These are the pillars or sides of the Witches’ Pyramid which is considered the structural model for magickal working.
Together, the four powers form the foundation of magick. It is also called The Four Cornerstones of Magick (or Witchcraft, depending upon the tradition), The Four Powers of the Magus, Hermetic Quaternary and The Four Powers of the Sphinx.
If you want to appreciate the roots of this process, we have to go deeper and explore our magickal and occult history.
The first mention of the concept or model of the Pyramid was presented as recently as 1981 by Clifford Bias, Spiritualist minister and founder of Universal Spiritualist Association and Ancient and Mystical Order of Seekers (A.M.O.S.).
In his publication, The Ritual Book of Magic, Bias writes:
"The Magus, the Theurgist, the True Witch stand on a pyramid of power whose foundation is a profound knowledge of the occult, whose four sides are creative imagination, a will of steel, a living faith and the ability to keep silent."
These four building blocks of magick are based on the Four Powers of the Sphinx as introduced in the writings of French occultist and magician, Eliphas Levi (born Alphonse Louis Constant, February 8, 1810 - May 31, 1875).
The following is from Transcendental Magick, Its Doctrine and Ritual (as translated into English by Arthur E. Waite):
"To attain the SANCTUM REGNUM, in other words, the knowledge and power of the Magi, there are four indispensable conditions - an intelligence illuminated by study, an intrepidity which nothing can check, a will which cannot be broken, and a prudence which nothing can corrupt and nothing intoxicate. . .
TO KNOW, TO DARE, TO WILL, TO KEEP SILENCE--such are the four words of the Magus, inscribed upon the four symbolical forms of the sphinx.”
Levi identified three primary principles of magic:
1. That the material universe is only a small part of total reality, which includes many other planes and modes of consciousness. Full knowledge and full power in the universe are only attainable through awareness of these other aspects of reality. One of the most important of these levels or aspects of reality is the "astral light", a cosmic fluid which may be molded by will into physical forms.
2. That human willpower is a real force, capable of achieving absolutely anything, from the mundane to the miraculous.
3. That the human being is a microcosm; a miniature of the macrocosmic universe and the two are fundamentally linked. Causes set in motion on one level may equally have effects on another.
Let’s take a look at the Sphinx…
THE SPHINX
The Sphinx has the head of a man, the torso and paws of a lion, the wings of an eagle and the rear of a bull. These four characteristics correspond with the four Classical Greek Elements (and Elementals) of Earth, Air, Fire and Water as well as the four cardinal directions and four Fixed Signs of the Zodiac:
The Head of Man = Air, East, Sylphs*, Aquarius and the energies of Knowledge, thought, and imagination
The Lion = Fire, South, Salamanders*, Leo and the energies of Will, determination and tenacity
The Bull = Earth, North, Gnomes*, Taurus and the energies of Silence, stability and steadfastness
The Eagle = Water, West, Undines* and Scorpio and the energies of Daring Courage, emotion and transformation
*(The classic and occult standard Elementals as defined by Paracelsus, 1493-1541 CE)
On the qualities of the Sphinx, Levi wrote:
“The combination of these four types of face and being represents the Created Universe, a complete and eternal entity, Man in fact, the Microcosm; and this is the first formula of the mystical explanation of the enigma of the Sphinx.”
Man/Woman is like the Sphinx. Both are composed of the Four Elements. However, the Sphinx is balanced and whole. The Elements exist in humans in varied proportions and are largely unbalanced.
The four elements represented by the Sphinx are indeed the Forces of Nature in balance.
The teachings of Eliphas Levi had a profound influence of the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn as well as upon that organization’s former member, Aleister Crowley.
Crowley relates the Sphinx with the Adept or Magus, who employs the Four Powers to become “whole, Himself, containing all Things in true Proportion.”
Crowley introduced a Fifth Power,“ To Go”, corresponding with the Element of Spirit. This is still commonly applied and correlates to the Greek Classical Elements as aether or ether:
"The Quintessence, the invisible, luminous cosmic spiritual life-force energy that underlies and binds together all existence".
"It is out of Quintessence that four elements come into manifestation and into which they return".
Western Occultism has been greatly influenced by ancient Greek philosophies. By looking back a bit further, we can recognize the correlation of the Witch’s Pyramid/Four Powers of the Sphinx to the Ancient Greek Classical Doctrine of Elements .
Empedocles
The Elements were envisioned as more than material substance, perceived as spiritual energies which manifest in various ways in both the physical and non-physical realms. Empedocles did not call them elements, but rather he called them “roots” and gave them names of Greek Deities: Zeus, Hera, Hades and Persephone.
They are the very foundation of all that is manifest in the universe. The underlying Force of the Elemental Plane is how our magick is carried into the Astral Plane, where it can become the pattern which manifests as Form in our physical world.
Working the Witches Pyramid
Levi’s writings further admonish the magickal person:
“When one does not know, one should will to learn. To the extent that one does not know it is foolhardy to dare, but it is always well to keep silent.”
“To learn how to will is to learn how to exercise dominion. But to be able to exert will power you must first know; for will power applied to folly is madness, death, and hell.”
Additionally:
“In order to DARE we must KNOW; in order to WILL, we must DARE; we must WILL to possess empire and to reign we must BE SILENT.”
Only by applying ALL of the Powers of the Pyramid (Sphinx) will we see the success we desire in magickal operations . . .and dare I say in our day-to-day life as well! By proper application of this foundation, then does the spiritual, incorruptible fifth essence (quintessence) emerge, giving Life to our Magicks!
Blessings,
Lady Bridwen
Be The Magick!
