Such,
as we have seen, was ELIPHAS LEVI'S view of ceremonial magic; and
whatever may be said as concerns his own experiment therein (for one
would have thought that the essential element of faith was lacking in
this case), it is undoubtedly the true view as concerns the ceremonial
magic of the past. As this author well says: "Witchcraft, properly
so-called, that is ceremonial operation with intent to bewitch, acts
only on the operator, and serves to fix and confirm his will, by
formulating it with persistence and labour, the two conditions which
make volition efficacious."[1b]
[2] "MAGICAL AXIOM. In the circle of its action, every word
creates that which it affirms.
DIRECT CONSEQUENCE. He who affirms the devil, creates or makes the devil.
"_Conditions of Success in Infernal Evocations_.
1, Invincible obstinacy; 2, a conscience at once hardened
to crime and most subject to remorse and fear; 3, affected or
natural ignorance; 4, blind faith in all that is incredible, 5,
a completely false idea of God. (ELIPHAS LEVI: _Op. cit_., pp.
297 and 298.)
[1b] ELIPHAS LEVI: _Op. cit_., pp. 130 and 131.
EMANUEL SWEDENBORG in one place writes: "Magic is nothing but the
perversion of order; it is especially the abuse of correspondences.
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