INTERPRETING A MAGICAL DIAGRAM

This 16th - 17th century magical diagram, which i s the record of a

r i t u a l working, xives us a glimpse i n t o t h e consciousness of the pract-
i c i n g ceremonial magician.
Adverse propaganda a d negative superstitious prejudices have combined
t o paint a picture i n most peoples minds of h o r r i f i c abominable cere-
monies and atrocious barbaric practices being used by oeremonial magic-
izns i n t h e i r conjurations. However we have here ari example which should
help t o dispel some of these disturbed imaginings. .ire f i n d behind t h i s
r i t u a l t e x t , a pure highly s ~ i r i t u a lindividual, seeking through h i s
ceremoninl m&sic, t o mske contact with the s p i r i t u a l realm, through h i s
iainersion i n "Ue Divine.
The diagram c o n s i s t s of a t r i p l e c i r c l e , surrounded o r sealed a t .';he
four q u a r t e r s by four s i g i l s i n c i r c u l e r form. These bear a r e l a t i o n s h i p
i n s t r u c t u r e t o t h e pentacles from the Grezter Key of Solonon. The o u t e r
r i n g of t h e t r i p l e concentric c i r c l e s , has a seven f o l d s p i r a l t e x t ,
;.~hichi s a p e t i t i o n t o the Divine i n 811 h i s m z n i f e s t ~ t i o n s ,f o r help
i n t h e vrork of contacting a d bindin* s p i r i t s . This i s a ?ov~erful
invocation of fourteen ;lames of God ?twice t h e seven s p i r a l s of t h e t e x t )
t h e >-rchzngels 2nd Angels, f o r help i n the t a s k of "subduing o r binding"
t h e s p i r i t , o r r a t h e r aerhaps as vre should now see i t , of e n t e r i n g
consciously i n t o t h e s p i r i t u a l world.

0 Father of Heaven, One God i n Substance and Three i n Persons,

who s u f f e r e d Adam and Eve, me and more t o s i n , and t h y s e l f t o be c r u c i f i e d
f o r our s i n s , I ask and beseech thee by a l l suppliant means and by t h e
v i r t u e of t h y most holy names h771' : Iah 3' : Iava 8 ) K' : Esch vfi
:
Eheie 3'
n w
: Iod Tetragrammzton i7'lil'
~ ' 3 7 ~ : m. $8 : mourn Gibor 3 3'1 ~ l i l:$
' Tetra ammeton Elohim
~b \ + ~
Eloah
Tetragramaton Sabaoth n l f i 2 9 \ab 2 Elohim Sabaoth h'l l y b fi S $ :
Sadai "l\U : Agla and by t h y most reverent name Ihesus t h a t thou
vould permit t h i s s p i r i t here appeared within t h i s c i r c l e t o show himself
v i s a b l y t o my s i g h t , firmly t o be here bound and n e i t h e r t o depart nor
" a l t e r h i s personal appearance t i l l I s h a l l command him, but t r u l y t o
?erform whatsoever I s h a l l command him without any hurt t o my person o r
any of t h y creatures, by t h e v i r t u e of thy omnipotent power, through t h y
holy names, numbers and holy characters here com?osed, because thou h a s t
s a i d t h a t i n t h e v i r t u e of stones, herbs and by t h e v i r t u e of t h y most
holv names, thou givest power of binding and loosening of s p i r i t s by t h y
l r o n d e ~ f u lormipotency Amen :. J nX :
0 High Deity and most merciful Father have mercy upon me, a l b e i t
I am t r u l y t h y servsnt, c l a r i f y my mind Oh Lord, with t h e splendour of
t h y heavenly wisdom and ,pant me a firm f z i t h whereby I may subdue t h i s
s p i r i t here appeared and so dignify t h i s present c i r c l e with t h y
heavenly power and strength, t h a t i t may be a firm a d sure bond whereby
t o bind t h i s s p i r i t here appeared, t o hold his obedience t r u l y t o t h e
present c a l l e r by t h e v i r t u e of t h y most high mysteries, and t h e power
of t h y mighty and potent i n t e l l i g e n c i e s , with t h y c e l e s t i a l and elemental
c r e a t u r e s , and t h a t t h i s present c a l l e r may by t h y divine porier through
t h e v i r t u e of t h i s c i r c l e be defended from t h e malaise of t h i s s p i r i t
here appeared :-
S t e r n a l God a s thou givest power t o t h e Archangel I.Iichael, t o
subdue t h e proud and r e b e l l i o u s Lucifer, and d i d s t grant power t o t h y
Apostles of binding and loosening of S p i r i t s , and a s thou d i d s t promise
t o ,give t h e l i k e power t o a l l t h a t should f a i t h f u l l y c a l l i n t h y names,
so grant t h i s bequest, reveal now and evermore t h e s t r e n g t h of t h y l e f t
arm, through t h e power of t h y mighty Angel Camiel, by v i r t u e of thy most
powerful name Elohim Gibor, through t h i s magnificent number Geburah,
t o g e t h e r with t h e v i r t u e of t h e omnipotent name Tetrzgrammafon Sabaoth,
by t h e norrer of t'hy potent Angel Hanael, with t h i s v i c t o r i o u s number
iIa Sambroth, the porrer of a11 other administering Angels : and pat me,
Oh Lord, t h y humble ser=nt, the c a l l e r of t h i s s a i r i t , ever more t h y
,grzce : n t h undoubted f a i t h and always mercy, by t h e porrer of ~ h y right
hend, tlwough t h e v i r t u e of t h y a l l powerful name Z1 : by t h e
~ s s i s t a n c eof t h y most confortable Angel ZacUciel, througa t h e v i r t u e
of t h i s most merciful number Hased I n nomine Jhesu h e n ins
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The next r i n g of t h e c i r c l e has a t e n f o l d s p i r z l i n g invrord t e x t ,
vrhich is adrl-essed t o t h e s p i r i t t h a t i s b e i n s invoked. The p e t i t i o n e r
conr.;znds t h e s p i r i t t o be bound by t h e t h i r t e e n Xames of God, by t h e
v i r t u e of t h e i n n e r connection between t h e s o u l of t h e c a l l e r 2nd t h e
s a i r i t u a l . T h i s p e t i t i o n i s a statement of t h e s t a g e of consciousness
of t h e magicicin, a s he l i s t s t h e v a r i o u s a s p e c t s of t h e s p i r i t u a l of
which he has awareness, and through t h i s a ~ r a r e n e s shas a g r e z t e r i n n e r
s t r e n g t h t h a n t h e s p i r i t he c a l l s b e f o r e him. ile can t h u s s e e i n t h i s ,
q-:ite c l e a r l y , t h a t t h e magician has become aware o f , perhaps through
a l o n z period of t r a i n i n g and p r e p a r a t i o n , a t one l e v e l o f h i 3 conscious-
n e s s , of t h e a r c h i t e c t u r e of t h e s p i r i t u a l world, znd no?! seeks through
a c o n t r o l l e d s ? i r i t u s l v i s i o n , t o have a d i r e c t encounter i n c o ~ s c i o u s -
n e s s with t h e s p i r i t u a l world. This i s not a magical o p e r a t i o n of
s e l f i s h ?over but one of a n open s e a r c h i n g f o r d i r e c t s p i r i t u a l exper-
ience.

I n t h e n m e s of t h e 3 t e r n a l l i v i n r ~end omnipotent God n 1 i l ' :

.idla K Y 3 K : I c h il' : I a v a A t 1 X ' : a e i e 3' % : Iod ? e t r a s z ~ m a t o n
';r r n ' ' . T e t r c ~ z m n z t o nZlohim h' n 7 K n l ir ' : zlohirn Gibor
71.1 h ' ' n $ ~: Elosh TI l+x Tetragrammoton Sabaoth n\ k! l Y ill 9'
2lohim Jabnoth n \ X 12 0 '7 $3 : Sadzy 'f : *donai ileleck ' 7 :
t h o u s p i r i t h e r e zppeared r r i t h i n t h i s c i r c l e by t h e v i r t u e of me t h e
c c ~ l l e r , c r e n t u r e znd t h e Imege of God, bj t h e v i r t u e o f this. bond,
prayer and h o l y c h a r a c t e r s , be thou h e r e c o n s t r a i n e d i n t h e nane of t h e
Oa:her, Sun m d Iioly Ghost, t o remain v i s i b l y and r e a l l y i n a ? a i r form
and n o t d e g ~ z tu n t i l I s h c l l l i c e n c e t h e e and t o znstrer and obey me
t r u l y 2nd r e a d i l y ~ r h a t s o e v e rI s h a l l commmd t h e e , without h u r t i n g of
me o r any o f God's c r e z t u r e s d i r e c t l y o r i n d i r e c t l y , ~ r i t h o u td e l x d i n g
any of my s e n s e s , and hereunto be thou bound by t h e e t e r n a l God t o
r;hom t h e f r a t e r n i t y of a l l l i v i n g c r e a t u r e s h a t h b e l o n g e s t , a t xhose
going f o r t h t h e i n g e l s a r e dropped down, t h e e a r t h it opened and t h e
depths z r e shaken.
Be t h o u bound bj t h e t r u e l i o n of t h e tri'oe o f J u d A ?rho h a t h
broken dotrn t h e e and t h y power : b;r t h a t b l e s s e d body wherein t h e f u l n e s s
of D i e t y doth c o r a o r e a l l y h a b i t by t h e i n c a r n a t i o n o f o u r Lord and Savour
I h e s u s C h r i s t e by h i s b i r t h and m i r a c l e s : by h i s m y s t i c a l and most
p o t ~ e r f u lsacrament, by h i s descension i n t o H e l l and overcoming d e a t h :
by h i s r e s u r r e c t i o n and g l o r i o u s ascension : by h i s triumphant coning
i n t h e clouds when h e s h a l l judge a l l according t o t h e i r wcrks.
By t h e seven most p e r f e c t g i f t s of t h e Holy Ghost whereso I h e s u s
C h r i s t h z t h endured, and by t h e v i r t u e of a l l t h e hidden m y s t e r i e s of
huns.n r e d e n ~ p t i o n , and by a l l t h e powers and v i r t u e s c o n t a i n e d i n
i n d i v i d u a l d i g n i t y , by t h e v i r t u e of a l l t h e s e g l o r i o u s names be thou
h e r e bound i n nomine I h e s u 3 O X : be thou h e r e bound by t h e seven
mighty Angels s t z n d i n g b e f o r e t h e Face of Sod, and by 311 t h e S u p e r i o r
C e l e s t i a l f o r c e s contained i n t h e I n t e l l e c t u a l Heavens, by 811
I n t e l l i g e n c i e s and P r e s i d z n t s of a l l C c l e s t i a l a c t s a d t h e i r v i r t u e s ,
by a l l t h e h o l y o r d e r s and Z i e r a r c h i e e of Angels and a l e s s e d S a i n t s ,
be t h o u h e r e bound by t h e v i r t u e s of Melachin t o whom power i s given t o
bind t h y k i n g s i n chzins znd your n o b l e s i n chains of i r o n ; b ~ thou
bound by a l l t h e f i x e d s t a r s and t h e i r v i r t u e s , by t h e seven wandericg
p l a n e t s and t h e i r i n f l u e n c e s and by a l l t h e he?-venly numbers, f i g u r e s
and c h a r a c t e r s beazing f o r c e ; be thou bound by t h e f o u r elements and
by t h e power of a l l v i A u e s proceeding from t h e c r e a t w e s commixt

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thereof. I say? be thou here bound by t h e v i r t u e of e l 1 I n f e r n a l
?o:rers and t h e i r i n s u f f e r a b l e pains rrhich here a r e i r n n e d i ~ t e l 2t o be
a f f l i c t e d upon thee a thousand f o l d u n t i l thou be t r u l y c'cedient unto
me t h y c a l l e r i n nomine Ihesu
F i a t + 3 i a t + F i a t + Amen + .hen + Amen +

The t h i r d innernost r i n g has t h e names of t h e s e p h i r o t h i n Yebrew.

I n t h e centre of t h i s diagram a l a r g e t r i a n g l e i s d r a m such t'nzt i t s
v e r t i c e s touch on t h e boundary of t h e f i r s t r i n g of t e x t . The s i d e s of
t h e t r i a g l e contain nine ;lames of t h e Archangels of the S e p h i r o ~ h , from
Eetatron t o Gabriel, l e a v i n g out t h e Nalckuth Archangel.
; l i t h i n t h e angles of t h e t r i a n g l e a r e t h r e e c i r c l e s each contzining
s p b o l a of t h e four, sir and seven pointed s t a r s . The four f o l d s t a r
has t h e iIames of t h e Angels of t h e f o u r elements - T h a r s i s , Sorath, A r i e l
and Xerub, around t h e c e n t r a l Tetragramriaton. T h e s i x p o i n t e d s t a r hes
Adonoi m i t t e n within i t , end t h e seven pointed s t a r hes Ararita.
Inscribed i n t h e t r i a n g l e i s a c i r c l e with e i g h t naaes of God, and f i n a l -
l y xi-lhin t h i s c i r c l e t h e pentzngle with Tetraganiha$on i n i t s anijles,
~.nciz t i t s centre a c i r c l e with i n v e r t e d t r i z n g l e .

This ma,aical d i e g z m thus bears within it t h e record of a r i t u s l vrorking,

rrhich i s i n i t s e l f t h e d i s t i l l a t i o n of t h e Western Ilagical t r o d i t i o n .
The four o u t e r c i r c l e s a r e t h e p o i n t of entry, t h e point of contact rrith
t h e mundane world, t h e four d i r e c t i o n s of space, t h e four elements. The
magician's consciousness s t a n d s f i r m l y i n t h e physical mundae world but
irhen he e r e c t s t h e s e f o u r s i g i l s he begins t o open a door i n t o t h e h i c h a r
realms of h i s being. He then must s t e p i n t o t h e world of t h e Soul.
I n consciousnesn he follows t h e f i r s t s p i r a l i n g t e x t inwaras through i t s
seven c i r c l i n g s , c a l l i n g on t h e d i f f e r e n t t!ames of God, invoking a contact
rrith t h e s g i r i t u a l . A t t h e c l o s e of t h i s f i r s t immersion, he touches upon
t h e outer v e r t i c e s of t h e Triangle. He has been l e z d from t h e o u t e r f o u r
foldness of t h e mundane world, t o a f i r s t perception of t h e t h r e e f o l d
inner world. But he must p e n e t r a t e deeper t o a f u l l awareness of t h i s
r e a l n of t h e T r i n i t y . And so he c a l l s on t h e s p i r i t within throuzh t h e
second c i r c l i n g . Dovm through t e n c i r c l e s , he experiences h i s inner
:rholeness, t h e i n t e g r a t i o n of his s o u l t h a t has been zcheived through
previous s p i r i t u a l work, and beczuse of this s t a n d s inwardly s t r o n g
enough t o e n t e r t h e s p i r i t u a l world, t o "bind t h e s p i r i t " , t o have and
hold a t r u e encounter with t h e s p i r i t u a l world i n wide asrake, e-~erydcy
consciousness. F i n a l l y t h e t h i r d znd l a s t c i r c l e i s entered-that of t h e
Sephiroth.
Then having t r a v e r s e d t h e t h r e e f o l d c i r c l i n g s of t h e Soul, he e n t e r s t h e
s p i r i t u a l within t h e c e n t r a l Triangle.
I n t h i s he f i n d s t h e IIine orders of Archangels connected with t h e
S e ~ h i r o t h , e x c e p t i n g1.Ialckuth of which Iian i s i n essence t h e regreaentat-
i v e s o i r i t . He experiences t h e s p i r i t s behind t h e f o u r elenents, and
within t h e sixfoldness and sevenfoldness, and f i n a l l y i n t h e pentagram
he connects with t h e s p i r i t u a l archetype of t h e I.iicrocosm, hIan t h e
Pentzgrarn, immersed i n t h e f o u r l e t t e r e d lrame of God, t h e Tetragammaton.
Thus we f i n d i n t h i s d i s g m not some h o r r i f i c , ~5-17, f e a r f u l , cerenony
but t h e record of a very pure and s p i r i t u a l working. A path, a quest
f o r s p i r i t u a l enlishtennent.
@ Adzm 1,lcLezn
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