Magick in Theory and Practice (Section 2)

as trutli in the perceptible imiverse; every idea when analysecl is fornid to contain a contradiction. It is quite useless (except as a temporary expédient) to set up one class of ideas against another as being "more real”. The advance of man towaids God is not necessarily an advance towards truth. Ail philosophical Systems hâve crumbled. But each class of ideas possesses true relations within itself. It is possible, with Berkeley, 1 to deny the existence of water and of wood; but, for ail that, wood fioats on water. The Magician becomes identical with the imrnor- tal Osins, yet the Magician dies. In this dilemma the facts must be restated. One should preferably say that the Magician becomes tonscious of that part of himself which he calls the immortal Osins j and that Part does not “die”. Now this interior body of the Magician, of which we spoke at the begmning of this chapter, does exist, and can exert certain powers which his natural body cannot do. It can, for example, pass tirough matter , and it can move freelv in every direction * ni ough space. But this is because “matter”, in the sense in which we commonly use the word, is on another plane 2. Now this fine body perceives a uni verse which we do not ordinarily . perceive. It does not necessarily perceive the universe which we do normally perceive, so although in this body I can pass through the roof, it does not follow that I shall be able to tell what the weather is like. I might do so, or I might not; Dut if I could not, it would not prove that I was deceiving myself m supposing that I had passed through the roof. This body, which is called by varions authors the Astral double, body of Light, body of fire, body of desire, fine body, scin-laeca and numberless other naines is naturally fiited to perceive objects of ils own class... in particular, the phantoms of the astral plane. 1. 1 he real Berkeley did nothing of the sorti the reference here is to an imaginary animal invented by Dr. Johnson ont of sturdy British ignorance. 2. We do not call electrical résistance, or économie îaws, unreal, on the ground that they are not directly perceived by the senses. Gur magical doctrine is universally accepted by sceptics — only they wish to make Magick itseîf an exception! H4 —