By Joseph Lisiewski, Originally published on his website for the week of October 2-October 2, 2006.
Note: This topic is one that Lisiewski and I spoke a great deal about. It plays a critical role in every aspect of our life and indicates why intellectual and mental development is the critical cornerstone -as in the domain of Hod/Mercury – in our inner awakening and realization. The Path of Study as a spiritual path is often denigrated by many practitioners who see it as ‘armchair occultism’. Without application this is true, however, to “rush in where angels fear to tread” without any research, training, or preparation of any significant kind is the hallmark of a fool. The Path of Study or the Intellect shapes our subconscious, or what Lisewieski called the “subjective synthesis.” This formation is critical, as is knowing how it is to be done – as it is happening all the time without or without our conscious knowledge. What we do with that new found ability and the ‘synthesis’ it provides us is then up to us to decide and apply.
Comprehension Versus Apprehension, and Their Roles in the Process of Magical Attainment by Joseph Lisiewski
Over the past several months, many people have written to me regarding the subject of the paper presented here. People who are working, and who are struggling to implement what I have written in my books and on this website. While a significant number of them have succeeded in obtaining results to their liking, others have missed the mark, becoming confused by the differences between Comprehension and Apprehension. Yet, they have continued to work, and while doing so, have written to me asking for additional concise explanations of these psychic functions. It is to these people that I owe a further explanation of the roles of Comprehension and Apprehension. For only those who work can gain the insights into the complexities of the process of building and polishing their subconscious state of Subjective Synthesis, so that it enables them to manifest their will in the world to the extent they wish. It is to these individuals that I dedicate this writing.
When I speak of the proper building and polishing of the subconscious state of Subjective Synthesis, it is my policy to point out the four-fold process that makes such a structuring and refinement possible. Namely,
Study—>Understanding—>Comprehension—>Apprehension
Certainly, at first glance it seems simple enough. And as far as the first two procedures are concerned, the process is simplicity itself. That is, one must first sit down and study—consciously seek to understand the subject material at hand which—after a certain period of time and with due effort—results in the individual obtaining an intellectual familiarity and grasp of the material: or, an ‘Understanding’ of the new knowledge, if you will. But here the simplicity of the process breaks down for some, because they cannot see the difference between ‘Understanding’ something and ‘Comprehending’ it. Usually, they mistake the attainment of deeper levels of Understanding for Comprehension, and so expect that the final part of the process, the ‘Apprehension,’ will occur by itself. All too often however, they find that the deeper Understanding was not the Comprehension they sought, and consequently the Apprehension never occurs—and their lack of full magical results stands as evidence of the correctness of their latter conclusion. So what then exactly is this thing called ‘Comprehension,’ and how does it lead to the final goal of ‘Apprehension?’
Comprehension arises when unique insights into, and an expansion of the material studied, visits itself upon the mind. This does not occur from continuous study of the material. In fact, it never occurs in this way. Rather, Comprehension occurs when one thinks the material through while away from the formal study of it, and while he is (usually) engaged in some non-intellectual primary—or diversionary—activity. For instance. One may be taking a peaceful walk in the mountains or in a park away from other people, and while doing so, suddenly decides to mull over the material that was formally studied. Suddenly, he begins to see the material in a new light, and gains insight into its intrinsic meaning. Then, he begins to make connections with other similar—or even seemingly dissimilar—material, and so arrives at a deep, personal intimacy of the new knowledge previously studied and understood, and the relationship that knowledge bears to other ideas. This is Comprehension.
Now, Apprehension is a more difficult state to achieve, for it implies—in the sense I use this word—the psychic assimilation of the knowledge that was formerly comprehended. How does one attain to such a high-sounding state and what does this mean? The Apprehension I speak of can only be obtained through the Practice of that which was formerly comprehended. That is, when one puts into practice—into action, as in a ritual practice or ceremonial performance—the knowledge that was derived from StudyandUnderstanding, and which was later comprehended as explained—this practice leads to an ExperientialKnowledge which the psychic constitution of the individual recognizes as a new dimension of existence and one which it—sooner or later—adds to itself.
Why does the psyche react so? Because the Interior nature of the individual comes to see this newly comprehended knowledge as something ‘different;’ something it desires to make a part of its own constitution in an effort to expand its own nature. And it does this by ‘owning’ this new knowledge. And to own, it must make this new ‘acted out’ knowledge a living part of itself. This is why the proper building and polishing of one’s subconscious state of Subjective Synthesis is such a difficult and time consuming thing to achieve; for it both presupposes and requires that the individual spends a massive amount of time in the four-fold process given in the beginning of this paper.
To be sure, without such a Subjective Synthesis, the magician can (still) most definitely make progress and manifest something of his will in the world of matter. But such manifestations will never be to his complete liking or satisfaction, nor will they take him to those places in life that he so desires to be. In addition, he risks no end of large-scale Slingshot Effects from the work he does; effects that are a normal and natural function of magical practices themselves. Again, why? Because unless the psyche takes for its own this secret knowledge—by making alive through assimilation that which was comprehended— it cannot adequately adjust to, and handle the forces of, those magical practices summoned forth or called down into the magician’s being. It is as simple as that.
This is why I do my best to discourage any and all from Magic who take a flippant attitude toward it. For without a thorough knowledge of the subconscious state of Subjective Synthesis and the four-fold process that enables it; and without one putting into that process the unbelievable amount of time demanded by this process, one is not simply playing a type of ‘Magical Russian Roulette:’ he is playing it with all of the cylinders loaded. And this being the case, tragedy is only a simple click—or in our parlance, one poorly performed rite or ceremonial action—away. Be guided accordingly.
