Part Two
Exploring the Guardians of Creation
A labyrinth is a symbolic journey … but it is a map we can really walk on, blurring the difference between map and world.
Rebecca Solnit, Wanderlust: A History of Walking
With this last part of the book, we will work with all that we have to take our gnosis and our witch power beyond our limitations and make contact with our maker. These are mysteries usually revealed to those who undergo the study of the priesthood, who choose to live fully within their power and forge their own bond with the universe. We will explore the concepts of light and darkness and of living as an embodiment of all nature, transfixed in the presence of the Grigori and God Herself.
The Grigori are often under-explored in contemporary witchcraft, but they are the most chief among spirits aside from the creator and her two halves. They are each the spiritual personifications of the primordial forces that together comprise the universe. They are sovereign spirits of the fundamental components of creation, and in our mythology they were among the first powers to come from the Void as God Herself sprang into being. Sometimes referred to as Watchers/Watchtowers, Governors, Beings of the Outer Darkness, Guardians, Fountains, Grand Fathers/Mothers, Gates/Gateways, Shining Ones, Elder Gods, or Primordial Deities, the Grigori are powerful spirits that predate the “gods of mankind.”
In some traditions the archangels are worked with as Grigori, in others they are seen as Nephilim. Almost universally, these spirits are seen as angelic in nature because they are beings of order that came forth from the void or that repel the forces of the void (chaos). In my tradition we often refer to them as the Pillars or Wells of Creation, and we work with them both cautiously and respectfully.
Ritually, the Grigori are often invoked as agents who watch over our workings either to bear witness or to protect the proceedings from outside involvement, depending on tradition. As allies, however, they are capable of much more than that. The Grigori can act as psychic wells of power that can be channeled and woven into our magic. Our main focus, however, is their ability to help us meet and develop a relationship with the Star Goddess, initiating endless communion with the numinous spirit of creation and the universe as we know it.
To do all of this, however, we first must make contact and develop a relationship with these powers. In chapter 10 we will explore the mysteries of the Pyramid of Light and the Labyrinth of Darkness. Here we will make contact with the beings we refer to as the “Terrestrial” Grigori, those whose influence is earth, air, fire, water, and spirit. As an advanced practitioner, you are going to be approaching this work with years of study and understanding when it comes to these forces, as they no longer represent mystery to you. This will make short work of our introduction and exploration and will allow the Pyramid of Dianus to be a place of familiarity and strength when discovering the mysteries of the darkness. In this chapter you will also receive the opening ritual for entering the Labyrinth of Diana and be able to take the first steps toward discovering the unknown.
chapter 11 and on will be dedicated to the Pyramid of Darkness, also known as the Labyrinth of Diana. Here we will meet the Grigori of space, time, matter, energy, and quintessence. To better understand these spirits, we will need to investigate the facts behind the forces they govern and expand our knowledge of how they are interconnected. This will take a bit more time and effort; however, once we have done this, we have made our way through the Labyrinth of Diana and will find ourselves face to face with God Herself.
Unlike some of the other work we have done, reaching these spirits requires little but maturity, commitment, genuine curiosity, and a few supplies. Namely, you will need a journal or sketch book to record your experiences, something to write or draw with, your favorite incense, a black pillar candle, white chalk, and access to fresh water.
The pyramid and the labyrinth will unfold within your witch’s dream and are intrinsically tied to the lonely road. Each of the gates exists within your dream and can only be summoned once you have worked with the corresponding Grigori. There is no rushing this stuff; only practice and observation can yield results. Again, the point isn’t to duplicate my experience, but rather to use my experience to inspire your own. The rituals will observe the same protocols we discussed earlier and will help us to cultivate and stabilize the energies of the Grigori.