The Rousing of the Citadels
of the Ordo Lux Kethri

Introduction

The Rousing of the Citadels (RC) is a practical technique used within the Ordo Lux Kethri¹. It was born out of the Golden Dawn’s “Middle Pillar Exercise”² and has since evolved to a point where it diverges greatly from it and is now considerably more complex.

Its first use within the O.L.K. was as an induction to a series of guided path and sphere workings³. The RC form was very simple and, like the “Middle Pillar Exercise”, employed the sephiroth and paths of the Middle Pillar only. It differed however, in that its focus was Daath and the enveloping of one’s being in the Lavender Aethyr-Light for purposes of skrying.

The RC practice expanded as experience indicated and now incorporates all the sephiroth and paths. Within the O.L.K., it has come to replace the “Middle Pillar Exercise” and “Qabbalistic Cross”⁴ entirely. RC is an integral part of nearly every aspect of current O.L.K. technique.

Philosophy

To best understand the RC practice, we must begin with some of the basic assumptions, or philosophy, which form its foundations.

The symbol structure employed is traditional, non-christianized, Qabbalah⁵. These symbols consist of several levels: anthropomorphic deity-forms and beings; color; sound; ideas or thought-forms; and most importantly, the emotional responses that these images evoke within the Qabbalist. The RC focuses these energies within the bodies (mental, astral and physical) of the practitioner and integrates them through the medium of these very same emotional responses.

Following the philosophy of “as above, so below; as below, so above” (of the Macrocosm’s reflection within the microcosm, etc.), these energies within the practitioner’s microcosm resonate with those of the Macrocosm, allowing genuine contact and interaction between the two. These experiences of contact and the relationships they engender, cause the experience to continually deepen with practice.

It is through genuine experiences with the intelligences contacted by these powerful symbols that their energies are fully integrated into the practitioner’s bodies, eventually becoming readily accessible faculties and powers. Furthermore, the practice of RC itself, employs and thereby strengthens, all of the subtle senses.

Complete Text

Practice

There are four levels of practice indicated in the complete text of the RC:

One can approach the practice from two basic directions. The RC’s pure form requires that the practitioner begins with skrying and experiencing the sephiroth (sphere working), and then moves to the practice of Level (A). The practitioner commences path working (from Tau to Aleph in sequential order) and as each path is experienced, it is then integrated into the RC practice at Level (B). As the practitioner progresses through the levels of initiation beyond Adept Minor, the “Hidden” paths are then integrated through the Level (C) practice. At every Level, the practitioner employs the energy manipulation of Level (D).

The RC’s secondary form does not require preliminary experience with the paths (but still does of the sephiroth) prior to integrating them in the practice. So, in the secondary form, once one is comfortable with Level (A), Level (B) is initiated and all the paths are extended, regardless of one’s level of experience with them. This practice subtly introduces the energies of the various paths to the practitioner, allowing easier access to them once they are seriously approached. To be truly effective, this secondary form of practice requires a concurrent commitment to pursuing path working. Without it, the benefit will be minimal, because the whole point of the RC is to integrate experiences into the subtle, and not-so-subtle bodies, resulting in actual faculties and powers.

Practicing the pure form in conjunction with the secondary form, is recommended. Both produce different and complimentary results.

Applications

As mentioned, the primary focus of the RC is the integration of the energies of the Tree of Life into the bodies of the practitioner. The RC can accomplish this very clearly and powerfully on the mental and astral levels. On the physical level, the RC reaches down in its effectiveness only to the density of perceivable energy. It can, however, lead to the attainment of certain levels of consciousness whereby more concrete physical manifestations are made possible (such as the assumption of a god/dess-form).

The RC practice can also be utilized for several auxiliary purposes. The list of the ways the RC has been used in the O.L.K. is quite long, so here follow just a few examples.

HEXAGRAM RITUAL:

The O.L.K.’s version of the Hexagram “Ritual” (actually it’s used primarily as a form of circle casting for rituals involving sphere and/or path working) involves an oration during which the magician ignites the sephiroth within her/his bodies. The RC is always performed prior to a Hexagram casting. This has the effect of deepening the experience and the reality of the casting, as well as assuring that the Highest possible influences are brought into play at the outset.

Further, the energy manipulation of Level (D) can be altered to highlight the path or sphere the magician is to work during the ritual. This is accomplished by causing the dynamic energy of the Kethric Light to come to rest in one’s body in the chosen sphere or path. The energy is then held in place until the end of the ritual, when it is finally released.

The RC can also be used to travel quickly from one level to another within a complex, multi-sphere/path ritual.

RITUAL EVOCATION:

The RC is employed in a similar manner in an evocation of a planetary or sephirotic being. It brings the benefit of its focused invocation of the Kethric Light, setting the stage for a positive experience, one based upon honesty, respect and clarity.

The RC is less valuable in the evocation of the beings of the elements.

PATH & SPHERE WORKING / THE 231 GATES OF INITIATION:

In the O.L.K., traditional sphere and path working has been replaced by what the Order terms “The 231 Gates of Initiation”. This system sees the sephiroth as the levels of initiation, while the 38 paths of the “Complete” array⁸ along with their regular geometries of triangles, quadrangles, pentangles, and hexangles, constitute the Gates of initiation.

Within this context, path and sphere working techniques are employed in a clearly defined sequence corresponding to one’s level of initiation. Practice of the RC in its pure form, is an integral part of this process.

As an induction to general path and sphere working, the RC is performed in its secondary form, with all the sephiroth and paths, and the energy is used to highlight the chosen path/sphere. The symbolic doorway is then established and skryed.

ASSUMPTION OF GOD/DESS-FORM:

The O.L.K. sees this as the highest form of magic. It’s approach is based upon the work of Franz Bardon⁹, so it stresses a connection with a god/dess-form that far surpasses mere assumption of a symbolic image. RC has proved very valuable in the early stages of the long assumption process. It allows quick access to any chosen level, but more importantly, it incorporates the energies of the chosen god/dess-form’s level into one’s bodies. This encourages and quickens the journey to the aspirant’s genuine merging with a god/dess-form.

ENERGY MANIPULATION & PROJECTION:

The RC can generate great amounts of energy and therefore, serves well as an induction to works involving the direct projection of energy.

INITIATION:

Many of the initiation rites of the O.L.K. involve a projection of energy, directed by the initiator, into the candidate’s bodies . In the First Degree Rite of Initiation, for example, the initiator performs the RC, while at the same time igniting the spheres and paths within the candidate’s bodies through a projection of energy.

In the absence of a teacher, the RC, when combined with the “231 Gates” and its implied path and sphere workings, can serve as a system of self-initiation.