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A Treatise on Cosmic Fire - Section Two - Division D - Thought Elementals and Fire Elementals
2. The Nature of Magic 92 We have considered somewhat at length the building of thought forms, and have seen that the process pursued by man is analogous to that pursued by the threefold Logos in the creation of the solar system. We are to deal now with that great department in occultism which is usually termed magic. The man who masters the esoteric significance of what is here said will take his place in the ranks of those entitled to call themselves the "Brothers of White Magic." The subject is too immense to be more than briefly touched upon, for it covers [983] the entire range of endeavor in the field of material construction. We must deal first with the mental attitude of man as he faces the work of creation, and his ability to bring through, via the mental body, the purpose of the Ego, thereby impressing the building agents on the mental plane with a certain rate of rhythm, and a certain vibratory activity. This is the prime factor which results (on the physical plane) in direct egoic activity. We must also bear in mind, that in the consideration of this matter we are not dealing with the every day work of average man, but are speaking of the organized creative work, under law and rule, of the advanced man. We thereby set a standard and emphasize the ideal towards which occult students should strive. We must also consider the work of the wise magical student upon the astral plane, whereon, through purified desire and sanctified emotion, he provides those equilibrized conditions and those stable vibrations, which will permit of the transmission without hindrance to the physical plane via the physical brain of the man, of the vibratory activity emanating from the Ego, and of the circulatory action of the higher force. Hence (if a remark of a practical nature may be interpolated for the average student) the cultivation of emotional tranquility is one of the first steps towards the achievement of the needed equipment of the white magician. This tranquility is not to be achieved by an effort of the will which succeeds in strangling all astral vibratory activity, but by the cultivation of response to the Ego, and a negation of all response to the inherent vibration of the astral sheath itself. We will take up the work of force transmission on the physical plane via the etheric centers and the physical brain, studying somewhat the effect of sound as it is emitted unconsciously in everyday speech, and [984] consciously in the ordered regulated words of the true worker in magic. 93 In this connection, therefore, owing to the vital practical value of this section, and to the dangers attendant upon a comprehension of these matters by those who are as yet unready for the work of conscious manipulation of force, it is proposed to impart the necessary teaching under the formula of "Rules of Magic," with certain elucidating comments. In this way, the magical work is fully safeguarded, and at the same time sufficient is imparted to those who have the inner ear attentive, and the eye of wisdom in process of opening. 92 Magic. - S. D., I, 284. Magic is a divine science which leads to a participation in the attributes of divinity itself. - Isis Unveiled, I, 25-27. All magical operations consist in freeing oneself from the coils of the Ancient Serpent. - Isis Unveiled , I, 138. The object of the art of magic is the perfection of man. - Isis Unveiled, I, 309. Magic explores the essence and power of everything. - Isis Unveiled, I, 282; S. D., II, 538. Magic and magnetism are synonymous terms. - Isis Unveiled, I, 279. Magic is the sumtotal of natural knowledge. - Isis Unveiled, II, 99, 189. Magic does not imply a transgression of the laws of nature. - Isis Unveiled, I, Preface. The Basis of Magic. Magic is based on the inner powers in man's soul. - Isis Unveiled, I, 459. The trinity of nature is the lock of magic, the trinity of man the key that fits it. - Isis Unveiled, II, 635. Magic is occult psychology. - Isis Unveiled, I, 612-616. The astral light is the chief agent of magic. - Isis Unveiled, I, 128, 616; S. D., I, 275; II, 537. 93 Magic. - The very word Magic bears within itself proof of its high origin. The Latin Magus, the Greek Magos, a magician, gives us all those other words that are so indicative of authority, wisdom, superiority. Then we have magnitude, magnificent, magniloquent, to express greatness in position, in action and in speech. With the termination slightly changed the same words become majesty, implying dominion, and again, we have magistrate, anything that is magisterial which again has been simplified into Master, and finally by the process of word evolution has become plain Mister. But the Latin is only a transmitter of words. We can equally follow up the historical development of this root until we reach the Zend where we find it doing duty as the name for the whole priestly caste. The magi were renowned all over the world for their wisdom and skill in occultism and no doubt our word magic is mostly indebted to that source for its present existence and meaning. That we need not pause even here for back of the Zend "mag," "looms up the Sanskrit, maha, signifying great." It is thought by good scholars that maha was originally spelled magha. To be sure, there is in the Sanskrit the word Maga meaning a priest of the Sun, but this was evidently a later borrowing from the Zend which had originally derived its root from its neighbor the Sanskrit. - Lucifer, Vol. X, p. 157.
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