71) A bright path is tied in the middle of the firmament. This is the serpent of the firmament, called by astronomers “The Milky Line,” where all the thin stars are tied and stand in it in great numbers. They are gathered and stand in it like myriad, innumerable mountains, and they are appointed over the secret deeds of the people in the world.
72) Similarly, several groups of lights of shells came out to the world from that first, upper serpent by which Adam was seduced. And they are all appointed over the secret deeds of the world. Therefore, when one comes to be purified, he is assisted from above, and the help of his Master surrounds him and he is kept, and he is called “holy.”
73) When one comes to be defiled, several groups of lights of shells are intended for him, who are all in him and surround him. They defile him and he is called impure. They all walk in front of him and declare, “Impure! Impure,” as it is written, “and he will be called ‘Impure! Impure.’” They are all tied to that first serpent and are hidden in several actions of people in the world.
74) All the deeds of wicked Balaam were from the side of impurity. All the types of serpents and witchcraft in the world are tied and stem from the primordial serpent, which is the filthy spirit of impurity. Hence, all the charms in the world are called “serpents” after the primordial serpent; they all emerge from that side, and anyone who follows witchcraft is defiled.
75) Moreover, if one wishes to perform a spell, one must first be defiled, so as to draw that side of impurity over himself. This is so because as a person awakens below, so he draws upon himself from above. If he awakens from below on the side of holiness, he draws upon him holiness from above and he is sanctified. And if he awakens below on the side of impurity, he draws upon him the spirit of impurity and is defiled. It is as we learn, “He who comes to be defiled is defiled.”
76) Thus, to draw upon himself the spirit of impurity from the upper serpent, wicked Balaam would defile himself every night with his mare, and would perform intercourse with her so as to be defiled and to draw upon himself the spirit of impurity. And subsequently, he would perform his deeds and magic.
77) In the beginning of his deeds, he took a serpent from among the serpents and tied it before him. He split the head of the serpent and took out its tongue. Then he took certain herbs and burned them all and made a single incense out of them. Then he took the head of that serpent and split it into four sides and turned it into a single incense.
78) Around it, he drew a single circle and would say things and do other deeds until he drew upon himself the spirits of impurity, which informed him what was needed. And he acted by their words, according to what they knew from the side of that serpent of the firmament.
79) From this he had knowledge and knew magic and spells. And this is why it is written, “He did not go as on other times to seek serpents,” meaning actual serpents, since the essence and the root of impurity and the beginning of everything is only in the serpent.