BOOK I
PRACTICAL EVOCATION
A. The Magical Circle.
B. The Magician, wearing the great lamen of the Hierophant, and his scarlet robe. The Hierophant's lamen is on the back of a pentacle, whereon is engraved the sigil of the spirit to be invoked.
C. The Names and Formulae to be employed.
D. The symbol of the whole evocation.
E. The construction of the circle and the placing of all the symbols, &c., employed in the places proper allotted to them, so as to represent the interior of the G.'. D.'. Temple in the "Enterer": and the purification and consecration of the actual pieces of ground or place selected for the performance of the invocation. {151}
F. The invocation of the Higher Powers. Pentacle formed by the concentric bands, name and sigil therein, in proper colours; is to be bound thrice with a cord, and shrouded in black, thus bringing into action a blind force, to be further directed or differentiated in the process of the ceremony. "Announcement" aloud of the "object" of the working, naming the Spirit or Spirits
which it is desired to evoke. This is pronounced standing in the centre of the circle, and turning towards the quarter from which the Spirit will come.
G. The name and sigil of the spirit wrapped in a black cloth or covering is now placed within the circle, at the point corresponding to the West, representing the candidate. The Consecration, or Baptism by water and fire of the sigil then takes place: and the proclamation in a loud and firm voice of the spirit (or spirits) to be evoked.
H. The veiled sigil is now to be placed at the foot of the altar. The Magician then calls aloud the name of the spirit, summoning him to appear: stating for what purpose the spirit is evoked: what is desired in the operation: why the evocation is performed at this time: and finally solemnly affirming that the Spirit SHALL be evoked by the ceremony.
I. Announcement aloud that all is prepared for the commencement of the actual evocation. If it be a "good" Spirit the sigil is now to be placed "within" "the white triangle." The Magician places his left hand upon it, raises in his right hand the magical implement employed (usually the sword of Art) erect, and commences the evocation of the Spirit. This being an exorcism of the Spirit unto visible appearance. The Magician stands in the place of the Hierophant during the obligation, and faces West irrespective of the particular quarter of the Spirit.
But if the Nature of the Spirit be evil, then the sigil must be placed "without" and to the West of the white triangle; and the Magician shall be careful to keep the point of the magic Sword upon the centre of the sigil.
J. Now let the Magician imagine himself as "clothed outwardly" with the semblance of the form of the Spirit to be evoked: and in this let him be careful "not to identify himself" with the Spirit, which would be dangerous, but only to formulate a species of Mask, worn for the time being. And if he know not the symbolic form of the Spirit, then let him assume the form of an angel belonging unto the same class of operation. This form being assumed, then let him pronounce aloud, with a firm and solemn voice, "a convenient and potent" "oration and Exorcism of the Spirit unto visible appearance." At the conclusion of this exorcism, taking the covered sigil in his left hand, let him smite it thrice with the "flat" blade of the Magic Sword. Then let him raise on high his arms to their utmost stretch, holding in his left hand the veiled sigil, and in his right the sword of Art erect, at the same time stamping thrice upon the ground with his right foot.
K. The veiled and covered sigil is then to be placed in the Northern part of the Hall, at the edge of the circle, and the Magician then employs the oration of the Hierophant from the throne of the East, modifying it slightly, as follows: "The Voice {152} of the Exorcism said unto me; let me shroud myself in darkness, peradventure thus may I manifest myself in Light," &c. The Magician then proclaims aloud that the Mystic Circumambulation will take place.
L. The Magician takes up the sigil in his left hand, and circumambulates the magic circle once, then passes to the South and halts. He stands (having lain his sigil on the ground) between it and the West, repeats the oration of the Kerux, and again consecrates it with water and with fire. Then takes it in his hand, facing westward, saying: "Creature of ... twice consecrate, thou mayest approach the Gate of the West."
M. The Magician now moves to the West of the magical circle, holds the sigil in his left hand and the Sword in his right, faces S.W., "and again" "astrally masks himself with the Form of the Spirit:" and for the first time partially opens the covering, without, however, entirely removing it. He then smites it once with the flat blade of this sword, saying in a loud, clear and firm voice: "Thou canst not pass from concealment unto manifestation, save by virtue of the Name \ y h l a [HB:Mem-final HB:Yod HB:Heh HB:Lamed HB:Aleph]. Before all things are the Chaos, and the Darkness, and the Gates of the Land of Night. I am he whose Name is 'Darkness': I am the Great One of the paths of the shades. I am the Exorcist in the midst of the exorcism; appear thou therefore without fear before me; for I am he in whom fear is not! Thou hast known me; so pass thou on!" He then reveils the sigil.
N. Operations in L repeated at the North.
O. Processes in M are repeated in the N.W. Magician then passes to the East, takes up sigil in left hand, and Lotus Wand in right; "assumes the mask" "of the Spirit-Form;" smites sigil with Lotus Wand and says: "Thou canst not pass from concealment unto manifestation save by virtue of the name h w h y [HB:Heh HB:Vau HB:Heh HB:Yod]. After the formless and the void and the Darkness, there cometh the knowledge of the Light. I am that Light which riseth in the Darkness! I am the Exorcist in the midst of the exorcism; appear thou therefore in harmonious form before me; for I am the wielder of the forces of the Balance. Thou hast known me now, so pass thou on unto the cubical altar of the Universe.
P. He then re-covers sigil and passes on to the altar laying it thereon as before shown. He then passes to the East of the Altar holding the sigil and sword as explained. Then doth he rehearse a most potent conjuration and invocation of that Spirit unto visible appearance, using and reiterating all the Divine angelic and magical names appropriate to this end, neither omitting the signs, seals, sigilla, lineal figures, signatures and the like, from that conjuration.
Q. The Magician now elevates the covered sigil towards Heaven, removes the veil entirely (leaving it yet corded); crying in a loud voice: "Creature of ... long hast thou dwelt in Darkness, quit the Night and seek the Day." He then replaces it on the altar, holds the magical sword erect above it, the pommel immediately above the centre thereof, and says: "By all the Names, powers, and rites already rehearsed, I conjure Thee thus unto visible appearance." Then the Mystic words. {153}
R. Saith the Magician: "As the Light hidden in the Darkness can manifest
therefrom, SO SHALT THOU become manifest from concealment unto manifestation."
He then takes up sigil, stands to the East of the Altar and faces West. He
shall then rehearse a long conjuration to the powers and Spirits immediately
superior unto that one which he seeks to invoke: "that they shall force him to"
"manifest himself unto visible appearance." He then places the sigil between
the pillars, himself at the East facing West. Then in the sign of the Enterer
doth he direct the whole current of his will upon the sigil. Thus he
continueth until such time as he shall perceive his will-power to be
weakening, when he protects himself from the reflex of the current by the sign
of silence, and then drops his hands. He now looks towards the Quarter that
the Spirit is to appear in, and he should now see the first signs of his
visible manifestation. If he be "not" thus faintly visible, let the Magician
repeat the Conjuration of the Superiors of the Spirit; "from the place of the"
"Throne of the East." And this conjuration may be repeated thrice, each time
ending with a new projection of will in the sign of the Enterer, &c. But if
at the third time of repetition he appeareth not, then be it known that there
is an error in the working. So let the Master of Evocations replace the sigil
upon the altar, holding the sword as usual, and thus doing "let him repeat a"
"humble prayer unto the Great Gods of Heaven to grant unto him the force"
"necessary correctly to complete that evocation."
He is then to take back the Sigil to between the Pillars, and repeat the
former processes; "when assuredly that Spirit will begin to manifest, but in a"
"misty and ill-defined form."
(But if, as is probable, the operator be naturally inclined unto evocation,
then might that Spirit perchance manifest earlier in the ceremony than this:
still the ceremony itself is to be performed up to this point, whether he be
there or no.)
Now so soon as the Magician shall see the visible manifestation of that
spirit's presence, he shall quit the station of the Hierophant and consecrate
afresh with Water and with Fire the Sigil of the evoked Spirit.
S. Now doth the Master of the Evocation remove from the sigil the
restricting cord; and, holding the freed sigil in his left hand, he smites it
with the flat blade of his sword; exclaiming: "By and in the Names of ...... I
do invoke upon thee the power of {p}erfect manifestation unto visible
appearance!"
He then circumambulates the circle thrice, holding the sigil in his "right"
hand.
T. The Magician, standing in the place of the Hierophant, but turning towards the place of the Spirit, and fixing his attention thereon, now reads a "potent invocation of the Spirit" unto visible appearance; having previously placed the sigil on the ground, within the circle at the quarter where the Spirit appears. This invocation should be of some length, and should rehearse and reiterate the Divine and other names consonant with the working. That Spirit should now become fully and clearly visible, and should be able to speak with a direct voice (if consonant with his nature). The Magician then proclaims aloud that the Spirit N hath been duly and properly evoked, in accordance with the sacred rites. {154}
U. The Magician now addresses and Invocation unto the Lords of the Plane of the Spirit to compel him to perform that which the Magician shall demand of him.
V. The Magician carefully formulates his demands, questions, &c., and writes down any of the answers that may be advisable.
W. The Master of Evocations now addresses a conjuration unto the spirit
evoked, binding him to hurt or injure naught connected with him; or his
assistants; or the place; and that he fail not to perform that which he hath
been commanded, and that he deceive in nothing. He then dismisses that Spirit
by any suitable form such as those used in the four higher grades in the
Outer.
And if he will "not" go, then shall the Magician "compel" him by forces
contrary unto his nature. But he must allow a few minutes for the Spirit to
dematerialise the body in which he hath manifested; for he will become less
and less material by degrees. And note well that the Magician (or his
companions if he have any) shall "never" quit the circle during the process of
Evocations; or afterwards, till the Spirit be quite vanished, seeing that in
some cases and with some constitutions there may be danger arising from the
astral conditions and currents established; and that without the actual
intention of the Spirit to harm, although, if of a low nature, he would
probably endeavour to do so.
Therefore, before the commencement of the Evocation let the operator assure
himself that everything which may be necessary be properly arranged within the
circle.
But if it be actually necessary to interrupt the process, then let him stop
at that point, veil and re-cord the sigil if it have been unbound or
uncovered, recite a Licence to depart or banishing formula, and perform the
lesser Banishing rituals both of the Pentagram and Hexagram. * Thus only may
he in comparative safety quit the circle.
* See "Liber O," THE EQUINOX, vol. i., No. 2.
Return To The Temple of Solomon the King Table of Contents (Vol. I Number III.)
Return To Table of Contents Vol. I.