How to Perform the Lesser Banishing Ritual of the Pentagram (LBRP)

What is the Lesser Banishing Ritual of the Pentagram?

The Lesser Banishing Ritual of the Pentagram (LBRP) is one of the foundational practices in Western ceremonial magic. Originating in the late 19th century, it was first taught by the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn, later refined and reinterpreted by Aleister Crowley within the system of the A∴A∴ and the Thelemic tradition.

The LBRP’s purpose is to purify the self and environment, to banish discordant influences, and to align the practitioner with the divine center. It is both a ritual of protection and a spiritual exercise that harmonizes the microcosm (the individual) with the macrocosm (the universe).

The ritual employs Qabalistic symbolism, sacred geometry, and vibratory prayer. Each gesture, word, and visualization serves to awaken the practitioner’s awareness of the divine light within and around them.

What is the history of the Lesser Banishing Ritual of the Pentagram?

The LBRP emerged within the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn in the late 1800s—a synthesis of Hebrew mysticism, Rosicrucian symbolism, and Renaissance magic. The Order sought to unify the fragments of the Western Esoteric Tradition into a coherent system for personal transformation.

The ritual’s Qabalistic Cross derives from the Tree of Life, representing the descent of divine light into manifestation. The pentagram itself is an ancient symbol of protection and balance, its five points representing Spirit ruling over the four elements: Air, Fire, Water, and Earth.

Aleister Crowley, a member of the Golden Dawn and later founder of the A∴A∴, preserved and adapted the ritual in his Thelemic writings, most notably in Liber O vel Manus et Sagittae. For Crowley, the LBRP was not merely a banishing rite but a technique for training the mind, cultivating magical equilibrium, and establishing the magician’s center of gravity within the infinite.

Within the A∴A∴ system, the LBRP is introduced early in the student’s curriculum. It is both a purification and a meditation, used to focus the Will, discipline attention, and refine the subtle senses. In this way, it serves as the foundation stone upon which more advanced practices rest—such as the Greater Rituals of the Pentagram and Hexagram, and the invocations of planetary or elemental forces.

Why perform the LBRP?

To the uninitiated, the LBRP may appear as a sequence of gestures and words—but to the trained magician, it is a precise technology of consciousness.

Performing the LBRP regularly helps to:

• Establish inner balance and clarity
• Cleanse the aura and environment of psychic residue
• Strengthen spiritual focus and willpower
• Prepare the space for meditation or invocation
• Align the magician with the divine center

Crowley described these operations as “the banishing of the limiting self.” Through repetition, the magician learns to stand in the stillness at the heart of the storm—a consciousness of pure equilibrium.

Is the Pentagram Evil?

Despite its distortion in popular media, the pentagram is a symbol of divine order and protection. Its use predates Christianity and Satanic associations by thousands of years.

• In Pythagorean philosophy, it represented harmony, health, and the perfection of humanity.
• In the Golden Dawn, the upright pentagram symbolized Spirit governing the four elements, the human Will harmonized with divine law.
• Only in modern culture did the inverted pentagram become misinterpreted as “evil”—a reversal of its original meaning.

In the LBRP, the pentagram is traced in light, not darkness. It stands as a radiant seal of spiritual authority, not a mark of rebellion.

What tools do you need for the LBRP?

Traditionally, Golden Dawn magicians employed ritual implements such as:

• A wand or dagger for tracing the pentagrams
• Incense for purification and atmosphere
• A robe or cord for ceremonial dress

However, these are aids, not requirements. The true instruments are the voice, the imagination, and the focused Will. In the A∴A∴ system, simplicity and discipline are emphasized—the magician’s body itself is the temple and altar.

Banishing vs. Invoking Pentagrams

Before performing the ritual, it’s important to understand the distinction between banishing and invoking pentagrams. While both share the same five-pointed form, the direction of the lines determines whether you are dispelling or attracting elemental energy.

In simple terms:

• Banishing pentagrams are used to clear, purify, and release energies — restoring order and balance.
• Invoking pentagrams are used to draw in or awaken elemental forces — preparing for consecration or invocation.

The Banishing Earth Pentagram

For the LBRP, you use the Banishing Pentagram of Earth, which begins at the lower left point and moves upward to the top point, then continues counterclockwise:

1. Start at the lower left point.
2. Move upward to the top point.
3. From the top, draw down to the lower right point.
4. Move horizontally to the upper left point.
5. Then draw across to the upper right point, and finally return down to the lower left where you began.

This movement symbolically rises out of the material plane, banishing dense or chaotic energy and reasserting the rule of Spirit over matter.

The Invoking Earth Pentagram

The Invoking Pentagram of Earth is its reverse pattern. It begins at the top point (Spirit) and moves downward to the lower left, symbolically calling divine force into manifestation:

1. Start at the top point.
2. Move down to the lower left.
3. From there, draw up to the upper right.
4. Move across to the upper left.
5. Then draw down to the lower right, and finally return to the top point.

This form is used in the Lesser Invoking Ritual of the Pentagram (LIRP), to attract and harmonize elemental forces rather than disperse them.

Step-by-Step: How to Perform the Lesser Banishing Ritual of the Pentagram

Below is the standard form of the LBRP, aligned with both Golden Dawn and A∴A∴ practice.

Step 1: Preparation

Face East. Stand upright, feet together, hands at sides. Take a deep, measured breath. Sense a sphere of white light above your head, radiant and still.

Center yourself in silence. You stand between heaven and earth.

Step 2: The Qabalistic Cross

1. “Ateh” (Thou art) Touch the forehead, visualizing the sphere of light descending.
2. “Malkuth” (The Kingdom) Draw the light down to your feet, touching the chest and pointing downward.
3. “Ve-Geburah” (and the Power) Touch the right shoulder, seeing a red beam extend outward.
4. “Ve-Gedulah” (and the Glory) Touch the left shoulder, forming a cross of light.
5. “Le-Olam, Amen.” (Forever, Amen) Fold your hands over your heart; feel divine light encompassing your being.

You now stand at the intersection of the four worlds—balanced and luminous.

Step 3: The Pentagrams and Divine Names

1. East – Air (Yellow) Trace a blue flaming pentagram in the air. Vibrate: YHVH (Yod-Heh-Vav-Heh) Visualize yellow light swirling like living air.
2. South – Fire (Red) Trace another pentagram. Vibrate: ADNI (Adonai) Feel warmth and power fill the space.
3. West – Water (Blue) Trace the pentagram again. Vibrate: AHIH (Eheieh) Sense calm, cool energy washing over you.
4. North – Earth (Green/Black) Trace the pentagram. Vibrate: AGLA (Atha Gibor Le-Olam Adonai) Feel grounded, solid, and strong.

Return to face East, arms extended in a cross.

Step 4: Invocation of the Archangels

Recite slowly and with visualization:

“Before me Raphael, Behind me Gabriel, On my right hand Michael, On my left hand Uriel. For about me flames the Pentagram, And within me shines the six-rayed Star.”

Visualize:

• Raphael, in yellow robes, holding a sword or dagger and surrounded by gentle air.
• Gabriel, in blue, with a silver chalice amid waves of water.
• Michael, in red, with a wand and surrounded by flames.
• Uriel, in black, holding a disk or pentacle and surrounded by forest.

Feel their presence sealing the circle around you.

Step 5: Repeat the Qabalistic Cross

Perform the Qabalistic Cross again to seal the ritual and return to equilibrium.

You stand balanced between the four directions, centered in the Light.

What is the meaning of the Archangels in the LBRP?

The four Archangels represent both cosmic forces and psychological archetypes:

• Raphael (Air) – Healing, clarity, the intellect.
• Gabriel (Water) – Purification, intuition, reflection.
• Michael (Fire) – Courage, Will, transformation.
• Uriel (Earth) – Stability, wisdom, the solid foundation.

Together, they form a cross of balanced power — the living expression of the Tetragrammaton, surrounding and protecting the magician.

How did Aleister Crowley interpret or modify the LBRP?

Aleister Crowley retained the LBRP’s structure in Liber O, but reinterpreted its aim in Thelemic terms. He saw it not merely as “banishing” external forces, but as banishing illusion — dissolving the false self to reveal the True Will.

In his commentary, Crowley described the LBRP as a “means of exalting the consciousness to the divine level.” It became a ritual of illumination and liberation, rather than merely defense.

Within the A∴A∴ curriculum, the LBRP forms part of the student’s daily discipline, uniting the magical and mystical paths. Through constant performance, the aspirant learns the true meaning of Crowley’s axiom: “The method of science, the aim of religion.”

How often should you perform the LBRP?

Traditionally, the LBRP is performed daily — ideally twice: upon rising and before sleep. It can also precede or follow other ritual operations to purify and consecrate the working space.

As Crowley noted, repetition engrains rhythm in consciousness; each performance deepens the current of awareness.

What are common mistakes when performing the LBRP?

• Rushing through the words without visualization.
• Neglecting breath control and stillness.
• Performing mechanically, without awareness of the inner light.
• Focusing on fear, rather than illumination.

The LBRP is not an exorcism—it is a symphony of equilibrium. Each word should vibrate like a note in a divine chord.

Can the LBRP be done without belief in angels or magic?

Yes. For some, the LBRP functions as a psychological and meditative exercise. The divine names act as sound formulas that focus the mind, while the pentagrams organize space and attention.

Even the skeptic, if performed sincerely, will experience a profound sense of clarity and calm—for the symbols speak to the deep unconscious.

What happens after consistent LBRP practice?

With consistent, mindful practice, one often experiences:

• Heightened focus and mental discipline
• Emotional purification and balance
• Subtle energy awareness
• A growing sense of divine presence within and around

Over time, the practitioner learns to dwell in the “center of the cross of the elements,” where silence and power are one.

Frequently Asked Questions about the LBRP

1. Is the LBRP safe for beginners? Yes. It is a balanced, foundational ritual suitable for all sincere students.

2. Must I belong to the Golden Dawn or A∴A∴ to practice it? No. The ritual is open to any serious seeker who approaches it respectfully.

3. How long does the LBRP take? Five to ten minutes once memorized.

4. Can it be performed silently? Yes, though vibrating the divine names aloud strengthens the effect.

5. Should the pentagrams be visualized physically? Yes—imagine them blazing in light before you, charged with energy.

Final Thoughts on the Lesser Banishing Ritual of the Pentagram

The Lesser Banishing Ritual of the Pentagram is far more than a formula—it is a living key to inner equilibrium. It teaches mastery over one’s environment, emotions, and thoughts.

For the aspirant of the A∴A∴, it becomes a daily act of devotion and discipline—a continual rediscovery of the Light within. And as technology evolves, the essence of this work remains unchanged: to bring order to chaos, to realize the divine in the self, and to manifest Will with clarity and love.

🔗 For deeper study, see Liber O vel Manus et Sagittae