Planetary Invocations #1 – Venus

Today I shall begin the first in a series of Planetary invocations. These are all ones I use in my own magical practice.

Venus

One of my favourite sources for deriving traditional rituals is The Greek Magical Papyri in Translation, Including the Demotic Spells: Texts v. 1. Despite the name these are actually mostly from Ptolemaic Egypt and are thus more Graeco-Egyptian than Greek per se. The Greek Magical Papyri show an eclectic range of influences, including not just traditional Greek and Egyptian traditions but also Gnostic and even proto-Qabalistic ones as well.

Many of the spells are of the eye of newt and tongue of bat variety, but there are a number which are conducive to more theurgical types of working. One of these is the famous Bornless Ritual: another is the invocation I present below.

The following is an invocation to Venus – or more accurately, Aphrodite. I adapted it from a spell to invoke Aphrodite for divinatory purposes.

The invocation is in three parts: parts one and three – the basic invocation and the welcome to the Goddess – should always be used; part two may be used in addition to part one at the discretion of the magician. The words in bold type – the “barbarous names of evocation” – should be vibrated or chanted with a full breath – a very powerful effect is achieved when this is done properly.

I call upon You, the Mother and Mistress of Nymphs
ILAOCH OBRIE’LOUCH TLOR
Come in Holy Light and give Answer, showing Your Lovely Shape!

2
I call upon thee ILAOUCH who has begotten Himeros, the Lovely Horai and You Graces;
I also call upon the Zeus-sprung Physis of All Things,
Two-formed, indivisible, straight, foam-beautiful Aphrodite.
Reveal to me Your Lovely Light and Your Lovely Face, O Mistress ILAOUCH.

I conjure You, Giver of Fire, by ELGINAL, and by the Great Names:
      OBRIE’TYCH KERDYNOUCHILE’PSIN
      NIOU NAUNIN IOUTHOU THRIGX TATIOUTH GERTIATH
      GERGERIS GERGERIE’THEITHI.

I also ask You by the All Wonderful Names:
OISIA EI EI AO’E’Y IO’IAIAIO SO’THOU BERBROI AKTEROBORE GERIE’IE’OYA;

Bring Light and Your Lovely Face and the knowledge of Your Divine Self,
You shining with Fire, bearing Fire all around, stirring the Land from afar –
IO’ IO’ PHTHAIE’ THOUTHOUI PHAEPHI –
Do it!

3
Hail, Very Glorious Goddess, ILARA OUCH!