MAGI ? MAGIC “I AM” AETHER

According to the traditional philosophy of the Magicians, every man is a unique autonomous centre of individual consciousness, energy and will-a soul, in a word. Like a star shining and existing by its own inward light it pursues its way in the star-spangled heavens, solitary, uninterfered with, except in so far as its heavenly course is gravitationally modified by the presence, near or far, of other stars.

Since in the vast stellar spaces seldom are there con- flicts between the celestial bodies, unless one happens to stray from its appointed course-a very rare occurrence-so in the realms of humankind there would be no chaos. … little conflict and no mutual disturbance were each individual content to be grounded in the reality of his own high consciousness, aware of his ideal nature and his true purpose in life, and eager to pursue the road which he must follow.  Because men have strayed from the dynamic sources inhering within themselves and the universe, and have forsaken their true spiritual wills, because they have divorced themselves from the celestial essences, betrayed by a mess of more sickly pottage than ever Jacob did sell to Esau, the world in this day presents a people with so hopeless an aspect, and a humanity impressed with so despondent a mien.   Ignorance of the course of the celestial orbit, and the significance of that orbit inscribed in the skies for ever, is the root which is at the bottom of universal dis- satisfaction, unhappiness and race-nostalgia.  And because of this the living soul cries for help to the dead, and the creature to a silent God.  Of all this crying there comes usually-nothing. The lifting up of the hands in supplication brings no inkling of salvation.  The frantic gnashing of teeth results but in mute despair and loss of vital energy.  Redemption is only from within and is wrought out by the soul itself with suffering and through time, with much endeavour and strain of the SPIRIT.

—1932 “THE TREE OF LIFE”