Power and control

Use in the book

II presents mastery of the mental universe as the reward of understanding. III ascribes control of tempests and earthquakes to higher alchemists while assigning lesser practitioners the alteration of mental conditions. IX extends vibration into a promise of control over states and other minds.

XII and XV repeatedly qualify the hierarchy: a powerful being still serves higher laws. XIV also makes influence a social contrast between strong personalities and people who accept the thoughts of others. The book moves between self-direction and domination, which are not the same practical aim.

Places to read

1. II The Seven Hermetic Principles · Block 7… “using them in a haphazard manner. With the Master-Key in his possession, the student may unlock the many doors of the mental and psychic temple of knowledge, and enter the same” …
2. III Mental Transmutation · Block 8… “have been able to attain the degree of power necessary to control the grosser physical conditions, such as the control of the elements of Nature; the production or cessation of tempests;” …
3. IX Vibration · Block 11… “any degree he wishes, thus gaining a perfect control over his mental states, moods, etc. In the same way he may affect the minds of others, producing the desired mental states” …
4. XII Causation · Block 12… “touch with the higher powers of their nature, dominate their own moods, characters, qualities, and polarity, as well as the environment surrounding them and thus become Movers in the game, instead” …
5. XIV Mental Gender · Block 15… “impressions made upon their minds by others, they dominate their own minds by their Will, obtaining the kind of mental images desired, and moreover dominate the minds of others likewise, in” …
6. XV Hermetic Axioms · Block 18… “of influencing one's environment is accomplished by Mental Power. The Universe being wholly mental, it follows that it may be ruled only by Mentality. And in this truth is to be” …

In this edition

Power, control, mastery, and domination are preserved rather than softened into one word. Their differences help identify the changing stakes of the examples.

Reading the argument

Capability and value require separate judgments. The source acknowledges evil uses of power and a penalty for selfish spiritual ambition. Moreover, an asserted power is not demonstrated merely because its place in the hierarchy is described in detail.

Power

“Power” — 33 occurrences in 24 text blocks: II.7, 13; III.8; IV.3, 5, 16; V.19; VI.10, 12, 15; VII.5, 16; VIII.15, 28, 30; IX.3, 10–13; XI.4; XIV.7, 14; XV.18.

control

“control” — 6 occurrences in 5 text blocks: II.13; III.8; VI.11; IX.11; XII.3.

master

“master” — 37 occurrences in 29 text blocks: Intro.2, 4–5, 7; I.4, 8, 10–12; II.7, 16, 19; III.7, 13; VI.1, 12–13, 16; X.12; XI.7, 14; XII.11–12; XIV.10, 19; XV.7, 9, 11, 14.

dominate

“dominate” — 5 occurrences in 4 text blocks: Intro.5; II.22; XII.12; XIV.15.