CEREMONIAL MAGICK AND SORCERY
By
Manly Palmer Hall
Excerpt from
The Secret Teachings of All Ages
"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."
"…in the arcanum of magic it is
declared that ‘he controls the soul who controls the blood of
another.’ "
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.
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.
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."
The Pentacles of the Seven
Planets and the
Seals and Characters of the Planetary Angels
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.
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.
