THE DIVINE SCIENCE Magic as a Divine Science

2011

Magic as a Divine Science

TABLEOFCONTENTS
I. TheDefinitionofMagicasaDivineScience II. SelfRealizationastheGoalofMagic III. TheAnatomyofaMagician'sSelfRealization IV. TheMeaningofSpiritualLiberation V. TriuneDevelopmentNecessarytobeaTrueMagician VI. Detachment,andControlOvertheSenses VII.ReligionasaKeyandFrameofReference

TheDefinitionofMagicasaDivineScience
Veryfewofthepopularlyaccepteddefinitionsofmagicareactuallyaccurateinthefaceofwhat thesupremegoalofmagicis.Tosaythatmagicis"changeinconformitywiththewill"istosaythata hammerisaparticularlyshapedpieceofhardmaterialasopposedtoatoolusedforcarpentry.Itisto giveasbroadandasuselessadefinitionaspossible,withoutgivinganyrealsubstancetoit,andwithout implyinganypracticaluse.Bythatdefinitionmagicis,asAleisterCrowleysaid,simplyanyprocessby whichwillisusedtocreateaneventualresult,includingbutnotlimitedtopickingone'sownnose.This ishardlyausefuldefinition,andissobroadastobeentirelypointlessforsomeonewhoactuallywantsa definitiontheycangaspwiththeirownhands.Foranyoneseekingtoextractthefruitsfromthetreeof magic,thisnowcommondefinitionwillneverbesufficient. Whatdefinitionmayweacceptwhichshallalignitselfwithboththeidealpurposeandmechanisms ofmagic?Letitbethis: Magicistheunderstandingofnaturalanddivinelaws,andtheirconjoinedrealizationand applicationtowardstheaccomplishmentofenlightenment. Usingthisdefinitionitbecomesclearpreciselywhatmagicis,andinasinglesentence,provides someinsightintobothitspurposeandmodusoperandi.Thisisadefinitionwhichcanprovidethe studentsomethingtoactuallygrabontoandpullhimselftowards;anabilitywhich,asweshalldiscuss later,isimperativetotrueprogress.Suchadefinitionallowsmagictobeseenasadivinescienceinstead

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ofaskeletalframesubjectedtothewhimsofwhoeverisholdingit. Now,therearethosewho,inwhatisusuallyastateofblatantdenialorbaselesscriticism,would arguethatmagiccannotbeconsideredascience.I,inturn,arguethatitcananditmust.Theproperway toviewmagicisasadivinescience,andsoletusconsiderwhatboththeterms"divine"and"science" hereimply. Magicis"divine"becauseagreatdealofitsknowledgeisusuallypreterhumaninorigin,and becauseitdealsessentiallywithspirituallawsthatsupersedethephysicalworld.So,inonesense,itis divinebecauseitisnotinherentlyphysical.Inanothersense,magicisdivinebecauseitshighestfruits areonlyachievablebythosewhohavesublimatedtheircharacterintoanobleandrighteousstatus,and becauseitsultimateaimistherealizationofGodwithintheself. Toconformtoourscriptures,therefore,magicisholybecauseitsaimisTheGood,insofaras somethingisdefinedasholyinaccordancetoitsreferencetoTheGood.Thisholiness,thisdivinity,is thekeyaspectofmagicwhichseparatesitfromsorcery.For,aswearetoldbynolessanauthoritythan Plato,wisdomisdivine.Followingthis,bysuchanauthorityasParacelsus,whomallwillagreetohave beenanexcellentandsingularlyaccomplishedmagician,wearetaughtthatmagiciswisdom,butthere isnowisdominsorcery."Assumingthembothtobecorrect,andintunewiththeoneartofmagicwhich unitesthemacrossthecenturies,wewillthenobservethatmagiciswisdom,andwisdomisdivine. Magicisa"science"becausenotanygivenorguessedprocesswillleadapersontothatintended goal.Admittedlytherearemanypathsupthemountainofattainment,butwemustalsoadmitthat diggingaholeinthegroundatthebaseofthatmountainisprobablynotthefastestwaytoascendit. Likewiseifonedoesnothaveacompassandamap,heisfarmorelikelytogetlostinhistrail,andtogo inthewrongdirectionaccidentally,theresultbeingthatthejourneytakessolongastobeimpractical. Fortunatelyforthepeopledownatthebaseofthemountain,anumberofpeoplewhohavereached thetophavedecidedtocomebackdownandsharehowtheyarrivedthere.Thedetailsoftheirjourneys usuallyvarysome,butthegeneraltemplatesoftheiraccomplishments,aswellastheendresult,are alwaysverysimilarinstructure.Itisthisstructurewhichisthescience,andnottheexacttinydetails.So longasthatstructure,thatessentialtemplate,isfollowedthensuccessisalmostentirelyguaranteed.If itisnotfollowed,thenfromwhatIhaveseenofothers,itseemstobeadifficultclimb.Somegood definitionsofasciencewhicharecompatiblewiththisviewcanbefoundintheAmericanHeritage Dictionary: "Theobservation,identification,description,experimentalinvestigation,andtheoreticalexplanation ofphenomena." "Methodologicalactivity,discipline,orstudy" "Anactivitythatappearstorequirestudyandmethod" "Knowledge,especiallythatgainedthroughexperience" Fromthesegenerallyaccepteddictionarydefinitions,itseemsfairtoimplythatsomethingmaybe calledasciencewheninvestigation,experimentation,andaconsequentexperience,hasresultedinthe establishmentofamethodwhichisintendedtoreproducethatexperience.Thisdoesnotmeanthatthe resultingmethodistheonlymethod.Forexample,Imaystartafireusingthetriedandtruescientific Copyright20102011TheDivineScience|www.thedivinescience.org 2

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approachofamatchandsomekindling.Becausethatmethodhasbeenusedandfoundtoproducethe endresultofafire,Imaysafelyassume(thoughnotwith100%certainty)thatifIfollowthatmethod, thenIshouldalsobeabletoproduceafireunderagreeablecircumstances(drykindling,openair,etc). However,Imayalsoproduceafirebyrubbingtwostickstogether,orbyusingamagnifyingglass,which arealsomethodswhichhavebeenusedandproventooftenresultinthecreationofafire.Allofthese arethereforeconsideredscientificapproachestostartingafireaccordingtothedefinitionswehave seenofwhatmakessomethingascience. Inasimilarwaythereareseveraltriedandprovenmethodsofachievingtherealizationoftheself, whichourtraditioncallsgnosis,thetrainingandconditioningoftheastralandmentalvehicles,the acquisitionofmagicalabilitiesandmagicalfaculties,and/ortheexpansionofone'ssphereofspiritual influence.Sometimesalloftheseprocessesareincludedtogetherinasingle"path,"andsometimes theyarenot,butareinsteadpiecedtogether.However,justasthrowingabucketofwaterontoapileof woodsisnotparticularlylikelytostartafire,therearemanysocalledapproachestomagicwhichare veryunlikelytoresultinsignificantattainment.Thepopularityofsuchapproacheshasresultedinthose systemsbeingthemostused,whichhasinturnresultedinmanypeoplebecomingconvincedthatmagic isnotreal.Itisthesystemwhichistoblame,andnotmagic.Peoplearethrowingwaterontowoodand expectingafire,andwhenthefiredoesnotcatch,theydenouncetheideaoffirealtogether. Magicasadivinescienceisthereforeaspiritualsystemaimedatinnerilluminationandself realization,whichusescertainexactmethodstoallowformethodicalprogresstowardsthatend.

SelfRealizationastheGoalofMagic
Theendofanypathwhichwouldproposetocallitselfadivinesciencemustnecessarilyrestwithin selfrealization.Beforeconsideringwhatselfrealization,calledgnosisbyourtradition,is,weshouldfirst inquireastowhyadivinesciencemustnecessarilyterminateintosuchanattainment. Firstly,itshouldbeknownthattherootsystemofhermeticism,anditsveritableheart,isour tradition.Thistraditioniscalledtheurgy,fromtheGreekwordindicatingtheworkofGod,composed oftheos(God)andurgos(Work).Wehavereestablishedtheancienttraditionofmagicunderthis name,inamannerwhichtheancientswouldhaveagreedupon,duetothemoderndefilementofthe wordmagic,anditsmodernnegativeassociations.Inancienttimes,therewasnodifferencebetween sayingholymagicandtheurgy;theynecessarilyimpliedeachother.Continuingthisassociationtoday, ourlineagedoesnotdifferentiatebetweenthetwoanymorethansuchgreatbeingsasIamblichus, Pythagoras,orPlatowouldhave.ThuswhenIwriteoftruemagic,Iamindicatingtheurgyaswell,and viceversa. Rememberingthis,letusproceedwithourinvestigationintothenatureofthisdivinescience,and whyitmustterminateinselfrealization.AswehaveestablishedontheauthorityofPlatoand Paracelsus,and,ifneedbe,wemayalsocalluponsuchfiguresasFranzBardonandEliphasLevi, amongstmanyothersages,magicisaspeciesofwisdom.Evenwhentheexactdefinitionofwisdommay eludediscussion,stillallagreethatitisuniversallyathingbothgoodandnoble,thatitisavirtuetobe soughtafter,andthatitisaningredient(ifnottheingredient)ofenlightenment.Nowsome,outofa misunderstanding,maysuggestthatmagicdoesnotnecessarilyhavetomeanwisdom,butthatthis Copyright20102011TheDivineScience|www.thedivinescience.org 3

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appellationissimplythethingoflatertimes.Tosuchaperson,ifhebedesirousofenrichinghis understanding,Ineedonlyindicatetheoriginofthewordmagicandcommendthepreviously misdirectedstudenttothestudyofitsetymology.For,indoingso,hewilldiscoveramongstotherthings thattheveryoriginofthecommonwordmagicisintheGreekwordsmageia(magicpower)and magikos(thepracticeofthemagus).Bothofthesehaveincommonthewordmagos,wiseman.We neednotbotherwithwhatnewerinnovationsapplytothemeaningoftheword,then,butshallrely upontheauthorityoftheverymeaningoftheworditself. Withitbeingsufficientlyprovennowthatmagiciswisdom,andthepracticeofthewiseman,we needsimplytounderstandwhatwisdomis.Aspreviouslymentioned,itisagreedtobesomethinggood andnoble,andallmenheldtobewiseinthepasthavegivenitthegreatestesteem,andhave considereditsomethingsaintly.Wemaysurmiseforourpurposesthatwisdomisaninclinationtowards thatwhichisgoodandvirtuous,andthatittendstowardstrueknowledge.Inthetheurgicdoctrine,true knowledge,beingthehighestwisdom,dispelsaponoia,orfalseknowledge.Ifwetakewisdomtobea formoftruth,oratleastthelightwhicharisesfromthepresenceoftruth,thenIdonotthinkwewillbe strayingfromwhatourdivineforefathershavetaught.Truth,intheGreektongueoftheancient theurgists,iscalledaletheia,whichliterallymeansthatwhichdispelsoblivion(Gr.Lethe).Ifmagicis thereforeaspeciesofwisdom,whichIthinkweshouldadmit,andwisdomisanalignmenttotruth,then magicwillhavethepowertodispeloblivionfromthelifeofitsfollower.Allwemustdotogettothe essenceofthematter,then,istoconcludethatthemanyenlightenedbeingsofallagesandcultures werecorrectwhentheyproclaimedthatitistheveilofoblivionwhichpreventsmanfromrealizinghis essentialnature.Inotherwordsthatitisnotsomuchamatterofaddingdivinityasremovingobscurity andfalseknowledge,whichtriggersgnosis.Foriffalseknowledgeiseliminated,thenonlytruthremains, andifthetruthofourbeingreallyisthatweareallinwardlygodswhoexistinunitytogether,thenthis willnaturallyberealizedupontheexperienceoftruth.Thusifmagiciswisdom,aseventheword suggests,thenwemustconcludethatitinevitablyproducesselfrealization.Beingsoinclined,itmust thereforebedivine.What,then,isthisselfrealization,thisgnosis,towhichthetheurgicpathofmagic sogenerouslyleadsus? SelfrealizationistheilluminationoftheconsciousnessbythelightofDivinity,orrather,tobe agreeabletoouraboveconclusion,therealizationthatsuchalightwasalwayspresent,andsimplywent unnoticed.Thematrixofcommunicationbetweenone'snormalconsciousnessandhissoul consciousnessisusuallyblockedoutentirelybyrandomsubconsciousimpulses,servitudetothe pleasuresofthesenses,negativememories,andawarmofthousandsoflittlethoughtsthatseemtobe constantlybuzzinginmostpeople'sminds.Thisistheaveragehumancondition,andisreferredto collectivelyasoblivion,orlethe.Inthelightofourpreviousdiscussionofthenatureofwisdomas dispellingoblivion,andourrecentadmissionthatselfrealizationismoreamatterofrealizingor rememberingsomethingalreadypresent(theinnerdivinity),wefindOrpheussingingtoMnemosyne: Andnoughtneglecting,vigoroustoexcite thementaleyefromdarkoblivion'snight. Come,blessedpower,thymystic'smem'rywake toholyrites,andLethe'sfettersbreak." Andherewefindtheentiredoctrinealreadyespousedbythetheurgists,andconsideredbrieflyby thisarticle.Forwithinameresnapshotofpoeticverses,itisaffirmedbytheOrphicauthorhimselfthat itistheconditionofoblivionwhichshroudsthespiritualeyeofthemystic,andthatitisthisholyscience Copyright20102011TheDivineScience|www.thedivinescience.org 4

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whichawakensthemagicianastohistruenature,andinsodoing,breaksthebondageoffalse knowledge. Themechanismofthisselfrealizationisthesilencingofthemind.Inourtraditiontheultimateaim ofalltheurgicwork,thefinalstateinwhichitplacesyou,iscalledtelos.Thewordhasseveral meaningsintheancientGreektongue,butchiefamongthemareperfection,wholeness,andsilence. Thisisaphilosophicallysoundideal,sinceTheGoodtowhichamysticaspiresisalsocalledTheOne. ProclusaffirmsthatbyTheOneisindicatedtheutmostsimplicity,andSocratesindeedcallsmystic attainmentthevisionofthesimple. Thepracticesoftheurgysimplifythementalmatterofthestudent,calmingtheoceanofdesireand stillingtheragingwindsofattachment,detachment,anddiscrimination.Itistheconstantchaosofthese forceswhich,leftunchecked,disrupttheflowofconsciousnessbetweentheinnernatureofthe magicianandtheoutermind.Existinginsuchastate,theindividualisdoomedtoremainunawareof whatbeautifulsoundsareconcealedbythethundersandthewaves.Theurgycalmsthosesoundsso thatthemagusmaybaskinthebeautifulsymphoniesofinnerharmony,andthenbeingalignedbythose harmonies,transcendthemintounifiedsilence.Asthisallhappens,thepneumaticenergyofthe magicianalsostills,sinceitisleadbythoughtanddesire.Whenboththemindandthepneumaarestill, thenGodisseen. Thesilencingofthemindandthepurificationoftheinternalspiritualenergycanbeachievedby manyavenues,butthemagicianaccomplishesthisbythoughtcontrolexercises,charactersublimation, conqueringthesenses,theconditioningoftheastralbody,theconditioningofthementalbody,the masteryoftheelementalforces,andtherealizationofthethreemainmagicalfaculties.Weshall considerthisallmoreinthenextpartofthisarticle. Whenallofthisisaccomplished,andboththemindandthespiritualenergyarecontrolled,then onebecomesestablishedinhisessentialnature,whichisunboundedconsciousness.Thefalsesenseof theegoisdestroyed,andherealizeshimselfaspartandparceloftheunlimited,undifferentiateddivine consciousness.Thisrealizationiscalledgnosis,whichitselfhasseverallevelsofintensityand consistency.Atfirstgnosisisrealizedonlyindeepmeditation,asasortoftrance.Later,itbecomes constant. Byregularlydivingintognosticmeditation,oneisabletoperforatetheconsciousnesswiththe divinelightofGodwithinthesoul.Thissublimatesonesconsciousness,transmutingitintosomething purelydivine.Themoretimestheconsciousnessisdippedintotheeternallight,themorethatlightcan shinethroughit.Withregularengagementinthisexercise,themagicianbecomescapableofallowing divinitytoshineconstantlythroughhisvessel,andhebecomesareflectionofdivinityitself.Thisisthe philosophicaltransmutationofleadintogold. Intheworldofmagic,suchapersonhasbecomepitiablyrare.Ihavestudiedpossiblereasonswith somedepth,andbelieveImaysafelyattributeittoseveralthings: 1.)Inmodernmagicthereisnotmuchimportanceplacedindisciplicsuccession. 2.)Theselfishwesternmindisabsolutelypetrifiedoflosinganyofitsego. 3.)Manywouldbemagiciansspendtoomuchtimecultivatingpowerinsteadofevolution.

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Abriefexaminationofthesethreepointswillgiveanideaofwhathasgonewrong. Inthewesternworld,everypersonwantstothinkofthemselvesasthegreatestofthegreat. "Ambition"insteadof"humbleapplication"isone'spersonalmotto.Obviouslythereareexceptionsto this,butinmyexperiences,mostpeoplecomeintothepathofmagicseekingsomemannerofgreatness somewhereintheirlives.Theyhopethatmagiccanprovideakindof"shortcut."Becauseofthisdrive forambition,whichthewesternmindistrainedtobelieveisagoodmindset,theyareafraidtodevote themselvestoatruespiritualteacher.Torenderone'sselfsubservienttoateacherseems,tosuch people,tobeembarrassingandemasculating.Theyallwanttoseem"tough,"theyallwanttoseem "independent."Somewheredeepdown,theywanttobethatlonerangerwhichtheyheardstoriesof fromoldwesterntales.Thus,theyrarelystaywithanyteacherforanylengthoftime,andevenwhen theyarewiththatteacher,donotopenthemselvesuptohisevolutionaryassistance. Itissaidbythewisethattherecipeforselfrealizationispartlyone'sownwork,partlythegraceof one'sspiritualteacher,andpartlythegraceofGod.Theaveragemantodayabsolutelydespisesthese ideas.Hesaystohimself,"Icandoitalone,allbymyself,entirelyindependent,withoutanyone'shelp!" Hesoundslikealittlechild.Heassociateshumilitywithweakness,whichisunfortunate,because humilityiskeytotruespiritualevolution. Becausesucharesoafraidofseekingthetotalguidanceofanenlightenedindividual,theyare subjecttogreaterrorswhichatrueteacherwouldsparethemfrom."Weneedtolearnfromour mistakes,andweneedtomakeourownmistakes,allonourown,withoutanyone'shelp,"theythinkto themselvesinthebackoftheirminds.Onecantakethatavenueifhedesires,butitwilltakemany lifetimestoreachillumination.Ifitisappearingindependentwhichisimportanttohim,hemay continueoninthatmindset.IfhoweverheyearnsandthirstsforGod,heshallmakethesmartdecision ofbypassingallofthoseerrorsundertheguidanceofagenuineteacher.Oneofthereasonswedonot havemanytruewesternadeptsisbecausetheyareallstilltoobusymakingtheirownmistakes! Nowinsayingthis,wemustofcoursegrantthattherearehistoricalcasesavailablewhichshowthat greatsageshaveemergedwithnoapparentteacher.Someexcellentmagicians,suchasFranzBardon, havealsowrittenbooksintendedtoassistapersoninaprocessknownasselfinitiation.Thisisaviable path,butitisadifficultone,andnotonewhichIcanconfidentlyrecommend.Asthinkingandintelligent creatures,wehaveaninherentunderstandinginthevalueoftransmittedknowledgefromteacherto student.Hence,asexamples: Youwouldnottrustyourchildsintestinalsurgerytoasurgeonwhodidnotgotoanykindof schooltolearnhisart,butinsteadlearneditfrombooksandthenreliedontrialanderror. Youwouldnottakeprescriptionmedicationfromsomeonedowntheroadwhosehobbywas medicine,ifanequallyaccessiblepharmacistwasavailableforconsultation. Youwouldnotwanttolearnmartialarts,orsomeothersimilardiscipline,fromsomeonewhojust readaboutitinbooks. Youwouldnotgoskydivingwithatrainerwhojustfinishedlearningaboutskydivingfromabook heread. Ifyouwereanemployer,youwouldnothireaprofessionalwhodidnothavesomemannerof legitimatetraininginthefieldwhichheclaimedtobeaprofessionalof. Copyright20102011TheDivineScience|www.thedivinescience.org 6

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Ifyouwouldnottrustapersonlikethiswithyourchildshealth,yourmedicine,yourmartial training,yoursurvivalinskydiving,oryourcustomers,thenwhywouldyoumakeyourselfintothat person,andthentrusthimwithyoursalvation?Areallofthesethingspossible?Ofcourse.Thatsurgeon maybeanexcellentsurgeon,evenifhejustlearnedfrombook.Thatunlicensedprofessionalmayturn outtobethebesthiringchoiceyouevermadeasanemployer.Still,somethinginusunderstandssuch instancestobetheextreme,andnotthenorm.Eitherway,mostpeoplewillidentifysuchinstancesas risks,andriskissomethingoneshouldaimtominimizeinalifelongendeavorsuchasmysticism.Ican thinkofnogreatermisfortunethantodiscoverafterthirtyyearsofdedicationthatonesfaithinthe pathhewasonewasmisplaced,andthatthemuchpromisedandmuchhopedforliberationnever ensued. Imayaddtothis,beforemovingon,alistoftheprimarydisadvantagesofabook.Youcannotaska bookaquestion.Ifyoudonotunderstandwhatitistryingtosay,youcannotaskittoclarify.If,when doingthebookspractices,somethinggoeswrongthatyoudidnotreadabout,thebookwillnotprovide youwithcorrections.Whenyouruniqueandindividualfatebeginsmanifestingfromspiritualpractice, thebooksclairvoyancewillnotbecapableofguidingyousafelythroughtheprocess.Thefirsttimeyou havesuccesswithfullastralprojection,butsomethinggoeswrongandyousuddenlyfindyourself sinkingintothehellofnegativeenergies,cryingyourbooksnamewillnotallowittocomeandsave you.Abookwillnotcriticizeyourcurrentapproachtoasituation,ordispelanincorrectopinionthatyou havedevelopedbymisunderstandingitswords.Ifyouaredoinganexerciseslightlywrong,dueto misunderstanding,thebookwillsaynothingtoalertyoutoit.Whenyoufeellazyandskipyour practices,youarenotanswerabletothebook,andyourbadhabitswillthereforepersist.Ifyoubeginto slipoffthepath,yourbookswillnotgooutoftheirwaytocatchyou.Yourbooksarenotinvestedin yourpersonalpath,theydonotknowyourname,theirauthorlikelyhasnoideawhoyouareorwhat youruniqueneedsmaybe,andyourbooksdonotloveyou,andwillnotsacrificethemselvessothatyou canfindGodinthisverylife.Agoodteacherwilltakecareofallofthisforyou.Isayagain,ifitis individualitywhichissoimportanttoyou,thenreadallthebooksyoulike,andtrytowalkthemystical pathalone.IfhoweveritisgettingtoGodandrealizingyouressentialnaturewhichisofthegreatest importance,takenorisksandfollowthestraightestpath:findsomeonewhowillguideyou. Ashasalreadybeentouchedon,theideasof"Icandoitallalone,Idon'tneedsomeone'shelp,andI amgoingtobegreat,"allhavesomethingincommon:"I."ThesenseofInessishorriblyflawedformost people,andoutofagrossbutentirelyoverpoweringfearofdeathandthelossofindividuality,they rejectinstantlytheideaofthedestructionoftheego.ThetruthisthatinthespiritualpathtowardsGod theegoisnotdestroyed.Itissimplyrelocatedandcorrected,becausetheegoofmostpeopleis "broken"andinthewrongplace.Theego,thesenseofIness,becomeslessassociatedwiththe temporalworldandthephysicalbody,andbecomesmoreassociatedwiththesoul.Asthe consciousnessbeginstopurifyandbesubmersedintothesoulconsciousness,theegonaturallybegins tobemodifiedbythepersonalityoftheSoulinsteadofthepersonalityofthebrain.Thesoulisusually centuriesifnotmillenniaold,andsonaturallyhasacquiredadifferentoverallpersonalitythanthebrain whichisatbestseveraldecadesold.Likewise,thesoulhaswithinittheseedofGodhead,andwith purification,thatGodlylightcanshinethroughintoitspersonality.Thus,one'spersonalityundergoes certainchangeswhichmakeit,naturally,moregodlyandrighteousinnature. Closelyconnectedtothesenseofambitionandgrowthtotheaveragemanofthemodernworldis thesenseofpersonalpower.Thisisperhapsoneofthemostdamningqualitiesofthetypicalmind.Even iftheytrytoconvincethemselvesthattheyareseekingGod,itisoftenreallyonlyamaskwhichtheyare tryingtousetohidetheirrealaimsfromthemselves.Suchpeoplewouldnotbetellingthemselvesthat Copyright20102011TheDivineScience|www.thedivinescience.org 7

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theyareseekingGodiftheydidnotthinkthatitwasnecessaryinordertoachieveabsolutepower.The universalironyofGod'sillusorydramaisofcoursethatthosewhoseektotalpowerwillnotachieveit, andthatthosewhodonot,shall.However,thismustbeaheartfeltconvictionandnotaconscious affirmation.Thetrulyattainedmasteradeptmayhavemanypowerswhichseemphenomenaltothe ambitiousmind,buthewouldgladlysacrificealloftheminamomentifitwaswhatpleasedtheLord. Indeed,therearemanytrulyattainedmastersouttherewhohavedonethatthingexactly,forsaking theirabilitytoworktheirmagicforanyreasonotherthanthegloryofGodandthefulfillmentofdivine providence.Suchmastersmayfindthattheycanslipoutoftheirbodiesveryeasilyinordertogive someoneanastralinitiationintothedivinescience,butthatitmaytakehoursofveryintense concentrationtoachieveasimpleastralprojectionforthesakeoftheirowntravels. ForthisreasonitistaughtthattheseekerofGodshouldadamantlyrejectanypowerswhichhe beginstodevelop,soastoavoidtheirtemptationaltogether.Themagicianhasaslightlymoredifficult taskbeforehim,andassuch,isoftenmoresusceptibletotemptation:heconsciouslydevelopsthose powers,butthenmusthavethemoralnobilitytoknowwhentousethem.Thisisanotherexcellent reasonforatruespiritualteacher.Thefearofthescornofone'spreceptorwilloftenbemuchgreater thantheloveforpower,andwillstaytheaspirant'shanduntilhischaracterhasdevelopedenoughto controlsuchurgesfully.

TheAnatomyofaMagician'sSelfRealization
Weshallnowgobacktothesubjectofwhatselfrealizationis;consideringinparticulardepthwhat characterizesselfrealization,someofthethingswhicharenecessaryforit,andsomeofitsvarious levelsofintensity.Wewillalsodiscusswhattheprocessofselfrealizationisforamagician. ThefirsttwothingsnecessaryforselfrealizationarerighteouslivingandrighteousdevotiontoGod. Throughrighteouslivingonebeginstopurifyhischaracterandsanctifyhisvariousvehicles.Themental blocksinthepassagesofinternalenergybegintoclearthemselvesnaturally.Throughrighteousliving, sinsbegintobeburntawayandthepoweroffateslowlydissolves.Onlyamindwhichhasbeen sanctifiedbyrighteouslivingandnoblemoralityiscapableofseeingGod.RighteousdevotiontoGodis alsonecessary,foritbringsthesoulofthemagicianintothegravitycircuitofGod,whichcauseshimto bebroughteverclosertotheAbsolute.Thevariousritualsofholyreligionscauseboththemindandthe astralvehicletobepurified,andcanreleaseonefromfatefulties.Someonewhodoesthesetwothings alonecanachievefullspiritualliberation(liberationfromsin,fate,andreincarnation),butitwouldtake severallifetimes. Oncegoodmoralcharacterhasbeguntobeestablished,themagicianbeginstolearnhowtocontrol hismind.Atfirsthewillspendonlyafewminutestryingtolearnhowtorelaxhismind,andthusrelease thecongestedthoughttrafficwhichblocksouttheinfluenceofthesoul.Graduallytheaspirant increasestheamountoftimeduringwhichhismindisrelativelysilent,untilhecangointomental relaxationforhalfanhourwithoutdisturbance,andifhesopleased,anhourormore.Simultaneousto this,hewilllearnhowtodisciplinehisbodyformeditation.Thismeansthathewillbeabletositstillina singlepositionforatleastanhourwithoutmoving,itching,leaning,etc,withgoodpostureandarelaxed mind.

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Whensuccesshasbeenhadwithlearninghowtorelaxthemind,hewillmovetolearninghowto concentratethemind.Firsttheaspiringmagicianwilllearnhowtoconcentrateonasinglethoughtfora desiredamountoftimewithoutdistraction,andthenhewillapplyvisualizationskillssoastobeableto focusonanypictureorpicturecombinationwithperfectconcentration.Thiswillincreasethepowerof imaginationaswellashisoverallwillpowerandaptitudeforconcentration.Onlywhenhehaslearned howtorelaxandconcentratehismindentirelyatwilldoesactualmeditationbecomepossibleforhim. Manypeoplemistakenlysay,"Iwillgoandmeditate."Thisisaridiculousnotionforanyonewhohas notextensivelytrainedtheirminds.Meditationisessentiallyoftwostages:thefirstisthewithdrawalof thesensesintoone'sself,andthesecondistheestablishmentofanunbrokenflowofconsciousness withtheobjectorsubjectofmeditation.Theaspirantwillbegintoslideintothewithdrawalofthe sensesashisthoughtcontrolabilitiesinrelaxationandconcentrationincrease.Onedayheshallnotice thathissenseshaveturnedinwards,thatallthingsoutsideofhimselfseemnonexistent,andthathe doesnothaveasingledesiretomove,speak,ordoinganythingwhichvalidatestheideaofaphysical world.Indeed,evenhisbreathingwillbegintostopforlongperiodsoftimewithouthimevennoticing. Themanipulationofthevitalforcebothoutwardly(asinvitalforceaccumulations)andinwardlyshall aidthecomingofthisstage. Whensensewithdrawalcanbemaintainedatwill,andisputintopracticeregularly,themindwill graduallygaintheabilitytogointowhatmaybecalledactualmeditation:anunbrokenflowof consciousnesswithanobjectorsubject.Firsthewilloftenbeinstructedtobeginwithanobject,suchas areligioussymboloragodform.Withpracticehewillperfecthistechniquesothathebecomestotally lostinthenatureofthatobject.Asheadvanceshewillbeinstructedinmeditationonsubjectsofa graduallyfinernature,untilultimatelyhecanmeditateuponthenatureofGodHimself.Whenthis techniqueisinturnperfected,andanunbrokenflowofconsciousnessisestablishedwithGod,thenthe magician'smindbeginstodipintothefirststageofgnosis,whichoccursasasortoftrance.Oncegnosis canbeachieved,itisengagedinforaslongandasoftenaspossible,sothatthemindbecomesmore andmoreperforatedbyGod'sessence. Duringthislineofdevelopment,themagicianwilldevotecarefulattentiontothedevelopmentof hisastralandmentalvehicles.Thiswillallowtheotherwisevehicleimprisonedsoultoexpressitself morethoroughlyinthisworldbygradingitspowersthroughtheshadesofthementalandastralbodies. Thisallowsthemagiciantochoosewhichpowershedesirestocultivateinordertoservetheworldin hispreferredways.Itwillalsoallowhimtohavetotalcontroloverhisastralbodyandhismentalbody, tobeabletoprojecteitherofthosebodiesatwill,andmanyotherpowerswhichareusuallyskippedor ignoredinthenaturalpathofspiritualevolution.Principleamongthesearethethreefacultiesoftruth: clairvoyance,clairaudience,andclairsentience,withwhichthemagiciantrainshissensestocutthrough theillusoryphysicalworldandperceivetherealspiritualfoundationsofallthings.Unlesspurposelyand willinglydeveloped,thesethreefacultiesdonotusuallyautomaticallyemergeduringspiritualevolution, oriftheydo,onlytosomeminordegreeandnotallthreetogether.Occasionallyifonehadachievedthe facultyinapreviousincarnation,itmaynaturallyunfoldasoneadvances. Oneoftheresultsofthetrainingoftheastralandmentalbodies,andthehoningoftheastraland mentalmatrixessothatcommunicationbetweenthebodiesisincreased,isthatthelightofGodhood shinesthroughevenintotheauraandthedenseethericselfwhentheinnerdivinityisrealized.Thus, onebecomesaGodinactionaswellasinthoughtandheart.TheLordcanshinethroughsuchaperson almostperfectly,sothatheisamirrorofthesupremeDeity.Thisisthefifthstageofawakening,orwhat somecalltheAwakeningoftheSophicFire. Copyright20102011TheDivineScience|www.thedivinescience.org 9

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TheMeaningofSpiritualLiberation
I'vementionedbythispointtheterm"liberation"afewtimes,calledeleutheriaintheurgy.But what,exactly,ismeantbyliberation,whywouldsomeonewantit,andhowdoesitstart? Liberationistiedinextricablytoselfrealization.Itisaproductofgnosis,onecouldsay.Whenyou haverealizedGodonapersonalandpracticallevel,thenliberationresults.Tobeliberatedistobreak thechainsofreincarnation,whichwearenaturallyboundto,byovercomingthesorrowsoftheworld andconqueringtheillusionofoblivion. Thereasonwhypeoplereincarnateisbecausetheyarenotyetperfect;weallhavemanycyclesof lifeanddeathwhichweundergotoworktowardsperfection.Becauseoftheeffectsofthisphysical worldupontheconditionofthemindwithinthebrain,wenaturallyforgettheprocessesinbetweenthe twostatesoflifeandafterlife,andarenotnaturallyabletoviewthemfourdimensionally.Thusa delusiveideaiscreatedthatweareinouronlylifetime,simplybecausethisistheonlyonewhichwe canremember.Butifmemoriesarewhatdecidesreality,thenarewetoassumethatthealmost limitlessnumberofthingswhichoccurredinyourlifebutwhichyouforgotaboutneveractually happened?Ifyouweretoldtodosomething,butlaterforgottodoit,doesitmeanthatyouwerenever reallytoldtodothatthingatall,sinceyourforgotit?Thisishardlythecase,andasridiculousasthis notionistoamanofaverageknowledge,soequallyridiculousistheideaofasinglelifetimetosomeone withanypracticalspiritualknowledge. Thetruthisthatwedonothaveasinglelife,butmanylifetimesthroughwhichwehaveavery realisticopportunitytoadvanceourselvesintomoresublimebeings.Ineverylifewearesubmersedin thewoeandagonyofthisphysicalworld,andthemorelifetimeswespendsufferinginit,thecloserwe cometoonedaywakingupandthinkingtoourselves,"Theremustbesomethingelsebeyondthis." Eventuallythepainsofmaterialattachment,sensorysubservience,emotionalimbalance,etc,leadusto striveforahigherstateofexistence.Dependingonthesituationsofone'slife,thismayoccurquickly,or itmaytakemanyincarnationstodiscover. Thesituationsofone'slifeare,incidentally,closelytiedtofate.Everydesire,everysin,indeed everythingwhichtiesyoutothisworld,leavesanimpressionuponthementalbody.Thementalbodyis athinovercoatsurroundingthesoulwhichsurvivestheseconddeath,andiswithdrawnintothesoulin betweenlifetimes.Whentimeforincarnationcomesbackaround,theimpressionsleftuponthemental bodyareinstrumentalindecidingwhatformandqualitytheastralandphysicalbodiesshallbeof. Likewise,thesesubtleimpressionsshalldictatewherethatbodyistobeborn,intowhatlife circumstances,fromwhatmannerofparents,andmanyotherthingswhichdetermineinlargethepath ofone'slife.Eventhingslateroninlife,suchasanimportantrelationshiporamajorinjury,aredecided beforebirthbythesesubtlescarsuponthementalbody.Theyexpressthemselvessothattheymaybe ironedoutanddestroyedbythelightofexperience. Forexample,letussaythatinyourpriorlifeyouweremarriedtoawomanwhowastakenaway fromyoubysomemannerofuncontrollableact(atleastuncontrollableforyou).Fortherestofthatlife youhadthesubtleregretinyourmindthatyoucouldnotliveoutthatlifewiththatperson,andraisea familywithher.Inthisincarnationitwouldbeverylikelythatyouwouldwindupdatingandultimately Copyright20102011TheDivineScience|www.thedivinescience.org 10

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marryingthesamesoulwhowasinthebodyofthatwomaninanearlierlife.Youtwowouldlive togetherforyourlife,haveafamily,andsobythefulfillmentofthatdesirethementalimpressionwould disappear.Thisisonewaybywhichthoseimpressionscanbeovercome.Theotherisbytotal renunciationofthosedesiresaltogether,usuallyuponthesoul'sdiscoverythattheyultimatelycause painandsuffering. Liberationisachievedwhenthosementalimpressionsaretotallydestroyed,andtheonlythingleft inthesoulisastateofbeingwithinGod'sallfulfillingembrace,whereinnothingisleftwanting.Then, andonlythen,istheindividualcapableofbreakingthechainofreincarnation,insofarasitnolonger beingactuallynecessary.Evenshouldthatbethecase,therearestillsomeparticularmasterswhowill willinglychoosetocontinuereincarnatingforthesakeofaidinghumanityintheirevolutiontowardsthe sameachievement.Suchmastersareusuallytheenlightenedteachersofthevariousages. Themagicianwhohasmasteredthedivineandspirituallawsoftheuniverseisabovethe phenomenonoftheworld.Heisbeyondthetouchoffate,becauseheisfirmlyrootedintheverysource ofallactivities.Thecycleofreincarnationisbrokenforhim,andwhenheincarnatesfromthereon,itis onlyforthefulfillmentofsomedivinemission.

TriuneDevelopmentNecessarytobeaTrueMagician
Amagicianpayscloseattentiontothedevelopmentofhisthreevehicleswhichcloakthesoul:his physicalbody,hisastralbody,andhismentalbody.Bydevelopingthem,herefinesthemtoallowthe soultoshinemoreaccuratelyandmorefullythroughthem.Onecouldsaythathismottoisthatifyou areusingavehicle,itmightaswellbeingoodconditiontogetthemostoutofit.Herealizesfullythat hisastralbodywillmostlydissipateatdeath(apartiswithdrawnintothementalbody),andthat ultimatelyevenhismentalbodywilldissipatewhenhereachesthehighestlevelsofspiritualattainment, whichcannotbehadwhileliving.However,healsounderstandsthatwhileheisintheworld,those vehiclesarenecessary.Thereforehewilldevelopthemforthesakeofoptimalefficiencyincarryingout hisworkintheworld. Theclassicaldepictionofthemagicianasanagedandwitheredoldmanmustbedoneawaywith. Toooftendoesthehopefulaspirantloseallpossibilityofspiritualadvancementinthepagesoftoo manybooks.Resolvethyselftopractice!Seektoreadthosebookswhichyourteacherhasyouread,and nothingelse,butinsteadresolvetopractice.Donotletyourphysicalbodyfallintoneglect,either,just becauseyouspendagreatdealoftimeinstudyandmeditation.Whatgoodisawelltrainedastralbody ifthephysicalbodywhichhousesitdoesnotlivemuchlonger?Whatgoodcanyoudointheworldif youpassfromitalltooearlyduetopoorhealth?Takecareofyourselfandsharpenyourbodyaswellas yourmindandastralself. Forthephysicalbody,Iamconvincedthatthetwomostprosperousroutesofdevelopmentare foundinthemartialartsandintherigorouspracticeoftheinternalarts,suchasyogicasanasandtaichi. Bothofthemallowforoverallbodystrengtheningandthetoningoftheinternalorgans,thusgreatly helpingpreventmanydiseaseswhichcanprovefataloratleastcrippling.Bothpracticeswillalsodefeat earlyossification,allowingtheskeletalsystemtoremainstrongevenintooldage.Inthemartialartsone learnshowtocoordinatehismentalintentwithhisphysicalaction,sothatthebodyandthemindfall intosympathywithoneanother.Inthepracticeofasanas,themindpoursintoeachmusclerequired Copyright20102011TheDivineScience|www.thedivinescience.org 11

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fortheasana,andthespineistonedandmadeflexible.Theentiretyofone'syouthreallydependson theflexibilityofthespineandthehealthofthenerveswhichcomefromit.Whetherbotharepracticed orevenifonlyoneortheotherispracticed,martialartstrainingandinternalartswillkeepthebodyina healthycondition.Rememberthatlargemusclesandpoppingveinsarenotthesignsofhealth;such peopleactuallytendtohaveshorterlifespans.Therealimageofhealthisaflexiblespine,toned muscles,lowbodyfatpercentage,resistantinternalorgans,andhealthyglands.Asidefromthese,the aspirantshouldatleastincorporateagoodstretchingroutinelastingnolessthantenminuteseveryday. Fortheastralbody,its"stretching"istheaccumulationofdifferentkindsofpolarizedenergies,such asthevitalforceandthefourelements.Whentheaspirantcancontrolhismindandhisemotionswell, thenitbecomessafetopracticeaccumulationexercises.Theyshouldnotbepracticeduntilthought controlhasbeenperfected,however,asawanderingmindduringanaccumulationexercisecanbe damagingtoone'sentireself.Whateveryouarethinkingofwhileyouareaccumulatinganenergyis naturallyimpresseduponthatparticularenergy,andthenintroducedtoyoursystem.Inthecaseofthe vitalforcethisisparticularlytrue.Thusifyourmindwandersandforevenasecondyoufeelanemotion, thenboththethoughtandtheemotionbecomeimprinteduponapartofyourastralbody,and thereforealsoyouraura.Overtimethiscancausegreatdisruptionsinyourcharacter,andthereforein yourprogress.Manypeople,presumingthemselvestobe"above"beginningexercises,haveruined themselvesentirelybypracticingtheaccumulationstoosoonwithawanderingmind. The"muscletoning"oftheastralbodyistheprojectionofthoseenergies.Byaccumulatingand projectingthevariousmagicalenergies,theastralbodybecomesmorepowerfulinitsabilitytogather andthenexpressthosepowers.Someonewhohasperfectedtheprojectionofthemagicalenergieswill beverypowerful,justassomeonewhoregularlystrengthenshismuscleswillnaturallybecomevery strong.Throughthepracticeofaccumulatingandprojectingmagicalenergies,theastralbodyis stretchedandstrengthened,makingitamoresuitablevehicleforthemagician'spresentoccupancy. Justasyouwouldnotwanttoinhabitaweakphysicalbody,neithershouldyoubesatisfiedwithaweak astralbody. Theconditioningofthe"internalorgans,nerves,andglands"oftheastralbodyisthemanipulation oftheinternalvitalforce.Intheurgyoneistaughtcertainpneumaticexercises:breathingtechniques accompaniedbyvisualizations.Thesetechniqueshavebeenpasseddownbyoraltradition,andhave alsobeenconcealedwithincertainancientwritings;aproperteacherwillinitiatestudentsintothem. Theirmethodsmustbelearnedcarefully,fortheirenergiesarepowerful,butthereisnothingmore effectiveforpurifyingthepsychicnerves.Forreaderswhodonothaveaccesstosuchinitiatory informationbutwouldstillliketoreachthesamebasicgoals,yogicpranayamaandtaoistneigungwill achievethesameessentialresults,evenifbydifferentmethods.Whenthepneumahasbeenpurified andbroughtundercontrol,andthepsychicnerveshavebeencleansedofnegativity,certainphysical symptomswillbegintoappear.Theskinwillbecomeclear,andhaveaslightlustertoit.Theoilsinthe hairwillbecomepurifiedbecauseofthepurifiedglands,andsothehairwillhaveanaturalbeautytoit. Hormoneswillbalanceout,andthereforehormonalproblemswilldisappear.Eventually,withgreat practice,theeyeswilldevelopasoftglossaroundthemandthevoicewillbecomeslightlymore harmonicandsmooth.Wemayofcourseincludethatsuchapurifiedbodywillbeveryresistantto illness. Thementalbodyatfirstcannotbeworkedupon.Astimeprogressesandtheastralmatrixbecomes strong,theastralbodyvibrant,thephysicalbodyhealthy,andthemindbecomescalm,thenthemental bodycanbedirectlyinteractedwith.Duringpracticetheaspirantwilllearnhowtowithdrawhis Copyright20102011TheDivineScience|www.thedivinescience.org 12

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consciousnessintohismentalbody,whichwillfacilitatethewithdrawalofthesensesfromtheouter worldquiteautomatically.Keepingtheconsciousnessinthementalbodywillmakeitmoreelasticand moreresilienttovariousinfluences.Bylearninghowtocultivatethefourqualitiesofwill,intellect, feeling,andconsciousnessintothementalbody,theaspirantshallallowittogrowstrongandeffective. Duringmeditationhewillbegintofeelthementalbodypushforwardintoactivity,andhischaracterwill begintosublimateintosomethingmoreharmoniouswiththesoul. Thestudentofmagicwilleventuallylearnhowtoaccumulatethespiritprinciple(theaethyr)within him.Whenthishappens,theaethyrtravelsthroughtheenergyinthebloodintothementalbodyviathe mentalmatrix.Thisnaturallystrengthensthementalmatrix,whichintruthcommunicatestoallthree vehicles.Thus,bytheaethyricaccumulation,thecommunicationofallthreebodiesbeginstobecome harmonized.Bydippinghisconsciousnessintothespiritprincipleaccumulatedinhismentalbodyona regularbasis,theaspirantbeginstotransmutehisconsciousnessintosomethingmoredivine.The aethyr,onewilldiscoverthroughexperience,isanexpressionofGodintheformofundifferentiated consciousness.Forthisreasonitissaidthattheaethyrcannotreallybeaccumulated,thoughwemight usethetermaethyricaccumulation,onaccountthatitisreallyaformofdivineonenessin consciousnessasopposedtobeinganactualsubstance.Verydeepstatesofmeditationcanbereached throughmeditationinthisway. Whenallthreebodiesare"healthy"bytheirrespectivestandards,andtheastralandmental matrixesfunctionfully,thenthesoulpersonalitynaturallybeginstoflowintotheactiveconsciousness oftheindividual,andthetransformationintohisdivineselfbecomesverypossible.Allwhichisleftfor themagicianistodevotetimetotheevolutionofhisconsciousnessbeyondthementalbodyandinto hissoul,whereabsolutestillnessbecomesexperienced,andgnosisensues.

Detachment,andControlOvertheSenses
Withanunderstandingofwhatisreallyimportant,amannerofdetachmentensues.Inasense,as themagicianadvancesherealizesthatthereasonthissimple,illusoryphysicalworldtosseshimtoand froisbecauseheisholdingontothespokesofitsquicklyspinningwheel.Ifheletsgoofthosespokes, thenhebecomescapableofactuallysittingbackandintelligentlyobservingtheentirewheel,forheis nolongercaughtupinitschaos.Unfortunatelythevastmajoritiesofhisfellowbrothersandsisters havebecomeveryusetotheuncontrollablechaosofthewheel,andcannotatallfathomthatsomeone wouldnotwanttobespinninginit.Thustheylabelthemagicianasapathetic,whenintruth,heis simplybeingobjective. ThebiblicalteachingofJesustobuildupyourtreasureinheavenwasaverysoundone,and complimentarytothemagician'spath.Likewise,theteachingthatoneshouldhatethisworldandlove thedivineworldholdsagreatdealofmerittoonewhoisseekingtheKingdomofGod.Lookingatthings fromanintelligentlyobjectivepointofview,ifonedesirestoachievesomethingthenheshould consideremulatingthepeoplewhoalsoachievedit,andwhobecamewhathedesirestobecome.Thus ifhedesirestoachieveliberationandenlightenment,heshouldexaminethecoursesofactiontakenby thosewhohavebeensuccessfulinthisundertaking.Inmyownevaluationsofthis,ithasbecomeclear thatalmostallofthemhadasinglethingincommon:renunciation.Almostallthosewhohadsought andsuccessfullyachievedenlightenmenthad,atonepointintime,renouncedtheworldandits Copyright20102011TheDivineScience|www.thedivinescience.org 13

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possessions.Thisdoesnotmeanthattheyretiredintothemountainsanddisappearedfromtheradarof mankindforever.Itsimplymeansthattheyreprioritizedtheirlifestyles. Theinabilitytoprioritizeisoneofthekeyreasonsforindividualfailure,andifIhaveastudentwho isnotbookingsuccessinhisdailyregime,itisusuallybecauseheisnotabletoproperlyprioritize. Why?Inmostcasesitisbecausethestudentisstilltooattachedtothingsthatareconflictivein naturewiththispath.Usesimplelogic:IfIdesiretomovetenfeetinonedirection,itwillbecomemuch moredifficultifIamchainedtosomethingthatexistsintheoppositedirection.Youcannotjumpvery highwearingfiftypoundshoes.Totalsuccessinmagiccanonlybehadifyouhungerandthirstforit,for asanystarvingandparchedpersonknows,thereisnothingmoreimportantthanfoodordrinkto someonewhoneedsthosetwothingstosurvive.Justasastarvingmanwouldadorefood,somustyou adoreGodandthepathtowardsHim. Itfallstoreasoning,then,thatifyoudesiretoascendspirituallyintothekingdomofGod,thenyou mustdetachyourselffromwhateverchainsareholdingyouhereinthekingdomofmen.Itisfinefor youtohaveahouse.Itisfinetohaveawifeorahusband,butifthatrelationshipwouldcauseyouto waverinyoursearchforGod,thenitmustultimatelybedissolved.Itisperfectlyacceptabletobe popularandtohavemanyfriends,presumingthatyouwouldbeequallyashappyshouldyousuddenly findyourselfunpopularandhavingabsolutelynofriends.Whatthismeansisthattruedetachmentdoes notneedtooccuronaphysicallevel,forverily,wearenotphysicalbeings.Themanwhohasahouse butisnotattachedtoithasachievedthesamethingasthemanwhoaltogetherrenouncedlivingina houseandnowresidesinthewoodsinatent.Theproblemisthatthemanwhostillhasthehouseisfar morelikelytotellhimselfthathecouldleaveitwithoutaproblem,thoughinrealitythatwouldnotbe thecase.Thisisamatterthatbecomesdifferentaccordingtothenaturalinclinationsofeachandevery aspirant. PerhapsthemostimportantdetachmentyoucanhaveasaseekerofGodisdetachmentfromthe needforsensesatisfaction.Whenthesensesareindulgedin,thenthemindcannotbecalm,norcanit bepure.Everysenseindulgenceisamentalandspiritualaffirmationoftheliethatwearephysical beingsinsteadofspiritualbeings,andthereforebringsonefurtherawayfromthelight.IntheWest, therearetwoprimaryindulgenceswhichafflictthemind:lustandgluttony,oronecouldsaysexand food.Duetotheluxuryofalmostlimitlesspornographybeingatthefingertipsofvirtuallyeverysingle personpartakingofwesternculture,theaveragepersonhasfallenintoastateofconstantlustingand nocontroloverthesexualurges.Whenthesexualurgestakeoverthenmentalpowerbecomes convertedintosexualpower,andthenervoussystemisdrainedofitssupport.Withthemindina weakenedstate,theindividualbecomesnotmuchmorethanananimal,andwilloftendothingswhich ifexaminedlogicallywouldbeveryimmoral.Itisnotuncommoninthisworldnowforamarriedmanto masturbatewhilehiswifeisgone,orforteenagerstowastetheirvirginityonpeoplewithfilthymorals andmeaninglessshorttermrelationships.Allofthemsimplywantthatsingledesiretobesatisfied.The aspirantmustgaincontrolofthissexualurgeifhewishestomaketimelyprogressinhispathtoGod. Liberationiscertainlypossiblewhileactivelyusingsexualenergy,butitismoredifficult,especiallyifthat energyisnotcarefullyused. Forboththemaleandfemaledisciplesofmysticism,fourtimesamonthisasafemaximumfor sexualactivityinthebeginning.Attheverybeginning,everystudentwillbenefitimmenselyfromninety daysofcelibacy,thenshouldmoveuptojusttwiceamonth.Whenthepracticeshavestabilized,then fourtimesamonthisnotbad.Muchlaterinonesspiritualdevelopmenttheamountofphysicalsexual Copyright20102011TheDivineScience|www.thedivinescience.org 14

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energyandfluidisnotsoimportant,sincethemagicianhasbecomepluggedintohighersourcesof energy,andsosuchlimitswillnotbenecessary.Yeteventhen,withsexualpleasurebeingasslipperya slopeasitis,thecautiousmagicianwilllikelystillimposebasiclimitationsuponhimself.Formen, masturbationshouldbeavoidedabsolutely,andthisincludesusingapartnerasamechanismfor masturbation,i.e.,justforsexualsatisfaction.Forwomenthisisnotsoimportant,asthefemalesexual fluidisnotasenergyrichasthemalefluidis,butthementalandemotionalcorruptionwhichcanoccur fromfrequentactivityofthistypeisjustaspresentadanger. Foodisthenextviceinlineformostwouldbeseekersofthispath.Manypeopletodayeatwhether theyarehungryornot.Eveniftheyarehungrywhentheybegineating,theycontinuetoeatlongafter theyarestuffed.Overeatingresultsinobesityandvarioushealthproblemsifpersistedin,butona spirituallevel,itdistractsthemindandreaffirmsthatthehumanbeingisaphysicalbeingasopposedto aspiritualbeing,theformerbeinganillusionandthelatterbeingthetruth.Thesenseoftasteshouldbe broughtundercontrol.Thehopefulmagicianwillnoteatmorethanheknowsheneedsto,andinthe verybeginning,willreceivegreatbenefitfromavoidingdailyredmeatconsumption(thoughafewtimes aweekisfine). Thethingswhichareidealforeatingarevegetables,beans,sweetfruits,rice,bran,wheat,purified unsaltedbutter(ghee),honey,sugar,andallsweettastingthingsingeneral.Fordrinks,hecanhave milk,water,fruitjuice,andsugarwaterifhedesires.Heshouldavoidsodaingeneral,thoughhaving oneeverynowandthenisnotdestructive,andinregulatedamountscanevenbehelpful.Heshould avoidallmannersofalcoholingeneral,thoughonceagainanoccasionalamountofliquorisnotbad, presumingthatitiswellcontrolledandfullconsciousnessismaintainedwithoutdisturbance.Some liquororwineonasemiregularbasisandinsmallquantitiescanhelpstrengthentheliver. Theseareallsimpleguidelines,however.Forsomepeople,rudimentarydietarychangescanhavea significantimpact,andsoeverystudentisencouragedtoexperimentwiththeseexamples.Forothers thereisnoobservabledifferent,orthechangesmaycausehealthdifficulties.Yourbodyisyour responsibility,notmine,butingeneralthesearesafesuggestions.Thestudentshouldabsolutelyavoid anysenseofelitismderivedfromdiet,however.Avegetarian,intodaysworldwheretheconsumeris sofarremovedfromtheharvesterorbutcher,willreachenlightenmentnofasterthanameateater,so faraswehavebeenabletoobserve.Suchoptionsareamatterofphilanthropyorhumanitarianism,not spirituality.

ReligionasaKeyandFrameofReference
Themagicianshouldnotfearreligion,butinstead,heshouldunderstanditspracticalusesandutilize thevariousaidswhichitofferstothebestofhisability.Ingeneral,theGodofthemagicianisaninfinite, eternalOnenessexistingasundifferentiatedconsciousnessinitsessence.Anyonewhohastriedto meditateonthis,however,shallhavequicklydiscoveredthatthemindcannotreallygraspGodwhen viewedthroughthislight.Thisiswherereligionstepsin. Religionhasservedanexcellentpurposeincategorizingtheotherwiseunnamedforcesofthe spiritualuniverseintoqualitativeandquantitativeforms.Insodoing,itallowstheseekerofGodto understandHiminawaythatismostproductiveforthatperson'sparticularinclinations,orforthat Copyright20102011TheDivineScience|www.thedivinescience.org 15

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person'sparticularneeds.Fortunatearewe,forGodsolovesusthatHegoesoutofHiswaytoappear tothevariousculturesofhumanityindifferentformssothateachculturemayunderstandHim.The rough,disciplinary,wrathfulGodoftheTorahwasperfectforaSemiticcivilizationwhichitselfwasvery disciplinary,andsoGodappearedtotheJewsinthatform.Becausetheycouldappreciatethatkindofa God,thiswastheformwhichGodtook,sothattheywoulddrawtoHimandliveamorallife.Hadthe sameGodPersonalityappearedtotheHindushewouldhavebeenscornedbypeoplewhorefusedto worshipaGodwhichwasstillsubjecttoearthlypassionssuchasjealousyandanger.Therefore,God appearedtotheHinducultureintheformofperfectedsaintlikegodswhoallplayedaparticularpartin thecosmicscheme,sothateveryHinducouldworshiptheaspectofGodwhichtheycouldmosteasily adore.TheJewswouldnothavebeenimpressedbyaforgivingKrsnaandwouldhavebeenfrightened bytheelephantheadedGanesh,whiletheHinduswouldhaverefusedtoworshipaGodwhodidnot haveasmuchcontroloverhimselfastheirownhumansaintsdid.Likewise,whentheRomancivilization penetratedtheJewishcultureofJudeaandthesurroundingareas,itwasnecessaryforanewfaceof GodtoemergeinthepersonalityofJesusChrist,preachingamoreforgivingaspectofGodthanthat areahadpreviouslybeenintroducedto.Thus,aswecansee,GodexpressesHisvariouspersonalitiesin thewaysthataremostappropriatefortheevolutionofeachculture.Ifthemagiciansearches,hewill likelyfindsomewhereinthemidstofitallanaspectoftheSupremeGodwhichhepersonallyseekstrue unionwith,andthroughthatgate,hecanexperiencethelimitlessandindescribableAbsolute.Havingan imageandaname,however,givesthemagicianastartingplaceandahandletogrip. ThepersonalityofGodchosenbytheaspirantwilldifferaccordingtohisinnerinclinations.Touse anexample,inancienttimesmanyfollowersofthetheurgicpathwoulddevotethemselvestoDionysus. Asthearchetypalmanifestationofbliss,thegodlymastermagician,andthegreatinitiatorofallbeings intothesacredmysteries,hewaseverythingtowhichamaguscouldhopetoaspire.Bysynchronizing withthatforce,whichistheChristDionysusKrsnaarchetype,themagiciancouldexperienceGod throughthegatesofinitiation,andbebaptizedinthewinecoloredwatersofdivinebliss.Other commonchoicesfortheancientmagiincludedtherulingpoweroftheZeusOdinSivaarchetype,the demiurgicHephaistosYHVHBrahmaarchetype,thefeminineDemeterFreyaParvatiarchetype,orthe solarpoweroftheApolloSerapisSuryaarchetype.Nomatterwhichgatetheinitiatechoosestoenter, theyallopenupontothesamedivinefieldofenlightenment.Noentranceisassuredlyfasterorslower thantheother.Mypresentuseofthreeinterreligiousnamesforeacharchetypeismerelytoshowthat thearchetypesthemselvesuniteallreligions,arepresentinallreligions,butalsotranscendreligious boundaries. Somuch,then,forthepresentdissertationonthenatureoftruemagic.IbelievethatIhave thoroughlyinvestigatedthefieldsnecessarytoprovideanyreaderwithafoundationalunderstandingof theurgyasthislineagepracticesit,andastheancientssawit.Intruth,thisarticleservesasageneral introductiontotheentiretyofourclasseshereattheDivineScienceOnline,andhopefullyhasprovided theinquisitivedabblerwithabasicoverviewofwhatwebelieveandteach. MayGodblessyouinallyourpaths,andmayyoufinddivinitynomatterwhichgateyoupassuntoit by. ~RamoseDaskalodos www.thedivinescience.org Copyright20102011TheDivineScience|www.thedivinescience.org 16