The Lesser Banishing Ritual of the pentagram
Lesser Banishing Ritual of the Pentagram (LBRP)
Materials:
None required, though an altar or a space for focus can be helpful.
Optionally, an athame (ritual dagger) or wand can be used for drawing the pentagrams.
Instructions:
Stand Facing East
Begin by standing in a quiet space, facing east. Take a moment to center yourself with deep breaths, feeling calm and focused.Perform the Kabbalistic Cross
This begins the ritual by aligning yourself with divine light.Touch your forehead and say: “Ateh” (Thou Art).
Bring your hand down to your chest and say: “Malkuth” (The Kingdom).
Touch your right shoulder and say: “ve-Geburah” (and the Power).
Touch your left shoulder and say: “ve-Gedulah” (and the Glory).
Cross your hands over your chest and say: “Le-Olam, Amen” (Forever, Amen).
Draw the Pentagrams
You will now draw a banishing pentagram in each of the four cardinal directions (East, South, West, North). Visualize a bright blue flame or light as you trace the pentagram in the air. Each pentagram is drawn from the bottom-left point to the top, in a continuous motion.East: Draw the pentagram and, as you do, vibrate the divine name YHVH (Yod-Heh-Vav-Heh).
South: Turn to the south, draw the pentagram, and vibrate Adonai.
West: Turn to the west, draw the pentagram, and vibrate Eheieh.
North: Turn to the north, draw the pentagram, and vibrate Agla (Ateh Gibor Le-Olam Adonai).
After completing the last pentagram, return to face the east, standing at the center of the space.
Invoke the Archangels
While standing in the center of the circle, extend your arms out to your sides and say the following invocation, visualizing the presence of four powerful archangels guarding the directions:Before me, Raphael (visualize the archangel of air in the east, robed in yellow with a gentle breeze surrounding you).
Behind me, Gabriel (visualize the archangel of water in the west, robed in blue with the sensation of flowing water).
At my right hand, Michael (visualize the archangel of fire in the south, robed in red with warmth radiating from the south).
At my left hand, Uriel (visualize the archangel of earth in the north, robed in green with the feeling of groundedness).
Then say:
“For about me flames the pentagram, and within me shines the six-rayed star.”Perform the Kabbalistic Cross (Again)
As in step 2, repeat the Kabbalistic Cross to close the ritual:Touch your forehead and say: “Ateh”
Touch your chest and say: “Malkuth”
Touch your right shoulder and say: “ve-Geburah”
Touch your left shoulder and say: “ve-Gedulah”
Cross your hands and say: “Le-Olam, Amen”
Brief Synopsis and History of the LBRP
The Lesser Banishing Ritual of the Pentagram (LBRP) is a ceremonial ritual rooted in the Western occult tradition, specifically developed within the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn in the late 19th century. The Golden Dawn was a magical order that synthesized various esoteric traditions, including Hermeticism, Kabbalah, and alchemy.
The LBRP serves several purposes:
It banishes negative energies from the practitioner's space and aura.
It aligns the practitioner with higher spiritual forces through the invocation of divine names and archangels.
It prepares the space for more advanced ritual work by establishing a protective boundary of energy.
It centers and grounds the practitioner, reinforcing the connection between the physical world and the divine.
Historically, the ritual was practiced daily by members of the Golden Dawn to maintain psychic and spiritual hygiene. Its symbolism is drawn from Kabbalistic teachings (as seen in the Kabbalistic Cross) and the classical elements (Earth, Air, Fire, Water). The pentagrams represent the practitioner’s authority over the elements, and the invocation of archangels offers divine protection from all directions.
Today, the LBRP is widely used in many occult traditions as a foundational practice for clearing energy, centering, and preparing for ritual workings. Despite its formal structure, it can be adapted for modern practitioners or incorporated into other forms of witchcraft and ceremonial magic.
