|
IN THE WATCHTOWER CEREMONY The Watchtower Ceremony is based on the grade openings and the all important Portal Initiation of the Golden Dawn. The Portal Ceremony is a vital initiation in the Pathway of Light, in that it activates the "Spirit" energy, which must rule over the lower four elements. To have the lower four elements rule over Spirit, is represented by the adverse Pentagram. The upside down Pentagram is a Microcosmic symbol of evil, in that the lower self now rules over the Divine or Higher Self. In fact, part of the task in Portal, is to build the Pentagram within your sphere of sensation. When the Pentagram is single point upward, it is a powerful symbol of man stretched out before the Divine Essence. It is a symbol of the four lower elements within man, now being ruled by the Higher and Divine Essence. Spirit ruling over matter. One of the more serious problems revolves around the printed versions of the "Opening by Watchtower," adapted from Golden Dawn Ceremonies by Dr. Israel Regardie. Regardie saw the Watchtower Ceremony as kind of a preparation to more advanced magical work. In theory, it is a beautiful ritual that is worthwhile to do, just for the sake of doing it. Much thanks and credit must be given to Regardie for the integration of the various grade openings into one short, beautiful ceremony. The serious problems comes from much of the currently published material on the actual method of doing the Watchtower. A vital and connecting link is absent from the current versions in print. This missing link is the Spirit Pentagrams of both Active & Passive Spirit. Without Spirit, the elements are dead and lifeless. Without Spirit, nothing is completely activated and linked. Fire cancels Water -- Water cancels fire. Air cancels Earth -- Earth cancels Air. The elements are at war in an unresolved union. It is Spirit, the top, upper most point of the Pentagram that activates the elements. It allows them to work in harmony, in a blessed union of growth and regeneration. In the classical grade openings of the Golden Dawn, the Active or Passive Spirit Pentagram is used to activate and control the element being invoked. Earth and Water are passive, Fire and Air are active. The same is true in the Supreme Invoking Ritual of the Pentagram. In each Quarter of East, South, West and North, the Active or Passive Spirit Pentagram is invoked with the Spirit Wheel. In addition to the Hebrew Divine Name, the appropriate name from the Enochian Tablet of Union is invoked and vibrated in high intensity, and in advanced rituals, the sigil or symbol of the Divine Name is to also be traced with the Pentagram. It appears that in virtually all Golden Dawn Rituals, the essence of Spirit is invoked along with the element. This is a constant rule except in many printed versions of the Opening by Watchtower Ceremony. The Spirit Pentagrams must be utilized. In the grade openings they are used in each quarter. This is not included in various published Watchtower Ceremonies. Another option is to perform opening by Watchtower as printed in many books, and then, after all the elements are invoked, move to the center of the Temple behind your double Cubical Altar and draw the invoking Spirit Pentagrams, vibrating Eheieh -- EXARP -- BITOM, and AGLA -- HACOMA -- NANTA. Of course, the Tablet of Union must be present on the center altar. This is very similar to the classical Portal Ceremony of the Golden Dawn ............................................... Invoking Active Spirit Pentagram............Invoking Passive Spirit Pentagram
Unless the elements are invoked under the direction of Spirit, an incomplete Pentagram is constructed within the Portal as depicted in the incomplete Pentagram below: The danger of this kind of incomplete work can indeed have serious consequence and cause havoc in one's own "sphere of sensation." For those of you who utilize the "Opening by Watchtower," you might want to incorporate the proper use of "Spirit" within your evocation.
|