想像力
Thought Bodyのマニュアルを久しぶりに読み返して思ったこと。想像力について『飛翔する巻物』という書物の一節がとても面白い。Flying Roll VThoughts on ImaginationBy V. H. Frater Resurgam (Dr. Berridge)The uninitiated interpret Imagination as something 'imaginary' in the popular sense of the word; i.e. something unreal. But imagination is a reality. When a man imagines he actually creates a form on the Astral or even on some higher plane; and this form is as real and objective to intelligent beings on that plane, as our earthly surroundings are to us. This form, which Imagination creates may have only a transient existence, productive of no important results; or it may be vitalised and then used for good or evil. To practice magic, both the Imagination and the Will must be called into action, they are co-equal in the work. Nay more, the Imagination must precede the Will in order to produce the greatest possible effect. The Will unaided can send forth a current, and that current cannot be wholly inoperative; yet its effect is vague and indefinite, because the Will unaided sends forth nothing but the current or force. The Imagination unaided can create an image and this image must have an existence of varying duration; yet it can do nothing of importance, unless vitalised and directed by the Will. When, however, the two are conjoined-when the Imagination creates an image-and the Will directs and uses that image, marvellous magical effects may be obtained.なお、日本語訳は 高等魔術秘伝 黄金の夜明け魔法大系 (3) 『飛翔する巻物』出版社: 国書刊行会 (1994/05)という本の中にあります。私は何年か前にこの本は手放してしまったので手元にはありません。興味のある方は大型書店の精神世界のコーナーに置いてあったりするので立ち読みできるかも知れません。「第5巻 想像力に関する考察」と言う部分です。勿論、西洋魔術なんて…というような偏見を持っているようでは有用な情報に辿り付くことも出来ませんが…。