The Lesser Hexagram Ritual is designed to invoke or banish the elemental influences of the traditional zodiac while aligning the initiate to the seven planetary forces. Generally speaking the operation deals with macrocosmic energy and through practice the initiate will realize it functions at a higher ontological level than the Pentagram rituals.
Kabbalah cosmology identifies the hexagram as God’s kingdom representing the six-days of creation and the six-directions of space (up, down, left, right, front, back) with an implied seventh day of rest and spatial center. As such it also represents the seven planets of classical antiquity (Saturn, Jupiter, Mars, Venus, Mercury, and Moon), with the Sun acting as the active Central Principle amidst the six planets.
For the Pythagorean philosophers the hexagram represents the alchemical marriage of opposites; the fusion of Philosophic Fire and Philosophic Water, and creation of the macrocosmic universe. In terms of Theurgical practice, this is the allegorical union of Man and God within the initiate. In Kabbalistic Merkavah mysticism and in the majority of Gnostic gospels this is the discussed metaphorically through the rites of the “Bridal Chamber” and the spiritual marriage of the central Fire of Messiah/Chreistos (Δ) with the divine Waters of Shekhinah/Sophia(∇).
The Lesser Hexagram Ritual made its way into the Western Magical tradition as the ritual taught to Golden Dawn initiates into the Grade of Adeptus Minor. To properly and safely wield the macrocosmic forces drawn upon in the operation, the initiate is required to have mastery of the Lesser Pentagram Ritual and a full understanding of elemental principles, Kabbalistic pathworking (at least to Tiferet), Sacred Astronomy, and alchemical theory. It is intended to be practiced after the Lesser Pentagram ritual as it is symbolic of the unification between the initiate as the microcosm (the centering that takes place during the LPR) and the greater macrocosm.
The version of the Lesser Hexagram Ritual presented here operates on the Principles exemplified by the three Magical Formulas: I.N.R.I, IAO, and ARARITA.
I.N.R.I., is the acronym for the Latin IESVS·NAZARENVS·REX·IVDÆORVM (Jesus Nazarenus, Rex Judaeorum), or “Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews”. In Christian tradition this is the inscription that Pontius Pilate placed over Jesus during the crucifixion.The keyword is analyzed by first substituting Hebrew letters for the Latin. I.N.R.I. = Yod — Nun — Raysh — Yod (ינרי). Each of these letters has a correspondence pertaining to Sacred Astronomy, and as a cyclic formula is a metaphorical allusion to the life patterns of the initiate.
In the Golden Dawn system I.N.R.I yields Virgo — Scorpio — Sun — Virgo. In the Gra or Sefer Yetzirah systems the planetary attribution can be Mercury or Saturn . The substitution of Mercury(or Saturn ) for Sun has some fundamental alchemical implications regarding the purification of Mercury (from lunar passive Mercury to the solar active Mercury) or the extraction of Gold from Saturn. Regardless of the planetary correspondence however, we are looking at the initiatic stages of Birth, Death, Initiation/Transmutation, and Resurrection. This same cyclic Principle of Life, Death, Resurrection is echoed in the Greco-Egyptian Magical Formula IAO as representative of the mythological narrative of the deities Isis, Apophis, and Osiris.
The Magical Formula ARARITA expresses the underlying unity of the entire operation. This word, which first appears in 17th Century Kabbalistic texts, is a notaricon formed from the first letters of the Hebrew phrase: Achad Rayshethoh, Achad Resh Yechidathoh, Temurathoh Achod. It translates to “One is His beginning, One is His individuality, His permutation is One”, and essentially sums up the Kabbalistic doctrine of Unity. Note, that the seven letters or ARARITA correspond to the seven planets and as such can be attributed to the points and center of the Hexagram.
Whether banishing or invoking, the Hexagrams are drawn from two points . For basic daily practice of the ritual, these points are Saturn and Moon as the beginning and end of the planetary spheres. The two triangles of the Hexagram are either drawn clockwise (Invoking) or counter-clockwise (Banishing) depending on the intention of the operation. The center point, Sun, serves as the balancing Principle betwen the polarities of first and last, and as the mediation between the outer and inner planets.
As with the Pentagram Ritual, I have slightly modified the Hexagram Ritual to be performed in lotus asana and completely in the astral. I should stress that while at first it may be worthwhile to “visualize” and “imagine” yourself performing the ritual as you would physically, overtime you will be able to focus your Will towards the very principles of the ritual and manipulate the ethereal light into the various poses and signs of the practice.
By “entering” the signs I am referring to the practitioner ordering the ethereal light into the basic geometric shapes. These geometries echo the postures used in the Thelemic versions of the rite, and are intended to draw upon the same principles. Naturally, the anchors for the geometry are the Sefirot centers themselves, which at this point should be seen and felt as pulsating orbs.
Note, that together the four God-form signs connect all of the Sefirot and draw on the structural power of the three horizontal paths. In traditional Kabbalah these paths are the three Mothers and represent the three elements of creation (Fire, Ruach/Logos, and Water). Furthermore, the only Sefirah that is prevalent in all four of the God-forms is Tiferet, which is the Kabbalistic plane principally addressed by this operation.
All the formula are “recited” and vibrated in the “Great Voice”. Each letter and concept of the formulas must be etched in the initiate’s heart and projected to the very depths of the Universe.
——————————————————– Lesser Hexegram Ritual—————————————————
i. Recite the following:
Yud – Nun – Resh – Yud
Virgo, Isis, Mighty Mother.
Scorpio, Apophis, Destroyer.
Sol, Osiris, Slain and Risen.
Isis, Apopis, Osiris. IAO.
ii. Enter the sign of Osiris Slain. Contemplate the sign.
iii. Enter the sign of Isis Mourning. Contemplate the sign.
iv. Enter the sign of Apophis. Contemplate the sign.
v. Enter the sign of Osiris Risen. Contemplate the sign.
vi. Draw the Hexagram of Fire before you. Vibrate ARARITA as you penetrate the depths of the East with the Hexagram.
vii. Draw the Hexagram of Earth to your right. Vibrate ARARITA as it penetrates the depths of the South.
viii. Draw the Hexagram of Air behind you. Vibrate ARARITA as it penetrates the depths of the West.
ix. Draw the Hexagram of Water to your left. Vibrate ARARITA as it penetrates the depths of North.
x. Repeat steps i – v.