--- In solomonic@yahoogroups.com, "magus787" <Magus777@...> wrote:
>
> does anyone have any thoughts on the practical use of the abramelin
> squares? I know them and there descriptions but there's no procedural
> suggestions. using them for spell and ritual works i mean.
> M

Greetings!

Part of the system is explained here:

Abramelin Magick
http://tinyurl.com/2xgmxq

However, keep in mind I wrote it about the French text. Part of what
I present involves ignoring the spirit names and obtaining your own
personalized spirits instead. Later, I read the German text (which
has different word-squares) and discovered that some of the spirits
are important after all. (Some of their names appear in the squares.
But only a few.)

However, the premise of "Abramelin Magick" is still sound, because
even the German version allows one to choose any of the spirits one
wishes from the given list *and* to receive more on your own.

I have also done some work toward correcting the German Abramelin
squares. I don't believe the work is complete, but I do believe I've
accomplished the bulk of it. (It does not include my etymology notes-
which I will publish in a larger work later on.)

Abramelin's Magickal Word Squares
http://kheph777.tripod.com/abrasquares.pdf

Neither of those will be much help with your last question about
ritual procedure. The Abramelin squares are not intended to work in
that manner. You don't consecrate them with Planetary invocations and
wear them to attract energies, etc.

Their practical usage is actually very informal- though it depends on
first obtaining Oaths of loyalty from the spirits in question. At the
end of the Abramelin Rite, your HGA will tell you how to exorcise the
Princes of Hell. These beasties must arrive and swear an Oath to the
magician- part of which includes giving the magician access to any
number of familiar spirits. (As the German text instructs, you can
take any you wish from the list given in the book. More can always be
acquired later.) Of course, four of the familiars are assigned
general duty, on six-hour shifts. The rest of them must simply come
when they are called for specific purposes.

The squares are treated as a secondary concern. Before evoking the
Princes, you draw the squares you believe you'll need. You then carry
them into the evocation and have the spirits swear their Oaths of
loyalty upon them. The spirits are told to come when they are called
and carry out any command given by the magician- *with or without* the
squares. The squares are convenient, because the magician can just
show one to a spirit without a word of command. However, the Book of
Abramelin suggests one avoid relying on the squares too much.

Personally, I feel that much of the magick is contained in the process
of creating the square. At the direction of your HGA (or a Prince of
Hell for evil talismans), you have to choose a word from Hebrew,
Greek, Latin or another sacred language that reflects your goal. That
word is then transformed into a magickal word-square via a process I
have only partially deciphered (see "Abramelin's Magickal Word Squares").

In using them, one is not supposed to employ ceremony. In the
evening, you simply go somewhere private and undisturbed, take out the
squares you need for the next day, call the spirits and tell them what
you expect of them. (It is best to give them overnight to accomplish
small tasks. Give them increasingly longer for larger tasks.) When
shown the squares and/or given commands, the spirits should either
consent to do as you ask or respond with necessary information or
instructions.

The instructions may often involve the squares- such as the squares
for invisibility worn under one's hat. Or the squares for money
placed in the wallet or purse. However, I strongly suspect that these
instructions do not necessarily require the *actual* squares created
for the Abramelin Rite. You might be told to inscribe the letters of
the square on some specific material, with some peculiar medium. For
instance- inscribing a square for healing in the bottom of a bowl
using honey, filling that bowl with milk, and having the patient drink
it. Or drawing a square for enmity on lead and burying it in front of
a doorway. You can take a look at the German Abramelin's "Book II"
for examples of this kind of non-ceremonial folk magick.

Meanwhile, the nice pretty squares you used in the Abramelin Rite, and
every night to talk with the spirits, can be left safely at home. :)

Hope that helps a bit,

In LVX
Aaron