The Great Work I

THE OUTER TEMPLE;

Once you have established your temple area, one would clean it thoroughly.When i established my temple i washed the walls and ceiling with saltwater then put a fresh coat of paint containing holy water i had made myself.It should be able to fit a 2x2 altar(which ideally should be a cupboard to place your magical implements in while you are not practicing)and a straight backed chair, and allow one to walk around the alter and face all the cardinal directions. Establishing the cardinal directions by hanging banners on each wall is a good idea, for it imposes the symbolism on the subconscious.
One should also endeavor to sew their own magical robes. Make sure they are of natural fibers such as silk or cotton as man made fibers may block subtle energy flow.If one was to find the idea of sewing the robes difficult, then re-evaluation of your motives may be necessary for sewing a robe is not likely to be the most difficult task you will face.( I have yet to finish my robes, because i ritualized the creation, and have a mantra i chant over each stitch), so i perform my magic sky clad right now:)
one must also pay great attention to THE INNER TEMPLE, for creating a magical persona means breaking old habits and creating new ones. One should begin the day with exercise and cardio work, then proceed to take a ritual shower. after the show go to your temple(don your robes if you have made them) and this is when we engage in prayer. Prayer is an acknowledgment of all your blessings and an assertion of the desire for the grace necessary to achieve the great work.It is good to "inflame" yourself with prayer here, merely a silent and mundane statement will not suffice to penetrate the consciousness, instead one should make vocal their thanks and petitions. Even writing poetry to the divine self and reading it aloud is good. imagine here you are ablaze with white or blue flames and the passion of your words fuels this fire.
after prayer, one would sit in their straight backed chair in what is termed the "pharonic position"feet flat on the floor, hands on the knees and back straight. engage in rhythmic breathing until one achieves relaxation.

More to come in a few hours.

Rhythmic breathing is an important step to inducing a magical state of mind and body. when the breath is regulated the cells in the body begin to mimic this rhythm. it puts the body into a state under will and the rituals performed after become seismically proportional to the vibration of the will. It is of value to breath from the stomach first, expanding the diaphragm, then to open the ribs and finally raise the chest, this method brings a fuller surface area of bronchial tissue exposure to oxygen.One know that they are achieving synchronicity with the breath when counting (inhale 1..2..3..4.. hold 1..2..3..4.. exhale 1..2..3..4.. hold 1..2..3..4..) no longer needs a mental count but happens naturally. Also i have found(as have others) that a slight fluttering is felt across the diaphragm as well as in the palms of your hands and soles of the feet.
When you have been able to achieve this rhythm for a few weeks continue on to begin the operation of rituals that are designed to draw into your self a finer, less coarse energy and banish the negative and mundane energies from your being. There are three rituals that are part of my daily routine.
1) Kabbalistic Cross of Light
2) Lesser Ritual of the Pentagram
3) Middle Pillar Ritual Circulation 1

When first beginning one should be gentle with your self, build up your routine. Just as if you went from no exercise to running 5 miles or lifting 250 pounds you will strain or injure your body, you can strain and injure your psyche by freeing up to much latent energy at once. So start with the Kabbalistic Cross of Light, master it, and then continue your studies.

*ON THE INTONATION OF SACRED NAMES AND WORDS;

Most of us know these basics, but it does not hurt to reiterate them. the vibration of sacred names is a technique that many people take for granted. it is not merely a monotone "singing" of certain sounds. The real technique(yes, the correct technique! i only say correct because i myself have performed correctly and incorrectly these vibrations and have seen the profound difference)
is one that takes some bit of time to master. When preparing to intone a word, one envisions the words in their minds eye. I personally envision the actual Hebrew letters. when you breath in before you intone you should envision this word coming into you from the universe and flowing down to your feet. as it comes into you you should hear the intonation in your mind. when you begin to exhale the word should shoot forcefully up from the soles of your feet and shoot out to the ends of the universe. hear the rumbling power in your voice come not from volume but from the vibration. the pitch should be in the alto range, not to deep or too shrill as to cause a "fake" vibration.once your breath has exhausted breathe back in and feel the vibration return into you as a universal "echo". as you can see a mere tonal physical vibration is not the point, but a profound and divine commandment.

KABBALISTIC CROSS OF LIGHT; i refer to this as KCL in my magical diary.

(to those who quarrel over the spelling of KABALlah, QABALlah, CABALla,time is better spent studying than rehashing other peoples views as your own)

Also this is not the exact same KCL as in the Golden Dawn Tradition.

When you have achieved relaxation vis the rhythmic breathing; stand and face the east. As you breath begin to imagine a brilliant white light forming above your head in the crown chakra region. you should feel the presence of the entire universe there in that light, and feel its divinity pouring down on you from above. reach up with your right hand and draw the light down to your forehead using the sign of benediction(index and middle fingers extended, other fingers tucked into palm and covered by the thumb.)vibrate ATEH( Ah - Tay )(unto thee)

Bring the light down to your breast.
vibrate IAO ( Ee - Ah - Oh )(that i am, or my true self)


Draw the light light down through your body and point to your feet.
vibrate MALKUTH( Mahl - Kooth )(the kingdom)

Draw the light from your breast to your right shoulder.
vibrate VE GEBURAH( Veh - Geb - Oo - Rah)(the power)

Draw the light from your breast to your left shoulder.
vubrate VE GEDULAH( Veh - Ged - Oo - Lah)(the glory)

At this time take a few moments to feel the light flowing from the ends of the universe above you, through your body, and into the earth. feel the cross beam of light stretching infinitely in both directions.

Clasp your hands at your heart
vibrate LE OLAHM AMEN( Leh - Oh - Lahm - Ah - Men)(for all time, amen)

outstanding, detailed info, Arca! thank you! now, if i can actually absorb it all, i'm in good shape =)

i have regognised some of the things you have wrote,for when i was a wiccan,especialy the golden dawn,i still have the tarots,folded in silk,waiting for a new owner,to come along,nice postxxx

Oh Arca, that was very beautifully worded! I look forward to your future post on prayer. I'm willing to bet we hold similar, if not the same, view of it. I generally refer to the theistic begging variation of prayer as the bastardization of the sacred. Anyway..I'll save that for when you post. ;)
Thank you for sharing. xx

next post;
The Great Work II
http://www.spellsofmagic.com/read_post.html?post=260594

The Great Work II

Posted by ArcaTuthus on Aug 21, 2010

Now we have begun the great work, and an understanding of what the meaning of ''divine'' is in hermetics should be present. We have the Kabbalistic Cross of Light mastered and understand that human beings are microcosms of the universe, and by using the KCL one can consciously pull the divine attributes of the universe into the mind and body. The KCL has a particularly close relationship to The Tree of Life, which in hermeticism is the supreme glyph of all being. Another important ritual is the Ritual of the Pentagram. This Ritual can be used as banishing, invoking, lesser, and greater. It is the foundation of ALL magical workings in hermeticism, as well as the way to prepare to converse with ones HGA(holy guardian angel).
The five pointed star, the pentagram, is the holy symbol of the five elements. From the right point clockwise the elements represented are water;fire;earth;air; and spirit on top. (people who believe that the inverted pentagram is about evil are mistaken, it only symbolizes the physical above the spirit, as opposed to the spirit over the elements.in hermetics we only use the spirit up version) The fifth element is also known as the quintessence, meaning the essence of five. It is the unifying source of all elemental energy, and works as a matrix to allow that energy to emerge into the physical elements. The pentagram also denotes man, as the four elements imbued with spirit.
while the greater ritual is used in specific magical working such as consecration of talismans or creation of magical implements, the lesser ritual should be performed twice a day to prepare the aspirant for (self)initiation. it puts the operator in contact with the invisible elemental forces and establishes the means to exert ones will over these forces. It cleanses the aura of any elemental interference and infuses the operators being with the divine light of the higher self.it also creates a sacred space for all magical operations to take place.
When first starting out, the operator should only perform the lesser BANISHING ritual of the pentagram, because beginners usually dont have full control over the ritual or their own energy and could attract unwanted energies mistakenly. also one should only use the earth banishing pentagram in all four cardinal directions in the beginning, because the beginners conscious is situated mostly in the realm of earthly materialism.
After about 6 months of daily banishings one could begin to do the invoking ritual in the morning and the banishing in the evening. Also one could begin to use the specific invoking and banishing pentagrams that correlate to the elements.(look in my pictures i have a diagram that shows the different pentagrams.)


THE LESSER RITUAL OF THE PENTAGRAM

this is a very basic version and this ritual can be expanded and fleshed out in an infinite number of ways.

1)perform the KCL

2) Face the east, and using the sign of benediction or your dagger(sword), inscribe the AIR_INVOKING/ BANISHING pentagram.while inscribing the pentagram in the air visualize the lines as brilliant white light(some say vibrant blue fire, both work. i began with bright blue fire visualizations and as i continued the pentagrams just changed to beams of supremely brilliant white light). note that the dagger or benediction never drops so as to form a solid circle of protection and banishment.Vibrate YHVH( yod - heh - vav - heh )
the following is the proper way to vibrate god names during this ritual;
2a)Vibration phase i - The Sign of the Enterer (1-4)

1. Stand upright. Blow all the air out of your lungs. Hold your arms straight out at your sides.

2a. Close your eyes and inhale nasally, imagining that the breath is the name. The exact nature of this imagination differs from person to person. Thus, you imagine yourself inhaling the name into your lungs.

2b. As you inhale, sweep your forearms smoothly and deliberately up so that your fists rest on your temples.

3. Imagine the breath moving down through your torso slowly, and through your pelvis, your legs, and finally to the soles of your feet. (Don't do this so slowly that you are hurting for air when the name reaches your feet!)

4a. The instant the inhaled vibrational name hits the soles of your feet, imagine it rushing back up and out.

4b. Simultaneously, throw yourself forward, thrusting your left foot forward about twelve inches (or thirty centimeters) and catching yourself on it. Your hands shoot forward, together, like a diver.

4c. vibrate the name and visualize this name shooting out to the edges of the universe.

Steps 3-4 are known as the Sign of the Enterer, or of Horus. This symbolizes powerful active energy. The Enterer should be something of a ''rush''. The vibrational name is projected outwards into more tangible manifestation - in this case, in the pentagrams of the LBR, which are charged by the force of the projected god-names.
Vibration phase ii - The Sign of Silence (5)

5. Finally,imagine the echo of the name returning back to you and withdraw into a standing position, left arm hanging at your side, right forefinger(dagger) on lips, left foot pointing ninety degrees out from the body.
the sign of silence is the finish of the creation of the pentagram on the astral plane, it now is alive with energy.

3)extend the dagger to the center of the pentagram in the east and trace a brilliant white line to the south.

4)Visualize as you trace the FIRE INVOKING/ BANISHING pentagram brilliant white light at the end of your finger(dagger).

5)using the sign of the enterer and the sign of silence once again, vibrate AHIH( eh - heh - yay )

6)continue making the white light band from the center of the pentagram around to the west.

7) make the WATER INVOKING/ BANISHING pentagram.

8)vibrate ADNI ( ah - doh - nye )

9) continue your band of light around to the north.

10)make the EARTH INVOKING/ BANISHING pentagram.

11)vibrate AGLA ( ah - goo - lah )

12) continue the band of light around to the east to finish the circle of brilliant white light with the pentagrams fiery presence emanating at each cardinal direction. take a moment to truly feel your sacred space and understand the intense energies you have created here.

13)open your arms wide in the form of a cross.

visualize before you in the east a great angel, with the colors of yellow and mauve, feel a breeze blowing of air,the being is holding the wand of caduceus. say ''before me...'' and vibrate the name RAPHAEL

Behind you visualize another great being of light, with colors of blue and orange, feel the mist of water and see a great waterfall flowing into your temple.the being is holding aloft a chalice. say ''behind me...'' vibrate GABRIEL

in the south visualize a being of light, with a dominating presence, feel heat of fire pouring forth and see the flames jumping up around the angels bare feet. he hold a great double edged sword of fire. say ''on my right...'' vibrate MICHAEL

in the north visualize a calm stoic being. see the vast fields of wheat flowing into the horizon. see the green and russet colors of earth. say ''on my left...'' vibrate URIEL

14) once again hold the pentagrams in your mind around you and say ''for about me flames the pentagram''

15) see within your body a great hexagram(the star of david) and say ''and within me shines the six rayed star''

16)finish with the KCL