Magick Toolset

[manofsands]

This isn't in reference to physical tools but rituals. I haven't done much 'real' magick yet and I'm looking for the basics to start. I know the LBRP is one that everyone mentions and I actually started a thread about it and variations of it in the Chaos Magick sections. I started to ask there what other rituals you might consider part of the basic toolset and decided I the question might need its own thread.

Thanx in advance

[RoseRed]

You could start with a basic circle.

[manofsands]

You could start with a basic circle.

Actually, that's a good point. A circle is created in the LBR, but what of the circle by itself. I actually haven't come across anything for that. Can you either run me thru your version or share a link explaining?

Thanx Rose

[Ramscha]

http://www.occultforum.org/forum/viewto ... =9&t=36167

There is also the circle part in in. How to draw it is up to you, I prefer visualization or when outside simply draw it into the earth. Salt, water, coal, etc. can also be used.

As you often ask how everything is done: Try to experiment with the things. When you have an idea about the thing, you don't have to know the exact points of everything to try it out. Experimentation is the basic of creating your own foundation for your system.

Ramscha

[RoseRed]

You can find lots of information regarding circles in wiccan literature (I use that word loosely as I think of Llewellyn)

I can create a circle thru visualization. I'm at the point now that if what I'm doing requires a circle or if it's important enough to create one - I go through the whole ritualistic set up. I create the space between worlds.

I guess it could be compared to sympathetic magic - going through the motions and actually physically doing it has major vibrations.

You'll come across a lot of calling upon the 'Guardians of the Watchtowers' while creating the elemental corners that tether the circle in place. I'm not really big on calling upon anything I'm not intimately familiar with and I don't resonate with that. Yeah, years ago I called on them because I thought I was supposed to and they showed up but I'm just not drawn there. I'll create my tether directly with the Elements.

Fire, Water, Earth (salt or dirt - I prefer salt) and Air (incense or just a lit cigarette cuz - tobacco, ya know).

- Call on the element to witness, lend power, create the boundaries of the circle, etc, whatever it is that you're asking them to do.

- Carry the element around the circle. It's not just a physical representation - you carry the actual element with you.

--- Decide on your elemental directions before you begin and start with Fire

--- Set your candles up ahead of time around the circle and carry the lit alter candle to light the candles around the circle

--- Move to the next corner and pour your water upon the ground in a solid line as you walk the line created by Fire

--- Move to the next corner and pour your salt in a solid line around it

--- Move to the next corner and hold your incense at waist level and complete the circle once again

- Return to your alter set up (I usually just have it set upon the Earth and kneel before it cuz, it's on the ground, ya know)

- Do any invoking or evoking that you're going to do.

- Take your ritual knife and pierce the top of the circle "As above..."

- Pierce the earth with your knife "So below" to finish anchoring your circle in the center of the Seven Directions (the 7th being the center from which you can see clearly the other 6)


The purpose of the circle (or more accurately, the sphere) varies. There's lots of reasons to do a circle...

- to protect you from whats 'out there' and keep things out
- to evoke or summon and keep something in
- to keep your energy in until it's gathered to be released
- to create a Compass Rose- the space between worlds for easier access to the different realms
- to close yourself off to the rest of the world for some self introspection
- to simply acknowledge the wonder of it all
- protection while projecting while you're still learning the ropes (or after - some people prefer it)

[manofsands]

Great input Ramscha & Rose.

I don't see myself doing any summoning anytime soon (is that different from evoking?), but are there times you create a circle and stand outside of it, summoning an entity inside of it... or is that just in the movies?

[Ramscha]

In my case that differs. Many times I do no circle at all, that is mostly when I work outside. I have so much space so why should I limit it?
Also I do sometimes circles inside just to sit in them. As mentioned circles are a great focus point and your world for the moment.

[Lord Ferocia]

This isn't in reference to physical tools but rituals. I haven't done much 'real' magick yet and I'm looking for the basics to start. I know the LBRP is one that everyone mentions and I actually started a thread about it and variations of it in the Chaos Magick sections. I started to ask there what other rituals you might consider part of the basic toolset and decided I the question might need its own thread.

Thanx in advance

A banishing of course, as already mentioned (i.e. LBRP), and a stronger one such as the SIRP (Supreme version). Then you must have a formula for raising energy, such as the Middle Pillar ritual. The circulation of the Body of Light exercise (tool) formula for direction energy. The Rose Cross ritual is one familiar technique for sealing. There are various method for charging a talisman, you should have one of these, and for projecting energy (GD uses the Middle pillar to generate energy, and the Sign of the Enterer to project it).

Also I should mention, the LBRP is used to banish "negative" influences, and the LBRH is used to banish "positive" or planetary (Macrocosmic) energies. In addition we have various "signs", such as the Sign of the Enterer, the Rending of the Veil, and the Various Grade signs that are used within ritual for various purposes (i.e. Rending of the Veil to open up and enter symbols etc.). These are each various tools of the trade.

These are the basics, and one uses much of these "ritual" software tools as one continues into higher grades (such as the GD). Other systems, such as the Agnaw have similar techniques. The ideas are the same, that one basically needs Banishing (and invoking) rituals, postures, raising of energy methods, projecting and controlling of energy methods. I should add the assumption of Godforms as another significant area of ritual work, as often within invocations one assumes these as part of the process.

[RoseRed]

Summoning something within a circle is Ceremonial.

[Lord Ferocia]

Great input Ramscha & Rose.

I don't see myself doing any summoning anytime soon (is that different from evoking?), but are there times you create a circle and stand outside of it, summoning an entity inside of it... or is that just in the movies?

I want to say, that a physical circle is not actually required in everyday magic ritual. One does not use, for example a physical circle with the LBRP and temple work. One does use a physical circle within evocations ("summonings"). The magician stands within the protected circle, and that which is evoked is outside the circle, and within the "triangle of manifestation". One never steps outside the circle in this case. In usual traditions that employ a "temple", such as the GD systems, the Temple itself is consecrated and banished, and no circle is required. In other systems (such as the Aganw) the "circle" is considered the "Aura" of the individual, and is not required to actually be physically present.

[manofsands]

Thanx for the list and info LF. I'll look into those. Does the Agnaw have its own LBRP?

I'm thinking more and more that maybe I should join the local OTO group, even if my original intent is not to stay with them. It may make sense to become familiar with an established order before creating my own practice.

I've always had a mutual aversion/attraction to magick... and I'm not sure why. I've assumed maybe I'd had a bad experience with it a past life and this was a hint to leave it be. Also in my investigations of magick, without understanding the reasons behind the rituals, I'd misjudged its validity, thinking it full of fluff and dogma.

There are still many things I'm ify about, but I do want a structured practise to focus my manipulation of energy. Exactly what magick actually provides. It's like I dismissed majick from the 'store front' and went around the block to find what I needed at it's backdoor. (A bit of a prolonged analogy).

[Lord Ferocia]

Thanx for the list and info LF. I'll look into those. Does the Agnaw have its own LBRP?

Yes, one I personally constructed based upon the Thelemic model. There is a banishing formula already present within the Agnaw, using specific Names, but I wanted to formulate a ceremonial ritual as well.

I'm thinking more and more that maybe I should join the local OTO group, even if my original intent is not to stay with them. It may make sense to become familiar with an established order before creating my own practice.

I personally am not a member of the O.T.O., here in California. I am a member of the A.'.A.'.. However, I would encourage joining the O.T.O..

I've always had a mutual aversion/attraction to magick... and I'm not sure why. I've assumed maybe I'd had a bad experience with it a past life and this was a hint to leave it be. Also in my investigations of magick, without understanding the reasons behind the rituals, I'd misjudged its validity, thinking it full of fluff and dogma.

There are still many things I'm ify about, but I do want a structured practise to focus my manipulation of energy. Exactly what magick actually provides. It's like I dismissed majick from the 'store front' and went around the block to find what I needed at it's backdoor. (A bit of a prolonged analogy).

I understand.

[manofsands]

I personally am not a member of the O.T.O., here in California. I am a member of the A.'.A.'.. However, I would encourage joining the O.T.O..

I would actually prefer to join the A.'.A.'.,.. but I couldn't connect with anyone. Is there connection between groups? Just wondering because I couldn't find one here.

[Lord Ferocia]

93

I would actually prefer to join the A.'.A.'.,.. but I couldn't connect with anyone. Is there connection between groups? Just wondering because I couldn't find one here.

Of course there are a few lineages. Do you know what lineage you tried to contact? I can easily put you in contact with the A.'.A.'. if this is indeed what you want. I know you may not be ready to commit to a system (or was that only one type?). Remember, the A.'.A.'. does require a lot of work, and is a teacher/student structure, and you will be working on your own. There will be no one there to push you, as much as oversee you. If you are not truly motivated at the moment, you may want to resolve this first. Otherwise you may end up wasting your Probationary period, and if you fall away, there is no return to the order.

93 93/93

[Ramscha]

If you are not truly motivated at the moment, you may want to resolve this first.

That is a good point. You may consider taking the first steps by yourself alone to see where they might lead you. I know orders are seen as a promising first stepstone for many beginners. But as Ferocia said when you not truly know what you (or they) are up to, think twice about it! Even if you start at an order, your paradigm will later strongly depend on theirs, like you have never learned driving a bike without assistant wheels. The first practical and theoretical impressions in the field are usually the strongest and most intense one, which will influence your later course. Consider where you want to start!

[RoseRed]

Will someone tell me what the numbers mean?

[Lord Ferocia]

Will someone tell me what the numbers mean?

A Thelemic greeting, as is customary between Thelemites. One is to greet one (actually everyone, but usually now just other Thelemites) with "Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the Law." and part ways with "Love is the law, love under will." It has since been reduced to shorthand with gemetria, thus:

93 = Thelema, "will"
93 = Agape, "love"

LOVE is the law, LOVE UNDER WILL is written as:
93, 93 under 93 or further to 93 93/93

[Ramscha]

and 93 --> 9+3=12 and 12 is an important number. I guess it was the personal number of Megatherion if I remember correctly as well as the "number of magick". [greensmile]

[Lord Ferocia]

and 93 --> 9+3=12 and 12 is an important number. I guess it was the personal number of Megatherion if I remember correctly as well as the "number of magick". [greensmile]

"To Mega Therion". 11 is the number of Magick (6 + 5 = 11 Great Work). 12 is a good number however, so you are right there. Yet, of course 666 was actually the special number of To Mega Therion (as well as 6,111,93,31,56 and 418 to name a few other significant ones).

[Ramscha]

To Mega Therion, forgive me.

11 was it? I was pretty sure Kenneth Grant mentioned the 12...
Anyway, 13, 4, 9, 69 and countless other numbers were considered as the number of magick. But well, they are only numbers as long as the bee is not kissed by the honey of Maat.

[Lord Ferocia]

To Mega Therion, forgive me.

11 was it? I was pretty sure Kenneth Grant mentioned the 12...
Anyway, 13, 4, 9, 69 and countless other numbers were considered as the number of magick. But well, they are only numbers as long as the bee is not kissed by the honey of Maat.

12 is HVA and relates to the HGA. 11 I assure you is the number of magick. This is because the goal of High Magick is Knowledge and Conversation with the Holy Guardian Angel (HVA), and the Microcosom is the Pentagram (5), and the Macrocosom is the Hexagram (6), and 11 is their product. 12 is simply a symbol of the goal alone, the HGA, or Higher Self, and not however the actual process (magic). Crowley's formula for 11 is actually present in the "word of the Aeon" Abrahadabra, which is of 11 letters, 6 consonants, and 5 vowels (5 and 6).

Of course there are various numbers relating to Magick, however we were (I thought) speaking in the context of Thelemic ideas. High Magick in general sees 11 as the number of Magick. 9 is related to magic, especially the astral light (Yesod the 9th Sephira), and low magic per se. 4 is the cube, and related to Earth, and of Man (the Four Elements, and also YHVH etc.) 4 is not considered a number of magic (in any system I know), neither is 69. I am not doubting some may consider them such, but according to my knowledge I see no reason to see them as significantly appropriate as "numbers of magic". By the way, not many consider Kenneth Grant (among Thelemic circles) as any reliable authority IMHO.

[Asurendra]

So far as I'm concerned I am my most important magical tool.

I hope this numbers tangent don't take us back to 0=1=0 again ...

[RoseRed]

That's so cool, Thanx for the info.

[manofsands]

So far as I'm concerned I am my most important magical tool.

I'm sure you're the sharpest tool in your shed [grin]

I am, however, still a bit rusty [grump]

[Lord Ferocia]

That's so cool, Thanx for the info.

Your very welcome.