Concerning the use of the L.V.X. Signs in Magic

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As of lately some well renowned and acknowledged Adepts of the Golden Dawn Tradition have suggested that the Sign of the Adeptus Minor 5°=6° Grade doesn’t involve the entire series of L.V.X. Signs, but instead simply either one or both of the Signs of Osiris (which constitutes but two parts of the entire series of L.V.X. Signs). Some of these Adepts also state that it is wrong to perform the entire series of L.V.X. Signs together with the tracing of Spirit Pentagrams, as Ritual “B” (Pentagram Ritual) clearly states that it is proper to use the 5°=6° Sign (note the sigular) in this instance.

However, study of other original Inner Order or R.R. et A.C. material clearly reveals an ambiguity as there is also references to 5°=6° Signs (plural) as well as a 5°=6° Sign (singular), often in the same document. This is also clearly seen in Israel Regardie’s published G∴D∴ corpus, which of course makes matters quite confused. Furthermore, this suggestion of a 5°=6° Sign distinct from the L.V.X. Signs has created somewhat of a problem as there doesn’t seem to be any consensus regarding the proper use of the 5°=6° Sign; the different voices of G∴D∴ authority contradict each other and creates even more confusion amongst students in the Golden Dawn Community.

The four forms of the L.V.X. Signs

The most common suggestion for a 5°=6° Sign is to make both the Signs of Osiris Slain and of Osiris Risen. But there has also been suggested to only use the Sign of Osiris Slain, as its form and gesture more properly is attributed to the particular nature of the Adeptus Minor Grade; involving the Passion and Suffering of Osiris-Christ, and thus of the Adeptus Minor. Now, I am not in a position to either confirm or deny any of these suggestions, as that knowledge properly belongs to initiated Adepti. But I do have some practical suggestions for all the solo practitioners out there, and also for students of the Golden Dawn Tradition, that hopefully may somewhat lessen this state of confusion.

Personally I cannot see any harm in performing a full series of L.V.X. Signs after the tracing of Spirit Pentagrams. How I see it, the particular 5°=6° Sign, which has been suggested to be the Signs (note the plural) of Orisis Slain and Risen, is nothing more or nothing less than an abbreviation of the L.V.X. Signs (with starts and ends with the Signs of Osiris). Regardless of the actual and correct use of the 5°=6° Grade Sign proper, this still holds as a fact; the 5°=6° Sign is a short form of the L.V.X. Signs and its formula of “Divine White Brilliance”. Note here that white is the proper colour for Spirit in the King Scale.

The Signs of Rending
and Closing of the Veil

Even if there is a reference to a particular “Saluting Sign” of the 5°=6°, the L.V.X. Signs are also attributed to the 5°=6° Grade, which many Inner Order documents bear out. This means that they may be used to invoke the Spirit (Fifth Element) besides only invoking L.V.X. through the Analysis of the Key word; but what is Spirit other than pure L.V.X.?

I even dare to say that the L.V.X. Signs are the most optimal ones to use in this instance – as the symbol of Elemental Spirit – compared to either the Signs of Osiris, or even the Portal Grade Signs of Rending and Closing of the Veil (as has been suggested by Aleister Crowley). All these suggested Signs correspond to Spirit, but the Portal Signs are better suited for other applications than invoking Spirit per se. So I would suggest to you all: go for the L.V.X. Signs whatever is suggested, indicated or hinted at in century old documents or books, which are ambiguous anyway. Thus you don’t need to know the proper use of the 5°=6° Saluting Sign to be able to invoke Spirit in G∴D∴ style Ceremonial Magic.

Astrological correspondences
of the Tree of Life

In this debate there has also been raised questions against the use of the L.V.X. Signs in Planetary and Zodiacal Magic, but in particular with the latter, as suggested in David Griffin’s The Ritual Magic Manual. A voice has even been raised by one Golden Dawn authority to the effect that this is not to be considered as an orthodox or traditional application of the Golden Dawn System of Magic. Some propose the use the Elemental Signs for the Zodiacal Forces instead. My answer to this is quite simple.

You have to put the different hierarchies into their correct context or perspective. The key to this is the Tree of Life and the Ptolemaic universe (upon which the former is based). The Elements belongs to the lowest realm (Malkuth), while the Planets are placed as intermediary forces (Binah to Yesod) between the Elements and the Zodiac (Chokmah). This hierarchical division is also apparent in the placement of the three concentric rows of rose petals upon the Adept’s Rose Cross Lamen, i.e. that of 3 (Elements), 7 (Planets) and 12 (Zodiac), according to the correspondences of Hebrew Mother, Double and Single letters.

The Rose upon the Cross

Thus the Zodiac is not of the nature of the Elements, even if it corresponds to the Elements by Triplicity. But on the other hand it also corresponds to the Planets by rulership. But a Zodiacal Sign is neither an Element nor a Planet, but a Zodiacal Sign in its own right.

So there are three important hierarchies to consider here, that of Elements, Planets and the Zodiac. As there aren’t any special geometric forms wherewith to invoke the Zodiac, we may use either the Pentagrams (through the Elemental Triplicity) or the Hexagrams (through the Planetary Rulership) to invoke a particular Zodiacal Sign. But if a Zodiacal Sign belongs to a plane that is higher than that of a Planet, why then use Elemental Grade Signs which represents the most base forces of this hierarchical system, i.e. that of pure Elements? The L.V.X. Signs are applicable to invoke all forms of higher spiritual forces beyond the sublunary. Remember that the Zodiac proper belongs to the highest realm in this Hermetic system, only being overshadowed by the Primum Mobile of Kether.

The geocentric model of Claudius Ptolemäus

Concerning the suggestion that the use of L.V.X. Signs with the Zodiacal Pentagrams doesn’t represent orthodox or traditional G∴D∴ practice. Well, the Ritual “B” (Pentagram Ritual) doesn’t state which Sign or Signs that are to be used together with the Zodiacal Pentagram, does it? So how can the use of the L.V.X. Signs in this instance be regarded as “untraditional”? Such suggestions are as speculative as anything else suggested in this discussion. The Golden Dawn Tradition left some gaps here and there to be worked out and filled in by the coming generations of Golden Dawn Adepts, which has also been done through the decades following the creation of the original G∴D∴ corpus. One such example of development, which in my opinion is an adequate one and follows traditional Hermetic and Qabalistic teachings, is the use of the L.V.X. Signs together with Zodiacal Forces.

Furthermore, Zodiacal Magic belongs to the realm of Astrological Magic, as does Planetary Magic. Consider for a moment the Elemental attribution of the Planetary Hexagrams, the proper key to this being that of the Zodiacal attribution of the Quarters which reflects the Zodiacal wheel placed upon the Temple floor; starting with Aries (Fire) in East, going in a counter-clockwise motion towards North and Cancer (Water), then to Libra (Air) in West, and finally to South and Capricorn (Earth). This simple example of attributions clearly shows the intimate relationship between the Planets and the Zodiac, both being two parts of the workings of Astrological Magic.

The four forms of the Hexagram

Thus the proper Signs to use in all forms of Astrological Magic, be it moving stars (Planets) or fixed stars (Zodiac), are in my opinion that of the L.V.X. We already have a natural attribution of the L.V.X. Signs to the Planets, through the Hexagram Ritual, which always starts (and often ends) with the Analysis of the Key Word. Thus this naturally spills over to the Zodiac, because of the shared astrological nature.

S∴R∴