Abramelin Technique: The Separation of Vortices

We have already, on numerous occasions, discussed that Magic practice is not simply work on the mind, not merely its training or transformation; it is the art of developing an active consciousness, its realization, self-knowledge and self-actualization through the study of contacts within subject–object systems. In other words, the development of the mind on the Magus’ Way occurs through mindful activity — purposeful, structured interactions of attention with objects within its field — and such contacts are not limited to contemplation. The object of attention is shaken, thrown off balance, in order to reveal the fullest spectrum of its energies and possibilities for interaction. In doing so the mind studies both the diversity of the object’s energies with which it interacts and the diversity of its own reactions to them, thus establishing a correspondence between the “inner” and the “outer” reaction, the incident, reflected and absorbed Light.

Notably, the Tradition describes such activity of the mind as “the creation of vortices“, where “vortex” is meant the “external” manifestation of the mind, the expression of its will and its reality-forming power.

In other words, any energetically charged action, imbued with energy of desire and driven by an act of will, can be regarded as a vortex, born in the potential, homogeneous World medium and expressing aspects available to knowledge. From that vantage, any fulfilment of desire, any emission of desire-energy, is a vortex possessing quite measurable characteristics. Among those characteristics are the vortex’s lifetime, its direction of motion, its energetic potential, and so on.

At the root of any vortex’s creation lies the corresponding logos — the “representation” in the creating mind of what the “ideal” fulfilment of the desire should be, its ideal aim. At the same time, it is clear that, in practice, the correspondence between the real vortex and its logos is quite relative, since the mind is usually far from the degree of purity and single-mindedness required for an exact expression of the desire’s inner nature. Thus, both objects (the “external” expressions of vortices) and the vortices themselves are, in fact, the “alchemical salt” — a mixture, an ensemble of different energies, properties and strivings.

At the level of vortices this “composite” nature manifests as the aggregate of various forms and directions of movement within the overall whirl. Since the “direct” forms of a vortex’s movement are traditionally perceived as “positive” and described as “angelic”, whereas the “reverse” are considered “demonic”, the idea arises that in any action, in any manifestation of the mind, there are “light” and “dark” components. Indeed, even at a simple level it is obvious that any desire is tinged with accompanying strivings of varying degrees of alignment, as well as fears, distortions, obscurations, and so forth.

Therefore, on the Way of self-knowledge it is extremely important for the developing mind to find its “true” motives, and also to identify accompanying impulses and aspirations. Much of the exploratory ritual work is devoted to such analysis, including the search for “Knowledge and Conversation”, based on the Ritual of Abramelin. We have discussed this “Search”, aimed at identifying the Higher individual logos, before, from different angles; now we will examine its “technical” component.

In fact, the Abramelin Ritual (and its derivatives — “Ritual VIII” and the “Ritual of the Unborn”) is a technique for separating the aggregate vortex of the striving for self-knowledge into a “light” component (objectified as the Holy Guardian Angel) and a “dark” component (revealed as the Four Archdemons).

Since the Desire to Know, like any other striving, is expressed as a vortex, and this vortex, as noted above, has a “mixed” nature, finding the Higher orienting point, the inner “Guiding Star”, requires identification of the logos of that Desire — which is precisely what the Ritual achieves.

At the same time it achieves the necessary tuning of the desire-vortex, its reorientation in accordance with the discovered (“Known”) logos.

The sacred space of the Oratory created for the Ritual, its contents and the very course of the operation are intended to accomplish that distillation — the separation of vortices whose “dark” component is “expelled” beyond the bounds of that space (this is precisely what the “terrace” outside the Oratory is for), while the “light” component gradually crystallizes within. According to Abramelin, the Ritual has two tasks: 1) the “Conversation” with the Angel (that is, identification of the logos) and 2) the Control of Demons (that is, identification and opposition to destructors), and thus it combines “inner theurgy” with “inner goetia“.

And if considerable attention operators usually direct to the Ritual’s “light”, “angelic” component, the “dark” is often ignored, which is the cause of a great many errors and problems. Indeed, despite its “divine” colouring and tuning, the Abramelin Ritual is extremely dangerous precisely because within it both “pure Light” and impenetrable darkness crystallize, both Angels and Demons manifest, and therefore the operator’s powers and attention must be directed to controlling both components, each of which can, by itself, be extremely injurious.

Despite the often rather cavalier attitude it attracts, this technique of the Search is among the most hazardous — but, fortunately, also among the hardest to actually accomplish.

Every Magus who dares to begin this Ritual must be clear that the greater the success achieved, the purer and lighter the energies inside the Oratory become, the more darkness is expelled beyond its borders — and therefore, while risking a Strike of Light within, they must also be prepared to confront Malum outside, and neither of these dangers should be underestimated.