Energy Work, Beyond Kundalini Options

A lot of study and practice has gone into “energy work” – with specific regard to raising energy through the chakras from the root chakra up to the crown chakra. In such work, one consciously ascends energy upwards.

I often have thought that the focus of such work was one-sided.



Some questions I have asked myself are:


1. Why does that process for the ascension of energy (which is commonly called “raising kundalini” not have a complementary exercise – which here I will reference the descension of energy?


2. Can an exercise be crafted that progresses in the other direction – start at, and bringing energy from, the crown chakra down to the root chakra?


3. And can an exercise be crafted such that one incorporates both processes – descension and ascension – establishing a complete circuit through which one’s energy smoothly flows?


While considering this issue, and during my studies of various magickal pathways that deal with the descension of energy work, I came across a ritual from the Ogdoadic paradigm of the Aurum Solis – called Clavis Rei (The Rousing of The Citadels).

Beyond the difference of direction according to which one’s energy flows, there are some notable differences to the ritual compared to the familiar kundalini raising exercise. i.e. The Clavis Rei is not the kundalini exercise in reverse.

The first notable difference is that while the traditional kundalini raising exercise enables one to ascend energy through seven chakras, one descends energy through six centers. The six centers of the Clavis Rei have unique names, are associated with colors that differ in type and order compared to the seven colors of the traditional kundalini exercise, and while some are in similar locations, some differ in location to the typical chakras.

From top to bottom, the six centers, their names, their locations, and their colors are:

The First Citadel

Name: Corona Flammae
Location: above the crown of the head
Color: intense brilliance, like burning magnesium

The Second Citadel

Name: Uncia Coeli
Location: projects from the brow in a hemisphere
Color: glimmering soft dove-grey

The Third Citadel

Name: Flos Abysmi
Location: completely external to the throat
Color: biollowing intense mid-purple

The Fourth Citadel

Name: Orbis Solis
Location: projects from the heart in a hemisphere
Color: pulsating radiant yellow

The Fifth Citadel

Name: Cornua Lunae
Location: projects from the genitals in a hemisphere
Color: pure lavender, radiant and fast swirling

The Sixth Citadel

Name: Instita Splendens
Location: between the insteps, hemisphere over and hemisphere below ground
Color: seven prismatic colors, swirling lazily and shimmering.

Each are also activated according to the vibration of a specific word or phrase.



I will post the entire account of the ritual here for consideration and discussion. To maximize comprehension of posture and breathing, I first will post documents that explain those aspects of this ritual.


The Wand Posture

The Want Posture is normal and well-balanced standing position. The head is held erect, the shoulders are dropped back so that they are neither drooping nor held rigidly square. The arms hang buy the sides with a slight natural curve at the elbow; the feet are placed side by side, the toes being turned neither in nor out. If this posture is correctly maintained, it should be possible to take a step forward with either foot as required, without shifting the weight.

Rhythmic Breath

Begin by counting your heartbeats. At first, it may be difficult to concentrate upon the heartbeat, so keep away while practicing form sounds such as ticking clock or strongly rhythmic music. In time you will be able to disregard sounds which do not relate to what you are doing.

When you first begin to concentrate upon your heartbeat, it may slow down to some extent before steadying itself. This is quite normal, and with more practice will cease to occur.

The rhythm of this form of breathing consists in taking the breath in during a count of 6 heartbeats, holding the breath for a count of 3, exhaling during a count of 6, then counting 3 before beginning to inhale again. The critical point is the count of 3 before beginning to inhale: some students may at first find this pause impossible or distressing. In such a case, strain is to be avoided. A count of 2 heartbeats should then be used, but the characteristic rhythm of the practice should be maintained: this will mean inhaling during a count of 4, holding the breath during a count of 2, exhaling during a count of 4, and thus coming to the pause of 2 heartbeats before again inhaling. In time the standard count will become easy.

When Rhythmic Breathing is achieved, whether 4-2-4-2 or the full 6-3-6-3, it may be used whenever opportunity offers, and certainly should be used when any magickal or meditative practice is undertaken. The intention in Rhythmic Breathing is not, as it may at first seem, to keep attention focused upon counting heartbeats or upon the flow of breath; but to facilitate a total concentration of attention upon other matters in confidence that the Rhythmic Breath, once established, will continue in a smooth and entirely adequate manner for as long as it is needed, without counting, without another conscious thought. A natural, easy flow of rhythmic breathing thus becomes “second nature.”


Clavis Rei (The Rousing of the Citadels)

This ritual has two parts, each of which is a formula.

The First Formula of the Clavis Rei Primae should be a part of daily work for those working within the Aurum Solis Tradition. It should be performed within the protection of the Wards of Adamant, the Aurum Solis equivalent to the Lesser Banishing Ritual of the Pentagram. Another name for Clavis Rei is “The Rousing of the Citadels.” This is one of the fundamental forms of magical practice and is similar to Regardie’s Middle Pillar ritual.

First Formula

(Face East, assume the Wand Posture, develop the rhythmic breath)

1. Visualize the Crown Center, the Corona Flammae, as a sphere of intense whiteness.

2. Exhale, vibrating EN TO PAN (en-toe-pan)

3. Inhale, drawing down a shaft of brilliance from the Corona and formulating the Brow Center, the Uncia Coeli, as a sphere of luminous whiteness.

4. Exhale, vibrating TURANA (too-rah-nah)

5. Inhale. Maintaining awareness of the Corona and the Uncia Coeli, draw down the shaft of brilliance from the Uncia Coeli and formulate the Throat Centre, the Flos Abysmi, as a sphere of luminous whiteness.

6. Exhale, vibrating DESTAPHITHON (day-stah-feet-thone)

7. Inhale. Maintaining awareness of the preceding Centers, draw down the shaft of brilliance from the Flos Abysmi and formulate the Heart Center, the Orbis Solis, as a sphere of luminous whiteness.

8. Exhale, vibrating ONOPHIS (oh-no-fiss)

9. Inhale. Maintaining awareness of the Centers previously established, draw down the shaft of brilliance from the Orbis Solis and formulate the Cornua Lunae, the Genital Center, as a sphere of luminous whiteness.

10. Exhale, vibrating IAO (ee-ah-oh)

11. Inhale. Maintaining awareness of the preceding centers, draw down the shaft of brilliance from the Cornua Lunae and formulate the Institia Splendens, the Feet Center, as a sphere of luminous whiteness.

12. Exhale, vibrating BATH MENIN H’KASTOU (bahth may-neen h-kah-stoo – where the “h” is a breathed aspirate without much vowel sound behind it.)

13. Inhale, visualizing a band of white light emanating from the Institia Splendens, which spirals swiftly upwards in an anticlockwise motion about the Centers and the shaft of brilliance until it reaches the Flos Abysmi, the Throat Center, into which it is entirely assumed and vanishes.

14. Exhale, commencing a shaft strengthening and increasing awareness of Centers.

15. Inhale, visualizing a band of reddish-white light emanating from the Institia Splendens, and at once spiraling swiftly upwards in a clockwise direction about the Centers and the shaft of brilliance until it also reaches the Flos Abysmi, into which it is entirely assumed and vanishes.

The Rousing is a technique of very considerable value. Obviously, it is not and cannot be taken as the sum and substance of magickal training: but it is a powerful and beneficial foundation to magick. It refreshes and invigorates the psyche and stimulates the Centers themselves: it accustoms them to participation in organized work as distinct from the random needs of ordinary life. In this exercise, which is performed essentially within the astral level of the psyche, the interaction which naturally results from the correspondence of the levels is intensified by the use, in visualization, of appropriate colors.

The Centers should be conceived of as spherical concentrations of light and energy (as is found to be most satisfactory in magickal training) approximately five centimeters in diameter. The corona Flammae is above the corwn of the head: the Unica Coeli projects in a hemisphere from the brow. The Flos Abusmi is completely external to the throat; the Orbis Solis projects from the breast in a hemisphere; the Cornua Lunae, broadly speaking, projects in a hemisphere; the midpoint of the Instita Splendens is between the insteps, hemisphere above and hemisphere below ground. These, the Positions Potent of the Centers of Activity, are in no circumstances to be varied.

In order to achieve sound proficiency in the First Formula, the student should develop the technique methodically and carefully in accordance with the following plan of practice. The student should consider his work critically. In the polishing of the exercise he should prefer, before proceeding to a further stage of its development, to continue with the stage in hand if he feels the slightest doubt as to his performance.

First Stage of Practice

The student should use the text of the Rousing as given above, building the Centers in white light only, and forcefully vibrating the Words of Power. To achieve smooth performance of the Caduceus, the student may in this initial stage of practice repeat the sequence 13, 14, and 15 several times (not exceeding 5) to conclude the Rousing.

After a minimum of three weeks of regular practice, the student may proceed to the following:

Second Stage of Practice

Instead of visualizing the Centers of Activity in luminous whiteness as hitherto, the student should now visualize them in color:

Corona Flammae - intense brilliance, like burning magnesium
Uncia Coeli – glimmering soft dove-grey
Flos Abysmi – billowing intense mid-purple
Orbis Solis – pulsating radiant yellow
Cornua Lunae – pure lavender, radiant and fast-swirling
Instita Spendens – seven prismatic colors, swirling lazily and shimmering

The colors for the Crown, Brow, and Throat Centers are drawn from the Atziluthic or Radical Scale – the color for the Heart Center from the Briatic or Prismatic Scale – the color for the Genital center from the Yetziaratic or Contingent Scale – and the colors for the Feet Center from the Assiatic or Iconic Scale. The whole series of colors thus betokening the correspondences of the Centers according to the pattern of the Composite Tree. In this First Formula, the shaft connecting the Centers remains, at every stage, in white light.

After a minimum of three weeks of regular practice, the student may proceed to the following:

Third Stage of Practice

When the student has opened the doorways of interior power by his continuing work, so that he is aware of the real and potent formulation of the Centers in his practice, he should expand the formula to incorporate a threefold vibration of each Word of Power. In this, the Rhythmic Breath, visualization, and vibration are to be correlated in the following manner (the pause at the top and bottom of the breath is taken for granted):

Inhale – formulating the Center

Exhale – vibrating the Word of Power.

Inhale – strengthening the Center

Exhale – vibrating the Word of Power a second time.

Inhale – strengthening the Center further

Exhale - vibrating the Word of Power a third and final time.

Inhale – drawing down the shaft of brilliance rapidly and formulating the next Center


This expanded pattern is employed for each successive Center, and the Rousing is concluded with the Caduceus in the normal manner.

After a minimum of eight weeks of practice, the student may proceed to the final necessary development of the Rousing.

Final Stage of Practice

While formulating or strengthening each Center, at each inhalation let the student inweave with his work a reflection upon the essential cosmic principle to which the Center is referred, as a Center is strengthened. But on each exhalation, while the Center is dynamic and radiant, he must charge it with only the stark utterance of the vibration of the Word of Power.

When this stage has been reached successfully, the Rousing of the Citadels can be considered an efficient instrument for its purpose: continued use can but enhance its benefits.

Clavis Rei Second Formula

The Second Formula uses similar techniques but is used in a very different way. Where the First Formula is used to gain balance and activity through the being, the Second is designed to gather energy at short notice either to bolster the practitioner’s of a particular magickal rite, or as a means to project energy upon a thing, via the Orante Formula. They are broad generalizations, however, and the uses of both formulae will be most clearly gathered from a careful study of their contextual occurrence in the various rites that make up the Work of our Order. Note that no Words of Power are employed with the Second Formula of the Clavis Rei Primae.




Clavis Rei Primae: Second Formula

1. Assume the Wand Posture.

2. Visualize the Corona Flammae as an intense pulsating sphere of white brilliance (rather like burning magnesium).

3. Inhale. As the breath is drawn in, a shaft of brilliance descends from the Corona to the breast, where it expands into a sphere of radiant golden yellow light.

4. Exhale. As the breath is released, the shaft of brilliance descends from the Orbis Solis to the feet, where it expands into a sphere of whiteness, radiant but less brilliant than that at the head.

5. Inhale. As the breath is drawn in, a reflux charge of intense rose-gold flame rises from the Institia Splendens and passes into the Orbis Solis.

6. Exhale. The light rests.

7. The sequence 3 through 6 is repeated five or six times, concentrating on the Orbis Solis. The central solar-nucleus remains quite distinct as a blazing and vibrant inner sun, but emits a powerful radiance which steadily grows until the total sphere of sensation is charged with golden yellow light.

8. Visualize the light radiated by the Orbis Solis forms a three-dimensional ovoid, conceived of as being coextensive with the aura. While the attention is directed to the Orbis Solis and its radiated light, the student should gradually lose awareness of the highest and lowest centers.

Notes:

Want Posture and Rhythmic Breath are maintained throughout this work, but a strict correlation of breath to visualization is necessary only for the repeated portions of the sequence. That particular sequence is repeated five or six times without a break. If the student finds it necessary to re-affirm the Corona Flammae for the recommencement of the sequence, this should be done during the pause at the bottom of the breath in step 6. When proceeding from step 7 (the repetitions of the sequence) to 8, several full breaths may be interposed after the exhalation in 6 - or 8 may be begun immediately after the final exhalation in 6. This is entirely a matter for personal preference.

Greetings Praxis!
My, oh my! *grin* Someone else who has read up on Aurum Solis! I really like their approach and actually prefer their workings over the Golden Dawn or OTO...
Over the past 100+ years alot of misinformation has been published by a variety of occult sources concerning this energy work. The Theosophists used to disclaim any 'downward' flow of energy as being "too grossly material for spiritual attainment". Rubbish! There ARE formulae that are used to activate energy concsiousness in the Qlipphotic realm(s) but like the cycles of water one must involve the whole circuit in order to round out the process! The use of the chakras "below" the root were used to denote dealing with dense or materialistic energies. Many have decried their use....IMHO, rubbish!
Thank you for posting the Formulae! This can be found in printed form in the Aurum Solis work by Osbourne Philips and Melita Denning in their 5 volume set "The Magical Philosophy". I highly recommend it if you can find it! It was out-of-print for awhile, and was produced/published by Llewellyn Press.
Another source for energy work can be found in Bardons "Initiation Into Hermetics". Again, Thank You Praxis! I'm not sure who else out there besides the Aurum Solis, Astraldynamics and various other occult organizations are utilizing the 'full' circuit of energy work. It is a worthwhile endeavor! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/ac42.gif)

bym - I have discovered that I have a quirky fondness in my heart for the Artists that crafted the Aurum Solis pathway. In addition to the flavor of their rituals.

If you can forgive the comparison: the Aurum Solis to the Golden Dawn seems like Apple to Microsoft - to me.

This specific ritual of theirs is interesting to me, not due to the "Words of Power" and references to other rituals of theirs respectively presented and mentioned - but because it provides probably the most clear and codefied Working that I have encountered to date for "bringing the energy down", in contradistinction to the usual kundalini from the butt up approach.

Of course, I am eyeballing their stuff with my own Chaotic gaze - cracking down each line for critically examining the code they used to put this program of theirs (amongst others) together. Putting aside the titilating names for the Centers (although I think that their implied usage of the term "Citadels" for them is a delightful bit of linguistic sparkle), words of power, and color associations aside - I sense the aura of a suggestion regarding that which differentiates this from the kundalini chakras.

Perhaps, a ritual could be crafted which rouses a set of energy centers - a series on the descending route, and a series on the ascending route. Rousing all of them and fully activating the complete circuit could be established as one of the basic daily exercises for maintaining balance with all energy centers up and running. Performing just either one or the other (whether the descension or the ascension) could be set to depend upon the general goal of a working at hand.

For example: I comprehend how "Bringing Down The Light" (starting from the top and working one's way to the bottom), either through full activation procedure, or according to something akin to the Second Formula they provide, could be useful for charging workings connected with a purposes of manifestation. While bringing "Uplifting The Light" (starting from the bottom and working one's way to the top) could be useful for charging workings that involve a Mage journeying through various planes (an example of such endeavors from another paradigm would be Aethyr work according to the Enochian cosmology).

**********

With regard to that disclaimer of the Theosophists - well - denigrating the downward flow of energy as being "too grossly material for spiritual attainment" sounds pretty gross to me. Simply because if by so doing a Mage is bringing energy "from on High" (or deep within) down here (or out here), seems to me as if such Mage is harnessing and applying power for work. Which is a Good Thang© to me.

A lot of study and practice has gone into “energy work” – with specific regard to raising energy through the chakras from the root chakra up to the crown chakra. In such work, one consciously ascends energy upwards.I often have thought that the focus of such work was one-sided.

I agree , I ascend and descend energy but I think this is not so atypical .

1. Why does that process for the ascension of energy (which is commonly called “raising kundalini” not have a complementary exercise – which here I will reference the descension of energy?

This is astute . Kundalini does both ascend and descend .There are multiple flames of kundalini which rise and fall.

2. Can an exercise be crafted that progresses in the other direction – start at, and bringing energy from, the crown chakra down to the root chakra?

Yes there is a Tree of Life which ascends and a Tree of Death which Descends . There is always a yin for every yang . The crown and the perineum are both influent sources of energy .

3. And can an exercise be crafted such that one incorporates both processes – descension and ascension – establishing a complete circuit through which one’s energy smoothly flows?

Yes I prefer to deep cleanse down and power energy up daily . But I backwash by reversing this process . The influent centres are stimulated and cleansed by reversing the flow . Some centres are naturally influent , some are naturally effluent and some are both .

..I came across a ritual from the Ogdoadic paradigm of the Aurum Solis – called Clavis Rei (The Rousing of The Citadels)

Thanks so much for posting this material . Is it online too ? I am not familiar with it .

The six centers of the Clavis Rei have unique names, are associated with colors that differ in type and order compared to the seven colors of the traditional kundalini exercise, and while some are in similar locations, some differ in location to the typical chakras.From top to bottom, the six centers, their names, their locations, and their colors are:The First Citadel Color : intense brilliance, like burning magnesium [The Second Citadelsoft dove-grey

I see clairvoyantly a silver akasha energy area above the violet and white ones .

The Third Citadelmid-purple

There is a band of energy on the middle pillar which is clairvoyantly this colour .

CODE

[b]The Fourth Citadel[/b]radiant yellow

The solar plexus energy becomes uv yellow

The Fifth Citadel pure lavender, radiant and fast swirling

There are 4 cones of energy here in the perineal area . Purple at the spine , rose and aqua at the hips and amber at the genitalia . There is a similar set above the crown too .

The Sixth CitadelName: Instita Splendens Location: between the insteps, hemisphere over and hemisphere below ground Color: seven prismatic colors, swirling lazily and shimmering.

The insteps are one of the major influent sources of energy to the body . This sounds like the spectrum split from white light which is raised here .

(although I think that their implied usage of the term "Citadels" for them is a delightful bit of linguistic sparkle),

This use of the term citadel is what attracted me to your post. After the Dragon Works the energy body becomes crystal and a crystal citadel appears above the dragon temple . The ashrams on the middle pillar were then introduced to us as citadels in a rainbow spectrum of colours . This stage is new to me . I would love to hear more ,thanks for this informative post .

This use of the term citadel is what attracted me to your post. After the Dragon Works the energy body becomes crystal and a crystal citadel appears above the dragon temple . The ashrams on the middle pillar were then introduced to us as citadels in a rainbow spectrum of colours . This stage is new to me . I would love to hear more ,thanks for this informative post .

At this point, what I have posted reflects what I have learned regarding that specific practice of Rousing the Citadels ala the Aurum Solis.

I am not sure if the Order offers additional 'inner' teachings regarding the symbolism and meaning for the color and schematic layout of the Citadels. That might be something that a member of the Order would have to provide (assuming that doing so would not be breaking an Order Oath).

I will be receiving a book that ostensibly explains more inner order rituals. Perhaps there will be some added insight from that source. If the author does expand the explanation provided for the Rousing of the Citadels, then I will post it here, Aunt Clair.

Praxis ,
Thank you for your reply . I look forward to your postings .I did this ritual with my mates and Alchemy Circle and saw crystal prisms . The energy is pleasant and conducive to stimulating the middle pillar bands . I feel this is just what I have been looking for at this moment . Thank you very much for taking the time to post it .