Ceremony Outline for Astral Control
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Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the Law.
I have begun to conduct a Qabalistic ceremony to function as a sacrament between my Self and my Will to form a Body of Light with which to Rise on the Planes. Since I have very little experience with Qabalistic ceremony, I thought it would be helpful to share what I've got and get some feedback.
The operation as a whole is Yetziratic in its aim, its principle sphere being that of Yesod. Am I correct in stating that the Body of Light is formed in Yesod?
I am working a lot with 776 1/2 and the Rituals of the Hexagram, Pentagram, and Middle Pillar featured in the back are my chosen and preferred for the present working (thank you, Jim). Here is what I have so far, in order of sequence:
- Qabalistic Cross
- LBRP
- LBRH
- Purification by Water
- Consecration by Fire (Incense)
- Middle Pillar
- Greater Invoking Ritual of the Hexagram: Luna
- Proclamation
- Vibrations (while assuming the Magical Image of Yesod as God-form)
- *1. Shaddai El Chai vibrated in the South with Yesod's King Scale in background
- Gabriel vibrated in the West with Yesod's Queen Scale in background
- Kerubim vibrated in the East with Yesod's Prince Scale in background*
- Liber O cap VI
- LBRH
- LBRP
- Qabalistic Cross
I initially had Liber Samekh before the Proclamation, after the Luna Invocation. Since I am a beginner and the nature of this particular operation seems very preliminary, I think it'll be fine to go without it for now. Its a beautiful ritual, and I would prefer to include it; I simply don't have as much time as I would like to have available to these ends, and I am very much concerned with the state of my Foundation at present.
I took some liberties with the Qabalistic Cross and chose to open and close the entire ritual with it instead of only the LBRP. It simply felt redundant otherwise.
I intend to give the Sign of Harpocrates at the end of each Vibration. After the second vibration, I could turn to the North, give the Sign of Harpocrates and then turn to the East to Vibrate Kerubim.
I wanted to include one of the Planetary agencies featured in the Yetzirah chapter of 776 1/12 ( Col. 407- 409: Angels, Intelligences, and Spirits), but I'm unclear on their purpose and how they are distinguished from each other. The Planetary emphasis seems to imply to me an Assiatic root-base, and I believe my desired results lie in Yetzirah.
I also want to include writing down the results of Liber O cap VI as part of the ceremony, but I have considered waiting until after the end of the ritual. I think it would serve better to reinforce the importance of keeping a record if adapted to ceremonial usage (scribe).
There's obviously a lot more that's going into this: I've said nothing of setting, the incense, or when and how many times the bell is rung. To me, these are the finer details (777, etc), and I'm looking more at fundamental components than anything else in this case.
Love is the law, love under will.
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@Zalthos said
"The operation as a whole is Yetziratic in its aim, its principle sphere being that of Yesod. Am I correct in stating that the Body of Light is formed in Yesod?"
Not exactly. It's formed in Yetzirah. But the two are related.
"9. Vibrations (while assuming the Magical Image of Yesod as God-form)
- *1. Shaddai El Chai vibrated in the South with Yesod's King Scale in background
- Gabriel vibrated in the West with Yesod's Queen Scale in background
- Kerubim vibrated in the East with Yesod's Prince Scale in background*"
That's rather ingenious.
"I wanted to include one of the Planetary agencies featured in the Yetzirah chapter of 776 1/12 ( Col. 407- 409: Angels, Intelligences, and Spirits), but I'm unclear on their purpose and how they are distinguished from each other. The Planetary emphasis seems to imply to me an Assiatic root-base, and I believe my desired results lie in Yetzirah."
No, there's nothing inherently Assiatic - quite the opposite. But they are a separate branching. You could put the Angel of the Moon just above the Kerubim, but that might prove unsatisfying in this case since the angel of Luna has the same name as the archangel of Luna.
"I also want to include writing down the results of Liber O cap VI as part of the ceremony, but I have considered waiting until after the end of the ritual."
I suggest going with your first impulse - write it down and then conclude. I've always found that it's better to record while I'm still in the same state as the astral working, while the energies are still invoked and present. I get more this way during the writing, and would lose much of that if I banished first.
"There's obviously a lot more that's going into this: I've said nothing of setting, the incense, or when and how many times the bell is rung. To me, these are the finer details (777, etc), and I'm looking more at fundamental components than anything else in this case."
Things like incense are as fundamental as several other things you've already included.
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Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the Law.
@Jim Eshelman said
"Not exactly. It's formed in Yetzirah. But the two are related."
I thought it might be something like that. As have only started to approach the art of structuring a ritual as of last night, I've been trying to keep things simple. But I can see how it would be more appropriate to work with both Malkuth, Yesod, and the Path of Tau in the formation of the Body of Light. That seemed to be biting off more than I could chew at the moment, but it does make sense.
@Jim Eshelman said
"That's rather ingenious."
Aw, shucks...
@Jim Eshelman said
"No, there's nothing inherently Assiatic - quite the opposite. But they are a separate branching. You could put the Angel of the Moon just above the Kerubim, but that might prove unsatisfying in this case since the angel of Luna has the same name as the archangel of Luna."
Gotcha. In retrospect, I don't see any real imperative to start working with these forces at this time. Thank you for clarifying that option.
@Jim Eshelman said
"Things like incense are as fundamental as several other things you've already included."
I apologize: I shouldn't have been so dismissive in my wording. I have every intention to treat said "details" as components in their own right, as elements intrinsic to the purpose.
After some reflection, I've begun to think that even this work is just slightly too advanced for me at present. I'm now entertaining the idea of constructing a ceremonial basis to encourage success in yoga practices.
The sequence is a bit simpler than the first and has a goal that is very easy to understand (stillness of the body), the success of which is rendered in Assiah:
- Qabalistic Cross
- LBRP
- Purification by Water
- Consecration by Fire (Incense)
- Middle Pillar
- Greater Invoking Ritual of the Pentagram: Earth
- Proclamation
- Vibrations (while assuming the Magical Image of Malkuth as God-form)
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- Adonai ha-Aretz vibrated in the South with Malkuth's King Scale in background
- Sandalphon vibrated in the West with Malkuth's Queen Scale in background
- Eshim vibrated in the East with Malkuth's Prince Scale in background
- Kholem Yesodoth vibrated in the North with Malkuth's Princess Scale in background*
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- Sign of Earth
- asana
- Documentation of Results
- LBRP
- Qabalistic Cross
I could even carry the practice over into pranayama by turning again to the North, perform a Greater Invoking Ritual of the Air Pentagram, vibrating appropriately in the sphere of Yesod (even as in my first outline), giving the Sign of Air and commencing with pranayama before documenting the results and concluding the ceremony.
I believe there's a lot to be said for mixing the practices of Magick and Yoga, and I don't see why it would be inadvisable.
Love is the law, love under will.
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I think the primary target of a ritual for success in yoga practice would be: your character. (Not yours specifically. Anybody's.)
What's required for success in yoga, other than a bare modicum of information, is long-term persistence, repetition, endurance, arising out of unflinching commitment. There's a nice Tav ritual for you! <g>
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Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the Law.
@Jim Eshelman said
"I think the primary target of a ritual for success in yoga practice would be: your character. (Not yours specifically. Anybody's.)"
Understood. I think I'm complicating things; I should be firmly grounded with techniques of Yoga and Magick in their own respective fields before trying to mix them. I'm getting the impression that my ritualistic basis for yogic practice might be an unnecessary compensation for a weak understanding in Yama and Niyama.
If the adamant persistence in practice that you described is indeed correspondent to Malkuth working up Tau, I would feel more comfortable refining and working the first outline of this thread.
Thanks, Jim!
Love is the law, love under will.
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Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the Law.
@Zalthos said
"I have begun to conduct a Qabalistic ceremony to function as a sacrament between my Self and my Will to form a Body of Light with which to Rise on the Planes. Since I have very little experience with Qabalistic ceremony, I thought it would be helpful to share what I've got and get some feedback."
FWIW - Chapter V, parts 1-3 of Liber O are very beneficial to start with at first. This is the beginning of the forming of the BOL. In your outline, you mention Chapter VI. That's great -- but IMHO Chaper V is absolutely essential to TAKE YOUR TIME WITH...also, it is very beneficial to have some of the tables from 777 memorized when proceeding to the further parts of Chapter V (e.g. part 6), as anything that you've "brought into your circle" will begin making appearances...
Part V, 1-3:
*1. Let the student be at rest in one of his prescribed positions, having bathed and robed with the proper decorum. Let the place of working be free from all disturbance, and let the preliminary purifications, banishings and invocations be duly accomplished, and, lastly, let the incense be kindled.
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Let him imagine his own figure (preferably robed in the proper magical garments and armed with the proper magical weapons) as enveloping his physical body, or standing near to and in front of him.
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Let him then transfer the seat of his consciousness to that imagined figure; so that it may seem to him that he is seeing with its eyes, and hearing with its ears.
This will usually be the great difficulty of the operation.*
Like I said, just my two cents based on experience and my MR.
Love is the law, love under will.
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Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the Law.
@Zalthos said
"10. asana"
Upon looking at your post again, I saw you replaced Chapter VI of Liber O with 'asana'.
Excuse my double post. And also excuse my two cents and haphazard reading of the post...
Love is the law, love under will.
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Sorry for jumping in the middle of the topic, and I hope that my question is not off-topic.
@Jim Eshelman said
"Not exactly. It's formed in Yetzirah. But the two are related."
Is there a way to design a ceremony to “target” the whole yetsiratic plane, instead of a single sephira? Somehow to strengthen the “signal” to make it easier to perceive?
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Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the Law.
@Faus said
"Is there a way to design a ceremony to “target” the whole yetsiratic plane, instead of a single sephira? Somehow to strengthen the “signal” to make it easier to perceive?"
Great question! I don't propose to have the answer, but my considerations lead me to believe that the easiest way to work with the whole Tree in any of the Four Worlds would be to work with Kether in the World that is the target of the ceremony (i.e. if the ceremony is meant to open the entire world of Yetzirah, then one would work with the Angelic Choirs of Kether). But that's simply an assumption on my part, albeit with a little deductive reasoning. Its weakness obviously lies in the fact that Kether is being worked with, which is inherently a Sephira. But it could be that the practitioner's understanding of what Kether actually is that resolves this weakness.
I'd like to read what Jim has to say in regards to your question.
Love is the law, love under will.
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@Faus said
"Is there a way to design a ceremony to “target” the whole yetsiratic plane, instead of a single sephira? Somehow to strengthen the “signal” to make it easier to perceive?"
Interesting question. There is... but it probably doesn't look like what you thought it would look like.
Invoking a thing means to attune your consciousness to the thing. Therefore, the method is "whatever it takes to attune your consciousness to Yetzirah." In a sense, the method is the actual result sought - but that's not an unusual situation.
One could give a ritualized method - for example, the Pentagram Ritual, rightly done, tends to attune one's consciousness to Yetzirah, just as a Hexagram Ritual tends to attune one to the opening of Briah provided (in each case) that one has the essential capacity and maturity.
Or, one could take a different approach - one of pure consciousness - and simply shift there. That's what the course of initiation eventually does.
If one wanted to construct a classic style invocation ritual to "invoke" the Plane of Yetzirah, that would be challenging. For one, it's a vague target. For another, it doesn't have well-established hierarchies. It's more the countryside than the journey. But there are a few things that might prove useful (all in 776 1/2 chapter on the elements). For example, each of the four Worlds has a spelling of Y.H.V.H. distinctive to it (though they're all pronounced the same); and from these diverse spellings come different numerations which, in turn, give Secret Names of each of the four Worlds - and these Secreet Names are "Words of Power."
The rivers of Eden corresponding to the elements are also applicable to the worlds; or at least that's true below Briah (and probably below Atziluth). But these have a more deeply Briatic feel to me. I'm sure they yield to Yetziratic vibration to excite a corresponding current.
The Tattwas provide a Yetziratic anchor point to visualize and use as a gateway to each element and, with right reorientation, may be useful in approaching the worlds.
Each layer of the psyche has a different language it speaks and understands. Speaking (and listening with) that language could be quite valuable in accessing the corresponding plane. If you don't have a more direct access, the skandas give a method of this, perhaps through mahasattipathana or other approach.
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Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the Law.
@Frater 639 said
"FWIW - Chapter V, parts 1-3 of Liber O are very beneficial to start with at first. This is the beginning of the forming of the BOL. In your outline, you mention Chapter VI. That's great -- but IMHO Chaper V is absolutely essential to TAKE YOUR TIME WITH...also, it is very beneficial to have some of the tables from 777 memorized when proceeding to the further parts of Chapter V (e.g. part 6), as anything that you've "brought into your circle" will begin making appearances...
...Like I said, just my two cents based on experience and my MR."
Thanks for sharing your input! I figured it was implied that the beginning of Liber O cap V would be worked with, since the second verse of chapter 6 reads, "Let him begin exactly as before; but with the utmost intense solemnity and determination." I took this to mean basically exactly what you quoted: the first few verses of chapter 5.
Also, the first sentence of chapter 6 is, "The previous experiment has little value, and leads to few results of importance." But it does have a "little value" and does lead to a "few results of importance"... Definitely note-worthy; thanks for redirecting my attention back to that. I find that chapter 5 would fit finely in place of 6 in the ritual I shared in my original post until the time comes to move on.
O and don't sweat the "asana" thing... That was a whole 'nother tangent on my part that's rather irrelevant to the present state of the topic.
I realize now that the whole intent of the ceremony climaxes into actualization upon entering the practices of Liber O. With that in mind, I don't think there's necessarily any harm done by drawing in the Yesodic/Lunar forces into the ritual as displayed above; emphatically the opposite, if I do say so myself.
Does anyone disagree?
Love is the law, love under will.
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Zalthos
My experience with this approach, invoking Yesod, is that somehow it “missed the mark”.
I`ve become more “emotive”, in an artistic way, and my dreams were filled with a distinctive “yesodic” atmosphere and symbolism. But in the long run I had no increase of lucidity and my astral practices had little extra development.
Somehow it seems that although I had increased astral activity, It lacked the necessary “window” to be able to watch the show.Jim
"If one wanted to construct a classic style invocation ritual to "invoke" the Plane of Yetzirah, that would be challenging."
Well, after spending couple hours looking at those chapters, I agree that it is challenging, I would say that it is almost impossible. I attempted to draft a ritual but the result was very awkward and unbalanced.
Looking at the 776 ½ sample ceremonies, some of them uses the evocation of the yetsiratic angel as a way to bring the operation closer to the realm where the operator is. Is it a good approach to boost the yetsiratic signal of that especific sephira?
I am starting to think that there is no fast track to achieve this “opening to yetsirah”. It would be a result of a development of the psyche as a whole, achieved trough systematic work with dozen of practices, and not only one.
"“Each layer of the psyche has a different language it speaks and understands. Speaking (and listening with) that language could be quite valuable in accessing the corresponding plane. If you don't have a more direct access, the skandas give a method of this, perhaps through mahasattipathana or other approach.”"
I was not aware that the mahasattipathana and working with skandas could be of help in this situation. Suddenly I am very interested in this practice lol. Let’s see what the search engine of this forum can reveal to me.
Thanks