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I.

1. It is absolutely necessary that all experiments shouldbe  recorded in  detail during, or immediately after, their performance.
2. It is highly important to note the physical and mental condition of the
experimenter or experimenters.
3. The time and place of all experiments must be noted;also  the state of
the weather, and generally all conditions which mightconceivably  have any
result upon the experiment either as adjuvants to orcauses of the result, or
as inhibiting it, or as sources of error.
4. the A: A: will not take official notice of any experimentswhich are
not thus properly recorded.
5. It is not necessary at this stage for us to declarefully the ultimate end of our researches; nor indeed would it be understoodby those who have not become proficient in these elementary courses.
6. The experimenter is encourages to use his own intelligence,and not to rely upon any other person or persons, however distinguished,even among ourselves.
7. The written record should be intelligently preparedso that others may benefit from its study.
8. The Book "John St. John" published in the first numberof the Equinox is an example of this kind of record by a very advancedstudent. It is not as simply written as we could wish, but will show themethod.
9. The more scientific the record is, the better. Yetthe emotions should be noted, as being some of the conditions. Let thenthe record be written with sincerity and care; thus with practice it willbe found more and more to approximate to the ideal.
 
 

II

Physical clairvoyance.

1. Take a pack of (78) Tarot playing cards. Shuffle; cut.Draw one card. Without looking at it, try to name it. Write down the cardyou name, and the actual card. Repeat, and tabulate results.
2. This experiment is probably easier with an old genuinepack of Tarot cards, preferably a pack used for divination by some onewho really understood the matter.
3. Remember that one should expect to name the rightcard once in 78 times. Also be careful to exclude all possibilities ofobtaining the knowledge through the ordinary senses of sight and touch,or even smell. There was once a man whose fingertips were so sensitivethat he could feel the shape and position of the pips and so judge thecard correctly.
4. It is better to try first the easier form of the experiment,by guessing only the suit.
5. Remember that in 78 experiments you should obtain22 trumps and 14 of
each other suit; so that without any clairvoyance atall, you can guess right
twice in 7 times (roughly) by calling trumps each time.
6. Note that some cards are harmonious. Thus it wouldnot be a bad error to call the five of Swords ("The Lord of Defeat") insteadof the ten of Swords ("The Lord of Ruin"). But to call the Lord of Love(2 Cups) for the Lord of Strife (5 Wands) would show that you were gettingnothing right. Similarly a card ruled by Mars would be harmonious witha 5, a card of Gemini with "The Lovers".
7. These harmonies must be thoroughly learnt, accordingto the numerous tables given in 777.
8. As you progress you will find that you are able todistinguish the suit correctly three times in four and that very few indeedinharmonious errors occur, while in 78 experiments you are able to namethe card aright as many as 15 or 20 times.
9. When you have reached this stage, you may be admittedfor examination; and in the even of your passing you will be given morecomplex and difficult exercises.
 
 

III

Asana --- Posture.

1. You must learn to sit perfectly still with every muscletense for long
periods.
2. You must wear no garments that interfere with theposture
in any of these experiments.
3. The first position: (The God). Sit in a chair; headup,
back straight, knees together, hands on knees, eyes closed.
4. The second position: (The Dragon). Kneel; buttocksresting
on the heels, toes turned back, back and head straight,hands on thighs.
5. The third position: (The Ibis). Stand, hold left anklewith
right hand, free forefinger on lips.
6. The fourth position: (The Thunderbolt). Sit; leftheel
pressing up anus, right foot poised on its toes, theheel covering the
phallus; arms stretched out over the knees; head andback straight.
7. Various things will happen to you while you are practising
these positions; they must be carefully analysed anddescribed.
8. Note down the duration of practice; the severity ofthe pain
(if any) which accompanies it, the degree of rigidityattained, and any
other pertinent matters.
9. When you have progressed up to the point that a saucer
filled to the brim with water and poised upon the headdoes not spill one drop
during a whole hour, and when you can no longer perceivethe slightest
tremor in any muscle; when, in short, you are perfectlysteady and easy, you
will be admitted for examination; and, should you pass,you will be
instructed in more complex and difficult practices.
 

IV

Pranayama --- Regularisation of the Breathing

1. At rest in one of your positions, close the right nostril
with the thumb of the right hand and breathe out slowlyand completely
through the left nostril, while your watch marks 20 seconds.
Breathe in through the same nostril for 10 seconds. Changinghands, repeat
with the other nostril. Let this be continuous for onehour.
2. When this is quite easy to you, increase the periodsto 30 and 15 seconds.
3. When this is quite easy to you, but not before, breatheout
for 15 seconds, in for 15 seconds, and hold the breathfor 15 seconds.
4. When you can do this with perfect ease and comfortfor a
whole hour, practice breathing out for 40 and for 20seconds.
5. This being attained, practice breathing out for 20,in for 10, holding
the breath for 30 seconds. When this has become perfectlyeasy to you, you may be admitted for examination, and should you pass,you will be instructed in more
complex and difficult practices.
6. You will find that the presence of food in the stomach,even in small
quantities, makes the practices very difficult.
7. Be very careful never to overstrain your powers; especiallynever get
so short of breath that you are compelled to breatheout jerkily or rapidly.
8. Strive after depth, fullness, and regularity of breathing.
9. Various remarkable phenomena will very probably occurduring
these practices. They must be carefully analysed andrecorded.
 
 

V

Dharana --- Control of Thought.

1. Constrain the mind to concentrate itself upon a singlesimple object imagined. The five tatwas are useful for this purpose; theyare: a black oval; a blue disk; a silver crescent; a yellow square; a redtriangle.
2. Proceed to combinations of simple objects; e.g. ablack oval within a yellow square, and so on.
3. Proceed to simple moving objects, such as a pendulumswinging, a wheel
revolving, etc. Avoid living objects.
4. Proceed to combinations of moving objects, e.g. apiston
rising and falling while a pendulum is swinging. Therelation
between the two movements should be varied in differentexperiments.
Or even a system of flywheels, eccentrics, and governor.
5. During these practices the mind must be absolutelyconfined
to the object determined upon; no other thought mustbe allowed to
intrude upon the consciousness. The moving systems mustbe regular and harmonious.
6. Note carefully the duration of the experiments, thenumber
and nature of the intruding thoughts, the tendency ofthe object itself to
depart from the course laid out for it, and any otherphenomena which may
present themselves. Avoid overstrain; this is very important.
7. Proceed to imagine living objects; as a man, preferablysome
man known to, and respected by, yourself.
8. In the intervals of these experiments you may tryto imagine the objects of the other senses, and to concentrate upon them.For example, try to imagine the taste of chocolate, the smell of roses,the feeling of velvet, the sound of a waterfall or the ticking of a watch.
9. Endeavour finally to shut out all objects of any ofthe senses, and
prevent all thoughts arising in your mind. When you feelyou have
attained some success in these practices, apply for examination,and should
you pass, more complex and difficult practices will beprescribed for you.
 

VI

Physical limitations.

1. It is desirable that you should discover for yourselfyour physical limitations.
2. To this end ascertain for how many hours you can subsistwithout food or drink before your working capacity is seriously interferedwith.
3. Ascertain how much alcohol you can take, and whatforms of drunkenness
assail you.
4. Ascertain how far you can walk without once stopping;likewise with dancing, swimming, running, etc.
5. Ascertain for how many hours you can do without sleep.
6. Test your endurance with various gymnastic exercises,club swinging,
and so on.
7. Ascertain for how long you can keep silence.
8. Investigate any other capacities and aptitudes whichmay occur to you.
9. Let all these things be carefully and conscientiouslyrecorded; for according to your powers will it be demanded of you.
 
 

VII

A Course of Reading

1. The object of most of the foregoing practices willnot at first be
clear to you; but at least (who will deny it?) they havetrained you in
determination, accuracy, introspection, and many otherqualities
which are valuable to all men in their ordinary avocations,so that in no
case will your time have been wasted.

2. That you may gain some insight into the nature of theGreat
Work which lies beyond these elementary trifles, however,we should mention
that an intelligent person may gather more than a hintof its nature from
the following books, which are to be taken as seriousand learned
contributions to the study of Nature, though not necessarilyto be implicitly
relied upon.

The Yi King (S.B.E. Series, Oxford University Press.)
The Tao Teh King (S.B.E. Series.)
TannhДuser, by A. Crowley.
The Upanishads.
The Bhagavad-Gita.
The Voice of the Silence.
Raja Yoga, by Swami Vivekananda.
The Shiva Sanhita.
The Aphorisms of Patanjali.
The Sword of Song.
The Book of the Dead.
Rituel et Dogme de la Haute Magie.
The Book of the Sacred Magic of Abramelin the Mage.
The Goetia.
The Hathayoga Pradipika.
The Spiritual Guide of Molinos.
Erdmann's History of Philosophy.
The Star in the West (Captain Fuller).
The Dhammapada (S.B.E. Series, Oxford University Press).
The Questions of King Milinda (S.B.E. Series).
777 vel Prolegomena, etc.
Varieties of Religious Experience (James).
Kabbala Denudata.
Knox Om Pax.

3. Careful study of these books will enable the pupilto speak
in the language of his master, and facilitate communicationswith him.

4. The pupil should endeavour to discover the fundamental
harmony of these very varied works; for this purposehe will find it best to study
the most extreme divergencies side by side.

5. He may at any time that he wishes apply for examinationin this course
of reading.

6. During the whole of this elementary study and practicehe will do wisely to seek out and attach himself to, a master, one competentto correct him and advise him. Nor should he be discouraged by the difficultyof finding such a person.

7. Let him further remember that he must in no wise relyupon, or believe in, that master. He must rely entirely upon himself, andcredit nothing whatever but that which lies within his own knowledge andexperience.

8. As in the beginning, so at the end, we here insistupon the vital importance of the written record as the only possible checkupon error derived from the various qualities of the experimenter.

9. Thus let the work be accomplished duly; yea, let itbe accomplished duly.
(If any really important or remarkable results shouldoccur, or if any great difficulty presents itself, the A: A: should beat once informed of the circumstances.)