| 119 | 120 | 121 | 122 | 123 |
| 1 | 46 | 93 | 139 | 185 |
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4] Liber III vel Jugorum Magick in Theory and Practice, by Aleister Crowley pp427-8.
5] ibid.
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Later this will become invaluable as a record upon which future magical work may be built. The
Magical Diary enables you to plot the course of the apparently irrational: it is impossible to over stress
its importance. It is also excellent for 'keeping you up to the mark' and preventing boredom from
setting in, for any dimunition in the size of each entry becomes immediately apparent.
Of all the possible distractions, boredom is most to be feared. It is unfortunately true that it is easier to
suffer an hour of anguish which can at least be dramatic than a quarter of an hour of boredom. These
periods of dryness are the necessary lying fallow of the earth.
In alchemical terms, the Dark Night of the Soul is the Nigredo step, in which things are broken down
and putrified, the 'solve' before the 'coagula' or the re-integration of the Soul. The Nigredo is the
Saturnian heavy, black and leadlike period in which depression and inertia predominate: if these can
be conquered by sheer persistence and drive, then the Dark Night of the Soul can be endured till the
'coagula' takes place and the soul is re-born phoenix-like, from the ashes.
Any loss of determination or perseverance half way through will result in the process aborting at the
stage of dross or putrefaction: in which case it would have been better if the magician had not
originally assayed the experiment. A graphic although fictional illustration of this principle occurs in
Bulwer Lytton's story Zanoni in which Glyndon fails the initiatory test and spends the rest of his life
regretting it, being unable to either go forward or return to his old condition.
The process of self initiation can be approached in a number of different ways: several are outlined in
the following pages. Of these one of the most demanding is that prescribed by Abramelin which is
designed for the magician who is able to take six months and devote it solely to his magical training,
living a hermit-like existence, whilst keeping up a cycle of prayers, invocations and practices.
As Abraham, the reputed author of the text, puts it:
'He who commenceth this Operation in solitude can elect a place according unto his pleasure; where
there is a small wood, in the midst of which you shall make a small Altar, and you shall cover the
same with a hut (or shelter) of fine branches, so that the rain may not fall thereon and extinguish the
Lamp and the Censer. Around the Altar at the distance of seven paces you shall prepare a hedge of
flowers, plants, and green shrubs, so that it may divide the entrance into two parts; that is to say, the
Interior where the Altar and Tabernacle will be placed after the manner of a Temple; and the part
Exterior, which with the rest of the place will be as a Portico thereunto.
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