Devotional HGA practice prior to Adeptus Minor
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"Reread, and understand, par. 6 of Liber Resh."
When I perform Resh, I adopt the god-form of the deity I'm adoring, i.e. Ra at sunset, Tum at sunset etc. as per the advice in 'Living Thelema'. So by doing this, I wouldn't actually be adoring my HGA, would I? Or would I, as all of these deities are aspects of the Sun, which is itself a symbol of the HGA? I think I've just answered my own question whilst typing there...
"I didn't know that."
I was meaning attempting the formal Liber Samekh type ritual.
""Common" means shared, as in the phrase in common. There are few if any common practices (and I generally wouldn't ask common people for advice on them)."
I never associate with common people, so no fear of that...
"The HGA is never a stranger. Never.
You then quoted the same three people you quoted previously. "
I actually elaborated on the David Schomaker mention with a direct quote for clarity.
"100% of all magick is or (I shudder to say it) should be an aspiration to the HGA. Except that it isn't, until you get that for yourself, and get what it means. (It doesn't matter how many times anyone tells you.) In my earliest days, I made sure my Tarot divinations were preceded to an invocation "to my Holy Guardian Angel, whatever your name really is," and I read portents from the universe as communication and guidance, and I piled freshly chopped cocaine on the glass of a picture of Crowley, right under his nose, knowing he'd surely dedicate it to Nutt before his next inhalation, and I ate unto the Angel and drank and {******} and danced unto the Angel, and more things than I can think of. It needn't take much time out of your day, unless you count every waking and sleeping minute, and I'm not at all saying that you (or anyone) should do it.
"Okay, thanks for that. Apart from the HGA Cocaine Adoration (although I definitely would have 'enflamed' myself with it in my younger, more hedonist days...) this is the sort of think I was getting at; devotional practices that people here, common or otherwise, engage in to initiate some form or link, or whatever you want to call it, to their HGA prior to the formal Liber Samekh type ritual later in their magickal career.
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The only bit that I'd add to the above excellent advice is that, based on your wording and choice of questions, it sounds very much as though you're looking for an active way, however incremental, to move yourself forward on a linear path toward a goal. In this particular goal, the active will do you no good (probably). What you need to do is to figure out how to stop seeking the goal and, rather, figure out how to make yourself a desirable target.
Depending on what you mean by "pray" or "form a conscious link", you may already get this and I may be inferring incorrectly but, for me at least, that flip in perception was a major change that now puts me in the position of seeing my prior self in your questions.
It isn't "you" who will "contact" your HGA. Prepare the temple and its god will indwell it.
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"I think you're using "contact the HGA" to mean K&C, yes? It seems so. Yes, I do use methods such as "prayer etc" even if I'm not at the stage where I'm trying to achieve K&C.
Regularly. Compulsively."Yes, this is what I meaning. If you don't mind me asking about your practice, what sort of prayer do you use? What form does it take? Have you constructed your own devotional regime or is it adapted from a preexisting formula?
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@SoF said
"So by doing this, I wouldn't actually be adoring my HGA, would I? Or would I, as all of these deities are aspects of the Sun, which is itself a symbol of the HGA? I think I've just answered my own question whilst typing there...
"Not quite. Read the second half of the sentence. Try not to read it as some sort of symbolic code. Read it as actual.
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@Gnosomai Emauton said
"The only bit that I'd add to the above excellent advice is that, based on your wording and choice of questions, it sounds very much as though you're looking for an active way, however incremental, to move yourself forward on a linear path toward a goal. In this particular goal, the active will do you no good (probably). What you need to do is to figure out how to stop seeking the goal and, rather, figure out how to make yourself a desirable target.
Depending on what you mean by "pray" or "form a conscious link", you may already get this and I may be inferring incorrectly but, for me at least, that flip in perception was a major change that now puts me in the position of seeing my prior self in your questions.
It isn't "you" who will "contact" your HGA. Prepare the temple and its god will indwell it."
Hi GE,
Interesting reply and I think I understand what you're saying. What I'm not looking for is for someone to reply here, 'Right, SoF, if you want your HGA to contact you by dinner time tomorrow, recite the following prayer and Bob's your uncle.'
Naturally, I want, at some point, to have Knowledge and Conversation of my Holy Guardian Angel. But my question was more about devotional practices that sort of 'open oneself up' to the HGA. Not for immediate K&C but more an initial, and then continual, acknowledgement to the HGA that he is in your thoughts, that you have started a path to get to know him and that through your continued magickal practice, and these devotional practices, you hope that in time, you will prove worthy of his attention.
I hope that makes sense!
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@Gnosomai Emauton said
"
@SoF said
"So by doing this, I wouldn't actually be adoring my HGA, would I? Or would I, as all of these deities are aspects of the Sun, which is itself a symbol of the HGA? I think I've just answered my own question whilst typing there... "Not quite. Read the second half of the sentence. Try not to read it as some sort of symbolic code. Read it as actual."
Do you mean that, for example, in the 'Unity utter most showed...' adoration, one should imagine uniting with one's HGA in adoration of God/the Absolute?
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This might contribute:
kalitantra.blogspot.com/2014/11/attaining-ishta-deva-and-hga.html
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@SoF said
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Hi GE,
Interesting reply and I think I understand what you're saying. What I'm not looking for is for someone to reply here, 'Right, SoF, if you want your HGA to contact you by dinner time tomorrow, recite the following prayer and Bob's your uncle.'
Naturally, I want, at some point, to have Knowledge and Conversation of my Holy Guardian Angel. But my question was more about devotional practices that sort of 'open oneself up' to the HGA. Not for immediate K&C but more an initial, and then continual, acknowledgement to the HGA that he is in your thoughts, that you have started a path to get to know him and that through your continued magical practice, and these devotional practices, you hope that in time, you will prove worthy of his attention.
I hope that makes sense!"
It makes all the sense, to me at least.
May I suggest performing Star Sapphire?
Jim has outlined and explained it in the Pearls.Good luck!
inri
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@SoF said
"If you don't mind me asking about your practice, what sort of prayer do you use? What form does it take?"
Okay, I guess there's no problem. The core of it to me, today, as "formal" practice, is the daily four-fold solar adorations. I've deviated enough from Resh that it's no longer Resh, though it still has much of its flavor (and all the words). It's a bit more like prayer, though it still counts, I suppose, as solar adoration. And it lasts longer.
And there's other stuff. However, the "real" magick happens throughout the day. (Cf. J.A.E.'s last paragraph.) It won't do much good to go into detail, since it's my process, not yours. You have been given the necessary pointers.
"Have you constructed your own devotional regime or is it adapted from a preexisting formula?"
Constructed (overall), but not out of thin air. I grew into it.
"But my question was more about devotional practices that sort of 'open oneself up' to the HGA. Not for immediate K&C but more an initial, and then continual, acknowledgement to the HGA that he is in your thoughts, that you have started a path to get to know him and that through your continued magical practice, and these devotional practices, you hope that in time, you will prove worthy of his attention."
Every practice you do is aimed at that. (Is it not?)
@Frater INRI said
"http://kalitantra.blogspot.com/2014/11/attaining-ishta-deva-and-hga.html"
Some good advice, but misses way too many points.
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@SoF said
"I hope that makes sense!"
It does make sense but it's a question you ultimately have to answer for yourself. (Am I utterly frustrating you yet?
) To try and be a little more helpful (while still, ultimately, probably remaining frustrating) let me see if I can reframe your questions into the paradigm in which I'm working to see if maybe that gets us into a useful dialogue."Naturally, I want, at some point, to have Knowledge and Conversation of my Holy Guardian Angel."
For me, the wording here doesn't parallel the work I'm doing which causes difficulties in finding what it is you're seeking advice for. My work is focused on Attaining the Knowledge and Conversation of the Holy Guardian Angel. Does that sound like pedantic nitpicking?
"But my question was more about devotional practices that sort of 'open oneself up' to the HGA. Not for immediate K&C but more an initial, and then continual, acknowledgement to the HGA that he is in your thoughts, that you have started a path to get to know him and that through your continued magical practice, and these devotional practices, you hope that in time, you will prove worthy of his attention."
Again, the wording here suggests the creation of a personified dualistic deity that just doesn't mesh with my own work. I don't see "him" as someone else whose notice I need to attract. He is already there. He is me. I am him. The only thing standing between my/our complete identity is a veil of misunderstanding. He wants me just as much as I want him because we are the same entity doing the wanting. The work that I (self-conscious personality "I") need to do is to dissolve that veil of misunderstanding that convinces me that he isn't already there.
Looked at another way, every action I take, every choice I make, is an engagement in the dance of life and is thus, I suppose, "devotional". Every time I eat for the purpose of keeping the machinery in working condition; every time I listen to a piece of music to upraise my soul or to drown out the noise; every time I breath in the smell of fresh sewage; every time I write a strongly-worded letter; every time I jerk off and experience the stirrings of Kundalini; every time I sit still in a daze, seemingly doing "nothing" while simultaneously vibrating with the energy of 3 trillion cells and a mind-blowing number of atoms... all of this is the Work. Becoming mindful of it in all its variety, at every scale, in the vertiginous vastness of it all... that is my practice.
One example: I practice the Solar Adorations of Liber Resh four times a day, every day. I do this following the instructions in the book precisely. By doing this over the course of 6 months or so, I discovered a torrent of new things hidden under the surface of the ritual. Written between the lines. These discoveries have magnified the scale and detail of my ritual practice immensely, consciously connecting it with every atom and every wave in existence. Were these things in Crowley's mind when he originally composed the ritual? I have no idea. I would surmise that at least some of them were but I'll never truly know. That, however, isn't the point. The things I learned are things that exist in the intersection between this particular individual I think of as "myself" and the ritual known as The Solar Adorations. They have revealed to my conscious self parts of the language in which my subconscious self speaks. In the year or so since that initial outpouring, I've discovered some new things but mostly it's been a process of giving myself over to the practice as I now understand it. The practice, not as it's written in black-and-white, but as its performed in this particular entity (while not actually changing anything that is written in black and white). Telling you what that practice is wouldn't help you in the least because you wouldn't have the touchstones in your experience to hearken back to nor would you have the particulat subconscious language that I do.
My suggestion to re-read the second half of section 6 of the ritual and take it as actual rather than symbolic code is the best guidance I can give you toward finding your version of this experience yourself. To fill out that suggestion: read the entire ritual, as written, and perform it exactly as directed with the full awareness that it will reveal its secrets to you. You don't need to read Shoemaker's book or seek guidance from an internet forum (though, as you can see, we'll always do what we can to confuse you even more
), you just need to do the work and know that you are doing it right for your subconscious to take the hint.When I said before that it sounded like you were looking for directions for an active step along the path, I wasn't suggesting that you were looking for the magic key that opens the K&C door on its first attempt, I was suggesting that you were seeking outside for something you have to find within. The work is to prepare your temple. Only you can know what that actually means for your temple and only you will know if what you're doing is advancing you. The best way to start discovering it is to work with whatever's in front of you with the ever-present intention of finding out what it discloses about your Self and record that practice every step of the way. You'll soon start to see patterns that will direct you toward what it is that you are meant to be doing to dissolve your own veils of misunderstanding and allow the realization of identity that is known (to some) as K&CHGA.
Then again, there is always the very real possibility that I have absolutely no idea what I'm talking about.
Hope that helps a little, at least.
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Awesome answers...
I'll try to contribute too.
In my experience, a very significant perspective, that has always been active(even long before i got into such stuf consciously)is the "ultimate love" thing, or "courtly love". What changes, and what remains?
There is no HGA without your maximum potential(magical persona's true nature)and no true magical persona(or true will) without HGA. Look at the supernals and meditate. Seek to establish permanently the dynamic(adaptable, flexible) consciousness of those in their true nature and on all planes. Look at the TAO symbol. Yin and yang are connected in such way so there is no break in their permutations. Everything is true, but no everything is useful.
In my experience, what i call HGA is my great love, she who i love verily and have always loved. I am a master(in my potential, not yet lol). But she is my master. It is not understandable by words but only by direct experience. You must meditate especially on the basics, 0,1,2,3,4. Seek permanent activation and consciousness of their continuity. Ultimate god is Nuit. It is 0.
See the stele of revealing. Nuit is on top. It is the link between you and HGA. You are Ankh af na Khonsu, and HGA is Horus. What prevents you from this is your human personality. In this regard, three things are very important:
1.consciousness of Nuit.
2.consciousness of HGA
3.consciousness of your true will(true nature, magical persona)Build up these using all tools available as you will. Keep in mind your human personality, though preventing you from achieving progress, is a great tool used to achieve it, and is also holy as a part of Nuit. Therefore, respect it and take care of yourself. Understand it will gradually be seen as what it is, mostly "condensations" of energies. Resistances should be wiped off proving gradually to lower self that initiation is actually good even for it. All powers should be taken in the Arch, even the Devil, even the Ass("you are welcome too" said Noe).
Everything is always active. What change is proportions, rythms, cycles, degrees of activations and ways of interactions. Establish those in automatic consciousness gradually.
Nuit is the certainty that everything will go fine, whatever happens. HGA is the reward, you will be finally united consciously if you succeed in the(frist half of the) great work. If you succeed even further, you may build up your magical persona to the point where not only you are united with HGA and Nuit even better, but also verily live as they both want you to live, and achieve ultimate success in your true will on all planes. It is a matter of degree. The great work is one. At any point you may adjust according to all factors. Increase intuiton and self reliance, and at the same time humility and capability of listening to external teachings. I wish you good success in your endeavour.
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@Gnosomai Emauton said
"It does make sense but it's a question you ultimately have to answer for yourself. (Am I utterly frustrating you yet?
)"No, not at all!
Your, and all the other replies, have been most helpful. What I suppose I was expecting when I asked the question was replies along the lines of, 'I practice a form of Centered Prayer and I find this very useful' or 'I use the first part of the Bornless Ritual as my daily devotional practice towards the HGA and this works for me' or 'The Star Sapphire is such a thing' etc. (Thanks to Frater INRI for that heads up.)
Lazy? I suppose it might come off as such but I can assure you the intent behind it isn't. The reason I asked the question initially is that there is a great amount of advice, lessons, suggestions and so on for one beginning on the magickal path; to start a daily magickal regime and then suggestions for eventual deepening practices.
The only thing that isn't explained in any detail, and is a bit fuzzy, varying from book to book, authority to authority, is about magickal practices towards the HGA. All magick is aimed towards K&C ultimately, but I'm talking about specific rituals, practices etc. that are centered towards, at the outset of your initial magickal career, engaging with your HGA. At the later stage you have Liber Samekh, Abramelin, Bornless Ritual and so on. But is there anything that comes before this? This is what I have found a tad confusing.
The suggestions concerning Liber Resh and LBRP have been very helpful. I've performed Resh since day one and the more I do it, the more I find the practice deepening. And I'm happy with the rest of my magickal practice at present. It's just this particular thing that is a stumbling black; whether and in what form, one should start devotional practices towards the HGA before doing the biggies of Liber Samekh in the future. Are Liber Resh and LBRP sufficient? Do people do more? If so, what? And if they do, is it beneficial?
It's not so much the theoretical side of things I'm struggling with. I'm okay with that. It's more the specific methodology. I've never prayed in my life and devotional practices are totally new to me. I understand the theory behind them, understand the notion of surrender etc. but was more looking for advice from seasoned practitioners as to particular practices that they have found helpful. Just a few suggestions from those who are a bit further down the road than I at present.
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Tips:
#1. Don't fret that you're "wasting time" by not having started this specific sort of practice. You're not. From what I remember of your posts, you seem to be having a good start.
#2. Resh and LBRP are prayer, or at least have elements of prayer. So there's nothing that's entirely new to you.
#3. Whatever you mean by prayer that you haven't already done (surrendering, talking to God, whatever), do it. Do it once every week, at least, and see what you get. OR...
#4. Don't bother. Keep doing what you're doing for now. Gradually you'll know better, have a better sense of what you need etc. (Not the whole picture, of course.) The Angel wants to unite with you just as much as want to unite with Him/She/It, and has already taken steps to guide you (long before you did). Just keep going.
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@SoF said
"All magick is aimed towards K&C ultimately, "
This is your answer.
@SoF said
"but I'm talking about specific rituals, practices etc. that are centered towards, at the outset of your initial magical career, engaging with your HGA. "
See above.
@SoF said
"At the later stage you have Liber Samekh, Abramelin, Bornless Ritual and so on. "
Maybe you do, maybe you don't.
@SoF said
"But is there anything that comes before this? This is what I have found a tad confusing."
Then stop confusing yourself by making it more difficult than it is. Everything you do in every aspect of your life is the answer to your question. Start treating it that way and see what happens.
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Hey there SoF,
I'm in the midst of a big Lesser Pentagram Ritual study project and, as often seems to happen to me these days, serendipity has tossed a bit of synchronicity across my bow. The following stood out as maybe a more straight-forward answer for what you were seeking(?) FWIW:
"THE USES OF THE PENTAGRAM RITUAL
- As a form of prayer the invoking ritual should be used in the morning, the banishing in the evening.
- from the original H.'.O.'.G.'.D.'. instructions as reproduced in Regardie, Israel. The Golden Dawn. p.54"
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@Gnosomai Emauton said
"Hey there SoF,
I'm in the midst of a big Lesser Pentagram Ritual study project and, as often seems to happen to me these days, serendipity has tossed a bit of synchronicity across my bow. The following stood out as maybe a more straight-forward answer for what you were seeking(?) FWIW:
"THE USES OF THE PENTAGRAM RITUAL
- As a form of prayer the invoking ritual should be used in the morning, the banishing in the evening.
- from the original H.'.O.'.G.'.D.'. instructions as reproduced in Regardie, Israel. The Golden Dawn. p.54"
"
Thanks for that, GE. I'm following Donald Michael Kraig's 'Modern Magick' so at present I'm just doing a daily LBRP and then a LBRH. He does mention that once one masters the LBRP to move on to the LIRP in the morning if one likes. I believe the Supreme Invoking Ritual of the Pentagram is in the next lesson, which I start next month, so I might incorporate the LIRP some time after this.
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Sounds like a good plan. Basically, I just wanted to add it to the list since the specific reference to prayer resonated with what we've been discussing. Later on in my lunchtime reading, I found a bunch of great stuff in the LBRP chapter of Israel Regardie's The Middle Pillar that specifically connects the ritual to communion with the Higher Self (which I'm pretty sure is analogous to what you're referring to as the Angel).
Just some possible future references for you in finding more specific ways in which all of these "preliminary" practices are (I think) doing exactly the sort of things that you're looking for.
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@SoF said
"Am I right in thinking that all magicians should be including some form of devotional, or meditative, practice to sort of initially 'touch base' (to use a modern phrase) with the HGA? That this sort of thing should be done daily to form a conscious link with the HGA that is then formally utiliised though the ritual of Liber Samekh or similar for the 5=6 grade?
Some Thelemites suggest doing this but, unless I've missed it, it doesn't seem to be part of the Probationer syllabus. If so, what sort of practices are considered the best? David Shoemaker suggests devotional practice, enflaming oneself in prayer whilst Alan Chapman gives a more meditative method in his book 'Three Steps to Heaven' (Page 53):
hebaptistshead.files.wordpress.com/2013/03/threestepsebook.pdf
I also believe that Israel Regardie suggests reciting the first part of the Bornless Ritual.
If this is correct, I'd appreciate any advice or suggested techniques that people have used so that I can get my devotional practice up and running.
"I would say that the work of the elemental grades should make you high anyway so the samekh prayers are merely icing on the cake.