Art Magic
General Summary of the Condition and Processes of Magical Practices - The Line Between Ancient Theosophy and Occultism - Application of Theories
We adopt the caption of "Art Magic" for this section, because we desire to draw the line between that vast amount of speculative philosophy, which is inextricably mixed up with ancient Theosophy, and the occult practices which constitute much of that Theosophy in application.
Hitherto we have written chiefly of the theories by which the ancients explained the order of being, and the elements of life power and motion, by which being itself becomes operative. Until the principles thus laid down are thoroughly well digested, our attempts to show their application to the practices of magic will fail.
With the most sincere desire to explain the modes by which artificial means can be induced to evoke the occult powers in nature, or in other words, to practice the art of magic, our efforts will be in vain, if the reader fails to apprehend what nature is; to comprehend the structure of man in his threefold character as a material, magical, and divine being; to follow us in our definitions of the Astral fluid which vitalizes all things in nature, and the Astral spirit, which constitutes the spiritual body of man; of the connecting links between Men, Angels, Spirits, and Deity, and the difference between Prophets and Magicians - the adept who commands spirits, and the medium who is commanded by them.