The Witch's Pyramid is a set of four or, more recently, five principals which are widely regarded as the cornerstones of magickal practice. In my experience, the Witch's Pyramid can be applied not only to magick, but also as a general guide of how to live as a witch. Though certainly not the only tenets which contribute to successful magick, I try to follow this code closely and do feel it has enriched my practice. It embodies ideals which contribute to the attitude and habits of not only a powerful magician, but also a responsible and effective person.
I have been unable to track down the origins of the Witch's Pyramid, but I have found that it goes back at least as far back as the works of Aleister Crowley, probably predates Eliphas Levi's The Key of the Mysteries (1861), and seems to have it's roots in earlier Hermetic magickal practices. This code hasn't always been called "The Witch's Pyramid." It has been called, and continues to be known as, "The Four Rules of the Magus," "The Hermetic Quaternary," "The Springboard of Magick," "The Magician's Manifesto," "The Four Powers of the Sphinx," and by various other names.
To Know:
Before you embark on an act of magick, you must first understand the situation. Take the time to gather, analyze, and fully comprehend all the information available. Know yourself, that is, what is your precise magickal desire? Why is this your goal? Know your craft. What ingredients, tools, or spirits will you need to work with? Are there any aspects of magickal timing that you need to be aware of? How do you employ this information? Know the situation. By understanding as many of the magickal and mundane variables as possible, you can help to ensure that your spell achieves the desired results in a reproducible manner. Be prepared to go get the information you require. This may involve being proficient in divination. Outside of your magickal practice, "To Know" is just good advice. Know that there is always more to learn. If you conduct yourself in a measured manner, and act only when you know you are fully informed, you are less likely to misstep and your actions will be more responsible. No one will ever fault you for being too well-informed.
To Dare:
The second part of the Witch's Pyramid, To Dare, is about having the courage of your convictions. As witches, we walk on both sides of the veil. We are in charge of our reality and manipulate the world as we see fit. This is no task for the unsure. To create powerful magick, you must dare to stand alongside gods and spirits of the unseen, to walk in darkness. You must trust in your instincts and your skills, and be unafraid to act accordingly. On a mundane level, this can mean simply having the determination to act - to take on an active role in the world around you. You must trust yourself and your abilities, and have faith in your knowledge that the world around you is quite a bit more malleable than it seems at first glance.
To Will:
Magicians often characterize spells as acts of focused will. To manifest a spell, or any act, one must put their energy behind it, want it, and enforce that desire with their will. To will is to take responsibility for your manifestations. Magick doesn't happen because you have the right candle or incense. It happens because you say so. Your spell wont get off the ground if you don't supply sufficient force of will. This is also to say that your desires are powerful in their own right. By knowing your intention, you can take greater responsibility for your manifestations.
To Go:
Historically, "to go" has not been included in The Witch's Pyramid, and I could not find when it started being included. This precept is in line with the common bit of witchy advice, "to act in accord." Magick works best when you help it by creating opportunities for your spells to manifest. Employment spells work faster when you are actively seeking a job instead of sitting at home. If it's your will to manifest something through magick, then you should be active in manifesting that desire through any additional mundane means available. In addition to this, "to go" can mean to apply the other parts of The Witch's Pyramid in your life. I take it to mean that we should be true to our words through our actions.
To Keep Silent:
This is meant to emphasize a number of practices. First, it tells us the importance of quieting our minds and surroundings to seek inspiration and connect to energies which are all but silent themselves. Second, it means that your spells and magickal workings should be gone about in secret. To follow your path in silence is difficult advice to follow. It's easy to get excited about your latest spell or magickal theory. Although your path is something it's reasonable to be thrilled about, blabbing can do more harm than good. You don't want others creating negative thoughtforms around your spell. That aside, you certainly don't want others undermining your faith in yourself lest you destroy your own manifestations before they can get off the ground. To Keep Silent means more than just shutting up about your spell work. It emphasizes a need for discipline in, and reverence for, your path and for the forces with which you work.
I have been unable to track down the origins of the Witch's Pyramid, but I have found that it goes back at least as far back as the works of Aleister Crowley, probably predates Eliphas Levi's The Key of the Mysteries (1861), and seems to have it's roots in earlier Hermetic magickal practices. This code hasn't always been called "The Witch's Pyramid." It has been called, and continues to be known as, "The Four Rules of the Magus," "The Hermetic Quaternary," "The Springboard of Magick," "The Magician's Manifesto," "The Four Powers of the Sphinx," and by various other names.
To Know:
Before you embark on an act of magick, you must first understand the situation. Take the time to gather, analyze, and fully comprehend all the information available. Know yourself, that is, what is your precise magickal desire? Why is this your goal? Know your craft. What ingredients, tools, or spirits will you need to work with? Are there any aspects of magickal timing that you need to be aware of? How do you employ this information? Know the situation. By understanding as many of the magickal and mundane variables as possible, you can help to ensure that your spell achieves the desired results in a reproducible manner. Be prepared to go get the information you require. This may involve being proficient in divination. Outside of your magickal practice, "To Know" is just good advice. Know that there is always more to learn. If you conduct yourself in a measured manner, and act only when you know you are fully informed, you are less likely to misstep and your actions will be more responsible. No one will ever fault you for being too well-informed.
To Dare:
The second part of the Witch's Pyramid, To Dare, is about having the courage of your convictions. As witches, we walk on both sides of the veil. We are in charge of our reality and manipulate the world as we see fit. This is no task for the unsure. To create powerful magick, you must dare to stand alongside gods and spirits of the unseen, to walk in darkness. You must trust in your instincts and your skills, and be unafraid to act accordingly. On a mundane level, this can mean simply having the determination to act - to take on an active role in the world around you. You must trust yourself and your abilities, and have faith in your knowledge that the world around you is quite a bit more malleable than it seems at first glance.
To Will:
Magicians often characterize spells as acts of focused will. To manifest a spell, or any act, one must put their energy behind it, want it, and enforce that desire with their will. To will is to take responsibility for your manifestations. Magick doesn't happen because you have the right candle or incense. It happens because you say so. Your spell wont get off the ground if you don't supply sufficient force of will. This is also to say that your desires are powerful in their own right. By knowing your intention, you can take greater responsibility for your manifestations.
To Go:
Historically, "to go" has not been included in The Witch's Pyramid, and I could not find when it started being included. This precept is in line with the common bit of witchy advice, "to act in accord." Magick works best when you help it by creating opportunities for your spells to manifest. Employment spells work faster when you are actively seeking a job instead of sitting at home. If it's your will to manifest something through magick, then you should be active in manifesting that desire through any additional mundane means available. In addition to this, "to go" can mean to apply the other parts of The Witch's Pyramid in your life. I take it to mean that we should be true to our words through our actions.
To Keep Silent:
This is meant to emphasize a number of practices. First, it tells us the importance of quieting our minds and surroundings to seek inspiration and connect to energies which are all but silent themselves. Second, it means that your spells and magickal workings should be gone about in secret. To follow your path in silence is difficult advice to follow. It's easy to get excited about your latest spell or magickal theory. Although your path is something it's reasonable to be thrilled about, blabbing can do more harm than good. You don't want others creating negative thoughtforms around your spell. That aside, you certainly don't want others undermining your faith in yourself lest you destroy your own manifestations before they can get off the ground. To Keep Silent means more than just shutting up about your spell work. It emphasizes a need for discipline in, and reverence for, your path and for the forces with which you work.
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