Magick in Theory and Practice (Section 1)

boggling and hacking at things, no clumsiness and no hésitation. If you strike a blow at ail, strike with your strength! “Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with ail thy might!” If you are going to take up Magick, rnake no compromise. You cannot make révolutions with rose-water, or wrestle in a silk hat. You will find very soon that you must either iose the hat or stop wrestling. Most people do both. They take up the magical path with ou t sufficient reflection, without that détermination of adamant which made the author of this book exclaim, as he took the first oath, “PERDURABO” — “I will endure unto the end!” 3 They start on it at a great pace, and then find that their boots are covered with mud. Instead of persisting, they go back to Piccadilly. Such persons hâve only themselves to thank if the very street-boys mock at them. Another recommendation was this: buy whatever may be necessary without haggling! You must not try to strike a proportion between the values of incommensurable things. * 2 The least of the Magical Instruments is worth infinitely more than ail that you possess, or, if you like, than ail that you stupidly suppose yourself to possess. Break this rule, and the usual Nemesis of the half-hearted awaits you. Not only do you get inferior instruments, but you lose in some other way what you thought you were so clever to hâve saved. Remember Ananias! On the other hand, if you purchase without haggling you will find that along with your purchase the vendor has thrown in ï. “For, enduring unto the End, at the End was Naught to endure.” Liber 333, Cap Z. 2. However closely the square of any fraction approximates to 2, no fraction equals \/2. \J2 is not in the sériés; it is a different kind of number altogether. 3. Observe well that there is never any real équivalence or measurable relation between any two things, for each is impregnably Itself. The exchange of property is not a mathematically accurate équation. The Wand is merely a conventional expression of the Will, just as a word is of a thought. It can never be anything else; thus, though the process of making it, whether it involves time, money, or labour, is a spiritual and moral synthesis, it is not measurable in terms of its éléments. 64