XXII

THE UNIVERSE---LE MONDE

Do you now understand the Enigma of the Sphynx?

Do you know the thought which exists in its human head? the love which pervades it woman's bosom? the labour denoted by the loins of the bull? the struggle which the lion's claws can wage? the beliefs and the poesy of its eagle's wings? Yes, you know that the Sphynx refers to Man.

But do you know that the Sphynx is one and alone, and remains unchanged, while as to man,----is not each one a Sphynx of a different synthesis? In some there is the head of a Lion, such as it drawn on talismans of Fire; these are descendents of the Salamanders. Others have the head of a Bull, or of an Eagle or Ibis. Each of these has its divine counterpart, and this it is which the wise men of Egypt depicted in those hieroglyphic figures which the profane scholars of our time find so ridiculous and misleading.

May they be forgiven from the recesses of the Tomb of the divine Hermes.

It is by reason of this diversity of divine inspiration, and its influence over the human will, that the wise have formed such diversified pantacles and talismans. All initiates have had faith in the efficacy of symbols and emblems. How else could the Word be expressed without letters and characters, and why should not letters and characters express the power of the Word they represent.

Write the words "I love" upon a golden jewel and wear it upon the breast; then every time you feel its touch, will not the idea of your love arise in the mind? and I tell you that this jewel, magnetised by your will and your faith, will deflect from you and will extinguish all the attacks directed against you. If you pass through the heat of fire, this will be as a breeze of fresh air to you. If you are in danger of drowning, this will bear you up amid the waters. Never then condemn the use of amulets, pantacles, talismans, and phylacteries. Unfortunate is the man who is not impressed by the appearance of any image, and who does not bow his head before any symbol.

But each wise man should have his phylactery or talisman, as every Master has his clavicule. Such are the talismans of Hermes; there are others of Solomon, of Rabbi Chael, and of Thetel; there are other signs used by Paracelsus, by Agrippa, and Albertus Magnus.

The symbols of Abraham the Jew gave rise to the emblematic designs of Nicholas Flamel, which again differ from those of Basil Valentine and Bernard of Treves.

All embody the same ideas, but according to the special form of consecration speak another idiom of the language of the hieroglyphics.

If you become initiated you will at length make and vary your own talismans and pantacles; you will choose the proper hours, select your perfumes and compose your own invocations, upon the models you may find among the various clavicules of Solomon. Ponder carefully over this axiom: "The man who addresses to a Power unknown to him words which he does not fully comprehend, makes a tenebrous prayer to the spirit of darkness; in other words, he invokes the devil. All that happens in the world, that is devoid of justice and right, has the devil for its author. Remember also that he who consults the oracles abdicates in some part his liberty and makes an appeal to fateful forces.

The true sage directs or corrects the oracle but he never consults it. Saul was already conquered and lost when he consulted the Witch of Endor. In the difficulties of life consult in preference the Sphynx.

Is it a decision that is needed, ask it from the human head.

Is it affection that you desire, ask it of the woman's breast.

Is it help and protection that you need, ask the Lion's claws to afford it.

Are you poor and ignorant, invoke the power of the Bull, and work yourself.

Do the struggles of life weary you, take the Eagle's wings and raise yourself on high above the earth.

The Sphynx only devours those who fail to comprehend her; she will obey any one who has learned the answer to her riddle.

All the forces of Nature correspond to human forces, and are dependent on the will in its sphere of action: constant use of will power extends, the sphere of its action.

Man (and by man I do not intend either fools or profane persons)----man is worth whatever he believes himself to be worth; he can do whatever he believes himself capable of doing; he does whatever he really desires to do; he may at length become all that he will to be.

He, who was not mad, and yet could say, "I m the only Son of God," was the only Son of God. Examples of the past may be re-acted at any time: the types are still existent, and can be brought again into action.

Would you become a Moses, or an Elias?

Would you re-live the career of Paracelsus or of Raymond Lulli? Then learn all that they knew, put your faith in the doctrines they believed, do the acts they did; while awaiting the result, be sober in body, calm in mind, work and pray.

THE KABALISTIC PRAYER

Be favourable to me, oh ye Powers of the Kingdom Divine.

May Glory and Eternity be in my left and right hands, so that I may attain to Victory.

May Pity and Justice restore my soul to its original purity.

May Understanding and Wisdom Divine conduct me to the imperishable Crown.

Spirit of Malkuth, Thou who has laboured and hast overcome; set me in the Path of Good.

Lead me to the two pillrs of the Temple, to Jakin and Boaz, that I may rest upon them.

Angels of Netzach and of Hod, make ye my feet to stand firmly on Yesod.

Angel of Gedulah, console me. Angel of Geburah, strike, if it must be so, but make me stronger, so that I may become worthy of the influence of Tiphereth.

Oh Angel of Binah, give me Light.

Oh Angel of Chokmah, give me Love.

Oh Angel of Kether, confer upon me Faith and Hope.

Spirits of the Yetziratic World, withdraw me from the darkness of Assiah.

Oh luminous triangle of the World of Briah, cause me to see and understand the mysteries of Yetzirah and of Atziluth.

Oh Holy Letter s, Shin.

Oh ye Ishim, assist me by the name Shadai.

Oh ye Kerubim, give me strength through Adonai.

Oh Beni Elohim, be brothers unto me in the name of Tzabaoth.

Oh Elohim, fight for me by the the Holy Tetragrammaton.

Oh Melakim, protect me through Jehovah.

Oh Seraphim, give me holy love in the name Eloah.

Oh Chashmalim, enlighten me by the torches of Eloi and the Shekinah.

Oh Aralim, angels of power, sustain me by Adonai.

Oh Ophanim, Ophanim, Ophanim, forget me not, and cast me not out of the Sanctuary.

Oh Chaioth ha Kadosh, cry aloud as an eagle, speak as a man, roar and bellow.

Kadosh, Kadosh, Kadosh, Shadai.

Adonai, Jehovah, Ehyeh asher Ehyeh.

Hallelu-Jah. Hallelu-Jah.

Hallelu-Jah.

Amen. Amen. Amen.

This prayer should be made use of every morning and evening, and it should be recited as a preliminary to all grand magical and Kabalistic ceremonials; it should be recited when facing the orient with the eyes raised to the heavens, or fixed on the Kabalistic emblem of the sublime Tetragrammaton, which you will find drawn for your instruction on an accompanying page.

So soon as you apply both body and soul to the Higher Magic you will have to defend yourself against all the blind forces of the world and of Hades. Earth will send the Bacchantes of Orpheus and the temptresses who assailed Samson and Solomon, even the stones will rise up and hurl themselves at you; Hades will send its Larvae and Phantoms to attack you. As a defence you will possess the Divine Word, the aura, the magical sword, the magnetic wand, the consecrated water, and the sacred fire, but above all the vigilant power of your invocation.

If you are Royal you may rely upon revolts and counterplots to force the spiritual powers to obey you. Perform the conjuration of the Four by means of the Pantacle of Ezekiel, and proceed by the Septenary and the Triadic method, and by the Pantacle of the Hexagram of Solomon, which latter is the Symbol of the Macrocosm.

For the conjuration of the Tetrad, the Four, you bring into action the powers of the four elements duly consecrated, and you must trace in the air and upon the earth the pentagrams of fire and water; then make four expirations of the breath, and recite----making the cross----Nicksa, Ghob, Paralda, Djin.

Fluat udor per Spiritum Elohim.

Let the waters flow on, through the spiritual energy from Elohim, or ye Undines must roll back throught the influence of this consecrated water.

Maneat terra per Adam.

Let the earth remain solid through Adam. Work, ye Gnomes, as I will, or return to the earth in which I can imprison you by this Pantacle.

Fiat firmamentum per Elohim.

The firmament must persist through the Elohim. Submit, ye Sylphs, or pass away by the current of my breathing.

Fiat judicium per ignem.

Let the decree be carried out by the Fire. Ye Salamanders, be calm, or be coerced by the sacred fire.

You may formulate the Undine as an angelic form with the eyes of death; the Gnome as a winged bull, the Sylph as an eagle chained, and the Salamander as a gliding serpent.