Hello all,
I have a question for you. As most of you, I often use the Golden Dawn means of drawing pentagrams in ritual. As we're probably all aware of it, I will keep the Golden Dawn method explanation short; the Golden Dawn tradition inscribes the pentagram upon the air in the direction that is associated with the element being invoked or banished, invoking towards, and banish from, the point to which the Element is attributed.
I recently came across a different system, apparently used by the Aurum Solis. Donald Tyson (in The Magicians Workbook) describes it as follows; 'invoking and banishing any element is done by beginning to draw the pentagram at the point of that element. To invoke, draw the pentagram clockwise, to banish, draw the pentagram counterclockwise. Even Spirit is invoked or banished by a single pentagram. None of the pentagrams is constructed in the same way as any other pentagram -- all are unique.' (http://bit.ly/knkoH8)
Has anyone ever used the Aurum Solis method and does it work for you?
Thank you for your reply!
Tags: Aurum, Dawn, Golden, Solis, ceremonial, pentagram, pentagrams
Views: 80
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Asdea (Is Jai's ♥) on -
I do not use pentagrams to invoke and banish elements, because I believe that elements are not invoked, and definitely not banished, they are invited into circle (unless you call the watchtowers, and then they are invited to watch over the circle) and when circle is closed, we invited them to stay if they will, or go if they must, and we use spirals to open the portal for which the element to come into the circle, starting in the center and going widdershins to open the portal, and then starting on the outside going inward deosil to close the portal.
I think it is nice to offer alternative ways of doing things to the masses
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Permalink Reply by Shawn on -
LWM...
I'd suggest you look at the why, in terms of the Golden Dawn method (or anything else you do!! ;) )There is another formula at work behind the *why* things are drawn the way they are... as well as why each element is where it is. As with most things that are GD... Think Qabalah.
Tyson claims he came up with his own system independently of Aurum Solis, but they are indeed the same.
I think that everyone needs to examine why they do things, and not simply use guesses and "well everyone does it this way."
Jasper's example of the watchtowers is a perfect one.. Nobody "calls the watchtowers," and if they do, they have NO idea what they're doing... The watchtowers are from a very specific system, and calling one in its entirety would mean calling a large number of angels.. As well as invoking 3 secret names of god... This system is something that someone should be treating with the same respect they do a loaded gun, to use one person's analogy.
While it may be nice to offer alternative ways of doing things to the masses... I'm not really one to agree that children should be playing with a loaded gun while they think it's a popsicle.
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Permalink Reply by Sangraal on -
If it's not broken, don't fix it.
The Golden Dawn method has worked for me well since I put it into practice in '97 and a lot of other people since at least 1888. To me, drawing towards an element to invoke, and away from it to banish, makes sense. This is not to say that other methods may not work, however, when we're working with some of the occult forces that we do, I dare to say that there's little room for personal modification, or the "well it feels right to me" epidemic of modern paganism. I think Shawn's closing statement sums it up.
I'll close with something else. Tyson is a hack. He's the ceremonial equivalent to Ravenwolf. His New Magus book was the first ceremonial book I ever read and had I stuck with him, I'd be a Catholic paganphobe spending my time using the Enochian system to consecrate Jesus rings or something. Stick with what is *known* to work and, most importantly, know what you're working with:
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Thank you, everyone, for taking the time to answer :) I was merely curious after I stumbled across this way of invoking. Quite honestly, I never intended to use it (as I feel that everyone who says they invented something because it's easier has clearly missed the (magical) point) but was curious of anyone did use it and could feel the same affinity with it as others to the Golden Dawn system.
I'd love to hear some more opinions on this if anyone has them! :)
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Permalink Reply by Beorc Kano on -
Yaknow... I have *never* used the pentagram in magic?
Never.
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Permalink Reply by Fr. Perseverabo on -
"His New Magus book was the first ceremonial book I ever read and had I stuck with him, I'd be a Catholic paganphobe spending my time using the Enochian system to consecrate Jesus rings or something."
Keep in mind as well that Aurum Solis was a Christian order up to the early millennium. I would imagine the reason they made changes to the pentagram is to avoid the banish water & invoking air and invoke water & banish air thing.
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Permalink Reply by Fr. Perseverabo on
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A late entry that is worth noting. In the hermetic system, the enochian tablets are the foundation for the placement of the elements in the proper corners of the pentagram. Earth: Lower Left
Fire: Lower Right
Air: Upper Left
Water: Upper Right
Spirit: above them all
So traditionally one banishing would start at the element and go counter clockwise. (From Earth to Spirit) and to invoke one would go Clockwise (from Spirit to Earth). However one has to note that there is one circumstance regarding water and air, that when one banishes air he invokes water and vice versa. I can see that by always starting at the element there are no duplicates, but with personal experience I would argue that there is a correlation between banishing water and invoking air, the two go hand in hand.
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Permalink Reply by Jet Piston on -
"Stay if you will, go if you must" is one of the worst ideas to come out of the New Age 'Wicca is whatever you want it to be' camp. It is a terrible mistake to invite active elements into your home without also controlling them and letting them know, in no uncertain terms, when it is time to go. Its a disaster waiting to happen. I have no desire to allow fire or water uncontrolled access to my home.
-Jet
Asdea (Is Jai's ♥) said:I do not use pentagrams to invoke and banish elements, because I believe that elements are not invoked, and definitely not banished, they are invited into circle (unless you call the watchtowers, and then they are invited to watch over the circle) and when circle is closed, we invited them to stay if they will, or go if they must, and we use spirals to open the portal for which the element to come into the circle, starting in the center and going widdershins to open the portal, and then starting on the outside going inward deosil to close the portal.
I think it is nice to offer alternative ways of doing things to the masses
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Thank you Jet Piston, and everyone else, for their answers. Jet, I get where you're coming from. I've sometimes asked the elements to stay after ritual because I wanted to feel their presence clearly for a while longer. Sometimes I ask them to leave as the energy is too much. I would argue that the spirits of fire after a protection ritual would actively protect your home from fire afterwards but might burn the place down after a potent erotic of fire-based ritual. It depends on the ritual.
