Mastering the Lesser Banishing Ritual of the Pentagram: A Comprehensive Guide

The Lesser Banishing Ritual of the Pentagram (LBRP) is a cornerstone practice in Western Hermetic magic, often considered the single most important ritual for beginners. It’s a dynamic and versatile tool used to cleanse and purify space, create a protected sacred area, and invoke divine energies. While seemingly simple, the LBRP’s power and complexity unfold with dedicated practice. This comprehensive guide will walk you through the steps with detailed instructions, explanations, and considerations to help you understand and master this fundamental ritual.

Understanding the Purpose of the LBRP

Before diving into the mechanics, it’s crucial to grasp the purpose behind the LBRP. It’s not merely a set of actions; it’s a carefully constructed sequence designed to achieve several interconnected goals:

• Cleansing and Banishing: The primary function is to banish unwanted or negative influences from your working space. This can include residual energies, distracting thoughts, or entities that might hinder your magical work. Think of it as sweeping clean the spiritual space before you begin construction.
• Creating a Sacred Space: The LBRP establishes a circle of protection, creating a barrier between the mundane world and the magical realm. This space is consecrated and set apart for your spiritual practice.
• Invoking Divine Energies: The ritual also invokes the power of the four archangels associated with the elements, further empowering and protecting the working area. This connection to higher forces is essential for effective magical work.
• Developing Will and Focus: The deliberate and mindful performance of the ritual strengthens your will and enhances your focus. It’s a powerful exercise in concentration and intention, crucial skills for any magical practitioner.

Essential Preparations

Before beginning the LBRP, a few preparations are in order:

• Choose a Quiet Space: Find a space where you won’t be interrupted. This could be a dedicated ritual space, a corner of your room, or any quiet place where you feel comfortable.
• Clean the Area: Physically clean the area before performing the ritual. This is a symbolic act mirroring the spiritual cleansing that will follow.
• Dress Comfortably: Wear comfortable clothing that allows for free movement. Some practitioners prefer to wear robes or ritual garments, but this is not necessary for beginners.
• Have a Wand or Finger Ready: The ritual is performed with either the index finger of your dominant hand extended, or with a dedicated magical wand. The wand is preferable but not essential for beginners.
• Mental Preparation: Calm your mind and focus your intentions. Take a few deep breaths and center yourself. Visualize the protective circle you will create, and the positive energies you will invoke.

The Step-by-Step Guide to Performing the LBRP

Now, let’s delve into the detailed instructions for each step of the Lesser Banishing Ritual of the Pentagram. Remember, consistency and intention are key. Initially you will likely read through these steps, but as you become more practiced, you should aim to memorize the words and gestures and perform them smoothly without reference to a script.

1. The Qabalistic Cross

The Qabalistic Cross is a preliminary ritual that aligns your energy and establishes a connection with the Divine. It consists of four steps:

a. Touching the Forehead: Raise your hand (index finger extended or with wand) and touch your forehead. As you touch your forehead, vibrate the word “Ateh” (pronounced Ah-teh). Visualize a radiant white light descending from above, entering through the top of your head.

b. Touching the Chest: Move your hand down and touch your chest in the center (solar plexus area). As you touch your chest, vibrate the word “Malkuth” (pronounced Mal-koot). Visualize the white light flowing down into your body, filling you with strength and vitality.

c. Touching the Right Shoulder: Touch your right shoulder. As you touch your right shoulder, vibrate the words “Ve-Geburah” (pronounced Veh-Geh-boo-rah). Visualize the white light extending horizontally towards your right, creating a line of pure energy, representing force and power. .

d. Touching the Left Shoulder: Touch your left shoulder. As you touch your left shoulder, vibrate the words “Ve-Gedulah” (pronounced Veh-Ged-oo-lah). Visualize the white light extending horizontally towards your left shoulder, completing a cross of light, representing mercy and compassion.

e. Clasping Hands at the Chest: Clasp your hands together at your chest, forming a praying gesture. As you do this, vibrate the words “Le-Olahm, Amen” (pronounced Lay-o-lahm, Ah-men). Visualize the white light intensifying within you, now the full cross of light filling you with divine force, completing the initial steps of the ritual.

Significance: The Qabalistic Cross establishes a vertical and horizontal axis of power, connecting you to the Divine above and below, and creating a center of balance within yourself. It also serves as an opening and closing of the ritual, creating a container for the energies you will be working with.

2. Drawing the Banishing Pentagrams

This step involves drawing banishing pentagrams in the four cardinal directions (East, South, West, and North). A banishing pentagram is drawn differently from an invoking pentagram. It is critical to get these right, or else the ritual is far less effective. The pentagram should be drawn in the air, either with the index finger or with a wand, large enough for you to be able to visualize it clearly and with precision. Note that the points of the pentagram each correspond to an element (Spirit, Fire, Water, Earth, Air). When banishing, you begin at the element (Spirit) at the top, go to Earth at the bottom left, then Water at the bottom right, then Air at the top right, and then Fire at the top left, then back to the beginning point at Spirit.

a. Facing East: Turn to face the East. Extend your right arm straight out in front of you. Visualize a bright blue pentagram forming in the air in front of you. With your finger or wand begin drawing the banishing pentagram by beginning at the Spirit point (top left) drawing down to Earth (bottom left), then up to Water (bottom right), then up to Air (top right), and then down to Fire (top left), then back up to the initial point, completing the pentagram. As you complete it, thrust your finger or wand through the center of the pentagram, vibrating the name “YHVH” (pronounced Yah-heh-vah or Yod-Heh-Vav-Heh), also visualizing a bright, powerful, pure light shining forth from the center of the pentagram. Visualize the pentagram as a solid, bright blue flame.

b. Turning South: Keeping your arm extended, turn clockwise to face the South. Visualize the pentagram in the air in front of you, completing the previous step. Draw the same banishing pentagram in the air in front of you as you did in the East, beginning at the point of Spirit at the top, drawing down to Earth, up to Water, up to Air, and then back down to Fire, before returning to Spirit. As you complete it, thrust your finger or wand through the center of the pentagram, vibrating the name “Adonai” (pronounced Ah-doe-nye). Visualize the pentagram as a solid, bright blue flame.

c. Turning West: Keeping your arm extended, turn clockwise to face the West. Visualize the pentagram in the air in front of you, completing the previous step. Draw the same banishing pentagram in the air in front of you as you did in the East and South, beginning at the point of Spirit at the top, drawing down to Earth, up to Water, up to Air, and then back down to Fire, before returning to Spirit. As you complete it, thrust your finger or wand through the center of the pentagram, vibrating the name “Ehieh” (pronounced Eh-hay-yay). Visualize the pentagram as a solid, bright blue flame.

d. Turning North: Keeping your arm extended, turn clockwise to face the North. Visualize the pentagram in the air in front of you, completing the previous step. Draw the same banishing pentagram in the air in front of you as you did in the East, South, and West, beginning at the point of Spirit at the top, drawing down to Earth, up to Water, up to Air, and then back down to Fire, before returning to Spirit. As you complete it, thrust your finger or wand through the center of the pentagram, vibrating the name “Agla” (pronounced Ah-gah-lah). Visualize the pentagram as a solid, bright blue flame.

e. Return to East: Turn back to face the East, keeping your arm extended, completing the circle of pentagrams you have now drawn in the air. These pentagrams now surround your working space.

Significance: Drawing the pentagrams in each cardinal direction creates a protective circle of energy that repels unwanted influences. The Divine names vibrated activate the power of each direction and reinforce the protective barrier.

3. Invoking the Archangels

Now you will call upon the four archangels, powerful forces associated with each direction, further strengthening your protective circle.

a. Facing East: Extend your arms out to the side, forming a cross with your body. Visualize a powerful Archangel before you, robed in golden light. Say, “Before me, Raphael.” (Pronounced Raf-ee-el). Visualize him holding a caduceus, wings of vibrant colour, and a radiant aura.

b. Facing South: Move your arm so it points down along your side, then rotate so you are facing the South. Visualize a powerful Archangel before you, robed in fiery red light. Say, “Behind me, Gabriel.” (Pronounced Gah-bree-el). Visualize him holding a chalice, with water flowing from it, and wings of vibrant colour, and a radiant aura.

c. Facing West: Move your arm so it points along your side, then rotate so you are facing the West. Visualize a powerful Archangel before you, robed in cool blue light. Say, “On my right hand, Michael.” (Pronounced My-kel). Visualize him holding a sword, and with wings of vibrant colour, and a radiant aura.

d. Facing North: Move your arm so it points along your side, then rotate so you are facing the North. Visualize a powerful Archangel before you, robed in emerald green and brown light. Say, “On my left hand, Auriel.” (Pronounced Or-ee-el). Visualize him holding a disc, and with wings of vibrant colour, and a radiant aura.

e. Visualizing the Hexagram: As you say, “For about me flames the Pentagram, and within me shines the Six-rayed Star,” visualize all four archangels surrounding you, protecting you with their presence. Visualize the pentagrams surrounding you, and the six-rayed star glowing brightly at your center, encompassing the Qabalistic cross you established at the start of the ritual. The hexagram represents the union of the higher and lower self, and the balance between microcosm and macrocosm.

Significance: Calling upon the archangels invokes powerful protectors and reinforces the sacred nature of the ritual space. Their presence provides an energetic shield, further ensuring your work is conducted in a protected environment.

4. The Qabalistic Cross (Closing)

This final step repeats the Qabalistic Cross you performed at the beginning of the ritual, sealing the energies you have invoked and ending the ritual.

a. Touching the Forehead: Raise your hand and touch your forehead. As you touch your forehead, vibrate the word “Ateh“. Visualize the white light shining from above, entering your head.

b. Touching the Chest: Move your hand down and touch your chest in the center. As you touch your chest, vibrate the word “Malkuth“. Visualize the light flowing down into your body, filling your heart.

c. Touching the Right Shoulder: Touch your right shoulder. As you touch your right shoulder, vibrate the words “Ve-Geburah”. Visualize the light extending horizontally to the right.

d. Touching the Left Shoulder: Touch your left shoulder. As you touch your left shoulder, vibrate the words “Ve-Gedulah”. Visualize the light extending horizontally to the left, completing the cross.

e. Clasping Hands at the Chest: Clasp your hands together at your chest. As you do this, vibrate the words “Le-Olahm, Amen”. Visualize the white light settling within you, concluding the ritual.

Important Considerations

• Visualization is Key: The LBRP is not just about physical actions and spoken words. It’s equally about your visualization. The more vividly you can see the pentagrams, the archangels, and the light, the more potent the ritual will be.
• Vibration of Names: The divine names are not just spoken; they are *vibrated*. This means you should feel the sound resonating in your chest and throughout your body. Experiment with different tones and volumes until you find what feels most powerful.
• Regular Practice: The LBRP is best practiced regularly, ideally daily. This will strengthen your connection to the divine and deepen your understanding of the ritual. Aim to perform it at the beginning and ending of any magical work or daily practices.
• Intention is Paramount: Your intention behind performing the LBRP is crucial. Perform the ritual with focus, sincerity, and the clear intention to purify, protect, and invoke.
• Experiment and Adapt: As you progress, you may find variations of the LBRP that resonate with you. Feel free to adapt the ritual to fit your personal practice, but be sure to understand the core principles before making changes.
• Consistency is Important: It is critical that you draw the pentagrams in the correct way. Be sure to memorize the sequence and don’t make changes without understanding their implication, or you may be doing the reverse of what you intend! It is better to be certain that you are doing it in the correct way.

Troubleshooting

• Difficulty Visualizing: If you struggle with visualization, practice simple mental exercises like picturing objects or landscapes. Start small and build up your visual acuity over time.
• Distractions: If distractions arise, gently redirect your focus back to the ritual. Don’t judge yourself harshly; simply acknowledge the distraction and return to your practice.
• Feeling Unsure: Feeling unsure is normal, especially when starting out. Trust in the process and keep practicing. The more you practice, the more confident you will become.

Benefits of Regular Practice

The benefits of regular LBRP practice are numerous. With consistent practice, you may experience:

• Increased Clarity and Focus: The mental discipline required for the LBRP can spill over into other aspects of your life, enhancing your concentration and focus.
• Improved Energetic Sensitivity: Regular practice can heighten your sensitivity to subtle energies and make you more aware of your surroundings.
• Greater Spiritual Connection: The LBRP connects you to powerful forces, deepening your spiritual awareness and opening you up to divine guidance.
• Enhanced Magical Work: By purifying your space and invoking divine energies, the LBRP enhances the effectiveness of your magical work.
• Stronger Sense of Will and Intention: As you consciously direct your will through the ritual, you’ll develop a stronger sense of purpose and intention.

The LBRP: A Lifelong Practice

The Lesser Banishing Ritual of the Pentagram is far more than just a beginner’s exercise. It’s a powerful, versatile ritual that will continue to deepen and evolve with your practice. Commit to regular practice, stay open to new experiences, and allow this ritual to transform you. By mastering the LBRP, you unlock a foundational element of Western Hermetic magic, paving the way for further spiritual and magical growth. Remember to be patient with yourself, and enjoy the journey of learning this amazing ritual, allowing it to improve your life.