the light of egypt volume ii(埃及之光卷2)-第27节
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We have now reached the limits of our present study； and have only to
state that all gems； like the human organism； are in one of three conditions：
alive and conscious； asleep and UNCONSCIOUS； or dead and powerless。
These conditions can only be discovered； in stones； by the trained lucid or
the instructed neophyte。 Stones that are sleeping require to be awakened。
This； also； can only be done by the trained student or Adept。 Those that are
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dead； are USELESS as Talismans； no matter how beautiful they appear as
ornaments。
Gems and stones are also sexed； and those who wear them would
receive the best effect if they should wear those of opposite sex； although
either is powerfully potent in their influence upon the individual。 How
very ignorant the children of men are； of the subtle； silent； yet obedient
servants； that everywhere； surround them。 Here； again； that Divine spark；
which lies embedded within the crystallized forces of Nature； is exerting
its subtle； spiritual influence； in making man's very selfishness； and love
of ornament and show； a means； to bring forth these silent monitors；
knowing ere long that； their true power and potency will be known； and
consciously utilized by him； as potent factors in his soul's evolvement and
physical development。
The twelve representative gems within the cold stratas of matter； stand
as the material representatives of their stellar counterparts in the sky； and
constitute the beautiful； glittering； but crystallized； Zodiac of man's
physical anatomy。
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CHAPTER X。
CEREMONIAL MAGIC
The above title has been selected； chiefly； because； in most works
treating upon magic we find it wrongly used； and therefore； take the
opportunity of explaining the matter； for； there were no such terms in the
vocabulary of the ancient Magi。
It is unfortunate； that； words of ancient origin are not more carefully
used； and that； we should attach so many different meanings to the same
word。 The terms 〃ceremony〃 and 〃ceremonial〃 are nothing more nor less
than； what that eminent critic； John Ruskin； would designate as 〃bastards
of ignoble origin；〃 which； somehow or another； have usurped the places of
〃rite〃 and 〃ritual。〃 The word 〃rite〃 has descended to us from the Latin
〃ritus〃 of our Roman ancestors； and they received it from the more ancient
〃riti〃 of the Sanskrit； the Greek equivalent of which is 〃reo；〃 and means
the method or order of service to the gods； whereas； 〃ceremony〃 may
mean anything and everything； from the terms of a brutal prize fight to the
conduct of divine service within the church。 But； no such chameleon…like
definition or construction can properly be placed upon the word 〃rite；〃 for
it means distinctly； if it means anything at all； the serious usage and sacred
method of conducting service in honor of the gods； or of superiors； and
requires the attendance of the prophet or priest； or some one duly qualified
to fulfill such sacred functions for the time being。 The ritual of magic； then；
is the correct title of this present study； and as such； we shall； henceforth；
term it as we proceed with the course。
Man is especially； and above all creatures； an organizing force； and
when to this fact； we add the most interior and powerful of his sentimental
instinctsveneration for the powers that be； and for the higher； invisible
forces of Nature； his 〃religiosity；〃 as it has been aptly termed； we cannot
wonder that； the earliest races of which we possess any record are chiefly
distinguished for their imposing and elaborate religious rites。 In fact； it is
to the stupendous temples and a colossal sacerdotalism； that； we are
indebted for nine…tenths of the relics and records which we possess of
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them。 So true is this that； from what we have been able to discover； we are
quite justified in asserting that the ancient races were； above all other
things； a profoundly religious people。 The temple was the center around
which revolved all their genius and art； and the sacred edifice became their
grandest achievement in architecture； and its high priest the most powerful
individual in the state。 In fact； it was in consequence of the real power
invested in such sacred office that it was so intimately connected with the
throne； and why royalty so frequently belonged to the priesthood or
exercised priestly functions。 And there can be no real doubt； but that；
amongst the pastoral and more spiritual races of Earth's earliest inhabitants；
the priest； by reason of his superior wisdom； was the first law…giver； and；
by virtue of his sanctity of person and elevation of mind became their first；
primitive king； a patriarchal monarch； whose scepter and symbol of power
was the shepherd's peaceful crook； just as among the ruder nomads of the
inhospitable North； we find the greatest hunters invested with the dignity
of chief； whose significant symbol and scepter of royalty； upon their
Nimrod thrones； was the trusty； successful spear。 And the times in which
we live have bad their full effect upon these symbols； so significant of rule。
The monarch has transformed the spear into the less harmful mace； while
the Church has added an inch of iron to the crook。 Therefore； the former
has become less war…like； and the latter less peaceful； and； verily； in actual
life we find them so；
The patriarchal sire； head of the tribal household； was the original
priest； and the hearthstone the first altar around which the family rites
were performed； and from this pure and primitive original have been
evolved； through progressive ages； the stately temple and the sacred
person of the despotic pontiff； from the sincere prayer the pure aspirations
of the human heart and the joyous offerings of fruits and flowers to the
invisible powers around them； and from the souls of their beloved
ancestors has arisen the costly and complicated ritual of theology。 And； if
the theologians of to…day really knew the lost； secret meaning of their
complicated rituals； and the unseen powers lying behind their external
symbols； their anxieties for the continued life of their dying creeds would
be turned to new hopes and faith； which could be demonstrated to their
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equally blind followers； that； that which they were teaching they knew；
and could practically use the knowledge given forth in their sanctuaries；
and； instead of offering up their supplications to an imaginary； personal
Deity； their words； rites； and ceremonies； would take on the form and
power that such should command； and they would become truly； what
their title really means； a doctor of the soul。 Then could they； intelligently；
lead and direct the souls of their followers to the path of Christ （Truth）；
which leads up to salvation； not a vicarious atonement； but gaining the at…
one…ment through the individual soul's development to a conscious
relation； to that Divine spirit； we call God； where it can say 〃I know。〃
Out of those simple gifts； which were the spontaneous offerings of
loving remembrance and unselfish charity； have grown the prayers；
penances； sacrifices； and servile worship； of sacerdotalism。 Out of the
paternal consideration and love of the aged sire has evolved the haughty；
chilling pride of the selfish； isolated priest； and which reflects its baneful
influence upon the worshipers at their feet。 They have also changed their
once sacred； faithful； and reverent； obedience into suspicion and distrust；
and with the educated to utter disgust。 The light has been extinguished
