Equipment Options

I have a really retarded question. As I stated in an earlier post I am new to goetia but not to ceremonial magick. I was wondering how much of the equipment from the Goetia is really essential to get results from this kind of evocation.

I have a circle with the holy names on it. Its not the same form and design as the one from the lesser keys however(its my own design).

I am also making a triangle of art with a skrying mirror on it. So the triangle won't be the floor variety as in the Book.

As for the bass box, sword, and everything else, I don't have them. All I have is standard Golden Dawn equipment(minus the sword).

So do you think all the trappings are essential? Would it not be successful without following it to the "T"?

I was wondering how much of the equipment from the Goetia is really essential to get results from this kind of evocation.

Each of the tools has a specific function, none of them have a merely symbolic value. Sometimes the function is esoteric (as with the circle, the belt, the ring) and sometimes it is entirely practical (you need to dangle that box from something), but all are essential to the performance. They are not essential to calling spirits, making pacts, or otherwise performing magic, but they are all important parts of the Goetia ceremony. Personally I feel that if you believe you can conjure your own spirits using your own tools and ceremonies, it is better to do that than to do Goetia halfway while imagining you have the rest of the requisites.

You need nine basic items...

1. The circle, and the place to put it. I use a large rug, and fortunately have enjoyed homes of sufficient size to have a spare room for this sort of thing. You need a space at least 15 feet across (better if it at least 20) to accomodate the nine foot circle, the candles, and the triangle with its tip about five feet from the perimeter. I light the candles even for daylight ceremonies.

2. The vestments. White linen is easily obtained from a fabric supplier online, and it is a simple thing to stitch it or have it sewn by a tailor. A hat (mine is absurdly tall and pointed) is also needed.

3. A belt of lion's skin. Mine came from an Ethiopian male lion. You might be interested to know that there is an object called "The Magic Belt of Poland" made from lion's skin bearing nine gold plates engraved with the names. Once, before using this item and experimenting with different methods, I found that the spirit was able to take control over my voice and make it sound like the spirit's own voice. Since then I've used the belt and not had the problem occur again.

4. The hexagram. Depending on which version of the text you use, this is instructed to be made from brass or calf's skin. I use the skin of a red calf, as using brass for the hexagram and leather for the seal on the vessel makes little sense. The hexagram is displayed to force the spirit to assume the form of its office and to make it swear to abide by the rules. Without the oath, you're just taking the spirit's word for it no matter what it agrees to do, but if it agrees under oath and then fails, into the box it goes.

5. The "rod or sword." You can buy one easily, or cut yourself a hazel stick. Unless you're needing the box, this tends to serve very little purpose.

6. The brazier. I use a brass razier on a small tripod, the whole being entirely unremarkable. Avoid "ritual incense burners" because you'll need something big enough to actually burn the box to dust if necessary.

7. The Box. I use sulphur and assafoetida, a steel chain, and an ebony box. These are only very rarely needed.

8. The ring. Mine is 18k with a flawless diamond, being an alloy of gold and silver. You can just as well use a bit of silver (avoid plated metals) and engrave the correct design. Lacking this item leads to vomiting on occasion.

9. The seal of the spirit. These are made in metals. You can have them engraved (or do it yourself with a nail or graver), but mine are cast using a lost-wax procedure. I use 24k and fine silver, copper, lead, tin, and mercury sulfide as required. You may not want to invest in pure gold, but silver is cheap and comes in plates and medallions, and for copper you can hammer pipes to shape and engrave them. lead can be melted and poured into a simple plaster mould from fishing weights over a barbecue grill. It takes some tenacity but it is not beyond your reach.

Having used the variant forms and the originals in comparative experiments, i can say with certainty that there is nothing quite like the ceremony in its original form, and no other system of evocation known to me has come even remotely close in terms of effect. The books are available. You try it if it's what you want to do. I judge by the results... earthquakes, a vein of gold wide as the Missouri river, foreknowledge of wars, rewards and wonders of all sorts. These are the things that make the work interesting and the results of Goetia in its true form. if you can get that with something else, something easier, have at! but do compare the sort of results the "alternate" methods produce with those described in the text, which are direct, literal, and entirely within the power of the spirits to perform.