Magick in Theory and Practice (Section 3)

which he lives by the installation of new officers to présidé over its initiation. This can take place only at an “Equinox of the Gods” at the end of an “Aeon”; that is, when the secret formula which expresses the Law of its action becomes outworn and useless to its further development. (Thus “Suckling” is the formula of an infant : when teeth appear it marks a new “Aeon”, whose “Word” is “Eating”). A Magus can therefore only appear as such to the world at inter- vais of some centuries ; accounts of historical Magi, and their Words, are given in Liber Aleph. This does not mean that only one man can attain this Grade in any one Aeon, so far as the Order is concerned. A man can make Personal progress équivalent to that of a “Word of an Aeon”; but he will identify himself with the current word, and exert his will to establish it, lest he conflict with the work of the Magus who uttered the Word of the Aeon in which He is living. The Magus is pre-eminently the Master of Magick, that is, his will is entirely free from internai diversion or external opposition; His work is to create a new Universe in accordance with His Will. He is the Master of the Law of Change (Anicca). To attain the Grade of Ipsissimus he must accomplish three tasks, destroying the Three Guardians mentioned in Liber 418, the 3rd Aethyr; Madness, and Falsehood, and Glamour, that is, Duality in Act, Word and Thought. 6. The Grade of Master of the Temple is described in Liber 418 as above indicated. There are full accounts in the Magical Diaries of the Beast 666, who was cast forth into the Heaven of Jupiter, and of Omnia in Uno, Unus in Omnibus, who was cast forth into the sphere of the Eléments. The essential Attainment is the perfect annihilation of that personality which limits and oppresses his true self. The Magister Templi is pre-eminently the Master of Mysticism, that is, His Understanding is entirely free from internai contradic¬ tion or external obscurity; His word is to comprehend the existing Universe in accordance with His own Mind. He is the Master of the Law of Sorrow (Dukkha). To attain the grade of Magus he must accomplish Three — 235 —