Directions of drawn Pentagram / Hexagram
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What is the theoretical/historical basis behind the idea that the pentagram or hexagram, if traced in a particular manner, invokes/banishes a particular element or planetary influence?
For example the pentagram is traced exactly the same for banishing WATER and invoking AIR as well as invoking WATER and banishing AIR. So what is the real difference here?
The hexagrams for Saturn and Moon, as well as Jupiter and Mercury, are traced exactly the same except for the planetary signs in the middle. Would the planetary signs in the middle be sufficient to differentiate between these planetary influences?
Did the GD formulate this idea of tracing the pentagram/hexagram in a particular direction to achieve certain specific effects?
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@he atlas itch said
"What is the theoretical/historical basis behind the idea that the pentagram or hexagram, if traced in a particular manner, invokes/banishes a particular element or planetary influence? "
The theory is different for the Pentagram and for the Hexagram.
For the Pentagram the theory is toward the elemental point to invoke, and away from it to banish, choosing the axes so as to exclude the two lines connecting Air-Fire and Earth-Water; and using those two axes exclusively for Spirit as "the equilibration of the Actives and Passives" (respectively).
For the Hexagram, the theory is to always commence at the point of the planet being worked and to go clockwise therefrom to invoke and counter-clockwise therefrom to banish.
"For example the pentagram is traced exactly the same for banishing WATER and invoking AIR as well as invoking WATER and banishing AIR. So what is the real difference here? "
The difference is in the use of color, intention, divine names, etc. That is, the lines are the same, but the pentagrams themselves are not at all the same, nor is their use. (Ditto for the planetary question that followed.)
"Did the GD formulate this idea of tracing the pentagram/hexagram in a particular direction to achieve certain specific effects?"
This dates at least back to the GD's predecessor order. That is, the pentagram details are given in the cipher manuscripts from which the GD rituals were written.
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Thanks for that explanation.
I took a look at the Cipher Manuscript and found the diagram of the Rosy Cross with the pentagram and the hexagram corresponding to AC's diagrams on pp. 549 - 550 in Appendix V. Unfortunately it doesn't answer my question on how this knowledge of the pentagram and hexagram came to be - i.e., why the top point of the pentagram = Spirit, the upper right point = water, upper left point = fire etc and so forth. Given the Cipher Manuscript was a compilation of the known occult knowledge of the 19th century, my only guess is that the IHVH formula and alchemy (Spirit/quintessence/ether/space as the highest followed by the sequence of fire/Father, water/Mother, air/Son, earth/Daughter) must have played a role in determining which element corresponds to which point of the pentagram. On the other hand I do discern a sort of "logic" in the planetary attributions of the points of the hexagram corresponding with the position of the sephiroths on the Tree.
Would the above be a correct assessment?
Are there any prior historical sources to explain the logic behind the theory below - or have adepts always accepted this knowledge on faith?
@Jim Eshelman said
"For the Pentagram the theory is toward the elemental point to invoke, and away from it to banish, choosing the axes so as to exclude the two lines connecting Air-Fire and Earth-Water; and using those two axes exclusively for Spirit as "the equilibration of the Actives and Passives" (respectively).
For the Hexagram, the theory is to always commence at the point of the planet being worked and to go clockwise therefrom to invoke and counter-clockwise therefrom to banish."
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@he atlas itch said
"Unfortunately it doesn't answer my question on how this knowledge of the pentagram and hexagram came to be - i.e., why the top point of the pentagram = Spirit, the upper right point = water, upper left point = fire etc and so forth."
If you asked that particular question before, I missed it.
The distribution of the elements around the points of the Pentagram matches the letters Y.H.Sh.V.H. (the Pentagrammaton) - Fire, Water, Spirit, Air, Earth - counter-clockwise from the lower left.
I don't know where that sequence began, but similar patterns are extremely common going way back. Excluding Spirit, the same pattern appears many places. For example, the Enochian elemental tablets are based on Fire, Water, Air, Earth counter-clockwise from the lower right. A number of other occult diagrams use the same pattern.
"Are there any prior historical sources to explain the logic behind the theory below - or have adepts always accepted this knowledge on faith?"
It's not a matter of faith so much as a matter of attribution.
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Sorry you didn't miss anything. I just took your earlier explanation on tracing the points a step further to ask why each of these points represented a particular element/planet.