TAROT IN LESSER RITUALS
The following method is a suggestion on a way Tarot may be integrated into Golden Dawn styled "daily" or "minor" rituals. Although I am aware that many magicians have written about using the Tarot in their rituals, to my knowledge no one has written a piece on using the Tarot in the following fashion. My first goal in introducing this method is to develop a tool that will help the magician find meaning and intent in their daily rituals as opposed to said rituals becoming empty motions that are performed "just because". My second goal is to provide a way in which a beginning or accomplished magician can refresh the meaning and spirit behind the four suits of the Minor Arcana of the Tarot. It should be said from the outset that this method is a suggestion and as always you should take what you can use...discard the rest.
1. Find and stand facing East and place the four Aces of the Minor Arcana before you in the following compass style order: Ace of Pentacles - North; Ace of Swords - East; Ace of Wands - South and Ace of Cups - West.
2. Attain altered or meditative state. If you are unfamiliar with how to accomplish this, you may try the following: breathe deeply through the nose and out of the mouth. Then relax, in succession, your entire body starting with your head down to your feet. Attain a feeling of "gratitude" as this emotion is the most effective in magnetizing your thoughts with your actions. Strive to keep your relaxed breathing and feeling of gratitude throughout the entire ritual.
3. THE QABBALISTIC CROSS -
a. Visualize yourself growing taller and taller.
b. You grow so tall as to have the Earth at your feet and the Sun at your heart.
c. Picture a soft ball sized glowing sphere of scintillating white light above your head.
d. With your Right index finger bring the ball of white light down and touch your forehead then proclaim aloud "AH-TOH" (Hebrew for "Thou Art")
e. Bring the ball of light down along with a stream of pure white light and touch your Solar Plexus while proclaiming "MAL-KUTH" (Hebrew for "the Kingdom").
f. Touch your right shoulder, visualize another ball of white light forming just off of the right shoulder and proclaim "VE-GEBURAH" (The Power).
g. Bring the ball of light, with a stream of white light following, across your chest to your left shoulder. Touch your left shoulder and proclaim "VE-GEDULA" (The Glory).
h. Take a second to enjoy the visualization of your enormous astral body within and encompassed by a galactic sized cross of white light whose arms, head and feet stretch infinitely in the four directions. Allow the Sun in your chest to grow bright Gold and encompass the whole of yourself.
i. Finally, bring your hands together in a praying position in front of your heart and proclaim, "LE-OLAM, AMEN" (Forever Amen).
4. CONTEMPLATE THE EAST, AIR, THE COLOR YELLOW AND THE ACE OF SWORDS
a. The Sun rises in the East sometimes with a gentle breeze or lusty gusts. The East represents Air, Intellect, Healing, Confidence and Communication. Anyone who has heard the phrase, "The idea dawned on me." gets the notion. Air in the East is represented by the color Yellow for the dawning of the Sun. The Tarot represents this Eastern Quadrangle, Air and the East with the suit of Swords as knowledge can cause change that "Cuts" through the mundane.
The Ace of Swords represents the very spirit (underlying reality) of the element of Air and all of its metaphors; physical, mental, emotional and spiritual. Reversed, the Ace of Swords, represents the negative polarity of the element. Some examples of metaphors ascribing to this polarity would be; Misunderstandings, Lack of Communication, Lies, Deceit, Procrastination, Disease, Distraction, Air Headedness and etc.
b. Still standing facing East, raise your arms to form your body in the shape of a cross. Contemplate the negative polarity of the element of Air by thinking of recent events or actions of others and yourself that embody that polarity (lies, deceit, procrastination, disease and etc.). Visualize this polarity as a dull and dirty yellow and move it out of your body into the air surrounding you. As like attracts like, you can visualize this negatively charged element attracting the same out of the immediate environment and growing into a cloud within the area.
5. BANISHING AIR
a. Trace an Earth banishing Pentagram before you, starting at the level of the left hip going to just above the forehead, then the right hip, the left shoulder, the right shoulder and back down to the left hip. Visualize this Pentagram as alight in blue flame.
b. Visualize the Divine word Yod-Heh-Vav-Heh (YHVH) above your head and on your next inhale bring the word from above your head, through your body down below your feet. Hold your inhale and bring "YHVH" back to the level of your heart. On exhale; give the sign of projection (step forward with your left foot and thrust your arms in front of you), visualize red streams of light projecting from your hands through the pentagram, "Vibrate" the divine name YOD-HEH-VAV-HEH and imagine that your mouth projects white light as you vibrate this Holy name.
c. As you project your lights, visualize that dirty yellow cloud that surrounds you being sucked out, as if you were in a plane and someone opened the emergency escape door.
d. Give the "Sign of Silence" which means; stamp your left foot back into place and bring your left index finger to your lips in a "hush" gesture. Visualize the pentagram sealing off and a purplish smoke rising and whirling around you from the feet up.
e. Finally trace a red stream of energy from the middle of your visualized blue pentagram to the South, where you will trace the next Pentagram.
6. CONTEMPLATE THE SOUTH, FIRE, THE COLOR RED AND THE ACE OF WANDS
a. The Sun is at its strength in the South or at Midday, if you prefer. This is the time of day that is the hottest and most productive. The South represents Fire, Ambition, Creative Energy, Passion and Inspiration. Anyone who has heard the phrase, "The flames of passion." gets the notion. Fire in the South is represented by the color Red for the hot noon Sun. The Tarot represents this Southern Quadrangle, Fire and the South with the suit of Wands as passionate ambition can readily be represented as an eager and stimulated phallus.
The Ace of Wands represents the very spirit (underlying reality) of the element of Fire and all of its metaphors; physical, mental, emotional and spiritual. Reversed, the Ace of Wands, represents the negative polarity of the element. Some examples of metaphors ascribing to this polarity would be; Creative blocks, irritability, violent aggression, stale and stagnant relationships and etc.
b. Still standing facing South, raise your arms to form your body in the shape of a cross. Contemplate the negative polarity of the element of Fire by thinking of recent events or actions of others and yourself that embody that polarity (creative blocks, irritability, violent aggression, stale and stagnant relationships and etc). Visualize this polarity as a dull and dirty red and move it out of your body into the air surrounding you. As like attracts like, you can visualize this negatively charged element attracting the same out of the immediate environment and growing into a cloud within the area.
THE LESSER RITUAL OF THE PENTAGRAM WITH TAROT
As a daily ritual the lesser ritual of the pentagram can provide a way to dispel negative energies and invoke or bring in fresh. The Tarot's Minor Arcana with its four suits representing the four elements can help us define exactly the type of energy we want to dispel or invoke. The following outline is almost exactly how I practice the lesser ritual and as there are many steps and visualizations my goal is not to give the reader a "Dogma" to follow with the ritual but, possibilities on enhancing their own ritual.THE TAROT ENHANCED LESSER BANISHING RITUAL OF THE PENTAGRAM
1. Find and stand facing East and place the four Aces of the Minor Arcana before you in the following compass style order: Ace of Pentacles - North; Ace of Swords - East; Ace of Wands - South and Ace of Cups - West.
2. Attain altered or meditative state. If you are unfamiliar with how to accomplish this, you may try the following: breathe deeply through the nose and out of the mouth. Then relax, in succession, your entire body starting with your head down to your feet. Attain a feeling of "gratitude" as this emotion is the most effective in magnetizing your thoughts with your actions. Strive to keep your relaxed breathing and feeling of gratitude throughout the entire ritual.
3. THE QABBALISTIC CROSS -
a. Visualize yourself growing taller and taller.
b. You grow so tall as to have the Earth at your feet and the Sun at your heart.
c. Picture a soft ball sized glowing sphere of scintillating white light above your head.
d. With your Right index finger bring the ball of white light down and touch your forehead then proclaim aloud "AH-TOH" (Hebrew for "Thou Art")
e. Bring the ball of light down along with a stream of pure white light and touch your Solar Plexus while proclaiming "MAL-KUTH" (Hebrew for "the Kingdom").
f. Touch your right shoulder, visualize another ball of white light forming just off of the right shoulder and proclaim "VE-GEBURAH" (The Power).
g. Bring the ball of light, with a stream of white light following, across your chest to your left shoulder. Touch your left shoulder and proclaim "VE-GEDULA" (The Glory).
h. Take a second to enjoy the visualization of your enormous astral body within and encompassed by a galactic sized cross of white light whose arms, head and feet stretch infinitely in the four directions. Allow the Sun in your chest to grow bright Gold and encompass the whole of yourself.
i. Finally, bring your hands together in a praying position in front of your heart and proclaim, "LE-OLAM, AMEN" (Forever Amen).
4. CONTEMPLATE THE EAST, AIR, THE COLOR YELLOW AND THE ACE OF SWORDS
a. The Sun rises in the East sometimes with a gentle breeze or lusty gusts. The East represents Air, Intellect, Healing, Confidence and Communication. Anyone who has heard the phrase, "The idea dawned on me." gets the notion. Air in the East is represented by the color Yellow for the dawning of the Sun. The Tarot represents this Eastern Quadrangle, Air and the East with the suit of Swords as knowledge can cause change that "Cuts" through the mundane.
The Ace of Swords represents the very spirit (underlying reality) of the element of Air and all of its metaphors; physical, mental, emotional and spiritual. Reversed, the Ace of Swords, represents the negative polarity of the element. Some examples of metaphors ascribing to this polarity would be; Misunderstandings, Lack of Communication, Lies, Deceit, Procrastination, Disease, Distraction, Air Headedness and etc.
b. Still standing facing East, raise your arms to form your body in the shape of a cross. Contemplate the negative polarity of the element of Air by thinking of recent events or actions of others and yourself that embody that polarity (lies, deceit, procrastination, disease and etc.). Visualize this polarity as a dull and dirty yellow and move it out of your body into the air surrounding you. As like attracts like, you can visualize this negatively charged element attracting the same out of the immediate environment and growing into a cloud within the area.
5. BANISHING AIR
a. Trace an Earth banishing Pentagram before you, starting at the level of the left hip going to just above the forehead, then the right hip, the left shoulder, the right shoulder and back down to the left hip. Visualize this Pentagram as alight in blue flame.
b. Visualize the Divine word Yod-Heh-Vav-Heh (YHVH) above your head and on your next inhale bring the word from above your head, through your body down below your feet. Hold your inhale and bring "YHVH" back to the level of your heart. On exhale; give the sign of projection (step forward with your left foot and thrust your arms in front of you), visualize red streams of light projecting from your hands through the pentagram, "Vibrate" the divine name YOD-HEH-VAV-HEH and imagine that your mouth projects white light as you vibrate this Holy name.
c. As you project your lights, visualize that dirty yellow cloud that surrounds you being sucked out, as if you were in a plane and someone opened the emergency escape door.
d. Give the "Sign of Silence" which means; stamp your left foot back into place and bring your left index finger to your lips in a "hush" gesture. Visualize the pentagram sealing off and a purplish smoke rising and whirling around you from the feet up.
e. Finally trace a red stream of energy from the middle of your visualized blue pentagram to the South, where you will trace the next Pentagram.
6. CONTEMPLATE THE SOUTH, FIRE, THE COLOR RED AND THE ACE OF WANDS
a. The Sun is at its strength in the South or at Midday, if you prefer. This is the time of day that is the hottest and most productive. The South represents Fire, Ambition, Creative Energy, Passion and Inspiration. Anyone who has heard the phrase, "The flames of passion." gets the notion. Fire in the South is represented by the color Red for the hot noon Sun. The Tarot represents this Southern Quadrangle, Fire and the South with the suit of Wands as passionate ambition can readily be represented as an eager and stimulated phallus.
The Ace of Wands represents the very spirit (underlying reality) of the element of Fire and all of its metaphors; physical, mental, emotional and spiritual. Reversed, the Ace of Wands, represents the negative polarity of the element. Some examples of metaphors ascribing to this polarity would be; Creative blocks, irritability, violent aggression, stale and stagnant relationships and etc.
b. Still standing facing South, raise your arms to form your body in the shape of a cross. Contemplate the negative polarity of the element of Fire by thinking of recent events or actions of others and yourself that embody that polarity (creative blocks, irritability, violent aggression, stale and stagnant relationships and etc). Visualize this polarity as a dull and dirty red and move it out of your body into the air surrounding you. As like attracts like, you can visualize this negatively charged element attracting the same out of the immediate environment and growing into a cloud within the area.
7. BANISHING FIRE
a. Trace an Earth banishing Pentagram before you, starting at the level of the left hip going to just above the forehead, then the right hip, the left shoulder, the right shoulder and back down to the left hip. Visualize this Pentagram as alight in blue flame.
b. Visualize the Divine word ADNI (AD-DOH-NIGH) above your head and on your next inhale bring the word from above your head, through your body down below your feet. Hold your inhale and bring "" back "ADNI" to the level of your heart. On exhale; give the sign of projection (step forward with your left foot and thrust your arms in front of you), visualize red streams of light projecting from your hands through the pentagram, "Vibrate" the divine name AD-DOH-NIGH and imagine that your mouth projects white light as you vibrate this Holy name.
c. As you project your lights, visualize that dirty red cloud that surrounds you being sucked out, as if you were in a plane and someone opened the emergency escape door.
d. Give the "Sign of Silence" which means; stamp your left foot back into place and bring your left index finger to your lips in a "hush" gesture. Visualize the pentagram sealing off and a purplish smoke rising and whirling around you from the feet up.
e. Finally trace a red stream of energy from the middle of your visualized blue pentagram to the West, where you will trace the next Pentagram.
8. CONTEMPLATE THE WEST, WATER, THE COLOR BLUE AND THE ACE OF CUPS
9. BANISHING WATER
a. Trace an Earth banishing Pentagram before you, starting at the level of the left hip going to just above the forehead, then the right hip, the left shoulder, the right shoulder and back down to the left hip. Visualize this Pentagram as alight in blue flame.
b. Visualize the Divine word EHEH (EH-HE-EH) above your head and on your next inhale bring the word from above your head, through your body down below your feet. Hold your inhale and bring "" back "EHEH" to the level of your heart. On exhale; give the sign of projection (step forward with your left foot and thrust your arms in front of you), visualize red streams of light projecting from your hands through the pentagram, "Vibrate" the divine name EH-HE-EH and imagine that your mouth projects white light as you vibrate this Holy name.
c. As you project your lights, visualize that dirty BLUE cloud that surrounds you being sucked out, as if you were in a plane and someone opened the emergency escape door.
d. Give the "Sign of Silence" which means; stamp your left foot back into place and bring your left index finger to your lips in a "hush" gesture. Visualize the pentagram sealing off and a purplish smoke rising and whirling around you from the feet up.
e. Finally trace a red stream of energy from the middle of your visualized blue pentagram to the NORTH, where you will trace the next Pentagram.
8. CONTEMPLATE THE NORTH, EARTH, THE COLOR BLACK AND THE ACE OF PENTACLES.
9. BANISHING EARTH
a. Trace an Earth banishing Pentagram before you, starting at the level of the left hip going to just above the forehead, then the right hip, the left shoulder, the right shoulder and back down to the left hip. Visualize this Pentagram as alight in blue flame.
b. Visualize the Divine acronym AGLA (Ah-Gah-La) above your head and on your next inhale bring the word from above your head, through your body down below your feet. Hold your inhale and bring "" back "AGLA" to the level of your heart. On exhale; give the sign of projection (step forward with your left foot and thrust your arms in front of you), visualize red streams of light projecting from your hands through the pentagram, "Vibrate" the divine name AH-GAH-LA and imagine that your mouth projects white light as you vibrate this Holy name.
c. As you project your lights, visualize that dirty BLACK cloud that surrounds you being sucked out, as if you were in a plane and someone opened the emergency escape door.
d. Give the "Sign of Silence" which means; stamp your left foot back into place and bring your left index finger to your lips in a "hush" gesture. Visualize the pentagram sealing off and a purplish smoke rising and whirling around you from the feet up.
e. Finally trace a red stream of energy from the middle of your visualized blue pentagram back to the East, where you originally started.
10. EVOKING THE ARCHANGELS
The four archangels of the compass are higher entities that have been given a Holy title for the beneficial aspect of the Divine that they represent. We evoke and visualize their presences outside of our circle of pentagrams in gratitude for the specific gifts of life that they represent and we have received.
a. Before me, the great Archangel RAPHAEL. (The healing of God - Visualized as a great winged male angel clothed in Yellow with Purple trim.
b. Behind me, the great Archangel GABRIEL. (The strength of God - Visualized as a great winged female angel clothed in Blue with Orange trim.
c. On my right, the great Archangel MICHAEL. (He who is like God - Visualized as an armored, great winged male angel clothed in Red with Green trim.
d. On my left, the great Archangel AUREIL. (The lamp of God - Visualized as a great winged female clothed in black with white trim.
11. FINAL VISUALIZATIONS AND CENTERING.
The final visualization should encompass the ring of Pentagrams with the Archangels just outside of them. Once the visualization has been obtained, the magician should state, "For about me flames the pentagrams and within the middle column, the six ray star." On the last of the phrase, "six ray star" the magician should endeavor to visualize a bright white hexagram within their chest that grows brighter intensity until the end of the meditation.
After this has been concluded, the magician should perform the Qabbalistic Cross as shown above.
a. The Sun is setting in the West or at twilight, if you prefer. This is the time of day that is the most "reflective". The West represents Water, Emotional Happiness, Joy, Love, Friendship, Insight, and etc. Water in the West is represented by the color Blue for the cool onset of evening. The Tarot represents this Western Quadrangle, Water and the West with the suit of Cups as a gift of higher emotional love and friendship.
The Ace of Cups represents the very spirit (underlying reality) of the element of Water and all of its metaphors; physical, mental, emotional and spiritual. Reversed, the Ace of Cups, represents the negative polarity of the element. Some examples of metaphors ascribing to this polarity would be; Emotional immaturity, loss, delusion, upsetting or false relationships and friendships and etc.
b. Still standing facing West, raise your arms to form your body in the shape of a cross. Contemplate the negative polarity of the element of Water by thinking of recent events or actions of others and yourself that embody that polarity (Emotional immaturity, loss, delusion, upsetting or false relationships and friendships and etc). Visualize this polarity as a dull and dirty blue and move it out of your body into the air surrounding you. As like attracts like, you can visualize this negatively charged element attracting the same out of the immediate environment and growing into a cloud within the area.
The Ace of Cups represents the very spirit (underlying reality) of the element of Water and all of its metaphors; physical, mental, emotional and spiritual. Reversed, the Ace of Cups, represents the negative polarity of the element. Some examples of metaphors ascribing to this polarity would be; Emotional immaturity, loss, delusion, upsetting or false relationships and friendships and etc.
b. Still standing facing West, raise your arms to form your body in the shape of a cross. Contemplate the negative polarity of the element of Water by thinking of recent events or actions of others and yourself that embody that polarity (Emotional immaturity, loss, delusion, upsetting or false relationships and friendships and etc). Visualize this polarity as a dull and dirty blue and move it out of your body into the air surrounding you. As like attracts like, you can visualize this negatively charged element attracting the same out of the immediate environment and growing into a cloud within the area.
9. BANISHING WATER
a. Trace an Earth banishing Pentagram before you, starting at the level of the left hip going to just above the forehead, then the right hip, the left shoulder, the right shoulder and back down to the left hip. Visualize this Pentagram as alight in blue flame.
b. Visualize the Divine word EHEH (EH-HE-EH) above your head and on your next inhale bring the word from above your head, through your body down below your feet. Hold your inhale and bring "" back "EHEH" to the level of your heart. On exhale; give the sign of projection (step forward with your left foot and thrust your arms in front of you), visualize red streams of light projecting from your hands through the pentagram, "Vibrate" the divine name EH-HE-EH and imagine that your mouth projects white light as you vibrate this Holy name.
c. As you project your lights, visualize that dirty BLUE cloud that surrounds you being sucked out, as if you were in a plane and someone opened the emergency escape door.
d. Give the "Sign of Silence" which means; stamp your left foot back into place and bring your left index finger to your lips in a "hush" gesture. Visualize the pentagram sealing off and a purplish smoke rising and whirling around you from the feet up.
e. Finally trace a red stream of energy from the middle of your visualized blue pentagram to the NORTH, where you will trace the next Pentagram.
8. CONTEMPLATE THE NORTH, EARTH, THE COLOR BLACK AND THE ACE OF PENTACLES.
a. The Sun is off doing its work in another place while in the North or at midnight, if you prefer. This is the time of day that is the most "dark, cool and dry". The North represents Earth, Stability, Foundation, Fiscal responsibility, the home and family and etc. Earth in the North is represented by the color Black for the darkness. The Tarot represents this Northern Quadrangle, Earth and the North with the suit of Pentacles as a gift of Physical Stability.
The Ace of Pentacles represents the very spirit (underlying reality) of the element of Earth and all of its metaphors; physical, mental, emotional and spiritual. Reversed, the Ace of Pentacles, represents the negative polarity of the element. Some examples of metaphors ascribing to this polarity would be; Laziness, Greed, Financial ruin, unstable home, loss and etc.
b. Still standing facing North, raise your arms to form your body in the shape of a cross. Contemplate the negative polarity of the element of Earth by thinking of recent events or actions of others and yourself that embody that polarity (Laziness, Greed, Financial ruin, unstable home, loss and etc.). Visualize this polarity as a dull and dirty black and move it out of your body into the air surrounding you. As like attracts like, you can visualize this negatively charged element attracting the same out of the immediate environment and growing into a cloud within the area.
The Ace of Pentacles represents the very spirit (underlying reality) of the element of Earth and all of its metaphors; physical, mental, emotional and spiritual. Reversed, the Ace of Pentacles, represents the negative polarity of the element. Some examples of metaphors ascribing to this polarity would be; Laziness, Greed, Financial ruin, unstable home, loss and etc.
b. Still standing facing North, raise your arms to form your body in the shape of a cross. Contemplate the negative polarity of the element of Earth by thinking of recent events or actions of others and yourself that embody that polarity (Laziness, Greed, Financial ruin, unstable home, loss and etc.). Visualize this polarity as a dull and dirty black and move it out of your body into the air surrounding you. As like attracts like, you can visualize this negatively charged element attracting the same out of the immediate environment and growing into a cloud within the area.
9. BANISHING EARTH
a. Trace an Earth banishing Pentagram before you, starting at the level of the left hip going to just above the forehead, then the right hip, the left shoulder, the right shoulder and back down to the left hip. Visualize this Pentagram as alight in blue flame.
b. Visualize the Divine acronym AGLA (Ah-Gah-La) above your head and on your next inhale bring the word from above your head, through your body down below your feet. Hold your inhale and bring "" back "AGLA" to the level of your heart. On exhale; give the sign of projection (step forward with your left foot and thrust your arms in front of you), visualize red streams of light projecting from your hands through the pentagram, "Vibrate" the divine name AH-GAH-LA and imagine that your mouth projects white light as you vibrate this Holy name.
c. As you project your lights, visualize that dirty BLACK cloud that surrounds you being sucked out, as if you were in a plane and someone opened the emergency escape door.
d. Give the "Sign of Silence" which means; stamp your left foot back into place and bring your left index finger to your lips in a "hush" gesture. Visualize the pentagram sealing off and a purplish smoke rising and whirling around you from the feet up.
e. Finally trace a red stream of energy from the middle of your visualized blue pentagram back to the East, where you originally started.
10. EVOKING THE ARCHANGELS
The four archangels of the compass are higher entities that have been given a Holy title for the beneficial aspect of the Divine that they represent. We evoke and visualize their presences outside of our circle of pentagrams in gratitude for the specific gifts of life that they represent and we have received.
a. Before me, the great Archangel RAPHAEL. (The healing of God - Visualized as a great winged male angel clothed in Yellow with Purple trim.
b. Behind me, the great Archangel GABRIEL. (The strength of God - Visualized as a great winged female angel clothed in Blue with Orange trim.
c. On my right, the great Archangel MICHAEL. (He who is like God - Visualized as an armored, great winged male angel clothed in Red with Green trim.
d. On my left, the great Archangel AUREIL. (The lamp of God - Visualized as a great winged female clothed in black with white trim.
11. FINAL VISUALIZATIONS AND CENTERING.
The final visualization should encompass the ring of Pentagrams with the Archangels just outside of them. Once the visualization has been obtained, the magician should state, "For about me flames the pentagrams and within the middle column, the six ray star." On the last of the phrase, "six ray star" the magician should endeavor to visualize a bright white hexagram within their chest that grows brighter intensity until the end of the meditation.
After this has been concluded, the magician should perform the Qabbalistic Cross as shown above.
LVX,
LiS
LiS
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