between the god-parents who stand sponsors for a child.[A]

These tacitly take upon themselves all the sins of the newly baptized
child--(anointed, as at the initiation, a mystery truly!)--until the day
when the child becomes a responsible unit, knowing good and evil. Thus
it is clear why the "Teachers" are so reticent, and why "Chelas" are
required to serve a seven years probation to prove their fitness, and
develop the qualities necessary to the security of both Master and
pupil.

Occultism is not magic. It is _comparatively_ easy to learn the trick of
spells and the methods of using the subtler, but still material, forces
of physical nature; the powers of the animal soul in man are soon
awakened; the forces which his love, his hate, his passion, can call
into operation, are readily developed. But this is Black
Magic--_Sorcery_. For it is the motive, _and the motive alone_, which
makes any exercise of power become black, malignant, or white,
beneficent Magic. It is impossible to employ _spiritual_ forces if there
is the slightest tinge of selfishness remaining in the operator. For,
unless the intention is entirely unalloyed, the spiritual will
transform itself into the psychic, act on the astral plane, and dire
results may be produced by it. The powers and forces of animal nature
can equally be used by the selfish and revengeful, as by the unselfish
and the all-forgiving; the powers and forces of spirit lend themselves
only to the perfectly pure in heart--and this is Divine Magic.

What are then the conditions required to become a student of the "Divina
Sapientia"? For let it be known that no such instruction can possibly be
given unless these certain conditions are complied with, and rigorously
carried out during the years of study. This is a _sine quâ non_. No man