Elemental Alchemy Ritual V.2
Neopagan rituals often evolve with practice. By the time that Baphomet: History, Ritual & Magic of the World’s Most Famous Occult Icon was published I was already practicing a significantly different version of the Elemental Alchemy Ritual featured at the end of the book.[1]
The most significant change I made to the ritual was to add words of power. I chose Latin as my magical language, in part to match the solve et coagula formula already present in the original script. If you pronounce AER as “AY-er,” the Latin names of the five elements all have two syllables, adding harmony and symmetry to the ritual. SOLVE has two syllables and COAGULA has four; the three-syllable name BAPHOMET serves as the mediator between them. There are eight words of power total, the number of letters in the name BAPHOMET.
Unlike the original ritual, version 2 uses a wand to direct energy. You may substitute a finger or other magical implement for the wand as you see fit, or you can use your body as the magical implement as indicated in the original ritual.
Note: My Baphomet altar is located against the north wall of my den, so I use that direction rather than east for orientation. The terms sunwise and moonwise refer to the direction those celestial bodies move in your hemisphere.
1. Opening
Stand in the center of the circle, facing north. Hold wand in neutral position (facing up in front of chest). Say,” I call upon the element of Earth to aid me in purifying and consecrating this circle.” Point the wand to the north and visualize a green sphere of Earth energy in the quarter. Vibrate TERRA to activate and strengthen the Earth energy within the sphere. Draw a circle sunwise with the wand, drawing the green Earth energy around the perimeter of the circle. Say, “The element of Earth is part of this circle.” Bring wand back up to neutral position.
Face east. Say,” I call upon the element of Air to aid me in purifying and consecrating this circle.” Point the wand to the east and visualize a yellow sphere of Air energy in the quarter. Vibrate AER to activate and strengthen the Air energy within the sphere. Draw a circle sunwise with the wand, drawing the yellow Air energy around the perimeter of the circle. Say, “The element of Air is part of this circle.” Bring wand to neutral position.
Face south. Say,” I call upon the element of Fire to aid me in purifying and consecrating this circle.” Point the wand to the south and visualize a red sphere of Fire energy in the quarter. Vibrate IGNIS to activate and strengthen the Fire energy within the sphere. Draw a circle sunwise with the wand, drawing the red Fire energy around the perimeter of the circle. Say, “The element of Fire is part of this circle.” Bring wand to neutral position.
Face west. Say,” I call upon the element of Water to aid me in purifying and consecrating this circle.” Point the wand to the West and visualize a blue sphere of Water energy in the quarter. Vibrate AQUA to activate and strengthen the Water energy within the sphere. Draw a circle sunwise with the wand, drawing the blue Water energy around the perimeter of the circle. Say, “The element of Water is part of this circle.” Bring wand to neutral position.
Face north. Say, “I call upon the element of Spirit to aid me in purifying and consecrating this circle.” Visualize a white sphere of Spirit energy around you. Hold the wand vertically with both hands and vibrate AZOTH. Say, “The element of Spirit is part of this circle.”
Point wand upward and vibrate SOLVE.
Point wand downward and vibrate COAGULA.
Assume the attitude of Baphomet with wand raised in left hand and vibrate BAPHOMET. Say, “In the name of Baphomet, the Spirit of the Earth, the Outsider, the Transmuter, this circle of the elements is now complete.”
2. Work with the elements as you see fit.
3. Closing
Say, “I call upon the threefold element of Spirit to aid me in releasing the elemental energies of this circle.” Point the wand north. Draw three circles moonwise, once for the Sun, once for the Moon, and once for the Earth. Visualize the elements dispersing in the biosphere as you move. Say, “This circle is closed.” Ground out.
[1] Snuffin, Baphomet, 225-227.