THE POWER OF A WORD
James Lewis
Magus of the Temple of Set
 
Although the majority of us look with
a bit of disfavor on structuring, it
remains a fact that each Aeon, this
one included, operate within the
framework of a certain necessary
structuring.  The Aeon of Set, and
particularly its Temple, function by
frames of reference through which
certain words have certain meanings
and thereby allow Initiates to
comprehend magical and philosophical
theory and practice.  Some of the
most powerful of all these tools are
Words; ie, those singular expressions
of points in time and space of both
the Aeon and personal magical
initiatory progress.
 
A Word, as defined by this Initiate,
is a conceptualization of those
trends, actions, and forces set in
motion which have taken Magicians to
a certain point in time through
Work done for Work's sake (or, as
Magus Crowley put it, without lusting
for results).  Any Word from Thelema
to Indulgence to Xeper to
Remanifestation is subject to
developing only insofar as it is put
to personal usage.
 
Xeper, the primary Word of the Aeon
of Set, is an excellent example of
the two avenues which can be used to
approach the concept.  Xeper itself
is defined as Coming Into Being,
taking oneself up from that lowest-
common-denominator mechanical state
of being into a functional god-like
individual capable of bringing about
change in accord with Will.  If not
pursued actively, Xeper will still
impact - the individual will come
into being, but only as that he Wills
by his actions to Become.  Should he
operate only in the mode of base
desires and the mere impulse to
satisfy the desire for gratification,
such is the goal he will ordain for
himself.  Should he, on the other
hand, turn his gaze toward an
understanding of the cosmos, the
resulting state of being will be far
beyond that he could have anticipated
when starting his journey.  The gist
of this is that one will become
something regardless of which path is
followed, but that it is up to the
individual to select the goal to be
worked toward.
 
A Word is Uttered in order to place
a tool in the hands of those who wish
to use it.  Its impact is unquestion-
able and can be seen in all things,
at least insofar as the attention
span is able to encompass it.  Some
have asked whether a Word can
actually influence ALL things within
the cosmos - it requires an answer
with a fine eye on reality as
comprehended by the Initiate.
What actually is reality?  We are
aware that there is a high degree of
probability present in speculating
the presence of planets other than
our own along with suns and galaxies;
we have no physical concrete proofs
on the tables before us, but trust
those reports given to us by
scientists and others in the know.
Actual reality consists in a great
part in what we are able to
comprehend and place within the
working context of the universe. It
can follow, therefore, that when the
tool which is a Word is encountered
it influences each known quantity
within the scope of the Magician's
attention.  It also covers to a
certain extent unknown quantities and
possibilities which are present in
the form of situations which can be
altered to make desired goals come
about.  [To digress for a brief
moment, if ever there could be said
to be any such thing as predestination
it exists in mankind's ability to use
those tools at hand to shape events
so that desired results come about.
My mind rebels at the thought of
predestination as generally accepted.
Should that definition be a fact,
what then would be the use of our
striving and work?
 
Conscious and deliberate effort is
necessary to make full use of the
power of a Word.  In the case of the
Word Remanifestation the intentional
spotlighting of the concept for
taking all that has been up to a
certain point in space and time in
order to Become something more than
the parts thereof is accentuated by
first the impetus of the accumulated
forces and then the awareness of the
presence of the Word's potential for
use.  Without the deliberate use of
the ability to Remanifest, the sole
product will be at best a somewhat
unsure self attempting to do Magic.
With the knowledge of the mechanics
of the Word the Initiate finds
himself playing a different ballgame.
He can, to a certain extent, form his
future by creating change in accord
with Will.  It would have been most
interesting to hear what Magus
Crowley's comments on that would have
been.  Set in his ways as the old
Beast was, he would no doubt have
disagreed violently!
 
 
Speaking of the old Beast, he once
wrote that in order to divine
correctly one should be a Master of
the Temple.  While the reference was
aimed more in the direction of using
the Thoth Tarot deck, it is true that
Magistri Templi write the book on
Understanding insofar as it is known
by the Temple of Set.  In order to
Understand a Word, it is necessary to
be a Master -- I must point out here
that that Grade is the one in which
the best Understanding of a Word can
come about in ways other than
actually Uttering the Word oneself.
Magistri tend not to so much attempt
Understanding as to almost auto-
matically Understand.  [This is so
due to their attunement to the Will
of Set.]  It is possible for Under-
standing to take place on other
levels, also.  The Priest of Set III*
is able to Understand insofar as he
can place concepts within the
functional framework of the universe
and the Aeon.  The Adept is also able
to Understand to a certain degree.
(No pun, now!) The Second Degree is
the highest level of proficiency one
can hope to attain without the direct
intervention of the Prince of
Darkness himself.  There is indeed
nothing wrong with remaining an Adept
until the stars fall and a new plan
is made (a thing Natalie Babbitt's
storybook Devil says we all know will
never happen).  The Adept is an
Initiate who has attained mastery of
Black Magic and they are respected as
such.  They also are able to Under-
stand insofar as their comprehensions
of the universe go.  Hence it is not
without basis in fact that Adepti
speak of working with Word concepts.
I must remark here, though, that
while the Uttering of a Word is a
simple and straightforward act, it is
expounding it that for the Magus can
become complicated. In the same way,
hearing a Word for any Degree is just
as simple and straightforward while
it is first understanding the Word
and then putting it into practice in
which complication enters.  It
behooves Initiates of all Degrees to
approach all concepts with care and a
willingness to excise if necessary
since no statement is deified to the
point of being invulnerable.  Magus
Anton LaVey had some valuable
recommendations on that very subject
in the SATANIC BIBLE; it would hurt
none to look them up and take them to
heart.
 
With all this said, how necessary is
it to actually take a Word to heart?
No one is REQUIRED to do so, but
working with the concepts involved
make the difference between a boomer-
ang and a rifle, between an old
biplane and a starship or, to use one
of my own favorites, the difference
between a stone wheel and a TARDIS.
As remarked earlier, a Word will
impact in any event and it is up to
the individual to decide on whether
he is to master it or be mastered by
it.  The choice is up to you.
 
The Word of the Aeon of HarWer was
THELEMA, the Will which enables each
star to chart its own course through
the cosmos.
 
The Word of the Age of Satan was
INDULGENCE, an orienting of the self
on the highest and best things of
life and being.
 
The primary Word of the Aeon of Set
is XEPER, Coming Into Being as an
alert, oriented, and balanced
Magician capable of creating change
in accord with Will.
 
The secondary Word of the Aeon of Set
at the time of this writing is
REMANIFESTATION, a renewal and
rebirth of the self through
deliberate use of all that has been
previously in order to bring about a
Magician who Comes Into Being as a
new and more fully faceted Being.
 
The author can be contacted through
this BBS.  He can also be reached
through electronic mail on CompuServe
(70327,1216) and American People/Link
(id: MAGUS).
 
September 1, XXII of the Aeon of Set
             1987 of the common era