ecosophian

Damien Echols's Angels & Archangels: A Magician's Guide provides the theory and the practical methods of working angel magic. It is Damien's second book on ritual magic, the first being High Magick: A Guide to the Spiritual Practices That Saved My Life on Death Row.

The book is divided into Introduction and the two parts: Angels and Archangels, and Practices and Rituals. The Introduction gives you background on angel magic and Damien's previous books. Part One serves as a grimoire on Archangels of the Elements, Archangels of the Tree of Life, Angels and Archangels of the Zodiac and relations between angels and the Tarot. Part Two deals with practical methods of angel invocation, as well as rituals and meditation. It includes basic Golden Dawn rituals and their modifications, and advanced rituals such as the Rose Cross, the Celestial Lotus and the Shem Operation.

You know how they say the Lesser Ritual of the Pentagram is designed to work primarily with the elemental forces and that you can't achieve Enlightenment by practicing it? Damien says "hold my blue lotus tea and watch this!". The two most advanced rituals in the book, the Celestial Lotus and the Shem Operation, are based on the Lesser Ritual of the Pentagram!

I recommend this book, but not as your first book on magic, Damien doesn't go too deep into theory, focusing more on the practical methods. If you really want to understand the rituals I recommend John Michael Greer's Learning Ritual Magic and Circles of Power. Once you have the understanding and knowledge of ritual magic you can benefit greatly from Damien's books.

For those who already know the basics I'll give a brief description of the first part of the Celestial Lotus ritual where you invoke the ten Archangels of the Tree of Life. There is a Part Two and a Part Three to this ritual where you invoke the twelve Archangels of the Zodiac and thirty six intelligences of the Zodiac.

First, perform the Cabalistic Cross.
Begin as you would the normal Lesser Ritual of the Pentagram in Invoking mode, but draw two invoking Earth pentagrams in each quarter, instead of one. The first, spirit, pentagram is drawn in white light and charged with ARARITA. Then draw the second, elemental, pentagram in blue light in the same place, so they overlap and charge it with the appropriate name of God: YEHOWAH in the East, ADONAI in the South, EHEIEH in the West and AGLA in the North.
Begin the invocation of Archangels, just like in the normal LRP. Raphael* in the East, Michael* in the South, Gabriel in the West, Auriel (or Uriel) in the North. Invoke two additional Archangels: Metatron above you and Sandalphon below you.
Now you begin invoking the rest of the Archangels of the Tree of Life around you. In the North-East, between Auriel and Raphael, invoke Raphael** of Hod.
In the South-East, between Raphael and Michael, invoke Gabriel*** of Yesod.
In the South-West, between Michael and Gabriel, invoke Haniel of Netzach.
In the North-West, between Gabriel and Auriel, invoke Michael** of Tiphareth.
Below you, on either side of Sandalphon invoke Kamael of Geburah and Tzaphkiel of Binah.
Above you, on either side of Metatron invoke Raziel of Chokmah and Tzadkiel of Chesed.
As in usual LRP say the formulas "For about me flame the pentagrams" (focus on the 4 pentagrams around you), then "and upon me shines the six-rayed star" (visualize the six-rayed star where you heart is)
Visualize pulling the circle of light (that connects the pentagrams) above you, then below you, so that you are standing inside a sphere of white light, surrounded by the divine energy of the fourteen Archangels.
Do any practical magic you wish to perform, or simply end the ritual here and perform the Cabalistic Cross again.

Notes:

* Damien gives elemental Raphael a staff (the Caduceus) and a sword to the elemental Michael, which I think contradicts the rest of the Golden Dawn symbolism. Still, you can use whichever version you like, the Archangels will answer regardless.

** Damien attributes Michael to Hod. I attribute Raphael to Mercury and Hod, and Michael to Sun and Tiphareth.

*** The diagram on the next page says Yesod in the NE and Hod in the SE. Damien says you can and should experiment with the order you invoke the Archangels in.