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Introduction
Banishing rituals are foundational practices in ceremonial magic, used to clear psychic space, dispel unwanted energies, and focus the magician’s will. Among these, Aleister Crowley’s Star Ruby stands out as a bold, Thelemic reworking of the classic Lesser Banishing Ritual of the Pentagram (LBRP).
Crowley first published the ritual in The Book of Lies (1913), presenting it as Liber XXV. It reflects his deep engagement with the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn and his own Thelemic innovations. Where the LBRP evokes traditional archangelic names, the Star Ruby replaces them with Greek magical formulae and Thelemic god-names, marking a shift from externalised divine authority to internalised spiritual command.
Purpose of the Star Ruby
The Star Ruby is a powerful banishing ritual intended to:
- Purify and secure the ritual space.
- Ground and empower the practitioner.
- Assert the magician’s sovereignty through the Thelemic current.
- Prepare the subtle body for more advanced magical or meditative work.
It is ideal for daily practice, meditation preparation, or as a prelude to more complex rituals.
Step-by-Step Instructions for Performing the Star Ruby
Below is a practical walkthrough of the Star Ruby, with modernised spellings and commentary for clarity. Ideally, the ritual should be performed standing, facing East, with intention and full voice.
1. Face East. Perform the Qabalistic Cross (Thelemic Variation):
Touch your forehead and say:
“Apo Pantos Kakodaimonos.”
(Away, all evil spirits.)
Touch your genitals and say:
“Sōtēria.”
(Salvation.)
Touch your right shoulder:
“Thelema.” (Will)
Touch your left shoulder:
“Agapē.” (Love)
Clasp your hands upon your chest and say:
“Iēsous.” (Jesus – as symbolic Logos)
2. Perform the Pentagram Ritual in Each Quarter:
Move to each cardinal point (East, South, West, North), tracing a banishing pentagram of Earth with your finger, wand, or dagger.
At each quarter, do the following:
- Stamp your left foot once.
- Extend your arms in the Sign of the Enterer (project energy).
- Vibrate the following names in order:
| Direction | Name to Vibrate |
|---|---|
| East | Therion |
| South | Nuit |
| West | Babalon |
| North | Hadit |
Visualise the pentagrams glowing and the god-names vibrating through your whole being.
3. Return to Centre. Repeat Qabalistic Cross.
Repeat the opening cross variation:
“Apo Pantos Kakodaimonos.”
“Sōtēria.”
“Thelema.”
“Agapē.”
“Iēsous.”
4. Make the Sign of Silence.
Stand in the Sign of Silence: finger to lips, body still. Breathe deeply.
Closing Commentary: Aligning With Thelema
Unlike the LBRP, which invokes angelic guardians at the quarters, the Star Ruby places Thelemic deities and principles at the core of the working. It serves not only as a psychic cleansing but as a ritual declaration of one’s alignment with Thelemic law: Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the Law.
Crowley himself saw this ritual as essential to any Thelemite’s daily magical routine, encouraging its repetition until it could be performed with clarity, power, and perfect stillness.
Tips for Practice
- Speak the names boldly and clearly; vibrate them with your whole body.
- Use strong visualisation, see the pentagrams and deities vividly.
- Maintain mental focus; this is a ritual of will and alignment.
- Practice daily for best results.
Amazon Links
The Book of Lies
