Meditation

[Lord Cassus]

Hey can u guys describe how u meditate if u do so? ive got my own special way but it would be interesting to hear yours aswell!

[Azazel]

I dont make meditation.
I get all the interior quietness i need from my hobby, model kit making.
and some other activities.

[Darth Sidious]

I personally dont, but then ive never really understood how meditation is exactly relevant to our side.

I would be interested to hear yours, and others if applicable, views on this.

[Azazel]

I still believe sleeping is the best form of meditation.

[Lord Cassus]

I usually find a quiet place like in a church or somewhere where there are no people (often at nights). I used to just try not to think of anything but my surroundings like hearing the wind and such. However nowadays i often meditate before i do something fysical, the thing i do is just to try and focus on something that makes me furious, almost mad with anger and then i try to vision myself doing things in that raw anger untill i am nothing but rage.
Then when i for example go out and run i can run longer because the pain in my chest when its hard to breathe only fuels the anger.
when im done its very important to breathe out the anger because u can really se in my eyes when im in that state of mind that everything is not right. thats how i do it and it really works good for me :p

[Seti-I-Shadim]

I "meditate" daily. Usually this is a ritual. Heres one I use:

The Banishing Rite of the Dark Lord

All Magickal traditions teach a 'clearing' rite of some kind. Banishing rituals are not, as some ignorantly presume, to banish "evil" spirits from the magicians temple. Rather, their purpose is to remove all extraneous 'vibrations', energies, and/or mental thought forms not consistent with the aims of the magician. You are creating, with this rite, a focal point for the powers of darkness to manifest.

The inverse Pentagram of Earth is mentioned in this rite, I will provide links to material that contains all the forms of the Pentagram that you will ever need. More on this later.

I will give the bare bones of the ritual first, and then I will give the 'inner' work that must be going on within the Magician to make this rite (or indeed any other rite) effective. This is where all that practice with meditation and visualization is put to use in a ritual format. Here, summed up, are the benefits of the rite:

A method of ridding the mind of disturbing and obsessive thoughts.
Expanding the energy field of the body, while freeing it of negativity.
Cleansing the Aura of negative spiritual and emotional vibrations.
Putting the Divine spark, within, in contact with the Divine Hadit {Satan}, without.
Here now is the Banishing Rite of the Dark Lord, a revision of the Golden Dawn's "Lesser Banishing Ritual of the Pentagram" using names more congenial to Satanists:

Face any preferred direction. Visualize a bright white sphere above the head and vibrate: "AZAZEL!"
Bring down the beam of light to the genitals and vibrate: "BELIAL!"
Up to the middle of the chest, and across to the right shoulder. vibrate: "ASMODEUS!"
To left shoulder, vibrate: "ASTAROTH!"
Clasp hands at the chest, visualizing a bright red reverse pentagram upon the breast (or Hexagram of Alchemy. if known) vibrate: "BAPHOMET!" (or "BAPHO-METIS!")
Go to the West, draw a reverse Pentagram of earth.. (note: the reverse Pentagram of Earth is drawn at all four quarters) vibrate. "LEVIATHAN!"
Go to the South, draw Pentagram and vibrate, "SAMAEL!"
Go to the East draw Pentagram and vibrate, "LUCIFER!"
Go to the North, draw Pentagram and vibrate, "LILITH!"
Return to centre of temple, with eyes closed you visualize the Daemons you have invoked, and the elemental energy's flowing in from each quarter. Then say, "AROUND ME FLAME THE PENTAGRAMS, THE STAR OF FORCE AND FIRE, WITHIN MY BREAST THE ETERNAL ONE, THE INFINITE AND IMMORTAL STAR."
Repeat steps 1-5.
http://www.angelfire.com/ny5/dvera/bgoat/rituals/BasicExercises.html


Its based on The Lesser Banishing Ritual of the Pentagram which I also use sometimes.

- Seti

[Master Thompson]

Lord Shadim...........

I know of this! Are you...(and I ask this with all due respect) a Satanist? Your answer will not change my opinion of you for I hold many of the members here in high regard.

But, I know some of these words...

[Seti-I-Shadim]

Lord Shadim...........

I know of this! Are you...(and I ask this with all due respect) a Satanist? Your answer will not change my opinion of you for I hold many of the members here in high regard.

But, I know some of these words...

That is more difficult to answer than you would imagine! lol I usually term myself "Left Hand path" because its easier. I can't really say yes or no on that one. This is not to be evasive, but rather to be clear. I have studied Satanism extensively, I have practiced LHP magick for many years, Vama Marg* Tantrism & am a member of various Satanic organizations.

On the other side, I have also extensively studied Thelema (Aleister Crowley), Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn, Pythagoreanism & was for many years a Khalifa (Representative) of the Turkish Helveti-Jerrahi Sufi Order.

But if I was pinned down on what area of LHP/magick I most identify with? It would most probably be the Temple of Set, Vama Marg Tantrism* and the work of Aleister Crowley. ( I have this Egyptian hangup, I guess. ) I don't particularly care for the Church of Satan or the various fly-by-night Satanic organizations.

I'm not sure if I fully answered your question or not. I have studied alot of different systems, and I have eventually discovered that the "Isms" got in my way. Anyway, I hope that helps some.


*Vama Marg (a). Left turning path. Reversal of conventional concepts of spirituality. Methods, which are quicker and more direct. ( Source: Tantric Dictionary)

Note: In my previous post, I put the Banishing Rite of the Dark Lord but forgot to post the LBRP. So I thought I'd post it here.

Lesser Banishing Ritual of the Pentagram

Part I:
The Qabalistic Cross
Note: The Qabalistic Cross is not the Christian Cross, but represents the Elemental Cross & the Rosy Cross. For the Golden Dawn Rosy Cross, see:
http://www.golden-dawn.com/temple/index.jsp?s=gallery&p=rosecr

1.) Stand facing east. Visualize yourself getting taller and taller until the Earth becomes a tiny sphere at your feet. See the solar system swirling around you. Your feet are anchored to the Earth. From high above your head you see a point of light coming toward you. Watch it until it becomes a sphere about the size of a dinner plate right above your head. It is bright white, an extreme, pulsating brilliance. Point to this sphere with the index or dagger and draw it down to the forehead (third eye area). Vibrate: ATAH (Ah-TAH)

2.) Bring the light down more, pointing first to the heart,( NOTE: Many Thelemites insert "AIWASS" here-Seti)
then descending to the groin area. Hold the dagger pointing downward, covering the groin. Feel this shaft of pure light go down through the body into infinity below you.Vibrate: MALKUTH (Mahl-KOOT)

3.)Bring the point of the dagger back up the body and then over to the right shoulder. Touch the right shoulder and visualize the beam of light running down the right arm and continuing on to the farthest reaches of the Universe. Focus on the beam of light and vibrate: VE-GEBURAH (Vih-G'Boo-RAH)

4.) Cross over to the left shoulder. Focus on the beam of light and vibrate: VE-GEDULAH (Vih-G'Doo-LAH).

5.) Clasp the hands to the chest, as if praying. (If using the dagger, the tip of the blade should be pointing up). Visualize within the chest at the top of the hands a brilliant golden glow.Vibrate: (Lih-Oh-LAHM, Ah-MEN)

You are now standing in the center of a cross of light that reaches to the ends of the Universe.




IMPORTANT NOTE: Most prefer to use the Earth Banishing Pentagram in all four directions. This version of the ritual uses all four elemental pentagrams. I'm not saying this is officially correct, but it's the way *I* do it.

Part 2:
The Formulation of the Pentagrams

6.) Clockwise, go to the eastern boundary of the circle. (If there's not a great amount of space available, just turn in place rather than circumventing the area). Trace an Air-banishing pentagram in the air before you, as pictured below. Draw it as perfectly as possible. Visualize it glowing in flaming electric-blue light.

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b238/Seti-I-Shadim/1a1/AB20Anim.gif

7.)Inhale through your nose, visualizing energy entering your body with the breath. Make the sign of the Enterer. Bring your hands up to the sides of your head and point both index fingers (and dagger, if you're using one) forward. Step forward with your left foot and thrust your hands forward so that they penetrate the exact center of the pentagram. As you do this, use your entire exhalation to vibrate the God name YHVH (Yud-Heh-Vahv-Heh).Picture the energy you inhaled shooting out your hands, through the pentagram and into infinity.

8.) Keeping the arm extended, move to the south of the circle, (or pivot). Visualize the tip of the finger or dagger drawing a white line in the air, connecting the east pentagram to the south. Trace a fire banishing pentagram, and make the Sign of the Enterer while vibrating: ADONAI (Ah-Doh-NYE)

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b238/Seti-I-Shadim/1a1/FB20Anim.gif

9.)Turn to the west, drawing your white line. Trace a water banishing pentagram and vibrate EHEIEH (Eh-Heh-YEH)

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b238/Seti-I-Shadim/1a1/WB20Anim.gif

10.) Repeat as above, turning to the north, and tracing an earth-banishing pentagram, but vibrate: AGLA (Ah-GLAH)

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b238/Seti-I-Shadim/1a1/EB20Anim.gif

11.) Now turn back to the east, still drawing the white line, completing your circle. There should be now four flaming blue pentagrams sealed with names of God, blazing at the four quarters of the circle connected with a pure white light. Return to the center of the circle and stand facing east.



Part 3:
The Invocation of the Archangels

12.) Extend arms straight to the sides, forming a cross. Visualize yourself as a white cross in the center of the Universe. Visualize before you a figure on a hill, dressed in yellow robes with some purplish highlights. The figure carries a caduceus wand and its robes wave in the wind. Feel a breaze coming from behind the Archangel. Vibrate: Before me, RAPHAEL (Rah-Fah-El).

13.) Visualize a figure behind you, in the west, dressed in blue robes with some orange highlights. The figure holds a cup and is surrounded by waterfalls or ocean waves. Feel the moisture in the air. Vibrate: Behind me, GABRIEL (Gah-bree-EL).
14.) To your right, visualize a figure dressed in red with green highlights. The figure holds in his hands a flaming sword. Feel the heat. Vibrate: On my right hand, MICHAEL (Mee-kah-EL).

15.) To your left, visualize a figure standing on a fertile landscape, dressed in a combination of citrine, olive, russet and black. Fall colors. The figure holds some sheaves of weat. Feel the stability. Vibrate: On my left hand, URIEL (Ohr-ree-EL)

16.) Stand with feet shoulder-width apart and visualize another electric-blue pentagram outlining your body. Vibrate: For about me flames the pentagram... Visualize a brilliant golden hexagram at your heart area. Vibrate: ... And in my center shines the Six-rayed Star.


Part 4:
The Qabalistic Cross


17.) Repeat Part 1.

http://www.livingwithmagick.com/lbrp.html

[Darth J'Zal]

I do moving meditation. When I run, I open my mind to become very aware of everything around me. When I walk, I contemplate. In both cases I touch the Force and it gives me clarity and, on occation, an incredible high.

[Darth Sanguis]

I do three things for meditation these days. The first method that I use is a method called hellfire meditation that is pretty similar to what lord cassus does in that it calls upon my anger to empower me. Usefull for physical exercise and some forms of magick. The second is connecting myself with darkness around me, which gives me clarity of mind and occasionally visions of present and near future. Third I use whenever I need to work on combat skills, and there are no opponents to fight nor room to practise katas. When I learned this from my grand-father it was called shadow-fighting and it is basically imagining a room where you can practice your moves. It wont have much if any at all effect physically but it does improve your fighting skills, just not as much as regular sparring or katas.

[Master Thompson]

We have some helpful excercises located in our Academy Section: http://ashlaknights.net/academy/index.php?title=Meditation_Techniques:

[Darth_Nihil]

Hey can u guys describe how u meditate if u do so? ive got my own special way but it would be interesting to hear yours aswell!

Dear Lord Cassus,

When I was an apprentice at the Sith Academy, one technique they taught me for meditation was called the Windswept Mountain. Here is how it goes:

1. Sit with your legs crossed, preferably at a quite place;
2. Take 6 long, slow breaths, exhaling deeply, clearing your mind of all distracting thoughts;
3. Now, when all thoughts have been cleared from your mind, try to imagine, to the best of your ability, that you are on a mountain. It doesn't have to be a large mountain, just any ordinary mountain. Next, try to envision that on the top of the mountain where you sit, there is a steady wind sweeping around the top.
4. Let the wind whistle through your ears; let the wind be cool to the touch on your skin; let the wind envelop your very being.

Repeat this as many times to get the result of making yourself stronger for the moment or to increase confidence.