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The Book of Ceremonial Magic (A.E. Waite) · 85 of 175 · tr. Arthur Edward Waite

Page 42

§ 5. Concerning the External Preparation of the Operator, and secondly Concerning the Vestments The use of special garments in the ceremonies of Magic follows reasonably enough from the religious character ascribed to these operations. Peter de Abano recommends a priest's garment if possible, by which an alb may be understood. [paragraph continues] The Book of Black Magic , following the Key of Solomon , and representing the Jewish rite, prescribes an outer vestment like that of the Levites, with the following characters embroidered in red silk upon the breast:-- Click to view All garments, even to the shirt, must be of linen cloth, and when assuming them these words should be recited: ANTON, AMATOR, EMITES, THEODONIEL, PONCOR, PAGOR, ANITOR; by the virtue of these most holy Angelic Names do I clothe myself, O Lord, in my Sabbath garments, that so I may fulfil, even unto their term, all things which I desire to effect through Thee, Most Holy ADONAY, Whose kingdom and rule endure for ever and ever. Amen . The shoes and hat should be of white leather, bearing the same characters written in cinnabar diluted with gum-water, the pen of the Art being used. The following names must be written about the hat: JEHOVA, behind; ADONAY, on the right hand; ELOY, on the left; and GIBOR, at the front.
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Themes
Living Godtheology

The divine conceived as active, present, and dynamic—not an abstract principle but a personal responsive reality.

The invocation addresses 'Most Holy ADONAY' as an active ruler whose kingdom endures, implying a personal divine reality.

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Prayerpraxis

Direct address to the divine, whether petitionary, contemplative, or liturgical; speech and silence offered upward.

The text includes a specific liturgical recitation addressed to 'O Lord' and 'Most Holy ADONAY' when assuming the garments.

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Ritual Puritypraxis

The maintenance of a state of cleanliness—physical, moral, or spiritual—required for encounter with the divine.

The text specifies requirements for linen cloth and white leather garments, indicating a state of cleanliness and consecration required for the magical operation.

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Sacred Namestheology

Divine names or formulas that carry ontological power, used in prayer, liturgy, or magical practice.

The passage centrally focuses on the use of specific divine and angelic names (ANTON, AMATOR, JEHOVA, ADONAY, etc.) written on garments and recited to empower the operator.

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Theurgypraxis

Iamblichean ritual practice that engages the gods directly through consecrated material symbols and actions, on the premise that divine power descends into properly prepared matter — distinct from philosophical contemplation alone.

The passage describes ceremonial preparation involving vestments and invocations to engage divine power (Angelic Names, ADONAY) through material symbols, fitting the definition of ritual practice engaging the divine.

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Word Power Incantationpraxis

The doctrine and practice that spoken or sung word carries causal-magical force — that uttering names, formulas, songs, or incantations alters reality directly rather than merely communicating about it. Vainamoinen's runo-songs that move mountains and command iron, Norse galdr, Vedic mantra, Shinto kotodama, the magician's barbarous names in the Greek Magical Papyri, Iamblichean arcane signatures and inexplicable symbols, biblical creation-by-word. Distinct from sacred_names (the ontological power of names themselves) and prayer (address to the divine); word_power_incantation is the magical-causal efficacy of the spoken word as such.

The passage asserts that reciting specific words and names ('by the virtue of these most holy Angelic Names') enables the operator to clothe themselves and effect desires.

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Related passages · 5 parallels
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Shared concept: Prayer — Direct address to the divine, whether petitionary, contemplative, or liturgical; speech and silence offered upward. (derived)
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“Section 6 6. For, as the ancient teaching was, moral-discipline and courage and every virtue, not even excepting Wisdom itself, all is purification. Hence the Mysteries with good reason adumbrate the immersion of the unpurified in filth, ev…”
Shared concept: Ritual Purity — The maintenance of a state of cleanliness—physical, moral, or spiritual—required for encounter with the divine. (derived)