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The Blue Topaz ritual
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? The Blue Topaz ?
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by Simon Magus
From: Early Warnings
The Rising Aeon Journal, Vol. 1 No. 1
Candlemas, Anno Heru LXXXIII
Rising Aeon Press,
4710 University Way NE #1112,
Seattle, WA 98501
(Key Entry on 08/19/91 by Edward A. Wolfe)
Do what thou Wilt shall be the Whole of the Law
Let the magician, facing east, in the center of the circle, formulate the cross
using the wand mudra,?1? as follows: Touching the forehead, vibrate:
Abrahadabra; pointing toward the ground, vibrate: Nubti; touching the right
shoulder, vibrate: Thelema; touching the left shoulder, vibrate: Agape;
clasping his hands before him, vibrate: Nema.
Let him formulate the circle, imagining strongly a pentagram, aright, on his
forehead. Let him fling it forth, to each quarter in turn, making the sign of
Horus,?2? and vibrating the appropriate name. After each, let him retire his
hand in the Sign of Silence.?3? To the east, vibrate: Heru; to the north,
vibrate: Nu; to the west, vibrate: Maat; to the south, vibrate: Had.
Let him then, facing east, invoke the angel of the Aeon, giving the signs of
Nu,?4? Maat,?5? Heru,?6? and Had.?7? This is to be done in a single motion
while vibrating He-Ru-Ra-Ha.
Let him invoke the guardians of the quarters (and following the "AHA" if the
magician know, dare, and keeps his oath, he may display the sign of the IX? of
the O.T.O.)?8?
Before me, Heru-Machis,
Behind me, Heru-Amoun,
To my right, Heru-Mentu,
To my left, Heru-Khonsu.
"AHA"
Within me flames the Star of Five,
The star of Silence and of Strength,
And in the midst, the Sphere of Six,
Where the sun of Midnight is ever the son.
MAAT; shadow Shakti of Tahuti.
He who is I; Asar-un-Nefer,?9?
Hadit-Sun; Dark One
Balancing with pole, a Tree at each end.
Shadow! Engulf and shimmer as a Feather.
Within a sphere of crystal,
SHE pulls a cloak of purple across the Shadow.
Time is displaced.
All that is not Centered
Is consumed.
Amidst the Body of Maat
I see the Holy Star,
Revealed in majesty beyond purple;
Point and existence into NONE.
Striding unto me,
A Flame form of Golden Horus.
Arms thrust forward
All into an Arrow, shot
Into the Center of the Star.
That-which-is when Shakti-is-not,
Black Flame who was Dragon?10? in Amenta.?11?
Obsidian Pillar; Balance,
When there is naught-to-Balance.
Rehti-Merti-Nebti-Maati.?12?
By that Mouth which Utters and that mouth
which receives I seal the vision.?13?
Ipsos?14?
Let the magician complete the ritual, again formulating the cross using the
wand mudra, as follows: touching the forehead, vibrate: Abrahadabra; pointing
toward the ground, vibrate: Ipsos; touching the right shoulder, vibrate:
Thelema; touching the left shoulder, vibrate: Agape; clasping the hands in
front of him, vibrate: Sunodea.
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? Analysis ?
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by Simon the Scribe
Ne-shope-neter, priest of Amoun, and Simon Magus, saint of the Gnostic Church,
have spoken, and they leave me the work of the comment. I shall analyze the
ritual called The Blue Topaz in order to determine its intent and effect.
The ritual begins with the word ABRAHADABRA, thus satisfying the constraint
that the Magus identify himself with the word of the current Aeon.?15? This is
grounded in the word NUBTI, which, as Frater Aion pointed out, is the name of
Horus and Set conjoined. The Magus does not put his shadow/demon behind him,
but is rather attempting to transcend the dualism of Angel and Demon by use of
the formulae of THELEMA and AGAPE, through Love under Will. He also wills to
become the magician in Nuit,?16? who has charged him that "there be no
difference made among you between any one thing and any other thing."
The cross is sealed with the word NEMA, the reverse of "amen", for it is NOT
his intent to solidify this dualism, but to dissolve it. This brings the total
value of the cross to 777 (417 + 77 + 93 + 93 + 96),?17? which is the number of
"the world of shells"?18? and "the flaming sword".?19? Furthermore, the name
of the qliphoth attributed to Kether translates as "the two-headed one" or "the
two contending forces".?20? Thus, through the formula NUBTI, the magician has
grabbed the flaming sword, which drove Man out of Eden,?21? by the Hilt.
He then casts the circle, as balanced pairs of opposites. NU and HAD represent
the heaven and the earth, and the total of their numeration, 66 (56 + 10), is
the Mystic Number of the Great Work. HERU and MAAT represent the current Aeon
and the future Aeon. This is the same as the use of YHVH (I am as I am) and
AHYH (I shall become) in the LBR.?22? That the future Aeon is the Aeon of Maat
was declared by Crowley himself in the "Old Comment" on Liber AL.III.34:
"Following [Horus] will rise the Equinox of Maat, the Goddess of Justice. It
may be a hundred or ten thousand years from now: for the Computation of Time is
not here as There."
The total numeration of the circle, spelling HERU as Hey-Resh-Vav and Maat as
Mem-Aleph-Tau is 718 (211 + 56 + 441 + 10), the number of the stele called "the
abomination of the desolation."?23? The effect of this formula on the shells
(or Qliphoth) is to "destroy them utterly" through mutual annihilation, which
is confirmed by the fact that 777 + 718 is 1495, the sum total of the letters
in the Hebrew alphabet, comprehending all paths on the Tree of Life. But
"there is that which remains" from the ashes the "Hadit-star" arises within
Nuit, unscathed. This, then, is a formula of the phoenix.
Now, since "there is no God where I am", the magician must clothe himself in
the form of the vehicle of the Aeon. Thus, between heaven and earth, in the
now between "just past" and "about to be", HERU-RA-HA is invoked, whose number
is 418, the number of the Chariot in the Tarot, and the number of the Great
Work. With this formula, the magician invokes the Angel of the Aeon within the
circle of art, to assist him in the completion of the Great Work. This
establishes him in Tiphereth, the sphere of the sun.
Now, 418 reduces (4 + 1 + 8) to thirteen, the number of unity [=Achad: Heb.],
which further reduces (1 + 3) four. This four-fold unity is applied to Heru,
producing the four guardians of the corners. Ne-shope-neter has described the
process whereby Hrumachis hath taken his seat in the East, and it is clear that
this MUST happen during THIS Aeon, since HERU-MACHIS is a form of Heru.
After this ritual was received, I researched the modifying forms, MENTU,
KHONSU, and AMOUN. There WERE all worshipped at Thebes, and each one WAS
associated, at one time or another, with Heru. Amoun wore the crown of the
double plume, as did Heru in many depictions. Furthermore, being behind the
magician, he is "the fifth who is invisible", as declared by Hadit in Liber
AL.II.49. Mentu was the hawk-headed warrior lord of Thebes, of whom Ankh-af-
na-khonsu was the "inspired forth speaker", is clearly Ra-Hoor-Khuit. Khonsu
was frequently portrayed with his finger to his lips, and is thus identified
with Hoor-pa-kraat. Due to the arrival of Hrumachis, these two forms are now
aligned with the active and passive arms of the magician, as suggested by
Frater Aion.
The union of these four forms is sealed with the formula AHA. A gematric
analysis will show us what has been accomplished by this:
HERU = Heh(5) + Heh(5) + Resh(200) +
Vav(6) = 216 = (6 x 6 x 6) +
MACHIS = Mem(40) + Aleph(1) + Kaph(20) +
Heh(5) + Yod(10) + Samech(60) = 136 + 216 = 352
AMOUN = Aleph(1) + Mem(40) + Ayin(70) +
Vav(6) + Nun(50) = 167 + 216 = 383
MENTU = Mem(40) + Heh(5) + Nun(50) +
Teth(9) + Vav(6) = 110 + 216 = 326
KHONSU = Kaph(20) + Heh(5) + Ayin(70) +
Nun(50) + Samech(60) + Vav (6) = 211 + 216 = 427
AHA = Aleph(1) + Heh(5) + Aleph(1) = 7
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1495
Once again, a formula which comprehends the whole of the Tree of Life has been
expressed, but this time it is used to constructively rather than
destructively. all that which was destroyed has been restored, but now
illuminated by the sun, in the form of Heru, whose number is the number of the
sun. This is the "secret four-fold word", of which it is said, in Liber
AL.III.74, "There is a splendor in my name, hidden and glorious, as the sun of
midnight is ever the son."
The same idea is expressed in Crowley's poem "AHA!":
"Last, all these things in one o'er powered
Time that the midnight blossom flowered!"
What, then, is this "midnight blossom"? The answer is contained in the word
AHA. The letters of the word form the notaricon of Adonai Ha-Aretz, Lord of
the Earth, the Hebrew name of God attributed to the sphere of Malkuth. This is
the sphere of the four corners, yet IT ALSO contains the whole Tree of Life.
AHA transmits the light of HRH (Heru-Ra-Ha, the Angel of the Aeon) to the Man
of earth, illuminating the sphere of Malkuth, and thus the brain and body of
the magician, with the Light of the Sun. THIS is the "end of the word of the
God enthroned in Ra's seat: LIGHTENING THE GIRDERS OF THE SOUL."
The attainment is then celebrated through the symbols of the star of five and
the sphere of six. I assume the star of five is declared with arms and legs
outspread, which the sphere of six is declared with the palms clasped at the
breast. These symbols of the Microcosm and Macrocosm are so universal that
they require no further comment.
The closing cross is different in two respects from the opening cross. The
first is the use of the word IPSOS, which is the Word of the Aeon of Maat (see
Liber Pennae Praenumbra). This word is traditionally analyzed as follows:
IPSOS = Yod(10) + Peh(80) + Shin(300) + Vav(6) + Shin(300) = 696.
The significance of this word in the context of the ritual is the fact that it
is equal to 200 (the Sun)?24? + 496 (the number of Malkuth). This reiterates
the effect of the ritual, the illumination of the Tree contained in Malkuth
with the Light of the Sun. It also has a further significance, for, being the
Word of the Aeon of Maat, it grounds the ritual in TIME as well as space,
linked ahead to the Aeon of the Daughter who is to come.
The other difference is the use of the word SUNODEA. This appears to have been
chosen by the Magus with care, for it makes the total value of the cross 1496
(418 + 696 + 93 + 93 + 196).?25? This implies that the Fool (Aleph, 1), having
comprehended the known universe (1495), goes forth into the unknown (0).
Alternatively, this could be interpreted as the Magician (Atu I) within Nuit.
In either case, he does not go alone, for the word (SUNODEA) is from the Greek
root meaning "to travel with a companion."
Could this be the Priestess? For this path, combined with the paths of the
Fool and the Magician, forms the runic letter Tir, which means "the Star".
Perhaps, for the word Sunodea can be broken down as follows: SUN: the Sun,
illumination; OD: the Odic force or secret light; E: He, the Star; A: Aleph,
the Fool; to be read "the fool illuminated by the secret light of the
star."?26?
OM MANI PADME HUM
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? Footnotes ?
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?1?
Formed by the right fist with the thumb protruding from between the middle and
ring fingers.
?2?
Formed by drawing the hands, clenched in fists, next to the eyes, and flinging
the name forth straight out from the head.
?3?
Formed by placing the forefinger of the right hand to the lower lip. This is
also called the Sign of Harpocrates.
?4?
Formed by raising the arms from beside the body to above the shoulders to form
a "V". Compare this sign to the Sign of Apophis and Typhon from the L.V.X.
Ritual.
?5?
Formed by placing the heels of the palms together, above the head, and lowering
them to the throat.
?6?
Formed by lowering the hands to the chest and bring the fingers together.
Quite like the Christian position of prayer.
?7?
For men this sign is formed by placing the right first, thumb extended, forearm
vertical at a right angle to the upper arm, and the left fist, thumb extended
pointing from the groin. This is also called the Sign of Puer from the N.O.X.
as described in Liber V, which reflects the attitudes of Mentu and Khem. For
women, this sign is formed by making a triangle by connecting the thumbs at
their tips and angling the fingertips toward themselves. This mudra is placed
over the uterus.
?8?
This is formed by bringing the hands together as if holding a cup, raise the
cup heavenward as if saluting the sky, slowly bring the hands toward the lips
as if taking a sip from the cup.
?9?
Crowley translates this as "Myself made Perfect" in Liber Samech.A.5. however,
Budge in his The Book of the Dead states that Un-Nefer is the name of Osiris in
his faculty as the judge and ruler of the dead in the Underworld. The name
probably means "good being". In the Chapter XV of the Papyrus of Ani we find
the following: "1. Praise be unto thee, O Osiris, the Lord of Eternity, Un-
Nefer, Heru-Khuti [Harmakhis], whose forms are manifold, whose attributes
majestic,..." Budge, The Book of the Dead, p. 490.
?10?
The Judgment Scene in the Theban recension of the Book of the Dead reveals the
belief in the existence of a tri-formed monster, part crocodile, part lion, and
part hippopotamus, whom the Egyptians called Am-mit i.e. "The Eater of the
Dead" and who lived in Amenta; her place is by the side of the scales wherein
the heart is weighed, and it is clear that such hearts as have failed to
balance the feather of Maat were devoured by her." Budge, The Book of the Dead,
p. 198-9.
?11?
"Amenta was originally the place where the sun set, but subsequently the name
was applied to all the cemeteries which were built in the stony plateaus and
mountains on the western bank of the Nile." Budge, The Book of the Dead, p.202.
?12?
"4. ...I know thee, I know thy name, I know the names of the forty-two gods who
live with thee 5. in this Hall of Maati, who live by keeping ward over sinners,
and who feed upon their blood 6. on the day when the consciences of men are
reckoned up in the presence of the god Un-Nefer. In truth thy name is "Rehti-
Merti-Nebti-Maati" [ie: the two women, the two eyes, the two ladies of Maati].
?13?
The sign of the feather is to be drawn first in the NE, vibrating Rehti,
continue to the SE, then SW, and so on. Having returned to the NE, make the
zenith of the octohedron, vibrating Nu, continuing to touch the point in the
SW. From there moving to the nadir, vibrate Had and return to the NE. From
there move to the SE and touch the existing point. As you move to the NW touch
the nadir while reciting the phrase "By that mouth which utters." Upon
reaching the NW return to the SE by way of the zenith while reciting the phrase
"and that mouth which receives". Finish in the SE uttering "I seal the
Vision."
?14?
On the word "Ipsos" imagine the form which has been constructed (the
octohedron) on the tip of an arrow. Draw your bow and release it toward its
intended destination.
?15?
See A.E. Crowley's Magick, Appendix II, point 5. The Word of the Aeon of
Osiris, the past Aeon, was THELEMA; the Word of the present Aeon, that of
Horus, is ABRAHADABRA; and the Word of the future Aeon, that of Maat, is IPSOS.
?16?
NU - B - TI = Bayt (The Magus) in Nuit.
?17?
The gematria of ABRAHADABRA + NUBTI + THELEMA + AGAPE + NEMA. One interesting
note is that Crowley gives the value of AMEN as 91 in Liber CDXVIII, in the
comment to the Call of the 29th Aethyr.
?18?
The world of the purely material: void of the presence of the divine. The
Qliphoth or demonic realms.
?19?
The scintillating path from absolute unity to manifestation. The numerical
values of the Hebrew letters attributed to the paths of the cabalistic Tree of
Life which show the flow of energy from the Godhead to our world. [From Kether
-> Chockmah -> ... -> Malkuth (if the path from Binah to Chesed be taken as =
3. For Gimel connects the Arikh Anpin with Zauir Anpin" Crowley, Sepher
Sephiroth) This is the path formed by Aleph(1) + Dallet(4) + Gimel(3) +
Teth(9) + Lamed (30) + Nun(50) + Peh(80) + Resh(200) + Tau(400).]
?20?
I wonder about this myself because, though Simon's knowledge of Hebrew far
excels my own, I know that the name he speaks of is Tahumiel (Tau - Aleph - Vav
- Mem - Yod - Aleph - Lamed = 400 + 1 + 6 + 40 + 10 + 1 + 30 = 488). I think
Simon's point here is not gematria, but rather that the ultimate degradation of
the Godhead is to perceive it as a dualism of God/Satan or Good vs. Evil. And
the reversal of the AMEN is the magus' way of emphasizing this awareness.
?21?
Though it would be nice if the Flaming Sword of Genesis.III.24 was indeed equal
to 777, the sum of the letters on the paths from Kether to Malkuth as discussed
above but unfortunately, that is not the case, the numeration of the Flaming
sword of the Cherubim is 259 [= Lamed(30) + Heh(5) + Teth(9) + Heh(5) +
Cheth(8) + Resh(200) + Bayt (2)]. It is unfortunate that this is so, however,
it does not diminish the power of the ritual nor the beauty of its symmetry.
?22?
One of the O.T.O. rituals (Lesser Banishing Ritual). I should point out that
this Journal was written through the sponsorship of the Rising Aeon Camp of the
O.T.O. and that Simon the Scribe, though affiliated with the camp, holds
Crowley in as much scorn as do I.
?23?
This particular phrase and numeration come from Liber AL.III.19.
?24?
The tarot card The Sun is attributed to the Hebrew letter: Resh (200).
?25?
ABRAHADABRA(418) + IPSOS(696) + THELEMA(93) + AGAPE(93) + SUNODEA(196) = 1496
?26?
Here Simon refers to the tarot card, The Fool, representing puissant innocence.
The pure, clear channel for the Spirit. The other titles which follow: The
Magician, The Priestess, and The Star. Unfortunately for Simon's breakdown of
SUNODEA, only Crowley attributes The Star to the Hebrew letter Heh, most
authors leave it attribution Tzaddi.
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