Greetings,

I did not to post this in the Arbatel thread since my questions don't deal explicitly with the text, but rather with any methods used to call forth the Olympic spirits . I have been working on evoking these spirits with mixed results. I am always experimenting with new methods as the simplicity of the Arbatel instructions are both a blessing and a curse.

First let me outline my practice which is a mix and match of traditions and schools:

I prefer to work at night, thus I use the last planetary hour of the Spirit in question (usually c. 3am). I use salt to mark the physical circle and mark the cardinal locations with extreme precision (proper orientation is important in my practice). I also mark the topocentric location (azimuth) of the corresponding planet with the Spirit's sigil on the circumference of the circle. This gives me a specific location where to direct the conjuration and focus my will, I don't use a scrying mirror or a triangle.

The practice begins with the MP, LBRP, LBRH, and (if needed) a charging of the astral sphere using the divine names. I perform the Akephalon Invocation ( Bornless Ritual with the original nomina barbara from the Greek Magical Papyri). For about 15 to 20min, I chant a Sanskrit Planetary Mantra to align and tune myself and my working space to the appropriate planetary energy. This is followed by the conjuration to evoke the spirit. I started using the original Latin and English translation of the Arbatel invocation, but have now switched to the first conjuration of the Greater Key. Once the Olympic presence is felt, I make my petitions, give them the license to depart, and then close with the LBRP. That pretty much sums up my practice in a nutshell.

The times I consider successful are when a distinct chill electrifies my spine and I can "see" astral shadows lingering about the circle. The closest I came to a physical manifestation was with Phaleg when the whole room outside my immediate sphere filled with a red-colored fog/light (too dense to be light, too thin to be fog (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif) )...but silence! Occasionally I hear strange sounds, but nothing intelligible from the spirits themselves.

I'd appreciate any comments or critiques of my practice and please, please, share what you have found useful.

Here are some more direct questions::

1. Have you found any correlation b/w success of the operation and the phase of the moon? (not just with Phul, but with any of the other governors).
2. Lighting! How do you light up your ritual area, and how does the lighting affect the manifestation? ( I have experimented with 1 candle, 4 candles, oil lamp, and no light)
3. Should I abandon the Planetary Mantra in favor of a planetary invocation using the GHR? Can I do both, or does this seem like over-kill, perhaps focusing too much on the planet and not the Spirit itself?
4. Should one evoke the Spirits using their offices rather than their names(i.e. Governor of Sol, etc. ) ? From what I've heard it seems the names to which they respond tend to change.
5. Is a welcoming of the Spirit necessary (such as in the Goetia)? This is not mentioned in the Arbatel, but can perhaps explain why I have been unable to converse with these beings despite their apparent presence.
6. Lastly, what can I do to enter into conversation with the spirits????

Thanks in advance.

This post has been edited by Faustopheles: Feb 15 2007, 12:21 AM

1. Have you found any correlation b/w success of the operation and the phase of the moon? (not just with Phul, but with any of the other governors).

Full moon and waxing moon around full seem good. Even waning while still close to full. After the halfway waning point its not so good.

2. Lighting! How do you light up your ritual area, and how does the lighting affect the manifestation? ( I have experimented with 1 candle, 4 candles, oil lamp, and no light)

I do my rituals outdoors if the weather allows. I use candles and the burning sacrifice bowl. I am not above putting the flood light on to help out. Its still dark. When doing certain things the flood light goes out.

3. Should I abandon the Planetary Mantra in favor of a planetary invocation using the GHR? Can I do both, or does this seem like over-kill, perhaps focusing too much on the planet and not the Spirit itself?

It is good to view things from more than one angle.

4. Should one evoke the Spirits using their offices rather than their names(i.e. Governor of Sol, etc. ) ? From what I've heard it seems the names to which they respond tend to change.

I would evoke by names only.

5. Is a welcoming of the Spirit necessary (such as in the Goetia)? This is not mentioned in the Arbatel, but can perhaps explain why I have been unable to converse with these beings despite their apparent presence.


I think it’s a good idea. Also a nice sacrifice is an excellent idea.

6. Lastly, what can I do to enter into conversation with the spirits????

Just talk to them like you would a human. They use telepathy. You will understand their response.


I can tell that you are thinking for yourself and have a strong Ceremonial background.

Peace!

This post has been edited by Edunpanna: Feb 15 2007, 02:21 AM

Greetings Edunpanna,

Thanks for the reply.

I have also noticed better results closer to full moons. When dealing with planetary energies do you consider the proximity of the planet to the moon, as perhaps a way of amplifying it's presence?

Also, what offerings would be appropriate for an Olympic Spirit?..as I recall the Arbatel does not mention any specific offerings. Personally I don't like to make offerings/sacrifices as this establishes a non-existent hierarchy between my higher self and the spirit, but I guess I can see it as an act of cordial exchange.

1. Have you found any correlation b/w success of the operation and the phase of the moon? (not just with Phul, but with any of the other governors).
Yes. Phul is odd about it too. I first contacted her during a waxing moon. I asked about the best time for contact, what I was told was anytime was fine but Mondays were the best. Cool, but the next time I evoked Phul was during the waining moon and contact was extremely difficult. When the spirit finally arrived it refused to answer any of my questions and would only respond that the moon was waning and it wanted to leave.

2. Lighting! How do you light up your ritual area, and how does the lighting affect the manifestation? ( I have experimented with 1 candle, 4 candles, oil lamp, and no light)
Single candle or at max three. I find the less light the better. Just need enough to barely see. Works for me anyway.

3. Should I abandon the Planetary Mantra in favor of a planetary invocation using the GHR? Can I do both, or does this seem like over-kill, perhaps focusing too much on the planet and not the Spirit itself?
No clue, try it and see.

4. Should one evoke the Spirits using their offices rather than their names(i.e. Governor of Sol, etc. ) ? From what I've heard it seems the names to which they respond tend to change.
I've always used both so not sure.

5. Is a welcoming of the Spirit necessary (such as in the Goetia)? This is not mentioned in the Arbatel, but can perhaps explain why I have been unable to converse with these beings despite their apparent presence.
Yes, it's only polite.

6. Lastly, what can I do to enter into conversation with the spirits????
I am not sure I understand your question. Once they are before you just start asking questions.


As for a sacrifice, candles are good as well as appropriate incense. Check something like 777 and offer the planetary fruit or flowers. Or ask them what they would like.

NOTE: am moving this thread to the grimories forum...

I have never done an evocation solely of an Olympic, nor am I familiar with the Arbatel, but I have some suggestions based on various bits of information that have been imparted to me over the years and my general approach to planetary workings. They may be useful things to consider in your experiments.

In terms of decorating the temple I would use appropriate 777 correspondences for the sphere in question, e.g. an appropriate number of candles in the correct colour, anointed with an appropriate oil. Any corresponding gemstones I might have would be on the altar along with appropriate herbs strewn around the place and a planetary incense burning. I would also play music appropriate to the sphere, i.e. anything dedicated to or inspired by the Powers in question (you can't go wrong with a copy of Holst's "The Planets" for such things...cheap too). If I am feeling really creative occasionally I have picked up cheap fabrics from a local store and made tabards in the planetary colour to wear over normal temple attire.

In terms of time I would use the appropriate planetary hour, and ideally select a time when the planet in question is unaspected by any others or is positively aspected with either the Sun or Moon alone. I would avoid periods when the Moon is VOC for all evocations if possible. Additionally a period of waxing Moon would be preferable, but all these factors are ideals. I would definitely try and avoid any time when the planet in question is inconjunct with the Sun.

In terms of the operation itself I have a couple of suggestions. I think your idea of using a GHR is a good one. I would also consider the possibility of Opening By Watchtower. I know that the Olympics are aerial spirits, but I would do this in order to make use of a Spirit Chain. There are two options I can think of:

1) A traditional qabalistic chain running right down to the Olympic Spirit in question.
2) An Enochian chain, calling on Carmara, Hagonel and the appropriate "B" for the hour in question, then calling on the Seniors of the planet in question, with the request that they allow the Spirit to attend you quickly and without undue hinderance of passage.

This second one may seem odd, but based on things I have been told in the past it could prove to be effective in terms of strengthening your manifestation, which seems to be the objective here.

2 things, well make that 3

1 - the moon in alignment with a planet is considered a blockage not an amplifier - see the results of the tests done ages ago with the salts - it was on the laura lee program with rick somebody - i put up a link to it somewhere out here - 'planetary correspondences and their metals and their days and why' kind of thing

and

2 - any lunar-affected planetary energy (diety, etc) is going to be better during the waxing moon than the waning moon, as the energy is more 'positive' toward the appearance of that energy as opposed to being more 'negative' to its appearance

and

3 - most lunar-affected planetary energies will have facets, or faces - hence the times for their arousal

e.

Greetings,

Thanks for all your inputs. All of you have provided excellent insights.

Nero:

When contacting Phul, did you use a Triangle, double Circle (inner for you, outer for spirit), or nothing?

Also how much prep work did you do (in terms of prayers, fasting, meditations)?

I’ve tended to have better results with less light as well. What I really want to do is try the evocation outdoors in a desert where I can see only be the light of the stars and direct the conjurations to the planet.



Yeah, I know sounds weird. I didn’t have straight questions as much as petitions for them to help my workings, I took the manifestation of the red light/fog as an acknowledgment of my petition…but I am striving for a more literal realization of “ visibly and affably speaking unto me with a voice clear and intelligible without any ambiguity”. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

J*S:

Man, some good advice here.

First, in terms of Temple decorations, I keep things rather bare. For me the temple is my circle which I spend well over an hour constructing as a large floor mandala specific for the time/date of the working. One thing your insights made me think of, is the possibility of using colored salt (in accordance with the sphere of the Spirit)…hmmm anyone tried this?

I always maintain to the planetary date and time, but have been less cautious of the astrological aspects…thanks for pointing that out. Also any ideas regarding the position of the planet above or below the horizon?

I like the Chain the of command idea, though I’ve always seen the Opening by Watchtower as a more external invocation while the Bornless Ritual is internal and deals with the awakening the divine within the Magician. It’s a question of where you want the authority to stem from. Though, I don’t see a reason as to why both could not be used.

I suppose a Kabbalistic Chain of command can be worked into the second conjuration, calling on the divine names and angels of the sephirot above the one I am dealing with. Does this sound legit? I am not dealing with Enochians as of now, and would not feel comfortable including them in my workings.


Esoterica:



Wow, I would have thought it was the other way around…thanks for clearing that up. I will search for these “salt tests”.

If a planet-lunar conjunction is detrimental to the working, would an opposition help? I ask because it seems like it would place you at the pivot of this strong aspect. I know this goes against astrological interpretations of oppositions as malific, but they undoubtedly produce a distinct exchange of energy that could perhaps be channeled through the Magician to command the planetary spirit.



Once again, thanks everyone.

This post has been edited by Faustopheles: Feb 16 2007, 03:34 PM

You know, I have never paid attention to that, although I know it is important in some systems where having the planet above the horizon (ideally overhead) is considered the optimum time. Perhaps I should pay attention to it in future. I guess experimentation is the key. Let us know if you try this and find it improves your results.




The OBW is a good prerequisite for contacting any non-sublunar spirits. If you want to do the Bornless too then I would suggest OBW-Bornless-Evocation in that order. The reason you want to do it in this case is that if you are going to use the Spirit Chain you want them to be able to hear you! Additionally, I have found that spirits (even little domestic spirits and the like) manifest to physical appearance much more easily with the Watchtowers open.




Bang on! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/spoton.gif)