Powers and Scales

An individual stream of mind, manifested in a finite human being, is not essentially or substantially separate from the universal mind as such, and represents only a «point of view» of the One. Nevertheless, in its current state as an individual stream it possesses resources commensurate with its scale. In other words, whatever we may say about our “identity with the Absolute,” in practice we have access only to the powers that can be contained within our limited being, and that capacity can and must be increased through mind training.

At the same time, as an embodied being of the “middle world,” a person has a unique advantage – reliance upon the material plane, the most condensed and balanced manifestation of the environment. It is precisely this reliance, the possibility of “using levers,” as in Archimedes’ well-known remark, that can sometimes mislead, distorting perception of the true proportions and scales of forces.

Just as, looking at the sky and seeing only tiny points of light, we must make an effort to remember that those “points” are giant balls of plasma, beside which our whole planet is a mere speck of sand, so when in the Ritual we perceive an invoked deity or an evoked demon, we must remember that before us are macrocosmic agents, infinitely surpassing us in power and wisdom, and only reliance on the material plane allows us to make contact with them without being destroyed instantly.

Such frivolity is especially dangerous when contacting demons and the “Grey” spirits.

Since Magic without the highest discipline and self-control is in any case an extremely disorienting and volatile field — one that strongly provokes megalomania and can foster the worst signs of inadequacy — a failure to grasp scale and assess disposition soberly often proves fatal for the unfortunate Magus himself and dangerous for the world.

It is easy to lose one’s head when the King of the Underworld stands in the Triangle before you, and he speaks to you as if you were equals, sometimes even flattering you.

However, on one hand, a display of submission is a favorite pastime of top predators, and on the other, only a sturdy body and a reliable protective circle protect against their all-devouring fire.

Even Astaroth, who does not possess “royal” authority — one of the Gatekeepers most active and therefore most available for contact — is a spirit that decides the outcome of any “pair birth” of particle and antiparticle throughout the Universe: whether they will annihilate again, or scatter, giving rise to matter (this does not mean that the Magi deny or ignore “physical” forces and regularities; it means that these forces and regularities can be described in mythological terms, thereby broadening our understanding of them). And here that intelligence stands before the Magus in the Triangle. Does that mean that one who can summon such a force can influence the outcome of a “pair birth,” can open the Gates of Formation? Yes, one can — but only having traversed the entire Tree of Life, from Malkuth to Keter. And having done so, he is unlikely to be performing evocations in a one-room Khrushchyovka apartment while his parents are at work (or while his wife is in the kitchen making borscht).

What, then, can be said, for example, of Asmodeus, who has power over gravity itself, or Belial, without whom no atomic nucleus in the Universe would form.

In studying demonology, angelology, or theology, it is very important not to mix up the realms, to remember that Magic is an instrument for the development of the mind which, like any complex tool, can become a weapon, a Way to heaven or the abyss. For the Magus it is crucial to understand that what protects him is not his grandeur but his impeccable conduct. A Magus is successful to the extent that he is disciplined and free from error. Sound judgment in assessing oneself, one’s powers and capabilities, and remembering the scale of the forces one engages with helps use magical approaches as an evolutionary path. The loss of such adequacy not only turns the Magus himself — though insignificant and unappealing — into food for predators, but also puts everyone with whom he is connected at risk.