Magical States of Consciousness: Pathworking on the Tree of Life - Melita Denning 1985

Magical Images and Sephirothic Rites

The material in this chapter is for use in balancing or resolution workings according to the principles set forth in Chapter 8. This material comprises:

(1) descriptions of nine sephirothic magical images which are to be visualized in those workings, and

(2) simple rites of Yesod, Hod, Netzach, Tiphareth, Binah, and Malkuth, designed to follow Selective Pathworkings, for the balancing or resolution of forces.

Magical Image 1

(Yesod, approached by the 32nd Path)

Visualize before you a clean shaven young man, with longish dark hair. A crescent moon, quite slender, is in his hair: the crescent is open towards the left, slightly tilted, and much light radiates from it. About his neck as a living necklace is a light-colored serpent, tail in mouth. Otherwise the figure is nude, with erect penis. You perceive in this figure great comeliness, but also powerful strength and stability. The bare feet of the eidolon stand upon a cube of translucent quartz, within which, at its center, is seen a dark serpent, coiled but beginning to rise up. The left hand of the image is placed as if to support the head, the right hand as if to encircle the waist, of the onlooker in a welcoming embrace.

Magical Image 2

(Hod, approached by the 31st Path)

Visualize before you a delicate male figure, graceful with a suggestion of effeminacy. The hair is short and dark, bound with a fillet. Great sweeping wings, each with countercharged black and white plumage, spring from the shoulders. The image has both hands upraised, the left hand higher than the right: water is flowing down from the palm of the left hand, flame is rising up from the, palm of the right. The figure wears a breechclout, half black and half white divided vertically, supported by a belt of alternated octagons and eight-petaled flowers. The winged sandals of Hermes are on his feet.

Magical Image 3

(Hod, approached by the 30th Path)

Visualize before you a delicate male figure, graceful with a suggestion of effeminacy. The hair is short and dark, and, springing from the temples, there are small wings with black and white plumage. The eidolon wears a long robe, girt at the waist by a belt of alternating octagons and eight-petaled flowers. The robe is black on the figure’s right side, white on its left side, the line of division of the colors being straight down the mid-line. Upon the breast is a starlike jewel of eight rays. The arms of the image are raised with the upper arms horizontal, the elbows out from the shoulders but slightly forward. The forearms are raised at about 45°, the palms facing forward and vertical but not rigidly so. The fingers are slightly spread. The bare feet of the eidolon rest upon a sphere, from which two great wings with black and white countercharged plumage rise to frame the figure. You should feel that you are seeing this figure as it flies forward in space.

Magical Image 4

(Netzach, approached by the 29th Path)

Visualize before you a female form with long, dark hair flowing loose over her shoulders. The image wears a richly jeweled girdle of emeralds, pearls and six-petaled flowers: otherwise, her voluptuous figure is nude. Her feet are bare, and she stands with her left foot on the back of a lion, her right foot on the back of a lioness. With her two hands the eidolon supports her full breasts, as offering them to nourish and sustain all beings.

Magical Image 5

(Netzach, approached by the 28th Path)

Visualize before you a female form, voluptuous, splendid and dignified, with great radiance. There is a suggestion of the oriental in her appearance. Dark unbound hair flows loose beneath a star crown, a crown richly wrought with tier upon tier of rays of irregular length, denoting her starry origin. Around her throat, closely fitting, is a necklace of bright stones. A further necklace, hanging lower than the first, terminates in a star-like jewel which hangs just at the separation of her breasts. A diaphanous robe, open in front and having wide three-quarter length sleeves, is her only garment. This robe has jeweled and embroidered borders on the sleeves and at the lower edge. Around her waist, under the robe, is a richly jeweled girdle of emeralds, pearls and six-petaled flowers. She wears a similarly rich bracelet on each wrist and ankle. In her right hand she holds a slender wand with a globe at the base and a starburst at the tip.

Magical Image 6

(Netzach, approached by the 27th Path)

Visualize before you a female form, voluptuous but of great dignity. Upon her fair hair, which is dressed in Greek style, is a diadem of roses. About her neck is a seven-strand necklace of pearls, the lowest strand having a central pearl larger than all the others hanging between her breasts. About her waist is a richly jeweled girdle of emeralds, pearls and six-petaled flowers. She wears no robe. In her upraised left hand she holds a slender flaming torch. Her right hand is extended downwards in a graceful gesture, seeming at first glance as if about to hide her genitals, but in fact indicating her vulva with the extended middle finger. Before her bare feet a pair of doves are copulating.

Magical Image 7

(Tiphareth, Harmonized perspective)

Visualize before you a strong male figure, seated on a curule throne which has bull heads at the terminals of the arm rests, and which has eagle claws at the ends of the legs. The throne is raised upon a circular dais of four steps. The image has golden hair, longish and waving, with a full beard of moderate length. On his head is a solar crown of twelve rays. He wears a golden cloak, open to show a white robe with long white sleeves. On the breast is a winged disc, Egyptian style, with a large zircon at the center of the disc. The robe is girt with a jeweled belt, ornamented with alternate hexagrams and hexagons, each hexagon being set with a central topaz. With his left hand, the eidolon grasps a thyrsus, a slender staff surmounted by a pine cone and entwined with a trail of vine leaves, bearing bunches of grapes. The foot of the staff rests beside the base of the throne. With his right hand the figure holds a dagger, vertically, its point being plunged into the bull-head on the right arm rest. His feet are sandaled. To his right, rising up across the four steps, a serpent with open jaws looks towards the impaled bull-head.

Magical Image 8

(Binah, harmonized planetary perspective)

Visualize before you a heroic male figure with dark beard and shoulder-length hair. Upon his brow is a threefold burst of splendor, emitting rays of dazzling light. He is seated on a severely shaped, high-backed throne of onyx, a lustrous black stone with bands of white. The throne stands on a rocky eminence, as on a mountain top. The eidolon wears a draped garment, dusky in color with highlights of gold: it covers the lower part of his body to the ankles and passes over one shoulder, leaving his arms and part of his chest bare. On his arms are heavy barbaric bracelets of gold: his feet are bare. With his right hand and arm he holds the staff of a large scythe, the heel of the blade resting on the rock near his feet. In the palm of his upraised left hand he holds a large faceted diamond, which emits a dazzling radiance. An ivy plant grows up from the supporting rock, partly covering the right side of the throne.

Magical Image 9

(Malkuth, harmonized perspective)

Visualize before you the slender figure of a young maiden. Her hair is the color of corn, and flows loose under a garland of black blossoms. About her head is a large bright nimbus in which prismatic colors shimmer in concentric bands. Her eyes gaze frankly and directly before her. She wears a white opague garment, ungirded and shaped poncho style, large enough to cover her to feet and wrists in its ample draping. Her right arm is raised horizontally so that it, and the hanging folds of the garment which covers it, conceal her features below the level of the eyes: the palm of her right hand is open and is turned towards us. This same gesture, however, brings the right side of her body into relief under the fabric: its lines suggest a beautiful girlish form, immature but gracefully curved. She stands amid growing barley mingled with poppies. Amid this earthly vegetation grows a single strange flower, a ten-petaled double rose having five white petals and five black ones. Above this flower her left hand is extended, palm downwards, drawing a spiral column of flame up vertically from the rose to her hand.

Rite of Yesod

for Balancing or Resolution

After the conclusion of the Pathworking, the altar shall be covered with a violet drape. Upon the altar shall be placed the Tessera (or other chosen symbol) and either nine violet lamps or a single white lamp.

Incense should be a general compound, suitable to the Sphere of working. The following recipe is recommended; orris, galbanum, bay leaves, oil of jasmine, oil of camphor.

All being in readiness, the companions stand equally spaced in a circle about, and facing, the altar; the director stationed east of the altar.¹³

1. The director sounds the battery: a single stroke of bell or of gavel.

2. The director intones:

I PROCLAIM A WORKING IN THE SPHERE OF YESOD, INVOKING THE SPIRITUAL POWER OF THE FOUNDATION.

3. The director sounds the battery of the Sphere: 3-3-3.

4. Incense is strewn upon the coals, and the director proceeds to the west of the altar and faces east across it. Raising his right hand, he salutes the east, then declaims:

O MIGHTY SHADDAI EL CHAI, TO WHOM BELONG FOUNDATION AND THE INVISIBLE PLAN OF THE VISIBLE, GRANT US TO EXPERIENCE THE WONDERS OF THY SPHERE, THAT THY POWER MAY BE MADE MANIFEST WITHIN US.

5. The director resumes his station east of the altar. All link hands, right over left, and circle the altar nine times deosil.

6. Standing in their original positions, all together recite:

STRONG AND LUMINOUS LORD OF THE WORLD OF OUR DREAMS, HAIL TO THEE! BECKONING HAND THAT LIFTS US FROM EARTHLY BONDS, SHINING BROW THAT WINS US TO MAGICAL LIGHT, HAIL TO THEE!

7. All now face east, and visualize in that quarter the appropriate Magical Image of the Sphere of this working, as explained in Chapter 8. If desired, the director may read aloud the description of the Image to assist visualization.

8. When the Image has been powerfully envisioned, the director vibrates the divine name SHADDAI EL CHAI to invoke the energy of the god-force into the visualized image. He utters the divine name nine times, the others joining with him aloud after the first utterance.

9. All now sit, and meditate for some while upon the invoked force, reflecting upon whatever impressions rise into consciousness.

10. When the director deems it appropriate, he rises and all rise with him. All face east, and together utter the thanksgiving:

O SHADDAI EL CHAI, WE THY CHILDREN THANK THEE FOR THE MAGICK OF THY GLORIOUS PRESENCE ARISING WITHIN US. GRANT US, O MIGHTY ONE, THAT THY BLESSING MAY REMAIN WITH US WHEN WE GO FORTH FROM THIS PLACE TO DO OUR WILL IN THE WORLD.

11. All face center. The director concludes the working with the battery: 3-5-3.

Rite of Hod

for Balancing or Resolution

After the conclusion of the Pathworking, the altar shall be covered with an orange drape. Upon the altar shall be placed the Tessera (or other chosen symbol) and either eight orange lamps or a single white lamp.

Incense should be a general compound, suitable to the Sphere of working. The following recipe is recommended: lavenderflowers, yellow sandalwood mastic, oil oflavender, oil of spikenard.

All being in readiness, the companions stand equally spaced in a circle about, and facing, the altar; the director stationed east of the altar.

1. The director sounds the battery: a single stroke of bell or of gavel.

2. The director intones:

I PROCLAIM A WORKING IN THE SPHERE OF HOD, INVOKING THE SPIRITUAL POWER OF SPLENDOR.

3. The director sounds the battery of the Sphere: 2-4-2.

4. Incense is strewn upon the coals, and the director proceeds to the west of the altar and faces east across it. Raising his right hand, he salutes the east, then declaims:

O SWIFT-WINGED ELOHIM TZABAOTH, TO WHOM BELONG SPLENDOR AND THE CONCRETION OF MIND, GRANT US TO EXPERIENCE THE WONDERS OF THY SPHERE, THAT THY POWER MAY BE MADE MANIFEST WITHIN US.

5. The director resumes his station east of the altar. All link hands, right over left, and circle the altar eight times deosil.

6. Standing in their original positions, all together recite:

HAIL TO THEE, DIVINE BEARER OF HIGH INSPIRATION AND OF THE KNOWLEDGE WHICH BRINGS RENEWAL! BRIGHT ARE THE WINGS OF THY SPLENDOR, SWIFT IS THINE APPROACH. HAIL TO THEE!

8. When the Image has been powerfully envisioned, the director vibrates the divine name ELOHIM TZABAOTH to invoke the energy of the god-force into the visualized image. He utters the divine name eight times, the others joining with him aloud after the first utterance.

9. All now sit, and meditate for some while upon the invoked force, reflecting upon whatever impressions rise into consciousness.

10. When the director deems it appropriate, he rises and all rise with him. All face east, and together utter the thanksgiving:

O ELOHIM TZABAOTH, WE THY CHILDREN THANK THEE FOR THE MAGICK OF THY GLORIOUS PRESENCE ARISING WITHIN US. GRANT US, O SWIFT-WINGED ONE, THAT THY BLESSING MAY REMAIN WITH US WHEN WE GO FORTH FROM THIS PLACE TO DO OUR WILL IN THE WORLD.

11. All face center. The director concludes the working with the battery: 3-5-3.

Rite of Netzach

for Balancing or Resolution

After the conclusion of the Pathworking, the altar shall be covered with a green drape. Upon the altar shall be placed the Tessera (or other chosen symbol) and either seven green lamps or a single white lamp.

Incense should be a general compound, suitable to the Sphere of working. The following recipe is recommended: red rose buds, benzoin, lemon verbena, red storax, red sandalwood, oil of rose.

All being in readiness, the companions stand equally spaced in a circle about, and facing, the altar: the director stationed east of the altar.

1. The director sounds the battery: a single stroke of bell or of gavel.

2. The director intones:

I PROCLAIM A WORKING IN THE SPHERE OF NETZACH, INVOKING THE SPIRITUAL POWER OF VICTORY.

3. The director sounds the battery of the Sphere: 2-3-2.

4. Incense is strewn upon the coals, and the director proceeds to the west of the altar and faces east across it. Raising his right hand, he salutes the east, then declaims:

O MYSTICAL YAHVEH TZABAOTH, TO WHOM BELONG VICTORY AND THE LIFE FORCE TRIUMPHANT, GRANT US TO EXPERIENCE THE WONDERS OF THY SPHERE, THAT THY POWER MAY BE MADE MANIFEST WITHIN US.

5. The director resumes his station east of the altar. All link hands, right over left, and circle the altar seven times deosil.

6. Standing in their original positions, all together recite:

HAIL TO THEE, QUEEN OF LOVE AND OF BEAUTY!—THE TORCH OF THY VICTORY BRINGS LIFE AND JOY TO ALL BEINGS. WITH THEE IS PEACE, FOR IN THY GOVERNANCE ALL OPPOSITES FIND THEIR HARMONY. HAIL TO THEE!

8. When the Image has been powerfully envisioned, the director vibrates the divine name YAHVEH TZABAOTH to invoke the energy of the god-force into the visualized image. He utters the divine name seven times, the others joining with him aloud after the first utterance.

9. All now sit, and meditate for some while upon the invoked force, reflecting upon whatever impressions rise into consciousness.

10. When the director deems it appropriate, he rises and all rise with him. All face east, and together utter the thanksgiving:

O YAHVEH TZABAOTH, WE THY CHILDREN THANK THEE FOR THE MAGICK OF THY GLORIOUS PRESENCE ARISING WITHIN US. GRANT US, O MYSTICAL ONE, THAT THY BLESSING MAY REMAIN WITH US WHEN WE GO FORTH FROM THIS PLACE TO DO OUR WILL IN THE WORLD.

11. All face center. The director concludes the working with the battery: 3-5-3.

Rite of Tiphareth

for Balancing or Resolution

After the conclusion of the Pathworking, the altar shall be covered with a yellow drape. Upon the altar shall be placed the Tessera (or other chosen symbol) and either seven yellow lamps or a single white lamp.

Incense should be a general compound, suitable to the Sphere of working. The following recipe is recommended: cinnamon, olibanum, yellow rose buds, oil of heliotrope.

All being in readiness, the companions stand equally spaced in a circle about, and facing, the altar: the director stationed east of the altar.

1. The director sounds the battery: a single stroke of bell or of gavel.

2. The director intones:

I PROCLAIM A WORKING IN THE SPHERE OF TIPHARETH, INVOKING THE SPIRITUAL POWER OF BEAUTY.

3. The director sounds the battery of the Sphere: 2-1-1-2.

4. Incense is strewn upon the coals, and then the director proceeds to the west of the altar and faces east across it. Raising his right hand, he salutes the east, then declaims:

O RADIANT YAHVEH ELOAH V’DAATIL TO WHOM BELONG BEAUTY AND EQUILIBRIUM, GRANT US TO EXPERIENCE THE. WONDERS OF THY SPHERE, THAT THY POWER MAY BE MADE MANIFEST WITHIN US.

5. The director resumes his station east of the altar. All link hands, right over left, and circle the altar six times deosil.

6. Standing in their original positions, all together recite:

LORD OF OUR LIFE AND RULER OF OUR DAYS, HAIL TO THEE! THINE IS THE POWER TO LEAD US THROUGH FOLLY TO WISDOM, THROUGH DEATH TO REBIRTH, THROUGH THY LIGHT TO THY HIDDEN LIGHT. HAIL TO THEE!

8. When the Image has been powerfully envisioned, the director vibrates the divine name YAHVEH ELOAH V’DAATH to invoke the energy of the god-force into the visualized image. He utters the divine name six times, the others joining with him aloud after the first utterance.

9. All now sit, and meditate for some while upon the invoked force, reflecting upon whatever impressions rise into consciousness.

10. When the director deems it appropriate, he rises and all rise with him. All face east, and together utter the thanksgiving:

O YAHVEH ELOAH V’DAATH, WE THY CHILDREN THANK THEE FOR THE MAGICK OF THY GLORIOUS PRESENCE ARISING WITHIN US. GRANT US, O RADIANT ONE, THAT THY BLESSING MAY REMAIN WITH US WHEN WE GO FORTH FROM THIS PLACE TO DO OUR WILL IN THE WORLD.

11. All face center. The director concludes the working with the battery: 3-5-3.

Rite of Binah

for Balancing

After the conclusion of the Pathworking, the altar shall be covered with an indigo drape. Upon the altar shall be placed the Tessera (or other chosen symbol) and either three smoked-glass lamps or a single white lamp.

Incense should be a general compound, suitable to the Sphere of working. The following recipe is recommended: myrhh, violet leaves, lignum vitae, oil of violet.

All being in readiness, the companions stand equally spaced in a circle about, and facing, the altar; the director stationed east of the altar.

1. The director sounds the battery: a single stroke of bell or of gavel.

2. The director intones:

I PROCLAIM A WORKING IN THE SPHERE OF BINAH, INVOKING THE SPIRITUAL POWER OF UNDERSTANDING THROUGH THE PLANETARY REALM OF SATURN.

3. The director sounds the battery of the Sphere: 1-1-1.

4. Incense is strewn upon the coals, and the director proceeds to the west of the altar and faces east across it. Raising his right hand, he salutes the east, then declaims:

O DIVINE YAHVEH ELOHIM, TO WHOM BELONG UNDERSTANDING AND THE LIGHT SUPERNAL, GRANT US TO EXPERIENCE THE WONDERS OF THY SPHERE, THAT THY POWER MAY BE MADE MANIFEST WITHIN US.

5. The director resumes his station east of the altar. All link hands, right over left, and circle the altar three times deosil.

6. Standing in their original positions, all together recite:

HAIL TO THEE, RULER OF THE MYSTERY OF TIME! BEHIND THEE RAGE UNSEEN THE FORMLESS FORCES OF ETERNITY. WE STAND BENEATH THY AUSTERE AND MIGHTY POWER, BUT ALSO BENEATH THE STRONG HAND OF THY PROTECTION. HAIL TO THEE!

8. When the Image has been powerfully envisioned, the director vibrates the divine name YAHVEH ELOHIM to invoke the energy of the god-force into the visualized image. He utters the divine name three times, the others joining with him aloud after the first utterance.

9. All now sit, and meditate for some while upon the invoked force, reflecting upon whatever impressions rise into consciousness.

10. When the director deems it appropriate, he rises and all rise with him. All face east, and together utter the thanksgiving:

O YAHVEH ELOHIM, WE THY CHILDREN THANK THEE FOR THE MAGICK OF THY GLORIOUS PRESENCE ARISING WITHIN US. GRANT US, O DIVINE ONE, THAT THY BLESSING MAY REMAIN WITH US WHEN WE GO FORTH FROM THIS PLACE TO DO OUR WILL IN THE WORLD.

11. All face center. The director concludes the working with the battery: 3-5-3.

Rite of Malkuth

for Balancing

After the conclusion of the Pathworking, the altar shall be covered with a white drape. Upon the altar shall be placed the Tessera (or other chosen symbol) and either ten white lamps or a single white lamp.

Incense should be a general compound, suitable to the Sphere of working. The following recipe is recommended; dittany, cherry wood, gum arabic, oil of geranium.

All being in readiness, the companions stand equally spaced in a circle about, and facing, the altar; the director stationed east of the altar.

1. The director sounds the battery: a single stroke of bell or of gavel.

2. The director intones:

I PROCLAIM A WORKING IN THE SPHERE OF MALKUTH, INVOKING THE SPIRITUAL POWER OF THE KINGDOM.

3. The director sounds the battery of the Sphere: 3-4-3.

4. Incense is strewn upon the coals, and the director proceeds to the west of the altar and faces east across it. Raising his right hand, he salutes the east, then declaims:

O BEAUTEOUS ADONAI MELEK, TO WHOM BELONG THE KINGDOM AND THE VISION OF HOLINESS, GRANT US TO EXPERIENCE THE WONDERS OF THY SPHERE, THAT THY POWER MAY BE MADE MANIFEST WITHIN US.

5. The director resumes his station east of the altar. All link hands, right over left, and circle the altar ten times deosil.

6. Standing in their original positions, all together recite:

O MAIDEN SOUL OF THE EARTH, HAIL TO THEE! O MAIDEN LIFE OF OUR LIFE, HAIL TO THEE! LOVABLE BEAUTY, POWER RE-VERED, INNOCENCE THAT WE CANNOT LOOK UPON, HAIL TO THEE!

8. When the Image has been powerfully envisioned, the director vibrates the divine name ADONAI HA-ARETZ to invoke the energy of the god-force into the visualized image. He utters the divine name ten times, the others joining with him aloud after the first utterance.

9. All now sit, and meditate for some while upon the invoked force, reflecting upon whatever impressions rise into consciousness.

10. When the director deems it appropriate, he rises and all rise with him. All face east, and together utter the thanksgiving:

O ADONAI MELEK, ADONAI HA-ARETZ, WE THY CHILDREN THANK THEE FOR THE MAGICK OF THY GLORIOUS PRE-SENCE ARISING WITHIN US. GRANT US, O BEAUTEOUS ONE, THAT THY BLESSING MAY REMAIN WITH US WHEN WE GO FORTH FROM THIS PLACE TO DO OUR WILL IN THE WORLD.

11. All face center. The director concludes the working with the battery: 3-5-3.

13. When these balancing and resolution workings are performed by an individual operator, all is conducted as above save that he or she takes the place of the director. The plural forms in the texts should be preserved, since the individual is never truly alone in these workings.