Glossary - exWitch Australia (formerly 'Born Again Pagan')

LESSER BANISHING RITUAL, The
(a.k.a. The Lesser Banishing Ritual of the Pentagram)

Although not understood - or probabably even known - by many of the newer self-taught Wiccans, many Wiccan Rituals have their basis in Kabbalistic theory and practice, which puts paid to (at least to some extent) the theory/belief that Wicca is a revival of the pre-Christian nature religions of Europe. Probably the best known, and most widely practiced of these Kabbalah based Wiccan Rituals is the 'Lesser Banishing Ritual'

Introduced by the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn, the Lesser Banishing Ritual is one of the essential rituals of the Western Mysteries, observed by Hermeticists (see HERMETIC TRADITION), during which forces are summoned to purify the space within the Magick Circle, to guard it against interference and to empower the practictioner(s). The practictioner commences the ritual by facing east and inscribing a Kabbalistic Cross, after which he turns to the other cardinal points before returning to the east.

The Lesser Banishing Ritual is widely accepted as a necessary preliminary to practically all higher forms of Western Magick, and forms an intregral part - in some shape or form - of the Circle Casting Ritual in most forms of Wicca.

The following example is taken from the Webmaster's old personal 'Book of Shadows' that I used when still a practicing Pagan, before coming to Christ (see ABOUT ME), and is presented here ONLY to demonstrate the Kabbalistic rather than Celtic origins of much of Wiccan practice:

Taking the Athame in the right hand (or use the index finger). Face EAST.
Perform the Kabbalistic Cross as follows:
Visualise, at the first word intoned, a brilliant white light descend from above.
Touch the forehead and intone:
ATEH
(Thou art...)
Visualise that same brilliant white light form a 6 inch diameter sphere
just above the crown of your head.
Touch the middle of the solar plexus and intone:
MALKUTH
(...The Kingdom...)
Visualise a shaft of light descending from the Crown Sphere
and descend to the feet where another 6 inch (15 cm) sphere
expands just under your feet.
Touch the right shoulder and intone:
VE-GEVURAH
(...and Power...)
Visualise a 6 inch (15 cm) sphere of brilliant white light appear
just next to the right shoulder.
Touch the left shoulder and intone:
VE-GEDULAH
(...and Glory...)
Visualise a shaft of light emerge from the right Sphere
and cross your breast to expand and
form another Sphere at your left shoulder.
Clasp the hands before you and intone:
LE-OLAHM
(...forever)
At this point Visualise clearly the cross of light
as it extends through your body.
Hands as before, with the Athame between fingers,
point up, intone
AMEN

Note: Any image or figure traced in the air with the finger, Athame or other magical instrument, is to be Visualised in brilliant white Light. In more advanced working, other colours may be used. Make sure that all images drawn are correct, as brilliant as possible, and complete. The beginning and end of a drawn Pentagram must come completely together.

Banishing Earth Pentagram
Draw, in the air facing EAST, a banishing Earth Pentagram
as shown in the diagram
and bringing the point of the Athame to the center of the Pentagram,
intone the Name
Y H V H
(pronounced YAHD HEY VAU HEY)
Visualise your voice carrying forward to the LIMITS of the UNIVERSE.
Without moving the Athame in any other direction,
trace a semicircle before you as you turn toward the SOUTH.
Again trace the Pentagram,
bring the Athame to the center of it,
and intone the Name:
ADNI
(pronounced AH-DOH-NEYE)
Again, trace the semicircle with the Athame to the WEST,
trace the Pentagram, bringing the Athame to the center,
and intone the Name:
AHIH,
(pronounced EH-YEH)
Then, turn towards the NORTH,
while tracing the circle,
trace the Pentagram,
bring the point of the Athame to the center
and intone the Name
AGLA,
(pronounced AH-GAH-LAH)
Return to the EAST
completing tracing the circle of brilliant white Light,
bringing the Athame point to the center of the EAST Pentagram.
Extend the arms in the form of a cross, say:
BEFORE ME
(then intone)
RAPHAEL
(pronounced RAH-PHYE-EHL)
Visualise a brilliant white Archangel in front of you and facing you.
In his/her right hand is a magical Sword held with the point upright.
The background is a pale, pure, bright yellow.
Visualise a gentle, refreshing breeze, cleansing and purifying the air.
Then, say:
BEHIND ME
(then intone)
GABRIEL
(pronounced GAH-BREE-EHL)
Visualise a brilliant white Archangel behind you and facing you,
holding in their right hand an exquisite silver Chalice.
He/she is standing on a blue ocean and dolphins or mermaids are nearby.
Visualise feeling the mist and cool spray of the ocean breeze.
Then, say:
AT MY RIGHT HAND
(then intone)
AURIEL
(pronounced AWE-REE-EHL)
Visualise a brilliant white Archangel at your right,
facing you, and holding between their hands
a Disk with a white Pentagram in the center.
The ground is russet-brown, the leaves of the trees are olive-green,
there are black shadows from the trees in a number of places,
and the light is citrine (light yellow-green.)
Feel the solidity of the Earth, and imagine the odour
of the leaves and muskiness of the ground.
Then, say:
AT MY LEFT HAND
(then intone)
MICHAEL
(pronounced MEE-CHYE-EHL)
Visualise a brilliant white Archangel at your left,
facing you, and holding in their right hand
a transparent scarlet red Wand with a pure diamond top.
Waves of scarlet, red-orange and orange fire in the background.
Also, SEKHMET, with a scarlet disk above her head,
emerald green Uraeus, scarlet dress
from just below breasts, tight-fitting, down to her ankles,
is in the flames.
She holds, in her left hand, a scarlet-red lotus wand.
In her right hand, she holds an emerald-green Ankh.
Small black salamanders can be seen moving among the flames.
Visualise heat and power emanating from the NORTH.

WEBMASTER'S NOTE: Due to the differences in practice between the Northern and Southern Hemisphere's in regard to correspondences related to the Cardinal Points the positions of the Archangels/Watchers detailed here are quite different from those as usually practiced in the Northern Hemisphere

Now, say: ABOUT ME FLAMES THE PENTAGRAMS,
AND IN THE COLUMN SHINES THE SIX-RAYED STAR.

Visualise the complete circle of brilliant white light
at whose quadrants are the 4 Pentagrams.
At the center is the Cabbalistic Cross of Light extended through one's body.
Repeat the Kabbalistic cross.

see also CHARGE OF THE GODDESS, The

PLEASE NOTE:
One of the major problems with 'defining' Paganism and/or its beliefs and practices is that it is an 'organic' movement, in that it is undergoing constant change and re-evaluation from within, and as such any 'one-size-fits-all' approach to understanding Paganism will be found wanting.

Due to the very 'organic' nature of Paganism, and the many differing Paths and Traditions within it, in many cases no one definition may be universally accepted by all Pagans. Therefore, where such cases of possible conflicting and/or contradictory meanings of certain terms occur I have endevoured to give not only the generally accepted meaning, but also any major 'variations' in belief and/or practice.

Christians who believe this difference in meaning of certain key terms, beliefs and practices to be unique to Paganism need to remember that such conflicts also arise within the Body of Christ - the Church. Take for instance the differing practices amongst Christians concerning Baptism and the different attitudes towards women in the clergy.

- Jean-Luc