Date: 07 JUL 95 02:02:00
From: cal_hplb_hpl_hp_com@hms.com
Newgroups: alt.magick
Subject: 03:Kabbalah FAQ
Baird Stafford provides the following
list of references to archangels for those who would like to read the
original source material:
------------------------Baird's material begins here-----------------------
And here is an expanded list of references to the Archangels, including
those cited by Br'anArthur. I've included verses from the Pseudepigrapha
(which are the apocryphal books of the Bible not included by the Roman
church in its version of the Apocrypha, although I understand that some of
them are included in the Orthodox Bible). Uriel had a number of stand-ins
who appear to have been other angels who took over his duties for a while:
their names are Sariel, Strahel, and Suriel. I've not included their
references. And, just for the fun of it, I've also included some
references from the writings of the early Christian gnostics.
In all cases, the verses I've cited are only those in which the Archangelic
Name actually appears; in some cases, subsequent verses refer to the
original listing without naming Names.
Raphael:
-------
3 Baruch, 4:7
1 Enoch 10:4; 20:3; 32:6; 40:9; 54:6; 68:2-4; 71:8-9,13
Apocalypse of Ezra 1:4; 6:2
Apocalypse of Adam and Eve 40:2
Sibylline Oracles 2:215
Testament of Solomon 5:9 (24 in F.C. Conybeare's translation); 13:6
(59 in Conybeare); 18:8 (75 in Conybeare)
Tobit 3:16; 5:4; 7:8; 8:2; 9:1; 9:5; 11:7; 12:15
Michael:
-------
Daniel 10:13; 10:21; 12:1
Jude 9
Revelations 12:7
3 Baruch 4:7; 11:2,4,6,8; 12:4,6-7; 13:2-3,5; 14:1-2; 15:1,3; 16:1,3
4 Baruch 9:5
1 Enoch 9:1; 10:11; 20:5; 24:6; 40:9; 54:6; 60:4-5; 68:2-4; 69:14-15;
71:3,8-9,13
2 Enoch 22:1,6,8-9; 33:10; 71:28 (Recension J); 72:1,3,8-9 (Recension J)
3 Enoch 17:3; 44:10
Apocalypse of Ezra 1:3; 2:1; 4:7,24; 6:2
Life of Adam and Eve 13:3; 14:1-3; 15:2; 21:2; 22:2; 25:2; 29:1-3;
43:3; 45:1; 51:2
Apocalypse of Adam and Eve 3:2; 22:1; 37:4,6; 40:1-2; 43:1-2
Sibylline Oracles 2:215
Testament of Solomon 1:6 (5 in Conybeare); 18:5 (73 in Conybeare)
Apocalypse of Abraham 10:17
Apocalypse of Sedrach 14:1
Martyrdom and Ascension of Isiah 3:16
Testament of Abraham 1:4,6; 2:2-14:7
Testament of Isaac 2:1
Testament of Jacob 1:6; 5:13
Vision of Ezra verse 56
Gnostic Texts (Nag Hammadi Scrolls)
Apocryphon of John 17:30
Gabriel:
-------
Daniel 8:16; 9:21
Luke 1:19; 1:26
3 Baruch 4:7
1 Enoch 9:1; 10:9; 20:7; 40:9; 54:6; 71:8-9,13
2 Enoch 21:3,5; 24:1; 71:11 (28 Recension A); 72:1,3,8-9 (Recension A)
3 Enoch 14:4 (referred to as Angel of Fire); 17:3
Apocalypse of Ezra 2:1; 4:7; 6:2
Apocalypse of Adam and Eve 40:2
Sibylline Oracles 2:215; 8:455
Testament of Solomon 18:6 (74 in Conybeare)
Vision of Ezra verse 56
Apocalypse of Elijah 5:5
Testament of Jacob 5:13
Questions of Ezra (Recension B) verse 11
Gnostic Texts (Nag Hammadi Scrolls)
Gospel of the Egyptians 52:23; 53:6; 57:7; 64:26
Zostrianos 57:9; 58:22
Uriel:
-----
3 Baruch 4:7 (Phanuel in ms Family B)
Testament of Solomon 2:4
1 Enoch 19:1; 21:5; 27:2; 33:3; 40:9 (as Phanuel); 54:6 (as Phanuel);
71:8-9,13 (as Phanuel); 72:1; 80:1;
82:7 (text tells what Uriel's in charge of)
4 Ezra 4:1
Apocalypse of Ezra 6:2
Apocalypse of Adam and Eve 40:2
Life of Adam and Eve 48:1,3
Prayer of Joseph verses 4, 7
Sibylline Oracles 2:215,225
Apocalypse of Elijah 5:5
Testament of Solomon 2:4 (as Ouriel) (10 in Conybeare); 7 (as
Ouriel) (11 in Conybeare); 8:9 (as Ouriel) (40 in
Conybeare); 18:7 (as Ouriel) (75 in Conybeare); 27 (as Ouriel) (93 in
Conybeare)
Esdras 4:1; 5:21; 10:28
Gnostic Texts (Nag Hammadi Scrolls)
Apocryphon of John 17:30 (as Ouriel)
Two further notes: the early fathers of the Roman church appear to have
rewritten
the Sibyline Oracles to conform to their vision of what a proper prophesy
for Rome ought to have been. Also, The Apocalypse of Adam and Eve is also
known as The Apocalypse of Moses.
----------------------Baird's material ends here----------------------------
Lastly, Leigh Daniels (Leigh@alexandria.com) writes:
>A great book is Gustav Davidson's "A Dictionary of Angels" (including
the >fallen angels) published by Free Press, 1967. It is available in
paper for >US$17.95 and in my opinion worth every penny. It includes
a 24-page >bibliography of sources used in compiling it.
+++
Q2.3 : What is the Lesser Banishing Ritual of the Pentagram and where
does it come from?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
The Lesser Banishing Ritual of the Pentragram is a protective formula
which can be used to banish unwanted influences, to "clear the air" as
a preliminary to ritual or meditative work. It can be carried out
physically, but it can also be used as a concentration exercise which
is performed in the imagination prior to going to sleep (for example).
The ritual exists in a number of variant forms, the best known being
the Golden Dawn variant given below. The Golden Dawn version is
is based on (or is at least strongly influenced by) Jewish sources.
The version of the ritual below was posted by Rodrigo de
Ferres(rodrigo@vnet.net) and is included here with his permission. [I
have altered a couple of Hebrew transliterations to make them
consistent with normal Hebrew vowel pointing.]
--------------------------Rodrigo's contribution begins----------------
The following is derived from numerous GD sources.
The Lesser Banishing Ritual of the Pentagram
This ritual can be done to purify a room for further ritual work or
meditation and can be used for protection. Its effects are primarily
on the Astral (IMHO) though it uses the Earth pentagram. It also
promotes a still mind, free of outside influenes which is a useful aid
in meditation. It is therefore recommended that the ritual be used as
part of a daily meditation work.
1. Stand facing East.
2. Perform the Qabalistic Cross
a. Touch forehead with first two (or index) fingers of right hand and
visualizing a sphere of white light at that point,
vibrate: Atah (translates roughly - Thou Art)
b. Lower hand to solar plexis and visualize a line extending down to
your feet, vibrate: Malkuth (the Kingdom)
c. Raise hand and touch right shoulder visualizing a sphere of light
there. Vibrate: Ve Geburah (and the power)
d. Extend the hand across the chest tracing a line of light and touch
the left shoulder where another sphere of light forms. Vibrate:
Ve Gedulah (and the glory).
e. Clasp hands in center of chest at crossing point of horizontal and
vertical lines of light. Bow head and vibrate: Le Olam, Amen.
(for ever - amen.)
3. Facing east, using either the extended fingers or a dagger, trace a
large pentagram with the point up, starting at your left hip, up to
just above your forehead, centered on your body, then down to your
right hip, up and to your left shoulder, across to the right
shoulder and down to the starting point in front of your left hip.
Visualize the pentagram in blue flaming light. Stab you fingers or
dagger into the center and vibrate: YHVH (Yod-heh-vahv-heh - which is
the tetragrammaton translated into latin as Jehovah)
4. Turn to the south. Visualize that the blue flame follows you fingers
or dagger, tracing a blue line from the east pentagram to the south.
Repeat step three while facing South, except vibrate: Adonai (another
name for god tranlated as Lord)
5. Turn to the West, tracing the blue flame from south to west. Repeat
step 3, but vibrate: Eheieh (Eh-hay-yeah more or less - another name
of God translated as I AM or I AM THAT I AM.) (Or "I will be" - Ed.)
6. Turn to the North, again tracing the blue flame from west to north.
Repeat step 3, but vibrate: AGLA (Ah-gah-lah - a composite of Atah
Gibor le olam Amen - see step 2)
7. Return again to the east, tracing the blue flame from North to East.
Stab the fingers or dagger back again into the same spot as in step
3. You should now visualize that you are surrounded by four flaming
pentagrams connected by a line of blue fire.
8. Extend your arms out to your sides, forming a cross.
Vibrate (visualizing each Archangel standing guard at each station):
Before me RAPHAEL (rah-fah-yell)
Behind me GABRIEL (gah-bree-ell)
On my right hand, MICHAEL (mee-khah-ell)
On my left hand, AURIEL (sometimes URIEL aw-ree-ell or
ooh-ree-ell)
for about me flames the Pentagrams,
and in the column stands the six-rayed star.
(Alternatively the last two lines can be:
before me flames the pentagram,
behind me shines the six-rayed star)
9. Repeat the Qabalistic Cross (step 2).
As can be seen, Raphael is in the East, Gabriel in the West, Michael in
the South and Auriel/Uriel in the North.
For more detailed information I refer the reader to:
_The Practical Qabalah_ by Charles Fielding
_Ceremonial Magic_ by Israel Regardie
_The Complete Golden Dawn System of Magic_ also by Regardie
_The Golden Dawn_ as well by Regardie
-------------------------Rodrigo's Contribution ends------------------
There has been some interest in knowing where the LBRP comes from.
The answer appears to be that it is inspired, at least in part,by
particular Jewish prayers and meditational exercises.
There are alternative versions extant, and one such is taken from a
modern Jewish source.
The source is a pamphlet called "A First Step - a Devotional Guide"
which was written by Zalman Schachter and reprinted in "The First
Jewish Catalogue" by Richard Siegel, Michael Strassfeld and Sharon
Strassfeld, published by the Jewish Publication Society of America in
1973, ISBN 0-8276-0042-9.
The blurb describing the pamphlet states:
"A First Step by Zalman Schachter is not a translation. It was first
written in English. It is a contemporary attempt to make accessible
spiritual and devotional techniques from classic Jewish sources,
sources on which the pamphlet was based."
[Rabbi Zalman Schachter-Shalomi, (PhD and Professor Emeritus of
Religion at Temple University, founder of the Jewish Renewal movement)
is a very important teacher and scholar - Greg Burton]
The author of the pamphlet states "The approach used here is that of
classical Jewish mysticism, as refined by Hasidism, and in particular,
by the Habad school." [Chabad comes from Chokhmah, Binah, Daath -
Wisdom, Understanding and Knowledge - Colin]
Now to the exercise given:
"On other nights, after a short examination, screen yourself off from
sounds and cares by visualising an angel - a spiritual force field -
of grace at your right, this force field being impenetrable by care or
worry; at your left, an angel of power and strength; before you, an
angel of soft light and luminousness, and behind you an angel of
healing. Over your head, picture the very presence of the loving God.
As you visualise this, say:
"In the name of YHVH The God of Israel: At my right hand Michael At
my left Gabriel Ahead of me Oriel Behind me Raphel Above my head the
Sheckinah of God!"
"Imagine yourself plugging into Michael for love - so that you can
love more the next day; Gabriel for strength - to fill you for the
next day; Oriel filling you with the light of the mind; Raphael
healing all your ills."
Greg Burton (gburt@aol.com) comments on this exercise:
---------------------Greg's contribution begins here------------------
This particular exercise is derived from the practice of saying the
Sh'ma 'before lying down' - the 'kriyat (bedtime) Sh'ma'. A full
traditional Sephardic version, in Hebrew and English, and with some
commentary, can be found beginning on page 318 of the 'Artscroll
Siddur' (nusach Sefard), Mesorah, ISBN 0-89906-657-7. Traditional
Hassidic kavvenot (intentions/directions/way to do it) can be found in
'Jewish Spiritual Practices' by Yitzhak Buxbaum, Aronson, ISBN
0-87668-832-6.
The attributes listed in the so-called 'Qabbalistic Cross' comes from
Psalm 99, verse 5, and are part of the Shachrit (morning) Torah
service. The attributes assigned for the movements are not
traditional, and the order has been changed. If using the traditional
assignments (Gevurah left, Gedulah or Chesed right), and saying the
sephirotic names in the proper order, it more properly would describe
the Lightening Flash in the lower 7 Sephirot, rather than a cross.
(Note in the kriyat Sh'ma that Michael (Chesed) is on the right and
Gabriel (Gevurah) is on the left. The implication is that one is
facing Keter). Due to changes in directional / elemental /
archangelic positioning, it is not obvious (but clearly implied) that
physically one is facing North. Another change is that the LBRP does
not bless the Divine, while the Jewish service does. This lack of
blessing may reflect the not-so-covert Christian/Rosicrucian bias in
G.D. liturgy and a particular theology, or it may not. In any event,
it changes what was originally an theurgic act into a thaumaturgic
act.
You might also note that many Jews coming across the LBRP are deeply
offended that the liturgy has been so grossly distorted, and is being
used (from their perspective) sacrilegiously. Telling them that it's
"just different" carries about as much weight as telling traditional
Native Americans that Lynn Andrew's work is "just different".
Combining aspects of two completely different aspects into one ritual
can be done, but it really is better if you know what you're working
with.
---------------------------Greg's contribution ends-------------------
In confirmation of what Greg says, the prayers to be said before
retiring to rest at night are a standard part of Jewish liturgy, and
the British Commonwealth Authorised Daily Prayer book of the United
Hebrew Congregations has (as part of a lengthy prayer which includes
the 3rd., 91st., and 128th. psalms) the following:
"In the name of the Lord, the God of Israel, may Michael be at my right
hand; Gabriel at my left; before me Uriel; behind me Raphael; and above
my head the divine presence (lit. Shekhinah) of God."
Lastly, the rudiments of the LRPB have spread beyond ceremonial magic
and can be found in places as diverse as a Kate Bush album and
Katherine Kurtz's novels. It is even possible to see a version
carried out by Christopher Lee in the film version of Dennis Wheatley's
novel "The Devil Rides Out". The following extract was provided by
Robert Farrior (farrior@b4pphf5.bnr.ca).
---------------------Robert's contribution begins---------------------
Not a scholarly source, try The Adept: Book Three, The Templar
Treasure, by Katherine Kurtz and Deborah Turner Harris. There is a
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