Magick in Theory and Practice (Section 4)

every day thrice, or at least once, and let the sleep of the Philosophus be broken for some purpose of dévotion at least once in every night. Now to some it may seem best to appoint fixed hours for the ceremony. To others it may seem that the ceremony should be performed as the spirit moves them so to do 3 for this there is no rule. 9. Concernlng the Robes and Instruments : — The Wand and Cup are to be chosen for this Art 3 never the Sword or Dagger, never the Pantacle, unless that Pantacle chance to be of a nature harmonious. But even so it is best to keep to the Wand and the Cup, and if one must choose, the Cup. For the'Robes, that of a Philosophus, or that of an Adept Within is most suitable3 or the robe best fitted for the service of the particular Deity, as a bassara for Bacchus, a white robe for Vesta. So also for Vesta, one might use for instrument the Lampj or the sickle, for Chronos. 10. Concernlng the Incense and Libations. — The incense should follow the nature of the particular Deity, as, mastic for Mercury, dittany for Persephone. Also the libations, as, a décoc¬ tion of nightshade for Melancholia, or of Indian hemp for Uranus. 11. Concernlng the harmony of the ceremonies: — Let ail these things be rightly considered, and at length, in language of the utmost beauty at the command of the Philosophus, accom- panied, if he has skill, by music, and interwoven, if the particular Deity be jocund, with dancing. And ail being carefully prepared and rehearsed let it be practised daily until it be wholly rhythmical with his aspirations, and as it were, a part of his being. 12. Concernlng the variety of the ceremonies. — Now, seeing that every man differeth essentially from every other man, albeit in essence he is identical, let also these ceremonies assert their identity by their diversity. For this reason do we leave much herein to the right Ingenium of the Philosophus. 12. Concernlng the life of the devotee. -— First let his way of life be such as is pleasing to the particular Deity. Thus to invoke Neptune, let him go a-fishing3 but if Hades, let him not approach the water that is hateful to Him. 392