Ελληνικη Εκδοχη -Lesser Banishing Ritual of the Pentagram

7/23/2019 Ελληνικη Εκδοχη -Lesser Banishing Ritual of the Pentagram

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Ritus Minor Olympicus ad Pentagrammo Expellendum

The Olympic Lesser Banishing Ritual of the Pentagram which is The Lesser Banishing Ritual of the Pentagram Adapted to the Graeco-Roman Tradition

John Opsopaus © !!"

Πηγη : http://hermetic.com/caduceus/articles/1/1/ritusminorolympicus.html

!ntroduction

This Olympic Lesser Banishing Ritual of the Pentagram is an adaptation of the Lesser Banishing Ritual of the Pentagram to the Graeco-Roman Tradition# $uch a%translation& is possi'le 'ecause the LBRP is an enactment in a (a'alistic framewor)of certain shamanic practices that are nearly uni*ersal# Once the underlyingshamanic framewor) has 'een identified+ it,s relati*ely straight-forward to reepressthe ritual in the terms of another tradition+ such as the Graeco-Roman# Although there

is no direct e*idence that ancient Gree)s used anything li)e the LBRP+ it isne*ertheless a 'asic shamanic techni.ue for esta'lishing sacred space around the/osmic Ais 01liade+Sham.+ 23-45!6+ which must ha*e 'een familiar+ in some form+to ecstatic practitioners in ancient Greece and elsewhere# 1#A#$# Butterworth hasassem'led compelling e*idence for these practices in his 'oo)s+ The Tree at theNavel of the Earth and Some Traces of the Pre-Olympian Worl #

The 7ollowing fully annotated tet ma)es clear which aspects of the ritual follow from Ancient

Tradition+ which come from more recent 8agical Traditions+ and which are a result of my

speculation or ar'itrary choice9 such information is all too often missing from :eopagan

reconstructions# The original LBRP can 'e found in ;srael Regardie,s Complete Golden Dawn

System of Magic 0<ol# ;;;+ pp# =2-5>+ !3-!"6 and in many other wor)s#

!. "he Opening "au #ross

i# /lose thine eyes+ and 'y thy 'reath fan thou the 7ire+ which awa)eneth the $erpent and the

1agle# Allow thyself to grow 'eyond all 'ounds of space+ until the ?ni*erse is within thee# Be

thou as a God9 'e thou as a Goddess#

/ontrolled 'reathing is one )ind of askêsis 0practice+ training9 cf# @" the oga practice

of tapas6 that can generate intense internal heat and awa)en the Python 0CundalinD $erpent6#

The serpent and the eagle are two of the most common spirit guides# 0Butterworth+ Tree+ 55+22+ E3-E5+ !29 1liade+ oga+ >=-9 1liade+ $ham#+ 34-336 On the transformation of

the $haman to the Macranthropos0Giant6+ see Butterworth 0Tree+ 526 and 1liade 0Yoga+ 4E"-

=6# TheCorpus Hermeticum 0F;#4>'6 says %;f then thou dost not ma)e thyself e.ual to the

God+ thou canst not )now the God9 for 'y li)e is li)e )nown# Leap thou clear of e*erything

corporeal+ and ma)e thyself grow to a magnitude li)e that magnitude which is 'eyond

measure9 rise a'o*e all time+ and 'ecome eternal9 then wilt thou )now the God#&

iH# Iraw thou down the 7ire of ea*en into thy eart+ and say

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$%rom #elestial %ire&

$'( !gne #aelesti&

$'po tou Ouraniou Puros&

; suggest the following gestures for the preceding step Raise your arms into a horiKontal+cross position+ with palms up 0in /elestial ;n*ocation6# Bring them together a'o*e your head+

palm to palm+ and then draw the /elestial 7ire down to your heart+ while saying %7rom

/elestial 7ire#&

The words to 'e spo)en 'y the practitioner are gi*en in 1nglish+ Latin and Gree)#

iiH# Guide thou the 'right Beam downward+ until it stirreth the $u'terranean aters of the

A'yss and 'ringeth Them to life9 and while so doing+ say thou

$"o )atery '(yss&

$'d '*uosum Pro+undum&

$Eis t,n -udroessan '(usson&

$uggested gesture Ceep the palms together and mo*e them down in front of the groin# Then

separate the hands and hold them to the sides and slightly forward+ with palms down 0in

/hthonic ;n*ocation6#

i*# Iirect thou the 'eam from thy heart through thy left shoulder+ until it stretcheth to the

8oon+ and say

$y )ay o+ Earth& 10

$2ia "errena$

$3at4 -odon #hthonion&

$uggested gesture Raise the left hand up to your chest9 then etend your arm into horiKontal

position+ with the palm forward#

*# Iirect thou the 'eam from thy heart through thy right shoulder+ until it stretcheth to the $un+

and say

$y )ay o+ 'ir&

$2ia 'eria&

$3at4 -odon 'itherion&

$uggested gesture Raise the right arm to the chest and then into a horiKontal position+ with

forward palm#

The four termini of the cross correspond naturally to the four elements# Their use in this ritual

is not anachronistic+ since the four elements appear already in the writings of the Gree)

magician-philosopher 1mpedocles 0c#3!"-3E" B/16# There are also allusions to the four



elements in fragments of eraclutus, 'oo) 0IC 44B E+ 5=6# ;n the De Gen, Cor! 0B)# ;;6 of

Aristotle 0E23-E44 B/16 we ha*e the canonical doctrine of the 7our 1lements and the Two

Oppositions+ which persists in the magical tradition# $o the doctrine was esta'lished 'y the

fourth century B/1 and pro'a'ly at least as early as the sith# 0$ee Cir)+ Ra*en M $cofield+

/hs <;+ F#6

*i# 7eel thou the $acred Tau /ross that 'laKeth inside thee# :ow cross thy arms o*er thy

eart+ and say

$'(iding al5ays in the #enter. 6o (e it7&

$6emper in Medio manens. Esto7& or $%iat7&

$En Omphal8i aei men8n& 9masc. or $menousa& 9+em. $Est87&

$uggested gesture Bring your arms together and cross them o*er your chest#

*iH# As thou ma)est this gesture the 8oon and $un will stand together a'o*e thy head+ nor will

they mo*e from there# 8oon o*er $un and $un o*er Tau /ross9 thou art the oly /aduceus#

Thou hast 'ecome the /enter of the orld+ for the /osmic Ais runneth through thy spine9 on

thy left hand standeth the Path of the 8oon+ and on thy right the Pat of the $un+ a'o*e thee

shineth the /osmic Pole+ 'elow thee lieth the A'yss# @5

The original form of the /aduceus+ ermes, wand of shamanic tra*el+ was a Tau /ross

supporting a solar dis) and a lunar crescent+ much li)e the familiar astrological sign for

8ercury# $ee also John Iee,s description of his %ieroglyphic 8onad+& which places the/aduceus on a twofold sym'ol of the world 0indeed+ his diagram is a schematic of the astral

configuration accomplished a'o*e6# /ompare also the An)h# The Tau /ross is Thor,s

ammer+ is *ehicle of tra*el 0recall how e throws it and hangs on6# 0Goldsmith+ 3>-3E6 At

the orld,s :a*el the $un and the 8oon always stand stationary 0Butterwirth+ Tree + 42-!+

43-56#

*iiH# Thou standest upon the $acred 8ountain+ the orld :a*el+ under which hides the atery

A'yss# At thy 'ac) groweth the Tree of Life+ which stretcheth o*er thy head+ the :a*el /ord+

for the 8ountain and Tree are the /osmic Pillar+ which supporteth the four (uarters of the

hea*ens# 7rom /alypso,s /a*e 'etween the Tree,s roots+ which penetrate the A'yss+ are the

four springs+ which flow to the four (uarters of the orld+ and they run with water+ honey+ mil)

and wine# Around the orld Tree,s trun) coileth thrice and half again the $erpent# ;n the

/osmic Tree,s lea*es percheth the 1agle of Neus+ guarding the orn of Amalthea+ from which

:ectar floweth into the Li'ation Bowl+ the Bountiful Breast+ which o*erfloweth+ raining :ectar

on the orld# Am'rosia floweth up the trun) of the Tree from the Ieep# ;llumination cometh

from A'o*e and Growth cometh from Below# The orld Tree is the Tree of Iestiny and ;ts

lea*es are the Boo) of 7ate+ for as they fall+ so fall to earth the winged soulds of the fol)+ e*er

singing in its foliage#



i# Ii*ine elen+ Leto,s Iaughter+ with large 'reasts+ li*eth in the Bountiful /osmic Tree+ for

she is ;ts $pirit9 and er Brothers+ the Iios)ouroi+ IOns of Neus Dios "ouroi the All-$hining

#amphaês+ the ea*enly Twins of Leto+ command the $acred Paths on either side# 7or

/astor+ who resideth underground+ )noweth the Lunar Iiscipline and controlleth the ay of

Iescent+ and Polydeuces+ who li*eth a'o*e+ is 8aster of the $olar Iiscipline and controlleththe ay of Ascent#

The iconography is from Butterworth 0Tree+ water + /lypso M four springs 2-!+"E+ eagle M

serpent -4+ coiled E Q4 times 2E+ Amalthea 3E+ 4+ 2+ nectar M am'rosia + 3E+ 5!+

-4+ woman of tree passim+ 'reasts -4+ elen !+ 4"+ "2-=>+ >4-=+ Iios)ouroi "2-=2+

>4-E+ All-shining =>+ 546 and 1liade 0Sham!+ na*el 4=2+ pillar 4=-3+ mountain 4==-!+ tree

4=!-53+ tree of life M destiny 45-3+ woman of tree 454+ eagle M sna)e 45E6# 7or a

description of a *ery similar scene+ see :onnos 0Dionysiaca FL+ 33E-"5E6# Other Goddesses+

'esides elen+ associated with the 8iddle Pillar include Artemis+ ecate+ /y'ele+ Iemeter+

Tyche and Athena 0Butterworth+ Tree >4->56#

Butterworth 0Tree+ E-36 argues that the orn a'o*e the /osmic Tree produces the

$acred $ound+ the $m or %um of 1astern Traditions+ which is the mystic nourishment

produced continually 'y the $un# This sound can 'e produced 'y a keras 0a goat or ram horn

trumpet+ e'rew shofar 6+ representing the /ornucopis or orn of Amaltheia 0the goat who

nursed Neus# iggins 0;#>=-26 traces the connection 'etween $anscrit $m+

Gree) $mphê 0the <oice of God6+ and $mphalos 0the :a*el6+ where oracles were deli*ered#

7urther+ Ionnegan 0s#*# omphalos6 records that some etymologists

connect$mphalos with $mpê 07ruit of the 1arth6# Thus we ha*e the na*el as the place of

mystical communion+ in 'oth sound and su'stance# 0$ee also Godwin+ &owels+ /h# 2#6

The $na)e entwined around the 8iddle Pillar 0of three6 is seen in Ba'ylonianQAssyrian art#

The $erpent is a sym'ol of Life+ $euality and $ensuality 0as anyone will understand who has

e*er allowed a $na)e to eplore them69 it is associated with 'oth sees 0with males 'y phallic

association+ with females 'y earthQwater associations6# The $na)e also represents isdom+

Power and 1ternity+ and was associated with Athena+ Aesculapius+ ygeia and ippocrates#

0Blac) M Green+ s#*# sna)es9 Goldsmith+ <;6

The 'est-)nown Gree) omphalic serpent is Puthn 0Python6+ a son of Gaia+ who li*ed in a

/a*e 'y a $pring or wrapped around a Laurel Tree 0:#B#6+ and was later the Oracular $erpent

at Ielphi and coiled around the Omphalos there# /elestial Apollo slew+ not Puthn+ 'ut

IelphunS+ a female wom'-serpent 0delphus wom'6 also at Ielphi# 0The CundalinD $erpent is

also female#6 0Cerenyi+ Gods+ 4=-42+ E"-E56

The image of Three Pillars is common to many cultures+ including the 1gyptians+ Jews+

indus+ Iruids+ 8ayans and ;ncas# 7re.uently they are associated with a Triad of Gods+ and

with a Trio of (ualities such as isdom Q $trength Q Beauty+ or isdom Q Power Q Goodness9

recall the Three Pillars of the (a'alistic Tree of Life 8ight 0Ge'urahor (oa) 6+ 8ildness

0Shekhinah6 and 8ercy 0Hesed or Yachin6# 8ycenaean art fre.uently features $acred Pillars



and Trees+ often in threes 0see 1*ans+ Myc! Tree #illar Cult 6# 0Goldsmith ;<+ F;F6 Parpola

0!!E6 has eplored in detail Assyrian origins of the Tree of Life#

The %Blac) $haman& and %hite $haman+& which correspond to the /hthonic 0Telluric6 and

/elestial 0?ranian6 Paths+ are )nown @! from many cultures9 see 1liade 0 Sham!+ 23-2!6for a discussion# There is in general no implication that the Blac) $haman is e*il and the

hite $haman is good# 0owe*er we do ha*e the 8yth of 1r in Platos *epu'lic + =3' M se.#+

wherein we ha*e two /elestial Openings and Two /hasms in the 1arth+ 'ut the Bad $ouls go

down to the left and the Good $ouls go up to the right#6 Recall also Raphael,s School of

%thens+ where we see Plato+ on the o'ser*er,s left+ pointing to the ea*ens and Aristotle+ on

the o'ser*er,s right+ indicating the 1arth# Although there is no e*idence either engaged in

ecstatic practices+ we still ha*e the distinction 'etween the /elestial and /hthonic ays#

Pairs of figures+ with one pointing up and the other pointing down+ are found in 1gypt as early

as the $ith Iynasty 0Butterworth+ Tree+ 3=-356

7or the Iios)ouroi and elen see Butterworth 0Tree ;;;+ <6# The Iios)ouroi were represented

'y the dokona+ two pillars connected 'y two cross-'eams 0Bur)ert 4E6+ which could easily

sym'oliKe the Two ays on the Tree of Life# Bur)ert thin)s it may ha*e 'een used as a Gate

of ;nitiation# $ometimes the ea*enly Twins are era)les 0Blac)6 and Apollo 0hite6#

;t is interesting to note that in the ancient tradition there is no fied association 'etween the

two sees and the Two ays# 7or eample+ we do not find that /elestial Gods associated

with Priests and /hthonic Gods with Priestesses9 there are numerous eceptions to 'oth# :or

do we find that only women tread the ay of the 1arth+ or only men the ay of the Air# Oftenthe Two ays are associated with two males 0the Iios)ouroi6 or two females 0Ashtar and

Ashtart U ;shtar6# 7inally there is an a'sence of association of positi*e .ualities with one ay

and negati*e .ualities with the other# This is all in mar)ed contrast to the (a'alistic Tree of

Life+ with its strong gender associations# Of course+ we may choose to consider the $uns side

male and the 8oons side female+ 'ut there seems to 'e little ancient e*idence for this in

Graeco-Roman anti.uity+ and it may lead us toward unwarranted gender assumptions#

# 7or learn thou this a'out the ay of Ascent# ;t is under the Hurisdiction of Neus+ the $)y

$ha)er+ who gi*eth fertiliKing rain and nourishing sunlight# e holdeth the Lightning Bolt of

;llumination+ and is lightnig descendeth from the $)y# The ay of Ascent is to clim' $cylla,s

8ountain+ which riseth into the clouds+ nor can its pea) e*er 'e seen# Prometheus or Apollo

will show thee the ay# Thy elper in this Hourney is the orse Pegasos+ 'ut also the $oaring

1agle+ Io*e and Goose# @4> Then wilt thou 'rea) through the <ault of the ea*en+ and going

through the /elestial Pole thou wilt ascend the ea*ens# 7or this is the ay of Light+ the Path

of Iay+ the $un,s ay+ the Path of the $age#

Li)e a shaman+ Prometheus Hourneyed to ea*en to retrie*e /elestial 7ire in a hollow stem+

that is+ e gained the fiery heat of "undalin+ in the Susumn 0/entral -adi 6# 7or this

accomplishment e later suffered 'y 'eing held to the Pillar of the /osmic 8ountain+ which

towers o*er the A'yss+ and 'y 'eing tortured 'y is guide animal+ the 1agle 0or <ulture6#



These are the pains of askêsis 0training6+ for mystics must often su'Hect themsel*es to

suffering9 it may also refer to the difficulty of arousing oneself from trance

0Butterworth+ TracesE5-3"9 Tree+ !29 Ia*id-:eel+ 3-==6# 0$ee Butterworth+ Tree+ 35-3!+

2!+ 4>-4>59 see 'elow for Prometheus, redemption#6

i# And learn thou this a'out the ay of Iescent# ;t is under the Hurisdiction of Poseidon+ the

1arth $ha)er+ who gi*eth fresh water from springs+ 'ut also floods and earth.ua)es# e

holdeth the Trident of 1cstasy and is lightning leapeth up from the 1arth# The ay of

Iescent is 'y the precipice opposite $cylla,s cliff+ which is the lower of the two+ and from it

groweth the $acred 7ig Tree# /lim' thou down from this Tree to /hary'dis+ 'y which thou wilt

'e drawn into the atery A'yss# /irce or era)les will show thee the ay past the Iog and

Gate)eeper# Thy elper in this Hourney is the $erpent Python+ 'ut also the Raging Lion and

Bull# Then wilt thou 'rea) through the <aulr of the A'yss and+ going down the ell+ thou wilt

descend through its le*els# 7or this is the ay fo Iar)ness+ the Path 'y :ight+ the 8oon,s

ay+ the Path of the 8age#

The description of $cylla and /hary'dis is in $dyssey F;;#5E-># The $acred 7ig Tree 0 ficus

religiosa6 sym'oliKes Life+ and so it is the Tree of Life+ the /osmic Tree# ;ts three-lo'ed lea*es

sym'oliKe the male and its fruit the female# The $ign of the 7ig+ which can 'e seen as

representing either the male or female genitalia+ is still a common apotropaic 0warding6 sign

around the 8editerranean# Recall also that the Buddha meditates+ conducts rituals+ and is

enlightened 'eneath the Bodhi Tree 0Tree of Cnowledge6# ; need hardly mention the $erpent-

entwined Tree of Cnowledge 'y which 'oth 1*e and Adam are enlightened 0to the displeasure

of the e*er-Healous ahweh6#

Prometheus is 'efriended 'y Blac) $hamans Oceanus and is Iaughters and era)les#

era)les is a Blac) $haman+ as shown 'y the animal @4 form he adopts the Lion# e recall

also that e replaced Atlas 0who is a Blac) $haman+ li)e is daughter /alypso+ who li*es at

the :a*el of the $ea6 in is station at the Ais 8undi 0ele*enth la'or6# era)les, clu' is a

dead lim' from the Tree of Life 0li)e otan,s spear6+ which grows on the cliff o*er /hary'dis+

the ay Iown# e uses his 'ow and arrow V common sym'ols for askêsis V to slay the

1agle that torments Prometheus# 7urther+ when era)les went to get the Oen of Geryon

0tenth la'or6+ he raised his internal heat 'y his askêsis 0e#g# the tapas of yoga6+ and then too)

his 'ow 08ind6 and shot his arrow 0$elf6 at the $un 0/elestial ;llumination6# Iuring this same

La'or he raised the Twin Pillars 0:#B#6 of era)les# 0Butterworth+ Tree+ !->+ EE-E3+ 4>-

4>56

hen he *isits the cyclops Prometheus+ Odysseus ta)es the twel*e 'est of his companions+

and Butterworth 0Traces+ E>9 Tree+ =5+ 53-5"6 o'ser*es that a master with twel*e

disciples is a traditional siKe for co*ens and other mystical groups# According to Butterworth+

the "ukl.poi 0/yclopes6+ who are )nown as $ons of Poseidon+ seem to 'e li)e Nen 8asters#

They see from their 'row 0the %/01Chakra6 and *isit the ?nderworld# :ote that

Cu)lops0/yclops6 deri*es from kukl1.ps U wheel-eyed U chakra-eyed 0chakra means wheel69

they are Giants 0Macranthopoi 6+ li)e all shamans# Recall that Odysseus *isits the /yclopes



after his stop at the Land of the Lotus-1aters# Odysseus and his comrades are unwilling to put

up with the %soul-de*ouring& discipline of the Polyphemus+ so they close his 'row-eye with

wine+ and etinguish his illumination# hen Odysseus called himself %:o'ody& 0$utis6 he may

ha*e 'een moc)ing the /yclopes practice of uniting their 1go with the orld# They made

the"eraunos 0Thunder'olt6+ which they later turned o*er to Neus9 it represents the 0originally/hthonic6 powers sym'oliKed 'y the %BlaKing Blossom& 0the Lotus6 and perhaps Lightning

issuing from the 1arth# The /yclopes were later the assistants of ephaistos+ the 8aster of

the 7iery Iiscipline 0cf#+ tapas6# 0Butterworth+ Tree+ E>-EE+ 54-526

;nterestingly+ Pausanias 0;;#i*#E-36 descri'es an ancient wooden statue of Neus at Argos+

said to ha*e 'een 'rought from Priam,s Troy+ which shows Neus with a Third 1ye in is

forehead# Although we normally associate Neus with the /elestial rather than the /hthonic

Path+ Butterworth 0Tree+ 5>-5+ 556 o'ser*es that this figure represents Neus

/hrysaoreus+ who rules 'oth the ea*ens and the A'yss 0and so corresponds to 'oth the

Olympic @44 Neus and Poseidon69 this deity is e.ui*alent to the mysterious /hrysaor+ who

emerged with Pegasus from the se*ered nec) of 8edusa+ a shamanic figure# 0Pausanias

suggests that the Three 1yes correspond to the Three orlds+ which we may call ea*en+

1arth and A'yss#6

iH# But the ise )now that the ay ?p and teh ay Iown are the same+ for they are 'oth on

the /osmic Pillar+ and sometimes our tas) demandeth that we go up it+ and sometimes it

demandeth that we go down it# hen duty calleth+ we tra*el 'y day or night as is the need#

As) thou ermes for guidance+ for he fre.uenteth the :a*el#

eraclitus days 0IC 44B =>6+ %The way up and down are one and the same#& At one time the

two approaches where in conflict+ 'ut they were later reconciled 'y the Olympian 8o*ement

0Butterworth+ Tree+ E>6# ;t is interesting that the Bull+ Lion and eagle were all associated with

the $erpent Power 0Butterworth+ Tree+ "4-"E6+ which recalls the 7our $acred Animals 0Bull+

Lion+ 1agle+ 8an6 of the later esoteric tradition# Perhaps originally the 7our $acred Animals

were the /hthonic Bull and Lion+ and the /elestial 1agle and inged orse#

$haman staffs+ such as ermes, caduceus+ often ha*e a cross 'ar# The staff pro'a'ly

sym'oliKes the Tree of Life+ and the cross'ar its 'ranches 0Butterworth+ Traces+ ">6# ermes

is+ of course+ thePsychopompos+ the $pirit Guide+ and is found in the *icinity of 'oth

/alypso,s and /irce,s ca*es at the :a*el 0Butterworth+ Tree+ 26# e *isits with e.ual ease

the ea*ens and ades#

Orphic gra*e ta'lets tell the %/hild of 1arth and ea*en& that to the left and right are 'oth a

cypress-tree and a well# On the supplicant,s left is a white-cypress+ associated with day and

the $un9 to the right+ a dar) cypress+ associated with the 8oon# 0Butterworth+ Tree+ 4"-4=6

The order of the Tau /ross is 7iery Pillar 0top-'ottom+ center6+ 8oon 0left6+ $un 0right6+ 'ac)

to center# $imilarly+ in meditating on the triangle in the pericarp of the Sahasrara Chakra+ theogi 'egins with the 7ire Bindu in the center+ follows the Line of 7ire to the 8oon Bindu 0left6+



follows the Line of the 8oon to the $un Bindu 0right6+ and follows the line of the $un 'ac) to

the 7ire Bindu 0A*alon 3!>-3!6# $ee Butterworth 0Tree+ pp# 5"+ 4"-44E+ pll# i-i6# @4E

There is a pro'lem telling the orientation of right and left# Butterworth 0Tree+ 4=-56 claims that

when you loo) at the Tree+ the 8oon Path is on the right and the $un Path is on the left+ 'utthat ta)ing the Tree within you puts the 8oon Path on the left and the $un Path on the right#

This agrees with the orientation of atha oga+ which is descri'ed from the yogi,s *iewpoint

and puts the 2da1nd+ 08oon /hannel6 on the Left and the #ingl1nd+ 0$un /hannel6 on the

Right# 0Actually the $un and 8oon /hannels spiral aroundSushumn V the $pine V 'ut the

8oon /hannel terminates at the left nostril and the $un /hannel at the right# CundalinD oga

may ha*e 'een )nown in western Asia as early as the $econd or e*en Third 8illennium B/19

Butterworth+ Tree+ ==-=5+ !46 Butterworth also defends this orientation with artifacts+ 'ut

admits that in some cases it,s not o'*ious what is the front and what is the 'ac)#

There are similar pro'lems with (a'alah depending on whether the Tree is faced eternally

or *isualiKed internally# Regardie 0;;;#6 says that to the o'ser*er+ the Pillar of 8ercy is on the

right and the Pillar of $trength on the left+ 'ut that when you internaliKe the Tree+ your right

side 'ecomes $trength and your left 8ercy# On the other hand+ PoncW 0E5-36 argues that

the Tree is properly applied to the Primal 8an facing away from the o'ser*er+ so that on the

left is the Pillar of $trength 0Iar)+ Passi*e6 and on the right the Pillar of 8ercy 0Light+ Acti*e6#

;n the foregoing ; ha*e placed left and right so that the system of correspondences is

consistent with oga as interpreted 'y Butterworth and with the (a'alah as interpreted 'y

PoncW# This is also consistent with Jung,s studies+ which put the $un+ corresponding to theconscious mind+ on the right+ and the moon+ corresponding to the unconcsious+ on the left

0Jung+ #%+ 45+ =E+ 5+ 2=6# $o in the Tau /ross the 8oonQ1arth Path is on the

practitioner,s left and the $unQAir Path is on the right# ;n this way the order of the Tau /ross

0ea*en+ A'yss+ 8oonQL+ $unQR6 agrees with the triangle in the pericarp of the Sahasrara1

chakra 07ire Bindu+ 8oon Bindu+ $un Bindu6# 7ortunately+ this orientation also preser*es the

order of the (a'alistic /ross in the Golden Iawn tradition 0Cether+ 8al)uth+ GedulahQL+

Ge'urahQR6+ since it,s from the perspecti*e of an o'ser*er facing an altar 0Regardie ;;;#!369

though Regardie 0;;;#46+ inconsistently+ and other sources gi*es Ge'urahQR+ GedulahQL+ and

still others ha*e GedulahQR+ Ge'urahQL# @43

7inally+ this orientation agrees with a Gree) tradition that distinguished Left and Right Gods9

the Left Gods are the Di 2nferi 0Lower Gods6 and the Right Gods are the Di Superi 0?pper

Gods6+ though apparently the Romans followed the 1truscans in re*ersing the associations

0einstoc) !3=6# ;n any case+ ; don,t consider the issue settled+ and readers should conduct

their own eperiements9 all the correspondences stay the same+ Hust switch %left& and %right#&



!!. Pentagrams o+ the ;uarters

iiH# This is the way thou wilt draw the $hining Pentagrams that wardeth each (uarter# The

first ray goeth fro the lower left to the top+ and each ray continueth from the last# And as thou

ma)est each ray+ sing a letter of the name of the Pentagram#

i*0a6# ;n Gree) the Pentagram hath the name ?G;1;A 0?G;1;A6+ which meaneth

$oundness or holeness+ so sing thou the sounds

$-uuuuuuu< =ggggggg< !iiiiiih< 'aaaaaay< 'aaaaaah.&

i*0'6# ;n Latin the Pentagram hath the name $AL?$+ which meaneth $oundness or elfare+

so sing thou the sounds

$6sssssss< 'aaaaaah< >lllllll< ?uuuuuuu< 6sssssss.&

i*0c6# Though in 1nglish we la'el the Pentagram OL1 or $O?:I+ its spo)en name is

OL1:1$$+ so sing thou the sounds

$-ooooooo< >lllllll< @nnnnnnn< Eeeeeeeh< 6sssssss.&

The Pentagram and eagram were 'oth used for protection in ancient Greece 0< cent#

B/16# The Pentagram appears in the earliest writing of 8esopotamia 0precuneiform

pictographic writing6+ c# E>>> B/1+ as the $umerian sign ?B# ;ts meaning in the cuneiform

period 0'y 4=>> B/16 seems to 'e a ea*enly (uarter and also the four Iirections 0forward+'ac)ward+ left+ right69 the fifth direction was %a'o*e#& The four directions corresponded to the

planets Jupiter+ 8ercury+ 8ars and $aturn+ with <enus the (ueen of ea*en a'o*e# $ee Ie

<ogel 0App# A6 and Blac) M Green 0s#*# $tar6#

Pythagoras may ha*e 'ecome ac.uainted with the Pentagram during his soHourns in 1gypt

and Ba'ylon 0perhaps ""3-"EE B/169 @4" in any case the Pythagorean Brothers used it as a

sign of recognition 0;am'l#+ &ita #yth! FFF;;;6# They called the Pentagram %ugieia+& which is

usually translated %ealth+& 'ut has more the sense of $oundness or holeness+ and was still

used with this meaning in aracelsus, time 0c#3!E-"36# ;n fact Bonner 0p# 556 notes that

ugieia is a fairly common inscription on amulets# The Pythagoreans also used XBe

soundQwholeYX 0Hugiaine6 as their greeting 0Scholia in %ristoph!+ :u'es =>!9 Lucian+ #ro

lapsu "9 3S4 + s#**# hugiain+ hugieia6#

The Pythagoreans apparently la'eled the points or angles of the Pentagram with the Gree)

letters ?G;1;A# Allman 0p# 4=6 shows them on the points arranged countercloc)wise from the

top thus ?+ G+ ;+ 1;+ A# The fact that ?G;1;A has si letters is an incon*enience+ and Allman

o'ser*es that the Pythagoreans wrote upsilon+ gamma+ iota+ theta+ alpha at the points+

perhaps 'ecause an adHacent epsilon and iota loo) something li)e a theta# /hasles 025"+ p#

352-35!6 li)ewise lists these fi*e letters+ .uoting Alstedius 05ncyc! uni6!+ =4>6 and Circher

0 %rithmologia+ =="6# Agrippa,s De occulta philosophia0Li'# ;;;+ cap# i9 see also



AgrippaQTyson+ "=3-"6 shows an in*erted pentagram la'eled in the angles cloc)wise from the

top# The fourth letter loo)s something li)e Z.,9 its appearance is consistent with a common

medie*al a''ra*iation for 1;# all 0p# >> and Biedermann 0p# 4=E6 reproduce a figure from

<incenKo /artari,s3e 2magini degli Dei degli %ntichi 0<eneKia =>!+ Pado*a =4=+ etc#6+ which

shows a Pythagorean signet ring 'earing an upright pentagram la'eled with 'oth ugieia and$lua# The Gree) letters in ?G1;A 0a late+ 4nd cent# B/1+ spelling of ugieia6 are cloc)wise in

the points+ 'eginning witht he upper-left arm# The Roman letters $LA?$ are cloc)wise in the

angles+ 'eginning witht he lower-left angle#

The singing of the sounds+ especially the *owel sounds+ creates compact entities in the

$pectral Realm# The longer they are continued+ the denser 0more compact6 their $pectra#

Their Power is collocated in the $pectral Realm with that of all similar sounds+ no matter when

they were made+ or where# Thus connections and causal relations are esta'lished across

$pace and Time# This is a conse.uence of the 8athematics of armony 07ourier Analysis6#

;,*e )ept the usual 1arth Banishing Pentagram 0lower-left to top6 for this %Lesser& ritual+

though ; )now of no ancient warrant for the usual association of the 7i*e 1lements with the

points of the Pentagram# owe*er+ the letters ugieia suggest and arrangement @4= that

respects the ancient opposition of the elements 0water opposed to fire+ earth opposed to air6

06?dr U water+ Gaia U earth+ ;dea U idea or form 0spirit6+ eilW U the suns heat or warmth

0fire6+ ASr U air# ;n this case+ it ma)es sense to start lettering at the lower-left so that ; U spirit is

in the uppermost point#

*# :ow go thou to the 1ast and ma)e the Pentagram# As thou callest

$Aupiter& or $Beus&

$!uppiter&

$Beu&

hurl thou is Thunder'olt through the center of the Pentagram+ and see it fly away to ;nfinity#

Neus,s "eraunos 0Thunder'olt6 is a comple sym'ol+ nearly identical in shape to the

Ti'etan dor/e 0indu [em[*aHra[ emUXX\6 thunder'olt# The round center represents the orld

:a*el# The radiate 'ranches at each end represent the two hal*es of the orld Tree+ the

upper Branches growing from the 1arth up to the four .uarters of the ea*ens+ and the lower

Roots growing from the 1arth down to the four .uarters of the A'yss# Thus it represents the

power of the Twofold Path for Growth and ;llumination# The center 0cf# the Lotus or Bindu6

represents the 1arthly potential for Growth out of the <oid+ while the ends represent the

power of /elestial and /hthonic Lightning+ 'oth illuminating and destructi*e# The

reconciliation of the /elestial and /hthonic Paths was achie*ed in the !th cent# B/1 'y the

Olympian 8o*ement 0Butterworth+ Tree+ E>-EE6+ and the Lightning ] 7lower com'ination is

thereafter common in Gree) art# $ee Butterworth 0Tree+ 4>"+ 443-44"6 on the Ceraunos as an

%efflorescence of flame#& As such it is an androgynous sym'ol 0li)e the /aduceus6+ for the7lame 0or Jewel6 is masculine and the ater 0or Lotus6 is feminine 0Goldsmith 2-!6# The



Ceraunos was made for Neus 'y the "ukl.poi 0/yclopes6+ ?nderworld 8asters of 7ire+ who

are Giants who see from their 'rows 0cf# the %third eye& or %/01Chakra6# 0$ee

Butterworth+Tree+ <;+ ;F9 Goldsmith >>->"+ 5"#6[Qem[*aHra[\

;ona Q Sra might also 'e appropriate for the 1ast 0$he is not an 1arth Goddess6+ in whichcase you should throw er /uc)oo-'earing $ceptre+ which represents the /elestial $pirit

nesting on the top of the orld Tree# 0Neus first came to era in the form of a /uc)oo#6 @45

*i# :ow with thy $taff forge the 7iery Ring+ drawing if from the center of the 1astern

Pentagram and stretching it to the $outh+ where thou wilt ma)e another Pentagram+ 'ut call

$2esta& or $-estia&

$2esta& Cpronounced $)E6ta&

$-estia&

and throw thou er Burning /ircle#

estia,s Burning /ircle represents the Protection of the hearth 7ire or /amp 7ire# The 1ternal

7ire of estia Q <esta represents 1ternal Life 0$7f! Cl! Dict!+ s#*# estia6#

*iH# Then to the est

$@eptune& or $Poseidon&

$@eptune& Cpronounced $@ep"?neh&D

$Poseidon&

url thou is Trident#

Poseidon,s Trident represents the /osmic Tree+ as shown 'y the cross'ar 'elow its prongs

0Butterworth+ Traces+ ">6+ which in turn represent the Tree, three roots the $un+ 8oon+ and

7ire /hannels 0#ingal+ 2da1-d+ + Susumn6 in which #rna mo*es 0Butterworth+Tree+ F6#

*iiH# Then to the :orth

$#eres& or $emeter&

$#eres& Cpron. $3Eres&D

$,m,t,r&

Throw thou er Torch#

This is the Torch 'y which Iemeter tried to find Persephone9 it illuminated er odyssey+

during which $he rode in a chariot conducted 'y winged serpents#



Pluto Q aidS would also 'e appropriate for the :orth+ in which case his helmet of ;n*isi'ility

should 'e proHected through the Pentagram# ades, name may mean %the ?nseen& %06AidS&

[ %a ] ideSs& 03S4 s#*# aidSs6# @42

i# Then draw thou the 7iery Ring 'ac) to its 'eginning+ so it 'urneth on e*ery side#

The foregoing in*o)es Ieities of the 7irst Olympian Generation Jupiter+ <esta+ :eptune+ and

/eres are all children of $aturn and Ops+ as are Pluto and Juno#

hen proHecting the four weapons through the Pentagrams+ it,s helpful to ma)e an

appropriate gesture as though throwing a dart for Neus,s Ceraunos+ a fris'ee for estia,s

Burning Ring+ a Ha*elin for Poseidon,s Trident+ and a )nife for Iemeter,s Torch#

!!!. )ards o+ the ;uarters

# :ow raise again thy arms so thou art the $acred Tau and then will the 7iery Ring epand

a'o*e and 'elow until thou art surrounded 'y the Glowing $phere# 7ocusing thine attention

'efore thee01astward6+ say

$e+ore< 'pollo&

$'nte< 'pollo&

$Prosthen< 'pollon&

Apollo will appear 'efore thee in all is glory+ Bow in hand facing thee# Then will e turn is

'ac) to watch the 1astern (uarter#

8ercurie pronounced 8er-/?-ri-eh Q ermS+ with is /aduceus+ would also 'e appropriate

for the 1ast#

i# est 7ocusing thine attention 'ehind thee+ say

$ehind< iana/'rtemis&

$Post< iana&

$Opisthen< 'rtemis&

Artemis will appear with er Bow# Then will $he turn away to watch the est#

Apollo and Artemis+ the %$hining Twins& form a complementary pair for the ards of the 1ast

and est#

<enus Q AphroditS+ arising from the wa*es and holding er Nona 0Girdle6+ would also 'e

appropriate for the est#

iH# $outh 7ocusing thine attention to thy right+ say @4!



$On the right< MinerFa/'thena&

$extra< MinerFa& Cpronounced $Mi@ER5a&D

$Epidexia< 'th,na.&

Athena will appear with er Aegis and $pear+ and turn to watch the $outh#

8ars Q Ares 0with $hield and $word6 or <olcane pronounced ol-CA-neh Q Sphaiste 0with

ammer and Tongs6 would also 'e appropriate for the $outh9 8ars was also an ;talic

*egetation God+ and so might 'e e*o)ed in the :orth#

iiH# :orth 7ocusing thine attention to thy left+ say

$On the le+t< acchus/ionysos&

$6inistra< acche&

$Ep4 aristera< ionuse&

Iionysus will appear with is Thyrsus+ and then turn to watch the :orth#

;n addition to 'eing a *egetation God+ Iionysos is associated with the :ether Reagions+

which are in the :orth# Also+ Iionysos was 'orn from Neus,s thigh+ much li)e Athena+ the ar

of the $outh 0who was 'orn from Neus,s thigh or 'row6#

Pan+ with is Pipes+ would also 'e apprioriate for the :orth# Pan may seem an unli)ely ard+

'ut when Athens honored im and as)ed im to help defend then from the Persians+ e did

so 0erodt# <;#>"#4-E6#

i*# ;n thy mind+ than) all the ards of the (uarters for Their protection#

The foregoing in*o)es Ieities of the $econd Olympian Generation Apollo+ 8ercury+ Iiana+

<enus 0according to the 2liad 6+ 8iner*a+ 8ars+ <ulcan+ and Bacchus are all offspringof Jupiter

andQor Juno# Pan is a son of 8ercury# 7or ards+ ;,*e tried to select Ieities that are

protectors# On the other hand+ ; see no reason to limit oneself to a fied set of ards9 there

are many Gods and Goddesses that might 'e in*o)ed in particular circumstances9 also ;

would epect the practitioners to call upon any Gods with whom they ha*e a specialrelationship# 0:ote that the Gods should 'e called in the *ocati*e case in Gree) or Latin#6

The Gods suggested a'o*e correspond approimatesly to teh archangels usually in*o)ed in

teh LBRP# 1ast Raphael 0air+ @E> eagle6+ who presides o*er human spirit 0cf# Apollo+

ermes6# est Ga'riel 0water+ man6+ who presides o*er Paradise M cheru'im 0cf# Aphrodite+

Artemis6# $outh 8ichael 0fire+ lion6+ who is militant+ and presides o*er human *irtue 0cf#

Athena+ 8ars6# :orth ?riel 0earth+ calf6+ who presides o*er clamor and terror 0cf# Pan+

Iionysos6# $ee also $pence 05nc! $ccult!+ s#*# Angels6+ and Barrett 0Magus+ ;<#i#4+ ii#E"6#



!2. "he Macrocosm in the Microcosm

*# $pread thy feet apart and assume thou the form of the $acred Pentagram+ and when it

flameth around thee+ say

$%or around +lameth the Pentagram.&

$@am circa +lagrat Pentagrammon.&

$Peri men gar phlegei to Pentagrammon.&

*i# hen the $acred eagram shineth within thee+ say

$'nd 5ithin shineth the 6ixrayed 6tar.&

$'t*ue inta lucet 6tella 6exradiata.&

$Entos de lampei ho -exaGtin8tos 'st,r.&

Traditionally the eagram sym'oliKes the ?nity of Opposites and the Balance of the 7our

1lements# The four elements result from the opposition of acti*ity 07ire+ 8orma+

$ulphur+ Spiritus6 and recepti*ity 0ater+ Materia+ (uic)sil*er+ %nima6# ;n alchemical terms+ it

is thefluid fire6 water ma)es fire non'urning+ and so air-li)e6 and fiery fluid 0fire ma)es water

sta'le+ and so earth-li)e6# ;n other words+ the /elestial 7ire sta'iliKes 0draws up6 the atery

A'yss to yield the ay of the 1arth+ and the atery A'yss tames 0draws down6 the /elestial

7ire to yield the ay of the Air# The eagram shining within the 'ody 0$alt6 signifies the

perfect union of spirit 0$ulphur6 and soul 08ercury6+ which is the %Li*ing Gol+& the goal of

spiritual alchemy# That is+ the celestial and chthonic worlds meet in the mundane world# 0$ee

Burc)hardt+ pp# 53-5"#6

*iH# The Pentagram signifieth the 8icrocosm+ and the eagram signifieth the 8acrocosm#

Thus the 8acrocosm shineth within the illuminated 8icrocosm#

2. "he #losing "au #ross

*iiH# Repeat thou the Tau /ross as it was at the 'eginning# @E

The following alternati*e gestures incorporate the relation of the elements em'odied in the

eagram As you recite the tet of the Tau /ross+ 06 'egin with arms crossed+ right o*er left+

on your chest9 046 raise your right arm to the /elestial 7ire+ 0E6 lower your left arm to the

atery A'yss+ 036 let the fire draw up the water to yield earth+ 'y mo*ing your left arm up to

your chest and out to the left+ the ay of 1arth9 0"6 let the water draw down the fire to yield

air+ 'y mo*ing your right arm down to your chest and out to your right+ the ay of Air9 0=6

cross your arms o*er your chest+ indicating the reconciliation+ union and 'alance of the

Oppositions 0(i6ium6+ orlds 0Tri6ium6 and 1lemental (uarters 09uadri6ium6# Alchemy calls

these di*isions the Two $eeds+ the Three Principles and the 7our 1lements9 its goal is their

unification+ the One 7ruit+ the Tincture of Li*ing Gold 0from a 5== :urem'urg 8$6#



i# Thou hast made for thyself a $acred $pace at the orld,s :a*el# Ascending on thy right

is the Light Path and descending on thy left is the Iar) Path+ 'ut remem'er thou that the

ise One )noweth that the ay ?p and the ay Iown are the same and that together they

ma)e the one Path of isdom# $o must it 'e#

Ελληνικη Εκδοχη -Lesser Banishing Ritual of the Pentagram

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Transcript of Ελληνικη Εκδοχη -Lesser Banishing Ritual of the Pentagram