The Star Sapphire - notes
-
In resposne to some questions concerning The Star Sapphire ...
How does one make a Holy Hexagram in the East, West, North and South for instance, with a Unicursal Hexagram?
I think the best answer I have for this is to quote directly from an article I wrote many years ago, including where I contradict myself
-"The Unicursal Hexagram, or 'Hexagram of the Beast,' is not used in this ritual... Even a simple inspection of the nature of the ritual shows that at each quarter two principles â two elements â are so combined that their alchemical glyphs form the classic two-triangle Earth hexagram. In the East these are Father and Mother, Fire and Water; in the South, Mother and Son, Water and Air; and so forth." In other words, the Earth hexagram is formed in the East by the intersection of the Fire and Water hexagrams, in the South by the intersection of the Water and Air hexagrams, in the West by the joining of the Air and Earth hexagrams, and in the North by the joining of the Earth and Fire hexagrams - in each close looking exactly like the others indistinguishably.
With this is a footnote: "An A.'.A.'. Adept in our acquaintance, who was kind enough to review this paper, indicated that, in principle and in theory, he entirely concurs with this statement, and would thus teach The Star Sapphire to his students as well. Nonetheless, when he performed it as part of his Adeptus Minor work, the hexagrams (after a few weeks) transformed themselves unbidden into golden Unicursal Hexagrams with five-petalled roses at their centers. When this would occur, the entire adytum in which he worked would typically become bathed with sunlight pouring through the four gates into the center."
So there you have it.
It being related to the LHR (from what I hear)
Precisely. At least in form. If I have time, I'll copy a general lead-in intro into a further answer to this.
And then there's the issue of banishing/invoking directions.
Nope. The Star Sapphire is only an invoking ritual, just as the Star Ruby is only a banishing ritual.
Also, what is the deal the the signs of LVX and NOX? And is the difference significant in that it either places you in our outside of "the Abyss" (at least symbolically on Da'ath).
This is subject to several opinions. There are two passages referenced by this question. The first says: "In the centre, let him give the L.V.X. signs; or if he know them, if he will and dare do them, and can keep silent about them, the signs of N.O.X..." Then, the last paragraph says: "Let him then repeat the signs of L.V.X. but not the signs of N.O.X.: for it is not he that shall arise in the Sign of Isis Rejoicing."
The first thing to note (which gives us an "easy out" at the moment) is that this is optional. I recommend the L.V.X. signs unless something significant directs one otherwise.
Speaking only for myself, the N.O.X. signs were irrelevant until I was 5=6 A.'.A.'., and in fact until I was rather far into the grade, probably technically 5=6 Within even though I was still completing my formal Abramelin operation. I can't say that this is necessarily true for everyone, but I certainly wouldn't limit it to 8=3 as your question did. These are the signs of 6=5 through 8=3, so they don't become particularly relevant until after 5=6 it seems to me (at least, through my own particular looking glass).
Of course, one can use any old signs at any old time, but one might like to actually have some understanding of what is occurring.
The first reference, "if he know them," etc. (besides the interpolation of the Four Powers of the Sphinx), can be taken literally: When The Star Sapphire was first written and publishedin 1912-13, the N.O.X. signs simply weren't known outside of the A.'.A.'., and weren't widely circulated within the A.'.A.'.. Most people simply wouldn't have known them, but could have gotten the L.V.X. signs from Liber O.
How is a ritual which, at least on the surface, appears to be a similar sort of arm-waving ritual as the LBRP likened (or confused with?) sex magick? I see there is a balancing of forces going on, but I don't see how the ritual could really retain much of its appearance as a sex ritual... unless you have a spinning bed.
At least symbolically, it plays to the same symbol set, and is saturated with sexual symbolism. A separate analysis of it could certainly be done solely from that angle, and when thinking of it that way decades ago I didn't think of a spinning bed
- I thought of Chuck Berry's "Rock Around the Clock" (the "adult" version). "We did it in the bathroom, in the hall, in the bedroom, out on the back porch" translates to "We did it in the east, we did it in the south," etc.But I really truly sincerely don't believe that's the real intent here. Nonetheless, the symbolism shouldn't be overlooked, since a passionate and intimate union is certainly the goal of the ritual.
More below if I don't get interrupted tonight.
In I.R. Complete GD System of Magic - The Ritual of The Rose Cross a diagram is shown how to make the Rosy (Rose) Cross. It is |, then - and then O begining from the bottom right. That way the 'N.O.X.-The Mark' sign isn't used twice. And the 3 ARARITA's vibrated while forming it. Aurum Solis use this sign in their Wards of Adamant ritual but form it like: -, |, O from the top, vibrating three names.
Am I making sense? -
In resposne to some questions concerning The Star Sapphire ...
How does one make a Holy Hexagram in the East, West, North and South for instance, with a Unicursal Hexagram?
I think the best answer I have for this is to quote directly from an article I wrote many years ago, including where I contradict myself
-"The Unicursal Hexagram, or 'Hexagram of the Beast,' is not used in this ritual... Even a simple inspection of the nature of the ritual shows that at each quarter two principles â two elements â are so combined that their alchemical glyphs form the classic two-triangle Earth hexagram. In the East these are Father and Mother, Fire and Water; in the South, Mother and Son, Water and Air; and so forth." In other words, the Earth hexagram is formed in the East by the intersection of the Fire and Water hexagrams, in the South by the intersection of the Water and Air hexagrams, in the West by the joining of the Air and Earth hexagrams, and in the North by the joining of the Earth and Fire hexagrams - in each close looking exactly like the others indistinguishably.
With this is a footnote: "An A.'.A.'. Adept in our acquaintance, who was kind enough to review this paper, indicated that, in principle and in theory, he entirely concurs with this statement, and would thus teach The Star Sapphire to his students as well. Nonetheless, when he performed it as part of his Adeptus Minor work, the hexagrams (after a few weeks) transformed themselves unbidden into golden Unicursal Hexagrams with five-petalled roses at their centers. When this would occur, the entire adytum in which he worked would typically become bathed with sunlight pouring through the four gates into the center."
So there you have it.
It being related to the LHR (from what I hear)
Precisely. At least in form. If I have time, I'll copy a general lead-in intro into a further answer to this.
And then there's the issue of banishing/invoking directions.
Nope. The Star Sapphire is only an invoking ritual, just as the Star Ruby is only a banishing ritual.
Also, what is the deal the the signs of LVX and NOX? And is the difference significant in that it either places you in our outside of "the Abyss" (at least symbolically on Da'ath).
This is subject to several opinions. There are two passages referenced by this question. The first says: "In the centre, let him give the L.V.X. signs; or if he know them, if he will and dare do them, and can keep silent about them, the signs of N.O.X..." Then, the last paragraph says: "Let him then repeat the signs of L.V.X. but not the signs of N.O.X.: for it is not he that shall arise in the Sign of Isis Rejoicing."
The first thing to note (which gives us an "easy out" at the moment) is that this is optional. I recommend the L.V.X. signs unless something significant directs one otherwise.
Speaking only for myself, the N.O.X. signs were irrelevant until I was 5=6 A.'.A.'., and in fact until I was rather far into the grade, probably technically 5=6 Within even though I was still completing my formal Abramelin operation. I can't say that this is necessarily true for everyone, but I certainly wouldn't limit it to 8=3 as your question did. These are the signs of 6=5 through 8=3, so they don't become particularly relevant until after 5=6 it seems to me (at least, through my own particular looking glass).
Of course, one can use any old signs at any old time, but one might like to actually have some understanding of what is occurring.
The first reference, "if he know them," etc. (besides the interpolation of the Four Powers of the Sphinx), can be taken literally: When The Star Sapphire was first written and publishedin 1912-13, the N.O.X. signs simply weren't known outside of the A.'.A.'., and weren't widely circulated within the A.'.A.'.. Most people simply wouldn't have known them, but could have gotten the L.V.X. signs from Liber O.
How is a ritual which, at least on the surface, appears to be a similar sort of arm-waving ritual as the LBRP likened (or confused with?) sex magick? I see there is a balancing of forces going on, but I don't see how the ritual could really retain much of its appearance as a sex ritual... unless you have a spinning bed.
At least symbolically, it plays to the same symbol set, and is saturated with sexual symbolism. A separate analysis of it could certainly be done solely from that angle, and when thinking of it that way decades ago I didn't think of a spinning bed
- I thought of Chuck Berry's "Rock Around the Clock" (the "adult" version). "We did it in the bathroom, in the hall, in the bedroom, out on the back porch" translates to "We did it in the east, we did it in the south," etc.But I really truly sincerely don't believe that's the real intent here. Nonetheless, the symbolism shouldn't be overlooked, since a passionate and intimate union is certainly the goal of the ritual.
More below if I don't get interrupted tonight.
Jim you state that The Star Sapphire and The Star Ruby, the N.O.X. are of use then one is 5=6. As I understand it is your opinion but not C.O.T/T.O.T.? The thing is that in Liber ABA pt. 3 the Star Ruby is listed as A.:A.: Probationer and Star Sapphire as Zelator work. I don't understand does the A.:A.: have anything to do with C.O.T./T.O.T? If not - sorry for comparing apples with oranges.
-
In resposne to some questions concerning The Star Sapphire ...
How does one make a Holy Hexagram in the East, West, North and South for instance, with a Unicursal Hexagram?
I think the best answer I have for this is to quote directly from an article I wrote many years ago, including where I contradict myself
-"The Unicursal Hexagram, or 'Hexagram of the Beast,' is not used in this ritual... Even a simple inspection of the nature of the ritual shows that at each quarter two principles â two elements â are so combined that their alchemical glyphs form the classic two-triangle Earth hexagram. In the East these are Father and Mother, Fire and Water; in the South, Mother and Son, Water and Air; and so forth." In other words, the Earth hexagram is formed in the East by the intersection of the Fire and Water hexagrams, in the South by the intersection of the Water and Air hexagrams, in the West by the joining of the Air and Earth hexagrams, and in the North by the joining of the Earth and Fire hexagrams - in each close looking exactly like the others indistinguishably.
With this is a footnote: "An A.'.A.'. Adept in our acquaintance, who was kind enough to review this paper, indicated that, in principle and in theory, he entirely concurs with this statement, and would thus teach The Star Sapphire to his students as well. Nonetheless, when he performed it as part of his Adeptus Minor work, the hexagrams (after a few weeks) transformed themselves unbidden into golden Unicursal Hexagrams with five-petalled roses at their centers. When this would occur, the entire adytum in which he worked would typically become bathed with sunlight pouring through the four gates into the center."
So there you have it.
It being related to the LHR (from what I hear)
Precisely. At least in form. If I have time, I'll copy a general lead-in intro into a further answer to this.
And then there's the issue of banishing/invoking directions.
Nope. The Star Sapphire is only an invoking ritual, just as the Star Ruby is only a banishing ritual.
Also, what is the deal the the signs of LVX and NOX? And is the difference significant in that it either places you in our outside of "the Abyss" (at least symbolically on Da'ath).
This is subject to several opinions. There are two passages referenced by this question. The first says: "In the centre, let him give the L.V.X. signs; or if he know them, if he will and dare do them, and can keep silent about them, the signs of N.O.X..." Then, the last paragraph says: "Let him then repeat the signs of L.V.X. but not the signs of N.O.X.: for it is not he that shall arise in the Sign of Isis Rejoicing."
The first thing to note (which gives us an "easy out" at the moment) is that this is optional. I recommend the L.V.X. signs unless something significant directs one otherwise.
Speaking only for myself, the N.O.X. signs were irrelevant until I was 5=6 A.'.A.'., and in fact until I was rather far into the grade, probably technically 5=6 Within even though I was still completing my formal Abramelin operation. I can't say that this is necessarily true for everyone, but I certainly wouldn't limit it to 8=3 as your question did. These are the signs of 6=5 through 8=3, so they don't become particularly relevant until after 5=6 it seems to me (at least, through my own particular looking glass).
Of course, one can use any old signs at any old time, but one might like to actually have some understanding of what is occurring.
The first reference, "if he know them," etc. (besides the interpolation of the Four Powers of the Sphinx), can be taken literally: When The Star Sapphire was first written and publishedin 1912-13, the N.O.X. signs simply weren't known outside of the A.'.A.'., and weren't widely circulated within the A.'.A.'.. Most people simply wouldn't have known them, but could have gotten the L.V.X. signs from Liber O.
How is a ritual which, at least on the surface, appears to be a similar sort of arm-waving ritual as the LBRP likened (or confused with?) sex magick? I see there is a balancing of forces going on, but I don't see how the ritual could really retain much of its appearance as a sex ritual... unless you have a spinning bed.
At least symbolically, it plays to the same symbol set, and is saturated with sexual symbolism. A separate analysis of it could certainly be done solely from that angle, and when thinking of it that way decades ago I didn't think of a spinning bed
- I thought of Chuck Berry's "Rock Around the Clock" (the "adult" version). "We did it in the bathroom, in the hall, in the bedroom, out on the back porch" translates to "We did it in the east, we did it in the south," etc.But I really truly sincerely don't believe that's the real intent here. Nonetheless, the symbolism shouldn't be overlooked, since a passionate and intimate union is certainly the goal of the ritual.
More below if I don't get interrupted tonight.
@Modes said
"Jim you state that The Star Sapphire and The Star Ruby, the N.O.X. are of use then one is 5=6. As I understand it is your opinion but not C.O.T/T.O.T.? The thing is that in Liber ABA pt. 3 the Star Ruby is listed as A.:A.: Probationer and Star Sapphire as Zelator work.."
Quick answer - I haven't had time to go back and review all of the above.
Yes, the A.'.A.'. curriculum has this provided in 2=9, the grade where the Formula of the Rosy Cross is first formally begun to be studied. A very great deal is started in 2=9 that finds its fruits in 5=6. (Compare One Star in Sight's different statements about the Formula R.C. for 2=9 and 5=6.)
-
In resposne to some questions concerning The Star Sapphire ...
How does one make a Holy Hexagram in the East, West, North and South for instance, with a Unicursal Hexagram?
I think the best answer I have for this is to quote directly from an article I wrote many years ago, including where I contradict myself
-"The Unicursal Hexagram, or 'Hexagram of the Beast,' is not used in this ritual... Even a simple inspection of the nature of the ritual shows that at each quarter two principles â two elements â are so combined that their alchemical glyphs form the classic two-triangle Earth hexagram. In the East these are Father and Mother, Fire and Water; in the South, Mother and Son, Water and Air; and so forth." In other words, the Earth hexagram is formed in the East by the intersection of the Fire and Water hexagrams, in the South by the intersection of the Water and Air hexagrams, in the West by the joining of the Air and Earth hexagrams, and in the North by the joining of the Earth and Fire hexagrams - in each close looking exactly like the others indistinguishably.
With this is a footnote: "An A.'.A.'. Adept in our acquaintance, who was kind enough to review this paper, indicated that, in principle and in theory, he entirely concurs with this statement, and would thus teach The Star Sapphire to his students as well. Nonetheless, when he performed it as part of his Adeptus Minor work, the hexagrams (after a few weeks) transformed themselves unbidden into golden Unicursal Hexagrams with five-petalled roses at their centers. When this would occur, the entire adytum in which he worked would typically become bathed with sunlight pouring through the four gates into the center."
So there you have it.
It being related to the LHR (from what I hear)
Precisely. At least in form. If I have time, I'll copy a general lead-in intro into a further answer to this.
And then there's the issue of banishing/invoking directions.
Nope. The Star Sapphire is only an invoking ritual, just as the Star Ruby is only a banishing ritual.
Also, what is the deal the the signs of LVX and NOX? And is the difference significant in that it either places you in our outside of "the Abyss" (at least symbolically on Da'ath).
This is subject to several opinions. There are two passages referenced by this question. The first says: "In the centre, let him give the L.V.X. signs; or if he know them, if he will and dare do them, and can keep silent about them, the signs of N.O.X..." Then, the last paragraph says: "Let him then repeat the signs of L.V.X. but not the signs of N.O.X.: for it is not he that shall arise in the Sign of Isis Rejoicing."
The first thing to note (which gives us an "easy out" at the moment) is that this is optional. I recommend the L.V.X. signs unless something significant directs one otherwise.
Speaking only for myself, the N.O.X. signs were irrelevant until I was 5=6 A.'.A.'., and in fact until I was rather far into the grade, probably technically 5=6 Within even though I was still completing my formal Abramelin operation. I can't say that this is necessarily true for everyone, but I certainly wouldn't limit it to 8=3 as your question did. These are the signs of 6=5 through 8=3, so they don't become particularly relevant until after 5=6 it seems to me (at least, through my own particular looking glass).
Of course, one can use any old signs at any old time, but one might like to actually have some understanding of what is occurring.
The first reference, "if he know them," etc. (besides the interpolation of the Four Powers of the Sphinx), can be taken literally: When The Star Sapphire was first written and publishedin 1912-13, the N.O.X. signs simply weren't known outside of the A.'.A.'., and weren't widely circulated within the A.'.A.'.. Most people simply wouldn't have known them, but could have gotten the L.V.X. signs from Liber O.
How is a ritual which, at least on the surface, appears to be a similar sort of arm-waving ritual as the LBRP likened (or confused with?) sex magick? I see there is a balancing of forces going on, but I don't see how the ritual could really retain much of its appearance as a sex ritual... unless you have a spinning bed.
At least symbolically, it plays to the same symbol set, and is saturated with sexual symbolism. A separate analysis of it could certainly be done solely from that angle, and when thinking of it that way decades ago I didn't think of a spinning bed
- I thought of Chuck Berry's "Rock Around the Clock" (the "adult" version). "We did it in the bathroom, in the hall, in the bedroom, out on the back porch" translates to "We did it in the east, we did it in the south," etc.But I really truly sincerely don't believe that's the real intent here. Nonetheless, the symbolism shouldn't be overlooked, since a passionate and intimate union is certainly the goal of the ritual.
More below if I don't get interrupted tonight.
There's a lot of discussion what the Star Sapphire ritual is used for. Some say it is a HGA invocation but looking at the A.:A.: system the HGA invocation is at the Adeptus grade. As you cite, Crowley did the ritual only once etc, but it is included as a Zelator ritual, so this means that the known ritual is an adopted version, why did you emphasise the fact in the first place I have no idea. It is clear that noone teaches at the Zelator grade the ritual Crowley talks about in your citation...
Could you write for what the Zelator uses the ritual? Could you recommend some sources to read about the Rosy Cross formula? Are there any traces of it in published GD documents? -
In resposne to some questions concerning The Star Sapphire ...
How does one make a Holy Hexagram in the East, West, North and South for instance, with a Unicursal Hexagram?
I think the best answer I have for this is to quote directly from an article I wrote many years ago, including where I contradict myself
-"The Unicursal Hexagram, or 'Hexagram of the Beast,' is not used in this ritual... Even a simple inspection of the nature of the ritual shows that at each quarter two principles â two elements â are so combined that their alchemical glyphs form the classic two-triangle Earth hexagram. In the East these are Father and Mother, Fire and Water; in the South, Mother and Son, Water and Air; and so forth." In other words, the Earth hexagram is formed in the East by the intersection of the Fire and Water hexagrams, in the South by the intersection of the Water and Air hexagrams, in the West by the joining of the Air and Earth hexagrams, and in the North by the joining of the Earth and Fire hexagrams - in each close looking exactly like the others indistinguishably.
With this is a footnote: "An A.'.A.'. Adept in our acquaintance, who was kind enough to review this paper, indicated that, in principle and in theory, he entirely concurs with this statement, and would thus teach The Star Sapphire to his students as well. Nonetheless, when he performed it as part of his Adeptus Minor work, the hexagrams (after a few weeks) transformed themselves unbidden into golden Unicursal Hexagrams with five-petalled roses at their centers. When this would occur, the entire adytum in which he worked would typically become bathed with sunlight pouring through the four gates into the center."
So there you have it.
It being related to the LHR (from what I hear)
Precisely. At least in form. If I have time, I'll copy a general lead-in intro into a further answer to this.
And then there's the issue of banishing/invoking directions.
Nope. The Star Sapphire is only an invoking ritual, just as the Star Ruby is only a banishing ritual.
Also, what is the deal the the signs of LVX and NOX? And is the difference significant in that it either places you in our outside of "the Abyss" (at least symbolically on Da'ath).
This is subject to several opinions. There are two passages referenced by this question. The first says: "In the centre, let him give the L.V.X. signs; or if he know them, if he will and dare do them, and can keep silent about them, the signs of N.O.X..." Then, the last paragraph says: "Let him then repeat the signs of L.V.X. but not the signs of N.O.X.: for it is not he that shall arise in the Sign of Isis Rejoicing."
The first thing to note (which gives us an "easy out" at the moment) is that this is optional. I recommend the L.V.X. signs unless something significant directs one otherwise.
Speaking only for myself, the N.O.X. signs were irrelevant until I was 5=6 A.'.A.'., and in fact until I was rather far into the grade, probably technically 5=6 Within even though I was still completing my formal Abramelin operation. I can't say that this is necessarily true for everyone, but I certainly wouldn't limit it to 8=3 as your question did. These are the signs of 6=5 through 8=3, so they don't become particularly relevant until after 5=6 it seems to me (at least, through my own particular looking glass).
Of course, one can use any old signs at any old time, but one might like to actually have some understanding of what is occurring.
The first reference, "if he know them," etc. (besides the interpolation of the Four Powers of the Sphinx), can be taken literally: When The Star Sapphire was first written and publishedin 1912-13, the N.O.X. signs simply weren't known outside of the A.'.A.'., and weren't widely circulated within the A.'.A.'.. Most people simply wouldn't have known them, but could have gotten the L.V.X. signs from Liber O.
How is a ritual which, at least on the surface, appears to be a similar sort of arm-waving ritual as the LBRP likened (or confused with?) sex magick? I see there is a balancing of forces going on, but I don't see how the ritual could really retain much of its appearance as a sex ritual... unless you have a spinning bed.
At least symbolically, it plays to the same symbol set, and is saturated with sexual symbolism. A separate analysis of it could certainly be done solely from that angle, and when thinking of it that way decades ago I didn't think of a spinning bed
- I thought of Chuck Berry's "Rock Around the Clock" (the "adult" version). "We did it in the bathroom, in the hall, in the bedroom, out on the back porch" translates to "We did it in the east, we did it in the south," etc.But I really truly sincerely don't believe that's the real intent here. Nonetheless, the symbolism shouldn't be overlooked, since a passionate and intimate union is certainly the goal of the ritual.
More below if I don't get interrupted tonight.
@Modes said
"It is clear that noone teaches at the Zelator grade the ritual Crowley talks about in your citation..."
Why clear? It's not even true."Could you write for what the Zelator uses the ritual?"
Well, among other things, the Zelator begins to study the formula of the Rosy Cross.
"Could you recommend some sources to read about the Rosy Cross formula?"
This is so intimate and personal a thing that I think it should be left for the Zelator to discuss with his or her Practicus.
-
In resposne to some questions concerning The Star Sapphire ...
How does one make a Holy Hexagram in the East, West, North and South for instance, with a Unicursal Hexagram?
I think the best answer I have for this is to quote directly from an article I wrote many years ago, including where I contradict myself
-"The Unicursal Hexagram, or 'Hexagram of the Beast,' is not used in this ritual... Even a simple inspection of the nature of the ritual shows that at each quarter two principles â two elements â are so combined that their alchemical glyphs form the classic two-triangle Earth hexagram. In the East these are Father and Mother, Fire and Water; in the South, Mother and Son, Water and Air; and so forth." In other words, the Earth hexagram is formed in the East by the intersection of the Fire and Water hexagrams, in the South by the intersection of the Water and Air hexagrams, in the West by the joining of the Air and Earth hexagrams, and in the North by the joining of the Earth and Fire hexagrams - in each close looking exactly like the others indistinguishably.
With this is a footnote: "An A.'.A.'. Adept in our acquaintance, who was kind enough to review this paper, indicated that, in principle and in theory, he entirely concurs with this statement, and would thus teach The Star Sapphire to his students as well. Nonetheless, when he performed it as part of his Adeptus Minor work, the hexagrams (after a few weeks) transformed themselves unbidden into golden Unicursal Hexagrams with five-petalled roses at their centers. When this would occur, the entire adytum in which he worked would typically become bathed with sunlight pouring through the four gates into the center."
So there you have it.
It being related to the LHR (from what I hear)
Precisely. At least in form. If I have time, I'll copy a general lead-in intro into a further answer to this.
And then there's the issue of banishing/invoking directions.
Nope. The Star Sapphire is only an invoking ritual, just as the Star Ruby is only a banishing ritual.
Also, what is the deal the the signs of LVX and NOX? And is the difference significant in that it either places you in our outside of "the Abyss" (at least symbolically on Da'ath).
This is subject to several opinions. There are two passages referenced by this question. The first says: "In the centre, let him give the L.V.X. signs; or if he know them, if he will and dare do them, and can keep silent about them, the signs of N.O.X..." Then, the last paragraph says: "Let him then repeat the signs of L.V.X. but not the signs of N.O.X.: for it is not he that shall arise in the Sign of Isis Rejoicing."
The first thing to note (which gives us an "easy out" at the moment) is that this is optional. I recommend the L.V.X. signs unless something significant directs one otherwise.
Speaking only for myself, the N.O.X. signs were irrelevant until I was 5=6 A.'.A.'., and in fact until I was rather far into the grade, probably technically 5=6 Within even though I was still completing my formal Abramelin operation. I can't say that this is necessarily true for everyone, but I certainly wouldn't limit it to 8=3 as your question did. These are the signs of 6=5 through 8=3, so they don't become particularly relevant until after 5=6 it seems to me (at least, through my own particular looking glass).
Of course, one can use any old signs at any old time, but one might like to actually have some understanding of what is occurring.
The first reference, "if he know them," etc. (besides the interpolation of the Four Powers of the Sphinx), can be taken literally: When The Star Sapphire was first written and publishedin 1912-13, the N.O.X. signs simply weren't known outside of the A.'.A.'., and weren't widely circulated within the A.'.A.'.. Most people simply wouldn't have known them, but could have gotten the L.V.X. signs from Liber O.
How is a ritual which, at least on the surface, appears to be a similar sort of arm-waving ritual as the LBRP likened (or confused with?) sex magick? I see there is a balancing of forces going on, but I don't see how the ritual could really retain much of its appearance as a sex ritual... unless you have a spinning bed.
At least symbolically, it plays to the same symbol set, and is saturated with sexual symbolism. A separate analysis of it could certainly be done solely from that angle, and when thinking of it that way decades ago I didn't think of a spinning bed
- I thought of Chuck Berry's "Rock Around the Clock" (the "adult" version). "We did it in the bathroom, in the hall, in the bedroom, out on the back porch" translates to "We did it in the east, we did it in the south," etc.But I really truly sincerely don't believe that's the real intent here. Nonetheless, the symbolism shouldn't be overlooked, since a passionate and intimate union is certainly the goal of the ritual.
More below if I don't get interrupted tonight.
Hehe.
So, you say that I can't tell you and can't give you a hint but I have this thread up about it trying people to help out by not answering some important questions. 
You answered your question yourself - to study means to do the ritual many times and to say that Star Sapphire is done only once is contrary to the word "study". Now I hope in A.:A.: Zelator the word "study" does not imply sophy but filosophy i.e. not talking about it but doing.
So O & X is not the Rosy Cross formula you mentioned? -
In resposne to some questions concerning The Star Sapphire ...
How does one make a Holy Hexagram in the East, West, North and South for instance, with a Unicursal Hexagram?
I think the best answer I have for this is to quote directly from an article I wrote many years ago, including where I contradict myself
-"The Unicursal Hexagram, or 'Hexagram of the Beast,' is not used in this ritual... Even a simple inspection of the nature of the ritual shows that at each quarter two principles â two elements â are so combined that their alchemical glyphs form the classic two-triangle Earth hexagram. In the East these are Father and Mother, Fire and Water; in the South, Mother and Son, Water and Air; and so forth." In other words, the Earth hexagram is formed in the East by the intersection of the Fire and Water hexagrams, in the South by the intersection of the Water and Air hexagrams, in the West by the joining of the Air and Earth hexagrams, and in the North by the joining of the Earth and Fire hexagrams - in each close looking exactly like the others indistinguishably.
With this is a footnote: "An A.'.A.'. Adept in our acquaintance, who was kind enough to review this paper, indicated that, in principle and in theory, he entirely concurs with this statement, and would thus teach The Star Sapphire to his students as well. Nonetheless, when he performed it as part of his Adeptus Minor work, the hexagrams (after a few weeks) transformed themselves unbidden into golden Unicursal Hexagrams with five-petalled roses at their centers. When this would occur, the entire adytum in which he worked would typically become bathed with sunlight pouring through the four gates into the center."
So there you have it.
It being related to the LHR (from what I hear)
Precisely. At least in form. If I have time, I'll copy a general lead-in intro into a further answer to this.
And then there's the issue of banishing/invoking directions.
Nope. The Star Sapphire is only an invoking ritual, just as the Star Ruby is only a banishing ritual.
Also, what is the deal the the signs of LVX and NOX? And is the difference significant in that it either places you in our outside of "the Abyss" (at least symbolically on Da'ath).
This is subject to several opinions. There are two passages referenced by this question. The first says: "In the centre, let him give the L.V.X. signs; or if he know them, if he will and dare do them, and can keep silent about them, the signs of N.O.X..." Then, the last paragraph says: "Let him then repeat the signs of L.V.X. but not the signs of N.O.X.: for it is not he that shall arise in the Sign of Isis Rejoicing."
The first thing to note (which gives us an "easy out" at the moment) is that this is optional. I recommend the L.V.X. signs unless something significant directs one otherwise.
Speaking only for myself, the N.O.X. signs were irrelevant until I was 5=6 A.'.A.'., and in fact until I was rather far into the grade, probably technically 5=6 Within even though I was still completing my formal Abramelin operation. I can't say that this is necessarily true for everyone, but I certainly wouldn't limit it to 8=3 as your question did. These are the signs of 6=5 through 8=3, so they don't become particularly relevant until after 5=6 it seems to me (at least, through my own particular looking glass).
Of course, one can use any old signs at any old time, but one might like to actually have some understanding of what is occurring.
The first reference, "if he know them," etc. (besides the interpolation of the Four Powers of the Sphinx), can be taken literally: When The Star Sapphire was first written and publishedin 1912-13, the N.O.X. signs simply weren't known outside of the A.'.A.'., and weren't widely circulated within the A.'.A.'.. Most people simply wouldn't have known them, but could have gotten the L.V.X. signs from Liber O.
How is a ritual which, at least on the surface, appears to be a similar sort of arm-waving ritual as the LBRP likened (or confused with?) sex magick? I see there is a balancing of forces going on, but I don't see how the ritual could really retain much of its appearance as a sex ritual... unless you have a spinning bed.
At least symbolically, it plays to the same symbol set, and is saturated with sexual symbolism. A separate analysis of it could certainly be done solely from that angle, and when thinking of it that way decades ago I didn't think of a spinning bed
- I thought of Chuck Berry's "Rock Around the Clock" (the "adult" version). "We did it in the bathroom, in the hall, in the bedroom, out on the back porch" translates to "We did it in the east, we did it in the south," etc.But I really truly sincerely don't believe that's the real intent here. Nonetheless, the symbolism shouldn't be overlooked, since a passionate and intimate union is certainly the goal of the ritual.
More below if I don't get interrupted tonight.
@Modes said
"Hehe.
So, you say that I can't tell you and can't give you a hint but I have this thread up about it trying people to help out by not answering some important questions. "Some of these questions are appropriate only for an individual's immediate instructor in the Order.
"So O & X is not the Rosy Cross formula you mentioned?"
Certainly could be. Depends on what you mean by O & X.
-
In resposne to some questions concerning The Star Sapphire ...
How does one make a Holy Hexagram in the East, West, North and South for instance, with a Unicursal Hexagram?
I think the best answer I have for this is to quote directly from an article I wrote many years ago, including where I contradict myself
-"The Unicursal Hexagram, or 'Hexagram of the Beast,' is not used in this ritual... Even a simple inspection of the nature of the ritual shows that at each quarter two principles â two elements â are so combined that their alchemical glyphs form the classic two-triangle Earth hexagram. In the East these are Father and Mother, Fire and Water; in the South, Mother and Son, Water and Air; and so forth." In other words, the Earth hexagram is formed in the East by the intersection of the Fire and Water hexagrams, in the South by the intersection of the Water and Air hexagrams, in the West by the joining of the Air and Earth hexagrams, and in the North by the joining of the Earth and Fire hexagrams - in each close looking exactly like the others indistinguishably.
With this is a footnote: "An A.'.A.'. Adept in our acquaintance, who was kind enough to review this paper, indicated that, in principle and in theory, he entirely concurs with this statement, and would thus teach The Star Sapphire to his students as well. Nonetheless, when he performed it as part of his Adeptus Minor work, the hexagrams (after a few weeks) transformed themselves unbidden into golden Unicursal Hexagrams with five-petalled roses at their centers. When this would occur, the entire adytum in which he worked would typically become bathed with sunlight pouring through the four gates into the center."
So there you have it.
It being related to the LHR (from what I hear)
Precisely. At least in form. If I have time, I'll copy a general lead-in intro into a further answer to this.
And then there's the issue of banishing/invoking directions.
Nope. The Star Sapphire is only an invoking ritual, just as the Star Ruby is only a banishing ritual.
Also, what is the deal the the signs of LVX and NOX? And is the difference significant in that it either places you in our outside of "the Abyss" (at least symbolically on Da'ath).
This is subject to several opinions. There are two passages referenced by this question. The first says: "In the centre, let him give the L.V.X. signs; or if he know them, if he will and dare do them, and can keep silent about them, the signs of N.O.X..." Then, the last paragraph says: "Let him then repeat the signs of L.V.X. but not the signs of N.O.X.: for it is not he that shall arise in the Sign of Isis Rejoicing."
The first thing to note (which gives us an "easy out" at the moment) is that this is optional. I recommend the L.V.X. signs unless something significant directs one otherwise.
Speaking only for myself, the N.O.X. signs were irrelevant until I was 5=6 A.'.A.'., and in fact until I was rather far into the grade, probably technically 5=6 Within even though I was still completing my formal Abramelin operation. I can't say that this is necessarily true for everyone, but I certainly wouldn't limit it to 8=3 as your question did. These are the signs of 6=5 through 8=3, so they don't become particularly relevant until after 5=6 it seems to me (at least, through my own particular looking glass).
Of course, one can use any old signs at any old time, but one might like to actually have some understanding of what is occurring.
The first reference, "if he know them," etc. (besides the interpolation of the Four Powers of the Sphinx), can be taken literally: When The Star Sapphire was first written and publishedin 1912-13, the N.O.X. signs simply weren't known outside of the A.'.A.'., and weren't widely circulated within the A.'.A.'.. Most people simply wouldn't have known them, but could have gotten the L.V.X. signs from Liber O.
How is a ritual which, at least on the surface, appears to be a similar sort of arm-waving ritual as the LBRP likened (or confused with?) sex magick? I see there is a balancing of forces going on, but I don't see how the ritual could really retain much of its appearance as a sex ritual... unless you have a spinning bed.
At least symbolically, it plays to the same symbol set, and is saturated with sexual symbolism. A separate analysis of it could certainly be done solely from that angle, and when thinking of it that way decades ago I didn't think of a spinning bed
- I thought of Chuck Berry's "Rock Around the Clock" (the "adult" version). "We did it in the bathroom, in the hall, in the bedroom, out on the back porch" translates to "We did it in the east, we did it in the south," etc.But I really truly sincerely don't believe that's the real intent here. Nonetheless, the symbolism shouldn't be overlooked, since a passionate and intimate union is certainly the goal of the ritual.
More below if I don't get interrupted tonight.
I don't know!
It's only you Jim I found mentioning this sign in this ritual. How can I second that? By analyzing sources you read and came to that conclusion. So far I found this sign mentioned in GD as the sigil of Jupiter, in Crowley as St.Andrews Cross and in Grant the Mark of the Beast as phalus and kteis. I see you write that the Star Sapphire has nothing to do with sex magick so you disagree with Grant. And you can't show your sources why you think so. I guess the discussion is over. -
In resposne to some questions concerning The Star Sapphire ...
How does one make a Holy Hexagram in the East, West, North and South for instance, with a Unicursal Hexagram?
I think the best answer I have for this is to quote directly from an article I wrote many years ago, including where I contradict myself
-"The Unicursal Hexagram, or 'Hexagram of the Beast,' is not used in this ritual... Even a simple inspection of the nature of the ritual shows that at each quarter two principles â two elements â are so combined that their alchemical glyphs form the classic two-triangle Earth hexagram. In the East these are Father and Mother, Fire and Water; in the South, Mother and Son, Water and Air; and so forth." In other words, the Earth hexagram is formed in the East by the intersection of the Fire and Water hexagrams, in the South by the intersection of the Water and Air hexagrams, in the West by the joining of the Air and Earth hexagrams, and in the North by the joining of the Earth and Fire hexagrams - in each close looking exactly like the others indistinguishably.
With this is a footnote: "An A.'.A.'. Adept in our acquaintance, who was kind enough to review this paper, indicated that, in principle and in theory, he entirely concurs with this statement, and would thus teach The Star Sapphire to his students as well. Nonetheless, when he performed it as part of his Adeptus Minor work, the hexagrams (after a few weeks) transformed themselves unbidden into golden Unicursal Hexagrams with five-petalled roses at their centers. When this would occur, the entire adytum in which he worked would typically become bathed with sunlight pouring through the four gates into the center."
So there you have it.
It being related to the LHR (from what I hear)
Precisely. At least in form. If I have time, I'll copy a general lead-in intro into a further answer to this.
And then there's the issue of banishing/invoking directions.
Nope. The Star Sapphire is only an invoking ritual, just as the Star Ruby is only a banishing ritual.
Also, what is the deal the the signs of LVX and NOX? And is the difference significant in that it either places you in our outside of "the Abyss" (at least symbolically on Da'ath).
This is subject to several opinions. There are two passages referenced by this question. The first says: "In the centre, let him give the L.V.X. signs; or if he know them, if he will and dare do them, and can keep silent about them, the signs of N.O.X..." Then, the last paragraph says: "Let him then repeat the signs of L.V.X. but not the signs of N.O.X.: for it is not he that shall arise in the Sign of Isis Rejoicing."
The first thing to note (which gives us an "easy out" at the moment) is that this is optional. I recommend the L.V.X. signs unless something significant directs one otherwise.
Speaking only for myself, the N.O.X. signs were irrelevant until I was 5=6 A.'.A.'., and in fact until I was rather far into the grade, probably technically 5=6 Within even though I was still completing my formal Abramelin operation. I can't say that this is necessarily true for everyone, but I certainly wouldn't limit it to 8=3 as your question did. These are the signs of 6=5 through 8=3, so they don't become particularly relevant until after 5=6 it seems to me (at least, through my own particular looking glass).
Of course, one can use any old signs at any old time, but one might like to actually have some understanding of what is occurring.
The first reference, "if he know them," etc. (besides the interpolation of the Four Powers of the Sphinx), can be taken literally: When The Star Sapphire was first written and publishedin 1912-13, the N.O.X. signs simply weren't known outside of the A.'.A.'., and weren't widely circulated within the A.'.A.'.. Most people simply wouldn't have known them, but could have gotten the L.V.X. signs from Liber O.
How is a ritual which, at least on the surface, appears to be a similar sort of arm-waving ritual as the LBRP likened (or confused with?) sex magick? I see there is a balancing of forces going on, but I don't see how the ritual could really retain much of its appearance as a sex ritual... unless you have a spinning bed.
At least symbolically, it plays to the same symbol set, and is saturated with sexual symbolism. A separate analysis of it could certainly be done solely from that angle, and when thinking of it that way decades ago I didn't think of a spinning bed
- I thought of Chuck Berry's "Rock Around the Clock" (the "adult" version). "We did it in the bathroom, in the hall, in the bedroom, out on the back porch" translates to "We did it in the east, we did it in the south," etc.But I really truly sincerely don't believe that's the real intent here. Nonetheless, the symbolism shouldn't be overlooked, since a passionate and intimate union is certainly the goal of the ritual.
More below if I don't get interrupted tonight.
@Modes said
"I see you write that the Star Sapphire has nothing to do with sex magick so you disagree with Grant."
Those weren't my words. BTW, I have no trouble disagreeing with Grant, for whose writings have essential no respect at all. What I wrote was:
@JAE said
"It is possible to interpret this ceremony as a formula of sexual magick. Many have sought to do so. Within the peripheral membership of Ordo Templi Orientis, such an interpretation is com-monplace. Nor do we dispute that The Star Sapphire can be readily adapted to that purpose. However, we do assert that this sexual interpretation is not the perspective from which the ritual was first written."
That's quite different from what you quoted me as saying.
"And you can't show your sources why you think so."
There are no written sources to cite. That's why I wrote the article in the first place.
-
In resposne to some questions concerning The Star Sapphire ...
How does one make a Holy Hexagram in the East, West, North and South for instance, with a Unicursal Hexagram?
I think the best answer I have for this is to quote directly from an article I wrote many years ago, including where I contradict myself
-"The Unicursal Hexagram, or 'Hexagram of the Beast,' is not used in this ritual... Even a simple inspection of the nature of the ritual shows that at each quarter two principles â two elements â are so combined that their alchemical glyphs form the classic two-triangle Earth hexagram. In the East these are Father and Mother, Fire and Water; in the South, Mother and Son, Water and Air; and so forth." In other words, the Earth hexagram is formed in the East by the intersection of the Fire and Water hexagrams, in the South by the intersection of the Water and Air hexagrams, in the West by the joining of the Air and Earth hexagrams, and in the North by the joining of the Earth and Fire hexagrams - in each close looking exactly like the others indistinguishably.
With this is a footnote: "An A.'.A.'. Adept in our acquaintance, who was kind enough to review this paper, indicated that, in principle and in theory, he entirely concurs with this statement, and would thus teach The Star Sapphire to his students as well. Nonetheless, when he performed it as part of his Adeptus Minor work, the hexagrams (after a few weeks) transformed themselves unbidden into golden Unicursal Hexagrams with five-petalled roses at their centers. When this would occur, the entire adytum in which he worked would typically become bathed with sunlight pouring through the four gates into the center."
So there you have it.
It being related to the LHR (from what I hear)
Precisely. At least in form. If I have time, I'll copy a general lead-in intro into a further answer to this.
And then there's the issue of banishing/invoking directions.
Nope. The Star Sapphire is only an invoking ritual, just as the Star Ruby is only a banishing ritual.
Also, what is the deal the the signs of LVX and NOX? And is the difference significant in that it either places you in our outside of "the Abyss" (at least symbolically on Da'ath).
This is subject to several opinions. There are two passages referenced by this question. The first says: "In the centre, let him give the L.V.X. signs; or if he know them, if he will and dare do them, and can keep silent about them, the signs of N.O.X..." Then, the last paragraph says: "Let him then repeat the signs of L.V.X. but not the signs of N.O.X.: for it is not he that shall arise in the Sign of Isis Rejoicing."
The first thing to note (which gives us an "easy out" at the moment) is that this is optional. I recommend the L.V.X. signs unless something significant directs one otherwise.
Speaking only for myself, the N.O.X. signs were irrelevant until I was 5=6 A.'.A.'., and in fact until I was rather far into the grade, probably technically 5=6 Within even though I was still completing my formal Abramelin operation. I can't say that this is necessarily true for everyone, but I certainly wouldn't limit it to 8=3 as your question did. These are the signs of 6=5 through 8=3, so they don't become particularly relevant until after 5=6 it seems to me (at least, through my own particular looking glass).
Of course, one can use any old signs at any old time, but one might like to actually have some understanding of what is occurring.
The first reference, "if he know them," etc. (besides the interpolation of the Four Powers of the Sphinx), can be taken literally: When The Star Sapphire was first written and publishedin 1912-13, the N.O.X. signs simply weren't known outside of the A.'.A.'., and weren't widely circulated within the A.'.A.'.. Most people simply wouldn't have known them, but could have gotten the L.V.X. signs from Liber O.
How is a ritual which, at least on the surface, appears to be a similar sort of arm-waving ritual as the LBRP likened (or confused with?) sex magick? I see there is a balancing of forces going on, but I don't see how the ritual could really retain much of its appearance as a sex ritual... unless you have a spinning bed.
At least symbolically, it plays to the same symbol set, and is saturated with sexual symbolism. A separate analysis of it could certainly be done solely from that angle, and when thinking of it that way decades ago I didn't think of a spinning bed
- I thought of Chuck Berry's "Rock Around the Clock" (the "adult" version). "We did it in the bathroom, in the hall, in the bedroom, out on the back porch" translates to "We did it in the east, we did it in the south," etc.But I really truly sincerely don't believe that's the real intent here. Nonetheless, the symbolism shouldn't be overlooked, since a passionate and intimate union is certainly the goal of the ritual.
More below if I don't get interrupted tonight.
-
In resposne to some questions concerning The Star Sapphire ...
How does one make a Holy Hexagram in the East, West, North and South for instance, with a Unicursal Hexagram?
I think the best answer I have for this is to quote directly from an article I wrote many years ago, including where I contradict myself
-"The Unicursal Hexagram, or 'Hexagram of the Beast,' is not used in this ritual... Even a simple inspection of the nature of the ritual shows that at each quarter two principles â two elements â are so combined that their alchemical glyphs form the classic two-triangle Earth hexagram. In the East these are Father and Mother, Fire and Water; in the South, Mother and Son, Water and Air; and so forth." In other words, the Earth hexagram is formed in the East by the intersection of the Fire and Water hexagrams, in the South by the intersection of the Water and Air hexagrams, in the West by the joining of the Air and Earth hexagrams, and in the North by the joining of the Earth and Fire hexagrams - in each close looking exactly like the others indistinguishably.
With this is a footnote: "An A.'.A.'. Adept in our acquaintance, who was kind enough to review this paper, indicated that, in principle and in theory, he entirely concurs with this statement, and would thus teach The Star Sapphire to his students as well. Nonetheless, when he performed it as part of his Adeptus Minor work, the hexagrams (after a few weeks) transformed themselves unbidden into golden Unicursal Hexagrams with five-petalled roses at their centers. When this would occur, the entire adytum in which he worked would typically become bathed with sunlight pouring through the four gates into the center."
So there you have it.
It being related to the LHR (from what I hear)
Precisely. At least in form. If I have time, I'll copy a general lead-in intro into a further answer to this.
And then there's the issue of banishing/invoking directions.
Nope. The Star Sapphire is only an invoking ritual, just as the Star Ruby is only a banishing ritual.
Also, what is the deal the the signs of LVX and NOX? And is the difference significant in that it either places you in our outside of "the Abyss" (at least symbolically on Da'ath).
This is subject to several opinions. There are two passages referenced by this question. The first says: "In the centre, let him give the L.V.X. signs; or if he know them, if he will and dare do them, and can keep silent about them, the signs of N.O.X..." Then, the last paragraph says: "Let him then repeat the signs of L.V.X. but not the signs of N.O.X.: for it is not he that shall arise in the Sign of Isis Rejoicing."
The first thing to note (which gives us an "easy out" at the moment) is that this is optional. I recommend the L.V.X. signs unless something significant directs one otherwise.
Speaking only for myself, the N.O.X. signs were irrelevant until I was 5=6 A.'.A.'., and in fact until I was rather far into the grade, probably technically 5=6 Within even though I was still completing my formal Abramelin operation. I can't say that this is necessarily true for everyone, but I certainly wouldn't limit it to 8=3 as your question did. These are the signs of 6=5 through 8=3, so they don't become particularly relevant until after 5=6 it seems to me (at least, through my own particular looking glass).
Of course, one can use any old signs at any old time, but one might like to actually have some understanding of what is occurring.
The first reference, "if he know them," etc. (besides the interpolation of the Four Powers of the Sphinx), can be taken literally: When The Star Sapphire was first written and publishedin 1912-13, the N.O.X. signs simply weren't known outside of the A.'.A.'., and weren't widely circulated within the A.'.A.'.. Most people simply wouldn't have known them, but could have gotten the L.V.X. signs from Liber O.
How is a ritual which, at least on the surface, appears to be a similar sort of arm-waving ritual as the LBRP likened (or confused with?) sex magick? I see there is a balancing of forces going on, but I don't see how the ritual could really retain much of its appearance as a sex ritual... unless you have a spinning bed.
At least symbolically, it plays to the same symbol set, and is saturated with sexual symbolism. A separate analysis of it could certainly be done solely from that angle, and when thinking of it that way decades ago I didn't think of a spinning bed
- I thought of Chuck Berry's "Rock Around the Clock" (the "adult" version). "We did it in the bathroom, in the hall, in the bedroom, out on the back porch" translates to "We did it in the east, we did it in the south," etc.But I really truly sincerely don't believe that's the real intent here. Nonetheless, the symbolism shouldn't be overlooked, since a passionate and intimate union is certainly the goal of the ritual.
More below if I don't get interrupted tonight.
Kenneth Grant - that controversial?
Thanks,
In L.V.X.,
chrys333 -
In resposne to some questions concerning The Star Sapphire ...
How does one make a Holy Hexagram in the East, West, North and South for instance, with a Unicursal Hexagram?
I think the best answer I have for this is to quote directly from an article I wrote many years ago, including where I contradict myself
-"The Unicursal Hexagram, or 'Hexagram of the Beast,' is not used in this ritual... Even a simple inspection of the nature of the ritual shows that at each quarter two principles â two elements â are so combined that their alchemical glyphs form the classic two-triangle Earth hexagram. In the East these are Father and Mother, Fire and Water; in the South, Mother and Son, Water and Air; and so forth." In other words, the Earth hexagram is formed in the East by the intersection of the Fire and Water hexagrams, in the South by the intersection of the Water and Air hexagrams, in the West by the joining of the Air and Earth hexagrams, and in the North by the joining of the Earth and Fire hexagrams - in each close looking exactly like the others indistinguishably.
With this is a footnote: "An A.'.A.'. Adept in our acquaintance, who was kind enough to review this paper, indicated that, in principle and in theory, he entirely concurs with this statement, and would thus teach The Star Sapphire to his students as well. Nonetheless, when he performed it as part of his Adeptus Minor work, the hexagrams (after a few weeks) transformed themselves unbidden into golden Unicursal Hexagrams with five-petalled roses at their centers. When this would occur, the entire adytum in which he worked would typically become bathed with sunlight pouring through the four gates into the center."
So there you have it.
It being related to the LHR (from what I hear)
Precisely. At least in form. If I have time, I'll copy a general lead-in intro into a further answer to this.
And then there's the issue of banishing/invoking directions.
Nope. The Star Sapphire is only an invoking ritual, just as the Star Ruby is only a banishing ritual.
Also, what is the deal the the signs of LVX and NOX? And is the difference significant in that it either places you in our outside of "the Abyss" (at least symbolically on Da'ath).
This is subject to several opinions. There are two passages referenced by this question. The first says: "In the centre, let him give the L.V.X. signs; or if he know them, if he will and dare do them, and can keep silent about them, the signs of N.O.X..." Then, the last paragraph says: "Let him then repeat the signs of L.V.X. but not the signs of N.O.X.: for it is not he that shall arise in the Sign of Isis Rejoicing."
The first thing to note (which gives us an "easy out" at the moment) is that this is optional. I recommend the L.V.X. signs unless something significant directs one otherwise.
Speaking only for myself, the N.O.X. signs were irrelevant until I was 5=6 A.'.A.'., and in fact until I was rather far into the grade, probably technically 5=6 Within even though I was still completing my formal Abramelin operation. I can't say that this is necessarily true for everyone, but I certainly wouldn't limit it to 8=3 as your question did. These are the signs of 6=5 through 8=3, so they don't become particularly relevant until after 5=6 it seems to me (at least, through my own particular looking glass).
Of course, one can use any old signs at any old time, but one might like to actually have some understanding of what is occurring.
The first reference, "if he know them," etc. (besides the interpolation of the Four Powers of the Sphinx), can be taken literally: When The Star Sapphire was first written and publishedin 1912-13, the N.O.X. signs simply weren't known outside of the A.'.A.'., and weren't widely circulated within the A.'.A.'.. Most people simply wouldn't have known them, but could have gotten the L.V.X. signs from Liber O.
How is a ritual which, at least on the surface, appears to be a similar sort of arm-waving ritual as the LBRP likened (or confused with?) sex magick? I see there is a balancing of forces going on, but I don't see how the ritual could really retain much of its appearance as a sex ritual... unless you have a spinning bed.
At least symbolically, it plays to the same symbol set, and is saturated with sexual symbolism. A separate analysis of it could certainly be done solely from that angle, and when thinking of it that way decades ago I didn't think of a spinning bed
- I thought of Chuck Berry's "Rock Around the Clock" (the "adult" version). "We did it in the bathroom, in the hall, in the bedroom, out on the back porch" translates to "We did it in the east, we did it in the south," etc.But I really truly sincerely don't believe that's the real intent here. Nonetheless, the symbolism shouldn't be overlooked, since a passionate and intimate union is certainly the goal of the ritual.
More below if I don't get interrupted tonight.
@Jim Eshelman said
"
@YHVH said
"I have found online at least 4 or 5 variations of the full ARARITA, with slight alterations each. Most often I stumble into "Achad Rosh Achadotho Rosh Ichudo Temurazo Achad". Is this the -correct- "full" ARARITA???"There are various Hebrew dialects, plus there has been a tendency in the West for a century or two to not actually bother to be careful with such things. Still, slight variations are possible under different dialectical rules.
I did my most careful transliteration of it when writing the third edition of The Mystical & Magical System of the A.'.A.'. - I wanted the transliteration for a few remarks on Liber ARARIThA. Understand that ch is used below for the sound of Cheth (halfway between H and K, roughly), here it is:
Echad rosh ache'dutho rosh yichudutho t'muratho echad.
The initial vowel in this formf AChD is the "e" sound, not "a" (they are different words). I'm not sure where you ran into the z in the next-to-last word, since the Hebrew is a Tav.
"the hebrew "z" is supposed to be pronounsed "zs" as in Enochian and English or "ts" as in German???"
Zayin is pronounced like the English z as in zebra. (I don't know why you give this as "zs," but perhaps that communicates it in your gonue?) It is quite distinct from the Tzaddi, which is close to the English tz but is technically a flattened, extremely sibilant s (a single sound, rather than the "two sounds" people usually make with "tz." It's nearly identical to the middle sound in the familiar word pizza."
Some questions:
Does anyone know of an online audio resource for the full pronounciation of the Ararita formula?
Planetary work:
A friend recommended using the Star Sapphire as a template for planetary work (preceded by the Star Ruby) wherein the planetary sign to be invoked is instead drawn in the four quarters and sigil traced therein. Does this sound correct or is the LRH a better template for planetary work?Lastly, I've never worked with Star Sapphire before and am extremely apprehensive given 1) past experiences with lesser rituals 2) the fact Crowley only performed this once and 3) his words "if you dare" with regard to NOX signs. What would be prerequisite training for readiness to try the Star Sapphire?
-
In resposne to some questions concerning The Star Sapphire ...
How does one make a Holy Hexagram in the East, West, North and South for instance, with a Unicursal Hexagram?
I think the best answer I have for this is to quote directly from an article I wrote many years ago, including where I contradict myself
-"The Unicursal Hexagram, or 'Hexagram of the Beast,' is not used in this ritual... Even a simple inspection of the nature of the ritual shows that at each quarter two principles â two elements â are so combined that their alchemical glyphs form the classic two-triangle Earth hexagram. In the East these are Father and Mother, Fire and Water; in the South, Mother and Son, Water and Air; and so forth." In other words, the Earth hexagram is formed in the East by the intersection of the Fire and Water hexagrams, in the South by the intersection of the Water and Air hexagrams, in the West by the joining of the Air and Earth hexagrams, and in the North by the joining of the Earth and Fire hexagrams - in each close looking exactly like the others indistinguishably.
With this is a footnote: "An A.'.A.'. Adept in our acquaintance, who was kind enough to review this paper, indicated that, in principle and in theory, he entirely concurs with this statement, and would thus teach The Star Sapphire to his students as well. Nonetheless, when he performed it as part of his Adeptus Minor work, the hexagrams (after a few weeks) transformed themselves unbidden into golden Unicursal Hexagrams with five-petalled roses at their centers. When this would occur, the entire adytum in which he worked would typically become bathed with sunlight pouring through the four gates into the center."
So there you have it.
It being related to the LHR (from what I hear)
Precisely. At least in form. If I have time, I'll copy a general lead-in intro into a further answer to this.
And then there's the issue of banishing/invoking directions.
Nope. The Star Sapphire is only an invoking ritual, just as the Star Ruby is only a banishing ritual.
Also, what is the deal the the signs of LVX and NOX? And is the difference significant in that it either places you in our outside of "the Abyss" (at least symbolically on Da'ath).
This is subject to several opinions. There are two passages referenced by this question. The first says: "In the centre, let him give the L.V.X. signs; or if he know them, if he will and dare do them, and can keep silent about them, the signs of N.O.X..." Then, the last paragraph says: "Let him then repeat the signs of L.V.X. but not the signs of N.O.X.: for it is not he that shall arise in the Sign of Isis Rejoicing."
The first thing to note (which gives us an "easy out" at the moment) is that this is optional. I recommend the L.V.X. signs unless something significant directs one otherwise.
Speaking only for myself, the N.O.X. signs were irrelevant until I was 5=6 A.'.A.'., and in fact until I was rather far into the grade, probably technically 5=6 Within even though I was still completing my formal Abramelin operation. I can't say that this is necessarily true for everyone, but I certainly wouldn't limit it to 8=3 as your question did. These are the signs of 6=5 through 8=3, so they don't become particularly relevant until after 5=6 it seems to me (at least, through my own particular looking glass).
Of course, one can use any old signs at any old time, but one might like to actually have some understanding of what is occurring.
The first reference, "if he know them," etc. (besides the interpolation of the Four Powers of the Sphinx), can be taken literally: When The Star Sapphire was first written and publishedin 1912-13, the N.O.X. signs simply weren't known outside of the A.'.A.'., and weren't widely circulated within the A.'.A.'.. Most people simply wouldn't have known them, but could have gotten the L.V.X. signs from Liber O.
How is a ritual which, at least on the surface, appears to be a similar sort of arm-waving ritual as the LBRP likened (or confused with?) sex magick? I see there is a balancing of forces going on, but I don't see how the ritual could really retain much of its appearance as a sex ritual... unless you have a spinning bed.
At least symbolically, it plays to the same symbol set, and is saturated with sexual symbolism. A separate analysis of it could certainly be done solely from that angle, and when thinking of it that way decades ago I didn't think of a spinning bed
- I thought of Chuck Berry's "Rock Around the Clock" (the "adult" version). "We did it in the bathroom, in the hall, in the bedroom, out on the back porch" translates to "We did it in the east, we did it in the south," etc.But I really truly sincerely don't believe that's the real intent here. Nonetheless, the symbolism shouldn't be overlooked, since a passionate and intimate union is certainly the goal of the ritual.
More below if I don't get interrupted tonight.
@h2h said
"Does anyone know of an online audio resource for the full pronounciation of the Ararita formula? "
I don't. We've always taught it in person.
"A friend recommended using the Star Sapphire as a template for planetary work (preceded by the Star Ruby) wherein the planetary sign to be invoked is instead drawn in the four quarters and sigil traced therein. Does this sound correct or is the LRH a better template for planetary work?"
I'd use the standard Hexagram ritual for any planet-specific work.
" I've never worked with Star Sapphire before and am extremely apprehensive given 1) past experiences with lesser rituals 2) the fact Crowley only performed this once and 3) his words "if you dare" with regard to NOX signs. What would be prerequisite training for readiness to try the Star Sapphire?"
I'm not inclined to generalize. In the A.'.A.'. it isn't assigned directly for study until 2=9, but this doesn't preclude earlier levels. Essentially, if you are ready to directly undertake the go-for-broke aspiration to the K&C of the HGA, then I know you're ready for this.
If you're concerned about the warning of the N.O.X. signs, don't use them. That's the whole point of the admonishment. Instead, use the L.V.X. formulae.
BTW, I take Crowley's statement that he performed it only once to mean that he initially attained to the K&C of the HGA only once. IMNSHO this is the real ritual of the Star Sapphire independent of what ceremonial form is used.
-
In resposne to some questions concerning The Star Sapphire ...
How does one make a Holy Hexagram in the East, West, North and South for instance, with a Unicursal Hexagram?
I think the best answer I have for this is to quote directly from an article I wrote many years ago, including where I contradict myself
-"The Unicursal Hexagram, or 'Hexagram of the Beast,' is not used in this ritual... Even a simple inspection of the nature of the ritual shows that at each quarter two principles â two elements â are so combined that their alchemical glyphs form the classic two-triangle Earth hexagram. In the East these are Father and Mother, Fire and Water; in the South, Mother and Son, Water and Air; and so forth." In other words, the Earth hexagram is formed in the East by the intersection of the Fire and Water hexagrams, in the South by the intersection of the Water and Air hexagrams, in the West by the joining of the Air and Earth hexagrams, and in the North by the joining of the Earth and Fire hexagrams - in each close looking exactly like the others indistinguishably.
With this is a footnote: "An A.'.A.'. Adept in our acquaintance, who was kind enough to review this paper, indicated that, in principle and in theory, he entirely concurs with this statement, and would thus teach The Star Sapphire to his students as well. Nonetheless, when he performed it as part of his Adeptus Minor work, the hexagrams (after a few weeks) transformed themselves unbidden into golden Unicursal Hexagrams with five-petalled roses at their centers. When this would occur, the entire adytum in which he worked would typically become bathed with sunlight pouring through the four gates into the center."
So there you have it.
It being related to the LHR (from what I hear)
Precisely. At least in form. If I have time, I'll copy a general lead-in intro into a further answer to this.
And then there's the issue of banishing/invoking directions.
Nope. The Star Sapphire is only an invoking ritual, just as the Star Ruby is only a banishing ritual.
Also, what is the deal the the signs of LVX and NOX? And is the difference significant in that it either places you in our outside of "the Abyss" (at least symbolically on Da'ath).
This is subject to several opinions. There are two passages referenced by this question. The first says: "In the centre, let him give the L.V.X. signs; or if he know them, if he will and dare do them, and can keep silent about them, the signs of N.O.X..." Then, the last paragraph says: "Let him then repeat the signs of L.V.X. but not the signs of N.O.X.: for it is not he that shall arise in the Sign of Isis Rejoicing."
The first thing to note (which gives us an "easy out" at the moment) is that this is optional. I recommend the L.V.X. signs unless something significant directs one otherwise.
Speaking only for myself, the N.O.X. signs were irrelevant until I was 5=6 A.'.A.'., and in fact until I was rather far into the grade, probably technically 5=6 Within even though I was still completing my formal Abramelin operation. I can't say that this is necessarily true for everyone, but I certainly wouldn't limit it to 8=3 as your question did. These are the signs of 6=5 through 8=3, so they don't become particularly relevant until after 5=6 it seems to me (at least, through my own particular looking glass).
Of course, one can use any old signs at any old time, but one might like to actually have some understanding of what is occurring.
The first reference, "if he know them," etc. (besides the interpolation of the Four Powers of the Sphinx), can be taken literally: When The Star Sapphire was first written and publishedin 1912-13, the N.O.X. signs simply weren't known outside of the A.'.A.'., and weren't widely circulated within the A.'.A.'.. Most people simply wouldn't have known them, but could have gotten the L.V.X. signs from Liber O.
How is a ritual which, at least on the surface, appears to be a similar sort of arm-waving ritual as the LBRP likened (or confused with?) sex magick? I see there is a balancing of forces going on, but I don't see how the ritual could really retain much of its appearance as a sex ritual... unless you have a spinning bed.
At least symbolically, it plays to the same symbol set, and is saturated with sexual symbolism. A separate analysis of it could certainly be done solely from that angle, and when thinking of it that way decades ago I didn't think of a spinning bed
- I thought of Chuck Berry's "Rock Around the Clock" (the "adult" version). "We did it in the bathroom, in the hall, in the bedroom, out on the back porch" translates to "We did it in the east, we did it in the south," etc.But I really truly sincerely don't believe that's the real intent here. Nonetheless, the symbolism shouldn't be overlooked, since a passionate and intimate union is certainly the goal of the ritual.
More below if I don't get interrupted tonight.
Thanks for the replies Jim.
@Jim Eshelman said
"
" I've never worked with Star Sapphire before and am extremely apprehensive given 1) past experiences with lesser rituals 2) the fact Crowley only performed this once and 3) his words "if you dare" with regard to NOX signs. What would be prerequisite training for readiness to try the Star Sapphire?"I'm not inclined to generalize. In the A.'.A.'. it isn't assigned directly for study until 2=9, but this doesn't preclude earlier levels. Essentially, if you are ready to directly undertake the go-for-broke aspiration to the K&C of the HGA, then I know you're ready for this"
Is KCHGA such that one only attains or does not attain? Or is there such a thing as premature or abortive KCHGA, but the person becomes labelled as a psychotic/paranoid schizophrenic etc?
-
In resposne to some questions concerning The Star Sapphire ...
How does one make a Holy Hexagram in the East, West, North and South for instance, with a Unicursal Hexagram?
I think the best answer I have for this is to quote directly from an article I wrote many years ago, including where I contradict myself
-"The Unicursal Hexagram, or 'Hexagram of the Beast,' is not used in this ritual... Even a simple inspection of the nature of the ritual shows that at each quarter two principles â two elements â are so combined that their alchemical glyphs form the classic two-triangle Earth hexagram. In the East these are Father and Mother, Fire and Water; in the South, Mother and Son, Water and Air; and so forth." In other words, the Earth hexagram is formed in the East by the intersection of the Fire and Water hexagrams, in the South by the intersection of the Water and Air hexagrams, in the West by the joining of the Air and Earth hexagrams, and in the North by the joining of the Earth and Fire hexagrams - in each close looking exactly like the others indistinguishably.
With this is a footnote: "An A.'.A.'. Adept in our acquaintance, who was kind enough to review this paper, indicated that, in principle and in theory, he entirely concurs with this statement, and would thus teach The Star Sapphire to his students as well. Nonetheless, when he performed it as part of his Adeptus Minor work, the hexagrams (after a few weeks) transformed themselves unbidden into golden Unicursal Hexagrams with five-petalled roses at their centers. When this would occur, the entire adytum in which he worked would typically become bathed with sunlight pouring through the four gates into the center."
So there you have it.
It being related to the LHR (from what I hear)
Precisely. At least in form. If I have time, I'll copy a general lead-in intro into a further answer to this.
And then there's the issue of banishing/invoking directions.
Nope. The Star Sapphire is only an invoking ritual, just as the Star Ruby is only a banishing ritual.
Also, what is the deal the the signs of LVX and NOX? And is the difference significant in that it either places you in our outside of "the Abyss" (at least symbolically on Da'ath).
This is subject to several opinions. There are two passages referenced by this question. The first says: "In the centre, let him give the L.V.X. signs; or if he know them, if he will and dare do them, and can keep silent about them, the signs of N.O.X..." Then, the last paragraph says: "Let him then repeat the signs of L.V.X. but not the signs of N.O.X.: for it is not he that shall arise in the Sign of Isis Rejoicing."
The first thing to note (which gives us an "easy out" at the moment) is that this is optional. I recommend the L.V.X. signs unless something significant directs one otherwise.
Speaking only for myself, the N.O.X. signs were irrelevant until I was 5=6 A.'.A.'., and in fact until I was rather far into the grade, probably technically 5=6 Within even though I was still completing my formal Abramelin operation. I can't say that this is necessarily true for everyone, but I certainly wouldn't limit it to 8=3 as your question did. These are the signs of 6=5 through 8=3, so they don't become particularly relevant until after 5=6 it seems to me (at least, through my own particular looking glass).
Of course, one can use any old signs at any old time, but one might like to actually have some understanding of what is occurring.
The first reference, "if he know them," etc. (besides the interpolation of the Four Powers of the Sphinx), can be taken literally: When The Star Sapphire was first written and publishedin 1912-13, the N.O.X. signs simply weren't known outside of the A.'.A.'., and weren't widely circulated within the A.'.A.'.. Most people simply wouldn't have known them, but could have gotten the L.V.X. signs from Liber O.
How is a ritual which, at least on the surface, appears to be a similar sort of arm-waving ritual as the LBRP likened (or confused with?) sex magick? I see there is a balancing of forces going on, but I don't see how the ritual could really retain much of its appearance as a sex ritual... unless you have a spinning bed.
At least symbolically, it plays to the same symbol set, and is saturated with sexual symbolism. A separate analysis of it could certainly be done solely from that angle, and when thinking of it that way decades ago I didn't think of a spinning bed
- I thought of Chuck Berry's "Rock Around the Clock" (the "adult" version). "We did it in the bathroom, in the hall, in the bedroom, out on the back porch" translates to "We did it in the east, we did it in the south," etc.But I really truly sincerely don't believe that's the real intent here. Nonetheless, the symbolism shouldn't be overlooked, since a passionate and intimate union is certainly the goal of the ritual.
More below if I don't get interrupted tonight.
@h2h said
"Is KCHGA such that one only attains or does not attain? Or is there such a thing as premature or abortive KCHGA, but the person becomes labelled as a psychotic/paranoid schizophrenic etc?"
One attained, there is ongoing deepening for a long time. But the event itself is singular, striking, decisive in the same way that, say, birth is singular, striking, and decisive.
There are earlier intimations and even communications with the Angel - often long before. But these shouldn't be confused with the event of the K&C.
Abortive instances are, well, abortive. They don't succeed. They aren't it. Yes, sometimes an unprepared and psychologically unhealthy person opens this case and it deranges them - aside from the fact that it's possible for even healthy people to be labelled psychotic (but that's another matter).
-
In resposne to some questions concerning The Star Sapphire ...
How does one make a Holy Hexagram in the East, West, North and South for instance, with a Unicursal Hexagram?
I think the best answer I have for this is to quote directly from an article I wrote many years ago, including where I contradict myself
-"The Unicursal Hexagram, or 'Hexagram of the Beast,' is not used in this ritual... Even a simple inspection of the nature of the ritual shows that at each quarter two principles â two elements â are so combined that their alchemical glyphs form the classic two-triangle Earth hexagram. In the East these are Father and Mother, Fire and Water; in the South, Mother and Son, Water and Air; and so forth." In other words, the Earth hexagram is formed in the East by the intersection of the Fire and Water hexagrams, in the South by the intersection of the Water and Air hexagrams, in the West by the joining of the Air and Earth hexagrams, and in the North by the joining of the Earth and Fire hexagrams - in each close looking exactly like the others indistinguishably.
With this is a footnote: "An A.'.A.'. Adept in our acquaintance, who was kind enough to review this paper, indicated that, in principle and in theory, he entirely concurs with this statement, and would thus teach The Star Sapphire to his students as well. Nonetheless, when he performed it as part of his Adeptus Minor work, the hexagrams (after a few weeks) transformed themselves unbidden into golden Unicursal Hexagrams with five-petalled roses at their centers. When this would occur, the entire adytum in which he worked would typically become bathed with sunlight pouring through the four gates into the center."
So there you have it.
It being related to the LHR (from what I hear)
Precisely. At least in form. If I have time, I'll copy a general lead-in intro into a further answer to this.
And then there's the issue of banishing/invoking directions.
Nope. The Star Sapphire is only an invoking ritual, just as the Star Ruby is only a banishing ritual.
Also, what is the deal the the signs of LVX and NOX? And is the difference significant in that it either places you in our outside of "the Abyss" (at least symbolically on Da'ath).
This is subject to several opinions. There are two passages referenced by this question. The first says: "In the centre, let him give the L.V.X. signs; or if he know them, if he will and dare do them, and can keep silent about them, the signs of N.O.X..." Then, the last paragraph says: "Let him then repeat the signs of L.V.X. but not the signs of N.O.X.: for it is not he that shall arise in the Sign of Isis Rejoicing."
The first thing to note (which gives us an "easy out" at the moment) is that this is optional. I recommend the L.V.X. signs unless something significant directs one otherwise.
Speaking only for myself, the N.O.X. signs were irrelevant until I was 5=6 A.'.A.'., and in fact until I was rather far into the grade, probably technically 5=6 Within even though I was still completing my formal Abramelin operation. I can't say that this is necessarily true for everyone, but I certainly wouldn't limit it to 8=3 as your question did. These are the signs of 6=5 through 8=3, so they don't become particularly relevant until after 5=6 it seems to me (at least, through my own particular looking glass).
Of course, one can use any old signs at any old time, but one might like to actually have some understanding of what is occurring.
The first reference, "if he know them," etc. (besides the interpolation of the Four Powers of the Sphinx), can be taken literally: When The Star Sapphire was first written and publishedin 1912-13, the N.O.X. signs simply weren't known outside of the A.'.A.'., and weren't widely circulated within the A.'.A.'.. Most people simply wouldn't have known them, but could have gotten the L.V.X. signs from Liber O.
How is a ritual which, at least on the surface, appears to be a similar sort of arm-waving ritual as the LBRP likened (or confused with?) sex magick? I see there is a balancing of forces going on, but I don't see how the ritual could really retain much of its appearance as a sex ritual... unless you have a spinning bed.
At least symbolically, it plays to the same symbol set, and is saturated with sexual symbolism. A separate analysis of it could certainly be done solely from that angle, and when thinking of it that way decades ago I didn't think of a spinning bed
- I thought of Chuck Berry's "Rock Around the Clock" (the "adult" version). "We did it in the bathroom, in the hall, in the bedroom, out on the back porch" translates to "We did it in the east, we did it in the south," etc.But I really truly sincerely don't believe that's the real intent here. Nonetheless, the symbolism shouldn't be overlooked, since a passionate and intimate union is certainly the goal of the ritual.
More below if I don't get interrupted tonight.
93, All,
Huh, I've been using an unicursal Hexagram significantly different from those described above. To wit, I start out from the center (that's just what felt right the first day I did the ritual) and proceed to the top right angle while interpreting the angles as a correlation of the planets with their primary Sephirah on the Tree: Starting with Sun (center), Jupiter (top-right), Moon (bottom-center), Mars (top-left), Venus (bottom-right), Saturn (top-center), Mercury (bottom-left), and back to the Sun.
If I remember correctly, this interpretation sprang from meditation on the Rose in the center and studying Lon Milo's 'Magick of Thelema' primer.
To me, one of the most important early intellectual comprehensions was the realization that the tracing then consists of seven line segments.
Anyway, I practiced this ritual daily for, maybe, 5-6 months last year.
Oh, and, I remember just simply and with little thought on on the matter, superimposing the letters N. O. X. such that they formed the sigil described above as the Mark of the Beast.
Excellent and quite thought provoking thread, by the way.
93s,
Frater LA'AL, Neter Ankh
-
In resposne to some questions concerning The Star Sapphire ...
How does one make a Holy Hexagram in the East, West, North and South for instance, with a Unicursal Hexagram?
I think the best answer I have for this is to quote directly from an article I wrote many years ago, including where I contradict myself
-"The Unicursal Hexagram, or 'Hexagram of the Beast,' is not used in this ritual... Even a simple inspection of the nature of the ritual shows that at each quarter two principles â two elements â are so combined that their alchemical glyphs form the classic two-triangle Earth hexagram. In the East these are Father and Mother, Fire and Water; in the South, Mother and Son, Water and Air; and so forth." In other words, the Earth hexagram is formed in the East by the intersection of the Fire and Water hexagrams, in the South by the intersection of the Water and Air hexagrams, in the West by the joining of the Air and Earth hexagrams, and in the North by the joining of the Earth and Fire hexagrams - in each close looking exactly like the others indistinguishably.
With this is a footnote: "An A.'.A.'. Adept in our acquaintance, who was kind enough to review this paper, indicated that, in principle and in theory, he entirely concurs with this statement, and would thus teach The Star Sapphire to his students as well. Nonetheless, when he performed it as part of his Adeptus Minor work, the hexagrams (after a few weeks) transformed themselves unbidden into golden Unicursal Hexagrams with five-petalled roses at their centers. When this would occur, the entire adytum in which he worked would typically become bathed with sunlight pouring through the four gates into the center."
So there you have it.
It being related to the LHR (from what I hear)
Precisely. At least in form. If I have time, I'll copy a general lead-in intro into a further answer to this.
And then there's the issue of banishing/invoking directions.
Nope. The Star Sapphire is only an invoking ritual, just as the Star Ruby is only a banishing ritual.
Also, what is the deal the the signs of LVX and NOX? And is the difference significant in that it either places you in our outside of "the Abyss" (at least symbolically on Da'ath).
This is subject to several opinions. There are two passages referenced by this question. The first says: "In the centre, let him give the L.V.X. signs; or if he know them, if he will and dare do them, and can keep silent about them, the signs of N.O.X..." Then, the last paragraph says: "Let him then repeat the signs of L.V.X. but not the signs of N.O.X.: for it is not he that shall arise in the Sign of Isis Rejoicing."
The first thing to note (which gives us an "easy out" at the moment) is that this is optional. I recommend the L.V.X. signs unless something significant directs one otherwise.
Speaking only for myself, the N.O.X. signs were irrelevant until I was 5=6 A.'.A.'., and in fact until I was rather far into the grade, probably technically 5=6 Within even though I was still completing my formal Abramelin operation. I can't say that this is necessarily true for everyone, but I certainly wouldn't limit it to 8=3 as your question did. These are the signs of 6=5 through 8=3, so they don't become particularly relevant until after 5=6 it seems to me (at least, through my own particular looking glass).
Of course, one can use any old signs at any old time, but one might like to actually have some understanding of what is occurring.
The first reference, "if he know them," etc. (besides the interpolation of the Four Powers of the Sphinx), can be taken literally: When The Star Sapphire was first written and publishedin 1912-13, the N.O.X. signs simply weren't known outside of the A.'.A.'., and weren't widely circulated within the A.'.A.'.. Most people simply wouldn't have known them, but could have gotten the L.V.X. signs from Liber O.
How is a ritual which, at least on the surface, appears to be a similar sort of arm-waving ritual as the LBRP likened (or confused with?) sex magick? I see there is a balancing of forces going on, but I don't see how the ritual could really retain much of its appearance as a sex ritual... unless you have a spinning bed.
At least symbolically, it plays to the same symbol set, and is saturated with sexual symbolism. A separate analysis of it could certainly be done solely from that angle, and when thinking of it that way decades ago I didn't think of a spinning bed
- I thought of Chuck Berry's "Rock Around the Clock" (the "adult" version). "We did it in the bathroom, in the hall, in the bedroom, out on the back porch" translates to "We did it in the east, we did it in the south," etc.But I really truly sincerely don't believe that's the real intent here. Nonetheless, the symbolism shouldn't be overlooked, since a passionate and intimate union is certainly the goal of the ritual.
More below if I don't get interrupted tonight.
From reading the thread I am getting that you just trace the Earth Hexagram and not the other elemental hexes?
-
In resposne to some questions concerning The Star Sapphire ...
How does one make a Holy Hexagram in the East, West, North and South for instance, with a Unicursal Hexagram?
I think the best answer I have for this is to quote directly from an article I wrote many years ago, including where I contradict myself
-"The Unicursal Hexagram, or 'Hexagram of the Beast,' is not used in this ritual... Even a simple inspection of the nature of the ritual shows that at each quarter two principles â two elements â are so combined that their alchemical glyphs form the classic two-triangle Earth hexagram. In the East these are Father and Mother, Fire and Water; in the South, Mother and Son, Water and Air; and so forth." In other words, the Earth hexagram is formed in the East by the intersection of the Fire and Water hexagrams, in the South by the intersection of the Water and Air hexagrams, in the West by the joining of the Air and Earth hexagrams, and in the North by the joining of the Earth and Fire hexagrams - in each close looking exactly like the others indistinguishably.
With this is a footnote: "An A.'.A.'. Adept in our acquaintance, who was kind enough to review this paper, indicated that, in principle and in theory, he entirely concurs with this statement, and would thus teach The Star Sapphire to his students as well. Nonetheless, when he performed it as part of his Adeptus Minor work, the hexagrams (after a few weeks) transformed themselves unbidden into golden Unicursal Hexagrams with five-petalled roses at their centers. When this would occur, the entire adytum in which he worked would typically become bathed with sunlight pouring through the four gates into the center."
So there you have it.
It being related to the LHR (from what I hear)
Precisely. At least in form. If I have time, I'll copy a general lead-in intro into a further answer to this.
And then there's the issue of banishing/invoking directions.
Nope. The Star Sapphire is only an invoking ritual, just as the Star Ruby is only a banishing ritual.
Also, what is the deal the the signs of LVX and NOX? And is the difference significant in that it either places you in our outside of "the Abyss" (at least symbolically on Da'ath).
This is subject to several opinions. There are two passages referenced by this question. The first says: "In the centre, let him give the L.V.X. signs; or if he know them, if he will and dare do them, and can keep silent about them, the signs of N.O.X..." Then, the last paragraph says: "Let him then repeat the signs of L.V.X. but not the signs of N.O.X.: for it is not he that shall arise in the Sign of Isis Rejoicing."
The first thing to note (which gives us an "easy out" at the moment) is that this is optional. I recommend the L.V.X. signs unless something significant directs one otherwise.
Speaking only for myself, the N.O.X. signs were irrelevant until I was 5=6 A.'.A.'., and in fact until I was rather far into the grade, probably technically 5=6 Within even though I was still completing my formal Abramelin operation. I can't say that this is necessarily true for everyone, but I certainly wouldn't limit it to 8=3 as your question did. These are the signs of 6=5 through 8=3, so they don't become particularly relevant until after 5=6 it seems to me (at least, through my own particular looking glass).
Of course, one can use any old signs at any old time, but one might like to actually have some understanding of what is occurring.
The first reference, "if he know them," etc. (besides the interpolation of the Four Powers of the Sphinx), can be taken literally: When The Star Sapphire was first written and publishedin 1912-13, the N.O.X. signs simply weren't known outside of the A.'.A.'., and weren't widely circulated within the A.'.A.'.. Most people simply wouldn't have known them, but could have gotten the L.V.X. signs from Liber O.
How is a ritual which, at least on the surface, appears to be a similar sort of arm-waving ritual as the LBRP likened (or confused with?) sex magick? I see there is a balancing of forces going on, but I don't see how the ritual could really retain much of its appearance as a sex ritual... unless you have a spinning bed.
At least symbolically, it plays to the same symbol set, and is saturated with sexual symbolism. A separate analysis of it could certainly be done solely from that angle, and when thinking of it that way decades ago I didn't think of a spinning bed
- I thought of Chuck Berry's "Rock Around the Clock" (the "adult" version). "We did it in the bathroom, in the hall, in the bedroom, out on the back porch" translates to "We did it in the east, we did it in the south," etc.But I really truly sincerely don't believe that's the real intent here. Nonetheless, the symbolism shouldn't be overlooked, since a passionate and intimate union is certainly the goal of the ritual.
More below if I don't get interrupted tonight.
@frateruranus said
"From reading the thread I am getting that you just trace the Earth Hexagram and not the other elemental hexes?"
Correct. That's the only one that shows the "family unions" chanted. That is, in the first quarter, it shows Father and Mother joined - a Fire triangle overlapping a Water triangle. In the second quarter it shows the Water and Air (Mother & Son) triangles overlapping. In the third quarter, it shows the Air and Earth (Son & Daughter) triangles overlapping. In the fourth quarter, it shows the Earth and fire (Daughter & Father) triangles overlapping.
-
In resposne to some questions concerning The Star Sapphire ...
How does one make a Holy Hexagram in the East, West, North and South for instance, with a Unicursal Hexagram?
I think the best answer I have for this is to quote directly from an article I wrote many years ago, including where I contradict myself
-"The Unicursal Hexagram, or 'Hexagram of the Beast,' is not used in this ritual... Even a simple inspection of the nature of the ritual shows that at each quarter two principles â two elements â are so combined that their alchemical glyphs form the classic two-triangle Earth hexagram. In the East these are Father and Mother, Fire and Water; in the South, Mother and Son, Water and Air; and so forth." In other words, the Earth hexagram is formed in the East by the intersection of the Fire and Water hexagrams, in the South by the intersection of the Water and Air hexagrams, in the West by the joining of the Air and Earth hexagrams, and in the North by the joining of the Earth and Fire hexagrams - in each close looking exactly like the others indistinguishably.
With this is a footnote: "An A.'.A.'. Adept in our acquaintance, who was kind enough to review this paper, indicated that, in principle and in theory, he entirely concurs with this statement, and would thus teach The Star Sapphire to his students as well. Nonetheless, when he performed it as part of his Adeptus Minor work, the hexagrams (after a few weeks) transformed themselves unbidden into golden Unicursal Hexagrams with five-petalled roses at their centers. When this would occur, the entire adytum in which he worked would typically become bathed with sunlight pouring through the four gates into the center."
So there you have it.
It being related to the LHR (from what I hear)
Precisely. At least in form. If I have time, I'll copy a general lead-in intro into a further answer to this.
And then there's the issue of banishing/invoking directions.
Nope. The Star Sapphire is only an invoking ritual, just as the Star Ruby is only a banishing ritual.
Also, what is the deal the the signs of LVX and NOX? And is the difference significant in that it either places you in our outside of "the Abyss" (at least symbolically on Da'ath).
This is subject to several opinions. There are two passages referenced by this question. The first says: "In the centre, let him give the L.V.X. signs; or if he know them, if he will and dare do them, and can keep silent about them, the signs of N.O.X..." Then, the last paragraph says: "Let him then repeat the signs of L.V.X. but not the signs of N.O.X.: for it is not he that shall arise in the Sign of Isis Rejoicing."
The first thing to note (which gives us an "easy out" at the moment) is that this is optional. I recommend the L.V.X. signs unless something significant directs one otherwise.
Speaking only for myself, the N.O.X. signs were irrelevant until I was 5=6 A.'.A.'., and in fact until I was rather far into the grade, probably technically 5=6 Within even though I was still completing my formal Abramelin operation. I can't say that this is necessarily true for everyone, but I certainly wouldn't limit it to 8=3 as your question did. These are the signs of 6=5 through 8=3, so they don't become particularly relevant until after 5=6 it seems to me (at least, through my own particular looking glass).
Of course, one can use any old signs at any old time, but one might like to actually have some understanding of what is occurring.
The first reference, "if he know them," etc. (besides the interpolation of the Four Powers of the Sphinx), can be taken literally: When The Star Sapphire was first written and publishedin 1912-13, the N.O.X. signs simply weren't known outside of the A.'.A.'., and weren't widely circulated within the A.'.A.'.. Most people simply wouldn't have known them, but could have gotten the L.V.X. signs from Liber O.
How is a ritual which, at least on the surface, appears to be a similar sort of arm-waving ritual as the LBRP likened (or confused with?) sex magick? I see there is a balancing of forces going on, but I don't see how the ritual could really retain much of its appearance as a sex ritual... unless you have a spinning bed.
At least symbolically, it plays to the same symbol set, and is saturated with sexual symbolism. A separate analysis of it could certainly be done solely from that angle, and when thinking of it that way decades ago I didn't think of a spinning bed
- I thought of Chuck Berry's "Rock Around the Clock" (the "adult" version). "We did it in the bathroom, in the hall, in the bedroom, out on the back porch" translates to "We did it in the east, we did it in the south," etc.But I really truly sincerely don't believe that's the real intent here. Nonetheless, the symbolism shouldn't be overlooked, since a passionate and intimate union is certainly the goal of the ritual.
More below if I don't get interrupted tonight.
Your questions appear to be about the Pentagram Ritual, not the Star Sapphire. I nearly deleted your post, therefore - since it is off-topic. Instead, I'll answer it this one time, then ask you to start or find a thread on the Pentagram ritual for further discussion of it. (I may delete your post and my answer the next time I stumble on this thread, agaion because it is off-topic.)
@Meletiros said
"What limitation might there be on the dialect used to pronounce the written language? Is using a currently acceptable pronunciation of a word or vowel sufficient? or, for example, should a Tav always be pronounced as a /th/ ? Can it be pronounced as an /s/ and be just as effective? and can ××ª× be pronounced ATOH as well as ATAH?"
As with many things, the answer to this varies with whether you are working in a solitary way or as part of a specific group or tradition. If the latter, then you compromise your connection (and thus magical efficacy) by varying from that is prescribed.
But, in general, if you want to use the Ashkenazi dialect, I see no reason for you not to do so.
"Also, in the LBRP the fourth vibrated name (or attribution?) is ×××× ; should the entire sentence be pronounced? i.e.(similar to): "ATOH GIBOR LE OYLAM ADONOY""
The magical traditions have broadly rejected the Ashkenazi dialect. However, that is no reason for you not to adopt it if you are working in a solitary fashion.
"On a related topic, in another thread I read where these entities (rulers? creators?) are "imageless" and reside (?) at a Briatic level. How do they relate to the four cardinal directions in the LBRP?"
Are you speaking of the Divine Names (which are Atziluthic, and thus without image)? Or something ele? - If you mean the Divine Names, they have no relationship to the directions whatsoever (it is their sequence that matters.) If you mean the archangels, then yes, they are Briatic, and are linked through the elements to the quarters.
-
In resposne to some questions concerning The Star Sapphire ...
How does one make a Holy Hexagram in the East, West, North and South for instance, with a Unicursal Hexagram?
I think the best answer I have for this is to quote directly from an article I wrote many years ago, including where I contradict myself
-"The Unicursal Hexagram, or 'Hexagram of the Beast,' is not used in this ritual... Even a simple inspection of the nature of the ritual shows that at each quarter two principles â two elements â are so combined that their alchemical glyphs form the classic two-triangle Earth hexagram. In the East these are Father and Mother, Fire and Water; in the South, Mother and Son, Water and Air; and so forth." In other words, the Earth hexagram is formed in the East by the intersection of the Fire and Water hexagrams, in the South by the intersection of the Water and Air hexagrams, in the West by the joining of the Air and Earth hexagrams, and in the North by the joining of the Earth and Fire hexagrams - in each close looking exactly like the others indistinguishably.
With this is a footnote: "An A.'.A.'. Adept in our acquaintance, who was kind enough to review this paper, indicated that, in principle and in theory, he entirely concurs with this statement, and would thus teach The Star Sapphire to his students as well. Nonetheless, when he performed it as part of his Adeptus Minor work, the hexagrams (after a few weeks) transformed themselves unbidden into golden Unicursal Hexagrams with five-petalled roses at their centers. When this would occur, the entire adytum in which he worked would typically become bathed with sunlight pouring through the four gates into the center."
So there you have it.
It being related to the LHR (from what I hear)
Precisely. At least in form. If I have time, I'll copy a general lead-in intro into a further answer to this.
And then there's the issue of banishing/invoking directions.
Nope. The Star Sapphire is only an invoking ritual, just as the Star Ruby is only a banishing ritual.
Also, what is the deal the the signs of LVX and NOX? And is the difference significant in that it either places you in our outside of "the Abyss" (at least symbolically on Da'ath).
This is subject to several opinions. There are two passages referenced by this question. The first says: "In the centre, let him give the L.V.X. signs; or if he know them, if he will and dare do them, and can keep silent about them, the signs of N.O.X..." Then, the last paragraph says: "Let him then repeat the signs of L.V.X. but not the signs of N.O.X.: for it is not he that shall arise in the Sign of Isis Rejoicing."
The first thing to note (which gives us an "easy out" at the moment) is that this is optional. I recommend the L.V.X. signs unless something significant directs one otherwise.
Speaking only for myself, the N.O.X. signs were irrelevant until I was 5=6 A.'.A.'., and in fact until I was rather far into the grade, probably technically 5=6 Within even though I was still completing my formal Abramelin operation. I can't say that this is necessarily true for everyone, but I certainly wouldn't limit it to 8=3 as your question did. These are the signs of 6=5 through 8=3, so they don't become particularly relevant until after 5=6 it seems to me (at least, through my own particular looking glass).
Of course, one can use any old signs at any old time, but one might like to actually have some understanding of what is occurring.
The first reference, "if he know them," etc. (besides the interpolation of the Four Powers of the Sphinx), can be taken literally: When The Star Sapphire was first written and publishedin 1912-13, the N.O.X. signs simply weren't known outside of the A.'.A.'., and weren't widely circulated within the A.'.A.'.. Most people simply wouldn't have known them, but could have gotten the L.V.X. signs from Liber O.
How is a ritual which, at least on the surface, appears to be a similar sort of arm-waving ritual as the LBRP likened (or confused with?) sex magick? I see there is a balancing of forces going on, but I don't see how the ritual could really retain much of its appearance as a sex ritual... unless you have a spinning bed.
At least symbolically, it plays to the same symbol set, and is saturated with sexual symbolism. A separate analysis of it could certainly be done solely from that angle, and when thinking of it that way decades ago I didn't think of a spinning bed
- I thought of Chuck Berry's "Rock Around the Clock" (the "adult" version). "We did it in the bathroom, in the hall, in the bedroom, out on the back porch" translates to "We did it in the east, we did it in the south," etc.But I really truly sincerely don't believe that's the real intent here. Nonetheless, the symbolism shouldn't be overlooked, since a passionate and intimate union is certainly the goal of the ritual.
More below if I don't get interrupted tonight.
@Meletiros said
"Which dialect is used by the A.'.A.'. ?"
There is no official position. However, all examples in all of Crowley's writings (which also means, all examples in all official A.'.A.'. documents) use the ancient Sephardic (not to be confused with Modern Hebrew which is quasi-Sephardic).
"Is there a guide available to this pronunciation?"
There is almost nothing available to the public in the occult literature. Occult organizations have almost entirely ignored the issue. As far as I know, Temple of Thelema is the first incarnation of the Order to actually instruct on the matter, and those papers are confidential (since they also address contents of private rituals). - However, I published a limited Hebrew pronunciation guide in Black Pearl No. 4 - you can download that free from www.thelema.org/publication
PS - This is still off-topic, since there is no Hebrew in the Star Sapphire! (Well, except for A.R.A.R.I.Th.A.)