Magical formula

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For the Swiss zauberformel, see Magic formula.

A magical formula is generally a word whose meaning illustrates principles and degrees of understanding that are often difficult to relay using other forms of speech or writing. It is a concise means to communicate very abstract information through the medium of a word or phrase.

These words often have no intrinsic meaning in and of themselves. However, when deconstructed, each individual letter may refer to some universal concept found in the system that the formula appears. Additionally, in grouping certain letters together one is able to display meaningful sequences that are considered to be of value to the spiritual system that utilizes them (e.g. spiritual hierarchies, historiographic data, or psychological stages). Many can be understood only by using various literal Qabalistic techniques such as gematria.

[edit] Formulae

  • AGAPE. A Greek word meaning "Love," whose enumeration in Greek isopsephy equals 93.
  • AGLA. Hebrew name of God constructed through notariqon.
  • ALHIM. This is a spelling of Elohim, a Hebrew name of God—or "Gods" in this case, since the spelling makes the name a masculine plural of the feminine noun. According to Crowley, it is a formula best used for consecration, since it "is the breath of benediction, yet so potent that it can give life to clay and light to darkness." [1]
  • AUMGN. Augmented form of the Sanskrit mantra Aum.
  • BABALON. A goddess in Thelema, whose name means "Gate of the Great God ON" according to Liber Samekh.
  • MVAVM. Neophyte word and formula according to Frater Achad.
  • ON. Looks like the Coptic name for Heliopolis, literally meaning "pillar" or "pillars". This city claimed to hold the Primeval Mound where Atum (sometimes identified with the mound) created the world.[2] By Crowley's numeration, ON equals the Hebrew word Samekh (a prop or support), which also serves as the name of a Hebrew letter.[3]
  • YHVH. The formula Tetragrammaton refers to the four-letter Hebrew name of God, Jehovah, or Yod, He, Vau, He (יהוה). These letters have been attributed to numerous four-part symbols, including the classic elements, cardinal directions, Tarot suits, and so on. The formula is often represented by the Father (Yod) joining with the Mother (He), to produce the Son (Vau) and the Daughter (He-final). Within Yoga it is possible to see this formula as describing the union of the subject and the object to produce the exalted state of mind and the resulting ecstasy. [4] Within a Thelemic framework, the first letter can also be interpreted as the original creative force, or Hadit, who "marries" the eternally fertile, co-equal female force, Nuit, resulting in the twins, Ra-Hoor-Khuit and Hoor-Par-Kraat (both of whom make up the deity Heru-ra-ha, perhaps meaning "Horus and Ra be Praised!"). There are many other uses of this formula within the realm of mysticism.
  • VIAOV. Thelemic variation of IAO whose enumeration using gematria equals 93.

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ Crowley, Magick, Book 4, p.155
  2. ^ Utterance 600 in the Pyramid Texts, quoted at http://www.philae.nu/akhet/NetjeruA.html#Atum retrieved November 9, 2006
  3. ^ Sepher Sephiroth for the number 120, in 777 and other Qabalistic Writings of Aleister Crowley.
  4. ^ Crowley, Eight Lectures on Yoga, "First Lecture"

[edit] References