Theurgy of Iamblichus Part 5:

 

Theurgy of Iamblichus Part 5:

“Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the Law.”

“In short all these races make their receptive orders duly distinguishable, and they show at once the regions which have fallen to them, and the allotments in which they abide. Those that are of the air display aerial fire; the earthly a chthonian and darker light and the celestials a more splendid luminance. All these  races are distributed in these three regions (the earth, air and superior heaven) in the threefold order beginning intermediary and last, those of the gods displaying the highest purest causes pertaining to the threefold order; those of the angels being reckoned from the archangels; those of the demons being manifest as attendant upon these and those of the half -gods in like manner ministrant—not in deed after the same services as demons, but after other and different ways of their own. Those of the archons have the allotment which is set apart to them; to one class the superintendence of the cosmic world and to the other that of the realm of matter. The souls are classed as the last of the superior races.”

The archons concerned with the superintendence of the cosmic world establish the consequence of nativity by linking the body with the soul in such a way to the celestial bodies of the constellations as to make their influence manifest in the world of matter. Likewise, the archons of matter are concerned with the elemental character of souls within the realm of matter, thus these influences are brought to bear in life through the connection that has been established before birth and carried into manifestation in the material world. Demons correspond so closely with the soul that they are virtually indistinguishable from their influence and it is by their agency that the influence of the gods and higher celestial races are made manifest. The influence of these races starting from the superior heaven and manifesting to our perceptions in the material world, likewise carry the light all the way down from the supernal region and as their influence gets closer to manifestation, the light is dissolved through the three worlds and the Forms become more and more clearly expressed to the intellective faculty until it becomes solidified in the realm of matter. The three worlds are earth, air and superior heaven and are also expressed in man’s threefold nature, body, soul and spirit respectively. This three-fold constitution is in every respect joined and brought into union by what we call LVX or the light via which we’re linked to the primordial first cause. The perfect union that manifests as a consequence of the presence of the light is the reason for the soul’s potential to attain union with the higher races and the fact that there is any balance whatsoever, without which there is only the primordial union established in The One, thus this balance is established particularly as a consequence of the soul’s relationship with the higher worlds as an incarnated being.

“Thou sayest: “It is a common thing for the gods and demons alike, and with all the Superior races to speak boastfully, and to project an unreal image into view”.  Such is not the fact as thou supposest. For a god, an angel and a good demon (when they appear at the rites) give instruction freely to human beings, in regard to their own essence, but never in addition, make use in their teachings, of any expression greater than their transcendent power or inherent good qualities.”

The higher races have acquired perfect balance and are in every way perfectly suited to their allotted positions, they merely through having attained perfect union with the soul present the teachings of the gods perfectly from their appointed positions. Whereby their influence is incorruptible and so can never deter the soul via presenting impure influences that are not in complete harmony with that which has been freely given by the gods.    

“When then does the untruthful act of “speaking boastfully” mentioned by thee take place? When there occurs some errancy in the Theurgic technique, and the images which ought to be at the Autopsia are not, but others of a different kind are encountered, then the inferior races assume the guise of the more venerable orders, and pretend to be the very ones that they are counterfeiting; and in such cases they abandon themselves to boastful speeches and pretensions of power which they do not possess.”

Hence the evil spirits are not demons; they manifest in the mind of the observer via the misunderstanding of divine truths and the improper application of its principles. When the symbolism employed in Theurgic operation is incongruous with the nature of the higher races the soul attracts impure spirits wishing to embody the offices of the higher races, this serves to sow discord in the mind and causes disharmony between the soul and the celestial races. These spirits are thus incomplete manifestations of that which one had tried to invoke and their effects may manifest in the psyche as mental illness and delusions. In other words, they through their imperfect nature failing, have misinterpreted the perfection emanating from the gods.

“For although we may know the peculiarities which are incident to each race of the superior beings, me may fail to hit upon the truth in regard to their operations. Yet without this knowledge the mystic union never takes place; nevertheless the union and knowledge are by no means the same thing. So, the divine purity is in no sense by means of the right knowledge, as that of the body is not through health; but on the other hand it is more completely one and more pure than knowledge.”

Thus, the symbols employed do not correspond to the intellective faculty but are understood on a deeper level as being communicated to the soul. And although without understanding the previously mentioned positions that form the divine hierarchy and their offices as they relate to the soul and those things in nature by which their offices are understood, union may not be attained. Knowledge can only take us to understanding of a limited nature, complete union is however attained, only by the employment of correct operation in Theurgic ceremony.

“Love is the law, love under will.”