Key of SolomonCeremonial MagicMystical / EsotericLatin, French, Italian, and Hebrew magical manuscript traditions represented in EnglishShareKey of Solomon 8Mathers 1889 - EnglishMoreVersion - 1 availableMathers 1889LanguageEnglishEspañol‹Key of Solomon 3Key of Solomon 6Key of Solomon 8Key of Solomon 9Key of Solomon 10Key of Solomon 12Key of Solomon 14Key of Solomon 16Key of Solomon 19Key of Solomon 21Key of Solomon 22Key of Solomon 24Key of Solomon 26Key of Solomon 28Key of Solomon 30Key of Solomon 32Key of Solomon 34Key of Solomon 36Key of Solomon 38Key of Solomon 40Key of Solomon 42Key of Solomon 45Key of Solomon 46Key of Solomon 47Key of Solomon 48Key of Solomon 49Key of Solomon 50Key of Solomon 51Key of Solomon 53Key of Solomon 55Key of Solomon 57Key of Solomon 59Key of Solomon 60Key of Solomon 63Key of Solomon 65Key of Solomon 67Key of Solomon 69Key of Solomon 71Key of Solomon 73Key of Solomon 76Key of Solomon 79Key of Solomon 81Key of Solomon 83Key of Solomon 85Key of Solomon 87Key of Solomon 89Key of Solomon 91Key of Solomon 93Key of Solomon 95Key of Solomon 97Key of Solomon 99Key of Solomon 101Key of Solomon 103Key of Solomon 104Key of Solomon 106Key of Solomon 107Key of Solomon 109›Book I, Chapter Iii: Concerning the ArtsKey of Solomon 8ListenPlay this chapter in spoken English.Save chapterListen to chapter1If thou wishest to succeed, it is necessary to make the following Experi- ments and Arts in the appropriate Days and Hours, with the requisite solemnities and ceremonies contained and laid down in the following chapters. 2Experiments, then, are of two kinds; the first is to make trial of what, as I have said, can be easily performed without a Circle, and in this case it is not necessary to observe anything but what thou wilt find in the proper Chapters. The second can in no way be brought to perfection without the Circle; and in order to accomplish this perfectly it is necessary to take note of ail the preparations which the Master of the Art and his Disciples must undertake before constructing the Circle. 3Before commencing operations both the Master and his Disciples must abstain with great and thorough continence during the space of nine days from sensual pleasures and from vain and foolish conversation; as plainly appeareth in the Second Book, Chapter 4. Six of these nine days having expired, he must recite frequently the Prayer and Confession as will be told him; and on the Seventh Day, the Master being alone, let him enter into a secret place, let him take off his clothes, and bathe himself from head to foot in consecrated and exorcised Water, saying devoutly and humbly the prayer, “ O Lord Adonai,” &c., as it is written in the Second Book, Chapter 2. 4The Prayer being finished, let the Master quit the water, and put upon his flesh raiment of white linen clean and unsoiled; and then let him go with his Disciples unto a secret place and command them to strip themselves naked; and they having taken off their clothes, let him take exorcised water and pour it upon their heads so that it flows down to their feet and bathes them com- pletely; and while pouring this water upon them let the Master say: — “ Be ye regenerate, renewed, washed, and pure,” &c., as in Book II., Chapter 3. 5Whicht being done, the Disciples must clothe themselves, putting upon their flesh, like their Master, raiment of white linen clean and unsoiled; and the three last days the Master and his Disciples should fast, observing the solemnities and prayers marked in Book II., Chapter 2. 6Note that the three last days should be calm weather, without wind, and without clouds rushing hither and thither over the face of the sky. On the last day let the Master go with his Disciples unto a secret fountain of running water, or unto a flowing stream, and there let each of them, taking off his 7clothes, wash himself with due solemnity, as is rehearsed in Book II. And when they are clean and pure, let each put upon him garments of white linen, pure, and clean, using the prayers and ceremonies described in Book II. After which let the Master alone say the confession. The which being finished, the Master in sign of penitence will Kiss the Disciples on the forehead, and each of them will Kiss the other. Afterwards let the Master extend his hands over the Disciples, and in sign of absolution absolve and bless them; which being done he will distribute to each of his Disciples the Instruments necessary for Magical Art, which he is to carry into the Circle. 8The First Disciple will bear the Censer, the Perfumes and the Spices; the Second Disciple will bear the Book, Papers, Pens, Ink, and any stinking or impure materials; the Third will carry the Knife and the Sickle of Magical Art, the Lantern, and the Candles; the Fourth, the Psalms, and the rest of the Instruments; the Fifth, the Crucible or Chafing-dish, and the Charcoal or Fuel; but it is necessary for the Master himself to carry in his hand the Staff, and the Wand or Rod. The things necessary being thus disposed, the Master will go with his Disciples unto the assigned place, where they have proposed to construct the Circle for the Magical Arts and experiments; repeating on the way the prayers and orations which thou wilt find in Book II. 9When the Master shall have arrived at the place appointed, together with his Disciples, he having lighted the flame of the fire, and having exorcised it afresh as is laid down in the Second Book, shall light the Candle and place it in the Lantern, which one of the Disciples is to hold ever in his hand to light the Master at his work. Now the Master of the Art, every time that he shall have occasion for some particular purpose to speak with the Spirits, must endeavour to form certain Circles which shall differ somewhat, and shall have some particular reference to the particular experiment under consideration. Now, in order to succeed in forming such a Circle concerning Magical Art, for the greater assurance and efficacy thou shalt construct it in the following manner: — 10Take thou the Knife, the Sickle, or the Sword of Magical Art consecrated after the manner and order which we shall deliver unto thee in the Second Book. With this Knife or with the Sickle of Art thou shalt describe, beyond the inner Circle which thou shalt have already formed, a Second Circle, encompassing the other at the distance of one foot therefrom and having the same centre. f Within this space of a foot in breadth between the first and the second circumferential^ line, thou shalt trace towards the Four Quarters of the Earth, § the Sacred and Venerable Symbols of the holy Letter Tau. || And 11fi.e. Two Circles enclosed between three circumferential lines. 12§ i.e. the four Cardinal points of the compass. ‹Previous chapterKey of Solomon 6Next chapterKey of Solomon 9›Similar passagesBy tradition and source labelFind similarCompare selectedCompare with similarAsk Deep ThoughtSelect passages to search for parallels.Tap any verse to select it, then compare selected passages or ask Deep Thought. Public Domain Mark 1.0 on Internet Archive metadata