How to Do the Lesser Banishing Ritual of the Pentagram

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Learn the steps and significance of this ancient and powerful ceremony

Co-authored by Luke Smith, MFA Reviewed by Stina Garbis

Last Updated: March 4, 2024 Fact Checked

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The Qabalistic Cross

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Forming the 4 Pentagrams

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Invoking the Archangels

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Q&A

The Lesser banishing ritual of the pentagram (or the LBRP) is a basic occult ritual and form of ceremonial magic that forms the foundation for other rituals and magics. It was begun by the Golden Dawn, an occult society, and is said to dispel negative influences and increase your spiritual discipline. We’ll show you how to perform the ritual from start to finish, including performing the Qabalistic cross and invoking the angels.

Overview of the Ritual

The lesser banishing ritual has 4 parts: the Qabalistic cross, forming the pentagrams, invoking the angels, and a final Qabalistic cross.
The ritual is said to improve your spiritual discipline, expand your aura, and remove negative influences.
The ritual was begun by the Golden Dawn, an occult society that had great influence on today’s occult practices.

Part 1

Part 1 of 3:

Performing the Qabalistic Cross

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1
Put on white or black robes and prepare your altar. An altar isn’t necessary, but if you have one, place it in the center of the room. If you have one, light a white candle on the altar to represent purity and energy. Also place on the altar a cup of water, a small pile of salt, an unlit match, and a feather, which represent the four elements of water, earth, fire, and air, respectively.^{[1]
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- Traditionally, these objects are actually a wand, a cup, a dagger, and a pentacle, but these aren’t always easy to obtain.
2
Face east and imagine a brilliant light touching your forehead. Stand in the center of your room (in front of your altar) and imagine that you are a towering figure and the earth is a tiny sphere below you. Imagine an intense white light touching the crown of your head.^{[2]
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- Also imagine yourself to be the center of the universe to position your body and mind.
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3
Use your right hand to bring the light to your forehead. Reach up with your right hand (or a ritual dagger, also called an Athame) and pull this white light down to your forehead. As you do this, vibrate the word “ATAH” (ah-tah), which means, “unto thee” or “thou art.”^{[3]
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- To “vibrate” the word, focus all your attention on it in your head, say it out loud, or both—whichever feels most significant to you.
4
Move your hand down your body to your groin. Bring your hand to your breast, then stomach, then hips. As you do, feel the light being drawn down through you in a beam, all the way to your feet. When your hand reaches your groin, vibrate the word “MALKUTH” (Mahl-kooth), which means, “the Kingdom.”^{[4]
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- Imagine the light running through you, from the crown of your head to the ground beneath your feet, connecting you to the earth.
5
Touch your right then left shoulders. Bring the beam of light to your right shoulder and vibrate “VE-GEBURAH” (v'ge-boo-rah), which means “the Power.” Then bring the light to your left shoulder and vibrate “VE-GEDULAH” (v'ge-doo-lah), which means “the Glory.”
- As you do, imagine the beam of light extending past your shoulders, as well, to form a cross.
Outstretch your hands, then bring them together and vibrate, “LE-OLAHM, AMEN (lay-oh-lahm, ah-men), which means, “Forever, unto the ages.”^{[5]
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Research source}You are now standing in the center of a cross of light that reaches to the ends of the universe.

Part 2

Part 2 of 3:

Forming the 4 Pentagrams

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1
Face east and draw a pentagram in the air. Draw the pentagram starting at the bottom left point, then trace to the top point, the bottom right, the left, the right, and back to the start. Visualize it glowing in flaming blue light.^{[6]
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Research source} Point to the middle of the pentagram and vibrate “YOD HEH VAV HEH” (yode-heh-vahv-heh), or the God-name.
- This is the Sign of the Enterer.
2
Face south and draw another pentagram. Pivot to the south, then move your finger to face forward and trace another pentagram in the air, like the first. Vibrate “ADONAI” (ah-doh-nye), another God-name.
- Make the Sign of Silence by placing your left finger over your lips.
3
Pivot and draw another pentagram to the west, then the east. Just like the first 2 pentagrams, draw one facing west and vibrate, “EHEIEH” (eh-hey-yay), meaning “I am that I am.” Then do the same to the north and vibrate “AGLA” (ah-gah-lah), which means “Thou art great forever.”^{[7]
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- As you draw pentagrams, move to the corresponding side of the altar, so that you walk in a circle all the way around it by the time you’re finished.
You’re now surrounded by 4 blue flaming pentagrams in the 4 equal corners of your circle you've just made, each charged with a God-name.

Part 3

Part 3 of 3:

Invoking the Archangels

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Outstretch your arms like a cross, and visualize the Qabalistic cross you made earlier. Look in front of you (east) and say, “Before Me, RAPHAEL (rah-fay-el).”^{[8]
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Research source} Feel his presence and feel the airy breeze hit your face.
Imagine another presence behind you and say, “Behind Me, GABRIEL (gah-bree-el).”^{[9]
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Research source} Feel the element moisture of water on your back.
Look to your right and say, “On my right hand, MICHAEL (mi-kai-el).”^{[10]
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Research source} Feel the heat of fire.
Look to your left, and say, “On my left hand, URIEL (or-ee-el).”^{[11]
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Research source} Feel the sense of solidity given off by this quarter.
Contemplate the flaming pentagrams and the presence of the angels around you. Then say, “For around me shines the pentagram...:” Visualize a brilliant hexagram within your chest and say, “...and within me shines the six ray star.”^{[12]
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6
Finish the ritual by making another Qabalistic cross. As you did in the first section, use your right hand to bring the light from your head to your toes, then to your right and left shoulders, then clasped at your breast. The ritual is complete, and negative energies are banished.^{[13]
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- Perform this ritual every day to grow and strengthen your spiritual power and discipline.

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What are the cardinal directions when performing a lesser banishing ritual of the pentagram? Is it true north, magnetic north, or north perpendicular to the sun's path?

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In theory it should be north perpendicular to the sun's path, but in practice it doesn't really matter. I usually take east to be "wherever the light is coming from in the room," or "wherever the window is" and go from there. If I make the affirmation that that is east, that's usually good enough.

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What is this article about? Can you explain this mix of Judaism and Wicca to me?

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From what I know, this has nothing to do with Wicca. The only resemblance is the way the ritual is performed (since it's similar to how Wiccans do it) and the star-shape (pentacle) you trace during the ritual. I do think it's very silly to use the word "pentagram" while it's obviously meant to be a "pentacle," since the point of the star is upwards.

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How do I know if a pentagram tattoo is offensive?

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It is only your perception that defines what is offensive due to what society has ingrained into us and many other factors. I don't particularly find it offensive, as depending on the individual, it's either a spiritual thing or just a circle with a star. A poorly made tattoo is more offensive!

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Tips

To remember the order of the angels, think “ragma” (RGMA): Raphael, Gabriel, Michael, Auriel.

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Say your vibrations loudly and clearly, and with a monotonous voice that you should imagine is echoing powerfully throughout the universe.

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This can be done anywhere at any time; mentally or physically, loudly or quietly, with or without the use of a wand. Efficacy depends solely on the practitioner, and how much effort, energy, concentration, and visualization is put forth will determines the success.

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