The Wand Posture
The Earth Posture
The God-form Posture
Arista
Ave
Cervus
Orante
Pronatio
Psi
Tau
The Planetary Gestures
Korax (Luna)
Kryphios (Mercury)
Miles (Venus)
Leo (Sol)
Persis (Mars)
Heliodromos (Jupiter)
Pater (Saturn)
The Wand Posture is a normal, well-balanced standing position. The feet are together, the shoulders are comfortably dropped back such that they are neither rigid or slouching, and the head is held erect and facing forward. The arms hang loosely at the sides with a slight curve at the elbow.
The Earth Posture is a supine position in which one's back is flat upon the ground with the legs straight and arms at the sides.
The God-form Posture takes its name from the seated images of Egyptian deities. It is a sitting position in which one's thighs are parallel to the ground, and the lower legs perpindicular to that horizontal. The legs and feet are together. The spine is held erect, but not rigidly so. The head is held straight and eyes gaze forward, while the arms hang loosely at the sides with the hands resting on the thighs, palms down. Essential for this position is a chair which allows the legs to be in the proper configuration -- cushions and supports should be used if such a chair cannot be found.
Wand Posture. 1st point: Arms are upraised into
the Psi gesture. 2nd point: The wrists are brought in to cross upon the
breast, right over left, fingertips touching the collarbone. 3rd point:
The arms are lowered to form the gesture Pronatio. 4th point: The arms
are returned to crossing upon the breast, but left over right. 5th point:
The arms are opened to a gentle curve just below the horizontal, extending
out from the body, the hands follow the curve and are slightly cupped inwards.
This gesture is accompanied by the intonation of
the following Latin phrases at each of its points: 1. Ave lux sanctissima,
2. Sol vivens, 3. Custos mundi, 4. In corde te foveo,
5. Membris circumamictis gloria tua. The meaning of the words is
"Hail, most holy light / Living sun / Guardian of the world / In my heart
I hold thee / My limbs being girt about with thy glory." The Arista is
used at the end of the Setting of the Wards of Adamant, instead of the
Calyx (as in the normal SWP), as a gratulatio. The gesture itself seems
to be a stripped down version of the 3rd Formula
of the Clavis Rei Primae.
"Arista" is Latin for "ear of wheat," and may also
be from aristoV, which is a Greek superlative
of agaqoV, i.e. "best."
Wand Posture. The right arm is raised such that
the upper arm is almost horizontal and the forearm is vertical to it, forming
a sort of right angle. The palm faces forward.
A footnote on p. 23 of Mysteria Magica (3 vol. ed.)
states that the Ave is employed as a salutation to the East, the place
of Light, whenever any Companion has cause to pass the station of the East
and is not engaged in ritual activity. The Ave may also be effectively
employed while performing the Morning and Evening Solar Adorations.
Wand Posture. 1st Point: Both hands are raised to
the forehead to frame the brow in a triangle formed by the thumbs, index
and middle fingers all touching. The palms face outward. The ring fingers
and little fingers are parallel to the others. 2nd Point: The hands are
flung forward and slightly upward, fingers spreading apart, elbows straightening,
palms still facing out.
Cervus is used in the Praesidia of the Setting
of the Wards of Power. Concerning the gesture a footnote in Paper III
of Mysteria Magica says, "The Gesture by its nature causes diffusion,
but does not lessen banishing force within a small area. Magical practice
has established that Cervus is fully efficacious to a distance of approximately
thirty feet from the operator, and thus in a working area sixty feet in
diameter. Beyond this range the full astral reality of its power begins
to diminish. The fortification of the circle by the method of the cervus
is only possible because the projected force Is diffused thereby a concentrated
projection of force would, inevitably, pierce the barrier. The circle alone
will contain forces, but will provide no adequate defense."
The word "cervus" has two different, yet
applicable meanings. The first is "palisade," or a barrier composed of
seperate pales or posts. The second meaning is "stag" or "deer." At the
second point of the Cervus, the fingers of the hands are spread apart and
thus the resemblence to a stag's antlers, as well as the "posts" of the
palisade.
Wand Posture. The arms are raised forwards such
that the upper arms are approximately horizontal and the forearms raised
to about 45 degrees above the horizontal. The palms face forward. The posture
may then be suitably altered--so long as symmetry is maintained--so that
the palms may more easily direct energy to an object (e.g. projecting upon
a materium on the Bomos). The projection of energy being complete, the
posture is dismissed by the crossing of the wrists upon the chest, left
over right, fingertips touching the collar bone.
The Orante gesture is used almost exclusively in
the Orante Formula, which is a development of the 2nd
Formula of the Clavis Rei Primae that is suitable for magical projection
(cf. alchemical projection) upon an appropriate materium.
The word "orante" is a Latin participle meaning
"speaking," from the verb "oro."
Wand Posture. The forearms are extended downward
and slightly forward from the body while the upper arms remain at the sides.
The hands are held horizontally and the closed fingertips point forward.
A footnote on p. 23 of Mysteria Magica states "The
Gesture Pronatio is independently used (according to context) in
invoking chthonic forces, or to link the magical purpose with an intended
offering."
"Pronatio" seems to come from the Latin verb "prono,"
or "to bend forward."
Wand Posture. The arms are to curve upwars such
that the body resembles the Greek letter Y.
The palms face up.
This gesture is used to symbolize the interaction
of Spirit with Matter, as the Psi symbol indicates.
Examples of its use can be found in the three-fold
deosil circumambulation known as Orthrochoros, which represents the presence
of the Triune Light, and also in the Arista Plena (3rd form Clavis Rei
Primae) and the simpler gesture Arista.
Wand Posture. The arms are raised to the height
of the shoulders, fully extended such that they are parallel to the ground
so that the whole body resembles the cross-like Greek letter T.
Palms may be either turned up or down, depending on the situation.
For instance, the palms are upturned in the Calyx
to signify that one is ready to become a receptacle for the Divine Light,
and they are turned down in the Invocatio of the Setting of the Wards of
Power because the Archontes are being summoned to guard the circle.
The Planetary Gestures
1st point, "the Wand.": Wand Posture.
2nd point, "Medean step.": Left foot steps back, trunk turns
to left comfortably. At the same time, arms are raised slightly at sides,
palms turned up.
3rd point, "Calling Luna.": Arms are raised in a graceful, flowing
movement until fingers meet overhead, elbows and wrist slightly bent to
curve the arms. Then arms are lowered, still curved to about shoulder height,
then raised, without haste, overhead as before.
4th point, "Taurus.": The elbows are bent decisively to bring
the hands down to form the Bull Sign at brow as follows: the two fists
are clenched, palm towards brow the outer edges of the hands touching.
The two thumbs, slightly crooked are extended to point outwards and upwards
at the sides.
5th point, "The Wand.": Wand Posture.
6th point, "Active Repose.": With fingers extended, arms are
crossed on beast, right arm outside.
7th point, "Lunar Pronatio.": Upper arms remaining close to
the body the forearms are extended downwards and slightly forward. The
hands are horizontal, palms downward, closed fingertips pointing forwards
and thumbs extended as in "Taurus".
8th point, "the Wand.": Wand Posture.
Kryphios (the Concealed) --- Mercury
1st point, "the Wand.": Wand Posture.
2nd point, "Priest of Babylon.": Forearms are held horizontally
so that hands are palm to palm in front of the solar plexus right hand
palm down over left hand palm up. The fingers of both hands are closed,
each hand enfolding the fingers of the other The thumbs he closely alongside
the forefingers.
3rd point, "Herald.": Right foot is advanced with knee flexed.
At the same time, right arm is raised forward to horizontal, left arm raised
backwards to horizontal. Left heel is raised, body inclines forward in
straight line with left leg.
4th point, "the Hidden One.": Both hands are raised simultaneously
to draw the hood swiftly over the face. Then, head is bowed, forearms are
crossed in front of head, left arm on outside, palms forward.
5th point, "the Wand.": Wand Posture. (hood
still covering face).
6th point, "the Revealed.": Both hands simultaneously throw
back hood.
1st point, "the Wand.": Wand Posture.
2nd point, "Denial.": Right palm is placed on left shoulder.
Then, right arm, with palm now turned out sweeps vigorously around in a
semicircle, upwards and over to rest extended horizontally from right shoulder
palm forward.
3rd point, "I aspire.": Left hand is raised cupped, overhead
with slightly flexed elbow to allow the cupped palm to take a horizontal
position. The eyes follow this action of the left hand.
4th point, "Active Repose.": Hands crossed, right over left,
on breast.
5th point, "Dedication.": The left hand is lowered in front
of the body, palm down and horizontal, while the right hand signs the Sigillum
Tau on the brow.
6th point, "Passive Repose." Hands placed on breast left over
right.
7th point, "Victory.": In one simultaneous movement, the arms
are raised in the Psi position ,the head is thrown back, and the right
foot is advanced to stamp once.
8th point, "the Wand.": Wand Posture.
1st point, "the Wand.": Wand Posture.
2nd point, "Calathus.": The forearms are raised vertically in
front of the chest with their undersides touching each other from elbow
to wrist Maintaining this position, the two hands are bent backwards until
their palms are as nearly horizontal a, possible, the fingers bent to suggest
a shallow cup shape.
3rd point, "Flamma.": From this formulation, the arms are raised
with an outward curving motion, until the hands curve inwards allowing
fingers and thumbs to formulate a fire triangle at maximum height overhead.
4th point, "Catinus.": The arms form the Psi posture. At the
same time, the right foot steps back and the body inclines backwards, head
thrown back.
5th point, "Ignis.": Right foot is restored to normal standing
position, body restored to vertical, while the hands again formulate the
fire triangle but this time on breast.
6th point, "the Holy.": Left foot is advanced, body bends forward,
middle fingers touch floor in front of feet.
7th point, "the Wand.": Wand Posture.
1st point, "the Wand.": Wand Posture.
2nd point, "Gradivus.": In one movement step forward and left
with left foot; then, in one movement step forward and right with right
foot. (Feet are thus firmly planted astride).
3rd point, "Quintus.": In one movement both hands are brought
up to shoulder and hung out sideways, so that arms are horizontal and the
five digits of each hand are spread wide.
4th point, "Paratus.": Upper torso is twisted to left.
5th point, "Anhur.": Both fists being clenched meanwhile, upper
torso is twisted violently to the right: as the torso is twisted to the
right, the left fist is moved to the breast and the right fist is raised,
right upper arm horizontally out sideways from shoulder, forearm raised
vertically, as if about to hurl a spear.
6th point, "the Wand.": Wand Posture.
Heliodromos (Path of the Sun) --- Jupiter
1st point, "the Wand.": Wand Posture.
2nd point, "the Thunderer.": Left arm is raiseded upwards and
back to "hurling" position, fingers curved as if grasping a thunderbolt;
at the same time right arm is raised straight forward, horizontally from
shoulder, left foot stepping back.
3rd point, "Chesed.": Right arm is drawn back from above position,
to rest palm on left shoulder. At the same time, left foot is brought forward
to standing position beside right foot The left arm is lowered to rest
horizontally across the front of the body.
4th point, "Kaph.": Elbows to sides, both forearms am raised
forward horizontally. The left hand turned palm upwards, cupped: the right
hand turned palm downwards, hat with fingers straight.
5th point, "the Wand.": Wand Posture.
1st point, "the Wand.": Wand Posture.
2nd point, "Orante.": Make the Orante gesture.
3rd point, "Attis.": In one flowing movement, the left arm swings
downwards to the left side and somewhat away from the body, palm upwards,
balancing the right arm which is raised aloft and maintained with the cupped
palm upwards, fingers to the back. The head meeanwhile is raised to look
towards the right hand, and the right foot is advanced, toes resting lightly
on the ground and heel raised, completing the balance of the entire figure.
This changes smoothly to:
4th point, "Cybele.": Right arm is brought down and forward
to about horizontal. The palm is upwards, forefinger and middle finger
are extended together, the third and little finger are closed but not tightly.
Left palm is turned downwards, the arm raised to the horizontal but not
rigid. The head turns to look along the left arm. At the same time, the
right foot is brought back beside the left.
5th point, "Uplifting the World.": Head forward, both hands
sweep around slowly in incurving crescent movements to reach a symmetrical
position, arms raised forward, elbows bent and pointing down, palms upwards
and held on high, as if raising (for instance) a sheaf of wheat or similar
offering which lies across the forearms.
6th point, "the Wand.": Wand Posture.