All theses gestures are from the books published and use in the different rituals of the Order. Others are yet unpublished and used in special rituals or occasions. In these youcan find gestures for the work on hebraic letters, Tarot, oracle riual, etc.
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BASIC GESTURES |
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PLANETARY GESTURES |
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Korax (Luna) | Kryphios (Mercury) | Miles (Venus) | Leo (Sol) | Persis (Mars) | Heliodromos (Jupiter) | Pater (Saturn) |
The Wand Posture is a normal, well-balanced standing position. The feet are together, the shoulders are comfortably dropped back such that they are neither rigid or slouching, and the head is held erect and facing forward. The arms hang loosely at the sides with a slight curve at the elbow.
The Earth Posture is a supine position in which one's back is flat upon the ground with the legs straight and arms at the sides.
The God-form Posture takes its name from the seated images of Egyptian
deities. It is a sitting position in which one's thighs are parallel to the
ground, and the lower legs perpindicular to that horizontal. The legs and feet
are together. The spine is held erect, but not rigidly so. The head is held
straight and eyes gaze forward, while the arms hang loosely at the sides with
the hands resting on the thighs, palms down. Essential for this position is a
chair which allows the legs to be in the proper configuration -- cushions and
supports should be used if such a chair cannot be found.
Wand Posture. 1st point: Arms are upraised into the Psi
gesture. 2nd point: The wrists are brought in to cross upon the breast, right
over left, fingertips touching the collarbone. 3rd point: The arms are lowered
to form the gesture Pronatio. 4th point: The arms are returned to crossing upon
the breast, but left over right. 5th point: The arms are opened to a gentle
curve just below the horizontal, extending out from the body, the hands follow
the curve and are slightly cupped inwards.
This gesture is accompanied
by the intonation of the following Latin phrases at each of its points: 1.
Ave lux sanctissima, 2. Sol vivens, 3. Custos mundi, 4.
In corde te foveo, 5. Membris circumamictis gloria tua. The
meaning of the words is "Hail, most holy light / Living sun / Guardian of the
world / In my heart I hold thee / My limbs being girt about with thy glory." The
Arista is used at the end of the Setting of the Wards of Adamant, instead of the
Calyx (as in the normal SWP), as a gratulatio. The gesture itself seems to be a
stripped down version of the 3rd Formula of the Clavis
Rei Primae.
"Arista" is Latin for "ear of wheat," and may also be
from aristoV, which is a Greek superlative of agaqoV, i.e. "best."
Wand Posture. The right arm is raised such that the upper
arm is almost horizontal and the forearm is vertical to it, forming a sort of
right angle. The palm faces forward.
A footnote on p. 23 of Mysteria
Magica (3 vol. ed.) states that the Ave is employed as a salutation to the East,
the place of Light, whenever any Companion has cause to pass the station of the
East and is not engaged in ritual activity. The Ave may also be effectively
employed while performing the Morning and Evening Solar Adorations.
Wand Posture. 1st Point: Both hands are raised to the
forehead to frame the brow in a triangle formed by the thumbs, index and middle
fingers all touching. The palms face outward. The ring fingers and little
fingers are parallel to the others. 2nd Point: The hands are flung forward and
slightly upward, fingers spreading apart, elbows straightening, palms still
facing out.
Cervus is used in the Praesidia of the Setting of the Wards of Power. Concerning the gesture a
footnote in Paper III of Mysteria Magica says, "The Gesture by its nature
causes diffusion, but does not lessen banishing force within a small area.
Magical practice has established that Cervus is fully efficacious to a distance
of approximately thirty feet from the operator, and thus in a working area sixty
feet in diameter. Beyond this range the full astral reality of its power begins
to diminish. The fortification of the circle by the method of the cervus is only
possible because the projected force Is diffused thereby a concentrated
projection of force would, inevitably, pierce the barrier. The circle alone will
contain forces, but will provide no adequate defense."
The
word "cervus" has two different, yet applicable meanings. The first is
"palisade," or a barrier composed of seperate pales or posts. The second meaning
is "stag" or "deer." At the second point of the Cervus, the fingers of the hands
are spread apart and thus the resemblence to a stag's antlers, as well as the
"posts" of the palisade.
Wand Posture. The arms are raised forwards such that the
upper arms are approximately horizontal and the forearms raised to about 45
degrees above the horizontal. The palms face forward. The posture may then be
suitably altered--so long as symmetry is maintained--so that the palms may more
easily direct energy to an object (e.g. projecting upon a materium on the
Bomos). The projection of energy being complete, the posture is dismissed by the
crossing of the wrists upon the chest, left over right, fingertips touching the
collar bone.
The Orante gesture is used almost exclusively in the Orante
Formula, which is a development of the 2nd Formula of
the Clavis Rei Primae that is suitable for magical projection (cf.
alchemical projection) upon an appropriate materium.
The word "orante"
is a Latin participle meaning "speaking," from the verb "oro."
Wand Posture. The forearms are extended downward and
slightly forward from the body while the upper arms remain at the sides. The
hands are held horizontally and the closed fingertips point forward.
A
footnote on p. 23 of Mysteria Magica states "The Gesture Pronatio is
independently used (according to context) in invoking chthonic forces, or to
link the magical purpose with an intended offering."
"Pronatio" seems to
come from the Latin verb "prono," or "to bend forward."
Wand Posture. The arms are to curve upwars such that the
body resembles the Greek letter Y.
The palms face up.
This gesture is used to symbolize the interaction of
Spirit with Matter, as the Psi symbol indicates.
Examples of its use can
be found in the three-fold deosil circumambulation known as Orthrochoros, which
represents the presence of the Triune Light, and also in the Arista Plena (3rd
form Clavis Rei Primae) and the simpler gesture Arista.
Wand Posture. The arms are raised to the height of the
shoulders, fully extended such that they are parallel to the ground so that the
whole body resembles the cross-like Greek letter T.
Palms may be either turned up or down, depending on the situation.
For
instance, the palms are upturned in the Calyx to signify that one is ready to
become a receptacle for the Divine Light, and they are turned down in the
Invocatio of the Setting of the Wards of Power because the Archontes are being
summoned to guard the circle.
The Planetary Gestures
1st point, "the Wand.": Wand Posture.
2nd
point, "Medean step.": Left foot steps back, trunk turns to left
comfortably. At the same time, arms are raised slightly at sides, palms turned
up.
3rd point, "Calling Luna.": Arms are raised in a graceful,
flowing movement until fingers meet overhead, elbows and wrist slightly bent to
curve the arms. Then arms are lowered, still curved to about shoulder height,
then raised, without haste, overhead as before.
4th point, "Taurus.":
The elbows are bent decisively to bring the hands down to form the Bull Sign at
brow as follows: the two fists are clenched, palm towards brow the outer edges
of the hands touching. The two thumbs, slightly crooked are extended to point
outwards and upwards at the sides.
5th point, "The Wand.": Wand Posture.
6th point, "Active Repose.": With
fingers extended, arms are crossed on beast, right arm outside.
7th
point, "Lunar Pronatio.": Upper arms remaining close to the body the
forearms are extended downwards and slightly forward. The hands are horizontal,
palms downward, closed fingertips pointing forwards and thumbs extended as in
"Taurus".
8th point, "the Wand.": Wand Posture.
Kryphios (the Concealed) --- Mercury
1st point, "the Wand.": Wand Posture.
2nd
point, "Priest of Babylon.": Forearms are held horizontally so that hands
are palm to palm in front of the solar plexus right hand palm down over left
hand palm up. The fingers of both hands are closed, each hand enfolding the
fingers of the other The thumbs he closely alongside the forefingers.
3rd
point, "Herald.": Right foot is advanced with knee flexed. At the same time,
right arm is raised forward to horizontal, left arm raised backwards to
horizontal. Left heel is raised, body inclines forward in straight line with
left leg.
4th point, "the Hidden One.": Both hands are raised
simultaneously to draw the hood swiftly over the face. Then, head is bowed,
forearms are crossed in front of head, left arm on outside, palms forward.
5th point, "the Wand.": Wand Posture. (hood still
covering face).
6th point, "the Revealed.": Both hands simultaneously
throw back hood.
1st point, "the Wand.": Wand Posture.
2nd
point, "Denial.": Right palm is placed on left shoulder. Then, right arm,
with palm now turned out sweeps vigorously around in a semicircle, upwards and
over to rest extended horizontally from right shoulder palm forward.
3rd
point, "I aspire.": Left hand is raised cupped, overhead with slightly
flexed elbow to allow the cupped palm to take a horizontal position. The eyes
follow this action of the left hand.
4th point, "Active Repose.":
Hands crossed, right over left, on breast.
5th point, "Dedication.":
The left hand is lowered in front of the body, palm down and horizontal, while
the right hand signs the Sigillum Tau on the brow.
6th point,
"Passive Repose." Hands placed on breast left over right.
7th point,
"Victory.": In one simultaneous movement, the arms are raised in the Psi
position ,the head is thrown back, and the right foot is advanced to stamp once.
8th point, "the Wand.": Wand Posture.
1st point, "the Wand.": Wand Posture.
2nd
point, "Calathus.": The forearms are raised vertically in front of the chest
with their undersides touching each other from elbow to wrist Maintaining this
position, the two hands are bent backwards until their palms are as nearly
horizontal a, possible, the fingers bent to suggest a shallow cup shape.
3rd point, "Flamma.": From this formulation, the arms are raised with
an outward curving motion, until the hands curve inwards allowing fingers and
thumbs to formulate a fire triangle at maximum height overhead.
4th
point, "Catinus.": The arms form the Psi posture. At the same time, the
right foot steps back and the body inclines backwards, head thrown back.
5th point, "Ignis.": Right foot is restored to normal standing
position, body restored to vertical, while the hands again formulate the fire
triangle but this time on breast.
6th point, "the Holy.": Left foot
is advanced, body bends forward, middle fingers touch floor in front of feet.
7th point, "the Wand.": Wand Posture.
1st point, "the Wand.": Wand Posture.
2nd
point, "Gradivus.": In one movement step forward and left with left foot;
then, in one movement step forward and right with right foot. (Feet are thus
firmly planted astride).
3rd point, "Quintus.": In one movement both
hands are brought up to shoulder and hung out sideways, so that arms are
horizontal and the five digits of each hand are spread wide.
4th
point, "Paratus.": Upper torso is twisted to left.
5th point,
"Anhur.": Both fists being clenched meanwhile, upper torso is twisted violently
to the right: as the torso is twisted to the right, the left fist is moved to
the breast and the right fist is raised, right upper arm horizontally out
sideways from shoulder, forearm raised vertically, as if about to hurl a spear.
6th point, "the Wand.": Wand Posture.
Heliodromos (Path of the Sun) --- Jupiter
1st point, "the Wand.": Wand Posture.
2nd
point, "the Thunderer.": Left arm is raiseded upwards and back to "hurling"
position, fingers curved as if grasping a thunderbolt; at the same time right
arm is raised straight forward, horizontally from shoulder, left foot stepping
back.
3rd point, "Chesed.": Right arm is drawn back from above
position, to rest palm on left shoulder. At the same time, left foot is brought
forward to standing position beside right foot The left arm is lowered to rest
horizontally across the front of the body.
4th point, "Kaph.": Elbows
to sides, both forearms am raised forward horizontally. The left hand turned
palm upwards, cupped: the right hand turned palm downwards, hat with fingers
straight.
5th point, "the Wand.": Wand Posture.
1st point, "the Wand.": Wand Posture.
2nd
point, "Orante.": Make the Orante gesture.
3rd point, "Attis.":
In one flowing movement, the left arm swings downwards to the left side and
somewhat away from the body, palm upwards, balancing the right arm which is
raised aloft and maintained with the cupped palm upwards, fingers to the back.
The head meeanwhile is raised to look towards the right hand, and the right foot
is advanced, toes resting lightly on the ground and heel raised, completing the
balance of the entire figure. This changes smoothly to:
4th point,
"Cybele.": Right arm is brought down and forward to about horizontal. The palm
is upwards, forefinger and middle finger are extended together, the third and
little finger are closed but not tightly. Left palm is turned downwards, the arm
raised to the horizontal but not rigid. The head turns to look along the left
arm. At the same time, the right foot is brought back beside the left.
5th point, "Uplifting the World.": Head forward, both hands sweep
around slowly in incurving crescent movements to reach a symmetrical position,
arms raised forward, elbows bent and pointing down, palms upwards and held on
high, as if raising (for instance) a sheaf of wheat or similar offering which
lies across the forearms.
6th point, "the Wand.": Wand Posture.
