Holistic Spirituality
Review of Abramelin Lunar Ordeal: An Alternative Magical Journey by Frater Barrabbas Tiresius.
The Abramelin Operation, depending on the translation used, calls for either six months or eighteen months to achieve contact with the Holy Guardian Angel (HGA). Students were given instruction on purification, prayer and fasting in virtually a monastic sojourn. They could either perform the operation as suggested or modify it to their taste. The Abramelin Lunar Ordeal is Frater Barrabbas’ modified version of the operation.
Frater Barrabbas points out that the Operation is difficult for most people to perform given its length and the dedication required. In addition, the financial cost is quite significant due to needing to isolate for weeks and not work, and also to procure a suitable oratory, or small building.
I am sure that many students have been drawn to the Abramelin operation as it is the stuff of legend and promises incredible power. However, after contemplating what it entails most of these students have given up on it. One of the paradoxes of Abramelin is that while it can be used for wealth acquisition, a lot of wealth is required up front to complete the operation. If only students could take out a loan against projected future earnings! Seriously, in my opinion, the primary focus should be on personal transformation.
Frater Barrabbas noted that Aleister Crowley performed various ceremonies to produce similar results to the Abramelin operation. These ceremonies included a ritual fragment that Samuel Liddell MacGregor Mathers had uncovered, called the Bornless One rite.
The Bornless One invocation rite, is known in the Greek Magical Papyri in Translation (PGM) edited by Hance Deiter Betz, as the “Stele of Jeu the hieroglyphist” or the Headless One summoning rite, which was actually the empowerment phase used before performing a magical exorcism.
Motivated by a need to create a short intense alternative to the Abramelin operation, Frater Barrabbas modified the Headless One summoning rite and combined it with the invocation of the highest and most powerful angelic intelligences that he could summon — the four Cherubim and Seraphim who represent the highest level in the angelic hierarchy. These rituals are in turn combined with a number of others Including three additional rituals from the PGM to establish “a conduit between the operator, their Holy Guardian Angel, and the Absolute Godhead.”
One slightly confusing aspect is that Frater Barrabbas treats the Holy Guardian Angel (HGA), the Bornless or Headless One, and the Higher Self as one and the same. He admits that “there is some disagreement as to the nature of the HGA and the Bornless One or Headless One as a distinct Deity and not necessarily identified as one’s higher self.” This should be kept in mind while reading the book. It seems to me that most of the disagreement centered around the HGA is in determining whether it is an external entity assigned at birth or whether it is purely internal – the higher self.
Frater Barrabbas refreshingly points out:
“Now, I am not advocating that the Abramelin Lunar Ordeal is somehow better than the traditional ordeal, whether the six-month or eighteen-month version is used. In fact, I am not advocating that you should replace any other traditional versions with my version. What I am advocating is a different and I believe more practical approach than the traditional version. It might be similar in some ways to the traditional version—or at least I think it is—but the two different approaches will undoubtedly produce two different results.”
As pointed out previously, the Abramelin Operation actually encourages modification. So, Frater Barrabbas is definitely not out of line with his modified version. It should be noted that a number of other magicians have also modified the Abramelin operation to better suit their circumstances.
I particularly enjoyed the diary entries which give readers an insight into the long arduous process employed by Frater Barrabbas to craft and polish his ritual. Many other authors share rituals leaving readers scratching their heads wondering how exactly they came up with them.
To sum up, the Abramelin Lunar Ordeal is quite complex and not for beginners. It is obvious that Frater Barrabbas has put a lot of work into crafting his ritual. Advanced practitioners who are unwilling, or unable, to perform the traditional Abramelin operation will benefit greatly as all the hard work has been done for them if they wish to follow in Frater Barrabbas’ footsteps. Others will be inspired to come up with their own modified versions. The other demographic which will enjoy this book are those who are fascinated by alternatives to the Abramelin operation in a purely academic sense.
Tony Mierzwicki
Author of Hellenismos: Practicing Greek Polytheism Today and Graeco-Egyptian Magick: Everyday Empowerment.
https://www.amazon.com/Hellenismos-Practicing-Greek-Polytheism-Today/dp/0738725935
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1905713037/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i1
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