Arbatel of Magick

OF the Magic of the Ancients

Key Phrase: The greatest Studie of Wisdom.
- Instruction: In all things, ask counsel of the Lord; do not think, speak, or act without God as your counselor.
  - Biblical Reference: Proverbs 11

Description: The spiritual Wisdom of the Ancients, encompassing both Wise-men of the people of God and the MAGI of the Gentiles.
- Purpose: To illustrate the glory of God and His love towards mankind.
- Historical Context: Produced out of darkness into the light, aimed against caco-Magicians and those who disdain the gifts of God.
- Aimed Audience: For the benefit of those who truly and piously love God's creation and utilize it with thanksgiving.
- Translator: Translated into English by Robert Turner in London, 1655.

Human Condition: The fall of man subjected all creation to vanity.
- Observation on Arts: Noble and excellent Arts have been brought to corruption over time due to reasons like false interpretations of Magick.
- Magick vs. Witchcraft:
  - Misconception: Magick has been scandalized with associations to diabolical sorceries.
  - Clarification by Mirandula: Many misunderstand Magick due to ignorance; the name "Magus" is misused as seen in the example of Simon Magus.
    - Definition of Magus: Derived from Persian, it refers to one engaged in divine matters. Contrarily, Witchcraft is purely evil, executed via covenants with demonic entities.
- Pliny’s Perspective: Pliny's scoff at Magick was due to ignorance of its true practices, with reference to Nero’s experiences with Magicians.

Significance of Magick: Represents divine contemplation.
- Relation to Ancient Figures:
  - Plato: Identified Magick as a means of worshipping God.
  - Terminology: Different cultures had diverse names for these wise men:
    - Hebrews: Cabalistos, Prophets, Scribes, Pharisees
    - ** Egyptians:** Priests
    - Babylonians: Chaldeans
    - Greeks: Philosophers
- Characteristics of a Magician:
  - Zoroaster's insights: Acknowledged God’s supremacy, Trinity, and the necessity of divine contemplation.
  - Zoroaster’s Description of God: "God the first, incorruptible, everlasting…"
First Kind of Magick: Divine Magick, which is primarily engaged in worship of God.

Types of Magick:
1. Astrology: Evaluating events based on celestial influences; historically associated with Abraham.
  - Abraham’s Influence: Introduced the Egyptians to arithmetic and astronomy.
2. Natural Philosophy: Extracting hidden virtues from nature for human benefit; defined as:
  - Magick: The connection of natural agents and their effects through the wisdom of a person.

Ethical Framework: The coexistence of good and evil within practices.
- Historical Precedence: The corruptions that taint the name of Magick stem from the desire to counterfeit its noblest aspects.

Nine Main Components:
- 1st Tome: Isagoge - Institutions of Magick (49 Aphorisms covering fundamental precepts).
- 2nd Tome: Microcosmical Magick - Spirit and Genius from Nativity.
- 3rd Tome: Olympick Magick - Interaction with spirits of Olympus.
- 4th Tome: Homerical Magick - Operations with spirits not adversarial to mankind.
- 5th Tome: Romane or Sibylline Magick - Working with tutelar spirits.
- 6th Tome: Pythagorical Magick - Engaging with spirits of arts.
- 7th Tome: Magick of Apollonius - Coordination with adversarial spirits.
- 8th Tome: Hermetical Magic - Closely related to Divine Magick.
- 9th Tome: Prophetical Magick - Wisdom dependent solely on God's word.

Invocation: Start in the name of the Creator; seek divine guidance for understanding and knowledge.

Aphorism 1: Maintain secrecy in knowledge; discern between what should be shared and what should remain hidden.
Aphorism 2: Always invoke the Name of the Lord before acting.
Aphorism 3: Prioritize personal time and wisdom; avoid commitment to the masses.
Aphorism 4: Embrace good admonitions and maintain consistency.
Aphorism 5: Love God and your neighbor; expect divine protection and goodness.
Aphorism 6: Consistently reinforce learned knowledge in memory.
Aphorism 7: Call upon the Lord in ignorance, for He will provide understanding.
Aphorism 8: Divine powers are associated with divine names and celestial bodies, ordained by God.
Aphorism 9: Wisdom hierarchy is outlined, with divine wisdom at the top.

Aphorism 10: God balances our lives with eternal and temporal guidance.
Aphorism 11: Understanding the role of wisdom in serving all aspects of life.
Aphorism 12: Divine guidance in processes of knowledge restoration.
Aphorism 13: Develop connections with the Creator for true understanding.
Aphorism 14: Recognizing the eternal aspect of the soul and obedience to God.
Aphorism 15: Understanding Olympick spirits and their roles in destiny.
Aphorism 16: Identify the governance of celestial beings over provinces.

Governors of Olympus: Seven different spirits correspond to universal provinces with demarcated powers over a sequence of years.
Functions of Each Spirit: Each governor has designated abilities that pertain to their respective celestial influences.

Aphorism 29: Understanding the dual nature of spirits and their roles in personal outcomes.
Aphorism 30-32: Magic: an intricate dance of evocation and response; historical precedents of kingship through magical means.
Aphorism 33-38: Connections between desired outcomes, virtue, and celestial compliance in circumstances pertaining to one’s actions.