Banishing / Invoking Pentagrams
-
Hi, I have just began practicing the LBRP and am interested in getting into Ritual Magick more seriously.
I've been trying lately to find a Greater Banishing Ritual to practice but the information on the net has left me puzzled.
From what I figured there is no actual greater banishing ritual, but you just use the invoking one and change the invoking pentagrams to banishing ones.
Yet, in different places I see different versions of the supposed invoking and banishing pentagrams.
The most precise instruction I've seen so far on the net (this one about LBRP) about pentagram drawing is "Start the pentagram from your left hip". It really frustrates me when vague words or images are used to specify direction - one thing can only be located in relation to another, not by itself. So it seems to me that only an 'expert' can guide one in those matters.
So, the question is, which pentagrams are for banishing and which for invoking Is this picture, for example, accurate on that matter?
http://img259.imageshack.us/img259/9089/pentagrams.png -
There is often some confusion in the labelling. Crowley changed the Golden Dawn term "Supreme Ritual of the Pentagram" and changed it to "Greater" (probably to parallel the language in the Hexagram Ritual.) There actually IS a "Greater" ritual that has never been published - I've never seen a scrap of it outside of completely private papers - so this causes some small confusion in some quarters.
But, to move on with your question, I take it that by "Greater Ritual of the Pentagram" you mean what was historically called the "Supreme Ritual of the Pentagram." There have been several threads on that in the last year. The main point to remember is that the Supreme isn't a specific ritual so much as a toolbox - a set of components to assemble for particular purposes. There's no single ritual.
@Sarreth said
"I've been trying lately to find a Greater Banishing Ritual to practice but the information on the net has left me puzzled."
For this question, I always like to throw out the question: Why do you need this? (I can imagine some extreme answers, but not any that apply to ordinary circumstances. Even the G.D.'s Portal ritual, which opens with an elaborate Supreme invocation, closes much more simply - barely with even a whole pentagram ritual.) A Supreme Banishing would be a balanced, even-handed banishing which, however, is also accomplished by the Lesser.
"From what I figured there is no actual greater banishing ritual, but you just use the invoking one and change the invoking pentagrams to banishing ones."
That would be the difference, yes.
"Yet, in different places I see different versions of the supposed invoking and banishing pentagrams. "
Ah, that's the question. The ones in Liber O are correct (meaning "correct" within any magical traditions actively feeding into this forum). Aurum Solis did redesign the pentagram patterns for their own private work, and you'll see these published occasionally.
"The most precise instruction I've seen so far on the net (this one about LBRP) about pentagram drawing is "Start the pentagram from your left hip". It really frustrates me when vague words or images are used to specify direction - one thing can only be located in relation to another, not by itself. So it seems to me that only an 'expert' can guide one in those matters."
It IS easier to do all of this in person. That's how these traditions were meant to be passed on. But let's see what we can do with our words.
The idea is to make a geometrically balanced pentagram. The points of this fit over your body at approximately: a point just above the center of your forehead, points flared out past your body at shoulder level, and points just off "outside" your left and right hips. These instructions are meant to give you a body-reference for how to draw the pentagram so that it is geometrically correct. You can try practicing this in front of a large mirror.
Yes, your illustration gives the correct 12 forms of the pentagram.
-
Jim Eshelman thank you a lot for your reply, it was, enlightening.
Basically the reason I was searching for the supreme ritual of the pentagram is because.. I don't know what else to look for.
To be more precise, I don't really know what kind of rituals can one use in this system(s) to evolve spiritually and/or come in contact with entities/energies that work for the evolution of man kind (rather than, involution).
I'm not really new to the world of magick, I'm just new to these particular systems which relate to Golden Dawn, Mathers, Crowley, Regardie etc. So I'm trying to introduce myself to these systems and see where they get me. But apparently I cannot do that without any help, as I couldn't and when I first began. I know every system, every group, every teaching, has it's own culture, it's own history, it's method and philosophy.
So, going back to the initial point: "what kind of rituals can one use to evolve spiritually and/or come in contact with entities/energies that work for the evolution of man kind (rather than, involution)
"I focus on the "rituals" because methods for psychic development I already have. But nevertheless any advice, method, or reference, is welcome. Sometimes you find jewels in the most unlikely of places.
-
@Sarreth said
"To be more precise, I don't really know what kind of rituals can one use in this system(s) to evolve spiritually and/or come in contact with entities/energies that work for the evolution of man kind (rather than, involution)."
The basics will take you a long way. In fact, those who have gone away will often (perhaps more often than not) return to the basics for their main tools.
So, in that sense, the Lesser Ritual of the Pentagram can serve as a staple. Some form of the Middle Pillar Ritual will intensify your physical and subtle bodies' capacity to sustain heightened energies, and adjust you to their ongong flowing. Eventually adding the Lesser Ritual of the Hexagram will step up the currents significantly, but there is no reason to rush it - maybe let it come in response to a crowning achievement along the way. Deepening mneditation practices will give you the capacity to witness your own mind's functionings and to prepare yourself for authentic communication when it is ready. Psychological practices, such as witnessing and examining your psychological projections, will fortify you enormously for working on the less concrete inner worlds.
"So, going back to the initial point: "what kind of rituals can one use to evolve spiritually and/or come in contact with entities/energies that work for the evolution of man kind (rather than, involution)
""Where do you live? Those exact consequences arise out of the initiatic work of Temple of Thelema. (And, of course, you can persevere independently with things mentioned above.)
-
"Deepening meditation practices will give you the capacity to witness your own mind's functionings and to prepare yourself for authentic communication when it is ready. Psychological practices, such as witnessing and examining your psychological projections, will fortify you enormously for working on the less concrete inner worlds."
Meditation and self-observation do take someone a long way indeed."
Where do you live? Those exact consequences arise out of the initiatic work of Temple of Thelema. (And, of course, you can persevere independently with things mentioned above.)"I live in south-east europe, is there a temple of thelema active in "this part of town" ?
"There is a war in heaven... Be mindful of who you talk to."
There is a war closer than heaven.."Have you also heard of the term 're-evolution'?"
The way I see it, there is only time for evolution, rather than, re-evolution. Although for some of us it might be re-evolution, of some kind.
"Involution. Like a starved body that starts to eat itself. Yes - I am also concerned with this. "
We are, a fallen race. I'm concerned with those who have, delusions of freedom. Freedom being something twisted, dualistic, in their minds.Indeed, attention is needed
-
@Sarreth said
"
"Where do you live? Those exact consequences arise out of the initiatic work of Temple of Thelema. (And, of course, you can persevere independently with things mentioned above.)"I live in south-east europe, is there a temple of thelema active in "this part of town" ?"
No, sorry. Only in North America.
-
"
"
"Involution. Like a starved body that starts to eat itself. Yes - I am also concerned with this. "
We are, a fallen race. I'm concerned with those who have, delusions of freedom. Freedom being something twisted, dualistic, in their minds.Indeed, attention is needed"
We hardly lack attention. Yet the origins of the watchers as far as I know are lost in the midst of time, and while the ongoing crisis presently occurs with the planetary ecology I am reminded that there have been 5 great extinction events already in the lifetime of this planet. Yet it did not erase their consciousness. Instead - it seems to have amplified it and gifted them with more than they had before their fall. "
Well, it seems that the harder the fall the stronger the coming up. It is said that some of the left hand initiates of our times will be major right hand initiates in the next "times". I wouldn't wait to find out though.
"This species has not fallen yet. And if they do they will arise once again, just as the watcher did after their species wide abyss."
Humanity right now is falling far below all the previous ones. If the next one falls, my guess is it will be even worse than the present. But there is always a golden era before that. I don't know If we'll get to see a golden age with this humanity though. The question is, how much pain are you willing to endure? And how much more "condensed" are you willing to become? It's suffocating in here already."Have you ever ventured to be one with the fungi kingdom? "
The fungi kingdom? No, I haven't. It doesn't sound familiar."Menstrual blood or semen given to a living batch of yeast should provide the conduit of the abiogenesis. "
I'm not sure I get what you are refering to, but nevertheless i would rather not dirty myself with atoms of the enemy. Some consider ejaculation a sacrifice, I consider it, idiocy. Of course that depends on the path you are treading. I would not judge one who has decided to take the "opposite" path. -
"Also - may I remind you - it was 'suffocating' before the first ape started eating the fish and the possibility for reincarnation presented itself to the watchers. "
Well... anywhere is suffocating when you have an ego. But in this era, with this humanity, in this city, well..." I also know that when you actually live in the moment and not vicariously that the times you know are going to happen are very different when you actually experience them even though their qualia are exactly the same."
Well, yeah"'m merely suggesting it is a conduit to the original consciousness. The fungi Kingdom retains the link and was around before the extinction of the watchers. They are the first and ultimate alchemists and the handmaidens of the original consciousness. By providing the fungi kingdom with a link then their consciousness will merge with yours. Nothing at all to do with 'the enemy'. From my perspective you have already done this.
"
Interesting... -
@Dar es Allarah said
"
@Sarreth said
"Well... anywhere is suffocating when you have an ego. But in this era, with this humanity, in this city, well..."Getting over the city making mentality... well... that's an evolutionary step as well.
I live in the country. I was born in a city but moved out. Cheap housing. No sirens. Beautiful scenery and animals... do yourself a favour and move!
www.pitt.edu/~dash/type0112.html#aeso"
I would, but I need to find my priestess first
Besides, I also need to work for the army of the Lord. One can go and live happily with the goats, but the goats show no interest whatsoever for the teachings of Buddha, Jesus, Crowley and whatever right hand or left hand master. Therefore my role there would be merely decorative unless I could somehow serve my "fellow" human beings from a distance. And therefore serve myself.
So true...
-
five things to bear in mind about the ritual of the pentagram:
-the names "lesser" and "greater"/"supreme" are unfortunately misleading. don't make the mistake of thinking that the supreme ritual of pentagram is "better" or more important than the lesser ritual of pentagram. if anything it is much more vital to be familiar with the lesser than it is with the supreme.
-the generic lesser pentagram ritual is not banishing/invoking earth, even though they use the same directions and starting points. the crucial difference is colour and intention.
-one should connect the pentagrams as you move from one to another to create a horizontal circle which links the four.
-"agla" is not a divine name, it is an acronym of the sentence "ateh gibor le-olam adonai"
-lots of instructions for the pentragram ritual suggest using the sign of the enterer and of silence in the vibration of the godnames, forget about this. it's based on a misreading (i learned this from james on here and owe my thanks to him for clearing it up) of crowley's liber o. instead one touches the centre of the pentagram and vibrates the godname.
-
@bdc said
"four things to bear in mind about the ritual of the pentagram:
-the names "lesser" and "greater"/"supreme" are unfortunately misleading. don't make the mistake of thinking that the supreme ritual of pentagram is "better" or more important than the lesser ritual of pentagram. if anything it is much more vital to be familiar with the lesser than it is with the supreme.
-the generic lesser pentagram ritual is not banishing/invoking earth, even though they use the same directions and starting points. the crucial difference is colour and intention.
-one should connect the pentagrams as you move from one to another to create a horizontal circle which links the four.
-"agla" is not a divine name, it is an acronym of the sentence "ateh gibor le-olam adonai""
Thanks for your response bdc, you chose good points to emphisize.
I will incorporate the cycle that you mentioned, I found a reference of the cycle somewhere, but didn't gave much value to it.
For starting point I use the left "leg" of the pentagram. I also visualise it white. Is that color effective or is there a more effective one?
And I don't use the word "agla" I use the full sentece. I find it sluggish to use the abbrevation istead of the whole formula, since it is at hand. -
"
There are some forces that think the present evolutionary wave is a dead end and that want to re-engineer an evolution. Thus 're-evolution'.According to one such working that timeline: "Mankind will become as happy children - knowing only bliss and the eternal now. But robbed of the intellect that we think is the cause of their sorrow." "
steiner said something close to this threatened humanity in his lecture "The Inner Impulses of Man"
wn.rsarchive.org/Lectures/GA171/English/AP1984/19160917p01.html
wn.rsarchive.org/Lectures/GA171/English/AP1984/19160924p01.html -
I know it was mentioned off hand as being a tool box,
If there was no elaboration:
Say, you wished to work with Fire...
Then you go to the fire quarter, do what you need to do
And that is it!
It is not neccesary to do anything with Air if you are not concerned with it
In what little experience I have had it is meant to allow yourself to tune to particular elements
Studying them individually -
This was a very insightful discussion kinda heavy, I understand the magick procedure better Thanks.