Angels and Devils
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93s...
Lately I have been working on creating various circles to use for the Greater Hexagram rituals and planetary workings. In doing so, I have placed the names of archdevils and demonic orders alongside of the Divine Names, Archangels, etc. etc. I was wondering if this is a good thing to do? I'm inclined to think so, since I am balancing two poles, but then again I'm not so certain that I should be using demonic spirits or whatnot anywhere in the Circle; at least at the level of progress I am in, which isn't very much. I guess what I am asking is if anyone has an opinion, I would like to hear it. I'm not going to use them until I've thought this out a bit further, so it's basically just an experiment on paper for now. I've worked with Goetic spirits before, and some of the "not so nice" archangelic forces, and haven't had *too *much of a negative reaction--at least compared with the positive things that have transpired; so I'm not too foreign on working with them, but just didn't know if it is a good idea to use such names in the Circle when working with planetary rituals.
Any help is greatly appreciated.93
93/93.S.
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Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the Law.
It's hard to make firm, absolute recommendations about a given person's work etc., but, since you asked, I'll give you my best answer.
I would not recommend this. If you were someone for whom I had direct responsibility, I would actively recommend against it.
As a rule, below Tiphereth one's eyes should be cast high, and those who aspire only to Beauty come nearest to the heart of Truth.
I say "as a rule," because there are obvious individual exceptions, and exceptions characteristic of different stages. These may also vary with a particular system one is pursuing, which, if constructed by those informed by Gnosis, will have taken these varying considerations into account. To mention a few: I endorse the recommendation of several months of psychotherapy in advance of seriously commencing magical training, as a primary "purification" preliminary. This should also be used periodically as one encounters the need in later stages. Also, the Yesod stage of development, in particular, calls for addressing the contents of subconsciousness. Finally, the stages immediately before Tiphereth usually have a significant clearing of shadow content.
But to one who has not anchored his or her soul in the intimate fusion-embrace with the Holy Guardian Angel, I think what you are doing is - at best - a curious exercise to see just how much it might throw you off track. Overall, I think it a bad idea.
In general, of course
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Thanks for the reply; that's pretty much what I figured, but wasn't exactly sure about the interplay between archangel/devils or angelic/demonic orders. I had the idea from an invocation of Mars not long ago, and thought maybe it would boost the strength of the ritual to employ more seemingly relentless entities, since Mars is aggression and destruction. I've found Goetic spirits to be useful to some extent, and I suppose it was foolish to try to employ those aspects in an invocation as opposed to an evocation.
Sean -
Goetic spirits are still spirits - medium-to-low-end Yetziratic entities. It sounded you were using at least Briatic level malignant entities.
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93
Well, my Goetic practices are limited to absolute, unwavering necessity; therefore I've only done a handful. I've been using the LHR and GHR for about 5 years now, and I'm confident in employing them, but wanted to find a way to add more to them by using more symbols. I came across one of Heidrick's essays where he lists the angelic and demonic beings, and figured that using the names in a ritual setting would both help my knowledge of them, and boost the rituals themselves. On reflection, using the demonic angel does sound absolutely ludicrous for someone of my level of training, so thanks again for the reality check!
93
93/93.Sean
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Just to be clear (and then, of course, you'll make your own choices)... I wasn't talking about any amount of knowledge or skill at all. I was talking about the consequences (fruits) of specific spiritual attainments.