Warning - long! More notes on the Star Ruby

[ghou...@my-deja.com]

TEXT, TRANSLATION, COMMENTARY
by E. A. O. A.
77 Pyramid Oasis, O. T. O.
Buffalo, New York
17 September 1986 e.v.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS I wish to thank several members of Pyramid Oasis,
especially Peter Arnold, Norman Fleck, August La Scola, and Michael
Tromanhauser, for their discussion and contributions to my
understanding of this ritual. I also wish to thank Richard Gurner and
Randy von Smith for their thoughts and discussion. In no way do I
suggest that any, or all, of these persons will agree with each
specific detail, or the organization presented here. Responsibility for
erroneous ideas and relationships expressed herein is assumed by me.
This paper represents my understanding at a particular point in literal
time and magical development, and is subject to change as these
parameters change.

1. Facing east, in the center, draw deep the breath, closing the
mouth with the right forefinger pressed against the lower lip. Then
dashing down the hand with a great sweep back and out, expelling the
breath forcibly, cry:

Apo pantoc kakodaimonoc
APO PANTOS KAKODAIMONOS
(Go) away each evil daemon

2. With the same forefinger touch the forehead, member, right
shoulder and left shoulder, and say:

Soi Q Falle isxyroc eyxaristoc
SOI O FALLE ISCHUROS EUCHARISTOS
(Be) to you O Phallus strong (hard) thankful (winning)

3. Then clasp the hands, locking the fingers, and cry:

IAQ
I-A-O
IAO

4. Advance to the east. Imagine strongly an upright pentagram on the
forehead. Drawing the hands to the eyes, fling it forth, making the
sign of Horus, and roar:

Xaoc or Jhrion
CHAOS or THERION
Chaos 1 Therion 2 (element of earth)

5. Go around to the north and repeat, but scream:

Babalon Nyij
BABALON or NUIT
Babalon 1 Nuit 2 (element of air)
6. Go around to the west and repeat, but say:

Eroc Babalon
EROS or BABALON
Eros 1 Babalon 2 (element of water)

7. Go around to the south and repeat, but bellow: Wuxh Adij
PSYCHE or HADIT
Psyche 1 Hadit 2 (element of fire)

8 Completing the circle widdershins, retire to the center and raise the
voice in the Paean with the words below and the signs of N.O.X.
(optionally facing the appropriate directions). The signs of N. O. X.
are: Vir (the man), Mulier (the wife), Puer (the boy), Puella (the
maiden), Mater Triumphans (the successful mother): IQ Pan
IO PAN
Io Pan (element of spirit)

9 Extend the arms in the form of a Tau, and say low but clear:

Pro mou Iyggec
PRO MOU IUNGES
Before me Wrynecks (the totem of the Abyss)

10.

Opiso mou Teletarxai
OPISO MOU TELETARCHAI
Behind me Initiation into the Mysteries

11.

Epi devia Synoxec
EPI DEXIA SYNOCHES
On (my) right Distress (anguish, trials, a holding together)

12.

Eparistera Daimonec1 (or Daimonoc2)
EPARISTERA DAIMONES
On (my) left Daemons (proceeding from fate)

13.

Flegei Feg(g)ei
FLEGEI or FEGGEI
Flames 1 Shines 2

14.

Gar peri mou o asthr tqn pente
GAR PERI MOU HO ASTER TON PENTE
For around me the star of the five (points) (=Pentagram)

15.

Kai en thi sthlhi o asthr tqn ev
KAI EN TH STHLH HO ASTER TON HEX
And in the column the star of the six (points) (=Hexagram)

16.

Esthke
ESTHKE
Stand

17. Repeat the Qabalistic Cross, as above:

Soi Q Falle isxyroc eyxaristoc
SOI O FALLE ISCHUROS EUCHARISTOS
(Be) to you O Phallus strong (hard) thankful (winning)

18.

IAQ
I-A-O
IAO

19. End as you did begin.

Facing east, in the center, draw deep the breath, closing the mouth
with the right forefinger pressed against the lower lip. Then dashing
down the hand with a great sweep back and out, expelling the breath
forcibly, cry:

Apo pantoc kakodaimonoc
APO PANTOS KAKODAIMONOS
(Go) away each evil daemon

------------------------------------------------------------------------
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Commentary

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1 A. Crowley. Book of Lies. Ch. 25

2 A. Crowley. Magick in Theory and Practice. Appendix VI.

Verbal text in Greek, English phonetic transliteration in CAPITALS,
directions and explanations in plain text.

COMMENTARY: The Ritual of the Star Ruby is the Thelemic expansion and
elaboration of the Lesser Banishing Ritual of the Pentagram. It takes
on the same general form, but incorporates some additional levels of
symbolism, as well as the use of specific Thelemic symbols, rather than
those in the more generalized LBR. Also, as a ritual of the Aeon of
Horus, the Star Ruby stands between the LBR and the Ritual of the Mark
of the Beast, Liber V vel Reguli. Just as the former sets down the
basic format for the Star Ruby, so the latter can be used to interpret
some of the symbols and directions.

Frater A. L. (1983) provides some important background for this
ritual. He reports the first version as being written no later than
1913, when the Book of Lies (Crowley, 1974) was first published, and
that this modified Banishing Ritual of the Pentagram was modified
during the Cephalu period (1920's). The latter version appears in
Magick (Crowley, 1973), and was changed to conform to other Thelemic
rituals such as Liber Reguli. He continued that the purpose of the Star
Ruby is to produce the proper attitude of mind for the invocations. A
still further point of significance, he mentioned that the Star Ruby
should be a part of the daily invocations of members of Crowley's Order
of Thelemites, along with Will, Liber Resh, and the Star Sapphire. He
concludes one paragraph with "At least during the '20's, we can then
reasonably assume that Therion considered these among the most
important practices of Thelemic magic--of any grade."

The current format of the Star Ruby has been set up from the
versions in the Book of Lies and in Magick. The two are similar in many
ways, but are decidedly distinct in others. Again, the two versions can
be contrasted to discern the meaning and patterns of the symbolism. The
lines have been numbered for ease of reference and analysis. The
directions, adapted from the Book of Lies, have been modified to bring
their form into a more modern style of English, and some
inconsistencies in the Greek text have been corrected. Specifically why
the Star Ruby has been written in Greek is not immediately clear, but
the Book of Lies version appears to be a bit "purer", i.e. it utilizes
Greek words, and not the more Egyptian Nuit and Hadit. It may have been
written at the time Crowley was particularly interested in the Greek
qabalah.

As suggested above, the Star Ruby is a basic Thelemic banishing
ritual. It is used appropriately anywhere a banishing ritual is
required in the preparation of a space--personal or for a circle or
temple--where a specific Thelemic emphasis or setting is desired.
Crowley (1974) clearly indicates it to be a ritual of the AT AT upon
which he chose to write no further comment. He does provide a single
footnote, discussed below, which indicates that there are qabalistic
interpretations to be considered. This is not unexpected in any of his
rituals, so one must assume that there is a specific intent in placing
the footnote where it is. In the interpretation of any of Crowley's
writings, too, one should be conscious not only of the exoteric (the
outer obvious level of action), but the esoteric (the hidden meaning),
and frequently also a sexual context. The number of the Liber, XXV, is
the square of five, and the pentagram has the red color of Geburah
(Crowley, 1974), hence its position as Kefalh KE.

Considering these factors, the commentary can proceed forth with
Line 1: Apo pantoc kakodaimonoc. This line sets the basic tone of the
banishing characteristic of the ritual. It is a line parallel to the
Biblical one where on the mountaintop Satan tempts Jesus, and the
response is "Get thee behind me, Satan." The line itself is a
prepositional phrase with an understood verb. The word Apo implies
motion behind, and takes the genitive case of that which is to be put
behind, i.e. pantoc kakodaimonoc. Literally translated, it means "of
every evil daemon". With an implied verb "go" or "get", the line means
"Get behind me every evil daemon. The magician stands in the center of
his universe, facing east, the direction of the rising sun. He inhales
the energy or prana. The meaning of the line is emphasized by the
action of sweeping the hand backward, and forcing out the breath, i.e.
figuratively blowing away each evil daemon. Now the "evil daemon" is
not defined. In the Thelemic sense this daemon represents any negative
aspect of life which detracts from the performance of one's True Will.
The word daimonoc includes things which derive from the Deities, or
from fate. The kako(c) is a prefix derived from the adjective meaning
"evil", however defined. At the beginning of the ritual, the magician
is in Malkuth. The banishing of the "evil daemons" is from this plane.
According to Liederkranz (1974) he becomes the master of these daemons
by doing so. The equivalent of this line does not occur in the LBR or
in Liber Reguli.

Line 2: Soi, Q falle, isxuroc, euxaristoc. This line is the
"Qabalistic Cross". It is equivalent to the first line of action in
both the LBR and in Liber Reguli, and positions the magician on the
Tree of Life. The actions of the magician establish a cross in Kether,
Malkuth, Geburah, and Chesed on the Tree of Life in the LBR. However,
it is more appropriate to assign "phallus" to Yesod, correlated to the
Svadisthana Chakra in the Star Ruby. The magician has moved himself
above the plane of Malkuth in Assiah. Soi has a value of 280, the name
of Sandalphon, the Archangel of Malkuth. Fr. A. L. (1983) recognized
that 280, SP, indicates the position of the magician on the Tree of
Life at the intersections of the paths of Samech and Peh, looking
toward Tiphareth along the Middle Pillar.

He continued, that it is "that consciousness, therefore, which
one summons 'down' into one's psyche by the pronouncement of the word
Soi, is none other than the highest manifestation of one's own Holy
Guardian Angel". Therefore, it seems appropriate to assign Soi to
Kether. Liederkranz (1974) indicates that 280 represents the "dyad
passing to zero by virtue of 8, the Charioteer who bears the Cup of
Babalon". Again, the sentence has an implied verb, to be. The first
word, Soi, is a dative meaning "to you". It directs the action to the
vocative, Q falle, the phallus. Q falle has a total value of 1366, the
product of two primes, 2 and 683. The word falle, as 566, is equivalent
to DVS, secret, spelled out. It is also the product of two primes 2 and
283. This last number is equivalent to "aurum inclusum", confined gold,
or RVGS BHZ. Liederkranz writes that by touching his "weapon", the
magician declares the most powerful technique of magic, and that its
working is pertinent to the Aeon of Horus. Here Crowley adds a footnote
that the significance of the word is to be found in its qabalistic
interpretation. The word falloc, in its nominative form, adds to 831,
as does the word Pyramic (Pyramid). In this light the two words imply
the gate or esoteric source of initiation.

With the following adjectives, a sexual connotation can also be
implied. Also, 831 is the product of 3 and 277, and the latter, in
Hebrew refers to ORZ, meaning "to sow, propagate, seed, semen"
(Crowley, 1977). Again, phallus is referred to Yesod, rather than
Malkuth. The word isxuroc means strong, mighty, powerful, also stiff,
firm, lasting, hard, and severe, great, excessive. The meaning is quite
clear in the several connotations. Following the pattern of the LBR,
this word is attributed to Geburah, and reflects the severe or forceful
connotation of its meaning. Its value is 1580, the product of 20 and
79. These reflect an element of duality perfected, and union. The
number 79, that of the two pillars of the temple (zob and yixai), is a
prime not listed in the meanings of the prime numbers in 777 (Crowley,
1977). The word euxaristoc, 1886, the product of 2, 23, and 41. The
latter two numbers have been attributed to pentagrams. The concept of
"eucharist", or "sacrament", derives from the prefix eu, meaning "good"
or "well", and the verb xarizomai meaning to show favor or kindness, to
please or gratify, to indulge, or to be pleasing, agreeable, or be
granted a favor. The adjective thus describes the condition of being
winning, agreeable, pleasant, grateful, or thankful. In contrast to
isxuroc, this word is assigned to Chesed, and its meaning fits well
with its position on the Pillar of Mercy. Euxaristoc, interpreted as
"communion", can easily be interpreted on a number of levels.

Line 3: IAQ. By gematria, the number of IAQ is 811 a prime
number. The equivalent Greek Word AIQ means I breathe, I live, I know.
This is a fifth element, which when added to the traditional qabalistic
cross (of the LBR) creates the figure of a pentagram, or if put on a
higher plane, indicates the apex of a pyramid. In this word the focus
centers on Tiphareth. Little need to be said about IAO, the Gnostic
supreme being. Massey (1974) in discussing the Hebrew and other
Creations, includes IAO as one of the seven Elohim, the children of the
ancient mother Sophia. "In their primordial phase they were seven
elementary powers, warring in chaos, lawless and timeless. They were
first born of the Mother in space; and then the Seven Companions passed
into the sphere of time, as auxiliaries of Kronos, or Sons of the Male
Parent. The reader is referred to Chapter V in Magick to study
Crowley's interpretation of the IAO formula. This formula establishes
the equilibration of the four-armed cross in the completion of the
pentagram.

Lines 4 through 7: Xaoc, Babalon, Erpc, Wuxh (Book of Lies) or
Jhrion, Nuij, Babalon, Adij (Magick). The directions indicate to start
at the east, and repeat each of the words in the sequence at the
cardinal points, proceeding widdershins. The circle is completed in
line 8. At each cardinal direction, a pentagram is imagined on the
forehead, and flung forth with the sign of Horus (refer to Liber O,
section 3, Crowley, 1974, for the procedure). Each is sealed with the
sign of Hoor paar Kraat. Of the two versions published by Crowley, the
earlier one is in the Book of Lies, and includes the first line of four
terms above (see figure 1), while the later is in Magick, and includes
the four terms in the second line (see figure 2).

Xaoc has the number 871, the product of the primes 13 and 67.
Chaos is a primitive Greek deity that preceded the Olympic gods, prior
to Saturn, may parallel Uranus, and is referred to Chokmah. He is the
personification of space, the first state of existence. In that sense
he is a Greek equivalent of Nuit, but perceived as male. Judging from
its eastern position, and the parallel word in the second sequence, it
is representative of the element earth. Parenthetically, it should be
noted that Liederkranz (1974) uses the elements of earth and air
interchanged.

Babalon has the number 156 both in Greek and in Hebrew, though
it is native to neither language. The relationship between Chaos and
Babalon can be derived from the Egyptian mythos. Here she seems to
represent the element air and is assigned to Binah. As complement to
Chaos, she represents the sublime state of Nuit. She is connected to
Chaos by the path of the Empress, the horizontal above the abyss. The
pair personifies the division "for love's sake". This also is
represented by the upper crossbar of the Hierophantic Cross.

Creation, in the strict sense, began with the means of recording
the cycles of time. The Elohim were created in the myths as the
auxiliaries of Kronos, Time. These "seven" Elohim were reduced to one.
This group is then described by Massey, describing its Egyptian
background:

"The name of Sevekh signifies the sevenfold; hence the seven heads of
the Dragon, the Dragon who is of the seven and is himself also an
eighth, as we are told in Revelation. In him the Seven Powers were
unified, as they were in Ea, Iao-Chnubis, and various other of the
chief gods who summed up the earlier powers in the supreme one, when
unity was attained at last. For it is certain that no one god was ever
made known to man by primitive revelation. The only starting-point was
in external phenomena, which assuredly manifested no oneness in
personality.

The group of the Totemic brotherhood preceded the fatherhood, and
finally the fatherhood superseded the Totemic group in heaven, as it
was on earth. One form of this god was Sut-Nub, and Nub means the
golden. Thus the reign of Sut was that age of gold afterwards assigned
to Saturn by the Greeks. In Egypt the Great Bear was the constellation
of Typhon, or Kepha , the old genitrix, called the Mother of the
Revolutions; and the Dragon with seven heads was assigned to her son
Sevekh-Kronos, or Saturn, called the Dragon of life. That is, the
typical dragon or serpent with seven heads was female at first, and
then the type was continued as male in her son Sevekh, the Sevenfold
Serpent, in Ea the Sevenfold, in Num-Ra, in the Seven-headed Serpent,
Iao-Chnubis, and others.

We find these two in the book of Revelation. One is the Scarlet Lady,
the mother of mystery, the great harlot, who sat on a sarlet-coloured
beast with seven heads, which is the Red Dragon of the Pole. She held
in her hand the unclean things of her fornication. That means the
emblems of the male and female, imaged by the Egyptians at the Polar
centre, the very uterus of creation as was indicated by the Thigh
constellation, called the Khepsh of Typhon, the old dragon, in the
northern birthplace of Time in heaven. The two revolved about the pole
of heaven, or the Tree, as it was called, which was figured at the
centre of the starry motion."
Thus the reason for Babalon in the north. Chaos and Babalon,
then, represent a primordial or archetypal male/female polarity.
Babalon, as described below, is the lower manifestation of the concept
of Nuit--the Infinite Sky and the Infinite Stars thereof, described
here.

Eroc equals 375, or 1105 if a q is used. Eros is the Greek god
of Love, the son of Chaos (or Ares or Hermes) and Aphrodite, and
particularly represents the mundane aspects of love. As in the
alternative sequence for these lines, the element of water, emotion, is
emphasized by their assignment to the west. It is easily assigned to
Netzach.

Wyxh equals 1708, equals 61 x 7 x 2 x 2. The word refers to the
anima, the sign of life, spirit; the soul as opposed to the body; the
seat of the will, desire or passions; or soul, mind, reason or
understanding. In many ways it is the counter of Eros and has been
assigned to Hod. As the complement to Eros it completes the lowest
cross-bar of the hierophantic cross. One might expect it to represent
the element of air, but it is rather that of fire in the south.

Fr. A. L. (1983) has an interesting discussion relating this
word to a formula of the Rose-Cross. In completing the Hierophantic
Cross, note that the direction is opposite in the upper and lower cross-
bars to that in the middle one. This is a direct parallel to the
symbolic procedure in Liber Reguli. Also, the sequence of the four
indicates a bringing down of the forces.

This sequence of four words, done with the motions of the Sign
of the Enterer and the Sign of Silence at each cardinal direction,
reflect more the classical approach, and an earlier understanding of
the personification of the forces by Crowley. In Magick (Crowley,1973),
there is a change of emphasis, and the symbols used appear to be more
overtly Thelemic.

However, there is also a difference in the flow of the forces,
as follows: Jhrion equals 247. The word is used in the sense of The
Great Beast, rather than just "beast (undefined)" or a wild animal,
especially the male. It is assigned to the element of earth in the
east. For Thelemites, the explanation of this word seems superfluous.
It is part of one of the appellations of Crowley as "The Great Beast",
To Mega Jhrion, when used at a non-divine level. He is assigned to
Taurus, if one considers the cardinal position, or to Hod.

Nyij equals 469. It is the product of the primes 7 and 67, which
have some bearing on the concepts of Gemini, Zain, and Binah. 67
represents the womb of the mother containing the twins. This represents
the level of Babalon (=Nuit) in the discussion above. Here she is the
epitome of the air element. It is a hellenized form of an Egyptian
goddess, and the final consonant is a J rather than a T. She is
assigned to Aquarius in the zodiac. However, she represents the
archetypal mother, and thus in this sequence is assigned to Binah. The
sequence here gives the bottom and top of the Pillar of Severity, an
upward action.

Babalon equals 156 or 12 times 13. Babalon, here, is much like
Babalon above. She is the Scarlet Lady riding the Beast, the great
Harlot, a lower manifestation of Nuit, the epitome of female, or the
reflection of Binah in Netzach, at the base of the Pillar of Mercy. The
assignment to the element of water, and the west are well established.
She is the complement of Therion and is assigned to Scorpio.

Adij has a gematric value of 24. Hadit is the complement of
Nuit, and represents the element of fire. As Nuit is the infinite
expansion, Hadit is the infinite contraction. They relate as space to
motion or energy. Hadit is also a hellenized word. He is assigned to
Leo. Here Hadit is at the top of the Pillar of Mercy, at Chokmah. The
motion is again up the Tree of Life.

The banishing circle is completed by returning to the east,
widdershins (see directions for line 8). This circle has a macrocosmic
aspect. The directions indicate that upon completing the circle above,
the magician retires to the center of the circle. He then raises his
voice in the words, IO PAN, while giving the signs of N.O.X. These
signs are given in order in Reguli, and tell a story as such. My
experience has been to see these lines of the ritual usually done while
standing and facing east. A more satisfactory procedure seems to be to
face the appropriate direction, as indicated in Reguli (and to which
the magician is referred, if necessary), as the signs are made , and
the paean is intoned. The effect of this is to complete a cross--north,
south, east, west--with the first four repeats. After all, are not
circles and crosses signs of the AT AT and the O. T. O.?

Line 8: IQ Pan. The fifth sign can then be done either facing
east again, or toward Boleskine (the Thelemic east of some rituals) and
if interpreted as on another plane, defines the top of the pyramid.
Note the sequence of the signs interpreted by Liederkranz (1974), i.e.
Vir, Mulier, Puer, Puella, indicates the sequence in the Tarot and in
IHVH. The successive directions would then be east, west, south, north.
He does not include the sign Mater Triumphans. The text is a salute to
Pan, the All (Pan, Pangenetor, Pamfage). The reader is referred to the
Book of Lies, Chapter 1 for the relationships and the explanations of
N.O.X. and PAN; and the number 210 for the latter.

Lines 9 through 12: Iuggec, Teletarxai, Synoxec, Daimonoc. These
four lines form the next section of the ritual, along with line 13
which is the common shared verb for each. They establish the magician
at the crossing of the paths of Samech and Peh, the "standard" position
on the Tree of Life and facing east for a pentagram ritual, or perhaps
slightly above it on the path of Samech, but below the Veil of Paroketh.

The prepositions at the beginning of each line 9 through 12
collectively describe a "cross". The final term in each line is derived
from a sequence in the Chaldaean Oracles of Zoroaster (Wescott, 1983).
The reader is referred to Frater A. L. (1983) for a particularly
informative discussion of these words--most of which is not repeated
here. However, I quote,

"Speaking further of these 'ideas' (that is, root structuralizations of
consciousness of so early a stage as to be beyond comprehension), the
text {of the Oracles of Zoroaster} continues: "These being many,
descended flashingly upon the shining Worlds, and in them are contained
the Three Supernals. They are the guardians of the works of the Father,
and of the One Mind, the Intelligible."
The "guardians" are the Three Supernals, the Intellectual Triad.
Wescott (1983) quoted by Frater A. L., tells us in his interpolation to
the text, "The Second Order of the Platonist philosophy was the
Intelligible and Intellectual Triad. Among the Chaldeans this order
includes the Junges, Synoches and Teletarchs." Frater A. L. continues,

"We deal therefore with Supernal concepts; though, as we'll see below,
these names (all of which, incidentally, are Greek plurals, thus not
the name of individual Beings whatsoever) refer to Classes of Beings
much like the 'orders of angels'...but they are not the Supernals
themselves."
This section is a sentence with four prepositional phrases, each
indicating one of the cardinal directions as the magician faces east.
They have been the most difficult to understand. They are described
from the position of the magician. Alternatively, they can be
interpreted as the veils of the Abyss and the Outer, and the Pillars of
Mercy and Severity (or the sephiroth at their bases); or as the three
Veils of the Tree of Life.

Line 9. Pro mou, Iuggec; Pro mou means "in front of me" (i.e. to
the East), the preposition taking the genitive case. From his position
just below the Veil of Paroketh on the Middle Pillar, the magician sees
the place of the break in that veil, or imagines the Veil of the Abyss
beyond, and presumably what lies ahead.

The word Iuggec derives from Iugmoc, a shrieking sound. Iugv,
(JYNX is the singular, romanized form, and is the scientific name for
the Wryneck, a degenerate woodpecker-like European bird noted for its
cry). Ancient witches used to bind the Wryneck to a wheel for certain
magical spells, believing that as the wheel turned, it drew men's souls
along with it, and charmed them into obedience. It was also used to
recover unfaithful lovers The bird derives its common name from the
ability to turn its head, much in the manner of a vulture.

Another interpretation is that the word may be related to a
Sanskrit root IUG, from which we derive the work "yoga", and possibly
by extension "union with God" or ultimate love, hence an association
with the Abyss. The qabalistic value is 621. Frater A. L. summarizes it
as related to the Wheel of Fortune, the Swastika, symbols of primal,
swirling power. He also emphasizes that the Iuggec are consistent with
Chokmah and alchemical sulphur. In summary, Iuggec, relates to either a
high order of "angels" above the abyss, a love charm, witchery or
desire, or, as interpreted here, a symbol of the abyss.

Line 10. Opiso mou, Teletarxai; Opiso mou literally means,
"behind me", with the proposition again taking the genitive case. As
the magician faces ahead to the east, this indicates what he has past,
what is behind him, in the west. The word Teletarxai value of 1352.
This number is the product of 8 (the cube of 2) and 169 (the square of
13). Eight is the number of Mercury, of Initiation. Thirteen is the
number for the dissolution of the ego, of unity (dxa) and love (HBHA),
and is the reflection of 31=la=al. The word is therefore clearly
related gematrically to the concept of Initiation, its process and
product; and has direct meaning for Thelema. The easiest interpretation
is to view the word as a combination of the prefix Tele, meaning
ultimate, remote, or in this case primeval, first or original, and
Arxai, meaning rule, or in this case control or law i.e. Natural Law.

Frater A. L. (1983) summarizes the meaning quite nicely. The
word Teletarxai most likely means "those in charge of an initiation",
i.e. the Hierophants. Ideas relating to Aiwass, as the Hierophant of
the Aeon, come to mind as we recall he bore the Law (AROU) and was
Adonai (INDA). He continues, "If we maintain the sulphur and salt
symbolism for the first pair (Iuggec and Synoxec), we must attribute to
this third name some variation of the idea of Mercury." And "The
Teletarchs correspond to the Child born within the Mother; or as though
the Truths of Initiation are comprehended once the consciousness of
Binah, Understanding, is attained."

Following the concept of the Tree of Life, where Iuggec is the
symbol of the Abyss, it is therefore totally appropriate to consider
Teletarxai as symbolizing the Gate of Initiation, or the Veil of the
Outer. As the magician stands at the intersection of the paths of
Samech and Peh looking eastward on the path of Samech, this would be
behind him. The actual position of the Veil of the Outer has been
variously interpreted as above Malkuth in Assiah (this would seem
appropriate in the AT AT grade system), or sometimes between Malkuth
and Yesod on the primary Tree. In either event, the magician has
entered the Path of Initiation, and crossed the Veil of the Outer in
doing so.

Line 11: Epi devia, Synoxec. Epi devia means "on the right"
(i.e., to the south), and combines a preposition with the dative case.
For the magician in this ritual and on the Tree of Life, this locates
the Pillar of Mercy, or Netzach. Qabalistically, Synoxec has a value of
1525, the equivalent of the Hebrew "Shemhamphorash", the 72-fold name
of God. It is the product of 25 and 61. Frater A.L. says "the closest
correspondence of Sunoches to a member of the Supernal Triad is Binah".
Note that Netzach is the reflection of Binah. Although it does not
appear to be a "proper" Greek word, Synoxec can be interpreted to mean
a "joining together", or passively, "a being held together". By
analogy, it can mean "constraints". Frater A.L. describes it as a
"holding together" and "continuous" (as in a continuous sequence of
things held together), hinting at the idea of "eternity", and
attributes it to the alchemical concept of Salt, thus completing the
three alchemical elements as interpreted above the aybss. Again,
looking from the vantage of the magician on the Tree during this
ritual, he is just below, facing the point where the Veil of Paroketh
will be rended, so that he may continue on the path. To the right of
this point of rending are the "contraints" which keep him on the path.
The Synoxec may represent the right part of the Veil of Paroketh, or
the forces of the Pillar of Mercy, or Netzach. As we shall see shortly,
these are balanced by the forces of the left.

Line 12: Eparistera, Daimonec/Daimonoc. Eparistera means "on the
left" (i.e. toward the north), again with the dative, and locates
Pillar of Severity or the sephira Hod. It is the counterpart to Epi
devia. Daimonoc and Daimonec are two similar Greek words which Frater
A. L. points out represent the Gods and "the souls of men of the Golden
Age, forming a link between gods and men", respectively. The latter, he
continues, "That is, Man-God. As what we call the H.G.A. was of old
termed the 'genius', the Daimones were those who 'had their genius';
that is, true adepts". Qabalistically the words equal 445 and 380
respectively. The latter, includes the Hebrew words for pain, trouble,
misery, also darkness, difficulty, narrowness, and Egypt. Further, the
"god/goddess" idea implies the Divine power, the power controlling the
destiny of individuals, one's lot or fortune, perhaps fate or karma.
Again, for the magician this balances the contraints of the right, and,
either as the left part of the Veil of Paroketh, the Pillar of
Severity, or Hod, it functions to keep the Initiate on the True Path.
In these four terms, in either version of the Star Ruby, the magician
sees the limits of his perceptual world.

One can summarize the relationship among these four terms as
follows:

Iuggec Teletarxai Synoxec Daimonec
Desire Initiation into Mysteries Meeting Gods
Yoke First or ultimate rule Holding together Spirits
H.G.A. Love union Natural law
Fate destiny karma Abyss
Outer Veil Veil of Paroketh Veil of Paroketh
or Pillar of Mercy or Pillar of Severity
or Netzach or Hod
Love is the Law Love under Will

Line 13: Flegei or Feggei. These two words of similar, but
different, meanings show further the difference between the two
versions of the Star Ruby. They mean "flame" and "gleam" respectively.
The sense of the two words as used in these versions is not different
functionally. However, in terms of visualization by the magician, the
plane to which he excites his consciousness seems higher, or more
active, in the earlier form flegei. Certainly in comparing the two
versions, the earlier version, calling down the forces, suggests a more
abstract concept, one emphasizing the part of the Tree above Tiphareth,
and even above the Veil of the Abyss, while the latter feggei suggests
a relatively lower interpretation of the forces on the Tree. The
significance of the difference in the two versions may be indicated by
Crowley's "blind" where one of the gammas is left out in feggei. There
may also be a clue in the six letters of flegei, and the five of
fegei, indicating that the earlier version may be more appropriate to a
magician of higher grade, or one who has established his working higher
up on the Tree of Life--or it may be just the result of poor
proofreading.

Line 14: Gar peri mou, o asthr tqn pente. The literal
interpretation of this line is relatively easy, providing one
recognizes the inclusion of the verb etsthke from line 16. The
reposition peri here takes the genitive case. It means, "For around me
(stands) the star of the five (points)". As such, this line is a very
clear parallel to the visualization in the Lesser Banishing Ritual of
the Pentagram. It recognizes the perimeter, in the four cardinal
directions, of the area banished, and the clearing of the consciousness
of the magician in the planes below Tiphareth. This represents the
magician's world, and the base of his pyramid.

Line 15: Kai en thi sthlhi, o asthr tqn ev. Here again is an
almost literal translation of the corresponding line from the Lesser
Banishing Ritual. It means, "And in the column (stands) the star of six
(points)", the preposition en taking the dative case. Notice that the
same verb is understood (see line 16). This vertical element in a
pentagram ritual first recognizes that the hexagram, as the symbol of
the Macrocosm, is above the plane of the Microcosm. It relates to the
realm of the Tree particularly above Tiphareth, but also defines the
object of the banishing as a "solid", rather than a "planar" figure.
Instead of interpreting the figure only as a planar five-pointed star,
it also symbolizes the apex of the pyramid, bringing the cosmos and
consciousness into a spatial reality.

Line 16: Esthke. This is the verb "stands" in the phrases in
lines 14 and 15. Basically it implies existence or state.

Lines 17 and 18: The Qabalistic Cross. These lines are the same
as lines 2 and 3, the commentary for which is found earlier. The
repetition of the qabalistic cross follows the pattern of both the
Lesser Banishing Ritual and Liber Reguli in form, and provides symmetry
in the ritual.

Line 19: Apo pantoc kakodaimonoc. The ritual ends as it was
begun, with the direction for every evil daemon to depart. This strong
accent at the end serves to punctuate the banishing action, the
objective of the ritual. It can be said that when the ritual is
performed successfully, the magician will feel a sense of "cleanliness"
or "purity", but also will be exhausted. Enflame thyself!

LITERATURE CITED:

Crowley, A. C. 1973 Magick. London: Routledge & Kegan Paul.
(Originally published privately in 1929). It includes Liber V vel
Reguli, and Liber O vel Manus et Sagittae.

Crowley, A. C. 1974 The Book of Lies. New York: Samuel Weiser.
(Originally published in 1913).

Crowley, A. C. 1977 777 and other Qabalistic Writings of Aleister
Crowley. (I. Regardie, ed.) York Beach, Me.: Samuel Weiser, Inc.

Frater A. L. (443) 1983 The Star Ruby: An Analysis. In the Continuum
III (3):3-15.

Liederkranz, Paul 1974 Notes on the Star Ruby. The Oriflamme 1(1):
49-54.

Massey, G. 1974 Lectures. New York: Samuel Weiser.

Wescott, W. Wynn 1983 The Chaldaean Oracles of Zoroaster.
Wellingborough, Norths.: Aquarian Press.

--
In Nomine Babalon

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