For the Love of the Gods: The History and Modern Practice of Theurgy - Brandy Williams 2016

Theurgic Ritual Workbook
The Living Tradition

This chapter contains rituals to accomplish the theurgic operations:

· • Evoke deity into statue

· • Invoke deity into another

· • Invoke deity into yourself

· • Meeting with your own daimon

· • Rising through the worlds

MEDITATION TO CLEAR THOUGHT

This meditation can be performed at any time on its own, or as the first step in any of the rituals in this chapter.

Stand, sit, or lie down. Take a deep breath and exhale completely. Pay attention to your breathing. You can count your breaths; you can focus on the breath as it enters and leaves your nostrils; you can notice your breath moving deep into your abdomen. The important thing is to work to empty your mind of thought. If a thought arises and brings you away from noticing your breath, let it go and return to watching your breath.

If you want, you can time this activity. Set a timer for five minutes, adding time in ten-minute increments, up to half an hour, then an hour. You could also count breaths up to a certain number.

RITUAL OF HONORING THE ANCESTORS

There is no definitive or authoritative list of Neo-Platonic teachers, saints, or ancestors. Each of us is free to create our own list of teachers, adding those who speak to us. The ritual below is an example of a rite to honor our teachers; each theurgist will modify this with our own choices, invocations, and offerings.

The teachers we turn to for understanding theurgic theology are Iamblichus, Asklepigenia, and Proklos. While we do not have any writings bearing Asklepigenia’s name, we may see her teachings in the writings of Proklos. In the context of invocation, we should remember that it was Asklepigenia who taught theurgic ritual to Proklos. It is appropriate to begin theurgic practice with an invocation to these teachers to guide us. As the ancients did, it is also helpful to invoke the spirit of memory, Mnemosyne, to start the ritual.

Create the Altar

We may set aside a small shelf or table for representations of the teachers. This could be an artist’s depiction of the teacher, a photograph of an ancient bust, or an object that represents the teacher for you, such as a flower, a stone, or a book. In a more modern vein, a theurgist working today can pull up an image of a teacher and keep it as wallpaper on a computer, tablet, or phone.

In addition to the Neo-Platonic teachers, we can add the names and images of personal teachers and our families to our ancestor altar as it feels appropriate.

We may also use a small table for offerings. The offerings may be as simple as a bit of incense, or as elaborate as a meal including water, wine, and food.

Light the Ancestor Candle

Light a white candle. Take a few deep breaths and clear your mind.

Speak the invocations. You may use any of these or create invocations of your own.

CALL TO THE ANCESTORS

I call on those who have come before me,

my living journey is done.

INVOCATION TO MNEMOSYNE

I invoke Mnemosyne, Memory, mother of the Muses.

Help me remember that I am divine.

HYMN TO IAMBLICHUS

Iamblichus Soter, save me!

Help me remember I am divine.

HYMN TO ASKLEPIGENIA

Asklepigenia Triumphant!

And leads me to my blessed home.

HYMN TO PROKLOS

Proklos, great teacher,

The way of the Pagan, the way of the gods.

SPEAKING THE NAMES

The people of Kemet recited names to keep the spirit

of the individual alive. You may recite the names of the

teachers you wish to honor. Here are the names of

teachers we have learned about:

Ptahotep, Imhotep, Shepenupet, Amenirdis, Neitokrity, Ankhesneferibre, Irtyru, Orpheus, Pythagoras, Plato, Perictione, Diotima, Speusippus, Axiothea, Lasthenia, Aristotle, Ammonius, Plotinus, Gemina and Gemina, Amphiclea, Potamun, Amelius, Porphyry, Marcella, Sosipatra, Eustochius, Julian the Theurgist and Julian the Chaldean, Eustathius, Aedesius, Maximus, Philometer, Julian the Emperor, Sallustius, Hypatia, Synesius, Theon, Iamblichus, Olympiodoros, Ulpian, Proklos, Asklepigenia, Plutarch, Syrianus, Archiadas, Aedesia, Heliodorus, Ammonius, Marinus, Isidore, Hegias, Proklos, Damascius, Simplicius, Boethius, Jabir ibn Hayyan, Idris, Solomon ben Judah Ibn Gabirol, Psellos, John Italos, Plethon, John Argyropoulos, Cosimo de Medici, Marsilio Ficino, Pico della Mirandola, Anne Conway, Mary Morton, Tullia d’Aragona, Thomas Taylor, Helena Petrovna Blavatsky, Henry Steel Olcott, Annie Besant, George Robert Stowe Mead, Samuel Liddell MacGregor Mathers, William Westcott, Moina Mathers, Florence Farr, Israel Regardie, Aleister Crowley, Gerald Gardner, Doreen Valiente, Deborah Ann Light, Richard Reidy.

Offering and Petition

When we have finished the invocations, we may make any offerings we have prepared. We may also speak or think any petition we have specifically in mind. Sit quietly, contemplating the candle, allowing the ancestors time to respond.

Conclusion

At the end of the rite, snuff the candle and dispose of any offerings. Make a record of the rite and record your impressions.

RITUAL OF THE THEURGIST

We may choose to begin the rite with honoring the ancestors, including the Invocation to Mnemosyne, Hymn to Iamblichus, Hymn to Asklepigenia, Hymn to Proklos, and speaking the names of the ancestors.

Set Up Altar

On a small table, set a candle. We may choose to add incense. The altar may be decorated with the symbola we have collected. We may also make a simple offering, such as water, milk, or wine, or a small amount of fresh food such as cheese, homemade bread, and fruit.

Dedication

Say:

I dedicate this practice to Hyparxis, Hekate, Nous, and to

my personal daimon who connects me with the ineffable.

I call on the chain of beings connecting the material to the Intelligible World and the Empyrean World. I call on the

gods and goddesses, the angels and daimones, the heroes

and teachers.

I call on the gods to guide me: Hera and Zeus, Athena and Poseidon, Demeter and Hermes, Aphrodite and Ares, Artemis and Apollo, Hestia and Hephaestus. I call on you that I may understand your true nature.

I call on the Iynges to bring me what I need to complete this task. I call on the Synoches to help me in my rites. I call on the Teletarches to guide me.

Pistis, Teletarch of the Material and Sensible World, fill me with the trust of theourigikes dynameos, the power of theurgy.

Aleitheia, Teletarch of the Intelligible World, fill me with the truth of divine philosophy, theias philosophias.

Eros, Teletarch of the Empyrean World of Forms, fill me with love, erotikes manias, so that I may experience the divine.

Working

At this point the theurgist may engage in any theurgic working.

Conclusion

When the rite is concluded, say:

I honor all the gods. I thank you for the gifts you have given me.

Close down the altar—blow out the candle, extinguish incense, dispose of offerings either by eating or donating to the birds. Record the working.

RITUAL OF DEVOTIONAL TO A DEITY

In this practice, we make a connection with a specific deity.

Choose Deity

In your journal, list the gods that you have worked with. What pantheon did they come from? Which do you continue to honor, which will remain in your past? Next, make a list of deities that you would like to understand better. Are there deities or cultures that call to you?

Next, choose one deity to offer a devotional. This may be a deity you consider your personal deity or one that you wish to establish a relationship with. You may decide to offer a devotional to one of the deities specific to theurgy, for example Hekate, Hermes, or Athena.

Create Altar

On the altar you have set aside for your contemplation and practice, set an image of your deity. It can be either a statue or a picture, but it should be an object that reflects the physical form of the deity. While substances like stones, herbs and other plants, candles, and other objects attract the power of the deity, they do not in themselves constitute a vessel for the deity. A statue is best, but a picture will do for this operation.

Conduct the Ritual of the Theurgist

Cast a circle, conduct a banishing ritual, do the Star Ruby, or perform the Ritual of the Theurgist to the Conduct Working section.

Read Names of Deities

As part of the rite, you may choose to read the names of all the deities in the pantheon you are working with. For example, for a rite of Hera, you might say, “I call on the Olympians: on Zeus and Hera, Aphrodite and Ares, Hermes and Demeter, Apollo and Artemis, Poseidon and Athena, Hestia and Hephaestus.”

Evoke the Deity

Next, evoke the deity. For example, after you have called on the Olympians, you can begin the specific evocation by saying “I call on Hera.”

Read Prayers and Hymns

If there is an ancient hymn or prayer your research has provided, you can use this. A web search will turn up other devotees of the deity—there are very, very few deities who have no other worshipers! It is also an offering to create your own prayer to evoke the deity.

Make Offering

Offer something physical to the deity. Incense is always appropriate. Each deity generally has preferences for offerings. For example, there are deities who wish to have animals or meat or blood, some deities ask for wine, and some require no blood offerings but instead ask for milk. Research into the preferences of your given deity is part of the devotional.

Once you have made your devotional, you can spend some time meditating in the presence of the deity. You may choose to end the rite with the meditation.

If you wish, this is also the moment to ask for what you need. Humans have been asking the gods/spirits for help, love, comfort, and peace throughout our history as a species. You can bring a problem to the deity, give it to the deity, and then release negative emotions around the problem, or you can ask for something to come into your life.

Once you have made the request, spend time with a quiet mind receptive to the responses of the deity. This response may come in the form of a vision, feeling, words spoken in your mind, or insight. The deity may not respond immediately, but you may then see the effects of the prayer in your life. The deity may also speak in a dream. All these are historically attested as well as experienced by contemporary practitioners.

Give Thanks

Most importantly, end the rite with a prayer of thanks to the deity for the gifts they bring to your life. If it is appropriate to the culture and deity, you may also consume the food offered to the deity.

Conclusion

Close the circle or banish, or perform the conclusion from Ritual of the Theurgist. Record the working.

Devotionals can be complicated and lengthy, or brief but effective. It is also possible to make an offering to more than one deity at the same time, for example in the morning, as part of a daily practice of theurgy.

1. 1. Create altar.

2. 2. Perform Ritual of the Theurgist to the Working section.

3. 3. Read names of deities (optional).

4. 4. Evoke deity.

5. 5. Read prayers and hymns.

6. 6. Make offering.

7. 7. Give thanks.

8. 8. Perform Conclusion from Ritual of the Theurgist.

RITUAL TO DISCOVER SYNTHEMA

Conduct the Ritual of the Theurgist

Cast a circle, conduct a banishing ritual, do the Star Ruby, or perform the Ritual of the Theurgist to the Working section.

Honor the Deity

Recite a prayer or hymn to the deity.

Invoke Iynges

Say:

Oh (deity name), reveal to me how you are revealed in the world. Iynges, wheels of the gods, bring to me the knowledge of the synthema of (insert deity name). Let me know the colors, stones, herbs, flowers, metals, sounds, incense,

and other substances appropriate for (deity name).

Meditate

Meditate, sitting quietly, letting your mind become quiet to receive the images or sounds or impressions brought by the Iynges. Keep a pad of paper nearby to record impressions as they arise, or dictate into a portable recorder.

Conclusion

When the impressions subside, turn your mind back to the earth. Thank the deity. Close the circle or banish, or perform the conclusion from Ritual of the Theurgist. Record the working.

Outline

1. 1. Perform Ritual of the Theurgist to the Conduct

Working section.

2. 2. Honor the deity.

3. 3. Invoke iynges.

4. 4. Meditate.

5. 5. Perform Conclusion from Ritual of the Theurgist.

RITUAL TO ANIMATE A STATUE

Conduct the Ritual of the Theurgist

Cast a circle, conduct a banishing ritual, do the Star Ruby, or perform the Ritual of the Theurgist to the Conduct Working section.

Purify and Consecrate the Statue

Sprinkle salt water on the statue and say, “I purify this with the waters of the sea.” Lift the censer and say, “I consecrate this with fire.”

If the synthema were not incorporated into the creation of the statue, add them now. Place clothing on the statue, or place objects in the base, or place synthema in a dish of water and brush water onto the statue. Say: “As like calls to like, so these synthema call (deity name) into this image.”

Honor the Deity

Recite a prayer or hymn to the deity.

Animate the Statue

Call the deity into the statue. Say: “I call on you, (deity name), to inhabit the body of this statue. Come to the house which has been prepared for you.” Use the tools you have created to open the eyes of the statue. Say, “I open your eyes that you may see.” Use the tools to open the mouth of the statue. Say, “I open your mouth that you may have sustenance.”

Make Offering

Make an offering to the deity of food, drink, incense, or whatever your research and work with the deity have revealed as appropriate.

Meditate

Meditate, sitting quietly, letting your mind become quiet to receive the images or sounds or impressions brought by the deity. Keep a pad of paper nearby to record impressions as they arise or dictate into a portable recorder.

Conclusion

Give thanks. If the deity is in a shrine, close the shrine. Take the offerings and consume or dispose of them. Record the working.

Outline

1. 1. Perform Ritual of the Theurgist to the Working section.

2. 2. Purify and consecrate the statue.

3. 3. Honor the deity.

4. 4. Animate the statue.

5. 5. Make offering.

6. 6. Meditate.

7. 7. Perform Conclusion from Ritual of the Theurgist.

RITUAL OF DAILY DEVOTIONAL

TO ANIMATED STATUE

Outline

1. 1. Perform Ritual of the Theurgist to the Working section

2. 2. Open the shrine.

3. 3. Honor the deity.

4. 4. Make offering.

5. 5. Meditate.

6. 6. Close the shrine.

7. 7. Perform Conclusion from Ritual of the Theurgist.

RITUAL TO CALL THE PERSONAL DAIMON

The ritual in this section is deceptively simple. The success of the ritual depends entirely on the preparation for it. To be able to hear our own daimon, we will need to be able to quiet the mind so the daimon can speak. Once we have established contact with our own daimon, the daimon can provide us with further instructions about how to work with the daimon, how to work with our personal deity, and how to rise through the worlds.

Outline

1. 1. Perform Ritual of the Theurgist to the Working section.

2. 2. Ask daimon to appear; ask daimon for name.

3. 3. Commune.

4. 4. Perform Conclusion from Ritual of the Theurgist.

RITUAL OF INVOKING

DEITY INTO ANOTHER

This ritual involves two people, one caller and one receiver. Both should purify themselves by bathing before the ritual.

As the ancients did, we may choose to invoke a deity into a candle flame, oil lamp, or bowl of water. We may also choose to invoke the deity directly into the body of our partner.

Invoking deity in the theurgic system is not simply a visualization practice or a metaphor; it is a genuine experience of the gods. As Golden Dawn writers warn, it leads to psychological as well as spiritual changes with physical manifestations. The theurgist will prepare for this operation by engaging in meditation and contemplation and will have spent substantial time in devotional to the deity, possibly including animating a statue of the deity.

Deities invoked in the ancient rituals include Hecate, Hermes, Eros, and Aion. Many other deities can be invoked in this way as well. Appropriate theurgic deities include Hermes, Hecate, and Athena. As with the operation of animating statues, any deity of the Kemetic, Greek, and Roman pantheons is appropriate, and other pantheons may be explored after some research.

Assumption of God form places emphasis on the position of the deity. Study images of the deity. What is their characteristic pose? Seshat provides an excellent example, depicted holding a stylus in one hand and a long narrow tablet in the other. Osiris folds his hands on his chest. Artemis holds a spear and shield, Poseidon holds a trident, Fortuna cradles a cornucopia, Hermes holds a caduceus, Mercury carries a purse.

Synthema

Synthema can be used in invocation as well as evocation. We may create or consecrate a piece of jewelry that will hold the force of the deity. It is helpful to begin with a stone or metal already associated with the deity; for example, the Sumerian goddess Inanna loves lapis lazuli, while blood-red stones such as garnet are appropriate to Ares and Mars.

We may also create a robe dedicated to the deity, in a color appropriate to the deity, even embroidered with the deity’s symbols. Just as we offer incense to living gods, essential oils carry the power of deity, and we may anoint your forehead and wrists with cedar for Inanna, rose for Venus, myrrh for Hathor. If using cinnamon oil for Mars or Ares, be careful—it burns!

Prepare Space

The primary ritualist may conduct the Ritual of the Theurgist. If an experienced group is working together, they may proceed with their own ritual space, such as the Witchcraft circle, the Lesser Banishing Ritual of the Pentagram, or any other ritual that is comfortable to the practitioners. The primary ritualist, who should be the caller, should include all participants in the purification and consecration.

Call Deity

The receiver takes the characteristic pose of the deity, imagining the force of the deity surrounding her. Again, women can assume male deity, men can assume female deity, people of all genders or physical attributes can assume any form of deity. The caller reads prayers and hymns to the deity, concluding by saying, “I call on you, (deity name), to enter your priest/priestess/vessel!”

The caller should always assume that the invocation has succeeded and proceed as if this is so, addressing the receiver by the name of the deity and asking the questions or conducting the rite at hand. Your sense of confidence transmits directly to the receiver.

Just as the caller does, the receiver should always assume that the invocation has succeeded and proceed as if this is so. For the receiver the depth of the experience varies tremendously, from “Did that really happen?” to woozy entrancement. The receiver may feel a prickling at the back of the neck or a sensation of heaviness in the head.

As the caller asks questions, the receiver may hear the answers in their mind and verbalize them, or they may have the sensation that the deity is speaking directly through them.

Release Deity

When the working is concluded, the caller can say, “(Deity), we thank you for your presence and release you.” Immediately the caller and receiver should both act as if the deity is no longer present, calling the receiver by their own name. If at any time either caller or receiver detect or suspect the entity responding is not the deity called, either or both should end the operation immediately.

Once the ritual is ended, but before leaving the space, the caller and receiver can compare notes. It may be helpful to record impressions immediately as these fade rapidly. This is the time to express the assessment either had about the depth of the engagement. Over time, particularly as two people work together, they will be able to quickly detect when a given deity is deeply present or is not clear.

Ground

Before engaging in invocation, as a caller, receiver, or both, prepare to ground the receiver and yourself. Once the operation is concluded, separate yourself from the energy. Touch the ground. Move out of the temple space, take off the jewelry, wash off the oil. Turn up the lights, turn on cheerful music, eat, and drink.

It is quite normal to feel somewhat disoriented and to need time to move back into the everyday world. The conscientious caller should pay close attention to the state of the receiver, who has moved into a vulnerable space and may need some support.

As always, give thanks and record the working.

Outline

1. 1. Perform Ritual of the Theurgist to the Working section.

2. 2. Add and activate synthema.

3. 3. Call deity to object or person.

4. 4. Perform working (ask questions, consecrate talisman, etc.).

5. 5. Release deity.

6. 6. Perform Conclusion from Ritual of the Theurgist.

RITUAL OF INVOKING

DEITY INTO YOURSELF

This operation has all the same steps as the operation to invoke deity into someone else. The difference is that the operator is both caller and receiver.

First, purify and protect yourself. Put on a stone necklace or hold stones in hand. Bathe in herb water. Light incense. Put on a protective lamen. You may perform the “Ritual of Honoring the Ancestors” and ask specifically for protection against any forces that would seek to interrupt your journey.

You may use a recording device to capture your experience while it is happening. Once the ritual is complete, make your notes immediately. Shifting consciousness from seeing visions to directing the ritual takes time to master, and information can be lost when transitioning from trance to ritual action.

Once the operation is complete, it is very helpful to get out of the house: go out to eat, meet with a friend, or find another way to reconnect with the rest of the human world.

Outline

1. 1. Perform Ritual of the Theurgist to the Working section.

2. 2. Add and activate synthema.

3. 3. Call deity to object or person.

4. 4. Perform working (ask questions, consecrate talisman, etc.).

5. 5. Release deity.

6. 6. Perform Conclusion from Ritual of the Theurgist.s

RITUAL OF RISING

THROUGH THE WORLDS

This is the culminating ritual of the theurgic system. The goal of the rite is to perform the Ritual of the Theurgist to the Working section.

Evoke the Teletarches

I call on the Teletarch Pistis.

Guardian of the Material and Sensible World,

Fill me with the power of theurgy, theourigikes dynameos.

I call on the Teletarch Aleitheia.

Guardian of the Intelligible World,

Fill me with the divine philosophy, theias philosophias.

I call on the Teletarch Eros.

Guardian of the Empyrean World,

Fill me with erotikes manias, the madness of love,

And let me rise!

Call Personal Daimon

Call your personal daimon using the rite you have constructed.

Ascend

Lie on the floor. Permit the soul to rise to the sun, guided by the personal daimon. If challenged for a password, use the password provided by your personal daimon.

Conclusion

At the conclusion of the vision, turn the mind toward earthly things. Perform the Conclusion from the Ritual of the Theurgist. Remove ritual jewelry. Record the working.

Outline

1. 1. Conduct the Ritual of the Theurgist to the Working section.

2. 2. Evoke the teletarches.

3. 3. Invoke personal deity.

4. 4. Invoke personal daimon.

5. 5. Ascend.

6. 6. Perform Conclusion from Ritual of the Theurgist.