Greater Ritual of the Pentagram
*Part of the Magick in Theory & Practice series.*
The Greater Ritual of the Pentagram is a fundamental ritual of ceremonial and Thelemic Magick. It was originally taught by the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn as a banishing ritual.
Table of Contents
The ritual
The following is a basic interpretation of the ritual from “Liber O” in *Magick, Book 4:*
- Begin with the “Qabalistic Cross”:
- Touch forehead and say Ateh (to thee)
- Touch heart and say Malkuth (the kingdom)
- Touch right shoulder and say ve-Geburah (and the power)
- Touch left shoulder and say ve-Gedulah (and the glory)
- Clasping the hands upon the breast, say le-Olahm, Amen (To the Ages, Amen).
- Face East. Make the invoking pentagram of Spirit (Active) and vibrate A H I H *(Eh-hee-eh)*.
- Make the Signs of the Portal (the Rending and Closing of the Veil)
- Make the invoking pentagram of Air and vibrate: Y H V H *(Ye-ho-vah)*
- Give the Sign of Air
- Move deosil (clockwise) to the South and make the invoking pentagram of Spirit (Active) and vibrate A H I H *(Eh-hee-eh)*.
- Make the Signs of the Portal (the Rending and Closing of the Veil)
- Make the invoking pentagram of Fire and vibrate: A L H I M *(El-oh-heem)*
- Give the Sign of Fire
- Move to the West. Make the invoking pentagram of Spirit (Passive) and vibrate A G L A *(Ah-glah)*
- Make the Signs of the Portal (the Rending and Closing of the Veil)
- Make the invoking pentagram of Water and vibrate: E L *(ell)*
- Give the Sign of Water
- Carry point to the North. Make the invoking pentagram of Spirit (Passive) and vibrate A G L A *(Ah-glah)*
- Make the Signs of the Portal (the Rending and Closing of the Veil)
- Make the invoking pentagram of Earth and vibrate: A D N I *(Ad-oh-nye)*
- Give the Sign of Earth
- Return to the East and end with “Qabalistic Cross” as in (1) above
Context: Ritual components
Context: The pentagrams
The signs
Common title: Spirit. The Rending and Closing of the Veil
A.’.A.’. grade: Dominus Liminis
Description: Properly speaking, this is two different signs, where the magician is either tearing open a split veil or closing it. The forearms should be roughly parallel to the floor.
Common title: Air. The God Shu supporting the sky.
A.’.A.’. grade: 2°=9#
Description: Arms raised, elbows bent 90°, forearms vertical, with wrists bent as though holding up the sky.
Common title: Fire. The Goddess Thoum-aesh-neith.
A.’.A.’. grade: 4°=7#
Description: With thumbs and index fingers, place the hands together on the forehead, forming an upward-pointing triangle.
Common title: Water. The Goddess Auramoth.
A.’.A.’. grade: 3°=8#
Description: With thumbs and index fingers, place the hands together on the torso, forming a downward-pointing triangle.
Common title: Earth. The God Set fighting.
A.’.A.’. grade: 1°=10#
Description: Advance the right foot, and swing the right arm up and forward at a 45° angle, with the left arm back and down, also at a 45° angle.
See also
- Lesser Ritual of the Pentagram
- The Star Ruby
- Liber V vel Reguli
- Lesser Ritual of the Hexagram
- Greater Ritual of the Hexagram
- Rituals of Thelema
References
- Crowley, Aleister. (1997). *Magick: Book 4.* “Liber O.” 2nd ed. York Beach, Me. : S. Weiser.
- DuQuette, Lon Milo. (1993). *The Magick of Thelema.* York Beach, Me. : S. Weiser.