Basic rituals choice - Greek or Hebrew?

[DiLoco_DelEted]

Shame to say, that as an alumni of a national fraternity, I used to memorize and know the Greek alphabet, but know the Hebrew alphabet far better.

In "The Middle Pillar" by Regardie and the Ciceros, there are different versions (Hebrew, Greek, Celtic, Native American) of the Qabbalistic Cross Ritual, the Lesser Ritual of the Pentagram, amd of course, the Middle Pillar Ritual.

The question, as I am pursuing the A:.A:., is Greek or Hebrew? Which version of the rituals should I follow, seeing as how some rituals are in Hebrew, and some in Greek?

 

[pixel_fortune]

Three guiding principles, that you will have to weigh for yourself. They are all interrelated.

1. Is there an end goal that this is culminating towards? For example, the end-point of Helios Unbound is a Greco-Egyptian ritual, so I try to keep any other rituals I had using Greek and Egyptian language and deities

My understanding is that, while Liber Samekh is Greco-Egyptian, Thelema practitioners are encouraged to develop their own invocation of their HGA, so the language will be whichever you use. You might already know, say, that you want your K&C rite to revolve around archangels, and you prefer their Hebrew names, in which case you would go with the Hebrew rites. You're looking to create a coherent symbol set for your subconscious.

2. Is there an area of study that particularly appeals to you? If you like kabbalah a lot, then you might go with the Hebrew versions. If you like alchemical symbolism, Latin would probably be better.

3. The overriding principle of all of Thelema is to "enflame thyself with prayer" (building up the skill of devotion and invocation until you can evoke your HGA). So, which language enflames you more? Which versions of the ritual have the strongest emotional intensity for you?

It doesn't matter what is more logical, so there's no objective answer. It has to be from your subjective experience. But if you're not sure yet, then try both, until you know which is more emotionally intense for you.

 

[DiLoco_DelEted]

I see. Thank you!

 

[league_ma_balls]

I personally say the Greek as it's more familiar to English and what we have all learned over the years.

 

[Xenophon]

Shame to say, that as an alumni of a national fraternity, I used to memorize and know the Greek alphabet, but know the Hebrew alphabet far better.

In "The Middle Pillar" by Regardie and the Ciceros, there are different versions (Hebrew, Greek, Celtic, Native American) of the Qabbalistic Cross Ritual, the Lesser Ritual of the Pentagram, amd of course, the Middle Pillar Ritual.

The question, as I am pursuing the A:.A:., is Greek or Hebrew? Which version of the rituals should I follow, seeing as how some rituals are in Hebrew, and some in Greek?

Personally, I go for euphony. To my ear (I'm guessing most Westerners) Greek is easier to versify, with lots of regular rhythms possible. Plus, the inflections make rhyming easier (I know, I know---real ancient Greeks made poetry by meter, not rhyme.) I mastered enough Hebrew to be able to wade through, say, the Book of Psalms and marvel: how was this considered "songs"? Either my education was deficient, or there's another aesthetic at work here. (Hey, I'm deaf to Schoenberg and hip-hop too.)

Bottom line is which better gets your blood coursing? And which is easier to reel off from memory? For you, that is.