Many struggle to maintain a daily spiritual practice, often citing the rituals’ complexity or a lack of time. Although the first can be the case, there’s something to do about the latter while (actually) maintaining efficiency.
Minimalism
This is where minimalism enters the picture. Contrary to popular belief, minimalism isn’t just about not having furniture, books, or tech. It’s about having only the essentials, allowing room for more meaningful things.
By applying minimalism, you can streamline rituals similarly to how arrow functions simplify regular ones in programming. They keep only the essentials while preserving the core purpose.
In his forward to Modern Magick, Lon Milo Duquette advocates avoiding becoming one of the people solely focused on the Work. Considering this one of the best pieces of advice, I’ve adopted an approach to condense my practices. And since occasionally people tell me they have no time, I decided to share it. So let’s begin with the start of any practice, the Lesser rituals
Lesser Rituals
As covered on the channel, the Lesser rituals set the space, whereas the Greater and Supreme attune it to a particular current, especially according to the Operant Model.
Traditionally, the Lesser Pentagram and Hexagram are preceded and followed by a Qabalistic Cross and a Keyword Analysis. While these are mandatory, multiplying them really isn’t, as you pretty much never use LRP and LRH alone. So, try this Instead:
- Qabalistic Cross;
- Lesser Pentagram;
- Keyword Analysis;
- Lesser Hexagram;
Based on personal experience, this doesn’t alter the operation. But feel free to share your results.
General Invocations
Once the space (or field) is set, we can move on to a General Invocation. This can include:
- Adoration of the Source of the Universe or whatever suits you — Different strokes for different folks. And…
- A version of the Middle Pillar, the Three Pillars technique, or the Elevenfold Seal.
For the second and third, you can use only Atziluth (or Atziluth and Briah) names once. The fourth remains unchanged.
Now… The Three Pillars is quite lengthy. So, I suggest keeping it to start your power naps and/or meditations. That is, after or separate from your practices, and utilize all four names for maximum benefit.
Options
From here, you have several options:
- A Greater or Supreme Pentagram;
- An Opening By Watchtower; Or…
- A Greater Hexagram;
Whichever you choose, it doesn’t need a Qabalistic Cross or Keyword Analysis, as you already gave those.
Supreme Pentagram
For the Elements, I offer SRP, as it is the most complete version, other than GRP above Tiphereth, which is beyond the scope of this video. Either way, skip the archangels, as you’ve already invoked them with LRP.
OBW
For Opening by Watchtower, Regardie’s Ceremonial Magick offers different variations. On the contrary, traditional OBW is cumbersome and requires weapons, which shouldn’t stop you from incorporating it. To the rescue come two options:
- A Supreme Invoking Pentagram on which it is (actually) built;
- A fusion of OBW and SIRP;
Invented by J. Alan More, the second is something I’ve been using for the past two years. It starts with SIRP, yet after each tablet, it adds the phrase:
“In the names of so and so, I invoke ye, Angels of so and so.”
…like the original OBW.
The fusion involves the mystical tablet of union, the central spiral names from the tablets, the Enochian rending of the veil, and a protection invocation I found particularly empowering. Also, the sigil of truth, yet based on personal experience, going without it, like in the original OBW is (actually) possible.
Remember:
Magick is like Art. Not having a particular piece of equipment should never prevent you from creating. Similarly, not having this or that device should never stop you from doing the Work.
— POTB
Speaking of that, you can go clockwise in a circle or YHVH for this technique. And soon, I’ll, hopefully, have a Manual on it.
You might want to precede your general SIRP or OBW with a part from the ‘Bornless One’ invocation. Particularly that starting and finishing with:
‘I am he the bornless spirit.’
And:
‘IAO TZABAOTH, such are the words.’
Greater Hexagram
For the sephirah, I offer GRH over SRH, as it’s more streamlined and versatile, working with the planets’ and signs’ dual natures. If its preliminary poetic invocation is from a book, use it as is. If you composed it yourself, you can make that short… and rhyme.
This is where your knowledge of correspondence comes in handy. The better it is, the more streamlined and impactful you can make the ‘poetic invocation’. The same applies to your specific invocations and charges of intent.
Four Worlds
Now, you go through the four worlds and give a charge of intent and then a license to depart. Next, you can add your second Keyword Analysis. Or precede it with a Qabalistic Cross to seal the energy. And if you want closing banishings, you do those, with your second Keyword Analysis and Qabalistic Cross.
Time
Skipping the SRP or OBW and the closing banishings can reduce such a practice to about 4 minutes. Otherwise, it is about 10. Meditation can’t be shortened. And that’s just a fact.
If you want the bare minimum, just do the following:
- Setting the space;
- The adoration and general invocation
- The poetic invocation
- GRH or specific SRP and
- Closing QC or LBRP
Given that, I think there are no excuses for not dedicating five to ten minutes once or twice per day to something you (actually) care about.
Doing things this way lets me practice with fierce excitement, and I invest in every detail of the Work. Chanting names and repeating preliminaries don’t. But that’s just my opinion. Let me know your thoughts and results with such a minimalist approach. Check the links in the description, consider subscribing and supporting me, and thank you for your time.
