The Star Ruby

The Star Ruby is a ritual in Thelemic practice, devised by Aleister Crowley as a banishing ritual and an alternative to the well-known Lesser Banishing Ritual of the Pentagram (LBRP), which is rooted in the Golden Dawn tradition. The Star Ruby can be found in Crowley's “The Book of Lies” and is also known as Liber XXV or Liber 25. The ritual is designed to establish a protective and purified space, while also aligning the practitioner with the divine energies associated with Thelema.

The Star Ruby incorporates elements of both Greek and Thelemic symbolism, as well as references to the central tenets of Thelema, such as the core dictum “Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the Law.” The ritual consists of several stages, including:

The Qabalistic Cross: Similar to the LBRP, the Star Ruby begins with the Qabalistic Cross, a series of gestures and visualisations that serve to align the practitioner with the divine energies and balance the elemental forces within their being.

The Invocation of the Pentagrams: The practitioner traces pentagrams in the air at each cardinal direction, invoking the divine names associated with the Thelemic pantheon, such as Therion and Babalon, rather than the traditional Archangels in the LBRP. This stage serves to banish any negative energies or influences and establish a protective barrier around the ritual space.

The Invocation of the Deities: In this stage, the practitioner calls upon various Thelemic deities, such as Nuit, Hadit, and Ra-Hoor-Khuit, to manifest their presence and protect the ritual space. The practitioner also utters a series of magical words and phrases, including “Apo Pantos Kakodaimonos” (meaning “Away, every evil spirit” in Greek), to further dispel any unwanted influences.

The Affirmation of the Law: The ritual concludes with the affirmation of the Law of Thelema, as the practitioner recites the phrases “There is no part of me that is not of the Gods” and “Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the Law.”

The Star Ruby ritual serves as an essential practice for Thelemites, both in its function as a banishing ritual and its role in aligning the practitioner with the core principles and divine energies of Thelema. By regularly performing the Star Ruby, individuals can strengthen their connection to the Thelemic current and maintain a purified and protected space for their spiritual practices.

Facing East, in the centre, draw deep deep deep thy breath closing thy mouth with thy right forefinger prest against thy lower lip. Then dashing down the hand with a great sweep back and out, expelling forcibly thy breath, cry ΑΠΟ, ΠΑΝΤΟΣ ΚΑΚΟΔΑΙΜΟΝΟΣ

With the same forefinger touch thy forehead, and say ΣΟΙ,

thy member, and say Ο ΦΑΛΛΗ, (The secret sense of these words is to be sought in the numeration thereof.)

thy right shoulder, and say ΙΣΞΥΡΟΣ,

thy left shoulder, and say ΕΥΞΑΡΙΣΤΟΣ;

then clasp thine hands, locking the fingers, and cry ΙΑΩ.

Advance to the East. Imagine strongly a Pentagram, aright, in thy forehead. Drawing the hands to the eyes, fling it forth, making the sign of Horus and roar ΘΕΡΙΟΝ.

Retire thine hand in the sign of Hoor-paar-Kraat.

Go round to the North and repeat; but say NUIT. Go round to the West and repeat; but whisper BABALON. Go round to the South and repeat; but bellow HADIT.

Completing the circle widdershins, retire to the centre and raise thy voice in the Paian, with these words, ΙΩ ΠΑΝ, with the signs of N.O.X.

Extend the arms in the form of a Tau and say low but clear:

ΠΡΟ ΜΟΥ ΙΥΓΓΕΣ

ΟΠΙΣΘΩ ΜΟΥ ΤΕΛΗΤΑΡΞΑΙ

ΕΠΙ ΔΕΞΙΑ ΣΥΝΟΧΕΣ

ΕΠΑΡΙΣΤΗΡΑ ΔΑΙΜΟΝΕΣ

ΦΛΕΓΕΙ ΓΑΡ ΠΕΡΙ ΜΟΥ Ο ΑΣΤΗΡ ΤΩΝ ΠΕΝΤΕ

ΚΑΙ ΕΝ ΤΗΙ ΣΤΗΛΗΙ 'Ο ΑΣΤΗΡ ΤΩΝ 'ΗΞ ΗΣΤΗΚΕ

Repeat the Cross Qabalistic, as above, and end as thou didst begin.

An alternative English version might take the following form:

Standing in the center, facing East, draw a deep breath. Close your mouth with your right forefinger pressed against the lower part of your nose. Then with a strong sweeping motion, push your hand downwards and outwards, exhaling forcefully and declaring “Away, every evil spirit!”

Touch your forehead with the same finger, saying “To thee,” touch your groin, saying “O Phallus,” touch your right shoulder, saying “the Strong,” touch your left shoulder, saying “the Immortal,” then clasp your hands, interlocking your fingers, and say “IAO”.

Advance to the East. Visualise a Pentagram, upright, in your forehead. Drawing your hands to your eyes, project it forwards, making the sign of Horus and declaring “Chaos”. Withdraw your hand in the sign of Silence.

Move round to the North and repeat, but say “the Mind”.

Move round to the West and repeat, but whisper “Nature”.

Move round to the South and repeat, but shout “Will”.

Completing the circle anticlockwise, return to the center, and raise your voice in the paean, with the words “Io Pan”, with the signs of NOX (Night).

Extend your arms in the form of a cross and say, quietly but clearly:

“Before me, the Children of the Night. Behind me, the Archangels. On my right hand, the Forces of Light. On my left hand, the Demonic Powers. Around me flame the pentagrams, And in the column stands the six-rayed star.”