Magi's Homeland - Magick in Practice -

As well as balancing the elements within us, it is also important we balance the energy of the planets. This is the purpose of the Harmony of the Spheres ritual. The entire operation takes at least eight months to complete satisfactorily. Before beginning the task, it is important to spend time meditating on, and examining what you understand by the term 'planet'. Clearly a planet is a chunk of rock moving though the universe in accordance with laws of physics. The aim is to formulate a series of questions, and hence answers to begin to rationalise the concept of 'planet' in terms of magickal practice.

A starting point is to recognise that as with forms of deity, the planets represent forces of nature, or forms of energy that pervade manifestation. These forces play a major part in our life, and that of all manifestation.

This is followed by a simple mediation where one travels above and beyond to meet with the seven planets together, in preparation for the full study which follows. The operator then decides in which order the planets are going to be worked with. This is an entirely personal choice. It might be based on the days of the week, the Tree of Life, the hexagram, the natural organisation in the sky and so on. Equally, a personal order may be more relevant, perhaps one that is based on the natal astrological chart.

A period of time is then dedicated to working with the Planets in the order that has been chosen. For each planet, this involves finding out as much about it is one can and writing up a full and interesting report. Simple meditations may be used during the study period to attune oneself with the energies and concepts that have been discovered or just simply to 'try them out'. At the end of the study period for each planet, a formal ritual is carried out, known as the Ritual of the Hexagram. The ritual is based on a Golden dawn working and is a powerful tool. It opens another level of awareness and responsibility, allowing quick and easy access to balanced planetary power, in much the same way that he Lesser Banishing Ritual of the Pentagram acts to balance the elements with you, and within manifestation.

On completing work with each planet, time is spent on examining the relationship between them all. How does one affect another, how do they relate to one another, and so on. The operator then creates his/her own ritual to allow all of the planets to be encountered at the same time - the Harmony of the Spheres. This allows their energy to be balanced and aligned. I have already been sign-posted to the structure of the ritual I want to create (but that's another story). Basically, I want to base it on the Qabbalistic Cube of Space.

The cube contains the seven primary planets - one on each face and one in the centre. The planetary allocations to Sepher Yetzirah place the seven primary planets on the cube in a way reminiscent of the normal circle that is cast during ritual work: Venus on the east face, the Sun on the south, Jupiter on the west, Mars on the north, Mercury above, Mars below and Saturn in the centre. This gives an understanding of the relationship of the planets to the elements and the Lesser Banishing Ritual of the Pentagram. And so provides a key to working the Harmony of the Spheres ritual.