Thoughts on the Portal Ritual

Study Group open discussion and ritual comparison for Golden Dawn Portal Ritual

Sunday 6/11/18

Enochian energies in the Portal Ritual.

“Its pretty clear the elements are in the real world…the vault is the spiritual one so that they [the Enochian energies] can’t get past the door…Yes the portal is the active bit of Tipareth…the vault is the part of the person that looks to heaven.”

Personal correspondence with Nick Farrell 6/11/18.

Mather's Last Secret pgs 237-238..."...The Black Pillar is placed in the SouthWest and the White Pillar in the NorthEast...Throughout the entire Outer Order the pillars have been associated with portals and gateways. They are always seen together. Placing them in this position slashes a large vortex across the temple from the NorthEast to the SouthWest. This vortex can only be the Veil of Paroketh. The pillars are flipped so that the White one is on the left and the Black one is on the right. In this rite we have the Hierophant Inductor (Chief Adept) sitting on the other side of the portal, mirroring the candidate and providing the perfected image of reality. The pivot of these two worlds is the altar, which is the point where the Veil opens. This explains why the Veil of Paroketh is not represented physically as it is in the later Portal Rite...

THE ENOCHIAN TABLETS ARE AWAY FROM THE ALTAR IN THE "REAL WORLD". LIKE THE VAULT, WHERE THE ELEMENTAL TABLETS ARE ONLY ALLOWED ON THE DOOR, THEY CANNOT ENTER THIS SPIRITUAL WORLD.

Looking at/comparing 3 different diagrams of the floor for the Ritual of the Portal, i.e. Mather’s Last Secret by Nick Farrell, Self Initiation into the Golden Dawn Tradition by Chic & Tabatha Cicero, and Golden Dawn Rituals and Commentaries by Pat Zalewski, we discovered some inconsistencies…

First in the A.O. ritual [as originally practiced by the Golden Dawn] there is NO designated Veil of Paroketh. It is manifested by the placement of the Pillars, and balanced by the placement of the Banners. The central point is the Altar itself in the Temple itself…to the West of the altar is the “Real World” the ‘Elemental World’-to the East of the altar is the “Spiritual World”…the Candidate must ‘pass through the Pillars-before he/she can ‘open the veil’-the Enochian Elemental Tablets are set up in the West of the Temple-between the Black Pillar and the Banner of the West. The Tablet of Union sits in the center-surrounded by the Elemental Enochian Tablets. The Associate Adept is also stationed in the West. ALL of the Hebrew Paths are also in the ‘Spiritual World.’

In Self Initiation into the Golden Dawn-the Elemental Tablets are positioned in their respective directions-AIR in the East, FIRE in the South, WATER in the West, and EARTH in the North…to the West of the Veil of Paroketh-or in other words-in the “Real World”…the Tablet of Union is past the Veil in the ‘Spiritual World’. The Hebrew Paths are all in the ‘Real World’ to the West of the Veil. The Pillars are to the East of the Veil as well-in the ‘Spiritual World’

In Commentaries by Pat-the temple is set up the same-with some exceptions of the diagrams being in different placements, and the Pentacle/’Pantacle’ in the ‘Spiritual World’ rather than in the ‘Real World’ above the altar as in the diagram in Self Initiation…Once again-the Enochian Elemental tablets are set up in the associated directions in the “Real World”, with the Tablet of Union in the ‘Spiritual World’

Of note-there are also differing amounts, duties, and names of the officers involved in the various rituals. In Mather’s Last Secret-there is the ‘Hierophant Indictor, the Associate Adept and the Candidate. In Self-Initiation officers are only indicated by wand placements, so there are the Sword, the Miter-headed Wand, the Salt-headed Wand, and the Sulfur-headed Wand to the West of the Veil of Paroketh in the ‘Real World’ and the Pentagram-headed Wand to the East of the Veil of Paroketh in the “Spiritual World’. In Pat’s Commentaries there is the Hiereus, the Hegemon, the 3^rd Adept and the 2^nd Adept to the West of the Veil in the ‘Real World’ and the Chief Adept to the East of the Veil in the “Spiritual World’…

so the Portal officers are:

·         The Chief Adept (SPIRIT) who carries the White Pentagram-headed Scepter/Wand

·         The 2nd Adept (FIRE) who carries an Ank, a Red Lotus Wand, and/or the Red Sulphur headed Wand

·         The 3rd Adept (WATER) who carries an Ank. a Blue Lotus Wand, and/or the Blue Salt headed Wand

·         the Hegemon (AIR) who carries an Ank and a Yellow Lotus Wand

·         The Hiereus (EARTH) who carries the Crook of Mercy and the Scourge of Severity

...so it would seem fitting for whom ever is the 2nd Adept FIRE-to also do the duties of the Hegemon AIR...and the 3rd Adept WATER -to also do the duties of the Hiereus EARTH...

Being limited in number-our Temple would have to combine elements of officers-i.e. Frater P. Acting Hierophant/Chief Adept, and the other Officers accordingly.

OF Interest here though-is the Placement of the Hiereus in the West-the Hiereus’ Sword, and the placement of the Enochian Elemental Tablets & the Tablet of Union in the West as well-with the Hiereus between the Enochian tablets/tablet of Union and the West…

“The Hiereus is the officer known as ‘The Avenger of the Gods”. He guards the Temple from the Qlippoth or Evil Ones who dwell beneath Malkuth in the Kingdom of Shells. He represents a terrible avenging god at the confines of Matter, who is enthroned upon Matter and robed in Darkness…the grip is red to represent the Path of Shin-alluding to Universe governed by the flaming force of Divine Severity. The ‘Sword of Vengence’ is the name of this implement. Because the Sword of the Hiereus is used to guard the Temple its natural use in the Golden Dawn ceremonies is for banishing and protection. At any time…the Hierophant may call upon the Hiereus to perform the Lesser Banishing Ritual of the Pentagram.”

Secrets of a Golden Dawn Temple

~Chic & Tabatha Cicero~

Therefore the Placement of the Enochian Elemental Tablets/Tablet of Union in the West-is Important-in that-they can be controlled and the Temple can be protected by the Hiereus and the Sword of Vengence-as well as IF the energies do ever get ‘out-of-hand’ or uncomfortable-the Hiereus is at the ready to Banish with the Sword.

Suggested ritual modification-utilizing the original G.D./A.O. ritual of the Portal-the WATER Stolistes (Passive), and the FIRE Dadouchos (Active) Purify & Consecrate the Temple by WATER & FIRE. Then assume the Offices of Hegemon (Passive) and Hiereus (Active)-all of this in the ‘Real World’…to the West of the Altar-MODIFICATION being-the Hegemon-instead of being stationed to the East of the Altar-will be stationed just to the West of the Altar-East of the Enochian Tablets/Tablet of Union, with the Hiereus-West of the Enochian Tablets/Tablet of Union in the traditional placement as Protector.

Then once the Veil of Paroketh has been ‘opened’ the Sword of the Hiereus is Placed OVER the Enochian Tablets/Tablet of Union to protect/control the potential energy currents

·         Passive Officer- (Stolistes/Hegemon) moves into the ‘Spiritual World’ and assumes the officer of the 3^rd Adept-Blue Salt headed wand, and the

·         Active Officer- (Dadouchos/Hiereus) moves into the ‘Spiritual World’ and assumes the officer of the 2^nd Adept-Red Sulphur headed wand

Establishing:

·         PASSIVE- Stolistes-WATER- Hiereus-EARTH -3^rd Adept-WATER

·         ACTIVE-Dadouchos-FIRE- Hegemon-AIR -2^nd Adept-FIRE

Tarot Readings:

Frater I.I.I.

·         Strength (Major Arcana) (In Reverse) ‘Controlled Power’ Leo-Stable FIRE

·         The Emperor (Major Arcana) (In Reverse) ‘Energy’-Aries-Active FIRE

·         6 of Swords (In Reverse) ‘Earned Success’ Mercury in Aquarius –Reasoning Powers/I KNOW/Imagination-Stable AIR

·         6 of Cups- ‘Pleasure’- the Sun in Scorpio-Inner Self/I DESIRE/Intensity-Stable WATER

The pair of Sixes –Harmony, Balance, and Equilibrium

Frater A.U.A.

Pair of Princesses- the Energies of HEH-Assiah-physical manifestation on the Earthly plane-

·         Princess of Pentacles/Disks – EARTH of EARTH-Enochian Divine Names & Angels- abalpt calls forth the powers of the Subangle, Arbiz compels abalpt to obedience. Opna/dOoP/rxao/axir

·         Princess of Swords-EARTH of AIR-Enochian Divine Names & Angels-aiaoai calls forth the powers of the Subangle, Oiit compels aiaoai to obience. Abmo/NaeO/ocnm/Shal

·         Princess of Cups-EARTH of WATER-Enochian Divine Names & Angels-MaLadi calls forth the Powers of the Sub-angle-olaaD compels maLadi to obedience. paco/ndzN/iiPo/xrnh.

·         Princess of Wands- EARTH of FIREEnochian Divine Names & Angels-uoixDo calls forth the powers of the Subangle. Sioda compels uoixDo to obedience. datT/diom/Oopz/rgan.