: Cosmic Doctrine, some to the study of Jesus etc, but the true meaning : of occult is 'that which is hidden'. We are all searching for some bit : of arcane knowledge that will accelerate our progress towards : unification, but it is of little use unless we succeed in raising the : consciousness of those around us to the power of Omnipotent Love.
and
: A student once asked 'What befits a disciple for exoteric work for the : Lodge ? The reply was 'Indifference and again I say indifference. As : long as a disciple can be spiritually hurt or incapacitated for doing : his best work by the attacks, the opinions, the criticism of others, : so long can he be turned aside from his mission.' : : It doesn't matter whether we study existence from the standpoint of : the seven-fold-constitution of matter, force and consciousness or from : the Kabbalah or the Cosmic Doctrine - it's all the same thing! What : matters is why we are doing it and as long as we are doing it in the : spirit of Love, we will obtain results. : : Michael
These are most important points I think. A lot of people appear to think that 'Magic is impartial' and that 'Magic has nothing to do with spirituality'. Neither of these is correct except as a matter of very fine principle. In practice, without a level of spiritual development, Magic will evade you. And Black Magic certainly exists although a definition is less easy to come by.
It is a fact that one of the great truths of Magical development is that Magical abilities (the so-called 'powers'
are an unsought product of work undertaken to strenghten and develop the spiritual self. Of course this doesn't mean one has to be a saint before the LRP (for example) will work, certainly not because the objective of the LRP and other similar ceremonies is to strengthen the spiritual self. But if the initiate wishes to be able to create what others would consider Magical effects, then he/she must embark upon the spiritual path and not care about them. Paradoxically, when the ability to achieve Magical effects has been developed, the initiate recognises that they are no longer important. Still, the quest for Magical powers is is one of the inner motivations that bring potential initiates to the door of the Magical Lodge. Most who are admitted to such a Lodge achieve something of spiritual benefit to themselves, a few achieve the ability to exercise Magical powers.
Even then, Magical effects are most often not achieved in a spectacular way, but as a gradual process of change. That is the way of Nature. I think we all see occasional references to 'spells for this' and 'spells for that', (mostly discussed among our younger brethren). Any thoughts as to how useful they are?
