In past and present, and probably in future time, there have been many instances of magical procedures tending to bring about the results that we have herein seen to come about by reason of psychic influence, in some of its many phases.  These magic procedures have usually been accompanied by incantations, ceremonies, strange rites, evocations, etc., which were supposed to have great virtue in bringing about desired results.  But the true occultists now know that these ceremonies and rites were merely hopes to the imagination and aids to faith, and thus tended to bring about the psychic phenomena.  There was no virtue in these ceremonies themselves, and the same results may be secured by simply following the procedure outlined in this book.  The wonders of ancient magic have been reproduced by the modern occultists, without all the mumbo-jumbo of the past rites and ceremonies.

A gifted English writer upon the subject of the relation of mysticism and magic, sums up the gist of the principles of Magic as follows: 

“The central doctrine of Magic may now be summed up thus: 

“(1) That a supersensible and real cosmic medium exists, which interpenetrates, influences, and supports the tangible and apparent world, and is amenable to the categories both of meta-physics and of physics.” [This of course is the astral plane, which is the container of the subtle form or framework of all that exists on the physical plane.]

“(2) That there is an established analogy and equilibrium between the real (and unseen) world, and the illusory manifestation that we call the world of sense.” [By this of course is meant the correspondence and balance between the subtle form of things and the material manifestation thereof.  Things created in the astral, tend to materialize on the physical plane.  All creation proceeds from the astral to the physical.]

“(3) That this analogy may be discerned, and this equilibrium controlled, by the disciplined will of man, which thus becomes master of itself and of fate.” [The essence of Will consists of strong desire accompanied by a clear mental picture of the thing desired, and held steady and firm by concentration.]

So you see by reference to the above very clear statement of the central doctrine of Magic, and my explanations thereof, that in these lessons you have been taught the very essence of the wonderful, mysterious ancient Magic, and its modern counterpart.  As for the various rites and ceremonies, as I have said, these are mere symbols and aids to mental imaging and concentration.  As an eminent occultist once said, “Ceremonies being but artificial methods of creating certain habits of the will, they cease to be necessary when these habits have become fixed.”  The master of occultism sees ceremonies, rites, and ritual as but the playthings of the kindergarten scholar—­useful and important so far as they go, but serving merely to teach the scholar, sooner or later, that he may proceed without them.