Now we have begun the great work, and an understanding of what the meaning of ''divine'' is in hermetics should be present. We have the Kabbalistic Cross of Light mastered and understand that human beings are microcosms of the universe, and by using the KCL one can consciously pull the divine attributes of the universe into the mind and body. The KCL has a particularly close relationship to The Tree of Life, which in hermeticism is the supreme glyph of all being. Another important ritual is the Ritual of the Pentagram. This Ritual can be used as banishing, invoking, lesser, and greater. It is the foundation of ALL magical workings in hermeticism, as well as the way to prepare to converse with ones HGA(holy guardian angel).
The five pointed star, the pentagram, is the holy symbol of the five elements. From the right point clockwise the elements represented are water;fire;earth;air; and spirit on top. (people who believe that the inverted pentagram is about evil are mistaken, it only symbolizes the physical above the spirit, as opposed to the spirit over the elements.in hermetics we only use the spirit up version) The fifth element is also known as the quintessence, meaning the essence of five. It is the unifying source of all elemental energy, and works as a matrix to allow that energy to emerge into the physical elements. The pentagram also denotes man, as the four elements imbued with spirit.
while the greater ritual is used in specific magical working such as consecration of talismans or creation of magical implements, the lesser ritual should be performed twice a day to prepare the aspirant for (self)initiation. it puts the operator in contact with the invisible elemental forces and establishes the means to exert ones will over these forces. It cleanses the aura of any elemental interference and infuses the operators being with the divine light of the higher self.it also creates a sacred space for all magical operations to take place.
When first starting out, the operator should only perform the lesser BANISHING ritual of the pentagram, because beginners usually dont have full control over the ritual or their own energy and could attract unwanted energies mistakenly. also one should only use the earth banishing pentagram in all four cardinal directions in the beginning, because the beginners conscious is situated mostly in the realm of earthly materialism.
After about 6 months of daily banishings one could begin to do the invoking ritual in the morning and the banishing in the evening. Also one could begin to use the specific invoking and banishing pentagrams that correlate to the elements.(look in my pictures i have a diagram that shows the different pentagrams.)
THE LESSER RITUAL OF THE PENTAGRAM
this is a very basic version and this ritual can be expanded and fleshed out in an infinite number of ways.
1)perform the KCL
2) Face the east, and using the sign of benediction or your dagger(sword), inscribe the AIR_INVOKING/ BANISHING pentagram.while inscribing the pentagram in the air visualize the lines as brilliant white light(some say vibrant blue fire, both work. i began with bright blue fire visualizations and as i continued the pentagrams just changed to beams of supremely brilliant white light). note that the dagger or benediction never drops so as to form a solid circle of protection and banishment.Vibrate YHVH( yod - heh - vav - heh )
the following is the proper way to vibrate god names during this ritual;
2a)Vibration phase i - The Sign of the Enterer (1-4)
1. Stand upright. Blow all the air out of your lungs. Hold your arms straight out at your sides.
2a. Close your eyes and inhale nasally, imagining that the breath is the name. The exact nature of this imagination differs from person to person. Thus, you imagine yourself inhaling the name into your lungs.
2b. As you inhale, sweep your forearms smoothly and deliberately up so that your fists rest on your temples.
3. Imagine the breath moving down through your torso slowly, and through your pelvis, your legs, and finally to the soles of your feet. (Don't do this so slowly that you are hurting for air when the name reaches your feet!)
4a. The instant the inhaled vibrational name hits the soles of your feet, imagine it rushing back up and out.
4b. Simultaneously, throw yourself forward, thrusting your left foot forward about twelve inches (or thirty centimeters) and catching yourself on it. Your hands shoot forward, together, like a diver.
4c. vibrate the name and visualize this name shooting out to the edges of the universe.
Steps 3-4 are known as the Sign of the Enterer, or of Horus. This symbolizes powerful active energy. The Enterer should be something of a ''rush''. The vibrational name is projected outwards into more tangible manifestation - in this case, in the pentagrams of the LBR, which are charged by the force of the projected god-names.
Vibration phase ii - The Sign of Silence (5)
5. Finally,imagine the echo of the name returning back to you and withdraw into a standing position, left arm hanging at your side, right forefinger(dagger) on lips, left foot pointing ninety degrees out from the body.
the sign of silence is the finish of the creation of the pentagram on the astral plane, it now is alive with energy.
3)extend the dagger to the center of the pentagram in the east and trace a brilliant white line to the south.
4)Visualize as you trace the FIRE INVOKING/ BANISHING pentagram brilliant white light at the end of your finger(dagger).
5)using the sign of the enterer and the sign of silence once again, vibrate AHIH( eh - heh - yay )
6)continue making the white light band from the center of the pentagram around to the west.
7) make the WATER INVOKING/ BANISHING pentagram.
8)vibrate ADNI ( ah - doh - nye )
9) continue your band of light around to the north.
10)make the EARTH INVOKING/ BANISHING pentagram.
11)vibrate AGLA ( ah - goo - lah )
12) continue the band of light around to the east to finish the circle of brilliant white light with the pentagrams fiery presence emanating at each cardinal direction. take a moment to truly feel your sacred space and understand the intense energies you have created here.
13)open your arms wide in the form of a cross.
visualize before you in the east a great angel, with the colors of yellow and mauve, feel a breeze blowing of air,the being is holding the wand of caduceus. say ''before me...'' and vibrate the name RAPHAEL
Behind you visualize another great being of light, with colors of blue and orange, feel the mist of water and see a great waterfall flowing into your temple.the being is holding aloft a chalice. say ''behind me...'' vibrate GABRIEL
in the south visualize a being of light, with a dominating presence, feel heat of fire pouring forth and see the flames jumping up around the angels bare feet. he hold a great double edged sword of fire. say ''on my right...'' vibrate MICHAEL
in the north visualize a calm stoic being. see the vast fields of wheat flowing into the horizon. see the green and russet colors of earth. say ''on my left...'' vibrate URIEL
14) once again hold the pentagrams in your mind around you and say ''for about me flames the pentagram''
15) see within your body a great hexagram(the star of david) and say ''and within me shines the six rayed star''
