Would the Arbatel have counted you a magician?

The Arbatel, printed in Basel in 1575, lists a “seven-fold preparation to learn the Magick Art”. Seven questions, one for each, beside the English text of 1655.

The Arbatel. De magia veterum is the most sober of the Renaissance books of magic: no circles, no blood, forty-nine aphorisms. Aphorism 39 says what is required of anyone who wants to learn the art. Answer for yourself; nothing is sent anywhere.

1. Do you give time every day to understanding where things come from — through sacred texts, through nature, through what you can observe?

The first is, to meditate day and night how to attain to the true knowledge of God, both by his word revealed from the foundation of the world; as also by the seal of the creation, and of the creatures.

Yes Sometimes No

2. Do you make a practice of examining yourself — what in you passes, what does not, what is truly yours?

Secondly it is requisite, that a man descend down into himself, and chiefly study to know himself; what mortal part he hath in him, and what immortal; and what part is proper to himself, and what diverse.

Yes Sometimes No

3. Do you act, day to day, in ways that are useful to the people around you?

Thirdly, That he learn by the immortal part of himself, to worship, love and fear the eternal God […] and with his mortal part, to do those things which he knoweth to be acceptable to God, and profitable to his neighbours.

Yes Sometimes No

4. Have you tried to find out what kind of life you were born for?

Fourthly, Whereas every man is to be vigilant to see to what kinde life he shall be called from his mothers wombe, that every one may know whether he be born to Magick, and to what species thereof […] for such things and such gifts are not given but onely to the low and humble.

Yes Sometimes No

5. In your largest undertakings, have you felt helped by something that was not you?

In the fifth place we are to take care, that we understand when the Spirits are assisting us, in undertaking the greatest business; and he that understands this, it is manifest, that he shall be made a Magician of the ordination of God.

Yes Sometimes No

6. Can you keep a secret — for years, with no one knowing you hold it?

Sixthly, The Magitian hath need of faith and taciturnity, especially, that he disclose no secret which the Spirit hath forbid him […] No man will believe how much is contained in this one precept.

Yes Sometimes No

7. Do you refuse to take part in what you judge unjust, even when it would profit you?

Seventhly, In him that would be a Magician, there is required the greatest justice, that he undertake nothing that is ungodly, wicked or unjust, nor to let it once come in his minde.

Yes Sometimes No

Arbatel, aphorism 39, translated by Robert Turner, London, 1655.

Where this comes from

The seven Olympic spirits — the governors the Arbatel names, their days, and how it says to call them at sunrise.

The Arbatel was printed in Latin in Basel in 1575, probably by Pietro Perna. Its author is unknown. Aphorism 42 adds that “a Magitian is a person predestinated to this work from his mothers wombe”. The whole text, Latin and English, is online at Esoteric Archives.

This page belongs to no order and opens no door: it sets a 450-year-old list beside seven plain questions.