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Internet Book of Shadows, (Various Authors), [1999], at sacred-texts.com
The following text was an addendum to some Wiccan friends of mine written in 1986. It followed a fairly standard instruction in the Lesser Banishing Ritual of the Pentagram, with which they were not familiar. We were feeling out some linking techniques leading to a proposed joint ritual involving several Wiccans and two ceremonial qabalists (one Thelemite -- ie. myself, and another). While events conspired to torpedo this project, some interesting ideas came along on both sides. The goal was a set of brief rituals meaningful to both traditions which we could practice individually, thus building up a group current prior to the date of the proposed rite (Samhain of that year). Herewith my notes on "The Wiccan Pentagram" ritual which evolved during this project. My primary source of God Forms was Paul Huson's "Mastering Witchcraft" which was my main source of information on Wicca at the time (I've done considerable study elsewhere since).
A ritual can be modified in many ways, to refit it for a different set of symbols, for example. I have taken the liberty of doing some research into alternate symbols for the Lesser Ritual of the Pentagram since I know that you work a lunar-feminine current (Wicca) whereas I use more solar-masculine symbols in my current (Thelemite). The Qabalistic Cross This might be used as is, though you could use the English if you don't feel that the Hebrew is relevant. I am sure you recognize the words as being similar to the end of the Lord's Prayer in the King James Version: 'Unto thee, the Kingdom and the Power and the Glory, forever! Amen.' I would point out that this formula was around a long time before Christ, much less the translators of the Standard Revised Version of the Bible. If you dislike such a specifically Christian form, it may be replaced with the words KETHER (KEH-THER), MALKUTH, GEBURAH, GEDULAH (or Crown, Kingdom, Power, Mercy), the spheres of occult energy that you are invoking with the Q-Cross. The mental images remain the same. You could even avoid these Hebrew symbols entirely, using Names and formulae more suitable to raising the Cone of Power, which is what you are doing here in Wiccan terms. See the 'Wiccan Cross,' below.
The principle is:
Again, the pentagram should be used. This symbol is universal to many, many systems of magick, including Wicca, as you know. The five-pointed star has supreme power over the Elements: Spirit, Fire, Water, Air and Earth. It drives off negative influences and attracts positive ones. It is an essential part of the rite and there is no symbol that can take its place as effectively.
I prefer using the Hebrew God-Names as is. In this connection they express formulae that govern the Elements and are no more religious than E=MC squared. However, there are equivalent Wiccan God-Names, which I describe in the next section, as substitutes for the Archangels. The use of the same Names to activate the stars and to invoke the Elemental force is quite in keeping with the Wiccan tradition, which does not use the same hierarchical system of God-Name, Archangel, Angel, Ruler, Spirit, etc. that Qabalism does.
Instead of the Hebrew Archangels I described, you could use Wiccan Deities to invoke the 'pure' form of the Elements.
AIR-EAST:
The Air image in Wicca seems to be masculine and
relates to Herne, the Black Man, the messenger of the Gods, or
the Sky Gods: Odin, or Lugh as the rising Sun God. The God can be
imagined as riding through the night sky, at the head of the Wild
Hunt, or rising above the branches of the world-ash. Instead of the
Sword given to Raphael, the God might carry a staff, spear or
wand, which is attributed to Air in most Wiccan traditions.
FIRE-SOUTH:
The Fire image is definitely masculine and relates
to the Horned God: Cernunnos, Lucifer, call Him what you will.
He stands in the hot light of the noonday sun, radiating fiery
energy. He would bear an Athame or sword, which is the weapon of
Fire in most Wiccan styles.
WATER-WEST:
The Water image is the Maiden, the mistress of the
Moon and the Tides: Aradia, Artemis, Venus rising from the
waves. Her image is lit by the silver light of the moon, upon a
tranquil reach of water or the foaming sea. She might hold the
chalice, symbol of water (alternatively, the cauldron might be
envisioned).
EARTH-NORTH:
The Goddess in Her aspect as Earth Mother is here:
Hertha, Habondia, Demeter. She stands beneath the golden,
life-giving sun surrounded by the fruits of the Earth. Before her,
a platter flows with good things of the Earth, for the
disk/shield/platter is the pentacle, magick instrument of Earth.
These are only bare sketches of the magickal images that a witch
might use to replace the Qabalistic images of the traditional
pentagram ritual. I offer them for what they are worth.
A few points to note:
The last line of the Invocation refers to a 'six-rayed star' and the mental work calls for imagining a Star of David. This is not a specifically Jewish symbol in this context. The six-pointed star, or hexagram, is the Qabalistic symbol par excellence of initiation and spiritual illumination. The upward-pointing triangle represents the aspiration of the magician to the Gods, and the downward-pointing triangle represents the divine power, flowing down to the world. These meet at the moment of magick and the interlaced triangles forming the hexagram symbolize the power of this meeting. Should you prefer not to use the Star of David, you can replace the mental image with any symbol showing the meeting of your soul and the power of the Goddess. This can even be a private symbol, one that is meaningful only to you. Alternatively, you can just envision the sphere of white light from the Q-Cross, as a symbol of divine power. Replace the words about the 'six-rayed star' with some descriptive form: 'the seal of the Goddess,' or 'the sign of my Awakening,' or simply 'the light Divine.'
Rubric [This is a form of the rite incorporating the changes in symbolism discussed above]
WICCAN CROSS
Face East. Touch forehead. Say IO EVOE HERTHA
('Blessed be Hertha,' or other Name by which you worship the Goddess
as Creatrix) Touch solar plexus or genitals. Say IO EVOE CERNUNNOS
('Blessed be Cernunnos,' or other name by which you worship the
Horned God as the Earth) Touch right shoulder. Say EKO EKO AZARAK
('Hail, hail force of fire') Touch left shoulder. Say EKO EKO
AMELAK ('Hail, hail to the glory') Extend arms in form of a cross.
Say IO EVOE ('Blessed be.') Clasp hands upon breast and say 'So mote
it be.'
CIRCLE OF PROTECTION
Trace pentagram in East. Say HERNE. Trace
circle of protection until facing South. Trace pentagram in South.
Say CERNUNNOS. Trace circle of protection until facing West. Trace
pentagram in West. Say ARADIA. Trace circle of protection until
facing North. Trace pentagram in North. Say HABONDIA. Finish tracing
circle, closing it in the East.
INVOCATION OF THE GREAT GODS
Return to center of circle and face
East. Extend arms in form of a cross. Chant:
Before me HERNE The Huntsman
Behind me ARADIA The Maiden
On my right hand CERNUNNOS, the Horned God
On my left hand HABONDIA, the Great Mother
About me flame the pentagrams
And above me shines the light of the Goddess.
Repeat the Wiccan Cross. Rather than performing this in the rather measured cadences of Qabalistic Ritual, a form of dancing and chanting more pleasing to the God-forms of Wicca might profitably be devised.