Introduction to Ritual
A guide to the use of ritual in magick and mysticism, including the purpose of ritual, the nature of ritual
and how it it utilised, and the basic components of ritual in the western tradition
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Some kind of ritual is present in just about any religous or spiritual tradition, but it is especially important for
any kind of magickal tradition, such as the Qabalistic Path of the Sword. Even in religious traditions, such as most christian
chruches, which ostensibly claim to have no magickal element, or that magickal practices are satanic, the use of ritual is
still used to invoke a spiritual force / power and direct it to a certain set of circumstances with a particular
aim in mind - such as cementing the bond between people in a wedding ceremony, to eleviate grief and aid the passage
of a disincarnated soul in a funeral ceremony, or whatever the case may be. This is esesntially what magick is - to invoke
spiritual power and direct it to acheive a particular goal. The only difference between these uses of ritual and those in
an explicitly magickal tradition is that 1) The power of ritual is not the exclusive preserve of an officially sanctioned
priest, but is available to anyone and 2) The elements of ritual are more varied and specialised alowing for their use towards
a greater number of objectives.
The most important thing to recognise before one begins to apply this art is that the physical gestures and props that
form the basis of ritual are, in themselves, devoid of power. They are merely empty shells, or rather cups, that may be filled
with the magickal force, but may also be empty and unable to quench a thirst. It is not the case that by speaking certain
words and making certain gestures one is able to direct the undercurrents which shape physical manifestation, but rather that
through these things one may be able to excite and direct the power of consciousness itself, that it is able to perform this
task.
It is also important to make the distinction betweent the mental state approapriate to the performance of magickal ritual
and that which is used in meditation. These two arts move in opposite directions away from ordinary consciousness. Whereas
in meditation one seeks to calm the mind, and to silence those aspects of the mind which obscure, in the art of the sword
on seeks to excite the mind, to draw it upwards into ever more intense experience, seeking through the art of ritual to make
the human mind resonate with the higher and faster frequencies of the divine. The purpose of all elements of ritual is only
to excite and empower the mind in this manner, and to increase and aid the concentration so that the practitioner is able
to control and direct this force.
In the western tradition the main elements of ritual are: 1) Banishining 2) The Qabalistic Cross 3) Invocation of the Highest 4) statement of intent 5)Invocation of specific godform, elemental force, angel, or
whatever 6) The main working designed to fulfill specific purpose (such as concecration of a talisman 7) Statement of
end of ritual and release of powers invoked 8) Banishing
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