Introduction

In my ten years experience in the world of Western occultism, in the esoteric Orders I have traveled through, in the many books I have read, have I rarely found any direct and clear reference to the exact underlying principles of what has become known as the Great Work. At first sight this might seem a rash statement, because there are many, many references to the Great Work of Western Occult Tradition in both rare and popular books. But the truth is that the term itself is frequently used, nevertheless exact details of just what this Great Work is, how, when and where it is achieved specifically are nearly always lacking. Ask the average occultist, an individual, say, who has read upwards of 20 or 30 books on mainstream occultism and who has had experience of study in at least one magickal Order 'what is the Great Work' and you will get a great variety of answers - few of which are specific or have anything to do with the classical facts of the subject.

It is not unusual, for example, to obtain the answer 'it is different for each school - or individual'. This, I understand, is really the staple reply given by those who are not really familiar with the subject. Those who want to believe they are involved in the Great Work but have little idea of just what that is. So they invent an idea.

Unfortunately, in many areas of esoteric interest, the greater part of its body of adherents have lost sight of the fact that the Hermetic discipline is an exact science no matter what some might like to believe for convenience sake for the need to back up an argument. In place of careful study and research, in place of truth, we find a hotchpotch of make believe, superstition, hearsay, assumption and straight out lies. It is understandable that there are those who will protest and demand that magick has never been in so good a condition since the dawn of Christianity. That Hermetic science is undergoing a renaissance through which we are seeing a revolution in thought in that area. We do not disagree with the latter statement. But to fool ourselves into thinking that the ancient Royal Arte is in better condition than it has been during the Christian era is certainly not the case. Those who have the fortune of being party to a true deep understanding and experience in Hermetics will agree that the average student of this Arte today, many of whom believe themselves to be quite adept in their learning, have but a very little true knowledge and even less productive ability in their chosen vocation. The arena of popular occultism has managed, thuswise, to so successfully degrade the value and vision of the Hermetic Tradition that the true extent of knowledge and attainment has been for a long time almost completely obscured from the student who does not possess enough innate vision to see the truth of the matter themselves.

From this unfortunate situation has arisen the mistaken idea that the Great Work, amongst other things, is whatever one decides to accept it as.

The fact is that the statement itself begins with the word 'The' Great Work. By this we must understand not whatever we desire to invent as the meaning of this declaration but instead accept, if we desire to be productive, that it is a very definite Work. A very definite process. It is our intention in this little work to try to throw some light on the subject of just what the Magnum Opus really is. It is understood that in doing so there will be those who do not agree with our approach. Be that as it may we can only reply that, in the least, we desire to present an understanding of the fact that this Work is not whatever you desire it to be, but instead, under certain conditions, a very definitie subject which can be calculated and measured. A very definite something which the Mages of classic times had a very specific understanding of, and intentions concerning.

To Chapter One