Greater Ritual of the Pentagram

From Thelemapedia

Categories: Magick | Ritual | Works of Aleister Crowley

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.

Table of contents

1 The ritual

2 Ritual components

2.1 The pentagrams
2.2 The signs

3 See also

4 References

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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)
- Touch heart and say Malkuth (the kingdom)
- Touch right shoulder and say ve-Geburah (and the power)
- Touch left shoulder and say ve-Gedulah (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

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Ritual components

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The pentagrams

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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.

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References

Crowley, Aleister. (1997). Magick: Book 4. "Liber O." 2nd ed. York Beach, Me. : S. Weiser.
DuQuette, Lon Milo. (1993). The Magick of Thelema. York Beach, Me. : S. Weiser.

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