Magick is the Science of understanding oneself and one's conditions. It is the Art of applying that understanding in action.
Interpretation
Magick involves self-awareness and practical application of that awareness.
In this quote, Aleister Crowley emphasizes the importance of self-understanding as a foundational aspect of magick. He suggests that true magick is not merely about performing rituals or spells, but rather about comprehending one's own nature and the circumstances one faces. This knowledge allows for effective action, implying that personal growth and insight are essential for anyone wishing to make meaningful changes in their life or environment.
In practice
This quote can be used in a motivational speech about personal development.
People think that talking is a sign of thinking. It isn't, for the most part' on the contrary, it's a mechanical dodge of the body to relieve oneself of the strain of thinking, just as exercising the muscles helps the body to become temporarily unconscious of its weight, its pain, its weariness, and the foreknowledge of its doom.
There is a single main definition of the object of all magical Ritual. It is the uniting of the Microcosm with the Macrocosm. The Supreme and Complete Ritual is therefore the Invocation of the Holy Guardian Angel; or, in the language of Mysticism, Union with God.
I was not content to believe in a personal devil and serve him, in the ordinary sense of the word. I wanted to get hold of him personally and become his chief of staff.
I do not want to father a flock, to be the fetish of fools and fanatics or the founder of a faith whose followers are content to echo my opinions. I want each man to cut his own way through the jungle.
It will be seen that the formula - 'Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the Law' has nothing to do with 'Do as you please.' It is much more difficult to comply with the Law of Thelema than to follow out slavishly a set of dead regulations.
The essence of independence has been to think and act according to standards from within, not without.
There is no great harm in the theorist who makes up a new theory to fit a new event. But the theorist who starts with a false theory and then sees everything as making it come true is the most dangerous enemy of human reason.
Where destruction is the motive, unity is dangerous. For example, if I have evil intent and I galvanize that evil intent with many others, the capacity to destroy is immense. Where goodness is the motive, unity is phenomenal and actually has some good issues to it.
Hegel was right when he said that we learn from history that man can never learn anything from history.
He is, as you say, a remarkable horse, a prodigious horse, although as you very justly observe, a suspicious and untractable character.
America is a young country with an old mentality.
Take away the contests of the martyrs, and you have taken away their crowns.
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