Part XL

CEREMONIAL MAGIC,
99
Of the Method of rdijthg Evil or Familiar Spirits by a Circle j likewfe the Souls and Shadows of the Dead.
IT is here convenient that we fay fomething abfcut the means ufed by exor- cifts to raife up what are ufually termed evil fpirits to the circle, and the methods of calling up the ghofts or fouls of thofe who have died a violent or premature death.
Now, if any one would call any evil fpirit to the circle, he mull firft confi- der and know his nature, and to which of the planets it agrees, and what of- fices are diftributed unto him from the planet. This being known, let there be fought out a place fit and convenient, and proper for his invocation, according to the nature of the planet and the quality of the offices of the fame fpirit, as near as it can be done ; as if their power be over the fea, rivers or floods, then let the place be the fea-fhore, and fo of the reft. Then chufe a convenient time both for the quality of the air (being ferene, quiet, clear and fitting for the fpirits to affume bodies) ; as alfo of the quality of and nature of the planet and the fpirit, as on his day and time in which he rules ; he may be fortunate or unfortunate fometimes of the day, and fometimes of the night, as the ftars and fpirits do require.
Thefe things being judicioufly confidered, let the circle be made at the place elected, as well for the defence of the invocant as the confirmation of the fpirit. And in the circle write the divine general names, and all thofe things which do yield defence to us ; and, with them, thofe divine names which do rule his planet, and the offices of the fpirit himfelf ; likewife write therein the names of the good fpirits which bear rule in the time you do this, and are able to bind and conftrain -that fpirit which we intend to call. And if wTe will further ftrengthen and fortify our circle, we may add charadters and pentacles agreeing to the work ; then alfo, if we will, we may either, within or without the circle, frame an angular figure with the infcription of fuch con- venient numbers as are congruent amongft themfelves to our work, which
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100
THE KEY TO