Lesser Ritual of the Pentagram - invoking vs banishing
-
@nderabloodredsky said
"Are you saying you don't advise the LBRP for beginners? If so, what do you suggest?"
It depends on the individual and the path they are taking. - The answer I would give also would vary as to whether we were talking about (1) just somebody wanting to get into all this stuff vs. (2) a formal program for initiates.
(For example, Temple of Thelema follows the pattern the G.D. should have followed from their own design documents, of not introducing the Pentagram Ritual in the 0° but only after attunement to Malkuth.)
-
@Jim Eshelman said
"
@nderabloodredsky said
"Are you saying you don't advise the LBRP for beginners? If so, what do you suggest?"It depends on the individual and the path they are taking. - The answer I would give also would vary as to whether we were talking about (1) just somebody wanting to get into all this stuff vs. (2) a formal program for initiates.
(For example, Temple of Thelema follows the pattern the G.D. should have followed from their own design documents, of not introducing the Pentagram Ritual in the 0° but only after attunement to Malkuth.)"
.
O.K. Interesting.... -
question, lets say i wanted to work with a particualr element, do the LBRP then LIRP lets say pentagram of fire, when im done working with it would i do the LBRP with the banishing pentagram with fire and thats it?
all same with GIRP, when im don do you repeat the proccess at each quater but with the banishing pentagram of spirit and fire? or can you just do the LBRP with the general earth pentagram to close all rituals? idkin wiccan circles the proccess goes first to last, then close it starting from last to first.
-
@Alias55A said
"question, lets say i wanted to work with a particualr element, do the LBRP then LIRP lets say pentagram of fire, when im done working with it would i do the LBRP with the banishing pentagram with fire and thats it?"
Unless it is a very major operation, I'd recommend:
(1) LBR (generic)
(2) Lesser Invoking Pentagram Ritual of Fire
(3) The work planned
(4) Lesser Banishing Pentagram Ritual of Fire"all same with GIRP, when im don do you repeat the proccess at each quater but with the banishing pentagram of spirit and fire? or can you just do the LBRP with the general earth pentagram to close all rituals? idk"
The Greater usually isn't necessary but, yes, it does repeat at each quarter. If you haven't been ceremonially linked to the Spirit pentagrams, though, I doubt it will be of much effect. The Lesser Invoking Pentagram of an Element is much simpler: Identical to the generid LIRP except that the invoking Fire pentagram is used (in green on a red field).
-
"Unless it is a very major operation, I'd recommend:
(1) LBR (generic)
(2) Lesser Invoking Pentagram Ritual of Fire
(3) The work planned
(4) Lesser Banishing Pentagram Ritual of Fire "great! i love simplicity in lamen terms
"The Greater usually isn't necessary but, yes, it does repeat at each quarter. If you haven't been ceremonially linked to the Spirit pentagrams, though, I doubt it will be of much effect. The Lesser Invoking Pentagram of an Element is much simpler: Identical to the generid LIRP except that the invoking Fire pentagram is used (in green on a red field)."
ceremonially linked to the spirit pentagrams? idk what that is about, but yesterday i did the LBRP, then the Greater Invoking of Air, and facing east visualizing the spirit pentagram opening up and flowing forth through me and the circle, it was pretty stron and almost put a knot in my stomach, especially when i was facing south, there was so much energy or "power" per se that the knot in my stomach made me feal a little sick(not physically, but just the feeling of little queezy with the excertion of heat from the body).
in green on a red field? explain?oh and i did visualize the active spirit pentagram as blue-white, with blue-white energy spewing forth
-
@Alias55A said
"ceremonially linked to the spirit pentagrams? idk what that is about"
For example, having passed through the Portal Grade dedication or an equivalent.
"in green on a red field? explain?"
The Fire pentagrams are drawn in green light on a red field.
-
@Alias55A said
"what type of red field? explain, like red crass on a hill or field, or just a fiery red background or plain red background."
A solid wall of pure red light. (I assume that "astral color" is your personal term for "optical complement"?)
-
Jim, you said this earlier about the invoking ritual:
"I've answered this, and you know most of it, so I might be missing the point here. One sees the pentagram being drawn in blue-white flame. (The color is extremely important - it's the color of the particular neutral astral light of the generic ritual.)"
Does the pentagram being drawn in blue-white flame hold true for the LBRP as well?
-
@Frater LR said
"Does the pentagram being drawn in blue-white flame hold true for the LBRP as well?"
Yes: The Lesser Ritual of the Pentagram, both invoking and banishing forms.
-
@Alrah said
"Jim - why white-blue instead of drawing down the gold from the crown?"
One could ask instead... why gold?
This is the oldest and most common instruction, and one that has served us well. This whitish blue is, in some circles, called "witch fire," and is a very common astral appearance of the substance at the particular level of Yetzirah that the Lesser Ritual of the Pentagram is addressing.
Hexagrams, though, are drawn in gold.
"The intent in the outer orders is the attainment to Tiphareth (or the 'sudden enlightenment/highest dhyana/vision of the HGA/LVX', yes? (contrasted to the gradual enlightenment/ way or path of return once this is accomplished/Nox)."
But that's not the level at which the Lesser Ritual of the Pentagram is working. It's more in the form of sweeping the lower astral elements that need equilibrating in advance.
"Do you change colours up the grades?"
Not with grades - as long as we're still talking about the Lesser. (Other forms of the Pentagram Ritual have other rules.) There are color changes for other purposes (such as particularization of the ritual to a specific Element).
-
@Alrah said
"Gold. You can't go wrong with gold."
Quite the contrary! It's extremely ego-inflating when overly used, especially when pumped into a distinctly Yetziratic pool.
One difference I see here is that you're trying to force it to be a particular thing. Our goal is to observe what color the substance is (i.e., spontaneously appears to general psychic vision) and not force it to be any particular thing. That's a characteristic of the lesser ritual: It is undifferentiated as to one principle or another.
"
@Jim Eshelman said
"Hexagrams, though, are drawn in gold."Ok - will you expound upon this point? Why the difference?"
The Pentagram Ritual is microcosmic, and especially addresses those things below Tiphereth. It is also intended as the "front end" ritual for new aspirants. The Hexagram Ritual is macrocosmic, and originally created to be especially employed by those who have attained to Tipphereth.
Additionally, the integrating principle of all points of the hexagram is the sun. The integrating principle of all points of the pentagram is spirit.
-
Hmm...
Perhaps I might be able to - somewhat - defend Alrah's position, given the summation of a series of discussions I had with Auriel a while back concerning the symbolism of the Pantacle of the Earth. ...Not that the color gold was specifically mentioned or anything, but a very real (and decent) connection was made betwixt the microcosm/macrocosm via a discussion of said symbolism - one which might support Alrah's position some. Now: do you want the long or short of it? The short is thus: the symbolism of the Pantacle of the Earth was - essentially - dissected before my mind's eye into three specific parts. 1. The circle squared (representing Malkuth/microcosm) 2. The hexagram (representing Tipphareth [and others]/the macrocosm) and 3. the "unseen/unknown" observer of the ToL (representing the godhead at Kether/the magi, appropriately). The first was - indeed - directly connected to the second, as it was made clear...and I think the visualization of this is most appropriate, here and now:
The first could be shown as a standing elemental pentagram, representing not only the unification of the four elements in relation to spirit, but also the four lower sephiroth (Netzach, Hod, Yesod, and Malkuth) all united under/in Tipphareth. The second then was related to the first (visually) by having the hexagram tilted 90 degrees, and whirling about the Wheel of Spirit; the microcosm/macrocosm where shown to be one. Thus the relationship is manifold, is it not? The Spirit of the elemental pentagram (microcosm) has a direct relationship with both Sol and Tipphareth (macrocosm). Thus: why not gold? Lol.
...Not saying I disagree with you, Jim - I expect your answers are far more likely than I could ever provide. Just thought I'd share what little I had to add to the conversation.
Thanks for your time,
QaZsE - Fr. T.E.U.
-
...The keyword here Alrah is "could"; I'm most certainly not arguing the case that you "should". Jim's point is - indeed - quite significant. Rather, I was arguing "could" in relation to the symbolism. Hopefully that clarifies things.
Thanks for your time,
QaZsE - Fr. T.E.U.
-
One more question on the LBRP:
The instructions in Liber O do not specifically state doing the Horus Sign of the Enterer and Harpocrates Sign of Silence after the vibration of the divine names. Did Crowley add these two signs to the LBRP or was it already in the GD material?
-
@he atlas itch said
"One more question on the LBRP:
The instructions in Liber O do not specifically state doing the Horus Sign of the Enterer and Harpocrates Sign of Silence after the vibration of the divine names. Did Crowley add these two signs to the LBRP or was it already in the GD material?"
One normally would not do this in the Pentagram Ritual.
This question recurring) arises from too casual a labelling of Liber O, Cap. III, Par. 4. The method there listed as "Vibration of God-Names" is properly called "The Vibration of God-Names by the Formula of the Middle Pillar." It isn't a general instruction for use anytime one sees the word "vibrate." Rather, it's a particular technique used (usually in conjunctuion with the assumption of God-forms) for the specific purpose of identifying one's consciousness with that of a particular God. (Notice that this is what Liber O says the two are for.) In the LRP, one is not, for example, identifying oneself with Y.H.V.H.; rather, one is using that Name for a particular purpose.
How would one use them? Many ways, but I'll give one example. Suppose one wanted to do a ritual of the Moon and identify oneself with Artemis. Much of the ritual would be the setup for this: a general banishing, some means of making a primary connection to undifferentiated divine force, a declaration of the purpose of the ritual. Then, getting down to the meat, one might proceed as follows:
- [:3dctw24d]Attune to the Moon idea by an invoking hexagram ritual of Luna.[/
3dctw24d]
[:3dctw24d]Assume the God-form of Artemis.[/3dctw24d]
[:3dctw24d]As Artemis, circumambulate 9 times, building up force.[/3dctw24d]
[:3dctw24d]Upon returning to the west of the altar, still in the God-form of Artemis, use the "Vibration of Divine Names by the Formula of the Middle Pillar" technique to vibrate the name Artemis (once? thrice for Gimel? probably not 9 times!), to loose onself in the image and the name and complete, so far as the magician is then capable, an identification with Her.[/3dctw24d]
- [:3dctw24d]Attune to the Moon idea by an invoking hexagram ritual of Luna.[/
-
Thanks Jim – your explanation is an eye opener.
Would this identification, e.g., with the god Jupiter differ in function from a theurgic invoking of Jupiter as laid out in the LHR? If one is supposed to identify with a god, it seems odd to beseech that god – unless the ritual falls under some kind of self-affirmation. Or is it doubly-effective to identify with Jupiter when carrying out a Jupiter operation?
Regarding the vibration of divine names in the LBRP, the way the ritual was taught to me is, after tracing the Earth banishing pentagram, one inhales the divine name IHVH, then thrusts into the center of the drawn pentagram in the Sign of Horus the Enterer while vibrating the name IHVH. Then step back and assume the Sign of Silence/Harpocrates.
If this is incorrect, what is the most effective technique for activating the drawn pentagram? Do you simply vibrate IHVH while tracing the pentagram without following up with the Sign of Silence or, after tracing the pentagram, stand erect, thrust arm into the center of the pentagram and vibrate IHVH, without following up with the Sign of Silence?
-
@he atlas itch said
"Would this identification, e.g., with the god Jupiter differ in function from a theurgic invoking of Jupiter as laid out in the LHR?"
I'm not sure that "differ" is the right word. The use simply of the Hexagram Ritual isn't one of the more effective techniques for identifying with a God. I'd say, rather, that the purpose of the Invoking Hexagram Ritual is to tune your psyche to the same channel or frequency ("the Jupiter Channel" <g>). The use of assumption of theurgic images and this 'vibration' technique are specifically created to effect (or at least support) the actual identification.
"If one is supposed to identify with a god, it seems odd to beseech that god – unless the ritual falls under some kind of self-affirmation. Or is it doubly-effective to identify with Jupiter when carrying out a Jupiter operation?"
One doesn't usually do this to beseech the God, you're right. In fact, I'm really big on the traditional prayer or beseeching approach. I'm more inclined to take the path of "become the God, then, as the God, exercise the God's omnipotence to order the desired result into existence." (See expecially Sample Rituals #2 and 5 in my forthcoming new edition of 776 1/2, due out in a few weeks.)
"Regarding the vibration of divine names in the LBRP, the way the ritual was taught to me is, after tracing the Earth banishing pentagram, one inhales the divine name IHVH, then thrusts into the center of the drawn pentagram in the Sign of Horus the Enterer while vibrating the name IHVH. Then step back and assume the Sign of Silence/Harpocrates. "
That's way too much work, harder to keep discipline and focus, etc. I recommend, instead, that you touch the center of the drawn pentagram with your wand, finger, whatever and, with a resonant voice and focussed concentration, pronounce the Name. (Yes, inhaling the name in advance supports this.)
-
Thanks for that explanation.
One technique I use for vibration is hyperventilating when tracing the hexagram so that when I finally exhale/vibrate the divine name I'm on the verge of passing out. I look forward to trying the LBRP without the inclusion of the Egyptian god forms...
-
That's just sick! (And I don't mean that in a good way.)
And I'm not even gonna ask about Egyptian god-forms in a pentagram ritual.)