The Lesser Ritual of the Pentagram
Use this Classic Ritual to Begin any Magical Working
The Lesser Ritual of the Pentagram is one of the most basic rituals in classic Western occultism. It was popularized with the Order of the Golden Dawn (1), from which modern Ceremonial Magick is derived. The LRP is most commonly used as a preliminary to a magical working, in which case most mages use it in its banishing form (the LBRP), which banishes the 4 elements and clears the space.
Symbolism
The LRP is usually the first ritual that a Ceremonial Mage learns. This is because not only is it cognate with the Wiccan concept of circle casting as a preliminary to spellcraft, but its daily practice instills mental focus, visualization, the memorization of correspondences, and the pronunciation of Hebrew. These are combined with the familiar Christian imagery of the archangels, although the LRP is for pagans as well as monotheists. All these things are important to the new practitioner, who usually knows little Hebrew and even less of correspondences.
Performing the Ritual
Have a clear mind, an athame/dagger or other magical tool, and wear occult robes if you wish. Face East.
1. The Qabalistic Cross (2)
Touch the Third Eye and say: Ateh (thou art)
the chest, and say: Malkuth (the kingdom)
the left shoulder, and say: ve'Geburah (the power)
the right shoulder, and say: ve'Gedulah (and the glory)
clasp the hands as if in prayer, and say: l'Olam, amen. (to the ages, amen)
2. Formulation of the Pentagrams
Using the athame, wand, or other implement, draw a pentagram, invoking or banishing whatever element you need for the rite. If you are a beginner, or need the 'generic' one, draw a banishing pentagram of Earth, as given in the image below. Intone the Tetragrammatons, which are names of the Hebrew God.
Facing East, say: YHVH (Yod Hey Vau Hey or Yahweh) (3) and draw the pentagram. Leave your hand up in the air; do not put your arm down at any time, but draw the line clear across to the next pentagram as you turn.
Facing South, say: ADNI (Adonai, denoting 'Lord')
Facing West, say: AHIH (Eh-Hei-Eh, denoting 'I am that which I am')
Facing North, say: AGLA (Agalah, 'You, O Lord, are mighty forever')
3. Evocation of the Archangels
Extend the arms in the shape of a cross, and say:
"Before me, Raphael." (4) Picture Raphael, dressed in yellow, bearing a sword. (Air)
"Behind me, Gabriel." Gabriel is dressed in blue and bears a chalice or cup. (Water)
"At my right hand, Michael." Michael is dressed in red and bears the wand. (Fire)
"At my left hand, Auriel." Auriel is dressed in green and bears a pantacle - a disk inscribed with a pentagram. (Earth)
"For about me flames the Pentagram," visualize the pentagrams shining brilliantly around you.
"And in the column stands the Six-Rayed Star." visualize the Qabalistic cross shining brilliantly inside you, and the six-pointed star, representing completion.
4. Perform the Qabalistic Cross Once More
Notes and Sources
When Words of Power are spoken, they must be vibrated. This denotes chanting, coming from deep within the diaphragm. Do not merely speak it. Let the word fill your spirit.
A listing of various invoking and banishing pentagrams can be found here.
http://www.asiya.org/article.php/InvokingandBanishingPentagrams
(1) http://www.kheper.net/topics/Hermeticism/LBR.htm
(2) The spelling 'Qabala' is used to denote Hermetic (Ceremonial Magick) Qabala rather than the traditional Jewish Kabbalah, which is different.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hermetic_Qabalah
(3) The Tetragrammatons are Words of Power with specific meanings in addition to their connotation of the Hebrew god. In occult theory, YHVH connotes the physical universe. AHIH, however, connotes the ineffable. Rather than being an act of worship, each God-name relates to the element of its cardinal point. This is why Judeo-Christian faith is not necessary to using the LRP.
Mathers, S. L. The Kabbalah Unveiled. http://www.biblequotes.us/judaism/TKU/tku64.htm
(4) Use Hebrew, not English pronunciation for these angelic names. For example, pronounce Michael Mi-Kai-El instead of My-Cull.
Banishing Pentagram of Earth
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