Opening by Watchtower

(from Israel Regardie’s Ceremonial Magic)

The Temple should be prepared as follows:

A central Altar, with Tablet of Union, a rose, and the Magician’s Wand and Dagger.

A Fire altar in the South, with appropriate tablet and weapon.

A Water altar in the West, with appropriate tablet and weapon.

An Air altar in the East, with appropriate tablet and weapon.

An Earth altar in the North, with appropriate tablet and weapon.

Incense, appropriate to the working being done, may be burned, as well appropriate music should be played if so desired.

I. Stand at Altar, facing East, and announce:

HEKAS, HEKAS, ESTE BEBELOI!

(hay-kahs, hay-kahs, ess-tee bee-ba-loy!)

II. Perform the Banishing Ritual of the Pentagram.

III. Perform the Banishing Ritual of the Hexagram.

IV. Go to Fire altar. Pick up Fire Wand and shake it three times in front of Tablet.

V. Holding Fire Wand above head, walk slowly deosil around perimeter, saying:

And when, after all the phantoms have vanished, thou shalt see that holy and formless fire, that fire which darts and flashes through the hidden depths of the Universe, hear thou the Voice of Fire.

VI. On returning to the Fire altar, shake the Fire Wand three times in front of Tablet.

VII. With Fire Wand, trace a large circle in front of the Tablet, then an invoking Pentagram of Fire within it, then the Fire Kerub (sign of Leo) in the center, saying:

OIP TEAA PEDOCE (oh-ee-pay tay-ah-ah pay-doh-kay). In the names and letters of the Great Southern Quadrangle, I invoke ye, ye Angels of the Watchtower of the South.

Replace Fire Wand.

VIII. Walk deosil to the Water altar. Pick up Water Cup and sprinkle a few drops three times in front of Tablet.

IX. Holding Water Cup above head, walk slowly deosil around perimeter, saying:

So therefore first, the priest who governeth the works of fire must sprinkle with the lustral water of the loud resounding sea.

X. On returning to the Water altar, sprinkle a few drops three times in front of Tablet.

XI. With Water Cup, trace a large circle in front of the Tablet, then an invoking Pentagram of Water within it, then the Water Kerub (eagle’s head) in the center, saying:

EMPEH ARSEL GAIOL (em-pay-hay ar-sel gah-ee-ohl). In the names and letters of the Great Western Quadrangle, I invoke ye, ye angels of the Watchtower of the West.

Replace Water Cup.

XII. Walk deosil to the Air altar. Pick up Air Dagger and shake it three times in front of Tablet.

XIII. Holding Air Dagger above head, walk slowly deosil around perimeter, saying:

Such a fire existeth, extending through the rushing of Air. Or even a fire formless, whence cometh the image of a voice. Or even a flashing light, abounding, revolving, whirling forth, crying aloud.

XIV. On returning to the Air altar, shake the Air Dagger three times in front of Tablet.

XV. With Air Dagger, trace a large circle in front of the Tablet, then an invoking Pentagram of Air within it, then the Air Kerub (sign of Aquarius) in the center, saying:

ORO IBAH AOZPI (eh-roh ee-bah-hay ah-oh-zohd-pee). In the names and letters of the Great Eastern Quadrangle, I invoke ye, ye Angels of the Watchtower of the East.

Replace Air Dagger.

XVI. Walk deosil to the Earth altar. Pick up Earth Pentacle and shake it three times in front of Tablet.

XVII. Holding Earth Pentacle above head, walk slowly deosil around perimeter, saying:

Stoop not down into that darkly splendid world wherein continually lieth a faithless depth and Hades wrapped in gloom, delighting in unintelligible images, precipitous, winding; a black ever-rolling abyss, ever espousing a body unluminous, formless and void.

XVIII. On returning to the Earth altar, shake the Earth Pentacle three times in front of Tablet.

XIX. With Earth Pantacle, trace a large circle in front of the Tablet, then an invoking Pentagram of Earth within it, then the Earth Kerub (sign of Taurus) in the center, saying:

EMOR DIAL HECTEGA (ee-mor dee-ahl hec-tay-gah). In the names and letters of the Great Northern Quadrangle, I invoke ye, ye Angels of the Watchtower of the North.

Replace Earth Pentacle.

XX. Walk deosil around Altar to the West and then face East. Pick up rose and trace a large circle over Altar, then the invoking Pentagrams of Spirit (active and passive), saying:

EXARP (ex-ar-pay). BITOM (bay-ee-toh-em). NANTA (en-ah-en-tah). HCOMA (hay-coh-mah). In the names and letters of the mystical Tablet of Union, I invoke ye, ye divine forces of the Spirit of Life.

Replace rose.

XXI. Making the Portal Sign of the Rending of the Veil, say:

I invoke ye, ye Angels of the celestial spheres, whose dwelling is in the invisible. Ye are the guardians of the gates of the Universe, be ye also the guardians of this mystic sphere. Keep far removed the evil and the unbalanced. Strengthen and inspire me so that I may preserve unsullied this abode of the mysteries of the eternal Gods. Let my sphere be pure and holy so that I may enter in and become a partaker of the secrets of the Light Divine.

XXII. Go to the North-east, and say:

The visible Sun is the dispenser of Light to the Earth. Let me therefore form a vortex in this chamber that the Invisible Sun of the Spirit may shine therein from above.

XXIII. Circumambulate three times deosil beginning in the East. Make the Sign of the Enterer each time you pass the East.

XXIV. Return to the West of the Altar, face East, and say the following Adoration, making the Sign of the Enterer at the end of the first three lines, and the Sign of Silence after the fourth line:

Holy art thou, Lord of the Universe.

Holy art thou, whom Nature hath not formed.

Holy art thou, the Vast and the Mighty One.

Lord of the Light and the Darkness.

XXV. Stand in stillness, feeling the forces around you.

XXVI. Perform desired Working.

XXVII. When ready, close the Temple by reversing the circumambulations (widdershins), making the Sign of the Enterer each time you pass the East.

XXVIII. Perform the Banishing Ritual of the Pentagram.

XXIX. Perform the Banishing Ritual of the Hexagram.

XXX. Stand at Altar, facing East, and say:

I now release any spirits that may have been imprisoned by this ceremony. Depart in peace to your abodes and habitations, and go with the blessing of YEHESHUAH YEHOVASHAH (yuh-hesh-you-ah yuh-hoh-vah-shah).

XXXI. Pause, then say:

I now declare this Temple duly closed.