Ogdoadic Magick

Visit the link below to download the full version of this book:

https://medipdf.com/product/ogdoadic-magick/

Click Download Now

 The Chamber of Art: the Bomos, Chapter 11 - Qabalah ......................................................... 159
the Lamp; and the Chair ..................................... 32 The Four Worlds ....................................................... 161
Tying Things Together ................................................ 167
Chapter 5 - Study and Practice, Yin and Yang ................... 37
The Ain Soph ............................................................. 169
Time for Study and Practice ...................................... 38
The Sephiroth ............................................................. 172
How to Read ............................................................ 40
The Tree of Life ........................................................... 173
The Magical Diary ..................................................... 45
Using the Qabalah ..................................................... 181
The Magick Ring ...................................................... 48
Chapter 12 - Establishing a Rhythm .................................... 187
Chapter 6 - Meditation .................................................. 51
A Basic Daily Routine .................................................. 187
Breath ..................................................................... 52
A Weekly Rite: The Wine Blessing ................................ 190
Posture ................................................................... 59
Focus: Mental Discipline .......................................... 61 Chapter 13 - Practical Magick ............................................. 193
Chanting: The Power of Voice ................................... 64 Does Practical Magick Work? 194
A Simple Meditation Practice ................................... 67 Building A Rite of Practical Magick .............................. 196
More Practical Magick: Finding Lost Objects .................. 204
Chapter 7 - Archetypes: The Tools of Magick .................... 71
Jung's Concept of Archetypes .................................... 73 Chapter 14 - Times and Tides ............................................ 209
Joseph Campbell: The Hero's Journey ........................ 78 The Seasonal Tides: Fire Festivals and Sun Festivals ......... 210
Vogler's Archetypes .................................................. 81 Lunar Tides ................................................................ 215
The Magical Mythic Journey ...................................... 91 The Velocia ................................................................ 216
Contact with the Archetypal World ........................... 100 Planetary Hours ......................................................... 217
Ritual Planning ........................................................... 220
Chapter 8 - Banishments, Warding, and Astral Defenses 103
Chapter 15 - A Few Last Thoughts ..................................... 223
Chapter 9 - The Magical Robe ......................................... 107
Weaving the Magick: The Lapis Lazuli Robe ................ 109 Appendix A - Aurum Solis and the Ogdoatic Tradition ....... 225
Elements of Ritual .................................................... 110 Appendix B - Recommended Additional Reading ................ 249
Chapter 10 - Sophia Terrae ............................................. 123 Aurum Solis: Order of the Sacred Word .............................. 259
The Four Elements ................................................... 123
Endnotes ........................................................................... 261
Correspondences: The Law of Similars ........................ 126
Elementals ............................................................. 128 Bibliography .................................................................... 275
Working with Elements ........................................... 130 Index .............................................................................. 279
The Fifth Element: Spirit .......................................... 146
The Magical Voice and Ritual Movements .................. 154
Study Revisited ........................................................ 156

viii CONTENTS CONTENTS ix

 LIST OF RITUALS

The Aurum Solis Solar Adoration Rite 13

The Calyx 100
The Lapis Lazuli Circle of Light 104
The Lapis Lazuli Attunement of the Robe of Art 115
The Setting of the Wards of Power 147
The Rousing of the Citadels 184
The Lapis Lazuli Wine Blessing 190
A Rite of Divination for Finding Lost Objects 207

xi
 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

I extend my grateful thanks to the following, in the full knowledge

that, without their participation, this book would never have
happened:
To the Artisans of Lapis Lazuli, who were instrumental in test-
ing this material. I will always feel deeply honored to have worked
with you for so long.
To those who read various chapters and early drafts of this
book: Sarah, Peter, Silvia, Jeanie, John, Jim, and David. Thank you
all for taking the time to read and comment upon this text while I
was pulling its various parts together.
To Leon Barcynski, Grand Master of the Aurum Solis Order, for
his inspiration and tireless efforts on behalf of the order, and for
his gracious permission to quote widely from previously unpub-
lished Aurum Solis material.
To Jeanie Marie Mossa, my wife and the talented artist behind
many of the illustrations in this book, which appear here with her
gracious permission. Her infinite patience, understanding, love
and support made this book, and my life, possible.

xi
 For permission to use copyright material, I gratefully make the
following acknowledgments:
Llewellyn Worldwide, Ltd. for permission to use Aurum Solis
document quotations from The Magical Philosophy, Revised Edition
Volume I: Foundations of High Magick by Denning & Phillips
1992, Volume II: The Sword and the Serpent by Denning and
Phillips © 1998, Volume III: Mysteria Magica by Denning & Phillips FOREWORD
© 1988 and Planetary Magick, First Edition by Denning & Phillips
©1989. All published by Llewellyn Worldwide, Ltd. P.O. Box
64383, St. Paul, MN 55164. All rights reserved.
Harcourt, Inc. for permission to use the excerpt on page 10
from "Choruses From The Rock" in Collected Poems 190 -1962 by
9

T. S. Eliot, copyright 1936 by Harcourt, Inc., copyright 1964, To be convinced of the reality of magical power—that is, of an
1963 by T. S. Eliot. invisible force capable of producing a designated effect upon a
living person or upon an inanimate object—is not difficult if we
approach the abundant and well-attested evidence without prej-
udice, and without regard to the scientific device of naming phe-
nomena. Telepathy, hypnotism, psychic healing, psychokinesis,
out-of-body experiences, precognition, psychometry—the exis-
tence of these skills and of other techniques for winning knowl-
edge or exerting influence is widely recognized in the world
today.
The inquirer can examine the evidence and be assured of the
reality of the above-mentioned skills and techniques by accept-
ing the verdict of their senses and their reason. One need not
have, in other words, any particular faith in God or humankind,
nor even in self in order to realize they exist. Beyond this initial
tempering of scepticism, however, the mere knowledge of the
existence of magical power is not likely to be of much service to
the inquirer.

xiv ACKNOWLEDGMENTS xv
 To make a real and lasting progress in the magical art requires the astral levels of the psyche with the external pulses of the cos-
much more. The aspirant needs to have a kind of "faith," which is mos. The task, acknowledged here, is not laboriously to bring into
not the nebulous or pietistic optimism that frequently goes by that existence the forces with which the magician operates; it is to rec-
name. Real faith is impossible without knowledge: you must not ognize their existing reality, to know them reverently, and to direct
only understand how to climb your rope ladder, you need to know them aright.
for a certainty that the top is firmly fixed, and fixed where you
want it, before you start from the bottom. So, too, the traveler —Osborne Phillips
upon an unknown road requires a reliable map and compass. This
perception is much to the point in the beginning made in
Ogdoadic Magick.
The aspirant's mystical map of ascent, as Norman Kraft suc-
cinctly indicates, is the Qabalistic Tree of Life, which can also be
understood as the plan of his or her psycho-spiritual being—body,
soul and spirit. And the Tree of Life is, from the outset, complete
and entire within the psyche as the aspirant's birthright, if as yet
awaiting his or her inner discovery.
Sometimes a taunt is raised against the way of High Magick, to
the effect that it is directed solely toward remote mystical attain-
ment. This criticism only shows a lack of understanding of the
necessary cause and effect. To develop and direct the relevant fac-
ulties of the physical body and of the astral and mental levels of
the psyche, as well as finding awareness of true spiritual values—
and to bring all these matters into co-ordination—will undoubt-
edly, in the long course of events, bring the aspirant to the mystical
heights. But upon that long road the aspirant utilizes this same
training in order to bring the abilities and skills of the magician to
dynamic potency within the psyche.
In Ogdoadic Magick, Norman Kraft skillfully guides the aspirant
through the early stages of magical development, to establish a
true and potent interaction of the natural faculties of the body and

xvii FOREWORD xvii

FOREWORD
 INTRODUCTION

Each soul is potentially divine. The goal is to manifest

this divinity within by controlling nature, external and
internal. Do this either by work, worship, psychic con-
trol or philosophy—by one, or more, or all of these—
and be free. This is the whole of religion. Doctrines,
dogmas, rituals, books, temples, and forms, are but sec-
ondary details.'

As Master of the Commandery of the Black Rose of the Order

Aurum Solis (and former Master of the Lapis Lazuli
Commandery), I meet many people who have an interest in the
Art Magick of our great tradition. Ours is a small order, however,
and oriented toward group work for those living in close proxim-
ity to one another. It accepts new members on an invitation-only
basis. Thus, many of those who wish to learn the Aurum Solis sys-
tem do so on their own. For many, geography prevents group study
with an existing Commandery. Circumstance dictates that they fol-
low the path of the solitary magician. Others simply prefer the

x ix
path of the solitary magician, without seeking ties or involvement you will learn about life. For magick is about life and light, and
in the group activities of a magical order. Yet even those who may discovery of the true self. The study of magick can never take place
have the determination, creativity and persistence necessary to apart from the study of life. This book will show you the basic
pursue this system without group support and direction are often tools of magick and some characteristic workings of the Aurum
frustrated to find that the core books of the public portions of the Solis Ogdoadic tradition. Your task is to apply these tools to your
Aurum Solis tradition are often difficult to obtain. In addition, own life, and through them to change and mold your world.
books about Aurum Solis with beginners in mind have been vir- Before we take that first step together, however, I ask you to
tually non-existent. look within and give some serious thought to this question we ask
This book was written with the solitary practitioner in mind all new initiates to the Aurum Solis First Hall:
and assumes you have no background in Magick. It encompasses Child of Earth and Starry Heaven, thou who seekest this day the
roughly one year's worth of practice and study. In its earliest experience of the Mysteries, who seekest a clearer vision of Truth; thou
form, this text was a three page outline showing the new mem- who seekest worlds within worlds until for thee all worlds are one in eter-
bers at Lapis Lazuli Commandery the work that was anticipated nity; the High Company of the Glorious Star greets thee.
in the course of their first year of study. Over the years I expanded Before we proceed, know this: Whoso enters the Mysteries can never-
upon this document, answered many questions about it, worked more return to the evening world of unenlightened selfhood. To take the
through difficult passages, and incorporated more Order mate- first step upon the Sacred Way of Return is to be committed to it forever.
rial (with permission of the Order, of course). The final result is To enter upon this path is to find New Life in the morning world of
this book and another intermediate text yet to be published. Divine Inspiration, until all shall be caught up and assumed into the
From its inception, Aurum Solis has been based, not on transforming Fire of Godhead.
Rosicrucianism or Freemasonry, but around Gnostic, Greek, Celtic, I ask thee most seriously, therefore, art thou determined to make this
and alchemical philosophies and practices, and this is what has venture and to undergo this transformation?'
drawn many to the Order. Further, Aurum Solis is steeped in Are you ready and determined to explore your true potential? If
Qabalah, but a Qabalah of different traditions and lineage than so, turn the page and let us begin!
those used by the Golden Dawn. Its desire and purpose has been
to detach the timeless teachings of the Qabalah from the limita-
tions of historical and theological considerations and restate them
for the modern student of high magick.
If you, the reader, devote one year to this study and exploration
of the Aurum Solis magical current, I can promise that you will
learn a great deal about magick and about Aurum Solis. Most of all

xx I NTRODUCTION I NTRODUCTION xxi

 1

WHAT IS MAGICK?

here are many beautiful or popular definitions of magick.

Denning and Phillips, noted authors in the Aurum Solis
tradition, have written that "magick is the production of desired
effects, whether in the person of the magician or exterior to it, by
means of a deliberate and special use of powers and faculties
within the psyche."' Murry Hope, a magician of a related tradition
defined magick as "concerned with the conversion of universal
energies into practical frequencies that can be utilized according to
the needs of the occasion. These energies in themselves are totally
neutral, having no affiliation with any belief, system or personal-
ity either here on Earth or anywhere in the cosmos, their manifes-
tation at the magical level being coloured entirely by the nature
and intention of the user."' Eliphas Levi beautifully captured the
essence of magick when he described it as "...that which God cre-
ated before all things when He said: Let there be light." 3 Aleister
Crowley's definition remains quite popular, though often misun-
derstood: "magick is the Science and Art of causing Change to
occur in conformity with Will."'
 Yet while these quotes have their uses, definitions of magick are ways: mind and breath, concentration and religious fervor, tech-
akin to definitions of the Tao: by the time you have described it nique and emotion, etc. It is the focus of will and thought driven
with language, you have already lost contact with it. While many of by the great power of the light within.
the tools of magick are those of the mind and intellect, the essence In our culture, focus is the easiest to acquire. We've been taught
of magick remains mysterious to the intellect, something much just about everything in our lives through book learning and
more than human, something that exists across realms and modes memorization. Yet without development in the second area, inspi-
of being we cannot know from our limited earthly perspective. ration, magick goes flat. It is much like a very finely crafted laser
While it is natural in the beginning to rely on what other magi- device without a light source: lasers merely focus and intensify
cians have said about magick, ultimately, magick is something that light that is already there. They cannot create light, no matter how
you will define for yourself. For, in a sense, we all know and feel well designed and built they are.
magick instinctively within ourselves. To read that "every inten- In the West, magick has often suffered from an overdevelop-
tional act is a magical act"' seems easy enough to grasp, but it begs ment of its intellectual side. A frequent criticism of Western magi-
the question of what we are to do with this information. cians is that all we do is read and talk, read and talk. While intellect
In her book Applied Magic, Dion Fortune notes that many is an important aspect of magick, this emphasis on the mind has
Eastern systems, such as those of the Tibetans, are quite free in dis- contributed to the considerable population of armchair magicians
cussing the philosophical and intellectual bases of their systems. It so common today. The study of magick is not like study toward a
is the practical methods of using that information that remain university degree; it is a way of life and a way of living. One may
secret. This is the way of the Western mysteries as well: the Hebrew study medicine, but it is dear to most of us that to become a doc-
alphabet and the Qabalistic Tree of Life were once considered deep tor requires a leap beyond the comprehension of the basic subjects
secrets of sworn brotherhoods, but are now commonly known. involved.
While there are many books, Web sites, and classes on these top- I have seen many well-designed rituals in which the magicians
ics, few explore what to do with the technologies of the mind and have performed every detail correctly, yet that simply fall flat in
alchemy of spirit discovered through the careful workings of dedi- bringing through any kind of real power. No matter how well
cated practitioners. While anyone may grasp the outer forms, the designed the rite, no matter how brilliant the costumes, wall hang-
inner mysteries and the secret wisdom of the great magical orders ings, and other tools may be, no matter how precisely the magician
remain as hidden as before.' pronounces each word, these aspects all add up to little more than
While much of this question can only be answered much later the finely crafted laser without a light source. Without the inspira-
in the progress of the magician, let us examine a few basic ideas to tion of the heart, without the aspirations that arise from within,
get started. Magick may be broken down into two primary areas: the most brilliantly worked rite will not bring through the kind of
focus and inspiration. Those two terms can be expanded in many energy and power we seek.

2 OGDOADIC MAGICK WHAT IS MAGICK? 3

 A magician with drive and inspiration can do more with a of the galaxy and the movements of other planets and solar sys-
poorly crafted rite than a letter-perfect magician who is unenthu- tems, and ultimately, with the movements of the galaxy itself as it
siastic about the purpose of the ritual or so distracted by the details dances its way with other galaxies in the blackness of space.
that the subtle aspects of the ritual are missed. A poorly designed We should never consider ourselves as separate from these
laser with a bright light source will perform better than the best- processes. Every action we take has a measurable effect on our
built laser with no light. It's as simple as that. environment and, to some degree, changes the very fabric of our
On the other hand, the finely crafted laser with a bright light universe. The same is true in reverse: that which changes our
source will perform better than both of these, generating a power- universe changes us. Think about this—are you not a very differ-
ful, focused beam of energy. And this is what the study and prac- ent person on a hot, clear, humid summer day than you are on a
tice of Western magick will develop. frozen and cloudy winter day? This is a large change in environ-
ment changing you, but many other smaller changes happen
every day, every hour, every moment. Most women are well aware
A MAGICAL THEORY
of the subtle but powerful effect the Moon has on their bodies
How does magick work? Your appreciation of both this ques- and emotions.
tion and its answer will change and deepen over time, but allow It is a fundamental concept in many philosophical and reli-
me to draw on my own background to venture a few thoughts at gious systems that we are complex beings deeply interconnected to
this point. and enfolded by our environment and each other. Chinese
Chaos mathematics and systems theory were born of the quest philosophies such as Taoism are built wholly on this line of
to understand massive, unpredictable processes such as the thought. As time passes, this basic viewpoint is becoming more a
weather, and, from the lack of a scientific model, to predict some- part of Western physics as well.
thing as simple as the path of a column of smoke from an incense What has this to do with magick? Imagine, for a moment, our
stick. solar system—each planet calmly following its appointed path, the
The problem, in each case, is that the smoke and the weather system as a whole calmly moving through the blackness of space.
are not "things" at all, but rather integral parts of greater systems Now, imagine that you reach out and give Mars the tiniest push.
of incomprehensible complexity. Thus, as is often said, if a butter- That push changes the orbit of Mars around the Sun. It also
fly takes flight from a flowering plant in Japan, its movements have changes the orbits of the other planets and of the moons that orbit
some (if infinitesimally small) effect on the weather in California, them.
and this affects the movements of the column of smoke rising The change to our orbit and our Moon causes a change in the
from the incense in your living room. Moreover, we know that our tides here on Earth, which causes a change in the weather, which
planet and our solar system are inextricably linked with the dance negatively affects crops in the American Midwest. This changes the

4 OGDOADIC MAGICK WHAT IS MAGICK? 5

price of grain and vegetables in the supermarket, which affects FURTHER THOUGHTS ABOUT MAGICK
your purchasing patterns, which changes your diet and ultimately
impacts your health. (Depending on which direction you pushed These are quotations from other Lapis Lazuli Commandery
Mars, however, such change could be very good for either winter- documents and group discussions that may be of some use to
coat manufacturers or swimsuit designers.) those starting upon the magical way. Some will be revisited later;
What has happened is that change has been introduced into all are offered as starting points for further thought.
the system. This change has made itself felt in the complex inter-
• Magick is not about power, even though you gain power in
actions around it and has altered the entire system. A similar push
in another solar system would have quite different effects. the course of the work. To hold power as a goal of magick
Now imagine that you give Mars just the right push in just the begs the questions: Power over what? Power over whom? If
right direction, with maybe a complimentary little push on Venus, the answer to either question is other than "myself," the art
and this sets everything back into its normal orbit and movement. of magick has not been understood.
Weather and crops are restored to normal, supermarket prices • Magick is not an excuse for a life-style. The energy that you
return to normal, and fishermen can once again happily use their put into looking like a magician is far better spent doing the
tide tables to predict the ebb and flow of the oceans. Harmony is work of one. Magical growth never comes through the
restored. regard of others. It is a truism in magick that your inner
Magick gives us the tools to effect tiny pushes such as these, accomplishments, are in most cases, inversely proportional
affecting both the world around us and the worlds within us in to your outer reputation for magical accomplishment.
definite, measurable ways. Think of each thing in our universe as Adepts are a quiet and unassuming group on the whole,
spinning in a dance of orbits, big and small. Every person on this with a few notable exceptions.
Earth is part of that dance, as is every molecule and atom of each • Magick is not about gaining status or degrees. Magick is not
cell in each person's body. Each of our movements and each of our about social presence or enhancing your reputation or self-
decisions changes our universe (spiritual and physical). When image, except in that magical growth will eventually lead to
these movements and decisions are willed and directed, we call it all of these things as those around you notice the inner
changes taking place.
magick.
• Magick is not about becoming famous, or notorious, or
developing famous or infamous friends. Magick is about
magick. Fame is about fame. Notoriety is about notoriety.
Each to its purpose.
• Magick is about inner work. Great concern must be placed

6 OGDOADIC MAGICK WHAT IS MAGICK? 7

 upon inner work and inner change for the progress of mag-
ick to take place. Over time, attention may once again turn
to the outside world. Or you may perhaps discover that the
outside world isn't outside at all.
2
• Magick is about profound inner change that no one but
yourself may ever see. We all share a tendency to desire the
recognition of others when we have accomplished some- FIRST STEPS
thing. This recognition is unimportant in spiritual matters.
In fact, this very type of attention can prevent or slow INTO MAGICK
progress on the way.
• Magick is concerned with connection to the deeper self and
connection to spirit.
• Magick is much more than a role-playing game or fantasy of
the mind.
T he practice of magick is enhanced greatly when we
develop practice routines and make observation of the
• Magick is a way of life and a state of mind, every day, every cycles around us. These help the practitioner keep in touch with
hour, every moment, in every action. the currents of this and other realms. One example of such prac-
• The most basic prerequisite for successful magical study is a tice is our observance of the Sun's motion through the heavens
willingness to change. each year, with formal recognition of the four solar festivals
• Magick can never do anything for you. It works through ( Winter and Summer Solstice, Spring and Fall Equinox), as well as
you. It is only through your own effort that magick can the four fire festivals (Imbolc, Beltaine, Lughnasadh, and
accomplish anything at all. To stand in your circle and call Samhain). Another, perhaps more important practice, is the per-
upon the gods to obtain a new job for you is akin to stand- sonal daily work that each magician performs to bring light, spirit,
ing by a proposed well and calling upon the shovel to dig it and magick into day-to-day life. Crucial to this daily work is the
for you. Call on magick for help, but pick up the shovel and ceremonial observance of the rising and setting of the Sun.
dig.
• Magick involves working with existing currents, learning to
FIRST MAGICAL Rim: THE SOLAR ADORATION
call upon them, to find them within, to direct them. The
laws of physics still apply and nothing is truly created or The spiritual Sun and the aspiration toward light play a large
destroyed, only directed and changed. This single aphorism role in Aurum Solis philosophy and practice. In a pre-initiatory
is more i mportant than all those that have gone before. welcoming rite used at Lapis Lazuli, we attune the probationer to

8 OGDOADIC MAGICK 8
our goals and current. In the rite's invocation of light is this lovely tions should be done at sunrise and sunset while facing the ris-
borrowing from T. S. Eliot's "Choruses from The Rock:" ing/setting Sun, or as near to these events as your schedule allows.
This adoration is best performed outdoors, as weather allows, for
O Light Invisible, we praise Thee! reasons you will come to understand in the course of your own
Too bright for mortal vision. performance of the rite.
O Greater Light, we praise Thee for the less; The There are several reasons for the regular performance of this
eastern light our spires touch at morning, adoration. An Aurum Solis paper describes it thus:
The light that slants upon our western doors at
evening, [The] Sun is the supreme symbol and representative of
The twilight over stagnant pools at batflight, spiritual power in our world, just as the physical rays of
Moon light and star light, owl and moth light, the Sun are in fact the source of light, warmth, health
Glow-worm glowlight on a grassblade. and energy. Giving a few moments of time at the two
critical moments in the day, sunrise and sunset, to align
O Light Invisible, we worship Thee! oneself physically and mentally with this source, is
We thank Thee for the lights that we have kindled, thereby to stand in harmony with the currents of life
The light of altar and of sanctuary; and well-being on every level. Furthermore, since the
Small lights of those who meditate at midnight visible Sun is but the "created manifestation" of the
And lights directed through the coloured panes of Power to which in reality the adoration is addressed, the
windows habitual use of "solar adoration" builds up a real per-
And light reflected from the polished stone, ception of the spiritual underlying the physical, the
The gilded carven wood, the coloured fresco. "Sun behind the Sun," and thus establishes the student
Our gaze is submarine, our eyes look upward in rapport with the spiritual world.
And see the light that fractures through unquiet water.
We see the light but see not whence it comes. Further, on the significance of the moments of sunrise and
O Light Invisible, we glorify Thee!' sunset:

In line with the spirit of this pre-initiation rite is the first daily The Sun-sphere essentially signifies the Eternal made
routine a student of Aurum Solis magick should establish: the manifest in the transient moment. Those who honor
Solar Adoration. This ritual is performed twice each day, once in dawn and sunset, day after day, winter and summer,
the morning and once again in the evening. If possible, the adora- grow in the awareness that though these phenomena are

10 OGDOADIC MAGICK FIRST STEPS INTO MAGIC 11