For this ritual the student will need a table of convenient height for an Altar, preferably draped with a black cloth. The cup of water and incense from the Neophyte ritual will also be utilized. In addition, the student should have an instrument for representing the element of Water. This could be the Elemental Water Cup if the student has already made one. Or, alternatively, the student could use any small cup or goblet.
For the student that may be performing this rite for the first time, between points numbered 4 and 5 below you could insert something along the lines of the following:

"I, (state your magical motto), hereby intend to proceed with this rite of initiation into the Grade of Practicus. It is my intention to pursue the knowledge of this grade of the Golden Dawn Current of Magic. May the Gods, Archangelic forces and elemental powers that are called upon assist me in this my solemn task. I take this oath that as I begin this work, so shall I see it to its conclusion, until I at last attain to the heights of Spiritual attainment."

The ritual for the Grade of Practicus is as follows.

The Practicus Ritual for Self Initiation

I

Stand at Altar, facing East and announce:

HEKAS, HEKAS, ESTE BEBELOI!

Perform the Banishing Ritual of the Pentagram.

Perform the Banishing Ritual of the Hexagram.

Perform the Purification with Water and Consecration with Fire as in the Neophyte Opening Ritual.

II

Pickup your symbol for Water and walk to the West. Shake the instrument for Water towards the West three times in the form of the Water triangle. Hold the instrument on high as you circumambulate the temple once while reciting the following:

'So therefore first the priest who governeth the works of Fire must sprinkle with the lustral water of the loud resounding sea.'

On reaching the West, sprinkle water thrice facing the quarter, and vibrate:

'Let us adore the Lord and King of Water. ELOHIM TZABAOTH (ay-loh-heem tza-bay-oth), ELOHIM of Hosts! Glory be unto the RUACH ELOHIM (roo-ahk ayloh-heem) who moved upon the face of the waters of Creation. Amen!'

Salute with the Water Sign. Hands are placed over chest, thumbs joined to form a straight line, fingers pointing downwards to form the descending water triangle. Take the Cup of Water and trace the Circle and Invoking Pentagrams of Spirit Passive and of Water in front of the Sigil.

'And ELOHIM said: "Let us make Adam in our image, after our likeness, and let him have dominion over the fist of the sea. In the Name of AL (ale) strong and powerful, and in the name of ELOHIM TZABAOTH, Spirits of Water adore your Creator!"'

With the same Cup, the student traces the Sign of the Eagle, the Kerub of Scorpio.

'In the name of GABRIEL (gah-bree-ale) the Great Archangel of Water, and in the Sign of the Eagle, Spirits of Water, adore your Creator!'

Make Cross with the Cup.

''In the names and letters of the Great Western Quadrangle, Spirits of Water, adore your Creator!'

Hold Cup on high and sprinkle water in three directions before Tablet or Sigil.

'In the Three Great Holy Names of God borne upon the banners of the West, EMPEH ARSEL GAIOL (em-pay-hay ar-sell gah-ee-ohl) and in the name or RA-AGIOSEL (rah-ah-gee-oh-sel), Great King of the West, I invoke ye, ye Angels of the Watchtower of the West!'

III

Assume Water Sign and say:

'Terrible King of the Sea, King of the deluge and of the rains of spring. Thou who commandest moisture which is, as it were, the blood of the Earth, to become the Sap of the Plants, we adore Thee and we invoke Thee. Speak Thou unto us, thy mobile and changeful creatures in the great tempests and we shall tremble before Thee. Speak to us also in the murmur of the limpid waters, and we shall desire Thy love. Lead us unto immortality through sacrifice, that we may be found worthy to offer one day unto Thee, the water, the blood and the tears for the remission of sins. Amen!'

Replace Water symbol.

IV

Go around the left of the altar to the east, and then slowly circumambulate clockwise three times. Make the Sign of the Enterer each time you pass the east. Visualize a circular spiral of light beginning to take form with each passing of the East and, when finished, return to the west side of the altar and face East. The visualizations and ritual gestures are the same as in the Neophyte ritual for Self Initiation.

Look up and to the East. Perform the adoration to the Lord of the Universe as follows. Make the Projecting Sign at the end of the first three lines. Make the Sign of Silence at the end of the fourth line - right arm hanging by your side, raising your index finger of left hand to your lips.

'Holy art thou, Lord of the Universe.'    Give the Projecting Sign.
'Holy art thou, whom Nature hath not formed.'    Give the Projecting Sign
'Holy are thou, the Vast and the Mighty One.'   Give the Projecting Sign.
'Lord of the Light, and of the Darkness.'   Give the Sign or Silence

This completes the opening phase of the Practicus ritual. At this point you may state your reasons for performing this ritual, or simply proceed with your performance of any further rituals, meditations and pathworkings that might be appropriate for the Grade of Theoricus.

V

The closing phase is performed as follows:

Perform the Purification with Water and the Consecration by Fire as in the Neophyte Opening Ritual.

Reverse Circumambulate the temple three times, giving the Sign of Silence each time upon passing the east. You should feel the spiral of Light dissipating as you reverse the circumambulations, the visualization of the Sun dissipating.

VI

If the Student is inclined to do so, he or she may, at this point, proceed to the East and perform the Supreme Banishing for elemental Air using the approprite pentagrams and Divine Names.

Perform the Lesser Banishing Ritual of the Hexagram.

Perform the Lesser Banishing Ritual of the Pentagram.

VII

Conclude with the Following:

'I (state your magical motto) a Practicus in the Current of the Golden Dawn, now release any spirits that may have been imprisoned by this ceremony. Depart in peace to your abodes and habitations and go with the blessing of YEHESHUAH YEHOVASHAH forever.

I now declare this Temple Duly Closed.' 

 

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