Angelic Ritual of

Conjuration
Below is a ritual of conjuration based on Johannes Trithemius Art of Drawing Spirits into
Crystals and the Clavicula Solomonis, both available at the Esoteric Archives. Ive modernized
the language and format and style, but the ritual itself is simple: a series of prayers that
consecrates the tools and area, a conjuration of the spirit into the area, a chat with the spirit,
and then the leave to depart. Its a simple ritual and can be adapted or abbreviated in many
ways. Trithemius supposedly developed the ritual as an implementation of the guidelines and
suggestions present in Cornelius Agrippas Fourth Book of Occult Philosophy.

The following tools are required for the ritual. An example conjuration altar is shown below
using my own materia and setup.

A type of summoning circle cum triangle called the Table of Practice

Wand

Crystal ball or other scrying medium, such as a bowl of water or mirror

A pentacle to be worn around the neck called a Lamen, with the spirits name and seal, drawn or
printed on virgin parchment (clean paper) in an appropriate planetary day and hour (if
applicable)

Incense appropriate to the spirit (if applicable)

White candle, consecrated or blessed if possible

A notebook and pen are helpful for having with you as well to record the ritual or take notes
from the spirit, and a candle snuffer is nice if you dont want to blow out the candle. Trithemius
also suggests a physical magic circle with names of God and the seal of the spirit, a Solomonic
ring to be worn with the lamen, and a partner to conjure the spirit with as a kind of magical
spotter or medium. All these are not strictly necessary, however. The parts that are necessary
for the ritual, though, do not need to be distinct pieces of equipment; a chalk circle written with
the appropriate names and symbols will suffice for the Table of Practice, as can the extended
index finger for the Wand.

Since Trithemius (the attributed author of the ritual) was a Christian abbot, and since most magic
performed in medieval and Renaissance Europe was propagated and performed by Christian
priests, the original ritual is replete with invocations to Jesus Christ. Although not a Christian,
Ive used the same prayers to good success, but I can understand why it might be distasteful in
the mouths of others. Ive altered the prayers based on the Keys of Solomon, Heptameron, and
other sources to make the ritual less Christian and more Qabbalistic or Jewish, but either works.
I havent experimented with Gnostic or pagan godnames, but I dont see what would prevent
one from working with those in this ritual.

Perform the ritual in a day and hour appropriate to the spirit youre conjuring or under
otherwise favorable conditions. Purify yourself before the ritual as you find necessary
(ablutions, fasting, meditation, contemplation, prayer etc.). Lay out the tools on a clean and
cleansed area, positioning the candle to the east, or another direction as necessary.

Light the candle.

I conjure you, o creature of fire, by him who created all things both in heaven and earth and in
the sea and in every other place whatsoever, that you cast away every phantasm from you, so
that no hurt whatsoever shall be done in any thing. Bless, o Lord, this creature of fire, and
sanctify it that it may be blessed, and that it may burn for your honor and glory, so neither the
enemy nor any false imagination may enter into it. Amen.1

If you have one, put on the ring; pray as you will for guidance, protection, and wisdom. Put on
the lamen, charging or intoning the names written on it if desired. Begin the ritual of
conjuration.

O God, author of all good things, I beseech you, strengthen me, your poor servant, that I may
stand fast without fear through this dealing and work. Enlighten me in my dark understanding, o
Lord, so that my spiritual eye may be opened to see and know your angelic spirits descending
here into this crystal2.

Lay your hand on the crystal.

O inanimate creature of God, be sanctified, consecrated, and blessed, so that no evil phantasy
may appear in you, and that all spirits within you speak intelligibly, truly, and without the least
ambiguity. Amen.

And as I stand before you, o Lord, grant me the power of scrying those celestial spirits or
intelligences that may appear in this crystal, and enable me, by your wisdom and mercy, to use
whatever good gifts you may be pleased to bestow on me to the honor of your holy name. You,
who live and reign, world without end. Amen.

Wear the lamen around your neck. Take up the wand and trace a circle around your area of
conjuration.

In the name of the thrice-holy Tetragrammaton Elohim Tzabaoth, I consecrate this piece of
ground for my defense, so that no evil spirit may have power to break these bounds prescribed
here. Amen.

Light the incense. Point the wand at the incense.

I conjure you, o creature of fire, by him who created all things both in heaven and earth and in
the sea and in every other place whatever, that you cast away every phantasm from you, so that
no hurt whatsoever shall be done in any thing. Bless, o Lord, this creature of fire, and sanctify it
that it may be blessed, and that it may fill up this place with the power and virtue of its odors, so
neither the enemy nor any false imagination may enter into here. Amen.

Hold the wand out towards the crystal. Now we get to the actual conjuration.

In the name of the blessed Tetragrammaton3, I call upon you, you strong and mighty angel
Michael4, if it be the divine will of the most holy God that you take the shape that best shows
your celestial5 nature, and appear to me visibly here in this crystal, and answer my demands in
as far as I shall not transgress the bounds of divine mercy by requesting unlawful knowledge,
and that you graciously show me what things are most profitable for me to know and do, to the
glory and honor of his divine majesty, who lives and reigns, world without end. Amen.

Lord, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Make clean my heart within me, and take not
your holy spirit from me.

O Lord, by your name I have called Michael; suffer him to administer unto me, and that all things
may work together for your honor and glory, and that to you be ascribed all might, majesty, and
dominion. Amen.

O Lord, I thank you for the hearing of my prayer, and I thank you for having permitted your spirit
to appear unto me. Amen.

At this point, the spirit should be present. Ask whether theres someone present, and if so, ask
the spirit its name and verify that it is the spirit you conjured in a way you see appropriate. If it
answers correctly and truly, go ahead and have a polite chat with it. The spirit may give you
inklings of thought or images in your mind or actual eyes, you may hear whispers, or you may
just sense words forming out of nowhere; its up to the spirit and how theyre used to
communicating, or how adept you are at sensing these things. You can lay down the wand if you
want at this point and enjoy the conversation, unless you feel a need to be commanding or
intimidating.

If a spirit is present and is not the one you called, its up to you how to handle the situation. You
can see if its a representative of the one you called (common in the case of angels or powerful
spirits with legions behind them), you can try to talk with it anyway and see what its up to or
what it wanted, or just dismiss it outright using whatever names of power or curses you find
handy at the moment. After dismissing the spirit, if you still want to try and conjure the original
spirit desired, start the conjuration over from In the name of the blessed and
Tetragrammaton above.
If no spirit is present or sensible to you, you might want to move onto the dismissal below or try
to continue the ritual. Try the conjuration above again until you obtain success, or continue on
and ask for different ways for the spirit to be seen or heard by you, or just continue on as normal
with your requests.

When youre done, take up the wand again and give the spirit leave to depart.

O great and mighty spirit Michael, I thank you for your presence. You have come as I have called,
and aided me as I have asked. As you came in peace and in the name of the ever-blessed and
righteous Tetragrammaton, so in this same name you may depart, and return to me when I call
you in his name to whom every knee bows down. Farewell, Michael; let peace be between us,
here and everywhere, now and always, by and for the sake of the Almighty. Amen.

To God the father, the eternal spirit, the fountain of light, the creator of all creation, and the
sustainer of all life be all honor and glory, world without end. Amen.

Snuff the candle and take off the lamen and ring with any concluding prayers or rituals you find
necessary. The ritual is finished.

This and the consecration of the incense seem to be taken verbatim from the Heptameron.

Or whatever scrying medium you prefer to use (mirror, bowl of water, etc.).

Or whatever the name is of the spirit youre summoning.

Or whatever names of God or deities you feel appropriate for the ritual, e.g. Elohim Tzabaoth to
conjure a spirit from the sephirah of Hod, or Adonai ha Aretz or Adonai Melech for a sublunar
spirit; Ia or the expanded Aeiou work as well.

Or whatever nature the spirit has (elemental, natural, chthonic, etc.).