CEREMONIAL magic is the ancient art of invoking and controlling
spirits by a scientific application of certain formulae. A magician,
enveloped in sanctified vestments and carrying a wand inscribed
with hieroglyphic figures, could by the power vested in certain
words and symbols control the invisible inhabitants of the elements
and of the astral world. While the elaborate ceremonial magic of
antiquity was not necessarily evil, there arose from its perversion
several false schools of sorcery, or black magic.
Egypt, a great center
of learning and the birthplace of many arts and sciences, furnished
an ideal environment for Transcendental experimentation. Here the
black magicians of Atlantis continued to exercise their superhuman
powers until they had completely undermined and corrupted the morals
of the primitive Mysteries. By establishing a sacerdotal caste they
usurped the position formerly occupied by the initiates, and seized
the reins of spiritual government. Thus black magic dictated the
state religion and paralyzed the intellectual and spiritual activities
of the individual by demanding his complete and unhesitating acquiescence
in the dogma formulated by the priestcraft. The Pharaoh became a
puppet in the hands of the Scarlet Council -- a committee of archsorcerers
elevated to power by the priesthood.
These sorcerers then
began the systematic destruction of all keys to the ancient wisdom,
so that none might have access to the knowledge necessary to reach
adeptship without first becoming one of their order. They mutilated
the rituals of the Mysteries while professing to preserve them,
so that even though the neophyte passed through the degrees he could
not secure the knowledge to which he was entitled. Idolatry was
introduced by encouraging the worship of the images which in the
beginning the wise had erected solely as symbols for study and meditation.
False interpretations were given to the emblems and figures of the
Mysteries, and elaborate theologies were created to confuse the
minds of their devotees. The masses, deprived of their birthright
of understanding and groveling in ignorance, eventually became the
abject slaves of the spiritual impostors. Superstition universally
prevailed and the black magicians completely dominated national
affairs, with the result that humanity still suffers from the sophistries
of the priestcrafts of Atlantis and Egypt.
Fully convinced that
their Scriptures sanctioned it, numerous medieval Qabbalists devoted
their lives to the practice of ceremonial magic. The transcendentalism
of the Qabbalists is founded upon the ancient and magical formula
of King Solomon, who has long been considered by the Jews as the
prince of ceremonial magicians.
Among the Qabbalists
of the Middle Ages were a great number of black magicians who strayed
from the noble concepts of the Sepher Yetzirah and became enmeshed
in demonism and witchcraft. They sought to substitute magic mirrors,
consecrated daggers, and circles spread around posts of coffin nails,
for the living of that virtuous life which, without the assistance
of complicated rituals or submundane creatures, unfailingly brings
man to the state of true individual completion.
Those who sought to
control elemental spirits through ceremonial magic did so largely
with the hope of securing from the invisible worlds either rare
knowledge or supernatural power. The little red daemon of Napolean
Bonaparte and the infamous oracular heads of de Medici are examples
of the disastrous results of permitting elemental beings to dictate
the course of human procedure.
While the learned
and godlike daemon of Socrates seems to have been an exception,
this really proves that the intellectual and moral status of the
magician has much to do with the type of elemental he is capable
of invoking. But even the daemon of Socrates deserted the philosopher
when the sentence of death was passed.
Transcendentalism
and all forms of phenomenalistic magic are but blind alleys -- outgrowths
of Atlantean sorcery; and those who forsake the straight path of
philosophy to wander therein almost invariably fall victims to their
imprudence. Man, incapable of controlling his own appetites, is
not equal to the task of governing the fiery and tempestuous elemental
spirits.
Many a magician has
lost his life as the result of opening a way whereby submundane
creatures could become active participants in his affairs. When
Eliphas Levi invoked the spirit of Apollonius of Tyana, what did
he hope to accomplish? Is the gratification of curiosity a motive
sufficient to warrant the devotion of an entire lifetime to a dangerous
and unprofitable pursuit? If the living Apollonius refused to divulge
his secrets to the profane, is there any probability that after
death he would disclose them to the curious-minded? Levi himself
did not dare to assert that the specter which appeared to him was
actually the great philosopher, for Levi realized only too well
the proclivity of elementals to impersonate those who have passed
on. The majority of modern mediumistic apparitions are but elemental
creatures masquerading through bodies composed of thought substance
supplied by the very persons desiring to behold these wraiths of
decarnate beings.
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Baphomet:
The Goat of Mendes
The
practice of magick - either white or black -
depends upon the ability of the adept to control
the universal life force - that which Eliphas Levi
calls the great magical agent or astral light.
By the manipulation of this fluidic essence, the
phenomena of transcendentalism are produced.
The famous hermaphroditic Goat of Mendes was
a composite creature formulated to symbolize
this astral light. It is identical with Baphomet,
the mystic pantheos of those disciples of
ceremonial magic, the Templars, who probably
obtained it from the Arabians.
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The
Theory and Practice of Black Magic
Some
understanding of the intricate theory and practice of ceremonial
magic may be derived from a brief consideration of its underlying
premises.
First. The visible
universe has an invisible counterpart, the higher planes of which
are peopled by good and beautiful spirits; the lower planes, dark
and foreboding, are the habitation of evil spirits and demons under
the leadership of the Fallen Angel and his ten Princes.
Second. By means of
the secret processes of ceremonial magic it is possible to contact
these invisible creatures and gain their help in some human undertaking.
Good spirits willingly lend their assistance to any worthy enterprise,
but the evil spirits serve only those who live to pervert and destroy.
Third. It is possible
to make contracts with spirits whereby the magician becomes for
a stipulated time the master of an elemental being.
Fourth. True black
magic is performed with the aid of a demoniacal spirit, who serves
the sorcerer for the length of his earthly life, with the understanding
that after death the magician shall become the servant of his own
demon. For this reason a black magician will go to inconceivable
ends to prolong his physical life, since there is nothing for him
beyond the grave.
The most dangerous
form of black magic is the scientific perversion of occult power
for the gratification of personal desire. Its less complex and more
universal form is human selfishness, for selfishness is the fundamental
cause of all worldly evil. A man will barter his eternal soul for
temporal power, and down through the ages a mysterious process has
been evolved which actually enables him to make this exchange. In
its various branches the black art includes nearly all forms of
ceremonial magic, necromancy, witchcraft, sorcery, and vampirism.
Under the same general heading are also included mesmerism and hypnotism,
except when used solely for medical purposes, and even then there
is an element of risk for all concerned.
Though the demonism
of the Middle Ages seems to have disappeared, there is abundant
evidence that in many forms of modern thought -- especially the
so-called "prosperity" philosophy, "will-power building"metaphysics,
and systems of "high-pressure" salesmanship -- black magic has merely
passed through a metamorphosis, and although its name be changed
its nature remains the same.
A well-known magician
of the Middle Ages was Dr. Johannes Faustus, more commonly known
as Dr. Faust. By a study of magical writings he was enabled to bind
to his service an elemental who served him for many years in various
capacities. Strange legends are told concerning the magical powers
possessed by Dr. Faust. Upon one occasion the philosopher, being
apparently in a playful mood, threw his mantle over a number of
eggs in a market-woman's basket, causing them to hatch instantly.
At another time, having fallen overboard from a small boat, he was
picked up and returned to the craft with his clothes still dry.
But, like nearly all other magicians, Dr. Faust came at length to
disaster; he was found one moming with a knife in his back, and
it was commonly believed that his familiar spirit had murdered him.
Although Goethe's Dr. Faust is generally regarded as merely a fictional
character, this old magician actually lived during the sixteenth
century. Dr. Faust wrote a book describing his experiences with
spirits, a section of which is reprinted below. (Dr. Faust must
not be confused with Johann Fust, the printer.)
"While
the black magician at the time of signing his pact with the elemental
demon may be fully convinced that he is strong enough to control
indefinitely the powers placed at his disposal, he is speedily undeceived.
Before many years elapse he must turn all his energies to the problem
of self-preservation. A world of horrors to which he has attuned
himself by his own covetousness looms nearer every day, until he
exists upon the edge of a seething maelstrom, expecting momentarily
to to be sucked down into its turbid depths. Afraid to die -- because
he will become the servant of his own demon -- the magician commits
crime after crime to prolong his wretched earthly existence. Realizing
that life is maintained by the aid of a mysterious universal life
force which is the common property of all creaeures, the black magician
often becomes an occult vampire, stealing this energy from others.
According to mediaeval superstition, black magicians turned themselves
into werewolves and roamed the earth at night, attacking defenseless
victims for the life force contained in their blood."
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The
Pentacles of the Seven Planets and the
Seals and Characters of the Planetary Angels
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The
seven large circles are the pentacles of the planets, while
the two small circles under each contain the seal and the
character of the controlling intelligence of the planet.
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Extract From the
Book of Dr. Faust, Wittenberg, 1524
(An abridged translation
from the original German of a book ordered destroyed.)
"From my youth I followed
art and science and was tireless in my reading of books. Among those
which came to my hand was a volume containing all kinds of invocations
and magical formulae. In this book I discovered information to the
effect that a spirit, whether he be of the fire, the water, the
earth or the air, can be compelled to do the will of a magician
capable of controlling him. I also discovered that according as
one spirit has more power than another, each is adapted for a different
operation and each is capable of producing certain supernatural
effects.
"After reading this
wonderful book, I made several experiments, desiring to test the
accuracy of the statements made therein. At first I had little faith
that what was promised would take place. But at the very first invocation
which I attempted a mighty spirit manifested to me, desiring to
know why I had manifested him. His coming so amazed me that I scarcely
knew what to say, but finally asked him if he would serve me in
my magical investigations. He replied that if certain conditions
were agreed upon he would. The conditions were that I should make
a pact with him. This I did not desire to do, but as in my ignorance
I had not protected myself with a circle and was actually at the
mercy of the spirit, I did not dare to refuse his request and resigned
myself to the inevitable, considering it wisest to to turn my mantle
according to the wind.
"I then told him that
if he would be servicable to my desires and requests and needs for
a certain length of time, I would sign myself over to him. After
the pact had been arranged, this mighty spirit, whose name was Ashteroth,
["Ashtar"] introduced me to another spirit by the name of
Marbuel, who was appointed to be my servant. I questioned Marbuel
as to his suitability for my needs. I asked him how quick he was,
and he answered, 'As swift as the winds.' This did not satisfy me,
so I replied, 'You cannot become my servant. Go again whence you
have come.' Soon another spirit manifested itself, whose name was
Aniguel. Upon asking him the same question, he answered that he
was swift as a bird in the air. I said, 'You are still too slow
for me. Go whence you came.' In the same moment another spirit by
the name of Aciel manifested himself. For the third time I asked
my question and he answered, 'I am as swift as human thought.' 'You
shall serve me,' I replied. This spirit was faithful for a long
time, but to tell you how he served me is not possible in a document
of this length and I will here only indicate how spirits are to
be invoked and how the circles for protection are to be prepared.
There are many kinds of spirits which will permit themselves to
be invoked by man and become his servant. Of these I will list a
few:
"Aciel: The mightiest
among those who serve men. He manifests in pleasing human form about
three feet high. He must be invoked three times before he will come
forth into the circle prepared for him. He will furnish riches and
will instantly fetch things from a great distance, according to
the will of the magician. He is as swift as human thought.
"Aniguel: Serviceable
and most useful, and comes in the form of a ten-year-old boy. He
must be invoked three times. His special power is to discover treasures
and minerals hidden in the ground, which he will furnish to the
magician.
"Marbuel: A true lord
of the mountains and swift as a bird on the wing. He is an opposing
and troublesome spirit, hard to control. You must invoke him four
times. He appears in the person of Mars [a warrior in heavy armorl.
He will furnish the magician those things which grow above and under
the earth. He is particularly the lord of the spring-root. [The
spring-root is a mysterious herb, possibly of a reddish color, which
mediaeval magicians asserted had the property of drawing forth or
opening anything it touched. If placed against a locked door, it
would open the door. The Hermetists believed that the red-capped
woodpecker was specially endowed with the faculty of discovering
spring-root, so they followed this bird to its nest, and then stopped
up the hole in the tree where its young were. The red-crested woodpecker
went at once in quest of the spring- root, and, discovering it,
brought it to the tree. It immediately drew forth the stopper from
the entrance to the nest. The magician then secured the root from
the bird. It was also asserted that because of its scructure, the
etheric body of the spring-root was utilized as a vehicle of expression
by certain elemental spirits which manifested through the proclivity
of drawing out or opening things.]
"Aciebel: A mighty
ruler of the sea, controlling things both upon and under the water.
He furnishes things lost or sunk in rivers, lakes, and oceans, such
as sunken ships and treasures. The more sharply you invoke him,
the swifter he is upon his errands.
"Machiel: Comes in
the form of a beautiful maiden and by her aid the magician is raised
to honor and dignity. She makes those she serves worthy and noble,
gracious and kindly, and assists in all matters of litigation and
justice. She will not come unless invoked twice.
"Baruel: The master
of all arts. He manifests as a master workman and comes wearing
an apron. He can teach a magician more in a moment than all the
master workmen of the world combined could accomplish in twenty
years. He must be invoked three times.
"These are the spirits
most serviceable to man, but there are numerous others which, for
lack of space, I am unable to describe. Now, if you desire the aid
of the spirit to get this or that, then you must first draw the
sign of the spirit whom you desire to invoke. The drawing must be
made just in front of a circle made before sunrise, in which you
and your assistants will stand. If you desire financial assistance,
then you must invoke the spirit Aciel. Draw his sign in front of
the circle. If you need other things, then draw the sign of the
spirit capable of furnishing them. On the place where you intend
to make the circle, you must first draw a great cross with a large
sword with which no one has ever been hurt. Then you must make three
concentric circles. The innermost circle is made of a long narrow
strip of virgin parchment and must be hung upon twelve crosses made
of the wood of cross-thorn. Upon the parchment you must write the
names and symbols according to the figure which follows. [see GIF
included in this series] Outside this first circle make the second
as follows:
"First secure a thread
of red silk that has been spun or twisted to the left instead of
the right. Then place in the ground twelve crosses made of laurel
leaves, and also prepare a long strip of new white paper. Write
with an unused pen the characters and symbols as seen on the second
circle. Wind this latter strip of paper around with the red silken
thread and pin them upon the twelve crosses of laurel leaves. Outside
this second circle make a third one which is also of virgin parchment
and pinned upon twelve crosses of consecrated palm. When you have
made these three circles, retire into them until at last you stand
in the center upon a pentagram drawn in the midst of the great cross
first drawn. Now, to insure success, do everything according to
the description, and when you have read off the sacred invocation
pronounce the name of the spirit which you desire to appear. It
is essential that you pronounce the name very distinctly. You must
also note the day and the hour, for each spirit can only be invoked
at certain times."
While the black magician
at the time of signing his pact with the elemental demon may be
fully convinced that he is strong enough to control indefinitely
the powers placed at his disposal, he is speedily undeceived. Before
many years elapse he must turn all his energies to the problem of
self-preservation. A world of horrors to which he has attuned himself
by his own covetousness looms nearer every day, until he exists
upon the edge of a seething maelstrom, expecting momentarily to
to be sucked down into its turbid depths. Afraid to die -- because
he will become the servant of his own demon -- the magician commits
crime after crime to prolong his wretched earthly existence. Realizing
that life is maintained by the aid of a mysterious universal life
force which is the common property of all creaeures, the black magician
often becomes an occult vampire, stealing this energy from others.
According to mediaeval superstition, black magicians turned themselves
into werewolves and roamed the earth at night, attacking defenseless
victims for the life force contained in their blood.
Form of pact with
the spirit of Jupiter:
"The aforesaid Bond
of Spirits, together with the seal and character of the planetary
angel, must be written on virgin parchment and laid before the spirit
(for signature) when he appears; at that time the invocant must
not lose confidence but be patient, firm, bold, and persevering,
and take care that he asks nor requires nothing of the spirit but
with a view to the glory of God and the well-being of His fellow
creatures. Having obtained the desires of the spirit, the invocant
may license him to depart."
Form of Bond of Spirits
Given in 1573
"I, Pabiel, ministering
Spirit and messenger of the presiding and ruling Spirit of Jupiter,
appointed thereunto by the Creator of all things visible and invisible,
do swear, promise, and plight my faith and troth unto thee in the
presence and before the great [Heb.] Yod Heh Vau Heh and the whole
company and host of Heaven, and by all the Holy Names of God do
swear and bind myself unto thee by all the contents of God's Sacred
Writ, by the Incarnation, Death, and Passion, by the Resurrection
and glorious Ascension of JC, by all the holy Sacraments, by the
Mercy of God, by the Glory of Joys of Heaven, by the forgiveness
of sin and hope of eternal salvation, by the Great Day of Doom,
by all Angels, Archangels, Seraphim, Cherubim, Dominations, Thrones,
Principalities, Powers and Virtues, above rehearsed, and by whatsoever
else is holy or binding, do I swear, promise, and vow unto thee
that I will appear, come, and haste unto thee and at all times and
places and in all hours, days, and minutes, from this time forward
unto thy life's end wheresoever thou shalt call me by my name or
by my office, and I will come unto thee in what form thou shalt
desire, either visibly or invisibly, and will answer all thy desires
and give testimony thereof and let all the powers of Heaven witness
it.
"I have hereunto subscribed
my hand and confirm my seal and character unto thee. Amen."
From The Complete
Book of Magic Science (unpublished)
Modus
Operandi for the Invocation of Spirits
The following condensed
extract from an ancient manuscript is reproduced herewith as representative
of the ritualismm of ceremonial magic. The extract is from The Complete
Book of Magic Science, an unpublished manuscript (original in the
British Museum), with pentacles in colors, mentioned by Francis
Barrett in his Magus.
"Opening Prayer
"Omnipotent and Eternal
God who hath ordained the whole creation for thy praise and glory
and for the salvation of man, I earnestly beseech thee that thou
wouldst send one of thy spirits of the order of Jupiter, one of
the messengers of Zadkiel whom thou hast appointed governor of thy
firmament at the present time, most faithfully, willingly, and readily
to show me these things which I shall ask, command or require of
him, and truly execute my desires. Nevertheless, O Most Holy God,
thy will and not mine be done through JC, thine only begotten Son
our Lord. Amen.
"The Invocation.
[The magician, having
properly consecrated his vestments and utensils and being protected
by his circle, now calls upon the spirits to appear and accede to
his demands.]
"Spirits, whose assistance
I require, behold the sign and the very Hallowed Names of God full
of power. Obey the power of this our pentacle; go out your hidden
caves and dark places; cease your hurtful occupations to those unhappy
mortals whom without ceasing you torment; come into this place where
the Divine Goodness has assembled us; be attentive to our orders
and known to our just demands; believe not that your resistance
will cause us to abandon our operations. Nothing can dispense with
your obeying us. We command you by the Mysterious Names Elohe Agla
Elohim Adonay Gibort. Amen.
"I call upon thee,
Zadkiel, in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy
Ghost, blessed Trinity, unspeakable Unity.
"I invoke and intreat
thee, Zadkiel, in this hour to attend to the words and conjurations
which I shall use this day by the Holy Names of God Elohe El Elohim
Elion Zebaoth Escerehie lah Adonay Tetragrammaton.
"I conjure thee, I
exorcise thee, thou Spirit Zadkiel, by these Holy Names Hagios O
Theos Iscyros Athanatos Paracletus Agla on Alpha et Omega loth Aglanbroth
Abiel Anathiel Tetragrammaton: And by all other great and glorious,
holy and unspeakable, mysterious, mighty, powerful, incomprehensible
Names of God, that you attend unto the words of my mouth, and send
unto me Pabiel or other of your ministering, serving Spirits, who
may show me such things as I shall demand of him in the Name of
the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.
"I intreat thee, Pabiel,
by the whole Spirit of Heaven, Seraphim, Cherubim, Thrones, Dominations,Witnesses,
Powers, Principalities, Archangels, and Angels, by the holy, great,
and glorious Angel Orphaniel Tetra-Dagiel Salamla Acimoy pastor
poti, that thou come forthwith, readily show thyself that we may
see you and audibly hear you, speak unto us and fulfil our desires,
and by your star which is Jupiter, and by all the constellations
of Heaven, and by whatsoever you obey, and by your character which
you have given, proposed, and confirmed, that you attend unto me
according to the prayer and petitions which I have made unto Almighty
God, and that you forthwith send me one of your ministering Spirits,
who may willingly, truly, and faithfully fulfil all my desires,
and that you command him to appear unto me in the form of a beautiful
Angel, gently, courteously, affably, and meekly, entering into communication
with me, and that he neither permitting any evil Spirit to approach
in any sort of hurt, terrify or affright me in any way nor deceiving
me in any wise. Through the virtue of Our Lord JC, in whose Name
I attend, wait for, and expect thy appearance. Fiat, fiat, fiat.
Amen, Amen, Amen.
"Interrogatories.
[Having summoned the
spirit unto his presence, the magician shall question him as follows:]
"'Comest thou in peace
in theName of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost?'
[And the spirit shall answer:] 'Yes.'
"'Thou art welcome,
noble Spirit. What is thy Name?' [And the spirit shall answer:]
'Pabiel.'
"'I have called thee
in the Name of Jesus of Nazareth at whose Name every knee doth bow
in heaven, earth, and hell, and every tongue shall confess there
is no name like unto the Name of Jesus, who hath given power unto
man to bind and to loose all things in his most Holy Name, yea even
unto those that trust in his salvation.
"'Art thou the messenger
of Zadkiel?' [And the spirit shall answer:] 'Yes. '
"'Wilt thou confirm
thyself unto me at this time and henceforth reveal all things unto
me that I shall desire to know, and teach me how I may increase
in wisdom and knowledge and show unto me all the secrets of the
Magic Art, and of all liberal sciences, that I may thereby set forth
the glory of Almighty God?' [And the spirit shall answer:] 'Yes.'
"'Then I pray thee
give and confirm thy character unto me whereby I may call thee at
all times, and also swear unto me this oath and I will religiously
keep my vow and covenant unto Almighty God and will courteously
receive thee at all times where thou dost appear unto me.'
"License to Depart.
"'Forasmuch as thou
comest in peace and quietness and hath answered unto my petitions,
I give humble and hearty thanks unto Almighty God in whose Name
I called and thou camest, and now thou mayest depart in peace unto
thine orders and return unto me again at what time soever I shall
call thee by thine oath, or by thy name or by thine order, or by
thine office which is granted thee from the creator, and the power
of God be with me and thee and upon the whole issue of God, Amen.
"'Glory be to the
Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.'
[Note:]
"It would be advisable for the invocant to remain in the circle
for a few minutes after reciting the license, and if the place of
operation be in the open air, let him destroy all traces of the
circle, et cetera, and return quietly to his home. But should the
operation be performed in a retired part of a house, et cetera,
the circle may remain, as it might serve in a like future operation,
but the room or building must be locked up to avoid the intrusion
of strangers."
The agreement set
forth above is purely ceremonial magic. In the case of black magic,
it is the magician and not the demon who must sign the pact. When
the black magician binds an elemental to his service, a battle of
wits ensues, which the demon eventually wins. With his own blood
the magician signs the pact between himself and the demon, for in
the arcanum of magic it is declared that "he controls the soul who
controls the blood of another." As long as the magician does not
fail, the elemental will fulfil to the letter his obligation under
the pact, but the demon will try in every possible way to prevent
the magician from carrying out his part of the contract.
When the conjurer,
ensconced within his circle, has evoked the spirit he desires to
control and has made known his intention, the spirit will answer
somewhat as follows: "I cannot accede to your request nor fulfil
it, unless after fifty years you give yourself to me, body and soul,
to do with as I may please."
If the magician refuses,other
terms will be discussed. The spirit may say: "I will remain in your
service as long as on every friday morning you will go forth upon
the public street giving alms in the name of Lucifer. The first
time you fail in this you belong to me."
If the magician still
refuses, realizing that the demon will make it impossible for him
to fulfil his contract, other terms will be discussed, until at
last a pact is agreed upon. It may read as follows: "I hereby promise
the Great Spirit Lucifuge, Prince of Demons, that each year I will
bring unto him a human soul to do with as it may please him, and
in return Lucifuge promises to bestow upon me the treasures of the
earth and fulfil my every desire for the length of my natural life.
If I fail to bring him each year the offering specified above, then
my own soul shall be forfeit to him. Signed..............[Invocant
signs pact with his own blood.]
The
Pentagram
In symbolism, an inverted
figure always signifies a perverted power. The average person does
nor even suspect the occult properties of emblematic pentacles.
On this subject the great Paracelsus has written: "No doubt many
will scoff at the seals, their characters and their uses, which
are described in these books, because it seems incredible to them
that metals and char- acters which are dead should have any power
and effect. Yet no one has ever proved that the metals and also
the characters as we know them are dead, for the salts, sulphur,
and quintessences of metals are the highest preservatives of human
life and are far superior to all other simples." (Translated from
the original German.)
The black magician
cannot use the symbols of white magic without bringing down upon
himself the forces of white magic, which would be fatal to his schemes.
He must therefore distort the histograms so that they typify the
occult fact that he himself is distorting the principles for which
the symbols stand. Black magic is not a fundamental art; it is the
misuse of an art. Therefore it has no symbols of its own, It merely
takes the emblematic figures of white magic, and by inverting and
reversing them signifies that it is left-handed.
A good instance of
this practice is found in the pentagram, or five-pointed star, made
of five connected lines. This figure is the time-honored symbol
of the magical arts, and signifies the five properties of the Great
Magical Agent, the five senses of man, the five elements of nature,
the five extremities of the human body. By means of the pentagram
within his own soul, man not only may master and govern all creatures
inferior to himself, but may demand consideration at the hands of
those superior to himself.
The pentagram is used
extensively in black magic, but when so used its form always differs
in one of three ways: The star may be broken at one point by not
permitting the converging lines to touch; it may be inverted by
having one point down and two up; or it may be distorted by having
the points of varying lengths. When used in black magic, the pentagram
is called the "sign of the cloven hoof," or the footprint of the
Devil. The star with two points upward is also called the "Goat
of Mendes," because the inverted star is the same shape as a goat's
head. When the upright star turns and the upper point falls to the
bottom, it signifies the fall of the Morning Star.
