THE LESSER KEY 11

These consist of:
(1) Sight.
The circle, square, triangle, vessels, lamps, robes, implements, etc.
(2) Sound.
The invocations The spoken prayers or commands used to call forth a spirit..
(3) Smell.
The perfumes Usually incense specifically blended to match the nature of the spirit being summoned..
(4) Taste.
The Sacraments Consecrated bread, wine, or other substances consumed during the ritual to internalize the spiritual force..
(5) Touch.
As under (1).
(6) Mind.
The combination of all these and reflection on their significance.

These unusual impressions (1-5) produce unusual brain-changes; hence their summary (6) is of unusual kind. Its projection back into the apparently phenomenal world The "phenomenal world" refers to the world as we perceive it through our senses. is therefore unusual.

Herein then consists the reality of the operations and effects of ceremonial magic,¹ and I conceive that the apology In this context, "apology" means a formal legal or philosophical defense of a position. is ample, as far as the "effects" refer only to those phenomena which appear to the magician himself, the appearance of the spirit, his conversation, possible shocks from imprudence, and so on, even to ecstasy on the one hand, and death or madness on the other.

But can any of the effects described in this our book Goetia (a Greek-derived term for a system of magic involving the summoning of spirits or "demons") be obtained, and if so, can you give a rational explanation of the circumstances? Say you so?

I can, and will.

The spirits of the Goetia are portions of the human brain.

1 Apart from its value in obtaining one-pointedness (a state of singular, unwavering mental focus, often called "Ekagrata" in yoga).