Magick: a Guide to Daily Ritual Work: the Middle Pillar Ritual

Magick: A Guide to Daily Ritual Work: The Middle Pillar Ritual

Frater f. Fenderson, Crux Ansata Oasis, Valley of Denver

March 12, 2014

Magick: Part 1 - The Middle Pillar Ritual

”Magick is the Science of understanding oneself and one’s conditions. It is the Art of applying that understanding in action.” –Aleister Crowley This work is designed to be both a guide and a reference for the daily ritual work of a ceremonial magician. Also, the course of this work will provide the building blocks for further ritual design and development.

1 Figure 1: Thelemic Magick Circle

1 The Middle Pillar Ritual

The Sephiroth or the Tree of Life is a complex structure representing both the macrocosm and the microcosm. Kabbalah teaches that it is a classification system for all phenomenon both outer and inner. In this ritual we will use it as it relates to the microcosm, our bodies. Much like a chakra meditation we will invoke the spheres of the middle pillar of the Tree within our bodies. We accomplish this by visualizing the spheres in turn and chanting the Hebrew God name associated with the given sphere. Examples of how the tree lines up with the physical body are given in figures 2 and 3. This ritual gives the magician a fundamental technique by which she may establish a direct connection to the energy of the macrocosm. This technique can then be used for any operation where the magician needs to build up and use a large store of magickal energy. Whether that energy is to be used by the magician themselves or to be directed outwards towards the world or other people, it is critical to use the universes infinite store of energy rather than trying to use what we have already latent within ourselves. The first sphere within the middle pillar is the first Sephira of the Tree itself. This is the Crown or the sphere of Keter. Keter is visualized just above the top of the head. The God name associated with this sphere is Eheieh (Eh-He-Yah) which means, I am. The second sphere on the middle pillar is actually not a Sephira at all, it is the non-sphere of Da’at or Knowledge which lies in the abyss. This sphere is visualized at the region of the throat about the larynx. The God name of this sphere is YHVH Elohim (Yod-He-Vauv-He El-O-Heem). The next sphere is the sphere of Tiphereth the sphere of the Sun. This sphere is visualized about the region of the heart. The god name of this sphere is YHVH Eloah ve Da’ath. Next is the sphere of Yesod or the foundation. This sphere is visualized about the region of the genitals. The God name of this sphere is Shadai El Chai which means, God living God. The last sphere is that of Malkuth or the kingdom. This sphere is visualized at the base of the feet. The God name used here is Adonai ha Aretz or Lord of the Earth. Examples of this can be found in figures 4 and 5.

2 Figure 2: Tree of Life on the Body

Figure 3: Tree of Life on the Body

3 Figure 4: Middle Pillar God Names

Figure 5: Middle Pillar Visualization

4 1.1 Ritual: Middle Pillar It is always recommended to begin with a banishing ritual of some kind. We haven’t discussed banishing rituals yet but it will be the next topic of discussion. I begin with this practice to facilitate doing some ritual together in class. This is something that can easily be done in a group setting and I wanted to start here so that we can all begin doing this work together in the very ﬁrst class meeting.

1. Focus attention just above the top of your head. Visualize a sphere of white brilliance at this point. Regard this white brilliance with awe, as your link to the divine. Visualize this sphere becoming even brighter. Now vibrate the God name, Eh − heh − yeh three or four times. The sphere should get brighter.

2. Next, visualize a slender beam of light descending from the brilliant sphere of light through the center of your head and stopping at the nape of your neck. Here the beam widens into a ball of light but not as big as the one above. You should now be visualizing simultaneously the brilliant sphere above your head, the smaller ball of light at the base of your neck, and the beam of light connecting the two. Understand this to be your link between your consciousness and your higher self. Vibrate the God name Yod − Heh − Vahv − Heh El − oh − heem, three or four times. The sphere should grow in intensity.

3. Keeping the above visualizations in mind, cause a beam of light to descend from the ball of light at your neck through your torso and light up the solar plexus in the form of a sphere. Understand that this represents your consciousness and see the ball of light grow in brightness and intensity. Vibrate the God name Yod − Heh − Vahv − Heh El − oh − ah V0dah − aht three or four times.

4. In a similar manner, see the light descend to the area of the genitals and form a sphere. This is the spring by which consciousness takes its creative expression. Vibrate the God name Shah − dai El Chai three or four times.

5. Again the light should descend to form a sphere of light surrounding the feet and the ground. Half above the ground surrounding the feet and half below the ground under the feet. The God name to be vibrated is Ah − doh − nye Ha − ahr − etz.

6. At this point there should be large spheres of light above the head, at the throat, at the solar plexus, at the groin, and at the feet. Each sphere of light should be connected with the sphere above and below by a beam of light. Stay in this state for as long as you desire. Then take a deep breath, and as you exhale, visualize the images fading and becoming invisible. They will still be there, but they cannot now be seen. This completes the Middle Pillar Ritual.

1.2 Circulation of the Body of Light Here we have an extension of the Middle Pillar which exercises the magicians ability to move or direct the energy that was established with the ﬁrst part of this ritual.

1. While keeping the visualization of the Middle Pillar, refocus your attention on Keter, the white brilliance just above your head. Visualize the brilliance in a state of extreme strength, needing to radiate out even more energy, literally bursting out. Visualize it sending a current of energy down into the head and to the left shoulder. Let the energy pass down the left side

5 of your body to the left foot. Feel it move to your right foot, up the right side of your body, to your head, and back up to Keter. This motion should be synchronized with your breath. When you exhale, feel the energy go down your left side. When you inhale, feel the energy go up your right side. You should have the sensation of a circle of energy swirling around you. Move the energy, with your breath, in six to ten cycles. Feel free to expand the energy further out to the sides, to the ends of the universe if you desire. Most commonly it is seen going out about three feet from the body.

2. This part is similar to the ﬁrst, but instead of directing energy down one side of the body and up the other, here you should direct the energy down the front of your body and up the back. Be sure to synchronize your breath so that as you exhale the energy goes down the front of your body and, as you inhale, it goes up your back, to your head, and up to Keter.

3. (The Mummy) Revisualize the entire Middle Pillar. This time, focus your attention on Malkuth, at the feet. From the upper right side of this power center visualize the energy curling up in a tight spiral to the front of the leg. From here it continues around the back and continues moving upward in a counter-clockwise spiral. It is as if you were being wrapped like an Egyptian mummy, from the feet to the head. Instead of cloth you are being wrapped in energy. You should feel a whirling of spiritual power as the pure spiritual light and energy rises up in spirals to Keter. At Keter you should visualize the energy exploding out like a water fountain in all directions, like a sparkler. This energy lands at your feet and begins to rise in the spiral again. As you inhale, feel the energy rise toward Keter. As you exhale, feel it explode out toward Malkuth at your feet. As in the ﬁrst and second parts do this for six to ten cycles. Then, take a very deep breath, and as you exhale, see the energy disappear visually, but know that it is still there invisibly.

1.3 Some Variations of The Middle Pillar Ritual When working with this ritual we invoke the most general form of the energies of each Sephira. More specific qualities can be individually worked with by vibrating the name of that quality of the given Sephira. For example, it is common when working with protective energies to use the names of the Archangels associated with each of the spheres instead of the Hebrew god name. This invokes a very different feeling energy which is commonly used for protection or even healing. Once the connection to the universal store of energy has been made it can then be sent out and directed towards particular individuals or even places in the world for protection or healing. It is important for the magician to remember to never use her own energy for these kinds of workings. Establish a connection to the universes infinite store of energy and then send out as much as is needed. Likewise one can work with the associated planetary energies, the tarot trumps, whole choirs of angels, and even the Qlipothic or Goetic sides of the spheres. These are but a few examples of the many ways one can make the energies being worked with more specifically directed towards a particular goal or working.

1.3.1 The Thelemic Middle Pillar Ritual There is also a Thelemic version of the ritual where the Hebrew god names are replaced with Thelemic god names instead. See ﬁgure 6 for reference.

6 Figure 6: Thelemic Middle Pillar

1. Perform the ritual exactly as in the standard version. For the sphere of Keter vibrate the name Hadit.

2. For the sphere of Da’at vibrate the name Aiwaz.

3. For the sphere of Tipheret vibrate the name Ra Hoor Khuit.

4. For the sphere of Yesod vibrate the name Babalon.

5. For the sphere of Malkuth vibrate the name Therion.

6. End as in standard version or proceed with the circulation of the body of light.

1.3.2 Adding Prayers I commonly add a simple Hebrew prayer before and after I do the this ritual and end with a long AMEN. For example, I chant

• Kodosh Kodosh Kodosh YHVH Zabaoth. which I repeat three to six times before I begin. Then I end the ritual with another round of this chant followed by an AMEN. In the Thelemic version one may consider adding in some of the adorations from Liber Al or a prayer to Nuit.