Circles of Magick Part 1.

Introduction

This video deals with the elemental ordering within circles of magick. It is an addition to those I made on SIRP and the Fields of Operation in Practical Magick (1 and 2). Besides different arrangements, the video summarizes personal reflections as one doing the work for almost five years. This part discusses the most common orderings within the magickal circles. Delving a bit “deeper,” the second examines the shapes created by those orderings, using common sense and simple logic.

Disclaimer

Everything I say is to be taken with great skepticism and desirably tried and tested first-hand. The opinions I express may or may not match your empirical results, which are the only thing you should trust. 

The Winds Model 

Being the standard for 90% of Magickal and Wiccan books, the so-called ‘winds’ arranges a magickal circle with Air in the East, Fire in the South, Water in the West, and Earth in the North. The winds model balances two opposing sides by grouping the elements into a passive and an active couple. As written in The Golden Dawn:

The Tree of Life

Essentially, this matches the whole tree of life dynamic, especially since Geburah and the pillar of Severity are on the right side of the operator’s body, whereas Chessed and that of Mercy are on the left. After completing the circle, facing east using the winds model, the magician has the passive couple on their left, or more precisely, their whole northwest, and the ‘active’ is on the right, or more specifically, their entire southeast. This is according to the rule that when looking at it, the Tree of Life is a reflection of the magician and vice versa.

The Middle Pillar

IMHO, this is part of what is meant when it is said that the pentagram formula affirms the magician as a perfect reflection of the Tree of Life. Also, why, rather than using ‘in the column,’ some groups say ‘in the middle pillar,’ flames the six-rayed star when finishing LRP in their circles of magick. Examined from this perspective, the winds model emphasizes the balance between two opposites. Being its center, the magician is Spirit’s emissary, bringing equilibrium.

Different Hemispheres

The primary rule behind the winds model is that this is where the winds come from. On the contrary, there’s a solid argument that this is different based on the magician’s location. According to some sources, such circles of magick are only accurate in the northern hemisphere. And practitioners in the southern hemisphere should swap out the direction of Fire and Earth. Also, that of the circle moving anti-clockwise or widdershins.

Shadows and Hurricanes

Reasons for such arrangements include the Sun-cast shadows and hurricane directions opposing those of the northern hemisphere. Supposedly making such arrangements based on the destination aligns you with nature and how it operates in the different hemispheres. Nonetheless, such modifications aren’t mentioned in most books on GD and Thelema and, based on my research, are mainly utilized by Wiccan groups. According to Regardie’s The Golden Dawn:

Somewhat vague, that is the whole explication of the subject in the book. Adhering to the winds model, scholars often explain it expresses how one perceives the elements in their psyche. On the contrary, this is subjective and primarily when used for microcosmic rituals— more in the second part.

The Zodiac Model

Traditionally, Golden Dawn and Thelema use the elements’ cardinal positioning in the heavens. Also called the Zodiac Model, that is Fire in the East; Earth in the South; Air in the West; And Water in the North. According to David Shoemaker and James A. Eschelman, that’s only if you are in a Rosae Rubeae et Aureae Cruci vault. Otherwise, they believe the ‘winds’ or your pentagram directions should be applied, as mentioned in my LRH post.

LRP and LRH

Considering Regardie’s the Golden Dawn, using the winds with the zodiac model makes the elements vibrate between their places in micro and macrocosm. That is Fire between East and South, Air between East and West, Water between West and North, Earth between North and South, and Spirit Between depth and height. As explained in part two, that creates some of an infinity shape. And this is why some scholars say that the two models complement each other within as circles of magick.

Mutual Qualities

Moving away from the winds model, some practitioners order their circle based on the elements’ mutual qualities or density. Recognized by Aristotle and ancient philosophy, these qualities are dry, hot, moist, and cold. Aristotle believed the ‘qualities’ were the ‘elements,’ whereas the ‘elements’ he called ‘simple bodies.

Simple Bodies

Each ‘element’ or ‘simple body’ combines two of those four. Fire is ‘dry’ and ‘hot’; Air is hot and ‘moist’; Water is ‘moist’ and cold. And Earth is cold and dry. Based on my research, the elements were recognized to form a cyclical concept: Fire can turn into Air; Air into Water; Water into Earth; and Earth into Fire. And all ‘elements’ strive toward their natural placement in the Universe. So they can transform from one to another — as written in this article.

The Key of Solomon and Geomantic Shapes

As shared in the comment section of my LRP video, one such arrangement is going from Fire to Earth to Water to Air. While it matches the Mystical Tablet of Union in reverse, I “don’t have” experience with it. So I can’t comment on it safe for saying it resembles a Key of Solomon Magick Circle with geomantic shapes, which, based on my research, predicts the winds model quite a bit.

Density Model 1

Another ancient order of circles of magick is swapping the places of Fire and Air in the traditional ‘winds’ model. Based on what I found, this has two variations. Outlined in Damon Brand’s Archangels of Magick, the first (аctually) starts in the North. Brand explains that although getting some results from it, the traditional ‘winds’ model never felt quite right. Later in his career, he stumbled on an ancient Jewish prayer.

Archangels of Magick

Siddur Prayer Book

Based on what I found, this arrangement comes from the Siddur prayer book for evening or bedtime prayer. This is interesting because after calling all four archangels, this book adds the phrase: ‘and above my head Shechinat El.’ As those versed in Hebrew know, the latter means the presence of God.

The Middle Pillar

Considering Archangels of Magick, Brand likely doesn’t use that 13th phrase in his LRP. On the contrary, Cicero’s version of the Middle Pillar — which is all about the ‘winds’ model, recognizes the possibility of adding that 13th phrase. While this 13th phrase adds completion (by far), I don’t have enough experience starting in the North. So I can’t comment on using the technique in this manner.

Density Model 2

The density model’s second version also swaps out Fire and Air, yet it starts in the East. It’s worth mentioning that such an arrangement keeps the winds model and the tree of life opposites mentioned more harmoniously—more on that in part two.

Considering Archangels of Magick, Brand likely doesn’t use that 13th phrase in his LRP. On the contrary, Cicero’s version of the Middle Pillar — which is all about the ‘winds’ model, recognizes the possibility of adding that 13th phrase. While this 13th phrase adds completion (by far), I don’t have enough experience starting in the North. So I can’t comment on using the technique in this manner.

Hermetic Qabala

This arrangement is heavily emphasized by more of a low-key scholar Jeff Rhoades and his Hermetic Order of the Round Table. Rhoades Hermetic Qabala regards the traditional GD orderings as “not just less effective but also as causing side effects.” Although influenced by Modern Magick, Rhoades applies the density model for both hexagram and pentagram formulas. Yet, he keeps the geomantic shapes as in the traditional LRH. 

Alchemy and Ancient Philosophy

Rhoades explains that this better aligns with the principles of alchemy, ancient philosophy, and the techniques of a Hermetic scholar Franz Bardon. Rhoades’s definition of LIRH is to invoke the ‘basic and transformative power,’ as the geomantic shapes are ordered by the density model.

Comment

Whether this is precisely the case, I can’t tell with absolute certainty. Yet, I get some remarkable results from performing my operant and invoking fields in such a manner. Though undoubtedly working, the traditional GD positioning could distract me by making me mindful of an influx of meaningless stuff and information from the objective. On the other hand, Rhoades’ modification brings me into the external, actively building things and constantly interacting with the ‘objective’ with minimal distractions.

Thelema: The Way of the Strong

Said differently, in its standard positioning, LIRH (mostly) makes me react to the outer world, whereas this version makes me act upon it. And I’d say it allows me to (actively) work toward achieving what David Cherubim talks about in his essay, Thelema: The Way of The Strong. 

Uncle Setnakt’s Essential Guide to the LHP

It also aligns me with some concepts examined in my Uncle Setnakt’s Essential Guide Book Review.

According to some, this is doing a macrocosmic ritual’ microcosmicaly.’ According to Rhoades, the arrangement connects to the Tiphereth center more efficiently, merging micro and microcosm.

Saturn and LRH

Certain scholars point out that one of the reasons for using LRH is performing the banishing form to remove Saturnian influences breaking Universe’s inertia and restrictions. While my take on using too much banishing is in my Fields of Operation video, doing LIRH in this arrangement doesn’t feel as if bringing more restrictions and limitations.

Inertia

It allows me to use that to my advantage, acting and building things the ‘external.’ Almost as if Saturn generously includes my development in its inertia. It also makes time work for specific aspects of my life. And this, IMHO, is all part of what Crowley meant when saying to merge your my ‘will’ with the universal ‘will.’

Reflections

Slightly ‘deviating’ from the ‘winds model,’ this is the arrangement I have the most experience with. I adopted it because the traditional GD orderings made little sense to my core self. Now. This may change as I progress on my journey. Yet, thus far, that’s the only thing I have difficulty fully accepting in GD and Thelema. Nonetheless, the fact remains that most people use the traditional GD ordering, and that creates a powerful egregore into which you can tap by doing the same. As Damon Brand says, that is a tradition with nearly 200 years of history.

Just an Opinion

But all this is my opinion which may not resonate with you. Whatever the case, I’ll be happy if you let me know your take on the topic. Feel free to share that, such as your personal experiences with using different orderings. Also, your suggestions for future posts.