Banishing, purification and consecration
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Mr. Eshelman, could you explain the difference between banishing, purification of the temple and consecration of the temple?
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@Quaestor Lucis said
"Mr. Eshelman, could you explain the difference between banishing, purification of the temple and consecration of the temple?"
Not in the two minute I have before getting out the door this morning
But there is a very clear chapter on each in Magick in Theory & Practice. I'd mostly be replicating what that says.I'm sensing there is a more specific question (or angle to the question) underneath this....?
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Yes, of course I know this book and reread it many times. In Chapter 13 Crowley wrote about purification of the magician and about banishing by Star Ruby, and nothing about the purification of the temple (by water); in Chapter 14 - nothing about the consecration of the temple (by fire)
What is the purpose of these three steps in the beginning of ceremony? What is difference between them (especially between banishing and purification)? Maybe, you can draw some analogy?
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They are different layers of cleaning. Depending on exact formula used, and their relationships, they can create particular patterns (geometric and other) in the astral space, but primarily:
Banishing (a formula of Air) works by division, striking a thing into parts. (A longish essay could be written about this alone, including how astral entities exist as composite ideas interwoven, and the dagger assaults their complexity and disengages that which has bound technically unrelated threads into one ball of yarn). The particular formulae created for the purpose of banishing will then do more things (long essay on pentagram ritual etc.) but, in brief, banishing "clears the space" of prior occupancy.
Purification is a formula of Water, which works by dissolving. Where Air disperses, water dissolves separating boundaries. The next effect is to take an essentially cleared place and resolve any "edges" or residua. The net effect is that what were rigidified as forms or now dissolved into fundamental, undifferentiated energy.
Consecration (a formula of Fire) is more complicated, because its exact purpose varies with context, the larger formula it's part of, the method it's done, etc.; but the most generic statement is that it recommits the liberated energy of purification to a particular purpose (and, sometimes, to a particular new form).
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Wow!
Thank you for the detailed answer! It became much clearer)