You have likely seen at least one list of magical tenets--you probably have a couple written down somewhere already. However, none are so brief, yet so comprehensive and clear, as Éliphas Lévi’s four tenets from Transcendental Magic:
"To attain the SANCTUM REGNUM, in other words, the knowledge and power of the Magi, there are four indispensable conditions - an intelligence illuminated by study, an intrepidity which nothing can check, a will which cannot be broken, and a prudence which nothing can corrupt and nothing intoxicate. TO KNOW, TO DARE, TO WILL, TO KEEP SILENCE - such are the four words of the Magus, inscribed upon the four symbolical forms of the sphinx" (Lévi, 1896, 3).
Despite the opinions of some, we need not add extras. We need not alter the wording or order of any tenet. Lévi explains them well in the quote above, summarized in that immortal maxim. These tenets underlie any level of magical practice. As such, we will visit the practical application of each tenet here.
To Know
As a novice, your primary goal with this tenet is to learn the basics of your tradition, whether that be via teacher or literature. The idea is to build a strong foundation upon which you can grow. However, this type of knowing is one-dimensional. It is primarily book-learning--critical, but incomplete.
As an intermediate, you have the requisite knowledge and experience to begin tailoring your practice. Here, you begin the advanced coursework in your tradition. Your field of research will expand as you study other traditions' methods of performing similar magics. Here, your knowledge becomes a hybrid of theoretical and experiential learning.
Adepts and beyond are well into the advanced coursework of their traditions. At this stage, you have successfully adapted or invented rituals and practices that fit your philosophy. At this stage, you are ready to seriously study other traditions of magic.
To Dare
At the novice level, daring is simple: you have not yet attempted a consistent magical practice, and now you are going to do so. In this stage, the act of daring is more of an act of trust--trust in yourself and in the greater whole.
At the intermediate level, this tenet means having the strength to stretch yourself beyond the basics of magic. In this stage, you have a regular practice that is likely by-the-book. Now it's time to trust yourself to make the first alterations to your rituals. It's also time to flesh out why you personally believe in your tradition's philosophy.
Once you reach adepthood and beyond, daring becomes another trust exercise. Here, you begin writing rituals whole cloth, naming holy days beyond your tradition's standards, and so on. Generally, you strike out on your own.
To Will
This is one of the most misunderstood tenets of magic, and part of that is because of Lévi himself. Magicians tend to conflate this tenet with having lots of sheer willpower, which overrides other wills and subjects the universe to its bidding. That is not the case.
Across levels, the general application of this tenet is the same: resonate your will with others in the Aethers by using correspondences and auspicious timings so that your request is carried further and with more power.
John Michael Greer sums it up best in his Druid Magic Handbook. To use his example, say you desire to reach the center of a lake. To use raw willpower is to simply swim out there unaided. You might make it, but chances are you'll be exhausted and might not make it back. You can use a boat and oars, which are akin to correspondences; you can also add a rudder and sails, which are akin to preparing for auspicious timing. Altogether, you hook your will to greater wills, putting in your own part of the work to achieve your goal. This is successful magic.
To Keep Silence
I'll be honest. I'm not great at this one; I don't think many are. That isn't necessarily a bad thing when you're among other magicians. It's when you're out in the greater world that you must be most careful. But I'm getting ahead of myself.
As a novice, keeping silent about your coursework is paramount. You are not ready at this stage for the wills of others to interfere with yours. As such, discussing theory and practice is fine with other magicians. However, from non-magicians your work must be kept secret.
As an intermediate, you have a more complete understanding of the full experience of the novice and can better share your experiences with them. This is critical to your growth, as you know the material best when you are ready to teach it to others. But remember: you are not ready to teach anything beyond the basics, and only to novices. They do not need to be taught personalizations just yet.
Beyond this, at the intermediate level you should still not discuss your coursework with non-magicians. At this stage of your magical learning, you are strong but not yet ready to be public facing with your path. You must solidify your philosophy and practice first.
In adepthood and beyond, you are ready to teach others. But this does not mean you need to share everything with them. Your experience is valid, not absolute. And remember that you yourself are always learning--especially as you dive into other traditions.
You are also ready to be fully public-facing with your tradition. Your confidence and experience allow you to be a strong voice and advocate for magicians everywhere.
Conclusion
Those are the four tenets at a surface-level scratch. I know my opinions here can be a little stuffy--especially regarding my belief that you should stick to one tradition throughout your novice studies, dip into traditions as needed during the intermediate studies, and only branch out seriously once you've reached adepthood. I'll write another post on why I think that's the case, but that's less relevant to the main thread here.
Please feel free to reach out with your own thoughts and opinions regarding these tenets--magic is an ever-evolving tradition and it's only by sharing our knowledge and experience that we advance the field of magical study.
Thank you for reading. As always, stay safe and stay tuned. Blessings~
