Widdershins in Liber Samekh
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93 All,
I'm stuck on this, when performing the invocations of liber samekh why is the direction of travel widdershins?
I've been thinking that it could just to combine invoking the barbarus names with a sort of banishing of the ego, but that doesn't seem correct to me.
So what is the purpose of this part of the ritual?
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Magick in Theory and Practice, chp.10:
"Another important movement is the spiral, of which there are two principal forms, one inward, one outward. They can be performed in either direction; and, like the circumambulation, if performed deosil
i.e. In the same direction as the hands of a watch move.
they invoke --- if widdershins
i.e. In the opposite direction.
they banish.
Such, at least, is the traditional interpretation. But there is a deeper design which may be expressed through the direction of rotation. Certain forces of the most formidable character may be invoked by circumambulation Widdershins when it is executed with intent toward them, and the initiated technique. Of such forces Typhon is the type, and the war of the Titans against the Olympians the legend. (TEITAN, Titan, has in Greek the numerical value of 666.)"
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@phoinix93 said
"I'm stuck on this, when performing the invocations of liber samekh why is the direction of travel widdershins? "
I've tended to think that it relates to a formula used in the A.'.A.'. 2=9 initiation ritual, Liber Cadaveris.
Primary (direct) movement in Liber Cadaveris is widdershins. This is for two reasons:
(1) It is a lunar ritual, and left-hand circles are traditional for invoking lunar energies.
(2) A specific instruction given is that, in the opening formulae, one is to undergo a shift in consciousness where, instead of being on the Earth and relativistically perceiving that the Sun is moving clockwise, one rises above that or shifts perspective so that one gets that one is on the surface of Earth rotating in an anti-clockwise direction.
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93 Jim,
"(1) It is a lunar ritual, and left-hand circles are traditional for invoking lunar energies."
I assume you are referring only to Liber Cadaveris on this point. If not, how would this pertain to Liber Samekh? The former being a primarily solar ritual, by my understanding.
"(2) A specific instruction given is that, in the opening formulae, one is to undergo a shift in consciousness where, instead of being on the Earth and relativistically perceiving that the Sun is moving clockwise, one rises above that or shifts perspective so that one gets that one is on the surface of Earth rotating in an anti-clockwise direction."
This point, however, makes a lot of sense seeing as how the ritual doesn't even take place on earth (the material plane). I think I might do good to meditate on this.
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@phoinix93 said
" I assume you are referring only to Liber Cadaveris on this point. If not, how would this pertain to Liber Samekh? The former being a primarily solar ritual, by my understanding."
Mostly, yes. But also, the Path of Samekh is rooted in Yesod (and Liber Samekh is an important document of study for the 2=9, who begins to study the Formula of the Rosy Cross.
Remember, also, that the K&C of the HGA is the permanent establishment of the relationship of Neshamah to Nephesh, not Ruach. That's the reason its phenomena all resemble high-end Yesod phenomena (e.g., the recurring themes of sexual intimacy). Consider these remarks by Crowley in comment on Liber Samekh:
@666 said
"The main purpose of the Ritual is to establish the relation of the subconscious self with the Angel in such a way that the Adept is aware that his Angel is the Unity which expresses the sum of the Elements of that Self, that his normal consciousness contains alien enemies introduced by the accidents of environment, and that his Knowledge and Conversation of His Holy Guardian Angel destroys all doubts and delusions, confers all blessings, teaches all truth, and contains all delights."
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@Jim Eshelman said
"one rises above that or shifts perspective so that one gets that one is on the surface of Earth rotating in an anti-clockwise direction."
Are you saying that Earth's orbit is counterclockwise?
I suppose it would look that way from a certain perspective...
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@Jackdaw said
"Are you saying that Earth's orbit is counterclockwise?"
Yes.
"I suppose it would look that way from a certain perspective..."
Yes.
Specifically: The Sun appears to travel from east to west each day. In fact, the earth is turning toward the east against an essentially stationary Sun.
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@Jim Eshelman said
"Remember, also, that the K&C of the HGA is the permanent establishment of the relationship of Neshamah to Nephesh, not Ruach. That's the reason its phenomena all resemble high-end Yesod phenomena (e.g., the recurring themes of sexual intimacy)."
This is an interesting concept Jim. It is the direct relationship of Briah with Asiah compleatly bypassing Yetzirah? This makes sense because the HGA never comes to formation, but I've never thought of it this way. What I don't get is that Ruach is given to Vau in tetragrammaton and is the son/sun. I understand that tipereth is the seat of the HGA so why is there not a direct relationship with Ruach at the consummation of the ritual? Aren't we charged in the comment to the ritual to
"..rouse (ourselves) to make relation submit to analysis, to render it in rational terms and thereby enlighten (our) mind(s) and heart(s)..."
this would be forcing relation with Ruach wouldn't it?
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@phoinix93 said
"
@Jim Eshelman said
"Remember, also, that the K&C of the HGA is the permanent establishment of the relationship of Neshamah to Nephesh, not Ruach. That's the reason its phenomena all resemble high-end Yesod phenomena (e.g., the recurring themes of sexual intimacy)."This is an interesting concept Jim. It is the direct relationship of Briah with Asiah compleatly bypassing Yetzirah? This makes sense because the HGA never comes to formation, but I've never thought of it this way. What I don't get is that Ruach is given to Vau in tetragrammaton and is the son/sun. I understand that tipereth is the seat of the HGA so why is there not a direct relationship with Ruach at the consummation of the ritual? Aren't we charged in the comment to the ritual to "
That's a very diagrammatic, linear, Ruach-based analysis
Think spherically and holistically. There is a natural relationship between Nephesh and Neshamah. Nephesh (subconsciousness) becomes the natural first receptacle of Neshamah (super-consciousness), or perhaps the mirror in which it is witnessed.
Think of the classic Waite-Case version of The Lovers in Tarot. The woman (Eve, Nephesh or subconsciousness) is looking upward toward the Angel (Neshamah or super-consciousness), her face aglow with its beatitude. The man (Adam, Ruach or ego-consciousness) doesn't look at the Angel directly - he only sees it reflected in the woman's face.
A similar physical, ritualized expression of the same symbol exists in the First Order rituals of the G.D. system. Down the middle of the temple are a Hierophant (Neshamah) facing west, a Hegemon (Ruach) facing west, and a Hiereus (Nephesh) facing east. The Hegemon is expected to mirror certain actions the Hierophant does, but can't turn around and see them. Hegemon knows what Hierophant is doing only by what Hiereus does.
Most of the early stages of the Great Work deal with the rehabilitation of subconsciousness. Almost everything important boils down to this. When Nephesh has become purified and fully healthy, and aspiration is rightly set in place, subconsciousness becomes a polished mirror reflecting significant portions of super-consciousness.
By meditation (and other similar practices - including some advanced rituals, certainly all 'astral' work, etc.), Ruach displaces its sense of centricity and witnesses what is present in Nephesh. It is through the ability of Ruach and Nephesh to communicate (which usually means the gained ability of Ruach to listen to and pay attention to what Nephesh is communicating) that the earliest intimations of the Divine occur. (Note Crowley's statements - in think in MWT - that the ability to 'journey' in the Body of Light is prerequisite and the key to the evolving relationship with the Holy Guardian Angel.
A fairly advanced and very significant threshold is established when Nephesh becomes permanently a right reflection of Neshamah (other than for the transient fluctuations in our psyche, with the setting aside of which the Adept has more than a little experience and ability).
Most of the symbols of the K&C of the HGA are Yesod symbols. Not Yesod in the uninitiated or unilluminated, but clearly Yesod themed. It is subconsciousness anointed by, transformed by, and permanently surrendering to be the grail of the Divine. Similarly, most of the symbols that appear with respect to crossing the Abyss - whether in visions, or in a Master attempting to communicate or describe - are symbols of Ruach. (Simple example: Notice how often a sword is a central image.) But, again, this isn't Ruach preserved in its sense of autonomy and centricity. Rather, it is Ruach permanently anointed by, transformed by, and surrendering to super-consciousness.
These are very brief remarks and off-the-cuff. I haven't edited them for maximum clarity, so I hope they serve well enough. I think the idea comes through sufficiently.
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OK Jim I think I understand now but let me see if I got this.
"By meditation (and other similar practices - including some advanced rituals, certainly all 'astral' work, etc.), Ruach displaces its sense of centricity and witnesses what is present in Nephesh. It is through the ability of Ruach and Nephesh to communicate (which usually means the gained ability of Ruach to listen to and pay attention to what Nephesh is communicating) that the earliest intimations of the Divine occur. (Note Crowley's statements - in think in MWT - that the ability to 'journey' in the Body of Light is prerequisite and the key to the evolving relationship with the Holy Guardian Angel"
This is probably common knowledge and I feel like I've known this all along but have never set it to words. Lets see what happens,
'Astral journey' is essentially the Ruach (consciousness in the Body of Light) reading the messages from the Nephesh (the surrounding symbols or 'astral' visions) which is ultimately being conveyed by Neshamah (the HGA/God/super-consciousness, what have you). This all be so as long as the Nephesh is sufficiently purified and consecrated to the Great Work. Or as you put it:
"A fairly advanced and very significant threshold is established when Nephesh becomes permanently a right reflection of Neshamah"
"Most of the symbols of the K&C of the HGA are Yesod symbols. Not Yesod in the uninitiated or unilluminated, but clearly Yesod themed."
Yesod being the method by which the wandering Fool impregnates the Kings Daughter.
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@phoinix93 said
"'Astral journey' is essentially the Ruach (consciousness in the Body of Light) reading the messages from the Nephesh (the surrounding symbols or 'astral' visions) which is ultimately being conveyed by Neshamah (the HGA/God/super-consciousness, what have you). This all be so as long as the Nephesh is sufficiently purified and consecrated to the Great Work."
I wouldn't use this language, but it seems we're probably saying about the same thing.
Your last sentence above is critical because Neshamah may have little to do with it. (Usually something to do with it, or else one likely wouldn't be undertaking formal practices.) When aspiration is rightly established, and subconsciousness has started making itself actively receptive to and responsive to superconsciousness, then your "conveyed" phrase seems right - but this wouldn't apply to everyone, especially those very young in the Work.
A key to the above is that subconsciousness is always awake. Only the Ruach sleeps. There is enormous pay-off to becoming able to be aware of what subconsciousness is doing while one is awake. Meditation (etc.) trains in this. So is learning to recognize your psychological projections. Subconsciousness isn't UNconscious - unless we're unconscious of it (as most people are most of the time).
"Yesod being the method by which the wandering Fool impregnates the Kings Daughter.
"If that works for you.
The sentence communicates nothing to me that I recognize. -
@Jim Eshelman said
" When aspiration is rightly established, and subconsciousness has started making itself actively receptive to and responsive to superconsciousness, then your "conveyed" phrase seems right - but this wouldn't apply to everyone, especially those very young in the Work."
This then is why astral visions myst be submitted to a rigorus analysis untill one obtains the K&C of the HGA and even then until one successfully crosses the Abyss?
Now to be aware of what your subconscious is doing can be achieved by Meditation and what not but the K&C of the HGA is the way to make your subconscious aware of what your super-conscious is doing. Right?
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@phoinix93 said
"Now to be aware of what your subconscious is doing can be achieved by Meditation and what not but the K&C of the HGA is the way to make your subconscious aware of what your super-conscious is doing. Right?"
Usually subconsciousness would have become a reasonably good mirror of superconsciousness long before - usually years before - K&C. One mark of this (not the only mark) is a person that pretty consistently has strikingly good intuition (in the conventional sense of those words).
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Thank you Jim, for being so informative and patient with me.
I was thinking that "gut feelings" and the like would be a reflection of the subconsciousness.
So if the subconsciousness is not fully purified or is not quite yet a perfect mirror of the super-consciousness is it a bad idea to start performing this ritual? Also, I know the answer to this is going to why do it if your not going to do it right, but has anyone done this ritual physically or at least vocally while still visualizing?
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@phoinix93 said
"So if the subconsciousness is not fully purified or is not quite yet a perfect mirror of the super-consciousness is it a bad idea to start performing this ritual?"
Probably not.
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Several questions on a slightly related topic:
If deosil (clockwise) = invoking and widdershins (anti-clockwise) = banishing, why are both the pentagrams and circle drawn in a deosil direction for banishing in the LBRP, whereas hexagrams are drawn **deosil for invoking **in the Lesser or Greater Hexagram Rituals?
Aside from the above traditional explanations, AC writes in chapter 10 of ABA that should the magician focus intent on circumambulation widdershins and use "initiated technique", forces of the most formidable character may be INVOKED - i.e. Typhon. Can someone please explain this in more detail?
For example, if one did the Star Ruby several weeks, wherein the circle is circumambulated several times widdershins after vibrating in each quarter, but before returning to the center to begin the NOX signs, could a Typhonian or Leviathan-type force become accidentally aroused?
Regarding circumambulation of a circle, AC writes it should always be performed to arouse macrocosmic forces in the circle and that "the number of circumambulations should of course correspond to the nature of the ceremony" (ABA chapter 10). Can anyone further explain that underlined part - i.e. how to determine the direction and number of turns with regard to a particular operation?
Lately I've been tracing out a circle deosil 3x before commencing any operation (following the direction of the LBRP). Am I accidentally invoking forces into the circle? Should I instead be tracing out the circle widdershins?
Thanks for any feedback.
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@h2h said
"Lately I've been tracing out a circle deosil 3x before commencing any operation (following the direction of the LBRP). Am I accidentally invoking forces into the circle? Should I instead be tracing out the circle widdershins?"
To clarify, should I trace out the circle widdershins (only 1x? several times?) if I want to banish and make a sealed circle for containing and focusing energies of subsequent operations?
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@h2h said
"If deosil (clockwise) = invoking and widdershins (anti-clockwise) = banishing,"
That's the big if. It's not that simple. The above rule isn't always or necessarily true.
It's further complicated in the Pentagram Ritual because even the so-called "banishing" ritual is at least as much an invoking ritual as it is a banishing ritual.
"Aside from the above traditional explanations, AC writes in chapter 10 of ABA that should the magician focus intent on circumambulation widdershins and use "initiated technique", forces of the most formidable character may be INVOKED - i.e. Typhon. Can someone please explain this in more detail? "
Remember I said that there are about 5 different layers of these directions? One of those layers was discovered at Cefalu. They did some experiments which showed that widdershins circumambulation can be used to invoke a banishing or annihilatory force. (This is different from simply banishing.)
AFAIK the details of this have never been communicated outside of obligated areas. In any case, it would be quite hard to communicate it in writing.
"Regarding circumambulation of a circle, AC writes it should always be performed to arouse macrocosmic forces in the circle and that "the number of circumambulations should of course correspond to the nature of the ceremony" (ABA chapter 10). Can anyone further explain that underlined part - i.e. how to determine the direction and number of turns with regard to a particular operation?"
For example, if doing a Jupiter invocation, he is recommending 4 circles because 4 is the number of Jupiter. The direction should generally be clockwise, though for lunar and cthonic (earth-plane) forces there are times that a counter-clockwise circle is used to invoke them.
"Lately I've been tracing out a circle deosil 3x before commencing any operation (following the direction of the LBRP). Am I accidentally invoking forces into the circle? Should I instead be tracing out the circle widdershins?"
Three is a good generic. For example, the Golden Dawn used three circumambulations to empower their temples. In this case, the significance is that 3 as Binah represents the Supernals in general, and therefore is invoking generic spiritual force.