The Four Powers of the Magus are the personal attributes traditionally necessary and required for the successful use and practice of magick. These are — To Know, To Dare, To Will, and To Be Silent. Without these four attributes combined, the individual will never be successful in magick.
The reasoning is quite simple; none of the attributes mentioned are enough in themselves, as all four attributes must be present to balance each other out. For instance:
To Know: Noscere — air — to know what you are doing. Knowledge is no good, without the will and audacity to see magick done. Witchcraft is rarely dangerous, but when you do not know what you are doing, what you do can turn out wrong. Know the difference between good and bad. Know what you are doing and what is your intent. Know who might get hurt. Think long and hard about your words and your actions before you fling them, unheeded, into the world.
To Dare: Audere — water — to dare to practice the Craft. Audacity is no good, without the knowledge and will to see magick done. Never be afraid of what you are. If you are not afraid of your religion, you have a freedom within it. No one should ever try to make you afraid of your god(s) or goddess(es). Your power comes from you and you should not fear that which comes from your body because it is a part of you.
To Will: Velle — fire — to will the power. Will power is no good, without the knowledge and audacity to see magick done. Magick is all power that comes from the mind. This power comes from your strength in believing and willing something to happen. If you do not believe it will happen, then it will not. Your strength is your will and your willpower. Nothing is so strong as the human mind.
To Be Silent: Tacere — earth — to keep silent about what you are doing. What good are the above, without the discretion to remain silent until the magick is done? To reveal your magick before it is done, dissipates it’s power and effectiveness. Magick is not something that is used to make you popular or to scare or impress others. Magick, like lovemaking, is a very personal, very private act and anything said about it makes it less sacred. It is the sacredness of the act that gives it its power. The more you talk about what you have done, the less power it has. Do not discuss your spells with others until after you have cast it and gotten the effect. Also watch who you tell. Not all eyes and ears are as understanding as yours.
So, anyone aspiring to use magick, he/she needs a knowledge of what he/she is doing, the audacity to use it, the will power to control it, and the discretion to remain silent till the work is done.