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Introduction
The following represents one method of attaining Knowledge and
Conversation of the Holy Guardian Angel. It may be incorporated
into the traditional Abramelin Operation, or it may be practised
as a method in its own right. The present author chose to do the
latter: it is thus theoretically possible to attain KCHGA without
undertaking the austerities required by the Abramelin operation,
though it will take somewhat longer (e.g. several years, as
opposed to just 6 months).
The method is based on the fact that, according to "777" the
Spiritual Experience of Malkuth is "the Vision of the Holy
Guardian Angel". Now it so happens that once, I was reading
Aleister Crowley's "Confessions", in which he tells of one
conversation he had with his Golden Dawn mentor, Allan Bennett.
Crowley happened to mention that he had heard that there was a
particular method of vibrating the name of "Adonai Ha-Aretz"
(hebrew - "Lord of the Earth") which summoned the Holy Guardian
Angel: however, apart from this brief reference, he never said if
Bennett actually told him - and if so, Crowley never to my
knowledge said what it was. "Adonai Ha-Aretz", of course, happens
to be the Grand-name of Malkuth.
It therefore occurred to me that this method of vibration to which
Crowley referred was in fact the very method of achieving the
Spiritual Experience of Malkuth. But what was it? Not knowing, I
just filed the matter in the back of my mind for the time-being
and concentrated on other things.
Some time later, and one night I was in the middle of a Lucid
Dream. It is my practise to use Lucid Dreams to perform my morning
rituals: the Middle Pillar Ritual, the Invoking Pentagram and
Hexagram Rituals. I started the Middle Pillar Ritual ... and quite
spontaneously discovered THE METHOD, which I describe below. I was
so surprised this first time that unfortunately I woke up, and had
to do my Rituals waking.
How do I know that my experience was genuine? Firstly, it was
exactly what Crowley suggested it might be: a method of vibrating
"Adonai Ha-Aretz". Secondly, it has the precedence of being
essentially an authentic Golden Dawn magickal technique - it just
so happens this particular form of it is not in fact mentioned
anywhere in the literature of the Golden Dawn.
But thirdly and most importantly, when I first performed it, I
experienced a sudden and overpowering burst of energy, which was
exactly like the way the "Kundalini" phenomenon is described. I
had been practising Yoga for a long time before this, and had from
time to time experienced momentary samadhi, so I was able to
recognise the manifestation of Kundalini, which is its by-product.
I had also suspected that KCHGA was in fact a kind of Samadhi
itself. Up til that moment this had been purely speculation: yet
here I was, experiencing something which tended to prove my
previously held view.
Moreover, I tried repeating the same procedure in subsequent Lucid
Dreams, and I experienced like results. I even tried doing it
whilst awake and Astrally Projecting: again, similar results. I
should point out that as I became more used to this, I was able
treat the kundalini-like phenomenon with equanimity, so I could
thus maintain my Lucid Dream or Astral Projection state
afterwards. This is very important, because it allows one to
develop what start off as one-off visions into actual Knowledge
and Conversation of the Holy Guardian Angel.
One final word, before I get down to the juicy details: it is
possible that this Method is not exactly what Crowley or Bennett
had in mind when the former wrote "Confessions". However even if
it is not "The" method it is certainly "a" method - and it has the
benefit of having the most trustworthy provenance imaginable - IT
WORKS.
THE METHOD
Step 1. First learn the art of Lucid Dreaming.
This is probably the most important point. I had developed this
faculty over a period of four or five years before I first Invoked
my HGA. I go into more detail about Lucid Dreaming in my essay of
the same name.
Step 2. Follow the curriculum of "The Golden Dawn", until you are
an Adeptus Minor.
This may or may not be significant - I mention it because it is
what I did, so perhaps there is a link between the fact of my
success and my particular Magical path. Perhaps the link in
question is The Etheric Link itself! I would certainly not rule it
out.
Step 3. Learn how to Project Astrally.
Again, this may or may not be significant - but it is certainly
highly useful to not be limited to performing this method in your
sleep. Of course, if you are following the curriculum of the
Golden Dawn, as I said you should in step 2, you should have
learnt or should be learning to project Astrally anyway.
Step 4. Study, and meditate on, the following Egyptian God-forms:
Horus the Elder, and Harpocrates.
Unlike steps 2 and 3, this is really essential to the success of
the method. It is helpful to draw pictures, in full colour, of
these God-forms as they are described in the Golden Dawn Z-1
documents. It is vitally important to be able to accurately
visualise both of them at Will. Practise Assuming these God-forms.
You should realise also the connection of these two God-forms to
the Neophyte Signs of the Enterer and of Silence.
Step 5. Learn, and physically practise, the "Vibratory Formula of
the Middle Pillar": also "The Middle Pillar Ritual"
Essential. These must be like second-nature.
Step 6. The Nitty-Gritty:
(a) Induce a Lucid Dream. Or Project Astrally. In any event your
awareness should be completely in your astral body and unconscious
of your physical body. This is Important.
(b) The rest of the instructions in this step are like the
Vibratory Formula of the Middle Pillar, but with important
modifications: begin by holding your arms straight up, and firmly
visualising Kether above your head as a sphere of incandescent
power.
(c) Now do three things simultaneously: breathe in; imagine that
the name "Adonai Ha-Aretz" is in fact a _Force_; smoothly lower
your arms in time with your breath into a tau-position, whilst
firmly Willing this Force to descend from Kether into Tiphereth
i.e. your heart.
(d) Visualise an Angelic figure standing before you as you briefly
contemplate this Force ("Adonai Ha-Aretz") within your heart
(Tiphereth). Try to imagine that it is Tiphereth which is in fact
holding onto and controlling this Angel...
(e) Let the Force descend with the breath past Yesod to Malkuth,
immediately below your feet. Imagine the name "Adonai Ha-Aretz" is
formulating in Malkuth. You should still be visualising the Angel
all the while...
(f) Take your hands to either side of your head, and Assume the
god-form of Horus the Elder. Actually, assuming a god-form whilst
in the Astral like this is a powerful experience in itself - it
can distract you from finishing this invocation. The solution is
practice, practice and more practice, so you are not taken by
surprise when it happens.
(g) Still as Horus the Elder, still visualising the Angel, allow
the Force to rise up from Malkuth to Tiphereth. Make the Sign of
the Enterer, whilst powerfully vibrating "Adonai Ha-Aretz" and
projecting the Force toward the Angelic figure.
(h) Assume the God-form of Harpocrates and make the Sign of
Silence (what I said about assuming God-forms in (f) applies here
as well.
Step 7. Blimey! What was that?!
If this is the first time you have attempted this method, you will
probably experience an overwhelming surge of energy, which whilst
Ecstatic, is so surprising that you end your Lucid dream or Astral
Projection prematurely. If this should happen, you should make the
best of your efforts: physically make the Sign of Silence, whilst
meditating upon Harpocrates; then record your results and try
again later, or the next day.
Step 8. Success?
If on the other hand you are now experienced in this method, you
should feel an ecstatic surge of energy, combined with emotions of
peace, cathartic release, etc etc, but it is not so surprising -
hence you are able to maintain your Lucid dream or Astral
projection state. Therefore you now have standing in front of you
an impressive Angel, who by rights should indeed be your own Holy
Guardian Angel. You should now do what you should always do when
meeting entities on the Astral Plane: test it by Signs and Names.
Theoretically, the Angel will make the sign of a Zelator, and say
it comes in the names of "Adonai Ha-Aretz", "Sandalphon", etc. If
something is not quite kosher, banish it straightaway with a
Pentagram - however, if you have followed the above steps
correctly, this is unlikely in the extreme.
Step 9. Name.
Now the Angel has tested right, and has confirmed it is your Holy
Guardian Angel, you should then ask it its name. This is very
interesting, because the name by which your Holy Guardian Angel
chooses to make itself known to you invariably contains an
allusion to what the main thrust of your Magickal work is going to
be. This could be by gematria; or it could be an actual word in
e.g. Hebrew, Enochian, or perhaps Greek or Coptic which is
significant by its literal meaning. Or if not by its literal
meaning, then by some other association. Furthermore, a simple way
of meditating is to call to mind your Holy Guardian Angel and
repeat its name as a mantra - this can often be effective in its
own right.
Step 10. Further work
Once you have found that this method works, you can use it to
deepen your relationship with your Holy Guardian Angel, and
thereby at length attain KCHGA. Here are my recommended tips:
(a) Remember that in the Abramelin Operation after meeting your
HGA the next step is to confront all the demons of hell.
Similarly, in the Adept's obligation in the Golden Dawn, it is not
enough to contact your Higher Genius - you have to expel the
Qlippoth from the Nephesh into the Evil Persona. Now it so happens
that in my experience, after one has invoked the HGA, you will be
forced to confront demons of one sort or another WHETHER YOU LIKE
IT OR NOT. This can be unnerving at first, but the solution is
simple: continue to invoke your HGA with even more fervour. And,
of course, remember the various methods of magickal protection:
Lesser Banishing Ritual of the Pentagram, Assumption of
Harpocrates, Sign of Silence, Banner of the West, the name AGLA,
etc etc.
(b) Whenever you meet an astral entity, firmly demand that it
recognises the power and authority of your HGA. If it refuses, it
is good for one thing: Banishing.
(c) It is always advisable to invoke your HGA by this method
immediately before you are likely to meet an astral entity anyway.
(d) In Rituals based on the Z-2 formulae, your Holy Guardian Angel
should be included with the Names and Powers you use. I like to
put it at the head of orations to the various God-names, Angels,
Spirits, etc.
(e) Of course, this Method can also be incorporated into the
"Invocation of the Higher" part of the ceremony.
(f) Your Holy Guardian Angel can be consulted from time to time
for specific advice.
(g) It is wise to invoke your Holy Guardian Angel before
performing any Magickal act, ceremony or otherwise, unless of
course invoking your HGA is part of the act itself. Still, it
doesn't hurt...
(h) The significance of the HGA may be further discerned from how
it is treated in occult literature - see bibliography.
(i) Finally, the very process of invoking your HGA is of benefit
in its own right.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
The Book of the Sacred Magick of Abramelin the Mage - (trans.)
Macgregor Mathers;
Magick In Theory and Practice;
777;
Confessions - all by Aleister Crowley;
The Mystical Qabalah - Dion Fortune;
The Golden Dawn - Israel Regardie. |
