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(1953)
To Help the Sick
[1] Ever remember the promise
of the goddess, "For ecstasy is mine and joy on earth" so
let there ever be joy in your heart. Greet people with joy,
be glad to see them. If times be hard, think, "It might have
been worse. I at least have known the joys of the Sabbath,
and I will know them again." Think of the grandeur, beauty,
and Poetry of the rites, of the loved ones you meet through
them. If you dwell on this inner joy, your health will be
better. You must try to banish all fear, for it will really
touch you. It may hurt your body, but your soul is beyond
it all.
[2] And ever remember, that
if you help others it makes you forget your own woes. And
if another be in pain, do what you may to distract his attention
from it. Do not say "You have no pain," but if you may, administer
the drugs which sooth as well as those that cure. But ever
strive to make them believe they are getting better. Install
into them happy thoughts. If you can only get this into his
inner mind so that it be always believed.
[3] To this end it is not
wrong to let people think that we of the cult have more power
than we have. For the truth is that if they believe we have
more power than we really possess, we do really possess these
powers, insomuch we can do good to them.
[4] You must try to find out
about people. If you tell a slightly sick man, "You are looking
better. You will soon be well," he will feel better, but if
he is really ill, or in pain, his Knowledge that he is in
pain will cause him to doubt your words in future. But if
you give him one of the drugs and then say, "The pain is growing
less. Soon it will be gone," because the pain goes, the next
time you say, "The pain is going," he will believe you and
the pain will really get less. But you must ever say so with
conviction, and this conviction must come from your believing
it yourself, because you yourself know that if you can fix
his mind so that he believes you, it is true.
[5] 'Tis often better to look
exactly between their eyes, looking as if your eyes pierced
their heads, opening your eyes as wide as you may and never
blink. This continued gazing oft causes the patient to grow
sleepy. If they show signs of this, say "You are growing sleepy.
You will sleep, you are tired. Sleep. Your eyes grow tired.
Sleep." If they close their eyes, say "Your eyes close, you
are tired, you cannot open your eyes." If they cannot, say
"Your arms are tired, you cannot raise them." If they cannot,
say "I am master of your mind. You must ever believe what
I tell you. When I look like this into your eyes you will
sleep and be subject to my will," then tell them they will
sleep and wake up refreshed, feeling better. Continue this
with soothing and healing drugs, and try to infuse into them
the feeling of ecstasy that you feel at the Sabbath. They
cannot feel it in full, but you can command them to feel what
is in your own mind, and try to concentrate on this ecstasy.
I f you may safely tell that you are of the Cult, your task
may be easier. And it were well to command them to know it
only with their sleeping mind, and forget it, or to be at
least unable to tell anyone about it when awake. A good way
is to command them that, if they are ever questioned about
Witchcraft or Witches, to immediately fall asleep.
[6] Ever remember if tempted
to admit or boast of belonging to the cult you be endangering
your brothers, for though now the fires of persecution may
have died down, who knows when they may be revived? Many priests
have knowledge of our secrets, and they well know that, though
much religious bigotry has calmed down, many people would
wish to join our cult. And if the truth were known of its
joys, the Churches would lose power, so if we take many recruits,
we may loose the fires of persecution against us a gain. So
ever keep the secrets.
[7] Think joy, think love,
try to help others and bring joy into their lives. Children
are naturally easier to influence than grown people. Ever
strive to work through people's existing beliefs. For instance,
more than half of the world believe in amulets. An ordinary
stone is not an amulet but if it hath a natural hole in it,
it must be something unusual, so if the patient hath this
belief give him one. But first carry it next your skin for
a few days, forcing your will into it, to cure pain, to feel
s safe, or against their particular fear, and this amulet
may keep imposing your will when you are absent. The masters
of talismans knew this full well when they say they must be
made in a circle, to avoid distraction, by someone whose mind
is on the subject of the work.
[8] But keep your own mind
happy. Remember the Words of the Goddess: "I give unimaginable
joys on Earth, certainty, not faith, while in life, and upon
death, peace unutterable, rest, and ecstasy, and the promise
that you will return again." In the old days many of us went
to the flames laughing and singing, and so we may again. We
may have joy in life and beauty, and peace and Death and the
promise of return.
[9] The Bible speaks sooth,
"A merry heart doeth good like a medicine but a broken spirit
breaketh the bones." But you may not have a merry heart. Perchance
you were born under an evil star. I think that the effects
of the stars are overestimated, but you cannot make a merry
heart to order, you say. But you can, in the Cult; there be
secret processes by which your will and imagination may be
influenced. This process also affects the body, and brings
it to joy. Your body is happy, so your mind is happy . You
are well because you are happy, and you are happy because
you are well.
[10] Prayer may be used with
good result if the patient believes it can and will work.
Many believe it can, but do not believe their God or saint
will help. Prayers to the Goddess help, especially the Amalthean
Horn Prayer, as it causes stimulation to the body as well
as to the mind.
Next:
The Scourge and the Kiss
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