3.2   THE ORIGIN All sorcery stems from one source, Sefer Raziel.   Within the pages of this tome is contained the knowledge of all things celestial and how to tap into these energies.  These are elements that celestials understand intrinsically. The book is divided into seven chapters.   The first, entitled Clavis, concerns itself with the study of stars and how they influence the ebb and flow of power in the universe.   The second chapter, Ala, deals with stones and herbs.  It addresses how they can be used for both ritualistic as well as medicinal purposes.  Tractatus Thymiamatum, the third chapter, is completely devoted to suffumigations.   In the fourth chapter, we find a discussion of how the time of the year (month, day, and season) effects the universe, and the fifth chapter talks about cleanliness (an odd topic, but one that directly effects a material beings ability to control celestial things).  Samaim, the sixth and longest chapter in the book, describes the heavens in great detail and how celestial society is organized.   The final section deals with the virtues of name, knowing the right name of the angel or demon to call upon for specific tasks. No celestial knows quite why the angel Raxiel set down these words.  Some suspect he was ordered to do so by the Almighty, but others claim he did it for his own selfish interests.  In either case, when the work was completed one copy was given to the Seraph, Metatron, and another copy was delivered to Adam (the first man).  This gesture infuriated many angels.  The children of clay were not deserving of such celestial material, and the knowledge presented was seen as a threat to the angels for it explained all their strengths and frailties.   A number of the Cherubim and Thrones conspired to do away with the book.   These celestials descended from haven and stole the book from Adam.  It was then dropped into the ocean. To the angels' chagrin, the Almighty ordered Rehab to retrieve the book and return it to Adam.   Reluctantly, this angel did so.  There was much confusion at this point.  No celestial was quite sure what plan the Almighty had, for it seemed a move that could only threaten the children of fire's ability to help (and save) the children of clay.  Years past, and the book was stolen again.   Time has lost the knowledge of who stole it or why, but once again it ended up at the bottom of the ocean, where it stayed for a century or more.   It was Raphael who retrieved it this time, and his motives were pure.   It was given to Noah so that he could learn the art of medicine and heal those who he was entrusted to protect during the great flood.   This action is one that Raphael, now having scene what trouble the book has caused, dearly regrets. The book changed hands often over time.   Eventually it was given to Solomon by a Babylonian prince.  Upon seeing it, Solomon immediately understood the full implications of its words.   With it as a base, he formalized methods by which angels and demons could be summoned and bound to do the bidding of the sorcerer.  Sometime in the eleventh century, the book, which had always been closely guarded., disappeared. The world has not seen it since.  Maybe it sits in some sorcerer's private collection, or perhaps it once again rests at the bottom of the ocean.  Who can say for sure. In the fifteenth century, an Italian translation of Sefer Raziel was discovered.   It purports to be a direct translation of the original work by a sorcerer of great renown.  Its claim, however, are unfounded, and, in fact, it bares little resemblance to the original work.   Only the novice seekers search it out, for those in the know understand there is nothing to be gained from this pitiful imposter.