Greater Ritual of the Pentagram

From Thelemapedia

Part of the Magick in Theory & Practice series.

The Greater Ritual of the Pentagram is a fundamental ritual of ceremonial and Thelemic magick. It was originally taught by the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn as a banishing ritual.

The ritual

The following is a basic interpretation of the ritual from "Liber O" in Magick, Book 4:

Begin with the "Qabalistic Cross": Touch forehead and say Ateh (to thee)

(to thee) Touch heart and say Malkuth (the kingdom)

(the kingdom) Touch right shoulder and say ve-Geburah (and the power)

(and the power) Touch left shoulder and say ve-Gedulah (and the glory)

(and the glory) Clasping the hands upon the breast, say le-Olahm, Amen (To the Ages, Amen). Face East. Make the invoking pentagram of Spirit (Active) and vibrate A H I H (Eh-hee-eh). Make the Signs of the Portal (the Rending and Closing of the Veil) Make the invoking pentagram of Air and vibrate: Y H V H (Ye-ho-vah) Give the Sign of Air Move deosil (clockwise) to the South and make the invoking pentagram of Spirit (Active) and vibrate A H I H (Eh-hee-eh). Make the Signs of the Portal (the Rending and Closing of the Veil) Make the invoking pentagram of Fire and vibrate: A L H I M (El-oh-heem) Give the Sign of Fire Move to the West. Make the invoking pentagram of Spirit (Passive) and vibrate A G L A (Ah-glah) Make the Signs of the Portal (the Rending and Closing of the Veil) Make the invoking pentagram of Water and vibrate: E L (ell) Give the Sign of Water Carry point to the North. Make the invoking pentagram of Spirit (Passive) and vibrate A G L A (Ah-glah) Make the Signs of the Portal (the Rending and Closing of the Veil) Make the invoking pentagram of Earth and vibrate: A D N I (Ad-oh-nye) Give the Sign of Earth Return to the East and end with "Qabalistic Cross" as in (1) above





Ritual components

The pentagrams

The signs

Common title: Spirit. The Rending and Closing of the Veil

A.'.A.'. grade: Dominus Liminis

Description: Properly speaking, this is two different signs, where the magician is either tearing open a split veil or closing it. The forearms should be roughly parallel to the floor.

Common title: Air. The God Shu supporting the sky.

A.'.A.'. grade: 2°=9#

Description: Arms raised, elbows bent 90°, forearms vertical, with wrists bent as though holding up the sky.

Common title: Fire. The Goddess Thoum-aesh-neith.

A.'.A.'. grade: 4°=7#

Description: With thumbs and index fingers, place the hands together on the forehead, forming an upward-pointing triangle.

Common title: Water. The Goddess Auramoth.

A.'.A.'. grade: 3°=8#

Description: With thumbs and index fingers, place the hands together on the torso, forming a downward-pointing triangle.

Common title: Earth. The God Set fighting.

A.'.A.'. grade: 1°=10#

Description: Advance the right foot, and swing the right arm up and forward at a 45° angle, with the left arm back and down, also at a 45° angle.

See also

References