Magick in Theory and Practice (Section 4)

let not the Philosophus despise any form of love, but harmonise ail. As it is written: Liber LXV. 32. aSo therefore Perfection abideth not in the Pinnacles or in the Foundation, but in the harmony of One with ail.” Second, if any part of this love exceed, there is disease therein. As, in the love of Othello for Desdemona, lovées jealousy over- came love’s tenderness, so may it be in in this love of a particular Deity. And this is more likely, since in this divine love no élément may be omitted. It is by virtue of this completeness that no human love may in a 113/ way attain to more than to foreshadow a little part thereof. 34. Concerning Mortifications. — These are not necessary to this method. On the contrary, they may destroy the concentration, as counter-irritants to, and so alleviations of, the suprême mortifi¬ cation which is the Absence of the Deity invoked. Yet as in mortal love arises a distaste for food, or a pleasure in things naturally painful, this perversion should be endured and allowed to take its course. Yet not to the interférence with natural bodily health, whereby the instrument of the soûl might be impaired. And concerning sacrifices for love’s sake, they are natural to this Method, and right. But concerning voluntary privations and tortures, without use save as against the devotee, they are generally not natural to healthy natures, and wrong. For they are selfish. To scourge one’s self serves not one’s master 3 yet to deny one’s self bread that one’s child may hâve cake is the act of a true mother. 35. Further concerning Mortifications.—If thy body, on which thou ridest, be so disobedient a beast that by no means will he travel in the desired direction, or if thy mind be baulkish and éloquent as Balaam’s fabled Ass, then let the practice be abandoned. Let the shrine be covered in sackcloth, and do thou put on habits of lamentation, and abide alone. And do thou return most austerely to the practice of Liber Jugorum, testing thyself by a standard higher than that hitherto accomplished, and punishing effractions with a heavier goad. Nor do thou return to thy dévotion until 400