On the Star Ruby
by Ray Eales Frater 939.'.
(Reprinted from the WARRIORS LVX A.C. Edition)
On Practices
by Ray Eales
WL 3.3
On Liber XXV, pt. 1
I am often asked for details on Liber XXV which go beyond simple pronunciation problems or details on the mechanics of the ritual. I am often asked to explain the meaning of the ritual. To this end I have broken the ritual down into five actions and have given an overall meaning for each action. I have found that this method has assisted my students to understand the ritual and to put it into practice with greater confidence. Admittedly there are many ways to go about such explanations and this is only one. I offer it here in hopes that members of the Order in general may find it of use in their work.
The first action of the Magician in Liber XXV is to command the "great demons" to align themselves, essentially, with the Current. In so doing the magician is attempting to channel dispersive energy into coherent energy. This command is also a declaration of "going", the point within the circle.
The second action of the magician is to describe the circle, i.e. acknowledge the continuum. This is accomplished via circumambulation, visualization and activation of "elemental" archetypes.
The third action of the magician is a return to the center of All and from that vantage the activation of the Guardians. These Guardians are a subject of much controversy. The Greek words which indicate the Guardians are full of ambiguity, not surprising really when one considers that each Magician must build a unique image of each guardian in order for them to truly "protect" the magician all the days of his or her life. The essence of the nature of these guardians can be gleaned from the words. This essence is just enough information to enable the magician to build these forms so that the forms will be at once universal and unique.
The fourth action of the magician is to establish themselves as coequal with the so called "macrocosm". The five and the six meld in a single entity. ("My number is 11, as all their numbers who are of us.") This melding can also be characterized as the attainment of another point of view.
The fifth action of the magician is another channeling of the dispersive energy into coherent energy from this new "higher" perspective.
As an addendum to the above I think that I would like to quote a portion of a letter to a student who had asked concerning the difference between the old pentagram ritual and Liber XXV.
"The primary difference between the old pentagram ritual and Liber XXV is the position of the operator. The operator in the old ritual was a sort of supplicant i.e. he/she first invoked the "archangels" and then asked them very nicely please would they keep out the nasties. The position of the Thelemite (c.f. AL II 23 for confirmation of this) is that of sovereignty with no need, or for that matter, no reason to plead to any "outside" items to do one's work for one. You build your own circle, you take responsibility for your actions... you are indeed sovereign but you are also responsible. There is no "big boss man" threatening you with "hell" or with Pat Robertson or whatever other ghoulies one can imagine. AL II 23 says It succinctly; "I am alone: there is no God where I am." The operator of Liber XXV "causes to occur" if you will, the "forces" which protect. (Or how good is your karma today?) You see now that with the new freedom of Liber AL each would be Thelemite takes on new and "divine" responsibilities. It is a heavy burden if you are not strong. It will crush you or at least make you run to Pat Robertson's open arms/tentacles if you are not strong and pure of purpose."
On Practices would like to solicit your participation for the next issue of the Warriors LVX. Those who may have questions on issues that you think that may be of benefit to others should send them to me at the address listed for Horus Lodge. I will not publish the name of the person asking a question unless they specifically request that it be published.
_____________________________________________________________________________
On Practices
by Ray Eales
WL 5.2
On Liber XXV, pt. 2
I have often made mysterious remarks to students which indicated that the Star Ruby could be a real problem for those who were not utilizing the 93 current. Now seems a good time to make this remark again and give some details as to why I make such an inference. Actually I have seen it happen over and over again. The typical scenario is this: A new student will come to me and ask what ritual of banishing to use. I will follow standard procedure and recommend the Star Ruby. The student often has been using the Lesser Ritual of the Pentagram and feels "safe". (As near as I can tell this translates to a sort of warm fuzzy feeling when they do the ritual.) They, not realizing how devious I am, will follow my advice and in a couple of weeks begin to complain that they feel at odds with the star ruby and that they have retreated to the "safe" LBRP. This happens, I tell them, due to the parts of themselves which are out of phase with the flow of the current. The Star Ruby has the power to cause change to occur in the psychosoma of an individual such that old beliefs become meaningless and or harmful thus putting the individual at odds with themselves. This is a natural stage and a full part of the process of Initiation. The Star Ruby assists the Hierarchy in fortifying the fit and eliminating the unfit. The LBRP has no such use in this aeon and is much less effective on a personal level than Liber XXV.
It might be well to take a moment to analyze this "safe" feeling that many aspirants report from the use of various old aeonic formula. There exists a phenomenon known as the egregore which is a gestalt (a form created by the power of many minds combined in worship, meditation or ritual upon a single theme, thought or "god"). This Gestalt operates automatically unless its creators are very advanced. The Old Aeon still exists in the egregore, its forms, its rituals, its gods and all the rest. As Thelemites understand the Aeon of Osiris is over and the "control" of the egregore of the Aeon of Horus is with the Hierarchy, the same Hierarchy which "controlled" the egregore of the Aeon of Osiris! But the formula has changed and now there is a new "Officer" in charge. So we have a force, an egregore, created by the old aeon and which continues, ever diminishing but still with the power to influence. This force no longer serves the Hierarchy and so those who attach themselves to it are not "tested" by the subtle means that a true Aspirant is tested. In fact there are no tests at all, only self deception and a warm fuzzy feeling that everything is all right. This "safe" feeling reported by aspirants who still utilize old aeonic formula is this automatic continuance of the Old Aeonic energy which blankets them and "protects" them from the influences of change (initiation) which seek to destroy them. I say destroy and that is exactly how it appears from the point of view of the person who falls under this kind of decaying energy's sway. From the point of view of a Thelemite working in the flow of the Current initiation appears as a process of growth and change. Initiation is growth and sometimes growth means startling awareness and unexpected repercussions. The intelligent Aspirant will use this safe warm fuzzy feeling as a signpost which says WRONG WAY! and examine the factors involved very carefully before continuing in that direction. Here is a place where an Instructor is of great value, an Instructor will warn you about the bridge out ahead ... you then have to obey for He or She wilt not pull you out of the river once you have fallen in! If you disobey and survive the Instructor will delight in saying "I told you so".
As an aside to this question of obeying your Instructor, should you be fortunate enough to have one, it must be mentioned that a living Instructor is better than ten dead instructors irregardless if they were Masters or not. Why? Dead instructors can't talk back, they can't tell you "I told you so", and they can't directly challenge your ego. Live Instructors can tell you to your face or in a letter what in incredible ass you are. That is why most "students" prefer dead Instructors, live ones are so hard to live with. My Instructor used to say that he wanted all of his students dead and that he wished them WELL! Now of course this is incredibly funny, at the time, however, it was an affront to my ego .... I learned to laugh through the painful experience of change and now change is a friend not an enemy! Whenever you hear a student disobeying his or her Instructor using the excuse "-insert dead master's name here - said that - insert difficult task here - should be done this way and that moron of an Instructor that I have said otherwise" know that this student is embroiled in a fight for his or her life, know that the ego is refusing to come under control and is determined to quash resistance. Know also that the "moron" instructor has been faithful and true to his or her Oath and has provided the correct advice to the "student", it just wasn't the advice that the dupe of the ego's tricks wanted to hear. This is probably not what everyone wanted to hear ....sorry... or maybe it was!
(Reprinted from the WARRIORS LVX A.C. Edition)
On Practices
by Ray Eales
WL 3.3
On Liber XXV, pt. 1
I am often asked for details on Liber XXV which go beyond simple pronunciation problems or details on the mechanics of the ritual. I am often asked to explain the meaning of the ritual. To this end I have broken the ritual down into five actions and have given an overall meaning for each action. I have found that this method has assisted my students to understand the ritual and to put it into practice with greater confidence. Admittedly there are many ways to go about such explanations and this is only one. I offer it here in hopes that members of the Order in general may find it of use in their work.
The first action of the Magician in Liber XXV is to command the "great demons" to align themselves, essentially, with the Current. In so doing the magician is attempting to channel dispersive energy into coherent energy. This command is also a declaration of "going", the point within the circle.
The second action of the magician is to describe the circle, i.e. acknowledge the continuum. This is accomplished via circumambulation, visualization and activation of "elemental" archetypes.
The third action of the magician is a return to the center of All and from that vantage the activation of the Guardians. These Guardians are a subject of much controversy. The Greek words which indicate the Guardians are full of ambiguity, not surprising really when one considers that each Magician must build a unique image of each guardian in order for them to truly "protect" the magician all the days of his or her life. The essence of the nature of these guardians can be gleaned from the words. This essence is just enough information to enable the magician to build these forms so that the forms will be at once universal and unique.
The fourth action of the magician is to establish themselves as coequal with the so called "macrocosm". The five and the six meld in a single entity. ("My number is 11, as all their numbers who are of us.") This melding can also be characterized as the attainment of another point of view.
The fifth action of the magician is another channeling of the dispersive energy into coherent energy from this new "higher" perspective.
As an addendum to the above I think that I would like to quote a portion of a letter to a student who had asked concerning the difference between the old pentagram ritual and Liber XXV.
"The primary difference between the old pentagram ritual and Liber XXV is the position of the operator. The operator in the old ritual was a sort of supplicant i.e. he/she first invoked the "archangels" and then asked them very nicely please would they keep out the nasties. The position of the Thelemite (c.f. AL II 23 for confirmation of this) is that of sovereignty with no need, or for that matter, no reason to plead to any "outside" items to do one's work for one. You build your own circle, you take responsibility for your actions... you are indeed sovereign but you are also responsible. There is no "big boss man" threatening you with "hell" or with Pat Robertson or whatever other ghoulies one can imagine. AL II 23 says It succinctly; "I am alone: there is no God where I am." The operator of Liber XXV "causes to occur" if you will, the "forces" which protect. (Or how good is your karma today?) You see now that with the new freedom of Liber AL each would be Thelemite takes on new and "divine" responsibilities. It is a heavy burden if you are not strong. It will crush you or at least make you run to Pat Robertson's open arms/tentacles if you are not strong and pure of purpose."
On Practices would like to solicit your participation for the next issue of the Warriors LVX. Those who may have questions on issues that you think that may be of benefit to others should send them to me at the address listed for Horus Lodge. I will not publish the name of the person asking a question unless they specifically request that it be published.
_____________________________________________________________________________
On Practices
by Ray Eales
WL 5.2
On Liber XXV, pt. 2
I have often made mysterious remarks to students which indicated that the Star Ruby could be a real problem for those who were not utilizing the 93 current. Now seems a good time to make this remark again and give some details as to why I make such an inference. Actually I have seen it happen over and over again. The typical scenario is this: A new student will come to me and ask what ritual of banishing to use. I will follow standard procedure and recommend the Star Ruby. The student often has been using the Lesser Ritual of the Pentagram and feels "safe". (As near as I can tell this translates to a sort of warm fuzzy feeling when they do the ritual.) They, not realizing how devious I am, will follow my advice and in a couple of weeks begin to complain that they feel at odds with the star ruby and that they have retreated to the "safe" LBRP. This happens, I tell them, due to the parts of themselves which are out of phase with the flow of the current. The Star Ruby has the power to cause change to occur in the psychosoma of an individual such that old beliefs become meaningless and or harmful thus putting the individual at odds with themselves. This is a natural stage and a full part of the process of Initiation. The Star Ruby assists the Hierarchy in fortifying the fit and eliminating the unfit. The LBRP has no such use in this aeon and is much less effective on a personal level than Liber XXV.
It might be well to take a moment to analyze this "safe" feeling that many aspirants report from the use of various old aeonic formula. There exists a phenomenon known as the egregore which is a gestalt (a form created by the power of many minds combined in worship, meditation or ritual upon a single theme, thought or "god"). This Gestalt operates automatically unless its creators are very advanced. The Old Aeon still exists in the egregore, its forms, its rituals, its gods and all the rest. As Thelemites understand the Aeon of Osiris is over and the "control" of the egregore of the Aeon of Horus is with the Hierarchy, the same Hierarchy which "controlled" the egregore of the Aeon of Osiris! But the formula has changed and now there is a new "Officer" in charge. So we have a force, an egregore, created by the old aeon and which continues, ever diminishing but still with the power to influence. This force no longer serves the Hierarchy and so those who attach themselves to it are not "tested" by the subtle means that a true Aspirant is tested. In fact there are no tests at all, only self deception and a warm fuzzy feeling that everything is all right. This "safe" feeling reported by aspirants who still utilize old aeonic formula is this automatic continuance of the Old Aeonic energy which blankets them and "protects" them from the influences of change (initiation) which seek to destroy them. I say destroy and that is exactly how it appears from the point of view of the person who falls under this kind of decaying energy's sway. From the point of view of a Thelemite working in the flow of the Current initiation appears as a process of growth and change. Initiation is growth and sometimes growth means startling awareness and unexpected repercussions. The intelligent Aspirant will use this safe warm fuzzy feeling as a signpost which says WRONG WAY! and examine the factors involved very carefully before continuing in that direction. Here is a place where an Instructor is of great value, an Instructor will warn you about the bridge out ahead ... you then have to obey for He or She wilt not pull you out of the river once you have fallen in! If you disobey and survive the Instructor will delight in saying "I told you so".
As an aside to this question of obeying your Instructor, should you be fortunate enough to have one, it must be mentioned that a living Instructor is better than ten dead instructors irregardless if they were Masters or not. Why? Dead instructors can't talk back, they can't tell you "I told you so", and they can't directly challenge your ego. Live Instructors can tell you to your face or in a letter what in incredible ass you are. That is why most "students" prefer dead Instructors, live ones are so hard to live with. My Instructor used to say that he wanted all of his students dead and that he wished them WELL! Now of course this is incredibly funny, at the time, however, it was an affront to my ego .... I learned to laugh through the painful experience of change and now change is a friend not an enemy! Whenever you hear a student disobeying his or her Instructor using the excuse "-insert dead master's name here - said that - insert difficult task here - should be done this way and that moron of an Instructor that I have said otherwise" know that this student is embroiled in a fight for his or her life, know that the ego is refusing to come under control and is determined to quash resistance. Know also that the "moron" instructor has been faithful and true to his or her Oath and has provided the correct advice to the "student", it just wasn't the advice that the dupe of the ego's tricks wanted to hear. This is probably not what everyone wanted to hear ....sorry... or maybe it was!