Olympic Evocations Options

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

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.

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.

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:

- 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

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