EXPELLENDUM
(c) 1993, John Opsopaus
Preface
The following is an adaptation of the Lesser Banishing Ritual of the Pentagram to the Graeco-Roman Tradition, and so it is called the "Olympic Lesser Banishing Ritual of the Pentagram." Such a "translation" is possible because the LBRP is an enactment in a Qabalistic framework of certain shamanic practices that are nearly universal. Once the underlying shamanic cosmology has been identified, it's relatively straight-forward to re-express the ritual in the terms of another cosmology, such as the Graeco-Roman.
I would welcome criticism of the result, especially from Qabalists and Ceremonial Magicians. Criticism/correction of my Latin and Greek composition will also be appreciated. Finally, I beg readers to forgive the Early Modern English, which I've used to add dignity to the text.
The Ritual follows in summary form; a separate posting will contain a fully annotated text. This information should make clear which aspects of the ritual follow from Ancient Tradition, which come from more recent Magical Traditions, and which are a result of my speculation or arbitrary choice; such information is all too often missing from Neopagan reconstructions. If anyone knows of a similar adaptation, please let me know.
Gratias vobis ago,
John Opsopaus
Ritus Olympicus - Pentagrammou Minor - ad Expellendum
The Olympic Lesser Banishing Ritual of the Pentagram
which is
The Traditional Lesser Banishing Ritual of the Pentagram
Adapted to the Graeco-Roman Tradition
(c)1993, John Opsopaus
I. The Opening Tau Cross
i. Close thine eyes, and by thy breath fan thou the Fire, which awakeneth the Serpent and the Eagle. Allow thyself to grow beyond all bounds of space, until the Universe is within thee. Be thou as a God; be thou as a Goddess.
ij. Draw thou down the Fire of Heaven into thy Heart, and say:
"From Celestial Fire"
"Ab Igne Caelesti"
"Apo tou Ouraniou Puros"
[)Apo\ tou= )Oura/niou Puros/]
[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."]
[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 reason-ably 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:
"To Watery Abyss"
"Ad Aquosum Profundum"
"Eis ten Hudroessan Abusson"
[)Ei\s th\n (Udro/essan )/Abusson]
[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).]
iv. Direct thou the beam from thy heart through thy left shoulder, until it stretcheth to the Moon, and say:
"By Way of Earth"
"Via Terrena"
"Kat' Hodon Chthonion"
[Kat' (Odo\n Xqo/nion]
[Suggested gesture: Raise the left hand up to your chest; then extend your arm into horizontal position, with the palm forward.]
v. Direct thou the beam from thy heart through thy right shoulder, until it stretcheth to the Sun, and say:
"By Way of Air"
"Via Aeria"
"Kat' Hodon Aitherion"
[Kat' (Odo\n )Aiqe/rion]
[Suggested gesture: Raise the right arm to the chest and then into a horizontal position, with forward palm.]
vi. Feel thou the Sacred Tau Cross that blazeth inside thee. Now cross thy arms over thy Heart, and say:
"Abiding always in the Center. So be it!"
"Semper in Medio manens. Esto!" or "Fiat!"
"En Omphaloi aei menon" (masc.) or "menousa" (fem.). "Esto!"
[)En )Omfalw= a)ei\ me/nwn] (masc.) or [me/nousa] (fem.).
[)/Estw!]
[Suggested gesture: Bring your arms together and cross them over your chest.]
vij. As thou makest this gesture the Moon and Sun will stand together above thy head, nor will they ever move from there. Moon over Sun and Sun over Tau Cross; thou art the Holy Caduceus. Thou hast become the Center of the World, for the Cosmic Axis runneth through thy spine; on thy left standeth the Path of the Moon, and on thy right the Path of the Sun, above thee shineth the Cosmic Pole, below thee lieth the Abyss.
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, Leto'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 Leto, 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 Posei-don, the Earth Shaker, who giveth fresh water from springs, but also floods and earth-quakes. 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 Char-ybdis, 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.
II. Pentagrams of the Quarters
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:
"Huuuuuuu, Gggggggg, Iiiiiiih, Aaaaaay, Aaaaaaah."
xiv(b). In Latin the Pentagram hath the Name SALUS, which meaneth
Soundness or Welfare, so sing thou the sounds: "Ssssssss, Aaaaaaah, Llllllll, Uuuuuuuu, Ssssssss."
xiv(c). Though in English we label the Pentagram WHOLE or SOUND, its spoken Name is WHOLENESS, so sing thou the sounds:
"Hooooooo, Llllllll, Nnnnnnnn, Eeeeeeeh, Ssssssss."
xv. Now go thou to the East and make the Pentagram. As thou callest:
"Jupiter" or "Zeus"
"Iuppiter"
"Zeus" [Zeu/s]
hurl thou His Thunderbolt through the center of the Pentagram, and see it fly away to Infinity.
[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, which represents the Celestial Spirit nesting on the top of the World Tree. (Zeus first came to Hera in the form of a Cuckoo.)]
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:
"Vesta" or "Hestia"
"Vesta" [pron. "Westa"]
"Hestia" [(Esti/a]
and throw thou Her Burning Circle.
xvij. Then to the West:
"Neptune" or "Poseidon"
"Neptunus"
"Poseidon" [Poseidw/n]
Hurl thou His Trident.
xviij. Then to the North:
"Ceres" or "Demeter"
"Ceres" [pron. "Keres"]
"Demeter" [Dhmh/thr]
Throw thou Her Torch.
[Pluto / Hades [(/Aidhs] would also be appropriate for the North, in which case his Helmet of Invisibility should be projected through the Pentagram. Hades' name may mean "the Unseen" ["(/Aidhs" < "a) idh/s"].]
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.
[When projecting the Four Weapons through the Pentagrams, the practitioner might find it helpful to make an appropriate gesture: as though throwing a dart for Zeus's Keraun-os, as though throwing a frisbee for Hestia's Burning Ring, as though throwing a javelin for Poseidon's Trident, as though throwing a knife for Demeter's Torch.]
III. Wards of the Quarters
xx. Now raise again thy arms so thou art the Sacred Tau and, focusing thine attention before thee (Eastward), say:
"Before, Apollo"
"Ante, Apollo"
"Prosthen, Apollon"
[Pro/sqen, )Apo/llwn]
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.
[Mercurius/Hermes [(Ermh=s], with His Caduceus, would also be appropriate for the East.]
xxi. West: Focusing thine attention behind thee, say:
"Behind, Diana/Artemis"
"Post, Diana"
"Opisthen, Artemis"
[)/Opisqen, )/Artemis]
Artemis will appear with Her Bow. Then will She turn away to watch the West.
[Venus/Aphrodite [)Afrodi/th], arising from the waves and holding Her Zona (Girdle), would also be appropriate for the West.]
xxij. South: Focusing thine attention to thy right, say:
"On the right, Minerva/Athena"
"Dextra, Minerva"
"Epidexia, Athena."
[)Epide/cia, )Aqhna=]
Athena will appear with Her Aegis and Spear, and turn to watch the South.
[Mars / Ares [)/Arhs] (with Shield and Sword) or Volcanus / Hephaistos
[(/Hfaistos] (with Hammer and Tongs) would also be appropriate for the South;
Mars was also an Italic vegetation God, and so might be evoked in the North.]
xxiii. North: Focusing thine attention to thy left, say:
"On the left, Bacchus/Dionysos"
"Sinistra, Bacchus"
"Ep' aristera, Dionusos"
[)Ep' a)ristera/, Dio/nusos]
Dionysus will appear with His Thyrsus, and then turn to watch the North.
[Pan [Pa/n], with His Pipes, would also be appropriate for the North. Pan may seem an unlikely Ward, but when Athens honored Him and asked Him to help defend them from the Persians, he did so (Herodt. VI.105.2-3).]
xxiv. In thy mind, thank all the Wards of the Quarters for Their protection.
IV. The Macrocosm in the Microcosm
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:
"For around flameth the Pentagram."
"Nam circa flagrat Pentagrammon."
"Peri men gar phlegei to Pentagrammon"
[Peri\ me\n ga\r fle/gei to\ Penta/grammon]
[If you prefer "For around flame the Pentagrams," then use:
"Nam circa flagrant Pentagramma"
"Peri men gar phlegousi ta Pentagramma"
[Peri\ me\n ga\r fle/gousi ta\ Penta/gramma]
xxvi. When the Sacred Hexagram shineth within thee, say:
"And within shineth the Six-rayed Star."
"Atque intra lucet Stella Sexradiata."
"Entos de lampei ho Hexaktinotos Aster."
[)Ento\s de\ la/mpei o( E(caktinwto\s )Asth/r.]
[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).]
xxvii. The Pentagram signifieth the Microcosm, and the Hexagram signifieth the Macrocosm. Thus the Macrocosm shineth within the Illuminated Microcosm.
V. The Closing Tau Cross
xxviii. Repeat thou the Tau Cross as it was at the beginning.
[The following alternative gestures incorporate the relation of the elements embodied in the Hexagram: As you recite the text of the Tau Cross, (1) begin with arms crossed, right over left, on your chest; (2) raise your right arm to the Celestial Fire, (3) lower your left arm to the Watery Abyss, (4) let the Fire draw up the Water to yield Earth, by moving your left arm up to your chest and out to the left, the Way of Earth; (5) let the Water draw down the Fire to yield Air, by moving your right arm down to your chest and out to your right, the Way of Air; (6) cross your arms over your chest, indicating the Reconciliation, Union and Balance of the Oppositions (Bivium), Worlds (Trivium) and Elemental Quarters (Quadrivium).
I must admit, however, that these gestures seem somewhat awkward.]
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.
Finis
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