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All rituals visible on this site are ©C.O.T.O. property, explanations of rituals were taken from Lon Milo DuQuette´s book, titled, "Magick of Thelema"®.
The work presented here is intended to aid the student of the occult arts. I am not affiliated with any O.T.O. bodies and I present their rituals and explanations strictly as a learning guide for anyone interested. This site does not contain any material that is considered to be "secret" in nature as per O.T.O. guidelines.
| Thelemic Rituals | |
| Lesser Pentagram Ritual | Greater Pentagram Ritual |
| Liber XXV - The Star Ruby | Liber V Vel Reguli |
The Lesser Ritual of the Pentagram
1. Touching the forehead say Ateh (Unto Thee).
2. Touching the breast say Malkuth (The Kingdom).
3. Touching the right shoulder, say ve-Geburah (and the Power).
4. Touching the left shoulder, say ve-Gedulah (and the Glory).
5. Clasping the hand upon the breast, say le-OLAHM, AMEN (and the Glory).
6. Turning to the East, make a pentagram (that of Earth) with the proper weapon (usually the Wand). Say (i.e., vibrate) IHVY (Ye-ho-wau). 7. Turning to the South, the same, but say ADNI (Adonai). 8. Turning to the West, the same, but say AHIH (Eheieh). 9. Turning to the North, the same, but say AGLA (Agla).
10. Extend the arms in the form of the cross say (see Sign of Osiris Slain),
11. Before me Raphael;
12. Behind me Gabriel;
13. On my right hand, Michael;
15. For about me flames the Pentagram,
16. And in the Column stands the six-rayed Star
17. Repeat the Qabalistic Cross (1 to 5).
Ritual Explanations of LBPR
The ritual above is taken from Lon Milo Duquette's book titled "The Magick of Thelema". All explanations are quoted from his book, in the case that the ritual must be re-published, it must be re-published in its entirety stating where the material is quoted from and who the original author is.
VIBRATION OF THE DIVINE NAMES
Once the Lesser Banishing ritual of the Pentagram has been committed to memory the Magician should then learn to "vibrate" the Divine Names in the quarters rather than simply say them. Crowley gave detailed instructions in Part III of Liber O from which we quote:
It is a sign of success, though only by the student himself is it perceived, when he hears the name of God vehemently roared forth, as if by the concourse of ten thousand thunders; and it should appear to him as if that Great Voice proceeded from the Universe, and not from himself.
The Greater Ritual of the Pentagram
1. Touching the forehead say Ateh (Unto Thee).
2. Touching the breast say Malkuth (The Kingdom).
3. Touching the right shoulder, say ve-Geburah (and the Power).
4. Touching the left shoulder, say ve-Gedulah (and the Glory).
5. Clasping the hand upon the breast, say le-OLAHM, AMEN (and the Glory).
6. In the East, make Invoking Equilibrated Active Pentagram of Spirit. 7. Vibrate Eheieh. 8. Give Active sign of the Portal
9. Make Invoking Pentagram of Air. 10. Vibrate YHVH 11. Give the signs of 2º = 9¤. [Stretch both arms upwards and outwards, the elbows bent at right angles, the hands bent back, the palms upwards as if supporting a weight.]
12. Travel deosil (clockwise) and carry point to the south and make Invoking Equilibrated Active Pentagram of Spirit.
13. Vibrate Eheieh
14. Give active sign of the Portal.
15. Make Invoking Pentagram of Fire.
16. Vibrate Elohim
17. Give signs of 4º = 7¤. [Raise the arms above the head and join the hands, so that the tips of the fingers and of the thumbs meet, formulating a triangle.]
18. Travel deosil and carry point to the West and make Invoking Equilibrated Passive Pentagram of Spirit.
19. Vibrate Agla
20. Give passive sign of the Portal.
21. Make Invoking Pentagram of Water.
22. Vibrate Al
23. Give signs of 3º = 8¤. [Raise the arms until the elbows are on a level with the shoulders, bring the hands across the chest, touching the thumbs and tips of fingers so as to form a triangle apex downwards.]
24. Travel deosil and carry point to the North and make Invoking Equilibrated Passive Pentagram of Spirit.
25. Vibrate Agla
26. Give passive sign of the Portal.
27. Make Invoking Pentagram of Earth.
28. Vibrate Adonai
29. Give signs of 1º = 10¤. [Advance the right foot, stretch out the right hand upwards and forwards, the left hand downwards and backwards, the palms open.]
30. Travel deosil and return point to the East.
31. Repeat 1-5.
Ritual Explanations of GRP
Additional Notes on GPR
Ceremonies to invoke or banish a specific element can be constructed by opening and closing as above, but instead of going through the entire sequence of actions, the Magician simply turns to the appropriate quarter and proceeds with the Pentagrams, Signs, and Names applicable to the desired element.
As the Magician's understanding of the theories and processes evolves, he or she will design more complex and elaborate variations of the Greater Pentagram Ritual to access the elemental energies for more specific magical purposes, such as the consecration of the magical weapons or the charging of talismans.
1. Facing East, in the center, draw deep deep deep thy breath, closing thy mouth with thy right forefinger prest against thy lower lip. Then dashing down the hand with a great sweap back and out, expelling forcibly thy breath, cry APO PANTOS KAKODAIMONOS (APO PANTOS KAKODAIMONOS).
2. With the same forefinger touch thy forehead, and say , IAO (IAO), thy member, and say W FALLE (W FALLE), thy right shoulder, and say ISCUROS, (ISCUROS), thy left shoulder, and say EUCARISTOS, (EUCARISTOS), then clasp thine hands, locking the fingers and cry, IAW,
3. Advance to the East. Imagine strongly a Pentagram, aright, in thy forehead. Drawing the hands to the eyes, fling it forth, making the sign of Horus and roar, QHRION , (THERION). Retire thine hand in the sign of Hoor-paar-Kraat.
4. Go round to the North and repeat; but say NUIT
5. Go round to the West and repeat; but whisper BABALON
6. Go round to the South and repeat; but bellow HADIT
7. Completing the circle widdershines, retire to the center and raise thy voice in the Paian, with these words IW PAN, with the signs of N.O.X.
8. Extend the arms in the form of a Tau and say low but clear:
9. Repeat the Cross Qabalistic, as above, and end as thou didst begin (1 and 2).
AUTHOR'S (LON MILO DUQUETTE) NOTES ON THE STAR RUBY
Liber XXV, the Star Ruby: 25 is the square of 5 (the Pentagram). The fifth Sephirah is Geburah, whose color is red.
1) APO PANTOS KAKODAIMONOS (Away every evil Spirit!).
2) SOI (Unto You). O FALLE (O Phallus). ISCHUROS (Strong; Strength). EUCHARISTOS (Eucharist; mystic feast; thanksgiving). I-A-O (IAO, triune God of the Gnostics codefined with INRI in various rituals as a formula of ressurection; Isis (Nature) is ruined by Apophis (forces of destruction/decay) then reborn as the ressurected Osiris.
3) THERION: "The Sign of Hoor-paar-Kraat": Right forefinger or thumb to lips (Sign of Horus or also known as the Sign of the Enterer).
4) NUIT: See Liber Al vel Legis (especially Chapter 1). The first Deity of the Thelemic Trinity; traditionally the Egyptian Goddess of the night sky. She is the "...star-goddess, who is the category of unlimited possibility. "Upon the Stélé of Revealing, and in Egyptian art, She is depicted as an azure goddess, tall and slender, arching over the earth. (Similar in appearance to the Greek Letter W). She is conceptualized as the infinity of an ultimately expanded universe (the circumference of the circle). All things, therefore, are contained within her body. Qabalists may wish to consider the similarities to the Second Veil of the Negative proceeding Kether, AIN SOPH (No Limit).
5) BABALON: See Liber Al vel Legis (especially references to the Beast & Scarlet Woman).
It is clear that from an early age Crowley was spiritually and psychologically traumatized as the result of his family's fanatical embrace of Christian fundamentalism. It was perhaps inevitable that an individual of Crowley's genius would eventually rebel against the stifling restrictions, and the threats of eternal torment with which such cults terrorize their members. His childhood identification with the Beast 666 and his "Devil be my God" bravado was his youthful declaration of independence, and for the rest of his life he would continue to enjoy shocking the shockable with such sacrileges. We must point out, however, that there are profound magical and qabalistic significances to these "blasphemies" that Crowley so cavalierly embraced in his youth, and these immeasurably overshadow his mischievous pre-occupation with thumbing his nose at Christianity.
The use of the names Therion (Greek for Beast) and Babalon (The Scarlet Woman or Great Whore) is not unique in the annals of religious nomenclature. Together they make their first and most notoriously misunderstood appearance in The Book of Revelation of John, the finale of the New Testament. A superficial review of this book, presents us with what appears at first glance to be two shady, if not downright "evil" characters. But looks can be deceiving, and as is often the base with books of the Bible, the villain of the exoteric story is frequently revealed to be the hero of the esoteric interpretation.
There is no need to enter into the argument as to whether "Beast" refers to the man Aleister Crowley, or to the "office" of the Beast, or to some universal principal. At one time or another before his death, Crowley wrote that they were all of the above. [See: Magick Book Four, Liber ABA (York Beach, ME: Samuel Weiser, 1993)]. For our purposes we will simply attempt to introduce the concepts by drawing parallels to ideas with which the reader may already be acquainted.
Therion/Babalon as Chokmah/Binah - To the student of the Qabalah the easiest way to begin to understand Therion and Babalon is to conceptualize them as personifications of the second and third Sephiroth of the Tree of Life, Chokmah and Binah, respectively.
The second Sephirah, Chokmah, represents the original concept of duality, and as such is the chaotic despoiler of the perfect unity of the first Sephirah, Kether. Chaos is another title of Chokmah and in certain Thelemic ritual is identified with Therion. Chokmah is also the Divine Will, the Logos, the Word whose vibration is the creative essence of the universe. As the supernal Father, Chokmah/Therion is the archetype of the lingam, the universal Male. As TO MEGA THERION (The Great Beast - his motto as Magus 9º = 2¤), Crowley is considered by Thelemites to be the Logos of the Aeon of Horus.
The third Sephirah, Binah represents the original reconciliation and balance of the Divine Self (Kether) and the reflected Not Self (Chokmah). She is viewed as the all-receptive mate of Chokmah and when they are united the primal unity of Kether is realized. As Binah/Babalon resides just above the abyss, She eventually receives unto Herself the totality of the life of the evolving universe. This universal life is symbolized as the "blood of the Saints" which She gathers up into Her great cup (the Holy Graal). This She shares with the Beast, and they unite in drunken ecstasy. Thus she is called the Great Whore for in her "shamelessness" she receives all and refuses none.
Therion/Babalon as Shiva/Shakti - To the student of the Yoga or Tantric Buddhism, the easiest way to think about Therion and Babalon is to conceptualize them as the two polar streams of creation, Shiva - the Divine Will, the Logos, Shakti - The Divine Power and the underlying and secret force permeating all of creation.
Babalon/Shakti is the passive, negative stream of nature. She is magnetic and attracts to Herself, the potentiality of energy. This she absorbs and stores up (the Holy Graal, the Cup of Babalon). When the negative/feminine Shakti comes into proper contact with the positive/masculine Shiva, a dynamic reaction occurs triggering the transcendence of their individual polarity, transforming them into Brahma, the changeless One. This is a most important aspect of Therion and Babalon because it relates to natural energies and forces residing in our own bodies.
Slumbering in the form of a coiled serpent at the base of the human spine is the Kundalini, a remnant of the universal Shakti. She has been separated and exiled from Her Lord Shiva (who resides in the human skull) by the very process of creation. The task of the Kundalini Yogi is to awaken this sleeping Goddess and direct her ascent up the spine to eventual union with Her Lord in the cranium.
But one does not have to be a Yogi or a Qabalist or a Ceremonial Magician to achieve transcendental states of consciousness in the ecstasy of lovemaking or to temporarily annihilate the ego in orgasm. These are fundamental male/female realities of existence and consciousness, and they are an integral part of the cosmos, from the lowest hell to the highest heaven.
6) HADIT: See Liber Al vel Legis (especially Chapter II). The Second Diety of the Thelemic Trinity. Lover of Nuit. He is depicted on the Stélé of Revealing as a winged globe at the heart of Nuit. He is conceptualized as the infinity of an ultimately contracted universe; the point in the center of the circle. He is "...the ubiquitous point of view, the only philosophically tenable conception of Reality." (Perhaps the concept of the pre "Big-Bang" negative singularity postulated by modern physics). Qabalists may wish to consider the similarities to the First Veil of the Negative proceeding Kether, AIN (Nothing).
7) IO PAN: An invocation of the Great All. N.O.X. The Night of Pan. Contrasted with L.V.X. (Light in Extension), N.O.X. could be characterized as Light Withdrawn. It is the negative pulse of the creation/dissolution cycle, much like the Vendantist concept of Pralaya, the universal sleep that precedes and follows creation. Perhaps the most significant characterisitic of the magical formulae of the Aeon of Horus is the recognition of this fundamental fact of life, and the joing application of L.V.X. and N.O.X. in the initiatory career of the Magician.
"The Signs of N.O.X." are named Puella, Puer, Vir, and Mulier:
Puella (girl). Standing with her feet together, head bowed, left hand shielding the Muladhara Chakra (area of the groin), and the right hand shielding the breast (attitude of the Venus de Medici).
Puer (boy). Standing with feet together and head erect. Let the right hand (the thumb between the index and medius fingers) be raised, the forearm vertical at a right angle with the upper arm, which is horizontally extended in the line joining the shoulders. Let the left hand, the thumb extended forwards and the fingers clenched, rest at the junction of the thighs (attitude of the Gods Mentu, Khem, etc.).
Vir (man). The feet being together. The hands, with clenched fingers and thumbs thrust out forwards, are held to the temples; the head is then bowed and pushed out, as if to symbolize the butting of an horned beast (attitude of Pan, Bachus, etc.).
Mulier (wife). The feet are widely separated, and the arms raised so as to suggest a crescent. The head is thrown back (attitude of Baphomet, Isis in Welcome, the microcosm of Vitruvius).
8)PRO MOU IUGGES (Before me the lynges - According to the Chaldean Oracles of Zoroaster, each individual, prior to any theurgic ritual, must gain consciousness of the "agathosdaimon", a personal guardian spirit or angel who functions. as the mediator between the aspirant and the gods. These guides are called "lunges" or "ferrymen". Literally "wrynecks", traditionally the birds of the abyss. Lunges, Synoches and Teletarchae comprise the three celestial Intelligences or Archangels of Chaldean cosmology.
8)OPISO MOU TELETARCAI (behind me the Teletarch[ae]).
8)EPI DEXIA SYNOCEIS (on my right hand the Synoches).
8)EPARISTERA DAIMONES (on my left hand, the daemons - Diamonos. The geniuses of Platonist philosophy.
8)FLEGEI GAR PEI MOU O ASTHR TON PENTE (for about me flames the Star of Five).
8)KAI EN THI STHLHI (and in the column).
8)O ASTHR TON EX ESTHKE (stands the Star of Six).
Ritual Explanations of Liber XXV
G. The Book of Lies has "CAOS", (Chaos)
H. The Book of Lies has "Hoor pa kraat".
I. The Book of Lies has "but scream BABALON"
J. The Book of Lies has "but say ERWS", (EROS)
K. The Book of Lies has "UYCH", (Psyche).
A.'.A.'. publication in Class D. Being the Ritual of the Mark of the Beast; an incantation proper to invoke the Energies of the Aeon of Horus, adapted for the daily use of the Magican of whatever grade.
The First Gesture.
The Animadversion 
towards the Aeon.
1. Let the Magician, robed and armed as he may deem to be fit, turn his face toward Boleskine, that is the House of The Beast 666.
2. Let him strike the battery 1-3-3-3-1.
3. Let him put the Thumb of his right hand between its index and medius, and make the gestures hereafter following.
The Vertical Component of the Enchantment.
1. Let him describe a circle about his head, crying NUITH!
2. Let him draw the Thumb vertically downward, and touch the root of his phallus, crying HADITH!
3. Let him, retracing the line, touch the center of his breast, and cry RA-HOOR-KHUIT!
The Horizontal Components of the Enchantment.
1. Let him, touch the Center of his Forehead, his mouth, and his larynx, crying AIWAZ!
2. Let him draw his Thumb from right to left across his face at the level of the nostrils.
3. Let him touch the Center of his Breast, and his Solar Plexus, crying THERION!
4. Let him draw his Thumb from left to right across his breast, at the level of the sternum.
5. Let him touch his navel, and the Root of his Phallus, crying BABALON!
5. Let him draw his Thumb from right to left across his abdomen, at the level of the hips.
[Thus shall he formulate the Sigil of the Grand Hierophant, but dependent from the Circle.]
The Asseveration of the Spells.
1. Let the Magician clasp his hands upon his Wand, his fingers and thumbs interlaced, crying LAShTAL: THELEMA: FIAOF: AGAPE: AUMGN.
[Thus shall be declared the Words of Power whereby the Energies of the Aeon of Horus work his Will in the world.]
The Proclamation of the Accomplishment.
1. Let the Magician strike the Battery: 3-5-3, crying ABRAHADABRA.
The Second Gesture.
The Enchantment.
1. Let the Magician, still facing Boleskine, advance to the circumfrence of his Circle.
2. Let him turn himself towards the left, and pace with the stealth and swiftness of a tiger the precincts of his circle, until he complete one revolution thereof.
3. Let him give the Sign of Horus (or the Enterer) as he passeth, so to project the Force that radiateth from Boleskine before him.
4. Let him pace his Path until he comes to the North; there let him halt, and turn his face to the North.
5. Let him trace with his wand the Averse Pentagram proper to invoke Air (Acquarius) 
.
6. Let him bring the Wand to the centre of the Pentagram and call upon Nuith!
7. Let him make the sign called Puella, standing with feet together, head bowed, his left hand shielding his phallus, and his right hand shielding his breast (attitude of the Venus de Medici).
7. Let him make the sign called Puella, standing with feet together, head bowed, his left hand shielding his phallus, and his right hand shielding his breast (attitude of the Venus de Medici).
8. Let him turn again to the left, and pursue his Path as before, projecting the Force from Boleskine as he passeth; let him halt when he next cometh to the South, and face outward.
9. Let him trace the Averse Pentagram that invoketh Fire (Leo) 
.
10. Let him point his Wand to the Centre of the Pentagram, and cry HADITH!
11. Let him give the Sign Puer, standing with feet together, and head erect. Let his right hand [the thumb between index and medius] be raised, the forearm vertical at a right angle with the upper arm, which is horizontally extended in the line joining the shoulders. Let his left hand, the thumb line joining the shoulders. Let his left hand, the thumb extended forwards, and the fingers clenched, rest at the junction of the things [attitude of the Gods Mentu, Khem, etc].
12. Let him proceed as before; then in the East, let him make the Averse Pentagram that invoketh Earth (Taurus) 
.
13. Let him point his Wand to the Center of the Pentagram, and cry out THERION!
14. Let him give the sign called Vir, the feet being together. The hands, with clenched fingers and thumbs thrust out forwards, are held to the temples; the head is then bowed and pushed out, as if to symbolize the butting of an horned beast (attitude of Pan, Bacchus, etc.).
15. Proceeding as before, let him make in the West the Averse Pentagram whereby Water is invoked 
.
16. Pointing the Wand to the Center of the Pentagram, let him call upon BABALON!
17. Let him give the sign Mulier. The Feet are widely separated, and the arms raised so as to suggest a crescent. The head is thrown back [attitude of Baphomet, Isis in Welcome, the Microcosm of Vitruvius].
18. Let him break into the dance, tracing a centripetal spiral widdershins, enriched by revolutions upon his axis sa he passeth each quarter, until he come to the center of the circle. There let him halt, facing Boleskine.
19. Let him raise the Wand, trace the Mark of the Beast 
, and cry AIWAZ.
20. Let him trace the Invoking Hexagram of The Beast 
.
21. Let him lower the Wand, striking the Earth therewith.
22. Let him give the sign of Mater Triumphans (Isis Rejoicing) [The feet are together; the left arm is curved as if it supported a child; the thumb and index of the right hand pinch the nipple of the left breast, as if offering it to that child]. Let him utter the word THELEMA!
23. Perform the Spiral Dance, moving deosil and whirling widdershins. Each time on passing the West extend the Wand to the Quarter in question, and bow:
a. Before me the powers of LA! [to West].
b. Behind me the powers of AL! [to East].
c. On my right hand the powers of LA! [to North].
d. On my left hand the powers of AL! [to South].
e. Above me the powers of ShT! [leaping in the Air].
f. Beneath me the powers of ShT! [striking the ground].
g. Withing me the powers! [in the attitude of Ptah erect, the feet together, the hands clasped upon the Vertical Wand].
h. About me flames my Father's Face, the Star of Force and Fire.
i. And in the Column stands His six-rayed Splendour!
[This dance may be omitted, and the whole Utterance chanted in the attitude of Ptah.]