Practicalities

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Are there fees or subscriptions? No. Neither is there a written contract with fine print, which obliges you to give me a percentage of your income. Some occult groups focus mainly on financial matters; I concentrate on spiritual ones. As I have already explained: a real Master does not try to market the Truth.

Does money change hands? Are you so suspicious because you have already met shepherds who fleece their flock? I will respond to your doubts as openly and fully as possible. If you wrote to me in, say, faraway Tibet, I might have to pay for your letters to be forwarded to me. If you wanted a reply, I would need stationery, stamps, the strength to hold a pen, a good meal now and then, warmth and shelter from the Yeti. In short, being an Occult Master is a full-time job, but I cannot do the work properly if I have to work nights in a supermarket or weekends in a bar. I have to live. Students should remember this and help from time to time. The spiritual family has a duty to care for the patriarch who cares for them, but it must be voluntary and never compulsory.

Are there fixed levels of 'donation'? No. It is entirely up to you whether to give anything or not, and the amount is at your own discretion. I have many students who give nothing, and many who could afford to be more generous than they are-i.e., they are stingy-but I do not abandon them or give only second-class treatment. Similarly, I would not deal with you in any special way if you won top prize in the Lottery and gave me half. I would not regard you as my blue-eyed boy just because you were generous. All I ask is that contributions, however small, be regular so that I can plan visits, recordings, books and so on. This book is financed by students.

Will a Master visit me or my group? As often as you care to invite him, provided you assist with expenses, but never if you do not invite him. Sadly, his 'Magic Carpet' is getting a bit frayed at the edges, and the elastic band that drives it needs to be rewound. His bed of nails is growing rusty too, and he is a little too old to sleep on floors or in ditches. Every student knows where his Master is and how to contact him when he needs help, but most tend to forget about him when life is pleasant and free of problems. Nevertheless, the Master must live even when you are not particularly thinking about him. Out of sight, out of mind okay, but not out of body! Cosmic law says that every Master is worth his keep.

Do I have to buy any of his 'products'? The only goods he 'produces' are books, cassettes, ritual stuff, and robes. Even now, I am producing my first video of a series of exercises known as 'The Amethystine Cycle'. The number of copies that I am likely to sell would not cover production costs. Such "products" are teaching aids made necessary by the fact that I live far away, that I am only one man, and that each student needs help on his quest or magical pilgrimage. However, it would be possible to manage without any of these materials. You could do without them and therefore you are not obliged to buy them. Certainly, no pressure will be put on you to do so. They are not crucial or indispensable, but they are helpful and they are there if you want them.

How much do these study aids cost? As you might expect, they vary. The cost is worked out by a formula that takes into account: (a) cost of technical equipment; (b) price of raw materials; (c) man-hours spent on production; (d) postage and packing, and (e) potential sales in one year. In other words, we try to conduct our affairs honestly and there is no standard mark-up for profit. One last point: students handle all such matters, not me.

Is their use restricted? When orders come in, fresh copies are prepared. You may not make copies yourself (with the exception of rituals), and you may not loan material to non-students without permission. Please recognise that individual student rarely their own CDs or cassettes. A group usually buys them collectively, and when they have heard the lessons, they play again to any new members who join.

Clearly, I am no threat to Virgin Records, Apple Records, or the music industry in general. My lessons are never going to feature in "the top twenty". As a matter of fact, our prices compare well with similar products that are on the market-Talking Books, language courses, correspondence courses and so on. However, there is no rip off, and you are not obliged to buy anything.

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