The Golden Dawn

by Israel Regardie

  Pause.

  Come unto me, O Thmaah. Goddess of truth and justice, who presidest over the eternal balance in this hall of dual manifestation of truth. Auramooth, come unto me, thou lady of the purifying waters of life. Thaum-aesh-Neith, come unto me, lady of the consuming fire, purify me and consecrate me who am Aeshoorist, the justified one, lord of life, triumphant over death. Upon my brow are arrayed the twelve stars of light. Wisdom and understanding are balanced in my neschamah. Geburah and power on my right hand, and the thunderbolts of Mars! Chesed on my left hand and the sweet fountains of magnificence. In my heart is Yeheshuah, the reconciler, who is the symbol of golden harmony. My two thighs are as mighty pillars on the right and on the left supporting me; splendour and victory, for they cross with the currents reflected from the supernal light. I am established as an eternal rock of righteousness, for Yesod is the foundation of the righteous. The sphere of my nephesch, and the seven palaces of Malkuth are cleansed and consecrated, balanced and pure, in the might of thy name, Adonai, to whom be Malkuth, Gedulah, Geburah, the rose of Sharon, and the lily of the valley.

  Vibrate the names in the following invocation by the formula of the Middle Pillar, and circulate it through the body. Proceed slowly to make certain the power is invoked.

  Hoor-po-krat-ist, thou lord of the silence. Hoor-po-krat-ist, lord of the sacred lotus. O thou Hoor-po-krat-ist (pause a moment or two to contemplate the force invoked), thou that standest in victory on the heads of the infernal dwellers of the waters wherefrom all things were created. Thee, thee I invoke, by the name of Eheieh and the power of Agla.

  O thou divine babe in the egg of blue, lord of defence and silence, thou that bearest the rose and cross of life and light! Thee, thee I invoke for my exaltation to that light.

  Behold! It is written: I am a circle on whose hands stands the twelvefold kingdom of my godhead. I am the alpha and the omega, the first and the last, for my life is as the circle of infinite heaven. I change, but death does not come nigh me. O ye divine birds of resurrection who are the hope of men’s mortality, come unto me and aid me. Depart from me, ye workers of evil before the light of Aeshoorist.

  Behold! He is in me and I in him. Mine is the lotus, as I rise as Harpocrates from the firmament of waters. My throne is set on high. My light is as that of Ra in the firmament of Nu. I am the centre and the shrine, the silence and the eternal light of godhead. Beneath my feet they rage in dumb impotence. For I am Hoor-po-krat-ist, the lotus-throned lord of silence. Were I to say, come up upon the mountains, the celestial waters would flow at my word, and the celestial fires would surge forth in torrents fierce of flame. For I am Ra enshrouded, Khephra unmanifest to man. I embody my father Hoor, the might of the avenging god, and my mother Isis, eternal wisdom veiled in eternal beauty and love.

  Therefore I say unto thee, bring me unto thine abode in the silence unutterable, all-wisdom, all-light, all-power. Hoor-po-krat-ist, thou nameless child of eternity. Bring me to thee, that I may be defended in this work of art. Thou, the centre and the silence; light shrouded in darkness is thy name. The celestial fire is thy father. Thy mother the heavenly sea. Thou, the air of life, art the harmony of all, and lord against the face of the dwellers within the waters! Bring me, I say, bring me to thine abode of everlasting silence, that I may awake to the glory of my godhead, that I may go invisible, so that every spirit created, and every soul of man and beast, and everything of sight and sense, and every spell and scourge of God, may see me not nor understand!

  And now, in the name of Elohim, let there be unto the void a restriction! Yeheshuah, where are now their gods? Oh my father, my father; there are the wheels of thy chariot! Lift up your heads, O ye gates! Be ye opened, ye everlasting doors, that the king of glory and of silence and of night may come in!

  Thus do I formulate a barrier without mine astral form that it may be unto me a wall and as a fortress, and as a sure defence. And I now declare that it is so formulated, to be a basis and receptacle for the shroud of darkness, the egg of blue with which I shall presently girdle myself.

  Trace active and passive spirit pentagrams and vibrate the Enochian invocation of Portal grade.

  And unto ye, O ye forces of the spirit of life whose dwelling is in the invisible, do I now address my will. In the great names of your ruling angels Elexarph, Comananu, Tabitom, and by all the names and letters of the holy Tablet of Union, by the mighty names of God, Eheieh, Agla, YHVH Elohim, and by the great lord of silence, Hoor-po-krat-ist, by your deep purple darkness, and by the white and brilliant light of the crown above my head, do I conjure ye. Collect yourselves about me, and clothe this my astral form with an egg of blue, a shroud of darkness. Gather yourselves, ye flakes of Astral Light, and shroud my form in your substantial night. Clothe me and hide me but at my control. Darken man’s eyes that he see me not. Gather at my word divine, for ye are the watchers, and my soul is the shrine.

  Invoke the highest by Qabalistic cross and I.N.R.I. Formulate the black egg around you, the idea of becoming invisible. Imagine the results of success, then say:

  Let the shroud of concealment encircle me at a distance of eighteen inches from the physical body. Let the egg be consecrated with fire and water.

  Place fire and water on either side of you.

  O Auramo-oth and Thaum-Aesh-Neith, ye goddesses of the scales of the balance, I invoke and beseech you, that the vapours of this magical water and this consecrating fire be as a basis on the material plane for the formation of this shroud of art.

  Formulate mentally the shroud.

  I, A.M.A.G., frater of the Order of the G.D. and a 5° = 6 of the R.R. et A.C., a lord of the paths in the Portal of the Vault of the Adepti, do hereby formulate to myself the blue-black egg of Harpocrates as a shroud of concealment that I may attain unto knowledge and power for the accomplishment of the Great Work, and to use the same in the service of the eternal gods, that I may pass unseen among men to execute the will of my genius. And I bind and obligate myself, even as I was bound to the cross of obligation, and do spiritually swear and affirm that I will use this power to a good purpose only, to help me eventually to aid and serve my fellow man. And I declare that with the divine aid in this operation I shall succeed, that the shroud shall conceal me alike from men and spirits, that it shall be under my control, ready to disperse and to re-form at my command. And I declare that all is now ready for the due fulfillment of this ceremony of the magic of light.

  Go to east of altar, facing west, left hand on triangle, right hand holding black band of lotus wand upright.

  Come unto me, O shroud of darkness and of night, by the power of the name Yeheshuah Yehovashah. Formulate about me, thou divine egg of the darkness of spirit. I conjure ye, O particles of astral darkness, that ye enfold me as a guard and shroud of utter silence and of mystery in and by the name Eheieh, and the name Agla, the names of the centre of infinite light. In and by the name Exarp. In and by the name Hcoma. In and by the name Nanta. In and by the name Bitom, those holy names of the sacred Tablet of Union. In the name of YHVH Elohim which rules the divine darkness. In and by the name of Hoor-po-krat-ist, I conjure and invoke this shroud of concealment. By your deep purple darkness, and by the white brilliance of the genius about and within me, I invoke ye and conjure ye. I exorcise ye potently. I command and constrain ye. I compel ye to absolute, instant, and complete obedience, and that without deception or delay. For the light of my genius is upon me, and I have made YHVH my hope. Gather, ye flakes of Astral Light, to shroud my form in your substantial night. Clothe me and hide me in an egg of blue. Darken man’s eyes, and blind him in his soul, so that he see me not. Gather, O gather at my word divine, for ye are the watchers, my soul the shrine.

  Turn around three times. Resume former position and say:

  In the name of the Lord of the Universe, and by the power of my Augoeides, and by the aspiration of thine own higher soul. O shroud of darkness and of mystery, I conjure thee, that thou encirclest me, so that I may become invisible. So that seei
ng me men may see me not, neither understand. But that they may see the thing that they see not, and comprehend not the thing that they behold. So mote it be!

  Pass to north, face east, and say:

  I have set my feet in the north, and have said: I will shroud myself in mystery and concealment. The voice of my higher soul said unto me, “Let me enter the path of darkness, peradventure thus may I attain the light. I am the only being in an abyss of darkness; from the darkness came I forth ere my birth, from the silence of a primal sleep.” And the voice of darkness answered unto my soul, “I am he that formulates in darkness, the light that shineth in darkness, but the darkness comprehendeth it not.” Let the mystic circumambulation take place in the place of darkness.

  Go round, knock when passing east and west and east again. Pass to the south, halt, formulate the pillars of fire and cloud, reaching from darkness to the heavens. Formulate shroud between them, and pass to the west.

  Invisible, I cannot pass by the gate of the invisible save by virtue of the name of darkness.

  Formulate forcibly the egg of dark blue-black.

  Darkness is my name, and concealment. I am the great one invisible of the paths of the shades. I am without fear, though veiled in darkness, for within me, though unseen, is the magic of the light divine.

  Go round, knock as before, halt in north, formulate pillars, and the blue-black egg between them. Then pass to east.

  Invisible, I cannot pass by the gate of the invisible, save by virtue of the name of light.

  Formulate shroud forcibly.

  I am light shrouded in darkness. I am the wielder of the forces of the balance.

  Concentrate shroud mentally. Go west of the altar, remain standing, and say:

  O thou divine egg of the creative darkness of spirit, formulate thou about me. I command thee by the name of Yeheshuah. Come unto me, shroud of darkness and of night. I conjure ye, O particles of spiritual darkness, that ye enfold me as an unseen guard and as a shroud of utter silence and of mystery. In and by the names Eheieh, Agla, and YHVH Elohim, I conjure thee. In and by the holy names Exarp, Bitom, Hcoma, Nanta, I invoke thee. In and by the names Elexarpeh, Comananu, Tabitom, I constrain thee. By the name of Hoor-po-krat-ist, I invoke this shroud of concealment. By the deep purple darkness of the eternal spirit of life, and by the white brilliance of the genius within me, I invoke ye and conjure ye to absolute and instant obedience, without deception or delay. For the crown of my father is upon me, and in YHVH is my trust. Gather, ye flakes of Astral Light, and shroud my form in your substantial night. Clothe me, and hide me in an egg of blue, so that seeing me, men may see me not, neither understand. But that they may see the thing that they see not, and comprehend not the thing that they behold. For ye are the watchers, my soul the shrine.

  Egg of divine darkness, shroud of concealment, long hast thou dwelt concealed. Quit the light, that thou mayest conceal me before men!

  Carefully formulate shroud about you.

  I receive thee as a covering and a guard. Khabs am pekht. Konx om pax. Light in extension. Before all magical manifestation cometh the knowledge of the hidden light.

  Go to the pillars. Face west and give the signs, steps, words, etc., and with the Sign of the Enterer project your whole will so as to realize the self fading out. The effect should be that the physical body will become gradually and partially invisible, as though a veil or cloud were coming between it and thee. Divine ecstasy may follow, but guard against loss of self-control. Make Sign of Silence forcibly, and vibrate with power the name Hoor-po-krat-ist.

  Reformulate shroud, and circumambulate thrice. Intensely formulate shroud, stand at east, and say:

  Thus have I formulated unto myself this shroud of darkness and of mystery as a concealment and a guard.

  Supernal splendour which shinest in the sphere of Binah, YHVH Elohim, Aima, Shekinah, lady of darkness and of mystery, thou high priestess of the concealed silver star, divine light that rulest in thine own deep darkness. Come unto me, and dwell within my heart, that I also may have power and control, even I, over this shroud of darkness and of mystery. And now I conjure thee, O shroud of darkness and of mystery, that thou conceal me from the eyes of all men, from all things of sight and sense, in this my present purpose, which is to remain invisible for the space of one hour, and to receive therein the holy mysteries of the lord of silence enthroned upon his lotus, Hoor-po-krat-ist.

  When it is wished to banish the shroud, make very forcibly the Qabalistic cross, to bring down the light, and then analyse the keyword, invoking the divine white brilliance. Then say:

  In the name of YHVH Elohim, I invoke thee, who art clothed with the sun, who standest upon the moon, and art crowned with the crown of twelve stars. Aima Elohim, Shekinah, who art darkness illuminated by the light divine, send me thine archangel Tzaphkiel, and thy legions of Aralim, the mighty angels of the sphere of Shabbathai, that I may disintegrate and scatter this shroud of darkness and of mystery, for its work is ended for the hour.

  I conjure thee, O shroud of darkness and of mystery, which has well served my purpose, that thou now depart unto thine ancient ways. But be ye, whether by a word or will, or by this great invocation of your powers, ready to come quickly and forcibly to my behest, again to shroud me from the eyes of men. And now I say unto ye, depart ye in peace, with the blessing of God the vast and shrouded one, and be ye very ready to come when ye are called!

  Make Lesser Banishing Ritual of the Pentagram and Hexagram. Stand in astral Banner of the East.

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  TRANSFORMATION

  Open the temple arranged as for 0° = 0 by usual banishings and the Ceremony of the Watchtowers. After the adoration, face east, and invoke the name Eheieh by the vibratory and circumambulation formula of the Middle Pillar. Do not proceed until the physical sensation of the invoked force is experienced. Then contemplate the higher genius for some little while. Lift both hands on high.

  In the divine name I.A.O., I invoke thee, thou great and holy angel Hua. Lay thy hand invisibly upon my head in attestation of this my solemn aspiration to the light. Aid and guard me I beseech thee, and confirm me in this path of truth and rectitude, for the glory of the ineffable name.

  Lower arms, and quietly utter:

  Unto Thee, sole wise, sole eternal, and sole merciful one, be the praise and glory forever, who bath permitted me, who now standeth humbly before Thee, to enter thus far into the sanctuary of Thy mystery. Not unto me, Adonai, but unto Thy name be the glory. Let the influence of Thy divine ones descend upon my head, and teach me the value of self-sacrifice so that I shrink not in the hour of trial, but that thus my name may be written on high and my genius stand in the presence of the holy one, in that hour when the Son of Man is invoked before the lord of spirits and his name before the ancient of days.

  Formulate the pillars, and make 2° = 9 sign between them.

  Let us adore the lord and king of air.

  Go forward to air tablet. Make active and passive spirit pentagrams, and invoking air pentagram with Aquarius.

  And the Elohim said, “Let us make Adam in our own image, after our likeness, and let them have dominion over the fowl of the air.” In the name YHVH and in the name Shaddai El Chai, spirits of air, adore your creator!

  Make the Aquarius Kerub before tablet with air dagger.

  In the sign of the head of the man, and by the name of Raphael, great archangel of air, spirits of air, adore your creator.

  Make cross with rose or the censer.

  In the names and letters of the great eastern quadrangle, spirits of air, adore your creator.

  Hold lotus wand on high.

  In the three great secret holy names of God borne upon the Banner of the East, Oro Ibah Aozpi, spirits of air, adore your creator.

  Trace whorl in front of air tablet with lotus wand.

  In the name of Bataivah, great king of the east, spirits of air, adore your creator.

  Still facing east, vibrate powerfully the third Enochian
key, invoking the line Exarp from the Tablet of Union. Then formulate an astral Banner of the East about one.

  In the name of Shaddai El Chai, and in the name of YHVH, I command ye, ye dwellers in the realms of air, that ye fashion for me a powerful magical base in the Astral Light whereon I may build a true body of transformation.

  Perform the Supreme Invoking Ritual of the Luna Hexagram, precede with Qabalistic cross, closing with keyword. Return to altar, face east, and say:

  Crowned with starlight, and clothed with the sun, I invoke thee who art the ultimate root of all things, for thy righteousness and love are the foundations of the universe. Look upon me as I perform this ceremony, and, I beseech thee, let a ray of thy power descend here and now to awaken within my soul that power which shall prove a true channel for the working of the divine strength. May this ceremony to form a body of transformation of the holy goddess Isis enable me to progress in the Great Work, clarifying my spiritual vision, and illuminating me so that I may be the better able to help my fellow men.

  Draw the name Shaddai El Chai and sigil in heart, while facing east, and vibrate it several times by the vibratory formula of the Middle Pillar. Then trace sigil and Hebrew letters of the name in the air with the lotus wand.

  Grant unto me the presence, I beseech thee, of thy great archangel of the sphere of Yesod, that he may aid me at this time, even Gabriel, the archangel of strength and power.

  Draw the invoking hexagram of Luna and in it the sigil and letters of Gabriel. Vibrate it similarly several times.

  O ye mighty ones of the sphere of Yesod, I invoke ye by the mighty name of Shaddai El Chai, whose seat and throne ye are, and by the name of Gabriel, your archangel. Come unto me now, and let the magical force of Yesod flow through me so that I may accomplish this work of transformation.