Magick Without Tears

16 On Concentration Cara Soror, Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the Law. You wisely ask me for a special letter on Concentration; you point out that I have implied it constantly, but never given plain instruction. Concentration does indeed unlock all doors; it lies at the heart of every practice as it is of the essence of all theory; and almost all the various rules and regulations are aimed at securing adeptship in this matter. All the subsidiary w 0 r k - awareness, one-pointedness, mindfulness and the rest-is intended to train you to this. All the greetings, salutations, "Saying Will," periodical adorations, even saying apo pantos kakodaimonos with a downward and outward sweep of the arm, the eyes averted, when one sees a person dressed in a religious (Christian) uniform: all these come under "Don't stroke the cat the wrong way!" or, in the modem pseudo-scientific journalese jargon "streamlining life." What you really need is the official Instruction in The Equinox, and the very fullest and deepest understanding of Eight Lectures on Yoga; but these lectures are so infernally interesting that when I look into the book for something to quote, it carries me away with it. I can't put it down, I forget all about this letter. Rather a back-handed advertisement for Concentration! The best way is the hardest; to forget all this and start 138