This guided journey through the planetary temples is designed to 1)equip one with the tools and benefits which the planetary powers can confer, 2) integrate these powers into the transcendant magickal Self.
I originally designed this as a guided meditation for a group, but of course, it may be done by a single person, if one were to read it onto tape and play it back. It is derived from an alchemical diagram found in Julius Evola's "The Hermetic Tradition". The following quote explains the "spiritual itinerary". "A spiral extends from Saturn [representing our terrestrial condition] in an enveloping movement passing through all the other centers until it arrives at the...solar principle...the Soul [then] passes back up through the planetary spheres divesting itself of whatever pertains to them." Set out seven candles representing the planets in a straight line in the following order: black (Saturn), deep blue (Jupiter), red (Mars), gold (Sun), green (Venus), violet or orange (Mercury), white (Moon). With a piece of thin ribbon or string, or some other method, connect them within a spiral which starts from Saturn, progresses first to the Moon, then to Jupiter, Mercury, Mars, Venus, and finally the Sun. Have another candle lit nearby to represent yourself and with which to light the others.
Take a few deep breaths, relax and center.
In your mind's eye you see before you a great door, metallic, but dull and almost black in color. Pushing it open, you find it almost too heavy to budge, but through great effort you pass through and on the other side of the door find yourself in a dark room with deep shadows and greyish black walls. You feel heavy but strong in the dense atmosphere, aware of the solidity of your bones and the substantiality of your flesh. As your eyes become accustomed to the dark light you observe a low altar in the center of the chamber. You approach and find that the altar is made of ebony carved with figures too ancient to have meaning to a human mind. Upon it are piles of bones and amulets made of lead and all manner of tiny clocks and pocket watches in lead cases. As you stand before the altar experience fully the density and ownder of your physical of your body - the timeless spirit manifesting in time. (pause). You choose from the altar a token of the power of Saturn and place it in your pocket. In thanks, light the candle on the altar. Heavily you turn and notice on the other side of the room a dark passageway, which you enter, and follow with measured steps, as it's featureless walls curve away into the blackness.
After a moment or two you percieve a pale light in the hallway, and at that moment notice also that your once heavy steps are gliding smoothly now. Before you is a another door, metallic, of bright silver, decorated with spirals, circles and crescents. As you touch it it yields easily to you, but you feel as if your flesh yields too, as you press forward. The room on the other side of the door is a soft and yet brilliant white. Your awareness of your body and physical senses is diminished as images and emotions flood into you. The atmosphere flows around your being as if you were under water. With the eyes of your soul you observe a shining altar in the center of the room. You approach and find that the altar is made of mother of pearl, adorned with images from the dreams of many ages. Upon it is a magnificent vessel of purest silver, filled with water that is clear and living. As you stand before the altar memories, emotions and dreams crowd into your being. Allow yourself to be filled with that memory, feeling or image which is sweetest and most empowering to you. (pause). You dip your hands into the cold water and bring it to your face, receiving it as a token of the gifts of the Moon. In thanks, light the candle on the altar. Filled now, you glide to the other side of the room and out the passageway which you find there. Lightly you follow it as it curves, until the pale glow behind you fades. As you proceed, you notice a blue quality to the light in the hallway, and also that it seems to be getting smaller, or rather, perhaps, you feel larger!
Before you is yet another door of metal, this time made of tin and impressed with the symbols of past and future kings. At your touch it opens and you pass through. On the other side you find a royal hall with walls of deep blue velvet. You feel imbued with a warm sense of wisdom and benevolence. The splendor of this hall is the glory of power well used. There is no altar here, rather, at the end of the hall, stands a magnificent throne, carved from a massive piece of lapis lazuli. It sparkles as if filled with stars. About the throne are strewn fragrant and healing herbs of all types. As you stand before the throne, you realize that you are capable of solving all problems with justice and kindness. You bask in this experience of wisdom and magnanimity feeling enlarged and pleased. (pause). As you choose a sprig of one of the herbs as a token of Jupiter's blessing, you inhale the scent of it. In thanks, light the candle on the altar. Place the herb in your pocket, turn and walk with noble bearing to the passageway on other side of the room, where you proceed down the curving hallway once more. Soon the bluish light behind you fades and in the dark you feel agitated.
Ahead a shimmering light piques your curiousity and you hurry forward. The door before you seems somehow liquid, and dissolves in shinging ripples around your hand as you attempt to push it open. Impatient, you leap through. You find yourself in a space with walls that seem to move, slanting and forming strange geometric arrangements. The light here is disconcerting, violet, orange, or many-colored at once and constantly moving. And you are fascinated. As you focus your attention on the center of the room, you see an altar of cinnabar, with flahing patterns running in circuits over the surface. Upon it are precious manuscripts, ancient books, scrolls of papyrus, multicolored diskettes and clay tablets with strange figures carved into them. You stand before the altar of Mercury where all ideas live - the intelligences of all time, the words and wit of ages. And you are filled with the presence of the word which is at the core of you, that idea which drives your soul, your personal logos. (pause). You take from the altar and slip in your pocket that word written in a script only you can read, as a symbol of this knowledge. In thanks, light the candle on the altar. As you think about the exiting hallway, you are there. And with the speed of thought you are down the hall as quickly as you think it. Until you smell something like burning flesh and find that you must muster your courage to proceed into the red light ahead.
The door before you is black iron mottled heavily with reddish rust. It creaks as you push it and it takes all your strength and determination to open it. The room you enter has the color of blood and the sound of echoing drums. You feel your heart beating as you experience the heat and power of the life force of Mars. Glowing in the middle of the room is an altar of red stone surrounded by fire, and carved with images of wild animals, warriors and amazons which move over the surface with living power. Upon the altar are all manner ofpowerful tools and frightful weapons of iron and steel. As you contemplate the sight before you you feel your blood, strength and will rising to conquer your fear. Be filled with the power of courage and will (pause). In thanks, light the candle on the altar. You take the tool or weapon of your choice from the altar, and magickally make fit it in your pocket. With clear intent you march to the passageway, and with purposeful steps you proceed around it's ever tightening curve leaving the red glow of Mars' temple behind. As soon as you notice the greenish light in the hallway ahead, you are immediately attracted to it.
By the time you reach the great copper door nothing matters but that you be able to enter the room on the other side. The door opens as you reach for it and you enter a chamber of cool and verdant green. You are surrounded by beautiful flowers of pink and white and rose whose scents excite draw you to them. Soft leaved ferns and climbing vines create an aura of luxury and pleasure. You turn looking for the altar. A magnificent block of malachite, deep green with swirls of black, dominates your perceptions. Upon it are piled gems in settings that throb with life, cloaks and dresses and coats of the costliest and most flattering appearance, personal adornments of the kind you've always wanted but never had. Your desire for these things is outweighed only by the experience of your own attractiveness and charm as you imagine that all you desire is truly yours. (pause). Take that which you most want, wear it as a constant reminder that Venus bestows this power to attract on all who pass through her temple. In thanks, light the candle on the altar. With perfect grace you leave through the now familiar passage. It turns tightly now, and in only a few steps a golden light becomes almost blinding.
The light issuing from the golden door is almost powerful enough to physically repel you. But you have the faced other challenges today and when you touch the door, it swings wide, admitting you to a circular temple with a great airy dome above. You are dazzled by the intensity of the light emanating from the altar of the sun, a glowing sphere floating above the floor surrounded by a whirling storm of winged lions. The light passes through you, and as it does, you experience a sense of yourself as a transcendant being, beyond time and place, a body of eternal light, accessing all planes of being simultaneously. (pause). There is no choosing of tokens from this altar, for now, you have obtained the ALL. In thanks, light a candle near the altar, and meditate on your spiral journey. When you are done, observe that the candles's light is pale beside the glory of the altar of the sun, and extinguish it. Leave the temple of the Sun and close the door behind you.
Walk down the curving hallway to the temple of Venus, return what you chose to the altar, as you are beyond the need for tokens. Meditate for a moment on the gifts and power of Venus (pause) and extinguish the candle you left there. Close the door as you leave. Walk down the curving hallway to the temple of Mars, return what you chose to the altar, as you are beyond the need for tokens. Meditate for a moment on the gifts and power of Mars (pause) and extinguish the candle you left there. Close the door as you leave. Walk down the curving hallway to the temple of Mercury, return what you chose to the altar, as you are beyond the need for tokens. Meditate for a moment on the gifts and power of Mercury (pause) and extinguish the candle you left there. Close the door as you leave. Walk down the curving hallway to the temple of Jupiter, return the sprig of herb to the foot of the throne, as you are beyond the need for tokens. Meditate for a moment on the gifts and power of Jupiter (pause) and extinguish the candle you left there. Close the door as you leave. Walk down the curving hallway to the temple of the Moon, bow in front of the altar, meditating for a moment on the gifts and power of the Moon (pause). Extinguish the candle you left there. Close the door as you leave. Walk down the curving hallway to the temple of Saturn, return what you chose to the altar, as you are beyond the need for tokens. Meditate for a moment on the gifts and power of Saturn (pause) and extinguish the candle you left there. Close the door as you leave, and walk away without looking back. Continue to walk for a moment. Then look down and notice that your feet are among the stars. Turn and look behind you, see the earth from a great distance, hanging in the sky. See the door to Saturn's temple in the side of the earth, and your candle burning beside it. Vow to keep the experience you have just had alive within you, and when ready, extinguish the final candle, giving thanks.