Appendix II: Variations of the Lesser
Banishing Ritual of the Pentagram
Modern magicians have created a variety of pentagram rituals. If you have studied the traditional version of the LBRP (exercise 5), you will notice that it consists of three basic parts: the Qabalistic Cross, the banishing itself, and the angelic invocation. The process is sealed with a repetition of the Qabalistic Cross, making it really a four-part exercise, but based on three different forms.
The purpose of the Qabalistic Cross is to unite the practitioner with the cosmos, yet ground the energy in the material world. Polarities symbolized by the left and right are acknowledged and balanced. The space is then cleared and clearly marked with the use of the four pentagrams and their circle. Unlike a witch’s magick circle, the container of sacred space created in the LBRP is not anchored or manifested into a bubble of energy, but rather the boundaries of the cleared space are marked out with a ring of light. A “higher” force, a group of entities associated with those four directions, is called upon, for divine protection, to maintain the space for any further working, or in general to attune the practitioner to these divine forces and make them more readily accessible in daily and magickal life. The entire ritual is referenced, as well as the elusive power of the center as the six-pointed star. The connection between the spiritual and material is then recognized again, and the ritual is complete.
Your own LBRP ritual should contain these basic elements and fulfill the same functions to be truly effective as an LBRP–style ritual.
Temple of Witchcraft LBRP
My own version of the LBRP is the one that many of my students adopt, preferring to use something that has been tested yet not wanting to use the traditional version due to its Hebrew associations. They prefer something more pagan, more witchy.
I meditated on reconstructing the LBRP, and my spirit guides gave me the words and motions. My version is based on Celtic and Greek imagery, as they are two of the most prominent pantheons in my personal practice. Some of the words don’t really make sense in a formal language, though to me they sound similar to Latin, but they evoke a power for me, and were divinely given. Sometimes magickal words cannot be translated into a traditional language, but they still are effective.
No blade is necessary for this ritual, as both hands are used for many motions, but if you desire, you can hold your blade in your dominant, projective hand. I prefer to just use my outstretched hands.
In place of the Qabalistic Cross, I use a variation of the Earth and Sky Connection (Exercise 16 in ITOW). Instead of doing it in a state of deep meditation, I perform it ceremonially, eyes open and using movement, breath, voice, and visualization.
My version of the banishing is more relaxed when compared to the traditional LBRP, omitting the use of the Sign of the Enterer or the Sign of Silence. Instead of chanting the Hebrew divine names, the vowels associated with the five elements are used. The primary vowels of A-E-I-O-U always have reminded me of the Greek god Aeolus, god of the four winds. Some witchcraft groups use the kings of the four winds as their elemental guardians. I think of Aeolus, and chants based on A-E-I-O-U, as having mastery over the four directions and the subtle fifth element. Whenever I draw banishing or invoking pentagrams (OTOW, Chapter 6), I chant the vowel sounds in order of the points I am drawing, starting with the point I am moving toward. In this case, the banishing pentagram of earth moves toward the point of spirit, and then to fire, air, water, and ending on earth, creating a chant of U, I, E, O, and A (figure 86). I also have used variations of sacred syllables for the elements.
|
Element |
Vowel |
Modern Syllable |
Egyptian Syllable |
|
Spirit |
U |
Ka |
Sa |
|
Fire |
I |
Ra |
Am |
|
Air |
E |
Leem |
As |
|
Water |
O |
Om |
Nu |
|
Earth |
A |
El |
Ta |
For the calling of the four guardians, I call upon the deities I use in my traditional quarter calls (OTOW, Chapter 6) in my personal practice. By calling upon them to be present during my daily LBRP, I build a stronger relationship with them when I call upon them in a more formal magick circle ritual. Some people feel that calling upon deities in this way is disrespectful and trivial. I think that the deities all are capable of being in many places at once, and asking to a build a relationship with them is a sign of great respect. You become attuned to their energy after a time, and there is a part of them always with you. I feel their presence strongly in my life, and if they felt disrespected, I don’t think they would come when I ask them to in this ritual.
Earth and Sky Connection
1. Stand straight, facing the north in the center of your circle. Sweep both arms up the sides of your body. Visualize and feel yourself bringing the energy of the Earth beneath your feet up through your body and out your crown and fingertips. Feel the energy reach up and connect to the sky. Look up to the sky and say: Et Ouranus.
2. Visualize and feel yourself pull the energy of the sky down through your crown and body as you sweep both arms back down the sides of your body and slightly out to each side, bringing your head down to look at the ground. Say: Et Gaia. Feel the energy of the Earth flowing up through you to the sky while the energy of the sky is flowing down through you to the center of the Earth.
3. As you bring your gaze to the east, reach out with your right hand, straight out the right side, and imagine you are holding a ball of golden yellow light connected to a beam of energy from the east. Say: Et An Ra.
4. As you bring your gaze to the west, reach out with your left hand, straight out the left side, and imagine you are holding a ball of silvery blue light connected to a beam of energy from the west. Say: Et An Ma.
5. Cross your arms over your chest in the God position (the Sign of Osiris Risen, chapter 4), bringing the beams of golden yellow and silvery blue energies across your chest, slightly bowing your head. Say: Amoura Korey. Feel a flow of gold energy move through you from east to west while simultaneously feeling a flow of silver energy move through you from west to east. Feel the flow of the Earth and sky energies as well, as you are in the center of an energetic cross. Feel your connection to all things.
Banishing
6. While still facing the north, step back with the foot of your dominant side (your right foot, if you are right-handed). Draw a banishing earth pentagram in blue or blue-violet light, and chant U-I-E-O-A, with one vowel for each point of the star. Step forward with the foot that stepped back, and plunge your dominant hand into the star, activating it and “pushing” it out to the circumference of your intended circle. In the center of the pentagram, start drawing the circle around you, drawing one-quarter of a circle of light (in white, blue, or violet) until you face the east. Repeat this process in all four directions, completing the circle in the north.
Evocation
7. Standing in the center of the circle and facing the north, with your arms outstretched to either side, evoke the four powers with the following prayer. Imagine each deity standing in the appropriate direction. Feel within your heart chakra the presence of the circle and pentagrams, as well as the hexagram. As you imagine the hexagram, bend your arms at the elbow, bringing your hands in to touch your chest. When you are done, visualize the deities facing out, protecting you from harm.
Before me, Cernunnos.
Behind me, Macha.
On my right hand, Lugh.
And on my left hand, Ceridwen.
About me flame the pentagrams.
And within me shines the six-rayed star of perfect love and perfect trust.
8. Repeat the Earth and Sky Connection.
Modern LBRP
Earth and Sky Connection
1. With your hands raised above your head, say: Father Sky. (Picture blue sky energy moving down to your heart chakra.)
2. With your hands directed below, say: Mother Earth. (Picture green Earth energy moving up to your heart chakra and mingling with the sky energy. Both energies continue moving through you—sky down to Earth, and Earth up to sky.)
3. With your right arm out, say: Golden Sun. (Picture the Sun sending golden energy to your heart chakra. Feel the warmth flow through you.)
4. With your left arm out, say: Silver Moon. (Picture the Moon sending you silver energy. The gold and silver energies mingle and then continue on through the opposite sides.)
5. In the center, with your arms in the God position, say: Blessed be.
Banishing
6. When you face each direction, draw a banishing earth pentagram. Picture it shining at the boundary of your space. Push your energy and breath into each pentagram. Chant the appropriate words for each point of the star, beginning in the north and tracing one-quarter of a circle in each direction.
North: To Know.
East: To Will.
South: To Dare.
West: To Be Silent.
Evocation
7. Say:
Before me, Raphael.
Behind me, Gabriel.
On my right hand, Michael.
And on my left hand, Uriel.
For about me flames the pentagram.
And within me shines the six-rayed star.
8. Repeat the Earth and Sky Connection.
© Alixaendreia. Used with permission.
A Chaos Magick Version of the LBRP
This is a ritual to dispel gloom and seriousness. Use when appropriate, especially on April 15.
Opening
1. Facing east, say: From the greatest heights. Reach upward with your right hand, fingers spread in a receiving gesture. Imagine opening a perfect and appropriate channel to the universe.
2. Say: To the deepest depths. Sweep your hand vertically from your head toward your feet, feeling the energy enter through your crown chakra and course through your body to your feet.
3. Say: To the greatest breadths, around and through me. In and of the Universe. Reach to the right, touch your right shoulder, gesture through your heart chakra, and touch your left shoulder. Feel the support of the universal energy supporting you.
4. Say: I am centered. Bring your hands to your heart center. Imagine yourself as balanced, powerful, and centered.
5. Say: The Universe rolls in ecstasy around me, OM! Focus on your connection to all.
Banishing
6. Facing east, say: Bricka Bracka. Draw a neon-rainbow banishing earth pentagram, then turn clockwise one-quarter of a circle.
7. Facing south, say: Fire Cracka. Draw a neon-rainbow banishing earth pentagram, then turn clockwise one-quarter of a circle.
8. Facing west, say: Cis Boom Bah. Draw a neon-rainbow banishing earth pentagram, then turn clockwise one-quarter of a circle.
9. Facing north, say. Bugs Bunny, Bugs Bunny, Rah Rah Rah. Draw a neon-rainbow banishing earth pentagram, then turn clockwise one-quarter of a circle.
Evocation
10. Facing east again, say:
Before me, Buffy Summers.
Behind me, Obi-Wan.
On my right hand, Bugs Bunny.
On my left hand, Jean-Luc Picard.
Before me shines the pentagram.
Stretch out your arms and legs, and visualize yourself as a banishing pentagram. Say:
Within me shines the six-rayed star.
Visualize a hexagram, a six-pointed star, in the heart chakra. Say:
Let Freedom and Joy triumph. Eris be with me for the Greatest Good.
11. Repeat the opening.
© Penney L. Robinson. Used with permission.
Crossroads LBRP
Crossroads Within
1. Point your receptive hand toward the top of your head, visualizing a great ball of light. This ball radiates a pillar down from the heavens and into your body. Say: I am one with divine will.
2. Bring your hand down to point at the floor, visualizing the ray of light descending into the Earth below your feet. Say: In the silence of the kingdom.
3. Bring your right hand to your heart and extend it to the right horizontally, visualizing a beam of light shooting from your heart to the infinite space to your right. Say: With power to dare.
4. Bring your left hand to your heart and extend it to the left horizontally, visualizing a beam of light flowing to the infinite space to your left. Say: And glory of knowledge.
5. Return both hands into a gesture of prayer, visualizing a crystalline light from your heart filling your aura. Say: I weave myself anew. So mote it be!
Banishing Stars
6. In the east, with your right hand, draw a banishing pentagram, visualizing it in blue flame. When this is done, push the pentagram with your thoughts and gestures until it is at the end of the space that you would like to clear of all unwanted energies. When it is in place, intone the name of the Grigori of the east: Aldebaran.
7. Visualize a line of light extending from the horizontal line of the star toward the south as you make a quarter turn. When facing the south, create a pentagram there. Repeat the steps of the eastern pentagram, only intone the name of the Grigori of the south: Regulus.
8. Visualize the light circle extending to the next quarter, in the west. Draw the pentagram and intone the name of the Grigori of the west: Antares.
9. Visualize the light circle extending to the next quarter, in the north. Draw the pentagram in the air and invoke the Grigori of the north: Fomalhaut.
10. Extend the circle of light until it connects with itself as you turn back to the east to begin the invocation of the guardians.
Invoking the Guardians
11. Say:
Eko before me, Bran and Branwen.
Eko behind me, Manannan and Cerridwyn.
Eko to my right, Brigit and Lugh.
Eko to my left, Danu and Cernunnos.
Around me and within me burn the flames of the pentagrams.
Above me and now within me burns the six-rayed star.
12. Repeat the Crossroads Within.
© Adam Sartwell. Used with permission.
Other Pentagram Rituals
Here are a few more pentagram rituals for you to discover and explore.
Star Ruby
The Star Ruby is Aleister Crowley’s version of the LBRP, published first in The Book of Lies and later, in a slightly different version, in Appendix VI of Magick in Theory and Practice, Book 4, Part III. Unfortunately, Crowley didn’t leave a lot of information on this ritual, but you can find a commentary, along with instructions, in The Magick of Thelema by Lon Milo DuQuette.
Setting of the Wards of Power and Setting of the Wards of Adamant
These pentagram rituals, from the tradition known as Aurum Solis, are similar to the Golden Dawn’s style of ritual. Instructions for the rituals can be found in Mysteria Magica by Denning and Phillips.
Gnostic Pentagram Ritual
Chaos magician Peter Carroll has his own version of the LBRP, used by many modern magicians. It can be found in his book Liber Kaos. One could argue that it was both this ritual and the principles of Chaos magick put forth by Carroll that inspired the next generation of modern magicians to create their own pentagram rituals.
New Hermetics Grounding and Centering
This modern version of the LBRP focuses on the inner experience rather than outer movements, and can be found in The New Hermetics by Jason Augustus Newcomb.
Arthurian Ritual of the Pentagram
This Arthurian style of pentagram ritual was written by Gahmuret for the organization known as the Sodalicium Mysteriorum Arthuri, and can be found at http://sodalicium.org/rituals.html.