The full evocation of the Shemhamphorash Angels is a time-consuming and strenuous matter. It essentially begins with the Grand Invocation of Solomonxxiii (as given by Eliphaz Lévi in Rituel de la Haute Magie, Chapter xiii):
“POWERS of the Kingdom, be beneath my left foot, and within my right hand. Glory and Eternity touch my shoulders, and guide me in the Paths of Victory. Mercy and justice be ye the Equilibrium and splendour of my life. Understanding and Wisdom give unto me the Crown.
Spirits of Malkuth conduct me between the two columns whereon is supported the whole edifice of the Temple.
Angels of Netzach and of Hod strengthen me upon the Cubical Stone of Yesod. O GEDULAHEL! O GEBURAHEL! O TIPHERETH!
BINAHEL, be Thou my Love!
RUACH CHOKMAHEL, be Thou my Light!
Be that which Thou art, and that which thou willest to be, O KETHERIEL!
Ishim, assist me in the Name Of SHADDAL
Cherubim, be my strength in the Name of ADONAL
Beni Elohim, be ye my brethren in the Name of the Son, and by the virtues of TZABAOTH.
Elohim, fight for me in the Name of TETRAGRAMMATON.
Malachim, protect me in the Name Of YOD HE VAU HE.
Seraphim, purify my love in the Name of ELOAH.
Chaschmalim, enlighten me with the splendours of ELOHI, and of SCHECHINAH. Aralim, act ye; Auphanim, revolve and shine.
Chaioth Ha-Qadosch, cry aloud, speak, roar, and groan; Qadosch, Qadosch, Qadosch., SHADDAI, ADONAI, YOD CHAVAH, EHEIEH ASHER EHEIEH!
Halelu-Yah! Halelu-Yah! Halelu-Yah. Amen.”
Each Angel is then conjured in turn by the recitation of a preamble followed by the specific verse of Psalm identified for each Shemhamphorash Angel.
A summary of this process follows.
The Floor Cloth will be unfurled, taking care to arrange it in accordance with the cardinal directions associated with the Signs of the Zodiac (i.e. the Ascendant at Aires facing West). The floor cloth for the Ritual not only identifies the Signs and the (Quinnance and Decan) Angles of the Zodiac, along with the transliterated English names of the 72 Shemhamphorash Angels; it also contains important symbols and features necessary for its successful Magical use. (i.e. the Hebrew characters comprising the Shemhamphorash written continuously in the shape of a spiral). The image of the Floor Cloth provided as Figure 3 may be freely copied and pasted, and used by the Reader. The large office supply stores can usually enlarge this figure and print it on vinyl or even heavy poster-board. (If you need a higher resolution image, feel free to email me and I’ll send one to you).
Additionally, luminaries (candles) will be arranged on the cloth where indicated and
twelve singing bowls will be placed near each Sign of the Zodiac.
Proper placements for the bowls is given in Table 8. Use the arrangement indicated for the Chromatic Circle.
Experimentation with the use of musical tones in working with the Shemhamphoresh have been very positive; often where mispronunciation of an Angelic Name diminishes the effect, recovery may be achieved by using the correct tone.
There seems to be no difference if the tone is offered before or after the Name evocation. The Author has achieved exceptional results using the tone system devised by Paul Foster Case to intone each letter of the Names. This requires immense preparation however, and is best performed using several knowledgeable assistants.
All participants should have a complete Rider-Waite Tarot Deck available for use. When instructed by the Magus to do so, sort through your Tarot deck and collect all numbered suit cards. This will be the 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, & 10 of Wands, Pentacles, Swords, and Cups, a total of 36 cards.
The Magus will offer instruction on the use of the Lesser Banishing Ritual of the Pentagram (LBRP) and will banish the room before progressing further. The room is then copiously censed (2 parts Frankincense resin, 2 parts Myrrh resin, and 1 part black Styrax resin) while the Grand Invocation of Solomon is recited.
Following these preliminaries, the Magus will Chant a conjuration of the Angelic Orders to prepare for the work at hand.
| Scale | Aires | Taurus | Gemini | Cancer | Leo | Virgo | Libra | Scorpio | Sagit- tarius | Capri- corn | Aquarius | Pisces |
| CC* | C | C♯/D♭ | D | D♯/E♭ | E | E♯ | F | F♯/G♭ |
G | G♯/A♭ | A | A♯/B♭ |
| COF ** | C | G | D | A | E | E♯ | B | F♯/G♭ | D♭
| A♭ | E♭ | B♭ |
| *CC = Chromatic Circle **COF = Circle of Fifths | | | | | | | | | | | | |
“Thus said Adonai, The heaven is my throne, and the earth my footstool:
where is the house that ye build unto me? And where is the place of my rest? For
all those things hath mine hand made.” Thus said Adonai: “I was glad also, when
they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the Lord. Our feet shall stand within
thy gates, O Jerusalem. Jerusalem is builded as a city that is compact together,
Peace be within thy walls, and prosperity within thy palaces. For except Adonai
build the house, they labour in vain that build it; except Adonai keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain. “Father of Power and Greatness, Being of Beings, Almighty Sanctifier, who created all things from nothing, despise not Thy servant,
but let it please Thee to purify, consecrate and sanctify this place dedicated to Thy service; command Thy Angels of the Shemhamphorash which bear Thy holy name
to descend, reside and remain, for Thy Glory and Service. Amen.”
Thoroughly shuffle the deck and place it face down in front of you. Remove the first card
(top of deck) and examine it. Search the floor cloth until you find the Decan which corresponds to your selected card and position yourself before the applicable Decan.
Place your card face-up on the circle which corresponds to your card number. If this spot is already in use by another individual, return the card to your deck, reshuffle, and select a different card.
Note the names of the two Shemhamphorash Angels which rule the Decan (ten degree segment) where your card is placed. Using Figure 7 in your ritual notes, identify the verses of Psalm (or Biblical verse) which are used to invoke the two Angels which comprise the two Quinnances (five degree segments) of the Decan.
Strike the singing bowl having the proper tone for the Sign of the Zodiac in which you are operating. Allow the bowl to vibrate freely until you can no longer hear the tone.
You may strike it multiple times thereafter as you meditate upon the Tarot card.
You will now chant the two verses (see Table 7) for the Shemhamphorash Angels of the two Quinnances in which you are working. To the best of your ability, while reciting the chant attempt to match the tone of the singing bowl. Precede each chant by intoning the words:
"<Angel Name> I invoke you to appear and render your essence in my divination, which appearance I summon by recitation of your verse" <begin Chant> Amen.
Others will be simultaneously invoking their respective Angels; try to focus upon your own
work. If you've ever visited a Synagogue you will have noticed what most Christians hear as cacophony during prayer. Again, focus upon your own intent which is the invocation of the Angels which rule the Zodiac for your specific card selection.
Meditate upon the card, its associated planet (planetary symbols for each Decan are located near the center ring of the floor cloth), and the sign of the Zodiac in which it appears.
Consult Figure 5 and consider the Quality of the Sign in which the selected card appears. Finally, refer to Table 6 to ascertain the function of the two Angels which rule the Decan.
Allow yourself to be guided and filled by the presence of the Shemhamphorash Angels you have invoked and the interpretation of the Archetype of the Card you have selected will become known to you.
The Magus will provide a prearranged signal 5 minutes before it is time to finish the meditation. Upon finish of your meditation, dismiss the Angels by saying 'So Mote It Be'.
It is customary to also dismiss the two Angels of the Decan by simply saying 'Good night <Angel Name 1>; Good night <Angel Name 2>. Collect your card and return it to the deck.
Reshuffle the deck of Cards and draw another card from the top. Repeat the above sequence until a total of nine different cards have been used for divination.
When the Ritual draws to a close, the Magus will ask all participants to join in a Chain of Union and will offer a parting prayer.
