I have just completed designing and writing up the ritual system that will allow me and members of the Order to evoke and access the spirits of the Theurgia-Goetia, which is the second book in the Lemegeton, or Lesser Key of Solomon. I have been pondering over this book for many months, and I finally got the impetus and inspiration to produce a new ritual system to allow me to access them. I am not aware of anyone else actually engaged in summoning these spirits, so it will be interesting to see if anyone contacts me about their own experiences. I will certainly be attempting to use this ritual system in a future working and test the methodology that I have used to develop it. Since I have many years of experience and practice at writing new ritual systems, I have no doubt that the ritual will work as it was designed to do. What remains a mystery is the exact nature of the spirits described in the Theurgia-Goetia.
You can find my past post here, where I discussed the possible nature of these spirits, how one might use them, and the symbolic grid or matrix of occult symbolism that I would chose to define them. I beleived it to be a spiritual system that hadn’t had much use or interest over last couple of centuries, so I decided to develop a structure that would make it more useful and interesting. That article was posted in late 2009, when I was preparing to perform the Abramelin Lunar Ordeal. I had too many other projects to do to spend any time on this “new” spiritual system, so it sat in my “to-do” pile for many months, until I finally had some time and creative insight to design and construct the core ritual that would allow me to access these spirits.
Since I have given all of my rituals a name generally associated with their actual ritual structure and configuration, the name of the ritual that I wrote to access the spirits of the Theurgia-Goetia is called the Hexadecimal Vortex Pylon Invocation Gate. I know - it’s a mouthful, but that name concisely defines the ritual structures that I employed in its construction. Anyway, I decided that I wanted to share with my readers the whole basis of this new ritual working, how it’s structured and also, how it works. I think that this article will show how one might go about assembling the elements to construct a solid ritual working. If you’re as much of a ritual magick wonk as I am, then it might even be a bit illuminating.
This ritual is used to invoke all 75 spirits associated with the second book of the Lemegeton, which is known as the Theurgia-Goetia. These spirits are associated with the implied matrix of 16 Elementals, 48 Zodiacal Elementals, and the 11 Planetary and Element based intelligences. The foundation of this rite summons the Four Emperors and the Four Greek Gods of the Winds, since the spirits of the Theurgia-Goetia are wind spirits (demons), so they naturally respond to the godheads associated with the four winds. (I also used the four Hebrew Godnames for the Four Elements, since the wind spirits have associations with the Judeo-Christian spiritual system.)
The circle configuration for this rite uses sixteen nodes in the outer periphery, which consists of the four Watchtowers, four Angles, and the two in-between points inserted between the Watchtower and Angle for a total of eight sub-angles. A central invoking pylon within an invoking vortex inner circle and a tetrahedral gateway (pointing to the correct watchtower cardinal direction) round out this ritual working. The hexadecimal vortex is used each time the working is performed, regardless of the specific spirit invoked, since this configuration embeds the element structure of the ruling spirits of the emperor of the cardinal direction and the sixteen spirits of the elemental dukes, which are the primary ruling hierarchy of this system of magick.
It is my belief that this particular system of magick can be used to replace or augment the existing systems of Elemental and Talismanic Elemental magick. The sixteen spirits of the Elementals, who are Dukes in this hierarchy, can be used instead of the sixteen Enochian Elemental spirits. The 48 Zodiacal Elementals, which consist of a zodiacal sign qualifying an element base, can be used instead of the Talismanic Elemental, although without the associated Lunar Mansion. These 48 spirits are also Dukes, and considered to be of the same dignity as the elemental Dukes. These spirit Dukes have servitors of their own, and those that are named and have seals can be summoned once the dukal spirit has been fully invoked.
That leaves the 11 wandering Princes, who directly represent the power and authority of the four Emperors, although some answer to more than one. The 11 Princes symbolize the four Sacralized Elements (a kind of tetra-sacramentary) and the seven archetypal planetary intelligences. The princes could be invoked to perform a kind of element or planetary based magick, such as generating sacraments (for the four elements) and planetary talismans.
All of the servitors of these spirits who answer to the four Emperors can be called simply through the agency of their associated seals, after the ruling spirit and the hierarchy have been invoked first. The Emperors are never directly invoked, but are called, along with the Greek godhead winds, to establish the hierarchy of the system of Theurgia-Goetia.
The quality of these 75 spirits was supposed to be either good or evil, depending on their innate nature and their hierarchical alignment - they were considered a form of “wind demons” regardless of their specific character. Since these spirits are associated with the four winds, and the sixteen directions that the wind might travel, it must be assumed that such a power is actually neutral, since it could be used for good or ill, depending on the velocity and the turbulence that sets such a spirit in motion. Like the wind, some storms are beneficial, helping to clear the air and give life to all of nature, while others are destructive and terrible when they are unleashed to their full negative potential.
I would assume that since the magician is the one “stirring” and setting into motion one of these spirits, so the quality of the spirit and the outcome of its use will be solely determined by the magician’s intent. Passions, anger, hatred, violence, or the desire for ill will certainly stir the invoked spirit to do evil (as is the manner of vented storms in nature), while self-control and a desire to aid, heal or give life will motivate the invoked spirit to do good. Thus, it is entirely up to the magician who unleashes this spirit whether it will do good or evil. This is in part similar to the quality of the Enochian Elementals and Talismanic Elementals, which could be invoked to do good or evil depending on the magician’s intent.
Prior to performing the Hexadecimal Vortex Pylon Invocation Gate, the magician should perform the circle consecration and the Lunar Mystery Vortex rite. The moon should be waxing but not yet nearly full, and it should be in an auspicious zodiacal sign and lunation type if the working is to have a positive impact. If the magician seeks to work evil, then the moon should be waning close to New and the zodiacal sign should have a negative quality.
Ritual Pattern: The basic ritual pattern for this working has the following steps, and these are followed regardless of the target spirit to be invoked. Performing this rite will require the operator to have a collection of charged seals for the Emperors and Elemental Dukes to be used exclusively for the base ritual. The seals are to be reused whenever the ritual is performed, and they may be made out of a more permanent substance, like tag board, wood or metal. These seals are to be charged prior to use, and this is done through a blessing and then an immersion in the sacraments of a mass rite. The sigil seal of the target spirit is to made of parchment and also charged with a mass rite.
1. Set the four watchtowers with the following structures in deosil order (E, S, W, N):
2. Set the infra-point with the following structures:
3. Draw four watchtowers to the infra-point in a widdershins arc (N, W, S, E). Draw 4 watchtowers into the form of a square, proceeding in a deosil arc (E, S, W, N). Intone exegesis of the five node formula.
4. Set the four Angles with the following structures in a deosil arc (SE, SW, NW, NE):
5. Set the ultra-point with the following structures:
6. Draw four angles to the ultra-point in a widdershins arc (NE, NW, SW, SE). Draw 4 angles into the form of a square, proceeding in a deosil arc (SE, SW, NW, NE). Intone exegesis of the five node formula.
7. Set each quadrant with the two sub-angles - perform the following steps for each (E, S, W, N):
8. Draw inner circle - perform opening threshold and step into inner circle. Draw rose-ankh devices to the four watchtowers in a widdershins arc (N, W, S, E) and then draw one to the infra-point. Draw the four watchtowers to the center of the circle, then perform a widershins spiral, from the periphery of the circle to the center. Set an invoking trigon (depending on whether it is elemental based or planetary based) in the center of the circle and charge it with an invoking spiral. (Magickal circle structure is now set for performing the targeted spirit invocation.
9. Set the three gate keys to the three directions (one cardinal, the other two angles), depending on the spiritual alignment of the target spirit. The focus point will be to the East, South, West or North depending on whether the spirit is aligned to that direction and is within the hierarchy of the associated Emperor. The eleven princes can have more than one possible direction, so the magician chooses the best one for the work that he or she wishes to perform. Perform the three-node gate exegesis with the core of the tetrahedral gate set with an invoking pentagram (assuring the specific alignment of the gateway). Once the gateway has been crossed and the combined formula recited, then the invocation may be performed.
10. Erect the pylon of the target spirit using the magick staff as an overlaying tool. Each class of target spirits has its own specific type of pylon. Charge the seal and sigil combination and place it at the base of the staff on the invoking trigon. Then perform a threefold invocation of the target spirit, and complete with supplemental invocations from the Steganographia (if any). The three-fold invocation matches the three positions on the staff used to establish the invoking pylon. The central node (meso-point) is always set with a hexagramic cross device.
Commune with the spirit, and if the magician desires to summon one or more of the servitors, then once the target spirit is invoked, present the seal of the servitor and summon it through the power and authority of the target spirit. Servitors can be used to perform more menial tasks directly, such as fetch and get tasks, or if the magician is seeking to do a negative action, such as a curse. The target spirit will recommend the proper servitor for a given task, so the magician should have the seals of all the known and named servitors available for use.
11. If the magician is seeking to charge a talisman or an object with the energy vested with the target spirit, then he or she may use the Elemental Gate ritual (for Elementals) or the Talismanic Elemental Application ritual (for Zodiacal-Elements or Planetary Intelligences). The exception would be for the four Princes who represent a spiritualized and charged Element. Performing this extra ritual working is optional, but it should be performed immediately following the hexadecimal vortex invocation gate working.
12. Once the working is completed, then the magician gives the license to depart and seals up the hexadecimal vortex and closes the elemental gateway and the inner circle portal.
So, that’s the ritual structure for invoking and evoking the spirits of the Theurgia-Goetia, although the exact details (such as formula names, verbiage, etc.) have been omitted. I also expect that the ritual may require some refinements before it’s completely vetted, but the basic structure outlines above will doubtlessly remain the way it is.
You can find my past post here, where I discussed the possible nature of these spirits, how one might use them, and the symbolic grid or matrix of occult symbolism that I would chose to define them. I beleived it to be a spiritual system that hadn’t had much use or interest over last couple of centuries, so I decided to develop a structure that would make it more useful and interesting. That article was posted in late 2009, when I was preparing to perform the Abramelin Lunar Ordeal. I had too many other projects to do to spend any time on this “new” spiritual system, so it sat in my “to-do” pile for many months, until I finally had some time and creative insight to design and construct the core ritual that would allow me to access these spirits.
Since I have given all of my rituals a name generally associated with their actual ritual structure and configuration, the name of the ritual that I wrote to access the spirits of the Theurgia-Goetia is called the Hexadecimal Vortex Pylon Invocation Gate. I know - it’s a mouthful, but that name concisely defines the ritual structures that I employed in its construction. Anyway, I decided that I wanted to share with my readers the whole basis of this new ritual working, how it’s structured and also, how it works. I think that this article will show how one might go about assembling the elements to construct a solid ritual working. If you’re as much of a ritual magick wonk as I am, then it might even be a bit illuminating.
This ritual is used to invoke all 75 spirits associated with the second book of the Lemegeton, which is known as the Theurgia-Goetia. These spirits are associated with the implied matrix of 16 Elementals, 48 Zodiacal Elementals, and the 11 Planetary and Element based intelligences. The foundation of this rite summons the Four Emperors and the Four Greek Gods of the Winds, since the spirits of the Theurgia-Goetia are wind spirits (demons), so they naturally respond to the godheads associated with the four winds. (I also used the four Hebrew Godnames for the Four Elements, since the wind spirits have associations with the Judeo-Christian spiritual system.)
The circle configuration for this rite uses sixteen nodes in the outer periphery, which consists of the four Watchtowers, four Angles, and the two in-between points inserted between the Watchtower and Angle for a total of eight sub-angles. A central invoking pylon within an invoking vortex inner circle and a tetrahedral gateway (pointing to the correct watchtower cardinal direction) round out this ritual working. The hexadecimal vortex is used each time the working is performed, regardless of the specific spirit invoked, since this configuration embeds the element structure of the ruling spirits of the emperor of the cardinal direction and the sixteen spirits of the elemental dukes, which are the primary ruling hierarchy of this system of magick.
It is my belief that this particular system of magick can be used to replace or augment the existing systems of Elemental and Talismanic Elemental magick. The sixteen spirits of the Elementals, who are Dukes in this hierarchy, can be used instead of the sixteen Enochian Elemental spirits. The 48 Zodiacal Elementals, which consist of a zodiacal sign qualifying an element base, can be used instead of the Talismanic Elemental, although without the associated Lunar Mansion. These 48 spirits are also Dukes, and considered to be of the same dignity as the elemental Dukes. These spirit Dukes have servitors of their own, and those that are named and have seals can be summoned once the dukal spirit has been fully invoked.
That leaves the 11 wandering Princes, who directly represent the power and authority of the four Emperors, although some answer to more than one. The 11 Princes symbolize the four Sacralized Elements (a kind of tetra-sacramentary) and the seven archetypal planetary intelligences. The princes could be invoked to perform a kind of element or planetary based magick, such as generating sacraments (for the four elements) and planetary talismans.
All of the servitors of these spirits who answer to the four Emperors can be called simply through the agency of their associated seals, after the ruling spirit and the hierarchy have been invoked first. The Emperors are never directly invoked, but are called, along with the Greek godhead winds, to establish the hierarchy of the system of Theurgia-Goetia.
The quality of these 75 spirits was supposed to be either good or evil, depending on their innate nature and their hierarchical alignment - they were considered a form of “wind demons” regardless of their specific character. Since these spirits are associated with the four winds, and the sixteen directions that the wind might travel, it must be assumed that such a power is actually neutral, since it could be used for good or ill, depending on the velocity and the turbulence that sets such a spirit in motion. Like the wind, some storms are beneficial, helping to clear the air and give life to all of nature, while others are destructive and terrible when they are unleashed to their full negative potential.
I would assume that since the magician is the one “stirring” and setting into motion one of these spirits, so the quality of the spirit and the outcome of its use will be solely determined by the magician’s intent. Passions, anger, hatred, violence, or the desire for ill will certainly stir the invoked spirit to do evil (as is the manner of vented storms in nature), while self-control and a desire to aid, heal or give life will motivate the invoked spirit to do good. Thus, it is entirely up to the magician who unleashes this spirit whether it will do good or evil. This is in part similar to the quality of the Enochian Elementals and Talismanic Elementals, which could be invoked to do good or evil depending on the magician’s intent.
Prior to performing the Hexadecimal Vortex Pylon Invocation Gate, the magician should perform the circle consecration and the Lunar Mystery Vortex rite. The moon should be waxing but not yet nearly full, and it should be in an auspicious zodiacal sign and lunation type if the working is to have a positive impact. If the magician seeks to work evil, then the moon should be waning close to New and the zodiacal sign should have a negative quality.
Ritual Pattern: The basic ritual pattern for this working has the following steps, and these are followed regardless of the target spirit to be invoked. Performing this rite will require the operator to have a collection of charged seals for the Emperors and Elemental Dukes to be used exclusively for the base ritual. The seals are to be reused whenever the ritual is performed, and they may be made out of a more permanent substance, like tag board, wood or metal. These seals are to be charged prior to use, and this is done through a blessing and then an immersion in the sacraments of a mass rite. The sigil seal of the target spirit is to made of parchment and also charged with a mass rite.
1. Set the four watchtowers with the following structures in deosil order (E, S, W, N):
- Summon the Greek Wind Godhead & Hebrew Elemental Godhead
- Charge seal (set therein) and summon the Spirit Emperor (intone supplementary invocations)
- Erect pylon of Pure Elemental in Watchtower
- Charge seal (set therein) and summon the Spirit Duke
- Intone Hebrew formula letter and recite a special incantation based on that letter
2. Set the infra-point with the following structures:
- Summon the Greek Godhead of Storms
- Set inverted ankh to the infra-point
- Intone Hebrew formula letter and recite a special incantation based on that letter
3. Draw four watchtowers to the infra-point in a widdershins arc (N, W, S, E). Draw 4 watchtowers into the form of a square, proceeding in a deosil arc (E, S, W, N). Intone exegesis of the five node formula.
4. Set the four Angles with the following structures in a deosil arc (SE, SW, NW, NE):
- Summon the Lesser Greek Wind Godhead (Anemoi Thuellai)
- Erect pylon of Mixed Elemental in Watchtower
- Charge seal (set therein) and summon the Spirit Duke
- Intone Hebrew formula letter and recite a special incantation based on that letter
5. Set the ultra-point with the following structures:
- Summon the Greek Godhead of Lesser Winds (Olympias)
- Set hexagram of union to the ultra-point
- Intone Hebrew formula letter and recite a special incantation based on that letter
6. Draw four angles to the ultra-point in a widdershins arc (NE, NW, SW, SE). Draw 4 angles into the form of a square, proceeding in a deosil arc (SE, SW, NW, NE). Intone exegesis of the five node formula.
7. Set each quadrant with the two sub-angles - perform the following steps for each (E, S, W, N):
- Face Angle and determine coordinates - note first position to the left, then the right of it
- Erect pylon of first elemental to the first position
- Charge seal (set therein) and summon the Spirit Duke
- Erect pylon of second elemental to the second position
- Charge seal (set therein) and summon the Spirit Duke
- Draw invoking spiral - join two sub-angles with Watchtower and Angle
8. Draw inner circle - perform opening threshold and step into inner circle. Draw rose-ankh devices to the four watchtowers in a widdershins arc (N, W, S, E) and then draw one to the infra-point. Draw the four watchtowers to the center of the circle, then perform a widershins spiral, from the periphery of the circle to the center. Set an invoking trigon (depending on whether it is elemental based or planetary based) in the center of the circle and charge it with an invoking spiral. (Magickal circle structure is now set for performing the targeted spirit invocation.
9. Set the three gate keys to the three directions (one cardinal, the other two angles), depending on the spiritual alignment of the target spirit. The focus point will be to the East, South, West or North depending on whether the spirit is aligned to that direction and is within the hierarchy of the associated Emperor. The eleven princes can have more than one possible direction, so the magician chooses the best one for the work that he or she wishes to perform. Perform the three-node gate exegesis with the core of the tetrahedral gate set with an invoking pentagram (assuring the specific alignment of the gateway). Once the gateway has been crossed and the combined formula recited, then the invocation may be performed.
10. Erect the pylon of the target spirit using the magick staff as an overlaying tool. Each class of target spirits has its own specific type of pylon. Charge the seal and sigil combination and place it at the base of the staff on the invoking trigon. Then perform a threefold invocation of the target spirit, and complete with supplemental invocations from the Steganographia (if any). The three-fold invocation matches the three positions on the staff used to establish the invoking pylon. The central node (meso-point) is always set with a hexagramic cross device.
Commune with the spirit, and if the magician desires to summon one or more of the servitors, then once the target spirit is invoked, present the seal of the servitor and summon it through the power and authority of the target spirit. Servitors can be used to perform more menial tasks directly, such as fetch and get tasks, or if the magician is seeking to do a negative action, such as a curse. The target spirit will recommend the proper servitor for a given task, so the magician should have the seals of all the known and named servitors available for use.
- Invoking pylon of an Elemental Ducal Spirit consists of an invoking pentagram for the base element, and an inverted invoking pentagram for the qualifier. These are drawn together with an invoking spiral.
- Invoking pylon of a Zodiacal Element Ducal Spirit consists of an invoking pentagram for the base element of the sign, and one of the three lesser hexagrams associated with the zodiacal quality for the qualifier. A second invoking pentagram is set to the mid-point to determine the element qualifier for the zodiacal sign. These are drawn together with an invoking spiral.
- Invoking pylon of Element Prince Spirit consists of an invoking pentagram for the base element, and an invoking pentagram for the qualifier - these two invoking pentagrams invoke the same element. A hexagram is set to the mid-point to determine the spiritual quality of the element. These are drawn together with an invoking spiral.
- Invoking pylon of Planetary Prince Spirit consists of an invoking pentagram of spirit masculine or feminine (determined by the gender of the planet) set in the apex of the pylon, and the base is set with the drawing of the invoking pattern for a specific planet on the Septagram trigon. The trigon is charged with an invoking spiral, and the pylon is established with an invoking spiral, connecting the pentagram of spirit with the Septagram trigon.
11. If the magician is seeking to charge a talisman or an object with the energy vested with the target spirit, then he or she may use the Elemental Gate ritual (for Elementals) or the Talismanic Elemental Application ritual (for Zodiacal-Elements or Planetary Intelligences). The exception would be for the four Princes who represent a spiritualized and charged Element. Performing this extra ritual working is optional, but it should be performed immediately following the hexadecimal vortex invocation gate working.
12. Once the working is completed, then the magician gives the license to depart and seals up the hexadecimal vortex and closes the elemental gateway and the inner circle portal.
So, that’s the ritual structure for invoking and evoking the spirits of the Theurgia-Goetia, although the exact details (such as formula names, verbiage, etc.) have been omitted. I also expect that the ritual may require some refinements before it’s completely vetted, but the basic structure outlines above will doubtlessly remain the way it is.
Frater Barrabbas
Rather complicated but surely very interesting. Did this ritual procedure work for you? I am currently being drawn to this category of spiritual creatures and would like to learn more.
ReplyDeleteFrater D. Eosastraios