MAGICK PRIMER 02: Banishing

BANISHING RITUALS

Read the rest of the Magick Primer

Banishings are extremely popular in nearly all Occult and Magick circles, with some form of a Clearing Ritual usually being the first ritual that a new Magician will perform.  Depending on what source you go to, they are either the most necessary part of a Magician’s regime, or they are highly overrated and largely unneeded – I tend to fall somewhere in between. Banishings are important and useful but I wouldn’t go crazy with them.

WHAT ARE THEY USED FOR?
A banishing is intended to remove non-physical influences, such as spirits or negativity, in the room or area that the Operator is located, or about to work in. It can also be used to banish Negative feelings and emotions (such as anger, hostility, jealousy, frustration etc.) or just to clear the air (after an argument for instance).

Basically, a banishing is performed in order to purify an area of unwanted influences.

While they are often used before and after bigger Rituals or Workings, they can be used at any time you feel the need.  They have also been recommended as a daily practice – Invoking first thing in the morning and Banishing at night. Aleister Crowley recommended that a banishing ritual be done at least once daily.

Can you banish too much? Can it be harmful?
This depends largely on who you ask. Some people suggest that, like chemotherapy, Banishing banishes everything – the good and the bad. So, there is likely a chance that even stuff you want to keep around will be removed along with the bad. I have heard lots of people report that doing the LBRP daily for the initial six months or so as prescribed in books like Modern Magick,  ended up with their lives going a bit pear shaped with lots of issues with lack of money, inspiration, relationships Etc. But, this isn’t always the case, and probably isn’t even that frequently the cased, but I hear it often enough that it is worth mentioning.

When I first started banishing I did the LBRP daily and things did start to unravel in my life – things got quite bleak actually. But whether this was to do with banishing is hard to know. It may have been the cause, it may have been just a minor factor, or no influence at all. Either way I came out of it much better off and in a much better place, which I guess, is the usually for this sort of thing. YMMV!

As with all of these things, no two experiences will be exactly the same. Try it, see what happens and take notes. Find your own best way.

SUGGESTED TYPES OF BANISHING RITUALS:

-The Lesser Banishing Ritual of The Pentagram

This is by far the most popular banishing ritual, and is the ritual that is recommended by people, such as Donald Michael Kraig, as the first Ritual you should learn and perform. For me, it was the first ritual I learned and performed consistently, however, I do it less so these days, relying on other methods.

It was originally devised by The Golden Dawn but with the principal components taken from elsewhere – the Qabalistic Cross was drawn from the works of French occultist Eliphas Levi and the evocation of the Angels, from an old Jewish prayer which read:

“In the Name of God, the God of Yisrale: may Michael be at my right hand, Gabriel at my left, Uriel before me, Raphael behind me, and above my head, the presence of God.” (Source: Rabbi Samson Raphael Hirsch in The Hirsch Siddur)

The LBRP consists of three main parts:

1. Qabalistic Cross
2. Formulation of the Pentagrams in the four directions
3. Invocation of the Archangels-The full Ritual is as Follows:
4. Touching the forehead, say “Ateh (Unto Thee).”
5. Touching the breast, say Malkuth (The Kingdom).”
6. Touching the right shoulder, say “ve-Geburah (and the Power).”
7. Touching the left shoulder, say “ve-Gedulah (and the Glory),
8. Clasping the hands upon the breast, say “le-Olahm, Amen (To the Ages, Amen).”
9. Turning to the East, make a pentagram (that of Earth) with the proper weapon (usually the Wand). Say (i.e. vibrate) “IHVH” (Ye-ho-wau*).
10. Turning to the South, the same, but say “ADNI” (Adonai).
11. Turning to the West, the same, but say “AHIH” (Eheieh).
12. Turning to the North, the same, but say “AGLA” (Agla).
13. Extending the arms in the form of a cross say:
14. “Before me Raphael;
15. Behind me Gabriel;
16. On my right hand Michael;
17. On my left hand Uriel;
18. For about me flames the Pentagram,
19. And in the Column stands the six-rayed Star.”
20. Repeat steps (i) to (v), the “Qabalistic Cross.”

-More info HERE, HERE and HERE.

-Video Performance of the LBRP

-The Star Ruby

This Banishing Ritual was created by Aleister Crowley and first appeared in print with the publication of The Book of Lies in 1913 as the 25th chapter. Later, The ritual was slightly altered  and re-released in 1929 as part of Magick in Theory and Practice (Magick, Book 4, Part III).

There are obvious influences from the LBRP, but while it is similar, the Star Ruby has many significant differences – it uses Greek instead of Hebrew intonations for instance. Also worth noting that while the LBRP is suitable for both invoking and banishing, the Star Ruby is exclusively a banishing ritual.

The full Ritual is laid out Here and a comprehensive analysis of it can be read Here.

Video Performance of The Star Ruby:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q9AE9f6yQMc

-The Roman Pentagram Ritual

This is of my own devising. There was a lot of questions on various forums awhile back, about a banishing that could be used that didn’t involve Judeo-Christian names and imagery, as this was a big turn off for people who were trying to leave all that sort of stuff behind them. So, I put one together. People liked it and found it useful.

I did a full post about it HERE, which gives the process on how it is performed and a bit of details on how I constructed it. It is quite similar to the standard LBRP

-Smudging

Smudging is purifying a room with the smoke of sacred herbs, can help clear negative energy from a space. White Sage is probably the most popular herb to use but recently I have been using Santo Palo, which I really like but has the added bonus of making my Wife happy, as he loathes the smell of sage.

Basically, you light the herb, incense or piece of wood, and use the smoke to clear the room. Important areas to Smudge are windows, corners, doors (remember to do behind closed doors), places were water enters the room (such as sinks) and any area that gets a lot of physical or mental traffic. For instance, in my office I spend a lot of time around the area where my head would be in front of the computer.

-Billy Brujo Made a helpful video for you:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kcj2e0-vYPs

-Hekas, Hekas, Este Bebeloi

I usually combine this with Smudging. The phrase means: “far, far away be the profane.” or “Away, Away All things Profane” depending on who you ask. I say this as I smudge, sweeping my hand and pushing “the stuff” away from me. I also use it mentally when I have a thought process I want to stop.

Originally comes from the Golden Dawn, and was used to indicate that a ritual is about to begin.

-Mundane and simple things

Simple things are really effective – be clean, keep your area clean, don’t live in clutter or be untidy. Once a year have a big clear out and throw or give stuff you don’t need away. Burn Incense, have house plants (look after them), plant Rosemary and St John’s Wort in your Garden. Open windows to let new air in. Vacuum or sweep the floor (with your broom, of course). Plenty of options in this area.

-OTHER IDEAS

• Chanting to Ganesha and asking to remove Obstacles or clear the area is very effective. For chants see HERE.
• Drawing the Algiz Rune in the air around tthe room, or in the four directions.
• The Headless Ritual is a form of Exorcism and could be used as a banishing.
• Holy Water sprinkled in all directions
• Create a Banishing Sigil or Servitor and actcivate it when needed.

CONCLUSION

Banishing is important but it should never become a point that you are constantly banishing, or afraid bad things will happen if you don’t banish- or equally afraid bad things will happen if you do banish. Don’t be scared of Banishings.

If you do a lot of banishing then you should also try to incorporate Invoking into your practice too, for balance, as Banishing probably shouldn’t be the only Magickal ritual or practice you do. Like I said above, if all you do is banish and you banish a lot, then don’t be surprised if all you see is things disappearing.

All that said, you will be your own judge of the usefulness or not of banishing. Become familiar with at least one or two versions and make detailed notes of any effects that occur. It is a very useful ritual to have at your disposal.

NOTES, RELATED IDEAS and FURTHER EXPLORATION:

– Dion Forune’s Psychic Self-Defense
– Jason Miller’s Protection and Reversal Magick
– Phil Hine’s Introduction to Banishing Rituals
– Discussion on r/occult
– Gordon White on Banishing Anxiety
– Rufus Opus on When the Going Gets Tough

– Nick Farrel talks about the Myths of the LRP:

-Ramsey Dukes on Magical Protection:

– Talesin McKnight on “How to Banish “Negative Energy”

Until Next Time…

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