If thou wishest to succeed, it is necessary to make the following experiments and arts in the appropriate days and hours, with the requisite solemnities and ceremonies contained and laid down in the following chapters.
Experiments, 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 all the preparations which the master of the art and his disciples must undertake before constructing the circle.
Before commencing operations both the master and his disciple; must abstain with great and thorough continence during the space of nine days from sensual pleasures and from vain and foolish conversation; 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,’ etc.
The 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 completely; and while pouring this water upon them let the master say:— ‘Be ye regenerate, renewed, washed, and pure,’ etc.
The 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 completely; and while pouring this water upon them let the master say:— ‘Be ye regenerate, renewed, washed, and pure,’ etc.
Note 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 clothes, 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 disciple the instruments necessary for magical art, which he is to carry into the circle.
The 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 craft knife4 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.
When 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 endeavor 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:
He who wisheth to apply himself unto so great and so difficult a science should have his mind free from all business, and from all extraneous ideas of whatever nature they may be.
He should then thoroughly examine the art or operation which he should undertake, and write it regularly out on paper, particularly set aside for that purpose, with the appropriate conjurations and exorcisms. If there be anything to mark or write down, it should be performed in the manner specified regarding the paper, ink, and pen. He should also observe at what day and at what hour this experiment should be undertaken, and what things are necessary to prepare for it, what should be added, and what can be dispensed with.
The which matters being prepared, it is necessary for thee to search out and arrange some fitting place wherein the magical art and its experiments can be put in practice. All these things being thus arranged and disposed, let the master of the art go into a proper and fitting place; or into his cabinet or secret chamber if it be convenient for the purpose, and he can there dispose and set in order the whole operation; or he can use any other convenient secret place for the purpose, provided that no one knoweth where it is, and that no man can see him when there.
After this he must strip himself entirely naked, and let him have a bath ready prepared, wherein is water exorcised, after the manner which we shall describe, so that he may bathe and purify himself therein from the crown of his head unto the sole of his foot, saying:—
O Lord ADONAI, Who hast formed me Thine unworthy servant in Thine Image and resemblance of vile and of abject earth; deign to bless and to sanctify this water, so that it may be for the health and purification of my soul, and of my body, so that no foolishness or deceitfulness may therein in any way have place.
O most powerful1 and ineffable God, who madest thy people pass dryshod through the Red Sea when they came up out of the land of Egypt, grant unto me grace that I may be purified and regenerated from all my past sins by this water, that so no uncleanness may appear upon me in thy presence.
After this thou shalt entirely immerse thyself in the water, and thou shalt dry thyself with a towel of clean white linen, and then thou shalt put upon thy flesh the garments of pure white linen whereof we shall speak hereafter.
Hereafter, for three days at least, thou shalt abstain from all idle, vain, and impure reasonings, and from every kind of impurity and sin, as will be shown in the chapter of fast and of vigil. Each day shalt thou recite the following prayer, at least once in the morning, twice about noon, thrice in the afternoon, four times in the evening, and five times before lying down to sleep; this shalt thou do on the three ensuing days:—
ARACHIO, ASAC, ASACRA, BEDRIMULAL, FILAT, ARABONAS, IERABILEM, IODODOC, ACHAZEL, ZOPHIEL, PLAUTEL, BARACATA, EDONIEL, ELOY, EMAGRO, ABRAXATE, DREBARACH, ZAMUEL, CADAT, ERA, ELY EXA, AMISTRA, MACHED, DANIEL, DAMA, ELAMOS, BRACHEL, BEEL, SEGEN, GEMON, DEMAS.2
O Lord God, who art seated upon the Heavens, and who regardest the abysses beneath, grant unto me thy grace I beseech thee, so that what I conceive in my mind I may accomplish in my work, through thee, O God, the sovereign ruler of all, who livest and reignest unto the ages of the ages. Amen.
These three days having passed, thou must have all things in readiness, as hath been said, and after this a day appointed and set apart. It will be necessary for thee to wait for the hour in which thou shouldst commence the operation; but when once it shall be commenced at this hour, thou shalt be able to continue it unto the end, seeing that it deriveth its force and virtue from its beginning, which extendeth to and spreadeth over the succeeding hours, so that the master of the art will be enabled to complete his work so as to arrive at the desired result.
When the master of the art shall wish to perform his operations, having previously arranged all things which it is necessary to observe and practise; from the first day of the experiment, it is absolutely necessary to ordain and to prescribe care and observation, to abstain from all things unlawful, and from every kind of impiety, impurity, wickedness, or immodesty, as well of body as of soul; as, for example, eating and drinking superabundantly, and all sorts of vain words, buffooneries, slanders, calumnies, and other useless discourse; but instead to do good deeds, speak honestly, keep a strict decency in all things, never lose sight of modesty in walking, in conversation, in eating and drinking, and in all things; the which should be principally done and observed for nine days, before the commencement of the operation. The disciples should do the same, and should equally put in practice all things necessary to be observed, if they wish to make use of all these operations and experiments.
But before the commencement of the work, it is absolutely necessary that the master3 with his disciples repeat the following conjuration once in the morning, and twice in the evening:—
O Lord God almighty, be propitious unto me a miserable sinner, for I am not worthy to raise mine eyes unto heaven, because of the iniquity of my sins and the multitude of my faults. O pitying and merciful father, who wouldest not the death of a sinner but rather that he should turn from his wickedness and live, O God have mercy upon me and pardon all my sins; for I unworthy entreat thee, O father of all creatures, thou who art full of mercy and of compassion, by thy great goodness, that thou deign to grant unto me power to see and know these spirits which I desire to behold and to invoke to appear before me and to accomplish my will. Through thee who art conqueror, and who art blessed unto the ages of the ages. Amen
O Lord God the father eternal, who art seated upon the Kerubim and the Seraphim, who lookest upon Earth and upon sea; unto thee do I raise my hands and implore thine aid alone, thou who alone art the accomplishment of good works, thou who givest rest unto those who labour, who humblest the proud, who art the author of life and the destroyer of death; thou art our rest, thou art the protector of those who invoke thee; protect, guard, and defend me in this matter, and in this enterprise which I propose to carry out, O thou who livest, reignest, and abidest unto the eternal ages. Amen.
During the three last days before the commencement of this action, thou shalt content thyself with only eating fasting diet, and that only once in the day; and it will be better still if thou only partakest of bread and water. Thou shalt also abstain from every impure thing; reciting the prayer above written. And on the last day, when thou shalt wish to commence the Operation, thou shalt remain all day without eating, and later on thou shalt go into a secret place, where thou shalt confess all thy sins unto God with a contrite heart. The Disciples also, together with the Master, shall recite the same Confession with a low but distinct voice, as hath been already said in the First Book.
This having been done thrice with a devout, pure, and contrite heart, in a place withdrawn from men, cleansed, and pure, where thou canst not be seen, taking the water and the hyssop, thou shalt say:
Purify me, O Lord, with hyssop, and I shall be pure;
wash me and I shall be whiter than snow.
After this, bathe thyself with the exorcised water, and clothe thyself again with the consecrated garment which thou hast taken off; cense thyself, and surround thyself with odours, as will be told farther on, when we speak of perfumes and suffumigations.
The which being done, thou shalt go unto the ordained place with thy companions, and all things being prepared, thou shalt make the circle, as hath been already said, with all other necessary ceremonies;8 then shalt thou commence to invoke the spirits by the exorcisms; thou shalt also repeat anew the foregoing confession as hath been already said in the first book. After which, in sign of amendment and of repentance, each shall mutually kiss the other.
Mark well, that up to this point, the disciples should do the same things as the master.
Let the master now give his commands unto his disciples, and pursue the course of the experiment, and work with all diligence to bring it unto perfection.
The bath is necessary for all magical and necromantic arts; wherefore, if thou wishest to perform any experiment or operation, having arranged all things necessary thereunto according to the proper days and hours, thou shalt go unto a river or running stream,1 or thou shalt have warm water ready in some large vessel or tub in thy secret cabinet, and while disrobing thyself of thy raiment thou shalt repeat the following Psalms:—
(Ps26 =KJV27) Dominus illuminatio mea (The Lord is my light, and my salvation….)
(Ps13 or 52 =KJV14 or 53) Dixit insipiens in corde suo non est Deus (The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God….)
(Ps68 =KJV69)6 Salvum me fac Deus, quoniam intraverunt (Save me, O God, for the waters are come in unto my soul….)
(Exod15.1) Cantemus Domino gloriose enim magnificatus (I will sing unto the Lord: for he hath triumphed gloriously….)
(Ps105 =KJV106) Confitemini Domino, quoniam bonus (Give thanks unto the Lord, for he is good….)
And when the master shall be entirely disrobed let him enter into the water or into the bath, and let him say:—
I exorcise thee, O creature of Water, by him who hath created thee and gathered thee together into one place so that the dry land appeared, that thou uncover all the deceits of the enemy, and that thou cast out from thee all the impurities and uncleannesses of the spirits of the World of Phantasm, so they may harm me not, through the virtue of God almighty who liveth and reigneth unto the ages of the ages. Amen.
Then shalt thou begin to wash thyself thoroughly in the bath, saying:—
MORBALIA, MUSALIA, DAPHALIA, ONOMALIA, LITARISIA, GOLDAFARIA, DEDULSARIA, GEHUCULARIA, GEMINARIA, GEGROFARIA, CEDACH, GITACH, GODICH, ROGIL, MUSIL, GRASSIL, TANCRI, PUERI, GODU, AUGNOT, ASCHAROT, TZABAOTH, ADONAI, AGLA, ON, EL, TETRAGRAMMATON, SEDIM, ANESERON, EL, ANAPHAXETON, SIGILATON, PRIMEUMATON.8
All the which names thou shalt repeat twice or thrice, until thou art completely washed and clean, and when thou art perfectly pure thou shalt quit the bath, and sprinkle thyself with exorcised water, in the manner described later on, and thou shalt say:—
Purge me, O Lord, with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
Whilst again clothing thyself, thou shalt recite the following Psalms:
(Ps101=KJV102) Domine exaudi orationem meam (Hear my prayer, O Lord….)
(Ps50=KJV51) Miserere mei Deus secundum magnam (Have mercy upon me, according to thy loving kindness….)
(Ps4=KJV4) Cum invocarem exaudivit me (Hear me when I call….)
(Ps9 or 110=KJV9+10 or KJV111) Confitebor tibi Domine in toto corde meo (I will praise the Lord with my whole heart).
(Ps118.97=KJV119.97 (Mem)) Quomodo dilexi legem tuam (O how love I thy Law!…)
(Ps113=KJV114) In exitu Israel de Aegypto (When Israel went out of Egypt….)
(Ps125=KJV126) In convertendo Dominus captivitatem (When the Lord turned again the captivity….)
(Ps138=KJV139) Domine probasti me, et cognovisti (O Lord, thou hast searched me, and known me….)
After which thou shalt recite the following prayer:—
PRAYER
EL strong and wonderful, I bless thee, I adore thee, I glorify thee, I invoke thee, I render thee thanks from this bath, so that this water may be able to cast from me all impurity and concupiscence of heart, through thee, O holy ADONAI; and may I accomplish all things through thee who livest and reignest unto the ages of the ages. Amen.
The blessing of the Father Almighty be upon this creature of salt, and let all malignity and hindrance be cast forth hencefrom, and let all good enter herein, for without thee man cannot live, wherefore I bless thee and invoke thee, that thou mayest aid me.
Then thou shalt recite over the salt, this Psalm:
Benedicite omnia opera Domini Domino (O all ye works of the Lord, bless ye….).
Then, taking the spices and exorcised salt thou shalt cast them into the aforesaid bath; and thou shalt again disrobe thyself, pronouncing the following words:—
IMANEL, ARNAMON, IMATO, MEMEON, RECTACON, MUOBOII, PALTELLON, DECAION, YAMENTON, YARON, TATONON, VAPHORON, GARDON, EXISTON, ZAGVERON, MOMERTON, ZARMESITON, TILEION, TIXMION.
After this thou shalt enter a second time into the bath and recite
(Ps102 or Ps103=KJV103 or KJV104) Benedic anima mea Domino (Bless the Lord, O my soul….)
(Exod15) Cantemus Domino gloriose enim (I will sing unto the Lord: for….)
Then thou shalt quit the bath and clothe thyself as before in linen garments clean and white, and over them thou shalt put the garments, of which we shall speak in the proper chapter, and thus clothed thou shalt go to finish thy work.
The disciples should wash themselves in like manner, and with like solemnities.