling them
simultaneously into the aspiration towards the Holy Guardian AngelD and
e( to attract the Angel by the vibration of the magical voice which invo"es Him(
'he method of the Ritual is thus manifold(
'here is firstly an analysis of the Adept. which enables him to calculate his course of
action( He can decide what must be banished. what purified. what concentrated( He can
then concentrate his will upon its one essential element. over6coming its resistance 6 which
is automatic. li"e a physiological refleE 6 by destroying inhibitions through his ego6
overwhelming enthusiasm(
(
'he other half of the wor" needs no such compleE effortD for
his Angel is simple and unperpleEed. ready at all times to respond to rightly ordered
approach(
%t is impossible to overcome oneIs inhibitions by conscious effortD their eEistence @ustifies
them( God is on their side. as on that of the victim in BrowningIs %nstans 'yrannus( A man
cannot compel himself to love. however much he may want to. on various rational
grounds( But on the other hand. when the true impulse comes. it overwhelms all its criticsD
they are powerless either to ma"e or brea" a geniusD it can only testify to the fact that it
has met its master(
But the results of the Ritual are too various to permit of rigid description( ne may say that.
presuming the union to be perfect. the Adept need not retain any memory soever of what
has occurred( He may be merely aware of a gap in his conscious life. and @udge of its
contents by observing that his nature has been subtly transfigured( Such an eEperience
might indeed be the proof of perfection(
%f the Adept is to be any wise conscious of his Angel it must be that some part of his mind
is prepared to realise the rapture. and to eEpress it to itself in one way or another( 'his
involves the perfection of that part. its freedom from pre@udice and the limitations of
rationality so6called( ,or instance: one could not receive the illumination as to the nature of
life which the doctrine of evolution should shed. if one is passionately persuaded that
humanity is essentially not animal. or convinced that causality is repugnant to reason( 'he
Adept must be ready for the utter destruction of his point of view on any sub@ect. and even
that of his innate conception of the forms and laws of thought(
*
'hus he may find that his
Angel consider his 8business8 or his 8love8 to be absurd triflesD also that human ideas of
8time8 are invalid. and human 8laws8 of logic applicable only to the relations between
illusions(
&ow the Angel will ma"e contact with the Adept at any point that is sensitive to His
influence( Such a point will naturally be one that is salient in the AdeptIs character. and
also one that is. in the proper sense of the word. pure(
+
'hus an artist. attuned to appreciate plastic beauty is li"ely to receive a visual impression
of his Angel in a physical form which is sublimely Juintessential of his ideal( A musician
may be rapt away by ma@estic melodies such as he never hoped to hear( A philosopher
may attain apprehension of tremendous truths. the solution of problems that had baffled
him all his life(
Conformably with this doctrine. we read of illuminations eEperienced by simple6minded
men. such as a wor"man who 8saw God8 and li"ened Him to 8a Juantity of little pears8(
Again. we "now that ecstasy. impinging upon unbalanced minds. inflames the idolised
idea. and produces fanatical faith fierce even to frenGy. with intolerance and insanely
disordered energy which is yet so powerful as to effect the destinies of empires(
But the phenomena of the Knowledge and Conversation of the Holy Guardian Angel are a
side issueD the essence of the /nion is the intimacy( 'heir intimacy 7or rather identity9 is
independent of all partial forms of eEpressionD at its best it is therefore as inarticulate as
$ove(
'he intensity of the consummation will more probably compel a sob or a cry. some natural
physical gesture of animal sympathy with the spiritual spasm( 'his is to be criticised as
incomplete self6control( Silence is nobler(
%n any case the Adept must be in communion with his Angel. so that his Soul is suffused
with sublimity. whether intelligible or not in terms of intellect( %t is evident that the stress of
such spiritual possession must tend to overwhelm the soul. especially at first( %t actually
suffers from the eEcess of its ecstasy. @ust as eEtreme love produces vertigo( 'he soul
sin"s and swoons( Such wea"ness is fatal ali"e to its en@oyment and its apprehension( 8Be
strongC then canst thou bear more raptureC8 sayeth 'he Boo" of the $aw(
,
'he Adept must therefore play the man. arousing himself to harden his soul(
'o this end. %. the Beast. have made trial and proof of divers devices( f these the most
potent is to set the body to strive with the soul( $et the muscles ta"e grip on themselves as
if one were wrestling( $et the @aw and mouth. in particular. be tightened to the utmost(
Breathe deeply. slowly. yet strongly( Keep mastery over the mind by muttering forcibly and
audibly( But lest such muttering tend to disturb communion with the Angel. spea" only His
&ame( /ntil the Adept have heard that &ame. therefore. he may not abide in the perfect
possession of his Beloved( His most important tas" is thus to open his ears to the voice of
his Angel. that he may "now him. how he is called( ,or hear"enC this &ame. understood
rightly and fully. declareth the nature of the Angel in every point. wherefore also that &ame
is the formula of the perfection to which the Adept must aspire. and also of the power of
!agic" by virtue whereof he must wor"(
He then that is as yet ignorant of that &ame. let him repeat a word worthy of this particular
Ritual( Such are Abrahadabra. the ;ord of the Aeon. which signifieth 8'he Great ;or"
accomplished8D and Aumgn interpreted in )art %%% of Boo" 4
/
D and the name of 'H#
B#AS'. for that His number showeth forth this /nion with the Angel. and His ;or" is no
other than to ma"e all men parta"ers of this !ystery of the !ysteries of !agic"(
So then saying this word or that. let the Adept wrestle with his Angel and withstand Him.
that he may constrain Him to consent to continue in communion until the consciousness
becomes capable of clear comprehension. and of accurate transmission
0
of the
transcendent 'ruth of the Beloved to the heart that holds him(
'he firm repetition of one of these ;ords ought to enable the Adept to maintain the state
of /nion for several minutes. even at first(
%n any case he must re"indle his ardour. esteeming his success rather as an
encouragement to more ardent aspiration than as a triumph( He should increase his
efforts(
$et him beware of the 8lust of result8. of eEpecting too much. of losing courage if his first
success is followed by a series of failures(
,or success ma"es success seem so incredible that one is apt to create an inhibition fatal
to subseJuent attempts( ne fears to failD the fear intrudes upon the concentration and so
fulfils its own prophecy( ;e "now how too much pleasure in a love affair ma"es one afraid
to disgrace oneself on the neEt few occasionsD indeed. until familiarity has accustomed one
to the idea that oneIs lover has never supposed one to be more than human( Confidence
returns gradually( %narticulate ecstasy is replaced by a more sober en@oyment of the
elements of the fascination(
?ust so oneIs first daGGled delight in a new landscape turns. as one continues to gaGe. to
the appreciation of eEJuisite details of the view( At first they were blurred by the blinding
rush of general beautyD they emerge one by one as the shoc" subsides. and passionate
rapture yields to intelligent interest(
%n the same way the Adept almost always begins by torrential lyrics painting out mystical
eEtravagances about 8ineffable love8. 8unimaginable bliss8. 8ineEpressible infinities of
illimitable utterness8(
1
He usually loses his sense of proportion. of humour. of reality. and
of sound @udgment( His ego is often inflated to the bursting point. till he would be ab@ectly
ridiculous if he were not so pitifully dangerous to himself and others( He also tends to ta"e
his new6found 8truths of illumination8 for the entire body of truth. and insists that they must
be as valid an vital for all men as they happen to be for himself(
%t is wise to "eep silence about those things 8unlawful to utter8 which one may have heard
8in the seventh heaven8( 'his may not apply to the siEth(
'he Adept must "eep himself in hand. however tempted to ma"e a new heaven and a new
earth in the neEt few days by trumpeting his triumphs( He must give time a chance to
redress his balance. sore sha"en by the impact of the %nfinite(
As he becomes ad@usted to intercourse with his Angel. he will find his passionate ecstasy
develop a Juality of peace and intelligibility which adds power. while it informs and fortifies
his mental and moral Jualities instead of obscuring and upsetting them( He will by now
have become able to converse with his Angel. impossible as it once seemedD for he now
"nows that the storm of sound which he supposed to be the +oice was only the clamour of
his own confusions( 'he 8infinity8 nonsense was born of his own inability to thin" clearly
beyond his limits. @ust as a Bushman. confronted by numbers above five. can only call
them 8many8(
'he truth told by the Angel. immensely as it eEtends the horiGon of the Adept. is perfectly
definite and precise( %t does not deal in ambiguities and abstractions( %t possesses form.
and confesses law. in eEactly the same way and degree as any other body of truth( %t is to
the truth of the material and intellectual spheres of man very much what the !athematics
of )hilosophy with its 8infinite series8 and 8Cantorian continuity8 is to schoolboy arithmetic(
#ach implies the other. though by that one may eEplore the essential nature of eEistence.
and by this a pawnbro"erIs profits(
'his then is the true aim of the Adept in this whole operation. to assimilate himself to his
Angel by continual conscious communion( ,or his Angel is an intelligible image of his own
true ;ill. to do which is the whole of the law of his Being(
Also the Angel appeareth in 'iphereth. which is the heart of the Ruach. and thus the
Centre of Gravity of the !ind( %t is also directly inspired from Kether. the ultimate Self.
through the )ath of the High )riestess. or initiated intuition( Hence the Angel is in truth the
$ogos or articulate eEpression of the whole Being of the Adept. so that as he increases in
the perfect understanding of His name. he approaches the solution of the ultimate
problem. ;ho he himself truly is(
/nto this final statement the Adept may trust his Angel to lead himD for the 'iphereth6
consciousness alone is connected by paths with the various parts of his mind(
2
&one
therefore save He hath the "nowledge reJuisite for calculating the combinations of conduct
which will organise and eJuilibrate for forces of the Adept. against the moment when it
becomes necessary to confront the Abyss( 'he Adept must control a compact and
coherent mass if he is to ma"e sure of hurling it from him with a clean6cut gesture(
%. 'he Beast 666. lift up my voice and swear that % myself have been brought hither by
mine Angel( After that % had attained unto the Knowledge and Conversation of Him by
virtue of mine ardour towards Him. and of this Ritual that % bestow upon men my fellows.
and most of His great $ove that He beareth to me. yea. verily. He led me to the AbyssD He
bade me fling away all that % had and all that % wasD and He forsoo" me in that Hour( But
when % came beyond the Abyss. to be reborn within the womb of BABA$&. then came he
unto me abiding in my virgin heart. its $ord and $overC
Also He made me a !agus. spea"ing through His $aw. the ;ord of the new Aeon. the
Aeon of the Crowned and ConJuering Child(
3
'hus he fulfilled my will to bring full freedom
to the race of !en(
Fea. he wrought also in me a ;or" of wonder beyond this. but in this matter % am sworn to
hold my peace(

(
A high degree of initiation is reJuired( 'his means that the process of analysis must have been carried out very
thoroughly( 'he Adept must have become aware of his deepest impulses. and understood their true significance( 'he
8resistance8 here mentioned is automaticD it increases indefinitely against direct pressure( %t is useless to try to force
oneself in these mattersD the uninitiated Aspirant. however eager he may be. is sure to fail( ne must "now how to deal
with each internal idea as it arises(
*
f course. even false tenets and modes of the mind are in one sense true( %t is only their appearance which alters(
Copernicus did not destroy the facts of nature. or change the instruments of observation( He merely effected a radical
simplification of science( #rror is really a 8foolIs "not8( !oreover. the very tendency responsible for the entanglement is
one of the necessary elements of the situation( &othing is 8wrong8 in the endD and one cannot reach the 8right8 point of
view without the aid of oneIs particular 8wrong8 point( %f we re@ect or alter the negative of a photograph we shall not get a
perfect positive(
+
'his means. free from ideas. however eEcellent in themselves. which are foreign to it( ,or instance. literary interest has
no proper place in a picture(
,
$iber Al vel $egis. %%. 6166>. where the details of the proper techniJue are discussed(
/
'he essence of this matter is that the word A/!. which eEpresses the course of Breath 7spiritual life9 from free
utterance through controlled concentration to Silence. is transmuted by the creation of the compound letter !G& to
replace !: that is. Silence is realiGed as passing into continuous ecstatic vibration. of the nature of 8$ove8 under 8;ill8 as
shewn by !G& M 4B N 3 N 5B M A3 AGA)H. 'h#$H!A etc(. and the whole word has the value of 1BB. )erfection
)erfected. the /nity in completion. and eJuivalent to KR the con@unction of the essential male and female principles(
0
'he 8normal8 intellect is incapable of these functionsD a superior faculty must have been developed( As <oroaster says:
8#Etend the void mind of thy soul to that %ntelligible that thou mayst learn the %ntelligible. because it subsisteth beyond
!ind( 'hou wilt not understand %t as when understanding some common thing(8
1
'his corresponds to the emotional and metaphysical fog which is characteristic of the emergence of thought from
homogeneity( 'he clear and concise differentiation of ideas mar"s the adult mind(
2
See the maps 8!inutum !undum8 in the #JuinoE %. 1. 2. H 3 and the general relations detailed in $iber ===. of which
the most important columns are reprinted in AppendiE +(
3
,or the account of these matters see 'he #JuinoE. +ol( %. 8'he 'emple of Solomon the King8. $iber 41>. $iber Aleph.
8?ohn St( ?ohn8. 8'he /rn8. and Boo" 4. )art %+(