Enthusiasm for the Magical Sciences and Arts

Whoever in general knows the sciences and arts and whoever also finally gets to know the science of magic will clearly recognise through his open-minded, unbiased and impersonal intellect that the science of magic is the highest of all the sciences in the world, since it is based on the disciplines of universal truth. Our general enthusiasm for the sciences and arts urges us to devote ourselves to some field of endeavour in the sciences and arts to which we have the closest connection in respect to our interests and whatever we are particularly fond of, especially what is in accordance with our aptitudes and talents. Perhaps we also dedicate ourselves to some kind of art, such as music, or whatever is of greater interest to us and for which we also have a gift or talent. Genuine art will always yield for us the greatest gains for our astral and spiritual development. In such a case our astral and spiritual abilities and attributes of a higher degree come into play, which originate from inspiration and intuition through which we partly reach the field of the magical arts and sciences. Then the doors are open to us. It is necessary that we hold on - then we will easily slide onto the right path into eternity. Once we are mature enough for this path, then this art, this skill, gets us there with certainty and we will find the opportunity ourselves and a source to which we can tum and where we can obtain the

right advice and information about the science and art of magic.

From experience we know that not everyone is mature enough for magic. But if a person has inspiration and intuition for the earthly arts, then it is almost certain that he will be able to travel on the path of magic. Proof of that are the geniuses of the various arts, such as poets, painters, composers, sculptors and ingenious inventors. 3 They never boast about their achievements, when they eventually gain genuine magical abilities, which they attained through intuition and inspiration, which they will never sacrifice or reveal to anyone.

Such an artist or genius has a great advantage because of his enthusiasm for the arts that are of magical origin, since they are imparted to him intuitively and through inspiration.

Already his genius, his brilliance, tells us that his spirit is on high level of spiritual development. Therefore, perhaps he belongs to a circle of high initiates. He will never reveal this to anyone and that is how his inner astral and spiritual development remains hidden from the outside world. Only the results of their magical artistic activities, which these geniuses, these true artists, leave behind here, are a testimony of their magical genius, which only initiates correctly understand and value.

In any case, every genius as a rule is an advanced student or master of the magical arts and sciences, and he enters the material plane with a particular mission - to enrich the world with the results of his ingenious arts and sciences and to bring human civilization to its highest heights^. But the more or less significant scientists and artists do not occupy these positions, and though they have a particular considerable talent, they are not geniuses.

3 As an example, Galileo, DaVinci. - ED.

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Finally, we are obliged and bound by genuine enthusiasm for the sciences and arts to become masters of the highest sciences and magic, provided however, that we possess this level of maturity. Our entire material, astral and spiritual development must strive toward that goal.

Our ceaseless, unswerving, profound, sincere interest for the sciences and arts, especially for the highest sciences, namely magic, awakens and strengthens in us our power of enthusiasm.

7. Courage

Nothing ventured, nothing gained, especially when we use our courage for a good purpose. Courage is one of the mightiest and most effective positive attributes with which we can fight to attain whatever we wish for. Our courage, however, must be under the control of our will, which will guide our courage and give the right meaning to our actions. Therefore, we will not risk or venture anything for which we do not possess the abilities.

That is why we guide our courage in such a way that we systematically carry out one task after another and cope with whatever is within our powers and abilities and for which we have the right amount of courage. When we aim for a high goal that is ahead of us and we are not able to carry it out all at once, then we approach our goal step by step until we have removed the last obstacle with our courage until we stand right before our goal.

The more difficult and greater the obstacles, the more our courage will increase and become compliant, yes, courage will directly become a part of our character and our will and

might, with which we manage, control and guide everything.

Courage is an important factor in our entire life. Without it we cannot create or accomplish anything. Fortune favours the courageous. ⁴ Above all courage is connected to the active will and the consciousness. They complete the will and guide him onto the right path. Whatever we wish to possess, we must dare to realise and fight boldly for our wishes, interests and everything else. Temporary failures will not lead us astray, because we know how difficult it is to attain or gain some things, as well as attributes, abilities, arts or sciences.

Our courage increases in the same proportions as the difficulties of our obstacles increase. The more difficult they are to overcome, the more courageous we become. As we know, courage is one of the main pillars of the Temple of Solomon, which we furnish for the duration of our present temporary life here. We have here on earth the best opportunities to do that, because in the invisible world these powerful, precious obstacles, which are particularly chosen for us, are no longer available to us; however, we continue to live there with whatever we take with us from here into eternity. If we develop a powerful courage, we can make use of it in the invisible world with great success; of course, in accordance with the conditions that prevail in the beyond on the astral and spiritual planes.

We make use of our courage wherever we have to overcome our most unusual and eccentric negative and positive attributes and passions and bad habits, which have become so deep-rooted in us that it has become difficult to control or remove them. Operations like that are exactly the same as those that are carried out on our physical bodies, when a surgeon with a knife liberates us from an abscess, tumour or

4 This statement does not necessarily imply material fortune. ^-ED.

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a limb that cannot be saved. Therefore, if our passions, circumstances, negative attributes, bad habits are too strong -which we cultivated over several generations and -which always accompany us and develop more and become stronger - then we must develop a stronger and greater courage, so that we can conquer these negative characteristics and cut them out of our spiritual, astral and physical bodies. These passions and negative attributes are so deeply rooted within, because we created and developed them ourselves through our past unhealthy way of life. They nourished themselves from our vital energy and because of that they became a direct part of our personality. If we make the attempt to remove them or cut them out, they will defend themselves with everything in their power, for they possess a strong instinct of self-preservation, because in the true sense of word through this kind of operation we actually "kill" them. That is why we require for this task a considerable amount of patience, strength, but above all courage, and stop at nothing, not even death. A courageous person has no reason to fear anything, because he finds support in his consciousness from the highest goal. Courage as an attribute, filled with the power of the active rays of the element of Fire, which enables us to carry out whatever we wish, provided it serves a noble purpose.