Return to Biblioteca Arcana pageij. Draw thou down the Fire of Heaven into thy Heart, and say:
"From Celestial Fire"[Suggested gestures for the preceding step: Raise your arms into a horizontal, cross position, with palms up (in Celestial Invocation). Bring them together above your head, palm to palm, and then draw the Celestial Fire down to your heart, while saying "From Celestial Fire."]
"Ab Igne Caelesti"
"Apo tou Ouraniou Puros"
[)Apo\ tou= )Oura/niou Puro/s]
[The words to be spoken by the practitioner are given in
English, Latin and Greek. In an attempt to combine
readability and accuracy, I've given the Greek text two ways,
in a simple but approximate Roman transcription, and in "Beta
code," a standard ASCII representation of Greek including all
the accents, breathings, etc. Beta code transcriptions are
enclosed in square brackets. The Beta code transcriptions
should be reasonably comprehensible with the following
information: ")" and "(" represent smooth and rough
breathing, respectively; "/", "\" and "=" represent acute,
grave and circumflex accents, respectively; "|" is iota
subscript.]
iij.
Guide thou the bright Beam downward, until it stirreth
the Subterranean Waters of the Abyss and bringeth Them to
life; and while so doing, say thou:
iv.
Direct thou the beam from thy heart through thy left
shoulder, until it stretcheth to the Moon, and say:
v.
Direct thou the beam from thy heart through thy right
shoulder, until it stretcheth to the Sun, and say:
vi.
Feel thou the Sacred Tau Cross that blazeth inside
thee. Now cross thy arms over thy Heart, and say:
viij.
Thou standest upon the Sacred Mountain, the World
Navel, under which hideth the Watery Abyss. At thy back
groweth the Tree of Life, which stretcheth over thy head,
the Navel Cord, for the Mountain and Tree are the Cosmic
Pillar, which supporteth the four Quarters of the Heavens.
From Calypso's Cave between the Tree's roots, which
penetrate the Abyss, are the four springs, which flow to the
four Quarters of the World, and they run with water, honey,
milk and wine. Around the World Tree's trunk coileth thrice
and half again the Serpent. In the Cosmic Tree's leaves
percheth the Eagle of Zeus, guarding the Horn of Amalthea,
from which Nectar floweth into the Libation Bowl, the
Bountiful Breast, which overfloweth, raining Nectar on the
World. Ambrosia floweth up the trunk of the Tree from the
Deep. Illumination cometh from Above and Growth cometh from
Below. The World Tree is the Tree of Destiny and Its leaves
are the Book of Fate, for as they fall, so fall to earth the
winged souls of the folk, ever singing in its foliage.
ix.
Divine Helen, Leda's Daughter, with large breasts,
liveth in the Bountiful Cosmic Tree, for she is Its Spirit;
and Her Brothers, the Dioskouroi, Sons of Zeus [Dios Kouroi]
the All-Shining [Pamphaes], the Heavenly Twins of Leda,
command the Sacred Paths on either side. For Castor, who
resideth underground, knoweth the Lunar Discipline and
controlleth the Way of Descent, and Polydeuces, who liveth
above, is Master of the Solar Discipline and controlleth the
Way of Ascent.
x.
For learn thou this about the Way of Ascent. It is
under the jurisdiction of Zeus, the Sky Shaker, who giveth
fertilizing rain and nourishing sunlight. He holdeth the
Lightning Bolt of Illumination, and His lightning descendeth
from the Sky. The Way of Ascent is to climb Scylla's
Mountain, which riseth into the clouds, nor can its peak
ever be seen. Prometheus or Apollo will show thee the Way.
Thy Helper in this journey is the Horse Pegasos, but also
the Soaring Eagle, Dove and Goose. Then wilt thou break
through the Vault of the Heaven, and going through the
Celestial Pole thou wilt ascend the Heavens. For this is
the Way of Light, the Path by Day, the Sun's Way, the Path
of the Sage.
xi.
And learn thou this about the Way of Descent. It is
under the jurisdiction of Poseidon, the Earth Shaker, who
giveth fresh water from springs, but also floods and
earthquakes. He holdeth the Trident of Ecstasy and His
lightning leapeth up from the Earth. The Way of Descent is
by the precipice opposite Scylla's cliff, which is the lower
of the two, and from it groweth the Sacred Fig Tree. Climb
thou down from this Tree to Charybdis, by which thou wilt be
drawn into the Watery Abyss. Circe or Herakles will show
thee the Way past the Dog and Gatekeeper. Thy Helper in
this journey is the Serpent Python, but also the Raging Lion
and Bull. Then wilt thou break through the Vault of the
Abyss and, going down the Well, thou wilt descend through
its levels. For this is the Way of Darkness, the Path by
Night, the Moon's Way, the Path of the Mage.
xij.
But the Wise know that the Way Up and the Way Down are
the same, for they are both on the Cosmic Pillar, and
sometimes our task demandeth that we go up it, and sometimes
it demandeth that we go down it. When Duty calleth, we
travel by Day or Night as is the need. Ask thou Hermes for
guidance, for He frequenteth the Navel.
xiij.
This is the way thou wilt draw the Shining Pentagrams
that wardeth each Quarter. The first ray goeth from the
lower left to the top, and each ray continueth from the
last. And as thou makest each ray, sing a letter of the
Name of the Pentagram.
xiv(a).
In Greek the Pentagram hath the Name HUGIEIA
[U(GI/EIA], which meaneth Soundness or Wholeness, so sing
thou the sounds:
xiv(b).
In Latin the Pentagram hath the Name SALUS, which
meaneth Soundness or Welfare, so sing thou the sounds:
xiv(c).
Though in English we label the Pentagram WHOLE or
SOUND, its spoken Name is WHOLENESS, so sing thou the
sounds:
xv.
Now go thou to the East and make the Pentagram. As
thou callest:
xvi.
Now with thy Staff forge thou the Fiery Ring, drawing
it from the center of the Eastern Pentagram and stretching
it to the South, where thou wilt make another Pentagram, but
call:
xvij.
Then to the West:
xviij.
Then to the North:
xix.
Then draw thou the Fiery Ring back to its beginning,
so it burneth on every side. Then will the Barrier expand
above and below until thou art surrounded by the Glowing
Sphere.
xx.
Now raise again thy arms so thou art the Sacred Tau and,
focusing thine attention before thee (Eastward), say:
xxi.
West: Focusing thine attention behind thee, say:
xxij.
South: Focusing thine attention to thy right, say:
xxiij.
North: Focusing thine attention to thy left, say:
xxiv.
In thy mind, thank all the Wards of the Quarters for
Their protection.
xxv.
Spread thy feet apart and assume thou the form of the
Sacred Pentagram, which Pythagoras hath called Hugieia
(Salus, Whole/Sound). When the Pentagram flameth around
thee, say:
xxvi.
When the Sacred Hexagram shineth within thee, say:
xxvij.
The Pentagram signifieth the Microcosm, and the
Hexagram signifieth the Macrocosm. Thus the Macrocosm
shineth within the Illuminated Microcosm.
xxviij.
Repeat thou the Tau Cross as it was at the beginning.
xxix.
Thou hast made for thyself a Sacred Space at the
World's Navel. Ascending on thy Right is the Light Path and
descending on thy Left is the Dark Path, but remember thou
that the Wise One knoweth that the Way Up and the Way Down are
the same and that together they make the one Path of Wisdom.
So must it be.
"To Watery Abyss"
[Suggested gesture: Keep the palms together and move them
down in front of the groin. Then separate the hands and hold
them to the sides and slightly forward, with palms down (in
Chthonic Invocation).]
"Ad Aquosum Profundum"
"Eis ten Hudroessan Abusson"
[)Ei\s th\n (Udro/essan )/Abusson]
"By Way of Earth"
[Suggested gesture: Raise the left hand up to your chest;
then extend your arm into horizontal position, with the palm
forward.]
"Via Terrena"
"Kat' Hodon Chthonion"
[Kat' (Odo\n Xqo/nion]
"By Way of Air"
[Suggested gesture: Raise the right arm to the chest and then
into a horizontal position, with forward palm.]
"Via Aeria"
"Kat' Hodon Aitherion"
[Kat' (Odo\n )Aiqe/rion]
"Abiding always in the Center. So be it!"
[Iuno / Hera [(/Hra] might also be appropriate for the East
(She is not an Earth Goddess), in which case you should throw
Her Cuckoo-bearing Sceptre.]
"Semper in Medio manens. Esto!" or "Fiat!"
"En Omphaloi aei menon" (masc.) or "menousa" (fem.). "Esto!"
[)En )Omfalw=| OA
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II. Pentagrams of the Quarters
"Jupiter" or "Zeus"
hurl thou His Thunderbolt through the center of the
Pentagram, and see it fly away to Infinity.
"Iuppiter"
"Zeu" [Zeu=]
"Vesta" or "Hestia"
and throw thou Her Burning Circle.
"Vesta" [pron. "WES-ta"]
"Hestia" [(Esti/a]
"Neptune" or "Poseidon"
Hurl thou His Trident.
"Neptune" [pron. Nep-TU-neh]
"Poseidon" [Po/seidon]
"Ceres" or "Demeter"
Throw thou Her Torch.
"Ceres" [pron. "KE-res"]
"Demeter" [Dhmh/thr]
III. Wards of the Quarters
"Before, Apollo"
Apollo will appear before thee in all His Glory, Bow in hand,
facing thee. Then will He turn His back to watch the Eastern
Quarter.
"Ante, Apollo"
"Prosthen, Apollon"
[Pro/sqen, )/Apollon]
"Behind, Diana/Artemis"
Artemis will appear with Her Bow. Then will She turn away to
watch the West.
"Post, Diana"
"Opisthen, Artemis"
[)/Opisqen, )/Artemis]
"On the right, Minerva/Athena"
Athena will appear with Her Aegis and Spear, and turn to
watch the South.
"Dextra, Minerva" [pron. Mi-NER-wa]
"Epidexia, Athena."
[)Epide/cia, )Aqhna=]
"On the left, Bacchus/Dionysos"
Dionysus will appear with His Thyrsus, and then turn to
watch the North.
"Sinistra, Bacche"
"Ep' aristera, Dionuse"
[)Ep' a)ristera/, Dio/nuse]
IV. The Macrocosm in the Microcosm
"For around flameth the Pentagram."
[If you prefer "For around flame the Pentagrams," then use:
"Nam circa flagrat Pentagrammon."
"Peri men gar phlegei to Pentagrammon"
[Peri\ me\n ga\r fle/gei to\ Penta/grammon]
"Nam circa flagrant Pentagramma"
]
"Peri men gar phlegousi ta Pentagramma"
[Peri\ me\n ga\r fle/gousi ta\ Penta/gramma]
"And within shineth the Six-rayed Star."
[If you prefer your Hexagram shining above rather than within,
then say "super" instead of "intra," or "Huper" [(Upe/r]
instead of "Entos." However, I think it's better to have it
within
(see the notes
for the reason).]
"Atque intra lucet Stella Sexradiata."
"Entos de lampei ho Hexaktinotos Aster."
[)Ento\s de\ la/mpei o( E(caktinwto\s )Asth/r.]
V. The Closing Tau Cross
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