Magick in Theory and Practice (Section 4)

cast upon the shore and wrecked. Undamaged among the cargo is a “Victoria”. What is its use ? The wheels speak of roads, their slimness of smooth roads, the brake of hilly roads. The shafts show that it was meant to be drawn by an animal, their height and length suggest an animal of the size of a horse. That the carnage is open suggests a climate tolerable at any time of the year. The height of the box suggests crowded streets, or the spirited character of the animal employed to draw it. The cushions indicate its use to convey men rather than merchandise; its hood that rain some- jmes falls, or that the sun is at times powerful. The springs would imply considérable skill in metals; the varnish much attainment in that craft. 35* Similarly, let the adept consider of his own case. Now that he is on the point of plunging into the Abyss a giant Why ? confronts him with uplifted club. 3 b. There is no minutest atom of his composition which can be withdrawn without making him some other than he is; no useless moment in his past. Then what is his future ? The “Victoria” is not a wagon; it is not intended for carting hay. It is not a sulky; it is useless in trotting races. 3/* So the adept has military genius, or much knowledge of Greek; how do these attainments help his purpose, or the purpose of the Brothers ? He was put to death by Calvin, or stoned by Hezekiah; as a snake he was killed by a villager, or as an éléphant slain in battle under Hamilcar. How do such memories help him ? Until he hâve thoroughly mastered the reason for every incident in his past, and found a purpose for every item of his présent equipment, he cannot truly answer even those Three Questions that were first put to him, even the Three Questions of the Ritual of the Pyramid ; he is not ready to swear the Oath of the Abyss. 38. But being thus enlightened, let him swear the Oath of the Abyss; yea, let him swear the Oath of the Abyss. I. A brother known to me was repeatedly baffled in this méditation. But one day being thrown with his horse over a sheer cliff of forty feet, and escaping without a scratch or a bruise, he was reminded of his many narrow escapes from death. These proved to be the last factors in his problem, which, thus completed, solved itself in a moment. (O. M. Chinese Frontier 1905-6.) 422 —