Monastery Experiments: Invoking the Western Cross of Light

A recent experiment with the Monastery of the Seven Rays materials:

After working through the Northern Cross of Light, I worked though the stations of
the Western Cross. This working was the culmination of a month’s work with the
individual Syzygy. Following the format from the previous experiments I constructed
a simple ritual. Creating a physical Western Cross of Light with the appropriate cards
from the Carrefour Tarot, homemade FA cards, and The Guede image from Spirit
Windows.
As before I down in the center of the cross and vibrated the name of the
corresponding Syzygy, starting in the North and working my way around to the East.
While vibrating the name I visualized the FA. When I got to the center I recited the
following prayer:
“Holy Spirits of the Western Cross of Light,
I call to the master of the Western Cross, whose name is Ogou-Fer!
Hail Ogou-Fer, please open the cross of light and bade me enter.”

I then sat in silent meditation using the visual cues of the cards and FA to open a
channel

The Western cross: This cross embodies Force. The duality of the western cross is in
creation and destruction. Two Loas represent this duality. Ogou-Fer embodies
destruction of the useless and the old, specifically consciousness. He clears away the
mental space to allow for divine love of Erzuile to shine forth.
Initiate of the Western Cross: Diving into the waters, transmutation of vulgar desire
into spiritual joy. Facing the storm of internal conflcit. Clearing out the old. Pluto ray.
Nigredo. The base state. Fresh start. Digging a well to discover the spiritual waters
within.

Here the magician learns to relate to reality. Having accepted death through work
with the Northern Cross, the initiate now must deal with internal and external
alchemical changes. Learning to work through these conflicts will require exploration
and resolution of emotion and desire. Through this magical effort one can access high
forms of consciousness

Servant of the Western Cross: The ocean as a metaphor for consciousness. The waters
of magic. The shadow self. Mastering self. The Waters of magic.
The narrative of conflict continues. Here the Servant must enter into the dark cave of
their own unconsciousness. The magician’s goal in swimming the depths of
consciousness is to develop a state of alert awareness of their own selves. One must
observe everything that goes on internally and master their demons. This will require
the force of Ogou-Fer and the love of Erzuile.

Priest of the Western cross: Spiritual armor, knowledge as protection. Alchemical

changes. The passion and force of Ogou-Fer. The love and fire of Eruzile. Finding the
light of gnosis in the depths. Breaking the chains of matter. Wrathful deities, shadows.
The shaman’s journey.

The magician, having dove deep into his conscious/unconscious has found his
demons and mastered them. While he has not destroyed them, being parts of himself,
he has mastered them. The force of Ogou-Fer has given him the strength and the love
(gnosis) of Eruzile has girded him in the armor of wisdom.
Hierophant of the Western cross: The resolution of knowledge and gnosis. Earthly
knowledge and divine wisdom co-existing. Symbols as language and keys. The Fire of
water. Illumination, Liberation, the Christ principle. The synthesis of being and
existence. Seal of Love between Ogou Fer and Erzulie. Transmutation of gross elements
into pure elements.

Here the conflict experienced in the Western Cross is resolved. The magician has
traversed his shadow and tamed his demons. The sword Of Ogou-Fer stands a symbol
of this victory. Symbols are an important part of this Cross. They are vital in
expressing the spatial and temporal laws of being and their relationship with Divine
Principle to fundamentally corporeal beings. The use of these symbols is the
mechanism for mankind evolution. Here is the last gross element. Beyond the dark
waters lie the pure worlds of air and fire.

Post ritual I sat down and felt a soothing calm wash over me. The ordeal was over.
Working through the Western Cross was an arduous journey. This month has seen a
great deal of internal conflicts. Old ways of thinking were stubborn, despite the
cleansing nature of the Pluto Ray , they hung in there. Frankly this has been the most
challenging and demanding experiment to date. Facing and synthesizing what I
encountered in the shadow was intense and very intimate. This work also had direct
consequences on my mundane life, as at times, I was visibly uncomfortable and
agitated by the process. Somewhere in the post ritual reflection I heard voices of iron
and velvet urging me to rise up and take flight.

Furthermore, sleep was a very rare resource. Through out working with the Voudon
Gnostic current and the Monastery of the Seven Rays I’ve lacked for sleep on
occasion. This process, however, featured insomnia on a different level. Thankfully it
was a productive insomnia as I was able to spend the extra hours in meditation and
research. In fact nearly every moment was spent working through the dark waters of
this cross. It was an exhausting mental effort.

When I did sleep I frequently dreamed of entities that I had worked with in the past.
The Morrigan made frequent appearances in my dreams, bringing with her the vivid
death imagery that is her specialty. Communion and offerings were made and it feels
as if our long standing relationship has been restored. However her more negative
influences on me are mitigated. I’m less somber and angry. I feel she represented the
force I needed to push down into the depths.

Other dreams featured various trickster spirits appearing in the forms of animals.
Coyotes, spiders, serpents, and crows were frequent visitors in dreams and in physical
encounters. I took the time to makes offerings and fetishes to honor their assistance.
Much like the Fool I had jumped in over my head and danced dangerously close to the
abyss. If it wasn’t for the guidance and protection they offered I fear for what might
have occurred. These breakers of barriers, psychopomps, and liberators were essential
reminding this fool that he is a magician.