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Greetings Robin,
Here are some thoughts to consider. Please remember that no-one has the definitive truth in these matters, hence I am expressing an opinion only.
: : I'm just trying to understand two very basic rituals, the Lesser Banishing : Rituals of the Hexagram and Pentagram. : : Virtually every version of the LBRH that I can find has some minor : differences. The golden dawn showing in the case of North/Water the Luna : Triangle being drawn first even though the Saturn triangle is drawn first : on the other thre directions. Lon Duquette in his book corrects this but : switches the associations of the Air and Water hexagrams. Crowley's : Liber ABA has what I would call the 'correct' versions.
Everone thinks their version is the 'corrected' one. Everyone who is anyone seems to feel the need to 'correct' the versions produced by other luminaries; it is a part of human psychology. For what it is worth I have worked with most versions and all work. I prefer the original GD versions.
: The elemental associations make sense when compared to the Cardinal signs : placement on a circle of the zodiac with Aries in the East.
This should give you an insight as to the purpose of the ceremony...
: My questions for the luminaries are : : : 1. What is being banished with this ritual? The Hexagram in general is : used both for planetary and zodiacal rituals. Does this form address one : or the other or both? My sense is that the answer is both but I can't : explain why.
There is a clear relationship between the elements, the zodiac and the planetary influences. However in Malkuth, the zodiacal and elemental influences manifest as parts of the elemental currents which flow around us as we live. The advice I have always given students is that all elemental work to be preceded by the LRP, and for all spiritual work to be preceded by the LRP and the LRH. Ceremonial work can also be preceded by both. Planetary work should be preceded by the LRH. The reality is that the benefit of working these fine ceremonies is more upon the initiate than upon the environment, since as well as preparing the place of working, one must also prepare the operator.
: 2. What is the rationale behind the irregularly shapped Hexagrams? I : can't find a single reference the what kind of meaning is implied by them.
They are permutations of the interlaced triangles form of the hexagram. Meditate on the shapes of each but concentrate upon the elemental attributes and igmore the planetary attributes for the present.
: The LBRP includes the visualisations of four Archangels, Raphael in the : East for Air, Gabriel in the West for Water, Michael in the South for Fire : and Auriel (or Uriel) in the North for Earth. : : Crowley's commentaries on the LBRP include helpful ideas concerning : standing at the intersection of Samekh and Pe on the Tree of Life. Thus : the Sphere Tipharet is before you, Yesod behind, Hod left and Netzach to : the right. This concept makes sense on a certain level but introduces some : weirdness by introducing the Sephirot.
Not really, but they need to be taken in context. The initta estanding between the Pillars of the Temple is considered to be standing at the point of crossing (note: not intersection but crossing) of Samekh and Peh, and facing Paroketh. His advice is therefore relevant to working in the Temple, either actual or visualised.
: The Sephirotic Archangels for those Spheres just so happen to match up : with the Archangels in the ritual with the exception that Haniel being the : Archangel of Hod. My first impression was that perhaps Haniel should be : substitued for Auriel (or Uriel) in the North. The fact that there is : some discrepancy (Auriel vs Uriel) already in some versions of the ritual : suggest that this is a possible area to consider for correction.
Do not bring in Planetary or Sephirothic Angelic or Archangelic forms into what are essentially elemental ceremonies. The Elemental Archangels are Raphael (Air), Gabriel (Water), Michael (Fire) ans Auriel or Uriel (Earth). In this context Auriel and Uriel are considered the same. Remember that their names are in Hebrew and Hebrew letters are often expressed in differing Anglicized form.
: However further research has found some rather enigmatic statements that : the Sephirotic Archangels are actually different 'entities' than the : Elemental Archangels in the LBRP. This makes sense one one level given : that the Sephirot in question normally do not have those elemental : associations given in the LBRP. However given the sense that in Hebrew the : names themselves contains an essense of the nature of the entity in : question I have a hard time with the notion that there are two Raphaels : out there with the same name and therefore appearance but with different : aspects.
This is correct. Do not confuse Archangels with one name with Angels having the same name. In the Angelic realms, names are considered as titles of descriptions of office (function perhaps). Thus Raphael the Archangel of Air is not the same as Raphael the Angel, and Michael, the Archangel of Fire is not the same as Michael the Angel.
: Can anyone shed some light on these angelic and elemental associations in : the LBRP? : : The other enigma in the LBRP are the four letter names that are vibrated : in each quarter. The traditionally given names are IHVH in the East, : ADNI South, IHIH West and AGLA (or Ateh Gibor LeOlam ADNI) in the North. : Nowhere can I find any rationale for the assignment of these names other : than refering to them collectively as 'names of god' etc.
Eheieh is AHIH not IHIH. The attribution of the names to the quarters are traditional and I do not know if the source of the attributions is known. The only thing I can add is that having done the LRP (banishing then invoking), you should be seated in the circle and vibrate the names in turn, and examine the forms of the currents invoked. This should convince you of their correctness.
: Does anyone have any clue as to why these names should be used where they : are? : : Thanks for any light shed! : : Robin
I hope this is helpful, if you need more, write or post again. Be reminded however that the benefit of these processes lies in the doing and not necessarily in the fine analysis. After a while one either understands or becomes comfortable to accept.
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