can swim unless he enters deep water. No bird can fly unless its wings
are grown, and it has space before it and courage to trust itself to the
air. A man who will wield a two-edged sword, must be a thorough master
of the blunt weapon, if he would not injure himself--or what is
worse--others, at the first attempt.

To give an approximate idea of the conditions under which alone the
study of Divine Wisdom can be pursued with safety, that is without
danger that Divine will give place to Black Magic, a page is given from
the "private rules," with which every instructor in the East is
furnished. The few passages which follow are chosen from a great number
and explained in brackets.

* * * * *

1. The place selected for receiving instruction must be a spot
calculated not to distract the mind, and filled with
"influence-evolving" (magnetic) objects. The five sacred colors gathered
in a circle must be there among other things. The place must be free
from any malignant influences hanging about in the air.

[The place must be set apart, and used for no other purpose. The
five "sacred colors" are the prismatic hues arranged in a certain
way, as these colors are very magnetic. By "malignant influences"
are meant any disturbances through strifes, quarrels, bad feelings,
etc., as these are said to impress themselves immediately on the
astral light, i.e., in the atmosphere of the place, and to hang
"about in the air." This first condition seems easy enough to
accomplish, yet--on further consideration, it is one of the most
difficult ones to obtain.]