Book 4 (Part II)

i6 centre of each of which burns a small Lamp ; these are the *' Fortresses upon the Frontiers of the Abyss." See the eleventh Aethyr, Liber 418 ("Equinox V"). They keep off those forces of darkness which might otherwise break in. The names of God form a further protection. The Magician may consider what names he will use; but each name should in some way symbolise this Work in its method and accomplishment. It is impos- sible here to enter into this subject fully; the discovery or construction of suitable names might occupy the most learned Qabalist for many years. These nine lamps were originally candles made of human fat, the fat of enemies^ slain by the Magician; they thus served as warnings to any hostile force of what might be expected if it caused trouble. To-day such candles are difficult to procure; and it is perhaps simpler to use beeswax. The honey has been taken by the Magician; nothing is left of the toil of all those hosts of bees but the mere shell, the fuel of light. This beeswax is also used in the construction of the Pantacle, and this letter, so that the seven names (see "Equinox VII") are spelt out. But this is a rather different symbolism. Of course in ordinary specialised working the number of lamps depends on the nature of the work, e.g., three for works of Saturn, eight for works Mercurial, and so on. ^ Or sometimes of " birth-strangled babes," i.e., of thoughts slain ere they could arise into consciousness.