But this can only be
done by the aid of another intelligence and in a
circle, to prevent
the power thus generated being lost. Priests attempt
to do the same with
their scourgings and mortifications of the flesh.
But lacking the aid
of bonds and their attention being distracted by
their scourging themselves
and what little power they do produce being
dissipated, as they
do not usually work within a circle, it is little
wonder that they oft
fail. Monks and hermits do better, as they are apt
to work in tiny cells
and caves, which in some ways act as circles. The
Knights of the Temple,
who used mutually to scourge each other in an
octagon, did better
stil; but they apparently did not know the virtue
of bonds and did evil,
man to man.
But perhaps some did
know. What of the Church's charge that they wore
girdles or cords ?