Following up on this blog I want to explain what I was taught about energy projection by the Golden Dawn [Whare Ra] adepts who were still alive when I lived in Hawkes Bay.
Before I start, I should point out that people were taught slightly different methods based on who was teaching them. For this reason, I think that there was no uniform Whare Ra method. However, it is clear that an internal process of projecting energy was considered necessary, and some of the more senior adepts developed their strategies based on Golden Dawn principles.
The most crucial issue is that the magician needs to be “charged up” before they project anything. This was done passively using the four two-breaths. It allows most of the centres to awaken naturally if performed for at least ten minutes before a ritual.
Some people I spoke with did not feel this was enough, particularly for those taking on roles where there would be much projection work. For this, it was believed that the sphere of sensation had to be properly energised. A modern Golden Dawn person might use the Middle Pillar to get this effect, but that was not what I was taught, and it is unsuitable for projection.
The method I was taught, and I have adapted over the years, followed the four-two breath. The adept must be completely relaxed in every part of their body. All actions are carried out slowly and carefully.
You would visualise your crown centre, and as you breathe in, you see a line of light go down to the centre of your groin.
As you breathe out, you bring a line of light to your heart centre. As the light hits the heart centre, it activates the centres in the palms of your hands, which can be used for projection.
Projection occurs when energy, flavoured by whatever symbol (wand or implement), is held in the hands and leaves the immediate sphere of sensation. Every act of projection must be followed by a gesture to cut the power off. This is usually the sign of silence, but there were other methods (see below).
Practising projecting energy
Projection can be practised by going through all the breathing steps and forming a ball of energy in the hands. This should be visualised as clearly as possible and then reabsorbed (on an inbreath). Once this is managed, the sign of the enterer should be practised with a full projection of energy (followed by the sign of silence). After this is mastered, a full lessor invoking pentagram should be tried.
Projecting energy in the sign of the enterer
This method of internal energy movement is used during the sign of the enterer, although it was never taught to outer-order members. After a deep breath, the energy would be circulated as above and on a single out-breath projected from the heart and out of the palms. This was done on the same out-breath if any divine names were vibrated.
Projecting energy when drawing of objects in the astral
To draw an astral object (like a pentagram), you would follow the same energy process as above, only you would allow the energy to form a ball of light (the size of a marble) from your fingertips and use this to draw the form. In the outer order, the neophyte was given a drawing of a pentagram with the correct divine name to assist in their visualisation. By the time they had the chance to use this technique, that visualisation should be embedded in their unconscious.
Wands and implements
Wands and implements within the Golden Dawn were complicated because they were symbolic and shifted energy. Some vague hints that are not well explained (such as there is “a glint of light off the Hierophant’s wand at this point.”) become clearer when we know there is energy projection taking place.
Cutting off projected energy
Generally, a wand switches on an energy projection or cuts it off. The person who told me this technique said that cutting off the energy was done by a sharp downward-pointing move. After carefully building up the energy for one part of the ritual, I saw her do it. At the point where she needed the energy to break, I understood that it did not mean “calling energy back” — it violently broke any links. She accompanied it by turning her back on it. A modern Golden Dawn person could say that the sign of silence does the same thing, but in this case, the movement was more fluid and did not disrupt the ritual’s energy. This movement is also good for when you make a mistake drawing figures (or saying the wrong divine name).
Tips for Wands
Because wands are designed to flavour the adept’s personal energy, there are a few things that you need to know about holding them.
- They should be lightly held between the index, middle finger, and thumb, with the other two fingers used for stability. The wand should not be gripped tightly, as this would cause the energy to lock in the hands and go nowhere.
- No implementation should be turned upside down. Symbolically, this is a terrible idea (in some cases, it means an upside-down tree of life ), but it also implies that energy is earthing itself. For this reason, using a sword to draw a magic circle on the ground (like in the Key of Solomon) would have been considered a no-no. You could draw the magic circle in the air.
- A wand or implement does not have to be pointed to have an effect. The Whare Ra fire wand was held lightly in a fist, meaning the hand did most of the drawing rather than the point of the wand. Personally, I prefer the modern Golden Dawn fire wand, which is much bigger and is able to be pointed.
Officer’s wands
With the exception of the Kerux, the officer’s wands are held by the lower point, representing the path the officer is channelling into the work. The Hierus holds their sword by the hilt, representing the path of Shin, Judgement, and Fire. The Hierophant holds their wand by the lower band, representing Tau and the Universe. The Hegemon holds their wand by the lower band, which means the Moon and Qoph. When they are active on the floor, they should channel the ideas of their wands internally and, at specific points in the ritual, project that energy outwards (a good example is in the Khabs em Pehkt formula).
The Kerux wand is unusual in that it can be gripped at three different points during different parts of the ritual. In this case, the officer has the important role of changing the candidate’s sphere of sensation using their energy. Normally, in Whare Ra, the Hierophant and the dais officers would have assisted them in this role. Whare Ra was different from many Golden Dawn groups in that its officers were usually senior members with experience under their belt.
More on Whare Ra here
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