The Lesser Banishing Ritual of the Pentagram

This is the first ritual any aspiring magician should learn, it is the building block of everything else. Banishing is truly important, it is quite messy to try to work with anything if one's circle is infested with irrelevant influences. Also, banishing will help keep unwanted magical disturbances out. Before you do anything else, do this. The Lesser Banishing Ritual of the Pentagram (LBRP) consists of four parts; an introduction called the Qabalistic Cross (QC), the drawing of the Pentagrams, the evocation of the Archangels, and a closing with the QC. Each of these sections will be discussed below.

Opening with the Qabalistic Cross

Face East. Relax and breathe deeply, imagine yourself growing so large that eventually the Earth is but a small sphere beneath your feet. Then see a globe of white Light above you, about the same size as the Earth. With your right hand, reach up with your forefinger and touch the Light. Bring your hand and the Light down and touch your forehead. Vibrate ATAH. Point towards your feet. Vibrate MALKUTH.

Touch your right shoulder. Vibrate V'GEBURAH. Touch your left shoulder. Vibrate V'GEDULAH. Sweep your arms out and around to clasp at your chest. While doing so, vibrate LE OLAHM. Vibrate AMEN. In English, this translates as "For thou art the Kingdom, Power, and Glory, forever throughout the Worlds". Some might be familiar with this from the Lord's Prayer.

The Pentagrams

Facing East. Draw the Banishing Earth Pentagram in the air before you. Step forward with your right foot and thrust your hands into the center of the Pentagram while vibrating YHVH. This is called the Sign of the Enterer. Step back and place your left forefinger to your mouth, this is called the Sign of Silence. Always make the Sign of Silence after making the Sign of the Enterer. Turn to the South. Draw the Pentagram as before.

Step into the Sign of the Enterer while vibrating ADONI. Turn to the West. Draw the Pentagram as before. Step into the Sign of the Enterer while vibrating EHEIEH. Turn to the North. Draw the Pentagram as before. Step into the Sign of the Enterer while vibrating AGLA. Turn to the East.

The Evocation of the Archangels

Raise your arms into the form of a cross, palms up, and say the following, vibrating the bold Names. Before me, RAPHAEL. Behind me, GABRIEL. At my right hand, MICHAEL. And at my left hand, URIEL. At this point bring your arms forward and up and exclaim: For around me flames the Pentagram, and within me shines the Six Rayed Star!

Close by performing the Qabalistic Cross once again.