2) insight meditation (mindfullness).

Most kinds of meditation are the concentrative type. One simply

focuses his attention upon a single physical object (such as a

candle flame); upon a sensation (such as that felt while walking

or breathing); upon an emotion (such as reverence or love); upon

a mantra spoken aloud or even silently; or upon a visualization

(as in chakra meditation, see below)…Concentration meditation

is, simply put, a form of self-hypnosis.

A mantra (or mantrum) is one or more words or syllables

which are repeated — often chanted — aloud…A simple yet

powerful mantra is to vibrate the mystical word ‘OM’. This

mantra has long been associated in India with the godhead/unity.

Use it to aid in tuning into universal vibrations which promote

feelings of harmony, peace, and well-being. Use it before magick

ritual to ‘get into the mood’ and afterward to ‘dismiss the

forces’. You vibrate a mantra by saying it slowly aloud in a

lower-pitched voice than your normal speech, and a more or less

constant pitch as well. Let the sound fade at the end of the

mantra. A powerful one such as ‘OM’ will seem to vibrate the air

around you. It should be vocalized for 5-10 seconds and repeated

a number of times with a few seconds rest between each

vocalization. Chanting of mantras may cause slight dizziness

from hyperventilation.

The other main type of meditaiton — insight meditation

— is the analysis of thoughts and feelings in such a way as to

cause realization of the subjectivity and illusion of

experience. This is done in a effort to attain trancendental

awareness. Such statements as, ‘This body is not me’, fall under

this category. Buddhist meditations are usually of this type.

CHAKRA MEDITATION

There is a special type of concentrative meditation

which we will call ‘Chakra meditation’. This is basicly

Kundalini yoga — the practice of causing psychic energy

(kundalini) to flow up sushumna, energizing the various

chakras along the way. The practice, considered dangerous by

some, will produce deffinite physiological sensations and

psychological effects if continued long enough. It should not

be attempted by epileptics or persons with an unstable mental

or physical condition, or with heart disease. Certain drugs and

medications, such as those used to treat epilepsy may retard

progress. Although the technique is very simple, it may

eventually produce powerful results. Results may at first appear

hours after the practice during sleep. As each chakra is

energized by this practice, it is said to add occult powers

(sidhis), until at last the crown chakra is reached, and with

it, full enlightenment is attained. Sometimes kundalini awakens

all by itself.

To practice this chakra meditation, you simply

concentrate on the chakras, beginning with the root chakra, and

moving progressively up, as you visualize psychic energy from

the root chakra traveling up shushumna and vivifying each higher

chakra. As we mentioned the chakras have certain properties

associated with them, so that this type of visualization may

‘raise consciousness’, promote astral projection, and other

things — once you have reached ajna and eventually the crown

chakra. You might typically meditate in this fashion for 15

minutes to a half hour a day. It might help to practice some

hatha yoga or other physical exercise in an effort to make the

spinal cord ‘more flexible’. Diet may also affect the process.

The technique is also similar to the Tibetan ‘Tummo’ meditation.

The rise of kundalini is sometimes experienced as a ‘vibration’

or buzzing, as light, or as heat.

HEALTH AND DIET

Certainly the way you treat your physical body will

affect your mind. In magick you want an alert mind. Therefore,

your body must be as healthy as you can keep it. Take care of

your body. Exercise regularly. eat a good diet (with vitamin

supplements), and do not consume anything which will have a

negative effect upon the mind. Drugs, smoking,, and alcohol

should be restricted, or eliminated. (The mind can create any

condition which a drug can create.) A good rule here is

moderation in what and how much you consume. (Most of this stuff

is pretty obvious isn’t it.) You may also want to cut down on

sugar and processed foods. Many occultists advise dietary

changes, expecially the non-eating of meat. We cannot deny the

physical, psychological, and spiritual effect which all foods

have. This effect may be described as the ‘heaviness’ factor of

foods. Various foods are so ranked in the chart, lighter to

heavier…

1. lettuce and other greens.

2. fruits and most vegetables.

3. wheat, rice, and other grains.

4. nuts, beans, and other legumes.

5. cheese, dairy products, including eggs.

6. fish, seafood.

7. chicken, poultry.

8. beef, pork, other red meats.

Note that meats, especially red meats are the ‘heaviest’ foods.

Generally, foods which are harder to digest, or which are higher

in protein are ‘heavier’ than those which are not. Animal

products are heavier than plants. Foods high in carbohydrate

(candy, bread, starch) are heavy. However, the ‘heaviness’ of

foods is not directly related to the amount of caleries.

What this means is that for various reasons, the

heaviness of food in your diet will affect your magical

experiences. You may be able to increase your psychic

receptivity (‘energy level’) by eating lighter foods, or by

eating less. Conversely, emphasizing heavy foods in your diet,

or eating larger helpings, may help to ‘bring you down to earth’

should you ‘rent the veil’ too much. These are generalizations,

of course, and it may take a number of days of dietary change

before you notice much effect. I do not advocate radical dietary

changes, excessive fasting, or malnutrition. Your good health is

far more important in magick than any temporary effect you get

from prolonged starvation. A change in diet will sometimes only

produce a temporary effect, until the physical body adapts to

the change. Healthy natural foods and lifestyle make it easier

for us to be healthy, but ultimately, good health is a mentual

quality (attitude).

THE FOUR-FOLD BREATH

With physical exercise too, moderation is advised.

(You should be cautious, or not attempt it if you have a

respiratory or heart condition. Check with your physician if in

doubt, and don’t overdo.) One of the most useful physical

exercises is pranayama, or controlled breathing (actually a type

of hatha yoga exercise). For this and any other calesthentics or

hatha yoga which you might choose to do a ‘kitchen timer’ is

suggested (many of these aren’t accurate for under three

minutes, but are helpful for longer periods).

The main purpose of pranayama is to relax the body and

mind. There are many kinds of pranayama, but a simple one called

the ‘four-fold breath’ will suffice. This consists of four short

quick inhallations, then four short quick exhallations; then

repeat, continuing until the allotted time is used up. It will

take about 1 1/2 seconds for the four inhallations, and about

1 1/2 seconds for the four exhallations; or about 3 seconds for

the complete in-out cycle (‘rep’ for repetition). There should

be no strain of any kind during your pranayama. You will

probably notice a slight dizziness, particularly at first, since

the effect of pranayama is to hyperventilate. Try sitting back

in a chair with your eyes closed when you do your pranayama.

Begin a minute a day for the first week and gradually increase

up to about five minutes a day. If you do the pranayama befor

your magical activity, it will help you to get ‘into the mood’.

It is also an excellent aid to relaxation and tension release.

Pranayama should not be done during heavy air pollution. Other

exercises you might consider are hatha yoga, calesthentics,

walking or jogging.

REVIEW QUESTIONS

1) What is a chakra? List them.

2) Name the three major nadies. Which nadi is hot?

3) What is pranayama?

BOOK LIST

Arthur Diekman, The Observing Self.

W.Y. Evans-Wentz, Tibetan Yoga and Secret Doctrines.

Sandra Gibson, Beyond the Mind.

King and Skinner, Techniques of High Magic.

Swami Sivananda, Kundalini Yoga.

John Woodroffe (pseud. for Arthur Avalon), The Serpent Power.

** MAGICK 6 — THOUGHTFORMS AND SPIRITS **

Although there are hundreds of kinds of divination,

the principle ones are astrology, geomancy, the tarot, the

I Ching, and direct psychic means (especially clairvoyance).

True divination is more than a mechanical system, for it

implies true psychic interpretation (receiving). Some form of

divination is often used in magick ritual to communicate with

the entity invoked.

Since divination operates through the mind, it is

affected and biased by the mind. Our attitudes and fears may

alter it. Sometimes results are very detailed, and accurate

— but not always. Often the future is plastic and changeable

anyway, and the use of magick may alter the result. Thus

divination shows tendencies only, which may be helpful, but

must not rule us.

DEVELOPING CLAIRVOYANCE

It is possible to improve your natural ability with

clairvoyance through practice. A good start might be to look

around you, then close your eyes and try to picture your

surroundings. This is also good exercise for visualization. And

visualization is an essential talent in magick. Open your eyes

again and check your accuracy. Then close your eyes and try it

again. When you use your physical eyes, look at everything

like a child seeing it for the first time. Let the vividness

of color and form burn into you, until everything takes on a

veritable glow. Try to capture that glow when you close your

eyes now and picture your surroundings. It’s just a simple

step to extend what you see with your eyes closed into what

you remember seeing in the next room, or what you *imagine*

seeing in the next building, the next city, even the other

side of the world. Don’t expect perfect results, especially at

first. Just try to be even partly right. Another exercise is

to picture a clock face, and thereby tell the time

clairvoyantly.

THE AURA

Under the right conditions, it is possible to

clairvoyantly observe a colored light around other people.

This is known as the ‘aura’. Sometimes the aura is seen as

multi-colored emanations around the person, built up of

various differently colored layers and zones. Although many

occult dabblers claim to be able to see the aura easily and

under many varied conditions, I seriously doubt that they do.

There are optical illusions and qualities of sight which can

sometimes trick one into thinking he sees what he does not

see. In this area, the quality of sight known as after image

is especially pertinent. Do this: stare at any solidly colored

bright object for a few moments. Very intense red, green, or

blue are especially good for this. Now look away at a white

surface and you will see a phantom image of the object in its

complementary color (a red object will show green, a blue one

orange, etc.). If the bright object is in front of a light

surface, you may observe a fringe of complementary color

around the object after a few moments. This is all very

normal, and is used by some magical groups as an aid to

visualization sometimes called ‘flashing colors’. Some silly

people will stare at other people in the same way. And when

they see the after image of the person’s clothing, they think

they are seeing his aura. What is more, various meanings have

been attributed to the colors of the aura. A psychic who can

see the aura is supposed to be able to determine that persons

emotional state. Thus psychic frauds can have a marvelous

time with auras. One deluded psychic taught a class I

attended in which he performed instant psychoanalysis on the

basis of the supposed aura. It was obvious that he was

actually observing after images from the students clothes!

This brings us to the chart of aura colors on the next

page. It is a general guide, based mostly on Theosophical

material. Various groups may attribute different meanings to

the colors. The colors we show on the chart are emotional in

nature; useful if you plan to create an artificial elemental

or do healing. Surrounding yourself with a particular color

will tend to produce the specific psychological effect

described in the chart. That quality of color is useful in

magick ritual.

.pa (next page)

COLORS OF THE AURA

BLACK malice

dark gray depression

pale gray fear

BROWN materialism

muddy gray selfishness

or

dull rust

RED energy

bright red anger and force

dirty red passion and sensuality

dull red selfish love

rose unselfish love

ORANGE pride

orange cloud irritability

bright orange noble indignation

YELLOW intellect

yellow-green low intellect

earthy yellow selfish thought

lemmon high intellect

bright gold logical thinking

brt. red-yel. spiritual thought

GREEN empathy

gray-green deceit, jealously

greenish-brown jealousy

emerald green unselfish resourcefulness

foliage green sympathy & empathy

brt. apple-grn strong vitality

brt. turquoise deep sympathy & compassion

BLUE devotion (religious feeling)

gray-blue fetishism

light blue noble spiritual devotion

dark blue religious feeling

brt. lilac-blu lofty religious idealism

VIOLET spiritual psychic & spiritual

faculty

WHITE purity/protection

.pa

THOUGHTFORMS AND SPIRITS

Whenever we concentrate our thoughts, we draw psychic

energy together. This is called a thoughtform. Usually the

energy dissipates as soon as we break the concentration, but

it is possible to purposely concentrate energy in this way,

producing very strong thoughtforms. Such thoughtforms are

vortexes or centers of psychic energy. They can exist as

entities by themselves, at least for a while. They are

basically inanimate, non-thinking forces. Talking to one is

about as logical as talking to a chair. In this way,

thoughtforms are similar to elementals, ghosts, and spirits.

All of these psychic entities consist of a psychic energy

vortex which could be described as a localized field or as a

discontinuity of the physical world.

Psychic entities respond to certain electrostatic and

magnetic fields, and to other energy vortexes. That is why

they respond to magick ritual. Someday, we may accomplish the

same thing with electronic machines. Psychic entities are

sometimes able to affect our thought processes.

Thoughtforms, elementals, and ghosts are usually not

very smart. If they display any intelligence at all, it is

limited. They are the morons of the spirit world. Their

behavior is usually automatic, repetitive, robot-like (just

like some people). We see that artificial elementals

are little more than astral robots. Spirits and deities are

more intelligent and volitional.

DIRECTED ATTENTION

Your mind follows your attention. Wherever you direct

your attention, there will your thoughts go too. By directing

attention to a specific place or purpose you *focus* mental

energy upon it.

For example: you’re having lunch in a cafeteria

crowded with people. It is a large place, and everyone there

is talking at once, so that the room is a constant jumble of

noise. You happen to notice a man accross the room; he

reminds you of someone. All at once he drops his fork and you

hear it hit the table. But would you have noticed the sound

of his fork if you had not been looking? No. Only by focusing

your attention there were you able to pick out that

individual event and associated sound.

It is a dark night. You are walking and the only

light you have is from the flashlight you hold in your hand.

As you move the flashlight around, the beam of light from it

directs your attention first one way then another. Now, the

mind is something like that flashlight in the dark. And by

directed attention, you point the mind to one place or

another. As with that flashlight beam, you see where the mind

is pointed; nothing more. The rest is ‘noise’. And so we

could define mental noise as anything not focused upon. In

another way, noise could be considered as negative emotions,

attitudes, and thoughts which make it more difficult to

direct the attention.

Your emotions follow your thoughts quite easily. Your

emotions are not YOU, but are rather reactions prompted by

your model and ego — like a performance or an act, while

the real you watches. In a similar way, directing your

attention toward a specific emotion will cause you to

experience that emotion.

REVIEW QUESTIONS

1) What is the aura?

2) What is a thoughtform?

3) How can you develope clairvoyance?

BOOK LIST

Annie Bessant and Charles Leadbeater, Thought Forms.

W.E. Butler, How to Develop Clairvoyance.

J.H. Brennan, Astral Doorways.

Piero Ferrucci, What We May Be.

Kilner, The Human Aura.

Swami Panchadasi, The Human Aura.

A.E. Powell, The Etheric Double.

Harold Sherman, How to Make ESP Work for You.

** MAGICK 7 — BASIC RITUAL **

It may be said that ritual is the very heart of

magick. For it is through ritual that we acheive our magical

results. Ritual is a magical procedure or ceremony we perform

in order to change the environment. Usually we think of

ritual as bearing on active magick, although certainly, it

can also affect passive magick. Most often the change

achieved is subjective and in the physical world. Outsiders

may put them down to coincidence, but the effects are very

real. Magical goals for a ritual should not be taken lightly.

The successful practice of magick depends upon strong

belief. The simplest ritual of them all must be belief

itself. If you can believe in your desired results strongly

enough, that act is a magical ritual which will achieve your

results. Even a very complex ritual is no more effective than

strong belief. There are aids to concentration which may

help. Thus in *creative visualization*, imagination and

controlled breathing are brought into play.

CREATIVE VISUALIZATION

When you want to magically achieve something, first

picture it clearly in your mind. The more deffinite and

specific your idea of what it is the better. Picture yourself

having it or doing it. Visualize it as vividly and as

intensely as you can and hold it in your thoughts for a few

moments. Concentrate on it intensely (it may help to hold

your breath). Feel the energy of desire welling up inside

you. Then suddenly feel the image or desire released from

your mind. Feel the energy filtering through the image and

intensifying it, as if the image is a ‘stencil’. Imagine the

energy exploding out from you into the macrocosm in all

directions at once, and feel the universe ’tilt’ as it reacts

to the force. (At the same time it may help to release your

breath suddenly). Feel the energy draining from you. Finally,

*believe* that your purpose *has* been accomplished; that it

HAS HAPPENED, perhaps saying something such as “so mote it

be”, or “it is done”.

THE BASIC PARTS OF A RITUAL

Often rituals are more formal than the above, but any

full magick ritual must always reduce to these stages —

1) imaging; 2) building; 3) firing. Sometimes a ritual must

be repeated every day for a while to achieve difficult

results or to overcome weak belief.

THE MAGICK CIRCLE

Often an important part of formal ritual is the

magick circle. Medieval magicians considered the circle

essential, and placed great emphasis upon its exactness.

Elaborate designs were invented with many layers of complex

symbols and words. It was very important that the circle

be completely intact with no breaks in it. The magician

and any other participants stand in the circle during ritual.

Today, circles are made on the floor with chalk or paint,

rock salt, or a rope. Whatever its form, the circle is

still an important part of magical protection for the

magician. This is especially important for aversive entities

and purposes. The circle also helps in focusing the energy of

the ritual toward its purpose, that is, it keeps it contained

until the magician is ready to release it. Of course, the

magick circle is basicly only a symbol, but it may eventually

be possible to supplement the circle with electronic

equipment for a similar purpose. We are researching the

practicality of electrostaticly charged Faraday shields.

ARTIFICIAL ELEMENTALS

An artificial elemental is useful for certain

tasks: 1) invisible watcher and observer, telling you what

it sees; 2) psychic guard; 3) it can be used in healing; 4)

it is helpful in other ways. Ophiel calls the artificial

elemental a ‘familiar’. Producing your own artificial

elemental is fairly easy. YOU MUST ASSUME THAT THE ACT HAS

PRODUCED RESULTS, EVEN IF YOU DO NOT IMMEDIATELY OBSERVE

THEM. It is entirely possible to produce one of these little

beasties and not know it (not being clairvoyant enough to

observe it directly). Therefore, and this is a general

principle of any magick, never ignore forces you have set

into motion. Even though you may not see the elemental, you

may nevertheless ‘feel’ it.

WARNING — Do not use artificial elementals for any

kind of aversive magick at this point; they can be nasty

little critters to get rid of. Should you have to eliminate

one of them which you created in error, you must re-absorb

it back into yourself through your will; or in some cases

you can ‘exorcise’ it.

HOW TO CREATE AN ARTIFICIAL ELEMENTAL

You can create your own artificial elemental for

various purposes. An artificial elemental is basically a

thoughtform which has been strengthened with emotion. Refer

to the aura color chart in the previous lesson and decide

what color to make the elemental, based upon your intended

purpose. Apple green is a good choice for general purposes.

Then decide on a shape or outline. Do you want your elemental

to resemble some sort of animal? A simple circle or cloud is

a good place to start. With this in mind you can use ritual

to create your elemental. Creative visualization is good for

this. Visualize it glowing before you. A darkened room is

helpful for this.

Communicate with your elemental with telepathy, by

talking to it, or with creative visualization. Your

artificial elemental is closely linked to you and your

subconscious attitudes. It will generally not do things you

think it cannot do. As in any magick, results relate to

effort and belief. Another way of looking at an artificial

elemental is as an aspect of your personality (sub

personality) which has been detached from you.

INVOCATION

Formal ritual usually involves the invocation

(ritually calling up) of a god or goddess, spirit, or other

entity. In this sense, magick is somewhat similar to pagan

religion and witchcraft. However, we consider magick ritual

a technique, not a religion. Worship need not be involved.

Sometimes the invocation of an entity creates an artificial

elemental.

Crowley says there are three different kinds of

invocation —

1) Devotion to the entity (as in the Bhakti yoga of

the Hare Krishna sect; the Faustian devil pact).

2) Ceremonial invocation — usual method of the

middle ages.

3) Drama — usually needs more than one person (as in

a mass).

>>CAUTIONS<<

1. Often as not a ritual may produce side-effects,

usually something similar to, though not exactly the desired

goal. If the true goal is delayed (as sometimes happens) we

may see the side effects first. And if for some reason the

goal is not achieved at all (‘missing the target’) the side

effects may be pronounced. Examples: 1) You use magick ritual

to hurry shipment of an anticipated package in the mail. Side

effect — the next day an unexpected package (the

wrong one) arrives instead. 2) You use magick ritual to cause

a certain person to phone you. Side effect — for several

days all sorts of people phone you…The sides effects will

not affect you (or anyone else) adversely unless that is

what you inwardly want.

2. We may say with certainty that “something always

happens” when we perform a magick ritual. But like everything

else, magick follows the ‘law of results’. This means that

results require effort of some kind. And if you don’t work

hard enough at it you don’t get results. Difficult goals have

greater resistance (magical inertia) to overcome. If the

ritual doesn’t produce the desired results there is a good

chance that the reason for the failure is within oursleves.

Be certain there is no contradiction between your model

and your magical goals. Sometimes self doubt and mental

contradictions (wanting and not wanting at the same time) may

interfere. The first step in magick is to re-program your

model. And, of course you can help your magical results by

working on the physical level toward your goals. Don’t expect

them to fall into your lap by themselves.

3) A peculiar quality of magick is time displacement.

Results of a ritual are not usually instantaneous. There is

often a delay of 12 hours or more. Difficult tasks or weakly

performed ritual are more likely to be delayed. In most cases

a slight delay is alright, and it gives us time to get used

to the comming changes. And sometimes the effects of a ritual

appear to extend to before the ritual was performed!

4) Because of the way magick works, a ritual may

create an emphasis in what is sought, and a de-emphasis in

everything else. Balance is therefore important here. Once

the magical result is achieved it may be ‘bound’ to you and

difficult to get rid of should you later decide to do so.

Example: You use a magick ritual to help you find and buy a

new house. Years later when you decide to sell it, you are

unable to do so. Consider your magical goals wisely so you

dont get stuck with something you don’t really want. Note

that theory says you can always unbind through ritual what

was bound to you…theory says.

5) Sometimes the environment appears to react against

the magick after the results are achieved. This is

particularly noticeable in using magick to affect the weather

(and the main reason why you should NOT use magick to affect

the weather). For example…Your performance of a ritual to

produce a sunny day produces a sunny day. The next day is

sunny, alright, but the rest of the month is cold and

overcast. Here the weather seems to react to the magick in

the opposite way to re-establish its natural balance. It is

something like pushing a pendulum to one side and releasing

it — the pendulum swings to the other side. To quote

Emmerson — “For everything you gain you lose something…”.

I don’t know that this is always true in magick, but it does

illustrate the point. And another reason not to use magick to

affect the weather is that it might foul it up in other parts

of the country (world??).

6) Finally, magick ritual (or any magick or

occultism) is very dangerous for the mentally unstable. If

you should somehow ‘get out too far’, eat ‘heavy foods’ as

previously discussed (lesson on chakras) and use your

religious background or old belief system for support. But

remember too, that wierd experiences are not necessarily bad

experiences.

REVIEW QUESTIONS

1) What is creative visualization?

2) List the basic parts of a ritual.

3) What is invocation?

RESEARCH TOPICS (for independent study)

1) Examine the differences between western magick and oriental

magick.

2) How do medieval grimoirs follow the basic ritual pattern?

BOOK LIST

P.E.I. Bonewitz, Real Magic.

David Conway, Magic: an Occult Primer (or Ritual Magic).

Aleister Crowley, Magick in Theory and Practice.

Denning and Phillips, Creative Visualization.

Ophiel, Creative Visualization.

A.E. Powell, The Astral Body.

________, The Mental Body.

Joseph Weed, Wisdom of the Ancient Masters.

Julian Wilde, Grimoire of Chaos Magick.

** MAGICK 8 — HEALING AND BANISHING **

Psychic or spiritual healing is a human potential we

all possess. Some people are especially good at this. It is

probably easier to heal someone else by occult means than

yourself. In addition to healing in the presence of the

person, there is ‘absent healing’ in which the healing

occurs at a distance. Note that there are some who maintain

that influence on another person without his specific

knowledge and permission (yes, even in healing and helping)

is black magick. (After all, everybody is living according to

his own true will, so that healing or helping someone

without permission is affecting his will). This means it is

important to tell the person what you are planning to do and

to ask his permission. The theory of psychic healing is that

sickness is characterized (although not necessarily caused)

by a deficiency and imbalance of vital energy. Psychic

healing transfers energy from the healer to the sick to

repair and rebalance his energies. If an inept healer

overdoes the process, or if he doesn’t take the precaution

to ‘disconnect’ himself afterwards, he may find himself

becoming sick due to energy drain and a linkage to his

subject. Similarly, the healer should always be in a good

state of health or he could unintentionally transfer his

illness to the subject.

The basic methods of psychic healing are: 1) creative

visualization, 2) prayer, 3) ritual. Creative visualization

is one of the easiest techniques. Mild illness may yield to

only one or two treatments; serious ills will require

many treatments over time. Psychic healing should always be

combined with medical care and treatment. It does not replace

doctors, medicine, or hospitals, since different levels

(worlds) are involved. In creative visualization, we

visualize the person being well. It may be helpful to utilize

the appropriate color from the aura chart (such as bright

apple-green, rose pink, or white) sent as a beam to the

person or as a cloud surrounding him. This technique can be

extended to include a simple kind of yoga in which we feel

energy sent as we exhale explosively; the energy sent either

via the breath or from one of the chakras such as the solar

plexus. Sometimes in absent healing it is helpful to arrange

a time for treatment in advance, asking your subject to be in

a receptive state of mind and to sit back and close his eyes.

THE BANISHING RITUAL

One of the most basic and useful ceremonial rituals

of magick is called the *banishing ritual*, or lesser

ritual of the pentagram. A pentagram (or pentacle) is a

five-pointed star with the point up. The banishing ritual is

helpful in psychic protection and healing since it forms a

protective barrier against malevolent forces. The psychic

barrier it creates can be made to permit entry of desired

(constructive) forces and the exclusion of negative ones.

Thus, the banishing ritual is an essential first step in

almost any formal full magick ceremony. The ritual requires

that you use a magical implement or “weapon”, such as a

ceremonial knife, wand, or simply point your index finger, to

“draw” the pentagram in the air at each of the cardinal

points (four directions). Also, you will be chanting

(‘vibrating’) some Hebrew names of God.

Holding your magical weapon and facing east, extend

your arm out straight in front of you. In this ritual you

will use the full sweep of your arm to draw the pentagram in

the air. Follow the description below by beginning at the

lower left and sweeping your magical weapon up toward the

right, etc. as shown. Do not bend your arm at the wrist or

elbow. While you do this, visualize the lines and eventually

the star as vibrant white, floating in the space before you.

You are projecting energy to do this, and the result will be

a gleaming 5-pointed star floating in the east; visualize

this as vividly as you can. Now you will energize it further

by piercing the center of it with your magical weapon and

vibrating (speaking slowly in a slightly lower than normal

pitch, remember) “Yod-He-Vau-He”.

=============================================

— DESCRIPTION —

Approximate points on a round clock face —

1. Begin at 7:30 position.

2. Point to 12 oclock position.

3. Point to 4:30 position.

4. Point to 10:30 position.

5. Point to 2:30 position.

6. Return to 7:30 position.]

=============================================

Then turn slowly to the next cardinal point in

sequence, and as you do so, with your arm still extended in

front of you, visualize a white line connecting around to

the cardinal point. Trace a similar pentagram with the

appropriate words and following the same procedure:

South — Adonai Tzaboath

West — Eh-Ei-He

North — Agla.

Now complete the white line drawn back to the center of the

eastern pentagram. Note that the cardinal points must be

followed in a clockwise order, and the pentagram must be

drawn in the manner illustrated; to do otherwise would change

the function of the ritual. The result of all this should be

a large bright white pentagram visualized hanging in mid-air

at each of the four directions, all tied together by a bright

white line. You could now, for example, visualize the

pentagrams moving out to the circumference of your home,

thereby protecting all within.

There is also a somewaht simplified version of this

ritual in which the pentagram is traced only once overhead

and then is energized with one of the four names, such as

“Eh-Ei-He”. Oftentimes the simplified version is sufficient,

but naturally the effect of the full version is more

complete.

One of the primary uses of this ritual is to ward off

psychic attack — that is, when another is (consciously or

unconsciously) attempting to harm you, cause sickness,

accidents, bad dreams, emotional upset, or to force you to do

something against your will. Fortunately this doesn’t happen

very often. The world of the magician is fairly safe for the

pure of heart. Psychic attack usually depends upon

vulnerabilities. If you are not vulnerable you are safe. Thus

unificaition with the true will is the greatest protection

possible. And the use of the banishing ritual is never

hurtful. You can even use it to hold off negative aspects of

yourself.

Other forms of protection sometimes helpful

(depending upon one’s egregore/model) are recitation of the

‘Lord’s Prayer’, the 23rd, and 91st Psalms.

REVIEW QUESTIONS

1) What is a pentagram?

2) What is psychic healing? List the basic methods.

3) What is the banishing ritual? Why is it used?

BOOK LIST

Dion Fortune, Psychic Self-Defense.

________, Sane Occultism.

Adeliade Gardner, Vital Magnetic Healing.

Max Heindel, The Vital Body.

Ernest Holms, The Science of Mind.

Mouni Sadhu, Theurgy.

** MAGICK 9 — ASTRAL PROJECTION **

Astral projection (OOBE, out of the body experience)

is a popular area of occult literature; for traveling to see

other worlds and places while the physical body sleeps or is

entranced is an exciting notion. Astral projection is not

dangerous. It is as safe as sleeping. Most dreams are probably

unconscious astral projections, anyway. Although there has

been quite a bit written on the subject, astral projection

is difficult for many people. The main difficulty is the

tendency to forget dream consciousness upon awakening.

Accordingly, the successful practice of astral projection

requires work.

Modern psychology discounts the idea of actual OOBE

(that the spirit temporarily vacates the physical body).

However, the idea is very ancient. The Tibetans have an

entire system of yoga (dream yoga) based upon astral

projection. And here we have an important assumption: you are

involved in an OOBE (at least to a degree) whenever you

dream. What sets it apart from a full OOBE is your hazy

consciousness during the experience and poor recall

afterwards. Many people forget most of their dreams

completely. Learning astral projection requires a kind of

inner mental clarity and alertness.

Dreams are a door to the subconscious which can be

used for psychological and spiritual insight, and sometimes

for precognition. Dream content is influenced by external

sounds and sensations. For example, a loud external noise

(such as a train) will likely appear in your dream (if it

doesn’t wake you up!). Dreams are also influenced by events

of the previous day, by your moods, and by suggestion.

Everyone normally dreams 4 or 5 times a night (about every 2

hours). The longest dreams occur in the morning. Everyone

dreams. You are more likely to remember the details of your

dream when you first wake up. By keeping a dream diary you

will improve dream recall. Have writing equipment or a tape

recorder at your bedside for this purpose; also a light

which isn’t too bright. Suggest to yourself several times

before you go to sleep, “I will awaken with the knowledge of

a dream.” Then when you do awaken, move quietly (sometimes

just turning over drives the idea away). Remember first,

then write the dream down, and then add as many details as

possible. The next day check for objective facts and expand

if you can (by remembering ‘what happened before that’). Once

you start remembering your dreams in this way, it will

become easier to do so. (If you are unsuccessful at this,

and *really* want to remember your dreams, you could

arrange for someone to sit by your bedside all night long

with a dim light on. Then when he sees your eyes moving back

and forth — rapid eye movements, a sign you are dreaming —

he can wake you and ask for a dream report.)

FORMS OF ASTRAL PROJECTION

Astral projection may be subdivided into three basic

types: mental projection, astral projection (proper) and

etheric projection. And your OOBE may shift between them.

Mental projection is really simple clairvoyance (‘remote

viewing’), and ‘traveling in your mind’. Imagination plays

a key role. The experience of mental projection is not

particularly vivid, and you will more likely be an observer

than a participant. Nevertheless, mental projection is an

important ‘way in’ to astral projection proper.

During mental projection and astral projection you

are able to travel through solid objects, but are not able

to act directly upon them or to move them (if they are in

the physical world). This is not true during etheric

projection. Whether it is simply subconscious expectation,

or whether it is a true etheric projection which in theory

means that part of your physical body has been relocated

with your projection (the etheric or vital part) may be

difficult to determine. Etheric projections generally travel

at or very near the physical world. There are even cases

reported (very, very rare ones) in which the entire physical

body is transferred to another location (teleportation), or

cases in which the physical body exists and acts in two

separate places at once (bilocation)!

But our primary interest is astral projection

proper, and mental projection to a lesser extent. Astral and

mental projection are not confined to the physical world.

Travel in the mental and astral realms is feasible, and

often preferred. Nor are astral and mental projection