Greetings, students. Today, we step into the elegant world of the Ars Almadel, a profound grimoire often overshadowed by its more dramatic cousins in the Lemegeton. The Almadel is unique; it teaches us to connect with a specific order of solar angels, not for material gain or coercion, but for the purest form of wisdom and understanding. These are benevolent intelligences, ready to impart knowledge to those who approach them with sincerity and proper preparation.
At the core of the Ars Almadel lies the Almadel itself: a wax tablet, specifically prepared, which serves as a consecrated gateway. This tablet is typically a square, about six inches in diameter and an inch thick, made of pure white beeswax. Upon its surface, specific designs are inscribed, forming a magical 'window' to the celestial realms. The precision in its creation, from the wax's purity to the lines’ exactitude, is paramount, for it grounds the ethereal in the tangible, acting as a focal point for your intent.
The Almadel organizes its angelic choirs into four distinct 'Altitudes,' or Chora, each corresponding to a cardinal direction, a season, and a color of angelic light. Think of these Altitudes as four great gateways in the sky, each leading to a specific celestial domain. Communicating with these angels is not about commanding, but about petitioning with reverence, seeking their divine instruction in arts, sciences, and hidden truths.
Let us delve into the First Altitude. This Chora is associated with the spring season and opens a gate in the East. Its angels, such as Alimiel, Gabriel, and Barachiel, appear in a glorious yellow-gold light. When inviting these angels, you would use yellow or gold-colored candles, illuminating their presence and guiding your intention. Their wisdom often pertains to beginnings, growth, and the foundational elements of knowledge, much like the burgeoning life of spring itself.
As the year progresses into summer, we turn to the Second Altitude, found in the South. Here, the angels manifest in splendid red hues, embodying passion, energy, and deeper understanding. Red candles would be your companions here. These beings, while providing divine clarity, often guide us toward knowledge that requires courage and perseverance to comprehend and integrate, aligning with the potent energies of the summer sun.
Autumn brings us to the Third Altitude, located in the West. Its angels appear in serene green light, symbolizing harmony, healing, and perhaps the culmination of efforts, much like the harvest. For interaction with this choir, green candles are chosen. Their teachings often focus on balance, the interconnectedness of all things, and the wisdom gleaned from experience and reflection.
Finally, winter ushers in the Fourth Altitude, situated in the North. Here, the angels radiate with a brilliant, pure white light, representing purity, profound insights, and the distilled essence of wisdom. White candles are essential for this Chora. These angels offer the deepest, most concentrated forms of divine insight, often bringing clarity to complex matters and revealing truths that transcend ordinary perception.
In each operation, after meticulously preparing the Almadel tablet, you would place four colored candles at its corners, matching the Altitude you intend to invoke. As you light them, powdered mastic is often burned to purify the space and to attune the atmosphere, creating a clean vessel for angelic presence. Following this, frankincense is offered – its smoke rising as an offering and a vehicle for your petition, carrying your intentions upward to these luminous beings. It is a dialogue, a sacred exchange, where your earnest desire for wisdom meets their readiness to impart it.
The wisdom these solar angels bestow is never trivial. It is meant to enlighten the mind, uplift the spirit, and deepen one's understanding of the universe's mechanics and divine order. They offer illumination, not spells, true insight, not fleeting power. The patience and precision required in the Almadel's practice are themselves part of the lesson, shaping the practitioner into a more receptive and worthy student of these celestial teachers. For those who feel drawn to this pure form of angelic communion and wish to deepen their study, exploring The Ars Almadel: Mastering the Angelic Choirs offers a comprehensive pathway.