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and functions。 But； in themselves alone； there is not； nor can there be； any
real virtue。 The same may be said of the incantations。 The words used in
their composition are the hieroglyphics of mystical ideas。 Therefore； the
correct pronunciation of the words or the grammatical construction of a
sentence is nothing； if the underlying idea is conceived in the mind and
responded to by the soul。 Will and motive form the basis of true magic。
One word more and we have completed our subject。 Magic swords；
rings； pentacles； and wands； may； and often are powerful magical agents in
the hands of the magician； by virtue of the power； or charm； that is
invested within them when properly prepared； but apart from such
preparation； by those who know； they are as powerless as unintelligible
incantations。
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All the foregoing are aids； but if physical manifestations of magical
forces be required； there must always be present the necessary vital；
magnetic pabulum； by means of which such phenomena are made to
transpire； and in every case； to be successful； the assistance of a good
natural magician； or seer； is necessary； for without this essential element
the whole art； in its higher aspects； becomes abortive。
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CHAPTER XI。
THE MAGIC WAND
This is the last lesson of our present course that requires a clear
definition of the terms employed in the title thereof； for the twelfth； and
final study is； perhaps； fortunate in having for its title a word that has not；
so far； been misused and distorted from its original sense。
The Magic Wand。 The words savor of everything that the young tyro
in Occult art can picture to his mind； of the midnight magician and his
mysterious； if not diabolical； arts； muttering his incantations； working his
gruesome spells； and raising the restless ghosts of the dead。 Strange
fancies； these； and yet； so corrupt and ignorant have become the
conceptions of the popular mind regarding the once sacred Science of the
Temple and the psychological powers of Nature； that we very much
question； if the ideas above stated were not very similar to the originals of
each modern student； before he had become acquainted with the deeper
truthsthe realities of Occult philosophy。
We will commence our study by a careful investigation of the original
meaning of the words Magic Wand； since those who were the masters and
originators thereof； are far more likely to know more about them than their
degenerate offspring of a later age。 Few； comparatively； would believe that
the words MAGIC； MASON； and IMAGINATION； are the present
unrelated descendants of the same original conceptionTHE ROOT IDEA；
but such is the case。 First； then； we will examine their modern meanings。
Magic is the unholy art of working secret spells； of using invisible powers；
and holding intercourse with the unseen world of ghosts and demons； by
means of enchantments。 It also means the expert deception of the senses
by the tricks of a conjurer； SO…CALLED hocus…pocus and fraud； and a
magician is either an evil…minded； superstitious mortal； fool enough to
believe in charms； or an expert pretender and imposter of the first water；
who cheats and deceives the people。 A mason is the honorable designation
of a builder； who works in stone； metaphysically； a member of a semi…
secret society； whose sole advantage is social intercourse and standing；
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who proclaim fraternity and universal brotherhood theoretically and
practice the reverse in reality； a man who apes the Egyptian Mason； knows
nothing in reality of Hiram； his master； who knows nothing of the starry
Solomon or his mystic temple in the heavens； which Hiram built； and who
misconceives the import of the three villains； or assassins； and who；
further； knows nothing of that wonderful sprig of myrtle：in short； a Free
Mason； speaking generally； is a man who delights in ideals； social equality；
secret fraternity； and plays at mysticism； who parades on the Masonic
stage and enacts a role he does not understand。 The first meaning； that of a
builder； is the most correct。 Lastly； the imagination is the exercise of
mental imagerythe picturings of silent thought。
And now we will proceed BACKWARDS。 Imagination is from the
word 〃image；〃 a form； a picture； and has descended to us from the Latin
〃imago；〃 which； in its turn； was derived from the old Semitic root； 〃mag。〃
Mason comes to us from the Latin 〃mass；〃 which means to mould and
form； i。e。； to build； and the word 〃mass；〃 through various transformations；
was also derived from the root…word 〃mag。〃 Consequently； originally；
there was but little difference in the ancient idea of building pictures in the
mind and erecting the mental idea externally in stone。 It is from this fact；
that； we have to…day Mental Masons； a la the secret orders； and stone
masons； who labor for wages。 The Mental Masons have merely lost the
knowledge of their art。 They should； by rights； be as active and
correspondingly useful to…day as their more physical brothers； the masons
of stone。
This art would never have fallen into disgrace and disuse； if their daily
bread； or material accumulations； had depended upon their efforts in
building up the mental； moral； and spiritual attainments； of each other； and
bringing their knowledge into more external use； by making the material
edifice； the physical body； a purer and more fitting temple； for the Divine
soul。
Magic comes from the Latin 〃magi〃 and the Greek word 〃magos；〃
which means wise； learned in the mysteries； and was the synonym of
wisdom。 The initiated philosopher； the priest； and the wise men； are all of
them included in the 〃magi。〃 Again； tracing this word