Lbrh

[Kendrah]

Okay, so tonight I tried the LBRH and I just felt really silly through the whole thing. I found a copy of the ritual online and used it. Maybe I need a more indepth guide. The one I found didn't have a whole lot of visualations so it just felt... silly. (Ya know, first time, not knowing what I was doing...)Here (http://www.sacred-magick.com/Practises/The%20Lesser%20Banishing%20Ritual%20of%20The%20Hexagram%20(BRH).html) is the ritual I found. Any suggestions at all would be lovely.

[Seren_]

It might be an idea to study the meaning of the ritual further before you go into it. Otherwise you might just feel like you're doing Madonna's Vogue, or about to break out into YMCA...

Here's some notes that might help (I hope they do, anyway):

Like the LBRP, the LBRH is comprised of different sections:

1. The Analysis of the Keyword
2. The Formulation of the Elemental Hexagrams
3. Repetition of the Analysis of the Keyword

The Analysis – this section involves the drawing down of divine energy – light, specifically – into the self. It effectively seals the individual (or people present) off from negative influences on the astral or cosmic levels, and makes one prepared to perform Higher Magicks. Because of the powerful energies involved in this part of the ritual, you can substitute it for the Qabalistic Cross for a while, until you feel that you’re getting more confident.

INRI – Tradition states that INRI was written on the cross that Jesus was crucified on, meaning “Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews”. Hermetic and Rosicrucian tradition states that it is actually a key secret to their teachings, standing for the Latin phrase “Igne Natura Renovatur Integra”, translating as “By fire, nature is perfectly renewed”. This is a fitting statement for cleansing the space and invoking such solar energies that are involved.

Furthermore, there is an additional layer of meaning:

I is equated with the Hebrew letter Yod, which is itself Qabalistically related to the Sign of the Zodiac, Virgo; Virgo relates to Isis as the virgin. Isis is the wife of Osiris and “the breath of life” who brought Osiris back to life after he was killed by Set. Isis is thus the Mighty Mother, representative of birth. Elementally, this letter represents water.

N is equated with the Hebrew letter Nun, which is itself Qabalistically related to the Zodiacal Sign of Scorpio. Scorpio relates to Apophis-Typhon, the Greek version of Set. Set killed Osiris and dismembered his body so that he could not be brought back to life; Isis collected all the pieces of her husband except for his penis. She fashioned him a false one and brought him back to life with the magical aid of Thoth, just long enough for her to join with him and conceive their child, Horus. Apophis is therefore representative of death. Elementally, N represents Fire.

R is equated with the Hebrew letter Resh, which is itself Qabalistically related to the Sun; The Sun relates to Osiris, husband of Isis and God of Vegetation, whose job it was to ensure the flooding of the Nile each year so that fertile deposits ensured rich crops over the flood plain. Having been brought back to life by Isis after being murdered by Set, Osiris represents resurrection, and so thus has Messianic connotations as well. Elementally, R represents the Air.

I as the final letter represents Virgo again, but this time the element of Earth.

Together they therefore represent the cycle of birth (or creation), death (or destruction) and resurrection. Within the Key Word, INRI, is contained the words of power IAO (Isis, Apophis and Osiris) and LVX (lux, or light, which is numerically identical with IAO and therefore they have the same gematrical meaning).

IAO – Is contained within the notariqon of INRI. To the Gnostics, IAO is the supreme name of God. It is also the alchemical formula of Isis, Apophis and Osiris; birth, death and resurrection (hence the relation to INRI), which holds the key to magical power and immortality for the Adept. IAO is therefore a formula of Tiphareth and the supreme power of God.

LVX – As the signs of Isis, Apophis and Osiris are assumed during the ritual, they can be seen to spell out the letters L, V, X. Crowley describes the signs in his Liber O as being L – Isis Mourning, the Swastika; V – Apophis and Typhon, the Trident; and Osiris Risen – The Pentagram. Note that the sign of Osiris Risen assumed by the High Priestess during the Wiccan Drawing Down the Moon Ritual.

Lux is the Latin word for Light, and the Roman numerals for 65 – 6=5, the grade of Tiphareth. Thus we can see the elements of the first step of creation “Let there be light”, and also an invocation of the energies of Tiphareth. Here, lux is therefore the Divine Light descending from Tiphareth.

ARARITA – Ararita is a notariqon of the Hebrew phrase “Achad Rosh, Achdotho Rosh, Ichudo Tenuratzo Achad”, or “One is His beginning, One is His individuality, His permutation is One”. In other words, God is everything, and therefore in me as well, and in this space right now; the space is therefore sacred, and without any profane influence.

[Seren_]

And here's some more:

Once the Lesser Ritual of the Pentagram has been performed, the magician might want to follow on with the Lesser Ritual of the Hexagram. This is primarily because the LBRP leaves certain loopholes; these are relatively unimportant to most practitioners, and the LBRP will operate more than adequately for most people.

The LBRP primarily has its effects on the microcosmic level – that of our Self – as symbolised by the use of the pentagrams (the pentagram representing man in the microcosm). In performing the LBRP, we banish those negative thoughts and influences from our self and that space which is immediately around us. Whilst the macrocosmic force of the hexagram is automatically called in to fill the vacuum created, effectively sealing the circle, these macrocosmic forces are by no means necessarily cleansed or purified.

This can be useful, or indeed imperative, for particular workings where an absolutely clean and protected environment is called for – Hermetically sealed, if you like (sorry…). In particular, it can be necessary on particularly lengthy or powerful astral journeys, or invocations/evocations/meetings with particularly powerful beings where caution is called for. Therefore the Lesser Banishing Ritual of the Hexagram can be performed in order to cleanse and purify a space on a macrocosmic scale, as well simply the microcosmic. On performing both rituals appropriately, all spiritual or magical forces are banished; within the temple you have created, resides only your Will (in other words, your will in line with the Divine Will).

The Hexagram ritual is a bit more complicated in comparison with the LBRP, and also calls upon different forces. It is usually reserved for initiates of the Portal Grade or above, but now that Ceremonial magic is becoming much more widely available, it is more frequently being published for “general consumption”.

The ritual is designed to either banish or invoke the solar powers as they relate to the Elements – much in the same way as the LBRP does with the Elements. Unlike the LBRP however, alternative planetary forces can be used instead of the solar powers as astrologically appropriate. To begin with, familiarise yourself with the generic ritual as outlined below, which deals specifically with solar forces.

The ritual can be said to be solar because the hexagram itself relates to the Sun, and thus on the Tree of Life, the Sephirah of Tiphareth. More than that, the shape of the hexagram fits neatly onto the Tree of Life itself, each corner corresponding with a particular Sephiroth, with Tiphareth bang in the centre of the hexagram itself. These corners can also be related to planetary forces, as shown below:

Once again, we see the elements of balance and harmony coming into play; not only is the Sun the equalizing power of the solar system (its energies maintaining the paths that each planet travels in its orbit through the gravitational pull etc), in a Qabalistic sense, we can see that Kether represents pure energy; Malkuth represents pure matter; in the same column of the Tree of Life, we can see that Tiphareth represents the balance between energy and matter.

The Sun is also the source of matter in the solar system, which we could interpret as being the first stage on the Tree of Life where matter is tangible in the Physical sense of formation. The solar energy of Tiphareth (the Sun) condenses in stages which finally result in matter. This process is represented by the Elements themselves; from Fire, to Air, to Water and then finally condensing as solid matter in the form of Earth. Fire represents the Sphere of Geburah; Air represents that of Hod; Water represents Netzach; and Earth represents both Yesod and Malkuth. Therefore, through the Lesser Hexagram ritual, we can access this creative, sustaining, balancing force in all of its various manifestations.

In manipulating these solar energies through performing the hexagram ritual, we are effectively controlling the quality and quantity of energy that becomes matter, within our own sphere of existence.

During the ritual, four different hexagrams are used, instead of the one size fits all approach with the Lesser Pentagram ritual. It is precisely because we are aiming to control the quality and quantity of the energy in all its forms, as stated above, that this is so.

You will find that the Elemental Hexagrams are ordered differently to the Elemental Pentagrams around the circle, because here they are ordered astrologically rather than elementally. In this case, we find that the hexagrams are as follows:

Fire to the East
Earth to the South
Air to the West
Water to the North

Respectively, these represent:

The Hexagram of Fire in the East – represents the Solar energy that we can contact, e.g. the radiant energy of the cosmos. This hexagram is in the form of the Fire Wand.

The Hexagram of Air in the West – represents the Solar energy we can absorb, as well as be inspired by. It is through the air we breathe that the Fire of the cosmos is accessible. The Hexagram of Air represents the Dagger.

The Hexagram of Water in the North – represents the Solar emotions we can feel, like the love of all creation that the Sun generates. The Hexagram of Water represents the Cup, or Chalice.

The Hexagram of Earth in the South – represents the Solar energy that makes concrete matter that we can move and touch, in short, The Philosophers Stone. Love, Energy and Expansion are all united and expressed on Earth via the power of the Sun. This quintessence, when in contact with matter, re-balances any disturbances and creates a condition of dynamic harmony. It is Fire, Air and Water in combined and perfect expression. The Hexagram of Earth represents the Pentacle.

You will notice that each of the hexagrams are not actual hexagrams per se, except for that of Earth (this relates to the traditional method of drawing the hexagrams, not Crowley's hexagrams). The traditional hexagram is represented by the elemental triangle of fire and the elemental triangle of water, and in this ritual it is representative of the pure planetary forces.

The hexagrams are arranged differently because they represent the synthesis of the planetary/zodiacal influences of the macrocosm, with the Elemental influences of the microcosm; thus it can seen that like the Sephirah of Tiphareth we are working in, the qualities of both energy and matter; the macrocosm in the microcosm, rather than the macrocosm alone.

The hexagrams are all drawn from the sign of Saturn in the Fire triangle, and the Moon in the Water triangle. These hexagrams are therefore generally referred to as the Hexagrams of Saturn (Binah).

To invoke or banish different planetary elements, the starting point for each hexagram can be changed to provide a different quality to the ritual. The Hexagrams of Saturn are generally used as the "generic" version of the ritual, though.

In traditional practice, all the hexagrams are drawn in gold light. Some practitioners advocate using the elemental colours for the triangles; red for the first (fire) triangle, and blue for the second (water) triangle.

[Seren_]

I'd also add that personally, I would vibrate all the words of power, whereas in the ritual you've linked to, he only starts vibrating from step 9. I wouldn't say it's absolutely essential...but I think it adds more oomphh to the whole shebang. It might be an idea to experiment. At the very least, vibrating all the words means you spend a bit longer going through the whole thing.

[Kendrah]

It might be an idea to study the meaning of the ritual further before you go into it. Otherwise you might just feel like you're doing Madonna's Vogue, or about to break out into YMCA...


Thank you Seren. I'll have to read these indepth when I get home. But it did feel like the YMCA. A little bootie wiggling with "L - V - X - Luxs!" and it can be the next ceremonial dance craze. Hahaha. I crack myself up. :lol: My mind must be mush. I should leave while I have something left.