FiatYod wrote:I like how Mathers' introduction to the Goetia includes a "practical" explanation of some magical phenomena, for example: to "obtain information" means that it "Brings up facts from sub-consciousness", to "obtain treasure" means that "Business capacity may be stimulated", etc.
I believe that you are referring to The Initiated Interpretation of Ceremonial Magic that was written by Crowley (ca. 1902-3) and added as an introduction to Mathers' rendering of the text.
So I was wondering: can you explain the subject of planetary intelligences/spirits in a similar manner? That is, given that Tiriel is the intelligence of Mercury and Taphthartharath is the spirit of Mercury, what does it mean?
Again from Crowley, this time from his "Confessions":
“It is in fact very hard to explain what we mean by saying that we invoke Paimon; but, to go a little deeper, the same remark applies to Mr. Smith next door. We do not know who Mr. Smith is, or what is his place in nature, or how to account for him. We cannot even be sure that he exists. Yet, in practice, we call Smith by that name and he comes. By the proper means we can induce him to do for us those things which are consonant with his nature and powers. The whole question is, therefore, one of practice; and by this standard we find that there is no particular reason for quarrelling with the conventional nomenclature.”
"And they that read the book and debated thereon passed into the desolate land of Barren Words. And they that sealed up the book into their blood were the chosen of Adonai, and the Thought of Adonai was a Word and a Deed; and they abode in the Land that the far-off travellers call Naught."
- LXV 5:59