| Praxis |
"In the same manner as lovers gradually advance from that beauty which is apparent in sensible forms, to that which is divine; so the ancient priests, when they considered that there is a certain alliance and sympathy in natural things to each other, and of things manifest to occult powers, and discovered that all things subsist in all, they fabricated a sacred science from this mutual sympathy and similarity." Proclus, On the Hieratic Art Quotations from Ancient Sources Illustrative of Theurgic Practice Sumbola Sunthêmata Sumpatheia Voces Magicae Guardian Daimôn Divination Purification Prayer Contemplation Esoteric Physiology (The augoeides, pneumatikos and aitherodes ochêma etc.) Breath (pneuma) Extant Rites Considered Illustrative of Theurgic Practice The Mithras Liturgy Solar Rites Rites Utilising the Seven Vowels Selections from the Greek and Demotic Magical PapyriQuotations from Ancient Sources Illustrative of Theurgic Practice Symbola Synthêmata Sympatheia Voces Magicae Guardian Diamôn "Why then [you say] is the peculiar daemon invoked by a common mode by all men?" Because the invocation of him is effected through one God, who is the lord of daemons ; who from the first defined to every one his peculiar daemon; and who, in sacred operations, unfolds to every one his proper daemon, according to his own proper will. For always in the theurgic order secondary are invoked through primary natures. Among daemons, therefore, one common leader of the cosmocrators about generation sends to each of us his peculiar daemon. Hence, when the peculiar daemon is present with each of us, he then unfolds the worship which is proper to be paid to him and his name, and likewise delivers the proper mode of invoking him." De Mysteriis, IX, 9. Divination Purification "Indeed of catharsis, one must conceive its most useful aspects to be: withdrawal from alien things; restoration of one's own essence; perfection; fullness; independence; ascent to the creative cause; conjunction of parts with wholes; and contribution from the wholes to the parts of power, life, activity and similar things" The divine Iamblichus (Stob. I, 455, 25-456, 4) Prayer Contemplation Esoteric Physiology (The augoeides, pneumatikos and aitherodes ochêma etc.) Breath (pneuma) Extant Rites Considered Illustrative of Theurgic Practice The Mithras Liturgy Solar Rites "Prostremo potentiam Solis ad omnium potestatem summitatemque referri, indicant theologi: qui in sacris hoc brevissima precatione demonstrant, dicentes.
Macrob. Sat. lib. i. c. 23. (Quoted in Corey, Ancient Fragments, pg, 306) Rites Utilising the Seven Vowels "In your seven-lettered name is established the harmony of the seven sounds." PGM, XII; 775-6. "I hymn your holy power in a musical hymn, ΑΕΗΙΟΥΩΩΩ (AEÊIOUÔÔÔ)." PGM, XIII; 630. "Speaking to the rising sun: Stretch out your right hand to the left and your left hand likewise to the left and say 'A.' To the North, putting forward only your right fist, say 'EE.' Then to the West extending both hands in front of you, say "ÊÊÊ." To the South, holding both on your stomach, say "IIII." To the Earth, bending over and touching the ends of your toes, say "OOOOO." Looking into the Air, having your hands on your heart, say "UUUUUU." Looking up to Heaven, having both hands on your head, say "ÔÔÔÔÔÔÔ."PGM, XIII; 824 - 842. Selections from the Greek and Demotic Magical Papyri Hermetic.com has an excellent selection of material from the PGM. (Offsite link)
|