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ON THE GENERAL GUIDANCE AND

PURIFICATION OF THE SOUL

Learn first, 0 Practicus of our Ancient Order, that true
Equilibrium is the basis of the Soul. If thou thyself hast nota sure foundation,
whereon wilt thou stand to direct the forces of Nature?

Know then that as Man is born into this world amidst the
darkness of Nature and the strife of contending forces, so must his first
endeavour be to seek the Light through their reconciliation. Thus, thou who hast
trial and trouble of this life, rejoice because of them, for in them is
strength, and by their means is a pathway opened unto that Light
Divine.

How should it be otherwise, Oman, whose life is but a
day in Eternity, a drop in the Ocean of Time? How, if thy trials were not many,
couldst thou purge thy soul from the dross of Earth?

Is it but now that the higher life is beset with dangers
and difficulties; bath it not been ever thus with the Sages and Hierophants of
the Past? They have been persecuted and reviled, they have been tormented of
men, yet through this has their glory increased. Rejoice, therefore, 0 Initiate,
for the greater thy trial, the brighter thy triumph When men shall revile thee
and speak against thee falsely, bath not the Master said “Blessed art thou.”
Yet, 0 Practicus, let thy victories bring thee not vanity, for with increase of
knowledge should come increase of wisdom. He who knows little, thinketh he knows
much; but he who knoweth much bath learned his own ignorance. Seest thou a Man
wise in his own conceit? There is more hope of a fool than of
him.

Be not hasty to condemn other’s sin. How
knowest thou that in  their place
.thou couldst have resisted the temptation? And even were it so, why shouldst
thou despise one who is weaker than thyself? Be thou well sure of this, that in
slander and self-righteousness is sin. Pardon therefore the sinner, but
encourage not the sin. The Master condemned not the adulterous woman, but
neither did he encourage her to commit the sin.

Thou therefore who desirest magical gifts, be sure that
thy soul is firm and steadfast, for it is by flattering thy weakness that the
Evil One will gain power over thee. Humble thyself before thy God, yet fear
neither man nor spirit. Fear is failure and the forerunner of failure; and
courage is the beginning of virtue. Therefore fear not the Spirits, but be
firm and courteous with them, for thou hast no right either to despise or to
revile them, and this too may lead thee into sin. Command and banish the Evil
ones. Curse them by the Great Names of God, if need be; but neither mock nor
revile them, for so assuredly thou wilt be led into error.

A man is what he maketh himself within the limits fixed
by his inherited destiny; he is a part of mankind. His actions affect not
himself only, but also those with whom he is brought into contact, either for
good or for evil.

Neither worship nor neglect the physical body, which is
thy temporary connection with the outer and material world. Therefore let thy
mental equilibrium be above disturbances by material events. Restrain the animal
passions and nourish the higher aspirations; the emotions are purified by
suffering.

Do good unto others for God’s sake, not for
reward, not for gratitude from them, not for sympathy. If thou art generous,
thou wilt not long for thine ears to be tickled by expressions of gratitude;
Remember that unbalanced force is evil, that unbalanced severity is but cruelty
and oppression, but that also unbalanced Mercy is but weakness which would allow
and abet evil.

True prayer is as much action as Word; it is Will. The
Gods will not do for man what his Higher Powers can do for himself, if he
cultivate Will and Wisdom. Remember that this Earth is but an atom in the
Universe, and thou thyself but an atom thereon. And that even couldst thou
become the God of this Earth whereon thou crawlest and grovellest, thou wouldst
even then be but an atom and one among many. Nevertheless, have the greatest
self-respect, and to that end sin not against thyself. The sin which is
unpardonable is knowingly and wilfully to reject spiritual truth, but every sin
and act leaveth its effect.

To obtain magical Power, learn to control thought. Admit
only true ideas which are in harmony with the end desired, and not every stray
and contradictory idea that presents itself. Fixed thought is a means to an
end; therefore pay attention to the power of silent thought and meditation. The
material act is but the outward expression of the thought, and therefore it bath
been said that “the thought of foolishness is sin.” Thought therefore is the
commencement of action, and if a chance thought can produce much effect, what
cannot fixed thought do? Therefore, as has been already said, establish
thyself firmly in the Equilibrium of Forces, in the centre of the cross of the
elements, that Cross from whose centre the creative word issued in the birth of
the dawning universe.

As it was said unto thee in the Grade of
Theoricus: “Be thou therefore prompt and active as the Sylphs, but avoid
frivolity and caprice. Be energetic and strong like the Salamanders, but avoid
irritability and ferocity. Be flexible and attentive to images like the Undines,
but avoid idleness and changeability. Be laborious and patient like the Gnomes,
but avoid grossness and avarice.” So shalt thou gradually develop the powers of
thy Soul and fit thyself to command the spirits of the
elements.

For wert thou to summon the Gnomes to pander to thy
avarice, thou wouldst no longer command them, but they would command thee.
Wouldst thou abuse the pure creatures of God’s creation to fill thy coffers and
to satisfy thy lust for Gold? Wouldst thou defile the Spirits of driving Fire to
serve thy wrath and hatred? Wouldst thou violate the purity of the Souls of the
Water to pander to thy lust and debauchery? Wouldst thou force the Spirits of
the evening breeze to minister to thy folly and caprice?

Know that with such desires thou canst but attract the
evil and not the good, and in that can the evil will have power over
thee.

In true religion there is no sect. Therefore take heed
that thou blaspheme not the name by which another knoweth his God for if
thou doest this thing in Jupiter, thou wilt blaspheme YHVH; and in Osiris
YEHESHUAH.

“Ask of God and ye shall
have,

Seek and ye shall find.

Knock, and it shall be opened unto
you.”