NOTES ON THE GREATER RITUAL OF THE HEXAGRAM

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Copyright © 2006 e.v.
Thelemic Order of the Golden Dawn.

Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the Law.

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The following is a paper from the archives of the Thelemic Order of the Golden Dawn (Order of the T.·.G.·.D.·.).  It was originally prepared by the founder of the Order, David Cherubim (Frater A.·.A.·.), and has been subsequently revised and adapted for current purposes.  Together with the other materials available on the Order’s website (and specifically the materials on the Lesser Ritual of the Hexagram and the Self-Initiation Ceremony of the Adeptus Major), significant guidance is provided with respect to this Holy Ritual.

The Greater Ritual of the Hexagram is performed in the same manner as the Lesser Ritual.  However, you trace the appropriate Planetary Hexagram and the Sigil of the Planet or Zodiacal Sign, and vibrate in each Hexagram the appropriate God Name after vibrating ARARITA.  For instance, if you were to invoke Jupiter, you would trace the Hexagram of Jupiter, draw the appropriate Sigil of Jupiter in the Centre of the Hexagram, and vibrate ARARITA and the God Name AL.  After all four Hexagrams are traced in all four quarters, and the Circle is complete, you turn to the appropriate place in the Temple where the Planet Jupiter is located in the Heavens.  You then trace a fifth Hexagram of Jupiter in this place, drawing the Sigil of Jupiter, and vibrating the Divine Name ARARITA and the God Name AL.  You should furthermore vibrate in this fifth Hexagram the Archangelic Name, the Angelic Choir Name and the Hebrew Name of the Planet attributed to the force of your invocation.  For Jupiter, these would be TZADKIEL, CHASHMALIM and TZEDEK.  For the other Planets, you would use their corresponding Divine Names. 

You should end the Ritual as in the beginning, with the Analysis of the Key Word.  This final act balances the entire operation.  

For tracing the appropriate color of each Hexagram, consult the book 777.  The Queen Scale of Colors (Column XVI) is appropriate for the Hexagrams and the King Scale of Colors (Column XV) is appropriate for the Planetary and Astrological Sigils. 

For the invocation of Zodiacal Signs, use the Hexagram of the Planet which rules the Sign of your invocation, but trace the Astrological Sigil of the Sign instead of that of the Planet. 

To invoke or banish the Planets called Pluto, Uranus and Neptune, use the Hexagram attributed to Binah (Saturn), but trace therein the Astrological Sigil of the Planet of your invocation.  For Uranus and Pluto, use the Divine Names attributed to Chokmah and Kether, respectively.  Daath has no traditional Divine Names, so for Neptune you use the Divine Names of Binah. 

When tracing the Sigil of Luna, use the Lunar Crescent facing your left if the Moon is in her increase, or facing your right if the Moon is in her decrease.  For the Full Moon, you would trace an orb of white, for the New Moon an orb of black.  

There are twelve different ways to trace the so-called Hexagram of Earth to invoke or banish the Planetary forces.  The Hexagram of any particular Planet is traced in two triangles, the first starting from the angle of the Planet, the second opposite to the commencing angle of the first.  To invoke, the first line is traced moving clockwise from the angle of the Planet.  To banish, the first line is traced moving counter-clockwise from the angle of the Planet.  All lines follow thereafter. 

For the Sun, all six Hexagrams of the Planets are traced in their regular planetary order down the Tree of Life (from 3-Saturn to 9-the Moon).  Alternatively, it may be more practical to employ the Unicursal Hexagram for Solar workings, which can be traced as follows: 

Banishing and Invoking Unicursal Hexagram

The Unicursal Hexagram, unlike the so-called Hexagram of Earth, can be traced in one continuous line like the Pentagram.  (Note:  “uni” = one, “cursal” = tracing.) 

The Greater Ritual of the Hexagram can be used to invoke or banish any of the twelve Zodiacal Forces.  In such a case, you would trace the Hexagram of the Planet which rules the Sign of your invocation and you would trace therein the Astrological Sigil of the Sign.  You would vibrate the Divine Names which correspond to the Planet.  The time of the invocation of a Zodiacal Force should be determined by the position of the Sign in the heavens, so that you may trace your fifth Hexagram and Zodiacal Sigil in its proper direction. 

Listed below are the twelve Astrological Signs of the Zodiac and their Ruling Planet(s).  For those Signs which are ruled by two Planets, you may trace the Hexagram of one or the other of the two Planets, depending on the nature of the intent of your invocation.

SIGN:                 RULING PLANET(S):

Aries                   Mars, Pluto

Taurus                Venus

Gemini                Mercury

Cancer                Moon

Leo                     Sun

Virgo                   Mercury

Libra                    Venus

Scorpio                Pluto, Mars

Sagittarius           Jupiter

Capricorn             Saturn

Aquarius              Uranus, Saturn

Pisces                 Neptune, Jupiter

There are differences in practice as to whether you commence the Hexagram Ritual with the Analysis of the Key Word or the Qabalistic Cross.  We recommend that you always use the Analysis of the Key Word rather than the Qabalistic Cross because this tends to better equilibrate the force of your invocation.  However, you will need to determine what works best for you.

The Signs used in the Hexagram Ritual are connected with the four Elements, the four Seasons of the Year and the construction of your Circle.  They are called the L.V.X. Signs.  L.V.X., or Lux, is the Light of the Cross.  It is that Great Light which is referred to in the proclamation, "Khabs Am Pekht.  Konx Om Pax.  Light In Extension." In the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn, the L.V.X. Signs are known as "The Sign of Osiris Slain", "The Sign of the Mourning of Isis", "The Sign of Typhon-Apophis", and "The Sign of Osiris Risen."  The Sign of Orus (or Osiris Slain) is also called the Sign of the Cross; the Sign of the Dance of Asi (or Isis Mourning) is also called the Sign of the Svastika, and by shape it is the letter L of the word LVX; the Sign of the Joy of Iacchus (or Typhon-Apophis) is also called the Sign of the Trident, and by shape it is the letter V of the word LVX; the Sign of the Blazing Star (or Osiris Risen) is also called the Sign of the Pentagram, and by shape it is the letter X of the word LVX.  These Signs are illustrated below.   

Next, we list 11 steps for using the Greater Ritual of the Hexagram.  Before attempting to experiment with these steps, it is critical that you clearly formulate your Will the best you can.  It is also important to understand the Magical Link. 

A Magical Link can be anything, from a Talisman, to a Pentacle, to a precious Stone that corresponds to the nature of the force of your invocation, or to yourself.  Besides the Will of the Magician, it is the most important part of a ceremony proper.  It affirms the equation of the work, and the success of the operation. 

A Talisman is a "charged" or "consecrated" object with symbols and/or words inscribed on it that are intended to represent particular ideas or forms of energy which the Magician is employing in the operation.  The Talisman is a Magical Link with the particular force of the Magician’s invocation (or evocation) which charges or consecrates it.

STEPS FOR USING THE GREATER RITUAL OF THE HEXAGRAM:

1.  Perform the Lesser Banishing Ritual of the Pentagram.

2.  Perform the Lesser Banishing Ritual of the Hexagram.

3.  Recite a general invocation to the Lord of the Universe.  [The T.·.G.·.D.·. “Invocation to the Lord of the Universe” or the Adoration from Liber Resh vel Helios (“Unity uttermost showed …”) would be proper to recite at this step.]

4. Recite an invocation to the God whose form you are going to assume.

5.  Assume the appropriate God Form.

6.  Ignite appropriate Planetary Incense and consecrate yourself (by forming a cross on your breast) with the appropriate Planetary Oil, and ignite if you will the appropriate Planetary Candle (being of a color corresponding to the nature of your work).

7.  In the consciousness of the God Form, perform the Greater Ritual of the Hexagram to invoke the Planetary Force of your Invocation.

8.  Proclaim and project your Will and charge your Magickal Link with the force of your Invocation.

9.  Perform the Greater Banishing Ritual of the Hexagram.

10.  Perform the Lesser Banishing Ritual of the Hexagram.

11.  Perform the Lesser Banishing Ritual of the Pentagram.

The banishings in closing (steps 9 through 11) can be simplified depending upon the nature of the working, but should not be simplified if there is any question in your mind as to their necessity.  (If any question or doubt, banish!)

The following table of correspondences for the Planets may assist you in this work: 

TABLE OF CORRESPONDENCES:

PLANETS:      GODS:            DAYS:           COLORS:

Sun                 Ra                  Sunday          Yellow/Violet

Moon              Isis                  Monday         Violet/Yellow

Mars               Horus              Tuesday         Red/Green

Mercury          Thoth               Wednesday    Orange/Blue

Jupiter            Amun               Thursday        Blue/Orange

Venus             Hathoor            Friday            Green/Red

Saturn             Set/Isis            Saturday        Indigo/Yellow

Following the same Planetary order as the table above:

METALS:          PERFUMES:                        PRECIOUS STONES:

Gold                 Cinnamon/Frankincense         Topaz, any Yellow Stone

Silver                Jasmine/Lotus/Blue Rose       Moonstone, Crystal, Pearl

Iron                  Dragons Blood/Pine                Ruby, any Red Stone

Mercury            Musk/Lavender                      Fiery Opal, Agate

Tin                    Cedar/Dark Copal                  Amethyst, Lapis Lazuli

Copper              Sandalwood/Rose                 Emerald, Turquoise

Lead                 Myrrh                                    Black Diamond, any Black Stone

As an example, if you want to invoke the Sun, you would assume the God-Form of Ra, on a Sunday, with a Magickal Link (such as a precious Stone like Topaz or a Metal like Gold or a Talisman made from paper of the appropriate Color, such as Yellow, with the symbols and letters on that Talisman made in its opposite Color, such as Violet), using the Perfumes of Cinnamon or Frankincense, and a Yellow Candle.  (Both Oils and Incenses are listed as Perfumes.)

May you use this information, wisely and well, to the Glory of the Most High!!!

Love is the law, love under will.

Yours in the Great Work,
Brian Goldstein (Frater Achad AL)
Anno IVxiv: Sol in Gemini,
Luna in Gemini.

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