LBRP question

[sestacion]

Anybody know a good theoretical reason why ADNI is the south and AGLA is in the north ? When I first started in GD , I didn't know this stuff was a fairly modern invention . Now that I know , I really have a hard time trusting the LBRP especially since it doesn't seem to make a lot of sense in some parts .

[Manbearpig]

I quote here because I'm not a genius. I am, however, good at cut & paste. :)


Firstly, YHVH is usually seen as the most divine, unpronounceable name of God, and it encompasses the elements (Yod = Fire, Heh = Water, Vav = Air, Heh sophith = Earth), and the Four Worlds, thus making it suitable for the elemental division applicable to the LBRP. But why is it in the East? Because the East is the traditional place of Light, of the Dawn, and of Divinity. The Adoration to the Lord of the Universe, for example, is done to the East, as are all other salutations in Golden Dawn work. The East is the station of the Heirophant, the initiator, who represents the greater initiator of God Himself.

Secondly, ADNI is employed in the South because it is, as Samuel Scarborough points out in his essay on the pentagram rituals in Issue 4 of Hermetic Virtues, "the place where the sun is at its utmost strength". The fiery nature of this quarter affirms God's aspect as Lord, a title perhaps fitting of the fiery Sephirah of Geburah (something we will explore in a moment).

Thirdly, AHYH is utilised in the West, the place of darkness (where the sun sets and diminishes), which, in terms of the four-fold division of Malkuth, borders on the realm of the Qlippoth, the "empty vessels" or "shells", demonic and destructive in nature. Given this, it is fitting to employ Ehyeh, the Divine Name of Kether, the highest Sephirah, to challenge and keep at bay the darkness that comes from the West. But this is but one aspect, for if we pay attention to the mystery of "Kether in Malkuth and Malkuth in Kether", realising that the Malkuth of Assiah could be seen as the Kether of a Qlippothic Tree, then this quarter is, effectively, the Kether of the Qlippoth, and thus it employs the Divine Name of Kether (Ehyeh).

This name is usually translated "I am", but perhaps more accurately as "I will be". This points to another hidden aspect of its attribution to the West, for, firstly, the Sun rises in the East and sets in the West. Thus, when it rises in the East (as YHVH), it instantly affirms its (and our) destination in the West by its Divine Name: "I will be". If that were not enough, however, let us remember the Lurianic teaching of the Shevirat ha-Kelim, the Breaking of the Vessels, which are the Qlippoth. These were the precursors of the Sephiroth, and thus this Divine Name again affirms, by this quarter's proximity to the Qlippothic realm, the future: the second attempt at Creation, resulting in the Sephiroth. The Light of God is not contained within the shattered vessels of the Qlippoth, but it "will be" contained in the future vessels of the Sephiroth.

Finally we have AGLA in the North, which is, akin to the above, the traditional place of "symbolic darkness" and evil. Thus, the force of Geburah is employed (via Gibor, which shares the same root), along with the title of Adonai, "Lord", which we saw in the South. Thus it can be seen that the potent fiery force of the South, where the Sun is at its zenith, is carried across to the North to face the darkness there. In this sense a line from South to North is drawn, just as one is drawn from East to West as mentioned given above. This creates an equilateral cross, symbolic of balance, but it is also a Solar Cross, for the circle is drawn around it by the magician. This is but one further reference to the hidden Tiphareth in this rite.

[sestacion]

The quote is not bad ... a little subjective . Whose quote is that ? So you seem to be suggesting the need for counterbalance . It would be great if more sources can verify this from other angles as well .

[Manbearpig]

sorry. Should have included the source. It is from a blog by the ubiquitous Frater Yechidah, formerly of the Sons and Daughters of Light.

Personally, I follow the Golden Dawn idea of "just do it and see", however I am also rather analytical and constantly want to know the "whys" thereof. Eventually, I reached the conclusion that these are somewhat arbitrary assignments that were reached by desire to include the "Names" that are considered most important. There are many of these names and only four directions.

Experiment has shown that they (as with so much else) can be altered and still remain effective.

[Odin]

ave

Frater Yecidah he seems to have a real good handle on the GD system he is also a member of the order that I belong to and has answered a great many answers for me

I was going to say that this is a very good explanation that the stations of the sun east, south, west, and finally north also represent the four elements and as we acknowledge each station the goddesses of Isis and Nephytes are on either side of us as we salute the station

[redhand]

First I would like to ask which GD Order do you belong to?

Your Proctor should have been able to help you answer this one easily.

The LBRP itself is based somewhat on a old Hebrew prayer. The God names themselves are Kabbalistic corresponded to the direction which they are in. You can check this in a book such as 777.

[Frank N. Stein]

how so? where are these correspondances?

what do you mean?

The first recorded instance of the LBRP as a practice was noted in Eliphas Levi's works, and likely stems from a Hebrew prayer as documented by R. Samson Raphael Hirsch in 'The Hirsch Siddur', which reads as follows: "In the Name of God, the God of Yisrale: may Michael be at my right hand, Gabriel at my left, Uriel before me, Raphael behind me, and above my head, the presence of God."

In Medieval Churches, you often have a cross where the archangels are spread about its four beams.

[Frank N. Stein]

Yes, Elaphis Levi had in his Ritual of Trancendental Magic a pre Golden Dawn form of the Qabalistic Cross, he also suggested that the magician pronounce the Four Names of Four Letters in each quarter upon rising every morning.
But 777 does not list, so far as I know, the qabalistic relationship that these Names have to the quarters or the elements or some such other thing. But maybe I missed something, so I ask again, where in 777 are these correspondences concerning the Names and such used in the LBRP?

why is it so important that ir's in Liber 777?

[redhand]

Adonai, meaning "lord," is the name vibrated after the figure is traced in the south. This name is particularly associated with Malkuth, whose complete divine name is Adonai ha-Aretz. The name "lord" carries with it connotations of high rank, especially power, rulership, and dominion. Here the name is associated with fire and the south, the direction of the sun's greatest strength. This is a reminder that here on Malkuth, our immediate symbolic link with the lord of light and strength is through the life-giving rays of the sun.

After the northern pentagram is drawn, the word Agla is vibrated. This is not really a word but rather a notariqon which uses the first letter of each word in a sentence to form a single word. In this case the sentence from which Agla is formed is Atah Gebur Le-Olam Adonai. This means, "Thou art great forever, my Lord," which is a powerful invocation - clearly calling upon all the might of Adonai to aid and guide us through the darkness of things unknown. Agla is vibrated in the north because that is the direction of the greatest symbolic cold, darkness, shadow, illusion, and the unfamiliar. It is "the place of Forgetfulness, Dumbness (silence), and Necessity, and of the greatest symbolical Darkness." It represents all the dormant and unmanifested forces of the universe, as well as those which are hidden or veiled to us. These are forces which we are largely ignorant of. However, all things, manifest or unmanifested (light or dark), exist then, now, and always under the rulership of Adonai. This we affirm by the phrase "Thou art great forever, my Lord!"

The LBRP is said to be most effective in the Kabbalistic realm of Assiah - the physical, active world that is associated with the tenth Sephirah of Malkuth. This is the realm in which we live and function. Malkuth is said to contain the four elements of the manifest universe. This is why in many drawings, Malkuth is shown divided into four sections. The sub-elements are: air of Malkuth, water of Malkuth, fire of Malkuth, and earth of Malkuth. But for our purposes it would be better to refer to them simply as air, fire, water, and earth - the elements of our physical plane.

With respect to the entire Tree of Life, Malkuth is the only Sephirah to which is assigned the element of earth. This is why the banishing earth pentagram in particular is used throughout the LBRP. However, in this instance it would be better to refer to the pentagram used in this ritual as the lesser banishing pentagram to avoid confusion.

MAGICAL CORRESPONDENCES found in 777 which is one of the most
commonly used books of correspondence will help immensely! As
each Archangel also has it's correspondence with each direction
and Sephirah of the Tree of Life so does each God name!

[NoobMagick]

hm'm is it okay if the lbrp is slavishly performed?

I do the Lbrp in my imagination but I find that when doing it especially when I visualize the four pentagrams at their quarters, my imagination is sort of shaky.
So my visualization is also shaky, sort of like a dolly and panning perspective on the whole ritual, and it needs lots of improvement. I'm so on the go these days. = \

So far I don't know if this has any impact? Are there any consequences/drawbacks?

[redhand]

hm'm is it okay if the lbrp is slavishly performed?

I do the Lbrp in my imagination but I find that when doing it especially when I visualize the four pentagrams at their quarters, my imagination is sort of shaky.
So my visualization is also shaky, sort of like a dolly and panning perspective on the whole ritual, and it needs lots of improvement. I'm so on the go these days. = \

So far I don't know if this has any impact? Are there any consequences/drawbacks?You want to do this with as best ability as you can muster!

Theres probably nothing wrong with your visualisation skills. Take for example you are looking out a window then turn to face the door the window is still there right!LOL

[NoobMagick]

You want to do this with as best ability as you can muster!

Theres probably nothing wrong with your visualisation skills. Take for example you are looking out a window then turn to face the door the window is still there right!LOL

Well if you are suggesting that by tracing the circle and stuff, the pentagrams are "there" . . . well . . . in my mind's eye and as to physical eyes nope. I read that Aleister Crowley encourages continued practice until the pentagrams are visible to an observer, if there were one. In my case, I do the whole lbrp either slavishly or dramatically. But I don't think I'm touching anything on expanded senses you know, which is my goal at the moment - dabbling with magick and all.

So far, I like doing the ritual, but I must be lacking something in order to touch on the astral aspect of ceremonial magick.

Is there something amiss? Wrong? ???

I will still keep on doing this in my imagination/mental/spare time.

[Odin]

it takes a little time for the complete " vision " occurs in the visualization process

just know that it is happening and it will manifest for you

first picture yourself even try to touch a wall in the visualization, from this point see yourself doing the LBRP ( feel yourself in another place where you are visualizing yourself as you do the LBRP )

[NoobMagick]

Astral vision takes place in that often overlooked and amazing human faculty called the IMAGINATION. Imaginary and astral visions aren't seen with the physical eye. I'm sure you are doing just fine.
What are your visualizations of the four Archangels like?

The archangels? Raphael in yellow colors, anything yellow with him clutching a rod. Gabriel in blue and her cup slightly tilted as if to pour contents, Michael and a sword drawn. And finally Uriel in brown and her golden pentagram or sometimes a blue one.

I try to pause and feel the element assigned to each quarter also.

And as for the "In the column/within me shines the six rayed star", I add " above and below me" before continuing to "shines the six rayed star".

I try to make it so exciting so that my whole version of the ritual isn't as similar to a Church mass, or I might bore myself.

[redhand]

Well if you are suggesting that by tracing the circle and stuff, the pentagrams are "there" . . . well . . . in my mind's eye and as to physical eyes nope. I read that Aleister Crowley encourages continued practice until the pentagrams are visible to an observer, if there were one. In my case, I do the whole lbrp either slavishly or dramatically. But I don't think I'm touching anything on expanded senses you know, which is my goal at the moment - dabbling with magick and all.

So far, I like doing the ritual, but I must be lacking something in order to touch on the astral aspect of ceremonial magick.

Is there something amiss? Wrong? ???

I will still keep on doing this in my imagination/mental/spare time.
All things improve with time and practice! Knowing that they are there is the most important and don't get caught up in thinking that you must see it with your physical eyes there are a great many magicians who can't visualise like that but, they are still very successful in their practice. I would also watch what you believe in Crowley's statements, he had a way of messing with peoples minds that are not quite productive!LOL

Take your time relax and focus on your rituals and with practice it will all come together!

[NoobMagick]

All things improve with time and practice! Knowing that they are there is the most important and don't get caught up in thinking that you must see it with your physical eyes there are a great many magicians who can't visualise like that but, they are still very successful in their practice. I would also watch what you believe in Crowley's statements, he had a way of messing with peoples minds that are not quite productive!LOL

Take your time relax and focus on your rituals and with practice it will all come together!

Okay. Thanks for the tip, are there any other things to watch out for, Crowley speaking?

[Frank N. Stein]

The visualization part is the most important one, as Crowley stated.

Has anyone tried to put the upward pentagrams in the four corners and the down pointing ones in the edges inbetween? How does it feel?

[NoobMagick]

The visualization part is the most important one, as Crowley stated.

Has anyone tried to put the upward pentagrams in the four corners and the down pointing ones in the edges inbetween? How does it feel?

Does that mean NE,SE,NW, and so on tracing? Interesting I may not try it though hehe

[PRAXIS]

Well if you are suggesting that by tracing the circle and stuff, the pentagrams are "there" . . . well . . . in my mind's eye and as to physical eyes nope. I read that Aleister Crowley encourages continued practice until the pentagrams are visible to an observer, if there were one. In my case, I do the whole lbrp either slavishly or dramatically. But I don't think I'm touching anything on expanded senses you know, which is my goal at the moment - dabbling with magick and all.

So far, I like doing the ritual, but I must be lacking something in order to touch on the astral aspect of ceremonial magick.

Is there something amiss? Wrong? ???

I will still keep on doing this in my imagination/mental/spare time.

Greetings lil Brother!

This may be of some help
Eight Lectures On Yoga - Preface & Table of Contents (http://www.hermetic.com/crowley/yoga/index.html)

also Book Four - Part 1 (http://www.hermetic.com/crowley/aba/aba1.html)

some practice with asana yoga and pranayama may assist. As well as begining moderate practices in chapter CHAPTER V DHARANA
make sure and keep a record of all experiments! and pace yourself. We have Eternity. Its not a race.

Regards to you and yours,
Praxis

[Samuel]

This question confuses me. I have been doing the LBRP for the past 22 years and i have never belonged to any order, GD or otherwise. ;)

This is an interesting point. While the LBRP is well published, it is primarily a GD ritual (though there are traces of it in Levi's material). A person can perform the LBRP and get great results withouth being in a GD Order or even connected with the GD current, but the Lesser Ritual of the Pentagram takes on a completely new level for those that have been performing it for years and are then initiated into the GD.

In LVX,
Samuel