Table of Contents PartI. Principium Magikos Chapter 1: The How and Why of Magick ........ 3 Chapter 2: Buildinga Temple ............... 21 Chapter 3: The Magical Self ............-2.45 37 Chapter 4: The Cosmic Scheme .............. 51 Chapter 5: The Four Gateways of Power ........ 69 Chapter 6: Sigils and Elemental Servitors ........ 85 Part II. The Cosmonomicon Chapter 7: The Ritual ..............00004 107 Chapter 8: TheSun............-0 0000005 117 Chapter 9: TheMoon ..........2.00 00005 123 Chapter 10: Mercury ....... 0.0.00 eee eeue 135 Chapter 11: Venus ......... 000.0000 eee ee 145 Chapter iG Mare occ iscivesesieeauweiws 159 Chapter 13: Jupiter 2... enews 173 Chapter 14: Saturn... 2... ee 185 Chapter 15: Neptune, Uranus, and Pluto ........ 197 Bibliography ........... 0.00000 eee eeee 210 NNO 5 Fi id Fee cw 0 pve ee vt swine wie 211Foreword I firmly believe that Magick is a science; it is provable, log- ical, and offers solutions to questions that cannot be ex- plained by existing dogma. In the days before the cata- clysm, when the one god came to drive out the many gods, the great science was Magick, and Magick was very much part of life. Since those times we have had about two thou- sand years of presumption with occasional glimpses of the truth. Now it must change for the better for this is the dawning of the age of creativity. Only when we adopt a scientific approach to Magick will we ever begin to glimpse the sheer power, rightness, and magnificence of cosmology. To do this we will have to change our viewpoint; we will have to question and move forward. Within ourselves, within our own minds, there is a part of us that yearns for truth, knowing that the truth will set us free and bring abundance into our lives. There is also a part of us which still listens to a legacy bequeathed to us of quaint and whimsical ideas about Magick that is based on outdated and absurd conceptions. Most magical practices adhere to dubious traditions that have little basis in truth even if they do appear to offer something better. Let me give you my considered opinion as to the way in which Magick will change. Magick is a science and this will be realized; Magick will be both philosophical and pragmatic in every respect. New discoveries will be made of inestimable value to humankind, as mundane science al- lies with the greater science of Magick. Temples will be constructed in such a way as to enable esoteric thinkers to utilize natural forces in ways undreamed of today. The study and practice of Magick will expand and ex- tend consciousness, allowing us to explore other dimen- sions which begin within ourselves—in our subconscious mind. By exploring these dimensions, we may venture into the universal subconscious mind, that vast realm wherein the archetypal gods abide. Anything which can be used will be used, but more intelligently.The futuristic temples will be filled with meaningful symbolism designed to attune the subconscious mind in the best possible way. Color, scent, and sound will also be used to great effect. Sound will be synthesized along pre- cise channels and frequencies, again for maximum psy- chological effect, and this will be linked to color symbol- ogy which imitates the workings of the cosmos at any given time or place. The temple will become a tool for sci- entific research into the vast potential of the mind. There will, however, be an important difference in that these psy- chic laboratories will be filled with hope and will rever- berate with life energies. In my vision of the future, there is hope for hu- mankind, because the one true science will once again serve us. People will be cured by natural means, no longer will there be the pain and misery of surgery, or the horrors of supposed wonder drugs. The human mind will cure our afflictions. The magical sciences will answer our questions, remove our doubts, and give us a purpose for living by re- vealing the truth. The one great science scorned, abused, and almost buried by ignorance will once again emerge to pave the way to reality. If this seems idealistic or fanciful, so be it. The power of the human mind is awesome, and the reward is as infinite as any man or woman may conceive— for whatsoever we envision eventually comes to pass. You must judge for yourself. If my hypothesis is correct, then surely the world will bring us truth and happiness, and is this to be casually brushed aside in the need to agree with everyone else who is thinking conditionally? The alternative is to listen to the “no hope” philoso- phies of those who offer only karma, retribution, and end- less forced rebirth. Be honest, would you rather have a dream or a recurring nightmare? It is your right to choose, and your right to dream; dreams are powerful images that affect the subconscious mind. Dreams come true. Should we really continue to fill our minds with dreams of de-struction and total annihilation? Or can we better ourselves by dreaming of fulfillment? As change is inevitable, we must adapt and evolve. The future is not yet made—it can be whatever we desire. The future is ours, if we will only put aside outmoded concepts and use the techniques of sci- entific Magick instead.Introduction This book is divided into two parts. The first part is Prin- cipium Magikos—an exegesis of the art and science of Pragmatic Magick. Here I explain the pure theoretical un- derpinnings of Magick in order that novices, when ready to perform Magick, may know what they are doing and be at all times in control of the outcome. Principium Magikos provides step-by-step practical guidance to prepare for the exercise of Magick; it sets out instructions on how to cre- ate and perform rites that will have precisely the desired effect, and offers one complete ritual by way of illustra- tion. This book teaches how and why Magick works in an easy to understand way, free from confusion, ridiculous ideas, and outmoded thinking that belongs to our best-for- gotten past. It brings Magick out of the dark ages and into the computer age. The second part is the Cosmonomicon, which details an explanation of the symbolism with which we communi- cate with our subconscious mind, and gives an exegesis of the use of planetary energies and cosmic forces. I present Magick as it is and as it should be: a science freed from charlatanism, dogma, and the mystic demagogue. Although the contents of this book may be considered Cabbalistic in nature, the use of these techniques should appeal to all kinds of ritualists. Cabbalistic Magick appeals to those who are Hermetic in outlook. In other words, we use our minds to work Magick. The other side of the coin is Orphic, an emotional approach. The division is never as final as this, for any rite that works must have some emo- tional content if we are Hermetic, and must have some mental discipline if we are Orphic. Whatever system we follow, the same fourfold pattern is our basis, and we can- not be effective as magicians without understanding this pattern. This is the idea I have tried to provide in this book—a solid basis on which to work Magick. If properly pursued on monistic-subjective principles, the study and practice of Magick should become a simple and effectivexii / Phillip Cooper * way to control our future by tapping the inexhaustible re- sources of the subconscious mind. This, in turn, will ex- pand and extend our consciousness, thereby improving the intellect.Part One PRINCIPIUM MAGIKOSThe How and Why of Magick 7 Welcome to this very special book of Pragmatic Magick, a book designed to help you understand what Magick is all about. I will show you how to change your life by using your inherent power in a safe and natural way. I want to present the truth about Magick and the magical way to suc- cess, no matter what the word “success” may mean to you. In acting as your guide, I am able to point the way to truth, for not only have I spent a lifetime searching for that rare commodity, I am not bound by oaths to keep silent. In any case, the truth about life is quite plain to see once the way has been cleared and the path pointed out. Perhaps we ought to start by looking at the analysis of “Truth.” If you are perfectly honest with yourself, truth is what you really want. I mean REAL TRUTH, and not the imper- fect truths given to us by those who attempt to direct mag- ical arts, both past and present. The biggest problem with most concepts is that they are based on secondhand knowl- edge. No one has bothered to think about or question an- cient concepts. The present magical revival has been underway for a decade, but there are still only a few practitioners who ac- tually understand the subjective nature of Magick. Most contemporary magicians are naive about the true operative technique. The reason why so few get results is because only a few know the secrets.4 / Phillip Cooper Secondhand knowledge is no guarantee of success. That is one reason why the spells, incantations, and gri- moires of others are not necessarily of any use to you. The only knowledge worth having is the truth, and once you have discovered this for yourself, you cannot fail. There is a great deal of difference between accepted ideas which are made to work, and truth. Time and time again it can be proved that you can make anything work (and I do mean anything!) if you BELIEVE it to be true. Be- lief is a major key in life, and in Magick, for whatever you believe comes true. It makes sense to believe in the right ideas; in other words, those things which are true, as op- posed to someone else’s misconceptions, or their religious or philosophical beliefs. I will teach you to look for the real truth as it applies to you. I will teach you to question both your own beliefs and the accepted teachings of others and help you find the only path in life that matters—your own. Truth Versus Untruth If we are to establish what truth is, we had better start by looking at it from a different angle, by looking at some of the accepted “truths” that are held as being correct and absolute. Ideas about “God” As God is the source of all power, we have to beg and be- little ourselves to trust that God MAY hear us and grant some of our requests. Untrue. Our ideas about God are completely wrong, largely due to popular religion, and fur- ther suppositions on our part. There is a constant source of all-pervading energy which can be approached as “God.” What matters is our METHOD of approach. A negative ap-proach gets negative results, while a positive approach gets beneficial results every time. It is vitally important to re- member that our image of God determines what we get from God. What kind of god do you believe in? Do you believe in a god at all? Or do you, as many magically-minded people do, believe in many gods? The reason there are so many gods, or many different versions of God, is because each person will have a different point of view and will see God in different ways. Fate and Predestiny It is quite absurd to believe that we have no control over our lives; this is a misconception based on fixed irrational notions held stubbornly in the light of evidence to the con- trary and, incidentally, a belief fostered by those who like to make money out of people’s apparent misfortune. Whatis true is that our beliefs control what happens to us. If those beliefs are negative, destructive, and self-limit- ing, we are bound to get effects which are in keeping with them, such as illness, poverty, stress, and bad luck. Being human, we have to blame something (or somebody). Nat- urally, we dare not blame God, or even consider that it may be our own fault, so we blame intangibles, such as forces beyond our control. It may seem like a valid idea but, as we will see, it is not. In truth, through our beliefs. Devils, Demons, and other Astral Entities Like gods, these are images—components of the personal- ity. Despite the unfounded ramblings of pseudo-magical practitioners, let me categorically state that, in reality, there are no such beings, and they certainly do not exist outsideyourself. At this point, you may be experiencing something of a letdown. Am I saying that angels, demons, goddesses, and gods of old are only figments of the individual's imag- ination? Certainly not! The gods are real, and their power is awesome. Magical trances or altered states of conscious- ness are the key to entering their kingdom, the Olam Yetzi- rah, or the Astral Plane, of which more will be said later on. Images and visions of spirits are actually archetypes evoked from the deep-mind via magical trance, and are an important part of magical technique, especially the per- sonal images, or visions, such as archangels, and so on. It all depends on what you are trying to achieve. If you are seeking to bring good into your life, you use beneficial im- ages such as (realistic) gods and angels. If you are con- cerned with ridding yourself of unwanted evils, then you personify these as demons and such. These are advanced techniques best reserved for more advanced magical work. Unfortunately a little knowledge can often be a dangerous thing in the hands of fools who imitate, but do not fully un- derstand, these images. Instant Magick Like anything else in life, the more you put in, the more you get out. There is no such thing as instant Magick, be- cause the magical arts need study and practice. You can no more make these absurd ideas work than you can, say, pick up a French dictionary and expect to speak the lan- guage fluently. Spells and Chants There is a great deal of misunderstanding about these tech- niques. Words can be extremely powerful if they are un-derstood. It is quite possible that the magician who first conceived the spell may well have made it work because he put a great deal of thought and feeling into the words—he gave the words power by belief. It does not follow that any- one else repeating those same words will get the same re- sults because the words belong to someone else. The per- sonal involvement is missing. You can literally chant away until you are blue in the face, but unless you work up some emotional fire and belief in what you are saying, nothing will ever happen. If you are ignorant of the value of ritual wording, you may delude yourself. Joining a Lodge or Coven It is quite natural for the would-be magician who has met with failure, confusion, or uncertainty to seek the company of those in the know. The more unscrupulous organizations will be more than pleased to show you inner secrets (for a price) and offer you initiation into these mysteries. What mysteries? The secrets of Magick are quite plain to see, and demand no loyalty to some cause or oaths of silence. Most of these lodge secrets can be found in books if you search about for them. The only true way to personal power is by individual effort. Of course you can learn from others, but you must avoid the herd instinct that leads to joining magical organi- zations. The Truth The following statement of fact cannot be overstressed. The essential truth about life, particularly from an esoteric point of view, is as follows: YOU = BELIEF = LIFE ENERGYIf you were expecting profound and mystical truths, com- plex formulae, or some tremendous revelation, you could be excused for being surprised. Centuries of muddled thinking have made life appear to be far more complex than it really is. Think long and hard about those three words. They are a master key to success, simple though they may appear. Life Energy Let us start by looking at creation in a simplified way. First creative intelligence (God) created life energy. This was then split into distinct categories in the same way that light can be divided into colors of the spectrum. From a magical point of view, these became known as the planetary energies, of which more will be written later. However, energy by itself is not sufficient to produce the physical universe in which we live. There has to be some- thing into which this energy can be directed. That “some- thing” is known as matter. Matter is formless, shapeless, and inert. It is, for all intents and purposes, quite dead. Life is created when matter is given energy. The lifeless “no- thing” becomes “some-thing.” Everything that we see and touch is matter which contains energy—everything from a pebble to the human body. The essential difference be- tween one object, such as a stone, and another, such as water, is the type of energy which it contains. Magick is the art of getting to know about this energy and learning how to use it. Before we can do this, we have to look a little deeper. Beliefs Each and every one of you has the ability to create around yourself all that you wish to have. In fact, you are doing this right now! Before you start to write letters telling meall about your misfortunes, unhappiness, and lack of money, I urge you to think carefully about the absolute truth which follows. There are many myths, mythoi, and profound state- ments which allude to our inherent power. Time after time, great teachers have pointed out the reality of our hidden abilities, yet very few have listened. The key to life is con- tained in the word “belief.” Suppose you owned a vast computer which was capa- ble of answering any question and could also, through other computers, robots, and so forth, bring anything to your door. If you think about the rapid advances being made in technology, this is not as farfetched as you may suppose. All you have to do is ask your computer, and it does the rest without any further effort on your part. As a human being, you have such a device. It is called the sub- conscious mind. This incredible mental computer is capa- ble of anything, and, furthermore, it can be directed by you, if you know how. There are many techniques that attempt to influence the subconscious mind. Among these are hypnosis, alpha states, magical or ritual trance, autosuggestion, altered states of consciousness, and mind power. Correct magical procedure uses only the best techniques together with the only language which the subconscious mind can under- stand—symbols. As you will see, Magick without symbol- ism is quite pointless. We will delve further into the mysteries of the subcon- scious in subsequent chapters. However, it is important to understand the part that belief plays in this matter. Always remember that beliefs are not restricted to religious issues; we have beliefs about everything.ee ene o. Unfounded Beliefs Each one of us has any number of blocks that prevent the effective use of power. These blocks may manifest as fears, phobias, compulsions, strange ideas, and beliefs or non-be- liefs that we have accepted without thinking. Magick can only be totally effective when all these blocks are realized and replaced by truth! This truth is again different for each person, as we all have a different point of view and no two people see the same thing in the same way. In olden days, these blocks were conceived as demons in the same way that angels represented the higher aspects. If you wish to use the visual image of a demon or an angel, then do so! However, keep in mind that they are only com- ponents of your personality, or serious error will result. These things are not real, and are not to be given any im- portance they do not warrant. The idea of bowing the knee to an angel, or fleeing from a demon is ridiculous! In the in- vocation of the so-called holy guardian angel, the lower self, undesirable blocks are made to prostrate themselves to the higher self. As long as this is borne in mind, all is well and good. The idea falls apart when the holy guardian angel is presumed to be remote, and the operator identifies with the lower self while assuming strange ideas of self-fla- gellation and unworthiness. This is a classic case of the demon winning on all points. We are evolved! We have power! All we have to do is rediscover it. Tackle each block as you come to it. If some- thing appears not to work, then there is a reason for this, and “God's will” is no longer a valid excuse. Incorrect Presumption Here we are dealing with largely unfounded beliefs which can be made to work. I will not go into detail; the never-ending list grows each day. However, it will suffice to say that incorrect presumptions have no place in real Magick. They do, however, play a major role in today’s esoterics and are often not easy to identify. As an example, consider the concept of consecrating ritual implements. When fully understood, the act of consecration is a powerful magical act. Mumbling a few words together with assorted gestures over ritual implements is quite pointless because it is pre- sumed by incorrect belief that the implements are, in them- selves, magical. They are not; no ritual equipment is, in it- self, magical. Ritual equipment is only an aid to focusing the mind and nothing else. The golden rule with Magick is: Never do or say anything that you do not fully understand. When you understand something, you remove the chances of failure. Positive Beliefs When you exert positive belief, you ignore all the appar- ent facts while concentrating on that which is desired. This is the essence of most mind power books and it is to- tally correct. Always keep in mind that the old idea of see- ing is believing is not necessarily true. The more you be- come involved with Magick, the more you will begin to realize that “facts” are not necessarily true. They only ap- pear to be true. Real Magick ignores the facts, and con- centrates, instead, on the goal, because it is realized that facts can be changed. I could list hundreds of cases in which the apparent facts have been pushed aside in favor of something better. You You are made in the image of God—so the Bible tells us. This is not a myth, it is absolute fact! You are the only crea-ture on this planet who has the capacity to create using life energy. That which can be described as “God” creates a universe; you create within the universe according to your will. There are no limitations on the ability to create. You have, above all else, free choice. Naturally, this is akin to a sword that cuts both ways. If you have negative beliefs, you get negative results. If you have positive beliefs, you get positive results. Free choice is being exercised because they are your beliefs, no matter where you got them from. By changing your beliefs, you change your life. Your subconscious mind is a wonderful creative tool. Give it an instruction (in other words, a belief) and it will carry this out without any further action on your part, just like the computer previously mentioned. The art and science of instructing the subconscious mind in this way is called Magick, and this is the sole reason why magical techniques work. You, as an individual, can and will learn how to do this in the safest, most natural way. You already have power, and that power is probably leaking away, or being wasted on unrealistic beliefs such as poverty, illness, and lack. There is no external cause for people’s problems. The real cause lies within the subconscious mind. Even science is beginning to realize this fact, for many illnesses are being diagnosed .as psychosomatic, in other words, as in the mind. If people's beliefs cause their troubles, where do they get them from? The answer is quite complex. From the moment you are born, you are constantly being bombarded with impressions as you learn. It is sci- entific fact that the first few months of life tend to shape the character of the child. Children, particularly babies, are very receptive. If the impressions they receive are largely beneficial, they grow up well-balanced and optimistic be- cause their beliefs are generally positive. If, on the otherhand, the impressions received are restrictive and jaded, the result is negative belief patterns, which give rise to se- tious problems. If you look around, you will see the evi- dence of this in yourself and in others. Once a person exercises the right of free choice and be- gins to question, things start to change almost at once. Any degree of serious thinking awakens the subconscious mind. If questions are being asked, it will immediately start to provide answers, for the subconscious mind always seeks to serve, just like the lamp of Aladdin. It responds to your desires. Remember that no matter what has happened in the past, no matter what your belief patterns have done to your life, your subconscious mind is always there to help. It is your servant. From this point of view alone, your future is therefore always bright. No matter what lies behind you, success lies ahead, providing that you make the effort. To recapitulate: 1. There is abundant life energy freely available to you. No god or other religious entity measures this out in small doses in proportion to your worthiness. There is more than enough energy for everyone and it will never run out. 2. You have a subconscious mind which is your servant. It will do whatever you wish, using life energy to manifest your desires into physical fact. All you have to do is give it instructions. Magick is concerned with the giving of such instructions. 3. Beliefs are the key to magical power. Itis most important to replace wrong beliefs with truth. Only by getting rid of outmoded and self-limiting beliefs can life take on a new meaning.Turning Desires into Reality Remember this magical rule: Input = Output. There is no such thing as instant Magick. Everything takes time. In order to get the most out of Magick, you will have to study the ideas I give in each chapter and then apply them. Do not skim through each chapter and then rush into the prac- tical work; go slowly and steadily. Think carefully about all that has been written and try to understand the ideas given to you. There is no substitute for patience, persistence, and regular daily study. The more you put in, the more you get out. This is true in life and certainly true in Magick. One of the greatest causes of failure is expecting something for nothing. If you want to change your life, become successful and content, then you must be prepared to work. This means that you will have to devote some time each day to your studies and practical work. It is a small sacrifice for a large gain. A prerequisite for successful magical work is the abil- ity to become calm. You cannot work effective rituals, and thereby influence your subconscious mind, if you are in a state of turmoil. This preliminary meditation serves as a vital transition stage between the mundane world and the sacred dimensions of the Inner Temple, of which more will be said later. In a temporal sense, it will lead you smoothly from real time into dream time. Learn to relax, especially before attempting a magical act or exercise. This is not dif- ficult to do. All you have to do is breathe slowly and gen- tly, and then let go of everyday thoughts. In a similar way, slowly work through your body, feeling it relax, little by lit- tle. Tension is the enemy of ritual because it blocks access to your subconscious mind. The relaxation exercise can be performed sitting or lying down. From your toes gradually work up the body to the top of your head, relaxing each part as you come to it.This exercise can be taken one stage further by standing upright with your arms at your sides, eyes open or closed. This exercise involves five central points on your body, and these points correspond to the five central spheres on the Cabbalistic Tree of Life. See figure 1 on page 16. You will concentrate on each of the five areas (Kether, Daath, Tiphereth, Yesod, and Malkuth), one at a time be- ginning with the head, and as you do, endeavor to imagine a sphere of brilliance pulsating with the correct color en- ergy. Spend a little time on this before moving to the next position. When the ankle area is reached, then return. Start at the ankles, and move back up the body toward the head to complete the cycle. To reiterate, concentrate your whole mind upon the crown of the head; visualize a sphere of white brilliance. Concentrate on just that part of your body, as though it were the only part of you that was alive and active. After doing this for a minute, concentrate your attention upon your throat area; visualize a sphere of lavender-blue bril- liance, feel your neck and skin, and the air flowing down it. When your consciousness has been centered in this part of your body, then bring the consciousness down to your heart area; visualize a sphere of yellow brilliance; feel the flesh and the internal organs of this area, feel your heart beating. Become conscious of your lungs and the rhythm of breathing. Now bring your consciousness down further until you reach your lower stomach, the genital area; visualize a sphere of violet brilliance. Become aware of the internal workings and feel of this area. Finally, concentrate your attention upon your ankles and feet, visualizing a sphere of brown or green brilliance. Feel your consciousness in your feet and heels, the exis- tence of your toes. Now reverse this process, starting at your feet-ankle area, and gradually work back up through each area, finishing at the crown of your head once more.16 / Phillip Cooper Kether | (Uranus)| Crown of Head Daath (Pluto) | Nape of Neck, Throat Tiphereth | (Sun) Heart Yesod | (Moon) | Genitals Malkuth (Earth) | Ankles, Feet Figure 1. Quickening the subconscious.BASIC MAGICK / 17 The point of this exercise is to gradually concentrate and awaken a consciousness in each area of the body. This will cause the blood to be excited in those parts. It will cause the objective consciousness, as well as the subjective consciousness, to develop and increase in that part of the body. The nerve centers in those parts will be awakened by this process until, by the time you have reached the feet and returned back up to the head again, you will find that your whole body is tingling with life and vitality. After having done this for three or four days, the next time you do it, take a deep breath and hold it while you concentrate on each of the five areas of the body. For in- stance, when you come to the crown of the head, take a deep breath through the mouth, hold it for half a minute; concentrate on this, visualizing (imagining and feeling) the sphere of brilliance, then exhale through the mouth. Then move down to the next position and do the same thing, only modifying the color of the sphere to suit the correct area. Each time, hold the deep breath that you have inhaled through the mouth while concentrating, then exhale and breathe out through the mouth. You will find that this adds to your vitality. The deep breath gives you an extra amount of positive energy, which further quickens and enlivens the psychic senses of those parts on which you are concentrating. The extra amount of vitality that enters the blood cells of the lungs each time you take a deep breath and hold it is passed off by the blood in its circulation at the points where you are concen- trating. You are feeding each of these points with an extra amount of vital life force which includes the very essence of physical and mental power that is required to awaken the psychic centers of those parts.The Breath Mantram By deep breathing, I mean inhaling (breathing in), but not to the point of discomfort. Then, hold the breath as long as possible, also without discomfort, and exhale as instructed. The use of a breath mantram will help concentration while visualizing each sphere of brilliance. The SU HAAM mantram can be put to good effect. The SU sound is made on the in-breath and the HAA sound is made on the out- breath, the M at the end of HAAM is made by closing the mouth. If you have a respiratory illness—such as a lung or heart ailment—I would advise dispensing with the deep breathing method. It is a good idea to use some soft music or slow drumming, and perhaps some joss sticks or general incense.! When you have absorbed the imagined light of the Cabbalistic sphere (or psychic center), and when this experience reaches its peak, move into the temple area or place of work, still maintaining your “set” or trance, ready for your magical work. Ritual Bath Even though it is not essential that you physically bathe or wash before a ritual, a physical action can serve to instigate a mental attitude. In Magick, it is essential that the mind be clear of all but the intention. The Magick is done on a sub- conscious level, and the reasoning logical mind, cluttered and clouded as it is by everyday events, invariably gets in the way. This is where the cleaning process is useful. A physical bath washes away the cares, troubles, and ten- sions of mundane living and leaves us calm, with a clear channel to the subconscious mind. This can also be achieved by a few moments of silent meditation; and, in- ‘A joss stick is a small stick of incense burned in a Chinese temple.deed, a physical bath should always be followed by a pe- riod of silence before any ritual is attempted. A physical bath can be dispensed with, but the silent mind part is es- sential. Unless the intent is carried through to the subcon- scious levels, all Magick will fail. Bathing, robes, candles, oils, and incense are only means of intensifying the sub- conscious will. To use a modern cliché, “They hammer home the message and get the point across.” An adept of many years training and control can dis- pense with the outward tools of Magick, for he or she has learned to control the many levels of the mind by a mental cleansing process. If you find that a bath helps, then use it. In fact, use whatever will bring about the desired state of consciousness. Decide What You Want Now we will do a really practical exercise of the utmost value. We all tend to think that we know what we want, but do we? You are about to find out. The best way to sum up magical procedure is: THINK—ACT—FORGET It is essential to think and plan out any magical ritual be- fore you perform it. Thinking about your ritual intention helps get the intention firmly in the mind, and also helps you tackle any negative thoughts that will prevent success. I want you to decide exactly what you want from life. Think about this carefully, and write down everything on a sheet of paper. While doing this, it is important that you not restrict yourself in any way. One way of doing this is to imagine that you have a limitless supply of blank checks and unlimited funds in the bank. Think about this. If you really did have an endless supply of money, what wouldev ft ip Leper you buy, where would you go, and so forth? Let your imag- ination run free, and watch out for any negative ideas, such as, “I cannot have that because of . . .” or similar ideas. Another way to look at this is to pretend you have a Genie in a bottle, or even Aladdin's lamp. Use any ideas that help widen your horizons and give you unlimited free choice. Take your time and let everything come out into the open. When you are satisfied that you have covered every- thing that you need, take another sheet and divide this list into two sections—needs and desires. There is quite a difference between something needed and something desired. For instance: if your health is bad, you need better health. A new car or a trip abroad could well be a desire. Again, take your time and think carefully about all this. Finally, I want you to look at each of these two lists and put them in order of priority. The net result is that you are now clear in your mind as to exactly what you want from life, and you can also see which of these things are most important. Spend some time on these exercises until you have be- come proficient; before moving on, take your time. Do re- member to be positive. In other words, include everything no matter how impossible it may appear to be. In the next chapter, I will show you how to begin to turn these needs and desires into reality.Building a Temple There are some pretty idiotic ideas about magical temples. Most center around the idea that these are holy places in which certain divine (or unsavory) entities gather at the whims of the magician. This being the central theme, all else gathers around it. There is a magical law which states that if the center is wrong, then all else is wrong. So it is with temples. If the temple is conceived and constructed around the wrong ideal then the result is a shambles. Be- fore looking at the temple we must, of necessity, look at the ideal around which it is to be built. A Magick Temple The sole function of a temple is to provide a controlled en- vironment for magical work because the temple is nothing more or less than a workroom, albeit a special workroom. As Magick is a science of using the mind, it naturally fol- lows that anything likely to affect the mind adversely should be excluded. Conversely, anything likely to enhance the mind is included. Let us start by looking at the exclu- sion of undesirable elements. There are two areas to be considered: physical and nonphysical. Often these combine to produce problems, so the distinction is not exact. Of prime importance is security; in other words, the ability to prevent intrusion by un-wanted individuals. A strong lock on the door, together with heavy curtains over the windows, serves to reduce the possibilities of distraction, but more to the point, they help Promote peace of mind. The more peaceful you are, and the more relaxed and comfortable you feel, the better will be your state of mind. Naturally, the results are therefore more assured because you cannot hope to concentrate fully on what you are doing if half your mind is concerned with the Possibility of distractions. Often, when sharing a place of residence with non-sympathizers, there are additional se- curity problems, such as how does one carry on magical work without raising suspicions? There are no hard and fast rules as situations vary tremendously from Person to person; however, a little thought and ingenuity will often solve the problem. Suitable cover stories such as yoga, meditation, and so forth, are one avenue worth exploring. Always remember that the more relaxed you are the better the result, so it naturally follows that time spent on sorting out these problems is well spent in the long run. Noise is another problem. This may be alleviated by using back- ground music, drumming, or special narratives, but even- tually you will train yourself to turn off to such things. Having looked at some problems needing exclusion, let us now look at the temple setup. Temples vary accord- ing to available space, type of work being undertaken, and other more personal factors. The description which follows is of an ideal temple using universal symbolism equating to all realistic magical practices. We will discuss less ade- quate situations later. However, the same basics apply re- gardless of space or expenditure. The Room The first consideration is one of orientation. You may have read in some book that it is vital to align the temple to thepoints of the compass in order to captivate natural mag- netic currents. This is not strictly true. You can work just as well without being aligned to magnetic north for most work, so this is not a major consideration. Only when mag- ical work reaches a certain stage of development (for ex- ample: the deeper modes of Esoteric Magick), will it be found desirable to equate the temple to such lines of nat- ural power. Until then you can manage quite well without. Obviously, the four walls of the temple will have to be designated according to the elements and cardinal points. Here we have a choice either to be purely practical or to be in some reasonable alignment. Some examples will serve to illustrate this. We will presume that the designated temple is rectangular. This is ideal for practical considerations. It provides alignment and there is adequate space available in the center of each wall for stands, altar, and so forth. An ideal setup would have the altar in the center, rather than against a wall. Apart from the fact that this is symbolically correct (power emanates from the center), it also gives the advantage of allowing one to work toward any magical di- rection, as in seasonal work, or work with one’s personal ruling planets. Although it is customary to work toward the east, this is a remnant of Judaic thought and plays no part in serious magical work. If the altar needs to be placed against a wall then any convenient wall will do. Then again, the altar placement could be left entirely to personal choice. Having looked at the room, let us now consider the equipment. Equipment Much depends on what kind of magical work you have in mind, but there are certain basics. Now let us forget all the mumbo jumbo about purifying or consecrating magical equipment. Most of the ideas are quite silly, being moti-vated by quixotic medieval conceptions rather than sci- ence. The whole point of magical equipment is simply to aid concentration of the mind—that is all. The important thing to remember is that magical equipment only becomes useful when a relationship is forged between magician and object. For instance, if you rush out and buy a Magick Sword, then expect it to work miracles by helping you command spirits or make the floor burst open and spill forth the legions of hell in cinemascope and stereophonic sound, you will either be bitterly disappointed, or you will forever delude yourself. If you consecrate the Sword, either with a ready-made ritual, or with one you have thought up yourself, you may improve matters slightly. Much depends on your powers of belief, however. There are two mistakes here: firstly that of presuming that the words of someone else will work for you and secondly, that of adhering to pseudo-magical concepts. Obviously this is not very satis- factory either. So what is the best approach? With all mag- ical equipment, first ask the simple question: Do I really need this? It is so very easy to spend a small fortune on equip- ment presuming that this is essential and that in some way it enhances your magical work. It may enhance your mag- ical work if understood and used intelligently, but then again it may not. Why do you need a robe? Because the book tells you 80, or because it is essential? The truth is that you do not need a robe. Look at it this way: if the wearing of a robe makes you feel more at ease, more comfortable, then you have the right attitude of mind. If not, then do not bother. The whole idea is to help you change your attitude of mind from the mundane to the magical, and the changing of one’s clothes helps this. Think of it this way: when you are going somewhere special you dress up to suit the occasion, which of course makes you feel better. You fit in with the situation. Clothes help create the right feel and mood. Con-sider the idea of going to some splendid function in sweater and worn-out jeans. You would feel out of place, uncomfortable and ill at ease. You would not just throw on any old thing, either, you would spend time thinking about what to wear and might even buy something special for the occasion. So it is with robes; if they make you feel good, then use them. Also remember the idea of choosing clothes for a special occasion and apply the same idea to robes. The more thought you put into this the better, which brings me to the next important point. Equipment is Only as Good as You Make It As mentioned, the relationship between you and your equipment is what really matters. How can you possibly have a relationship with a piece of equipment, I hear you say? Quite easy, whatever you come into contact with, be this persons or things, you automatically form a relation- ship by virtue of your attitude of mind toward them. Now, in magical work, attitude of mind is of paramount impor- tance. We are, after all, dealing with the powers of the mind. The more personal contact between you and the ob- ject you intend to use, the better the result. This is one rea- son why magical practitioners are encouraged to make their own equipment whenever possible. The making of some ritual object helps forge this link because the magi- cian will be putting his or her own thoughts and actions into practice. The end product is personal and is the result of using the magician’s ingenuity and imagination. Now, obviously, not everyone can seriously consider making a Magick Sword out of a bar of steel. This requires consider- able skill, not to mention the cost of the equipment needed to produce it, so unless you have the ability and the money, this is out of the question. So where do we go from here? Well, this is where the concept of ritual consecration came—_ from. The idea is one of personalizing the object in ques- tion, of forming a special relationship with it. Other ideas have also been used, such as the inscribing of sigils and mottos, all designed to make the object special in a per- sonal sense. There are many ways of doing this and the practice is quite valid providing the magician understands what he or she is really trying to do. Overall, there are four points to remember when deal- ing with ritual equipment. These are: 1, What function does it have in Magick; in other words, what does it do? 2. In the light of this, is it really necessary to my work? 3. How can I make better use of it by personalization tech- niques? 4. Where applicable, is it symbolic? Now let us look at some basic equipment. The Altar In line with the above points, first we must ask what is an altar and what does it do? An altar, as such, is not some holy object, it is simply a work surface, and to be perfectly frank, is no different from, say, a woodworker’s bench. After all, you would find it highly uncomfortable trying to perform a ritual on the floor, so you need something con- venient on which you can place candles, symbols, and so forth. That is the basic function of an altar. Now it really does not matter a hoot what shape or size this is, let per- sonal choice be the judge. You can use whatever comes to hand, such as a cupboard or even a coffee table, or you can make one yourself. With regard to personalization, obvi- ously a plain cupboard is hardly likely to be an inspiringsight and to all intents and purposes, it still is an ordinary cupboard. So, what to do? Think about this: use your imag- ination rather than copy ideas from other people. One useful idea is that of using an altar cloth. Not only does it help disguise the cupboard, it also gives you the opportu- nity to use color. Color is a superb way of enhancing ritu- als by giving the mind visual stimuli. Use it whenever possible. Traditionalists may opt for the double cube shape as this contains much in the way of symbolism. This can easily be made from chipboard or plywood, fas- tened together with screws and glue, then placed one on top of the other. The size can be eighteen inches by eigh- teen inches square. Paint the top cube white and the bot- tom cube black, castors can be attached to the bottom to make movement easier. This, of course, brings us to the idea of symbolism so important in magical work. By varying the altar cloth’s color to suit the type of energy being used, we can more easily attain contact with the power in question. Color symbolizes, or represents, a type of energy, usually plane- tary, although there are other types. For instance, red be- longs to Mars, green to Venus, silver to the Moon, and so forth. The impact is immediate because the color suggests the appropriate energy. Quarter Lights These are important symbolic points which fit on to the Magick Circle. If you happen to have a floor design, well and good; if not, it does not really matter. There are certain advantages in having quarter stands, and these can be made quite easily out of wood and painted in the correct colors of the elements. As each elemental doorway is de- clared open, this may be symbolized by lighting the appro- priate candle or lamp and extinguishing the appropriatecandle or lamp upon closing the doorway. This becomes very effective with practice. If you do not have quarter stands at this present time, candleholders containing can- dies may be placed on the floor surrounding your altar at the cardinal points or on the altar itself.) The Pillars These are not essential in most work of a practical nature, but they do find a useful place in Esoteric Magick. Pillars have many uses. They may be used as a symbolic doorway through which we pass into the Inner Temple, or to the oth- erworld state, or as a doorway through which power flows into the temple, to name but three. They may be made from wood or even plastic pipe. The ideal colors are white to represent positive forces and black to represent receptivity. Candles or lamps may be placed on the tops. As a visual aid they are quite impressive and once again work far bet- ter if thought about carefully. The Weapons Again these find usage mainly in esoteric matters, but can be used in Pragmatic Magick if understood. There are four weapons to be considered. The Sword. The ideas perpetuated by pseudo-practitioners are to be ignored. A Magick Sword is not used to prod demons out of the circle, or to command various entities to do your bidding. This is medieval quixotism, nothing more. The Sword is a symbol. It represents the element Air and equates to the eastern quarter. Used properly, it helps us direct and control this element. Once again apply the ‘Make sure that all fire precautions are attended to; perhaps you can have a small fire extinguisher or fire blanket kept in some inconspicuous place.rules given. Let us presume that you understand its func- tion and have decided that you do need a Sword. Before you buy one of the more usual designs, which of necessity carry with them an assortment of outmoded and often in- correct concepts, stop and think. Use your imagination to determine the design that suits you. The more you think, the better will be your impressions of what this is to be in terms of design. By doing this you know which Sword is right for you, because you have brought this design out of your own subconscious. It is therefore yours. Having done this, you may then have one made to your own specifica- tions, or may choose to modify the Sword nearest to your ideal. Again, the more you put into the final product the better it will serve you. The Wand, Rod, or Spear. These are easily made with a min- imum of skill. They may be made from ordinary wooden dowels or taken from a tree at some special time. The choice is yours again, bearing in mind the essential idea of thinking about this in order to ensure that it is truly per- sonal. Symbolically, the Rod acts as control symbol for the element Fire and correctly equates to magical south. The Cup or Chalice. This belongs to the element Water and equates to magical west. It need not cost a fortune or be made out of gold or silver. Let your own choice guide you after due consideration. The Shield. This controls the element Earth and belongs to magical north. Like all the elemental weapons, the Shield should be thought about before being made. The size ought to be reasonable—at least twelve inches in diameter (eigh- teen inches is better). It can be made from plywood or even stiff cardboard, with a painted design on one side. The de- sign is important and is again a question of choice. Do not just paint a Pentagram because this is supposed to be pow- erful. The design must be understood. It is symbolic. Try an Encircled Cross instead. The whole idea of the Shield is tocandle or lamp upon closing the doorway. This becomes very effective with practice. If you do not have quarter stands at this present time, candleholders containing can- dles may be placed on the floor surrounding your altar at the cardinal points or on the altar itself.’ The Pillars These are not essential in most work of a practical nature, but they do find a useful place in Esoteric Magick. Pillars have many uses. They may be used as a symbolic doorway through which we pass into the Inner Temple, or to the oth- erworld state, or as a doorway through which power flows into the temple, to name but three. They may be made from wood or even plastic pipe. The ideal colors are white to represent positive forces and black to represent receptivity. Candles or lamps may be placed on the tops. As a visual aid they are quite impressive and once again work far bet- ter if thought about carefully. The Weapons Again these find usage mainly in esoteric matters, but can be used in Pragmatic Magick if understood. There are four weapons to be considered. The Sword. The ideas perpetuated by pseudo-practitioners are to be ignored. A Magick Sword is not used to prod demons out of the circle, or to command various entities to do your bidding. This is medieval quixotism, nothing more. The Sword is a symbol. It represents the element Air and equates to the eastern quarter. Used properly, it helps us direct and control this element. Once again apply the ‘Make sure that all fire precautions are attended to; perhaps you can have a small fire extinguisher or fire blanket kept in some inconspicuous place.rules given. Let us presume that you understand its func- tion and have decided that you do need a Sword. Before you buy one of the more usual designs, which of necessity carry with them an assortment of outmoded and often in- correct concepts, stop and think. Use your imagination to determine the design that suits you. The more you think, the better will be your impressions of what this is to be in terms of design. By doing this you know which Sword is right for you, because you have brought this design out of your own subconscious. It is therefore yours. Having done this, you may then have one made to your own specifica- tions, or may choose to modify the Sword nearest to your ideal. Again, the more you put into the final product the better it will serve you. The Wand, Rod, or Spear. These are easily made with a min- imum of skill. They may be made from ordinary wooden dowels or taken from a tree at some special time. The choice is yours again, bearing in mind the essential idea of thinking about this in order to ensure that it is truly per- sonal. Symbolically, the Rod acts as control symbol for the element Fire and correctly equates to magical south. The Cup or Chalice. This belongs to the element Water and equates to magical west. It need not cost a fortune or be made out of gold or silver. Let your own choice guide you after due consideration. The Shield. This controls the element Earth and belongs to magical north. Like all the elemental weapons, the Shield should be thought about before being made. The size ought to be reasonable—at least twelve inches in diameter (eigh- teen inches is better). It can be made from plywood or even stiff cardboard, with a painted design on one side. The de- sign is important and is again a question of choice. Do no! just paint a Pentagram because this is supposed to be pow- erful. The design must be understood. It is symbolic. Try an Encircled Cross instead. The whole idea of the Shield is to30 / Phillip Cooper present a concept of power or cosmic symbology, rather like a circuit diagram which gives masses of information to those who can read it. In part, the Shield is something that you contemplate and meditate on, so the design should be meaningful and should stimulate the imagination along the right lines. To this end, Shield designs may be subject to constant variation. Additional Equipment This is largely a matter of choice, but basic requirements would include anything likely to enhance your ritual work. An incense burner, together with a range of incense to cover all your requirements, is always desirable. The whole subject of incense is a confusing one, and different people advocate different concoctions. The study and compound- ing of incense is a highly specialized subject, and a branch of Magick which requires deep knowledge, devotion, and a feel for this vocation. With Magick, numerous problems have arisen because of wrong thinking perpetuated down the ages, and so it is with all acknowledged branches of the art. Incense was born from our ability to use the sense of smell to a higher degree than the animals, and through this it was learned not only which scent was associated with a physical object, but magical practitioners were also able to classify all physical objects by placing them under the rulership of the elements, planets, and signs. It is from this correct classification, or doctrine of correspondences, that the recipes for correct incense are drawn. Without going into too much detail, if you wish to con- fact natural forces through their true physical line, it is es- sential that you use the correct incense for your rites. The mind associates with scent very quickly, and this is most useful in reverse, as the scent then brings the object to mind and, with practice, the power that is behind it. In- cense also helps still the mind and create a tranquil atmos-