he
Unknown (Daramara) in order to acquire certain great powers, should
dismiss from his mind all ideas of moral progress, and wholly
concentrate on the bettering of his material self--on acquiring riches
and fame in the physical sphere. His aspirations must be entirely
earthly, and all his affections subordinate to his main desire for
wealth and carnal pleasures. Having acquired this preliminary
psychological stage, for one clear week he must give himself up
entirely to the breaking of all the conventionalities of morality with
which society is hedged in. He must practice every kind of
deception--lie, cheat and steal, and go out of his way to seek an
opportunity to avenge any personal injury; and if his mind is
earnestly and wholly concentrated on acquiring knowledge of the Black
Art no bodily mishap will befall him. During this time of probation he
must will himself to dream, at night, of all the deeds he had it in
his mind to do, during the day; when he will know, by his visions, to
what extent he is progressing. At the end of the week he must apply
the tests to see if he is in a ripe state to proceed.

"The tests--

"No. 1. At midnight, when the moon is full, place a mirror, set in
a wooden frame, in a tub of water, so that it will float on the
surface with its face uppermost. Put in the water fifteen grains
of bicarbonate of potash, and sprinkle it with three drops of
blood, not necessarily human If the reflection of the moon in the
mirror then appear crimson, the test is satisfactorily
accomplished.

"No. 2. At midnight, when the moon is full, take a black cat, place
it where the moonbeams are thickest, sprinkle it with three drops
of blood, not necessarily human, and rub its coat with the palm of
the hand. Sparks will then be given out, and if those sparks
appear crimson the test is satisfactorily done.

"No. 3. Take a human skull--preferably that of some person who has
met with an unnatural end, pour on it a single drop of fresh,
human blood--place it on a couch, and go to sleep with the back
part of the head resting on it. If you are awakened, at the second
hour after midnight, by hearing a great commotion close at hand,
and the room is then discovered to be full of crimson light, the
test is satisfactorily fulfilled.

"No. 4. Take half a score of the berries of enchanter's
nightshade,[15] two ounces of hemlock leaves