Magick in Theory and Practice (Section 2)

and fraternize with them. They will then tear you in pièces at their leisure. Not at once 3 they will wait until you hâve wholly broken the link between you and your Holy Guardian Angel before they pounce, lest at the last moment you escape. Antony of Padua and (in our own times) “Macgregor” Mathers are examples of such victims. Neverthless, every magician must firmly extend his empire to the depth of hell. aMy adepts stand upright, their heads above the heavens, their feet below the hells.” 1 This is the reason why the magician who performs the Operation of the “Sacred Magic of Abramelin the Mage”, immediately after attaining to the Knowledge and Conversation of the Holy Guardian Angel, must evoke the Four Great Princes of the Évil of the World. “Obedience and faith to Him that liveth and triumpheth, that reigneth above yon in your palaces as the Balance of Righteousness and Truth” is your duty to your Holy Guar¬ dian Angel, and the duty of the démon world to you. These powers of “evil” nature are wild beasts; they must be tamed, trained to the saddle and the bridle; they will bear you well. There is nothing useless in the Universe: do not wrap up your Talent in a napkin, because it is only “dirty money”! With regard to Pacts, they are rarely lawful. There should be no bargain struck. Magick is not a trade, and no hucksters need apply. Master everything, but give generouslv to your servants, once they hâve unconditionally submitted. There is also the question of alliances with various Powers. These again are hardly ever allowable.2 No Power which is not 1. Liber XC, verse 40. See The Equinox. 2. Notwithstanding, there exist certain bodies of spiritual beings, in whose ranks are not only angelic forces, but elementals, and even daemons, who hâve attained to such Right Understanding of the Universe that they hâve banded themselves together with the object of becoming Microcosms, and realize that their best means to this end is dévotion to the service of the true interests of Mankind. Societies of spiritual forces, organized on these lines, dispose of enormous resources. The Magician who is himself sworn to the service of humanity may count upon the heartiest help of these Orders. Their sincerity may always be assured by putting them to the 194 —