Middle Pillar Exercise

Sent this post three times. Still haven't seen it yet. Although the third time may be the one.

Hi there, I've been interested in the Golden Dawn for about 8 years. Israel Regardie has been the most influentual in my studies. Can anyone tell me about the magic circle.

1.- Do you piviot on the same spot while tracing it & visualising it, or

do you actually walk around it.

2.- Is there any danger in preforming the middle pillar ritual if you've

never done any ritual work before.

* In regard to question 2.- Mr Regardie always points to the value of psychotherapy before undertaking ritual exercise to help clear the psychi of blockages.

Any help would be appreciated

Hi there, I've been interested in the Golden Dawn for about 8 years. Israel Regardie has been the most influentual in my studies. Can anyone tell me about the magic circle.

1.- Do you piviot on the same spot while tracing it & visualising it, or

do you actually walk around it.

2.- Is there any danger in preforming the middle pillar ritual if you've

never done any ritual work before.

( In regard to question 2. Mr Regardie always points to the value of psychotherapy before undertaking ritual exercise to help clear the psychi of blockages.)

Any help would be appreciated

Dear Jaguar, Regarding the Magic Circle: If I am constructing a small circle, I just pivot around on the same spot. If I am doing a larger circle, say for a lodge room or temple, then I will cast the circle from the central point, and then move to the East, South, West and North to construct the pentagrams/hexagrams.

About taking up the Middle Pillar: My teacher gave it to me in small chunks. By the way, it's best to have the Qabalistic Cross working well before starting the Middle Pillar. I started by visualizing Kether and vibrating the God name. After that had become second nature, he had me do Malkuth in white rather than in its Briatic or Atziluthic color. Then I added Tiphareth, then Daath, then Yesod, vibrating the God names for each. Once I had all 5 spheres in white and was able to see and feel them simultaneously (I was now about 6 weeks into the process, working at least 3 times per week) then I added the Atziluthic colors. Once that had been mastered, we went on to the circulations of light. That's enough to keep most people busy, though there is more to do even after all that. The process I described takes about 12 weeks.

Lots of folks don't take the time to work through each step this way. My view, as I came to accept from my teacher, is that taking this kind of time gets each part really anchored. Its like learning a martial art or a musical instrument - mastery is perfecting the details and then blending them into a harmonious whole that flows naturally. About the psychotherapy: I've read just about all of Regardie's work, and he is one of my favorites. I happen to be a psychotherapist too. I don't think that his recommendation needs to be strictly adhered to. However, I do think it is an especially good idea if you are not going to be studying with an experienced and well-balanced practitioner. Almost all of us need someone to help keep us balanced. My teacher has been particularly good at reminding me of how my idealism blinds me to cold hard reality.

So, in order to stay in balance, I would suggest either associating with an order like the BOTA or the SOL, getting a shrink to meet with once a month or so(a Jungian or Gestalt therapist would be best), or a really good friend (should be older) that you can confide in aboutthese things.

Lux, Ben Ari

Perhaps ol' Israel was in need of it! Psychotherapy is not necessary, if you have an Oedipus complex ... JUST DON'T DO IT!