Of all hindrances to Magical action, the very greatest and most fatal is unbelief, for its checks and stops the action of the Will. Even in the commonest natural operations we see this. No child could learn to walk, no student could assimilate the formulas of any science, were doubt and the Impracticability and impossibility of so doing is the first thing in his mind. Therefore it is that all Adepts and Great Teachers of Religion and of Magic have invariably insisted on the necessity of faith.

The writer could never understand, what many think an Imperative necessity, for them to study and interest themselves in the many different methods and teachings of Occultism, for every student should select some good Adept's Teachings, which he must first decide for himself to be good, then follow them closely and earnestly, showing a marked intolerance for other teachings differing from the ones he has selected.

Further, I must say that it has been my experience to find that it is rather the abuse through ignorance of their meaning, which causes some hasty one to decry the worthlessness of certain teachings, than their intelligent and properly regulated use, for if the Disciple be pure in mind, and have developed the clairvoyant faculty which is latent in every human being, and which is based on the utilisation of the thought-vision, he will succeed. This soul sight, spoken of in the Scriptures as the "Inner or Spiritual Sight," is exercised almost unconsciously by every one in thinking of either a place, person or a thing, which they know well; immediately, coincident with the thought, the image springs before the mental sight; and it is but the conscious and voluntary development of this which is the basis of what is commonly called clairvoyance. Among the Highlanders of Scotland, this faculty, as is well known, is of common manifestation; and by the English is usually spoken of as "Second Sight."

"Pentacles And Symbols"

Pentacles and Symbols are valuable as an equilibrated and fitting basis for the reception of Magical force; but unless the Operator can really attract that force to them, they are nothing but so many dead, and to him worthless, diagrams. But used by the Initiate or Adept who fully comprehends their meaning they become to him a powerful protection and aid, seconding and focussing the working of his Will, as well as the Power of the Spirits he has invoked.

Conclusion

In conclusion I desire it to be known and understood that there are many who will fail to understand why the following system and methods of Hindu Invocation have found to be fitting and suitable in a volume of this kind. Regarding this, let all mankind know that this has been customary in all ages of man. However, he who does not care to take up the exercises need not do so, let him study the volume in its forepart, he will be more than recompensed for hit time and trouble.

Further "The Book of Death and Hindu Spiritism" has been written sorely as a help to the genuine Occult student and those faithful souls who desire Knowledge and Wisdom; and that for the opinion of the ordinary literary critic who neither understands nor believes in Spiritism or Occultism. I care nothing.

Dr. de Laurence.