The Rose Cross Ritual

The Ritual of the Rose Cross is a magical practice that serves as a refuge, protecting against psychic attacks and interference from unwanted spirits and entities. It is used to cleanse, purify, and safeguard an area, creating a deep sense of profound peace. This ritual is an important practice in the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn tradition.

Why Perform this Ritual?

Magickal work can make a person’s aura ‘light up’, drawing attention to the practitioner. It can be attractive to entities and individuals with similar skills. However, not all energies or entities are benign, which is why this ritual is a fundamental part of a magician’s toolkit to protect themselves, their spaces, and others from unwanted visitors or to prevent unwanted energy from infiltrating their aura or causal body.

The Ritual of the Rose Cross creates a barrier or shield around the aura, making it impenetrable. It also cleanses and purifies the surrounding space. The ritual also aids in meditation and helps practitioners raise their consciousness to a higher level, making it easier to solve problems or assist others in need. It can be performed physically or through visualisation by a skilled magician.

Note: I recommend physically performing the ritual a few times to familiarise yourself with its energies, particularly drawing the circles and crosses, the protective barrier, and the god forms. Once you have walked through the ritual a few times, it becomes easier to visualise and practice doing it astrally.

You Will Need

Incense sticks, preferably Rose-scented, but Frankincense, Sage or Palo Santo are great. If you do not have any of these, any incense sticks will do.
Something to determine the compass directions (Most mobile phones have a compass built in if you are unsure).
Sage, Frankincense, or Hyssop to cleanse the space before starting. (Not mandatory, but nice to have)

Note: The key part of this ritual is your intent to protect and visualise the protective bubble around the space, your friends and loved ones. The incense stick simply helps you to draw the circles, crosses and protective bubble as well as the incense provides some extra protection and calm in the space. Some traditions suggest utilising a magical dagger to perform the drawing of these symbols and shield, however this is optional and at minimum you can trace the symbols with your finger.

Performing the Ritual

The room should be clear of any obstructions. The only implement needed will be a stick of incense or the Rose Cross Wand.

1. Establishing the Protective Barrier

Drawing the Rose Cross

Light a stick of incense or pick up your wand/dagger. Go to the room’s Southeast (SE) corner and face outward.
Trace a large cross and circle there (a Rose Cross) as per the illustration in Figure 1 with the incense (or equivalent).
As you draw the cross, visualise it in a bright golden light. The circle should be imagined as flaming red.

4. As you draw the circle section, vibrate the name “YEHESHUAH.” (Yey-hesh-yoo-ah). On the last syllable, thrust the incense stick through the centre of the circled (rose) cross, activating it.

Drawing the Horizontal Protective Barrier

Keeping the tip of the implement at the level of the centre of the first rose cross, move in a clockwise direction (you are INVOKING this protective barrier) tracing a line between the centre of the first rose cross to then stop at the centre of the next rose cross you will draw in the Southwest (SW) corner of the room. (See Figure 2 for the illustration of the final layout of the barrier.) Visualise this line in bright white.
Draw the second rose cross as before and thrust the implement through the centre of the figure, intoning, “YEHESHUAH.”
As before, visualise yourself tracing the line in brilliant white between the centre of the rose cross to then stop at the centre of the next rose cross in the next corner of the room.
Move to the Northwest (NW) and repeat this process.
Move to the Northeast (NE) and repeat.
Complete your circle by returning to the Southeast (SE) corner, bringing the point of the implement back to the central point of the first cross, so you should visualise yourself closing and sealing the circle and imagine all 4 rose crosses burning brightly in the corners of the room, interconnected by a brilliant white circle. Ensure you trace the final line back to join with your first rose cross so that there is no break in this shield.

Drawing the Vertical Protective Barrier

Figure 2 - Illustration of layout of the finalised protective barrier made up of interconnected rose crosses — Figure 2 – Illustration of layout of the finalised protective barrier made up of interconnected rose crosses

Holding your implement up high, move diagonally across the room toward the Northwest (NW), but stop in the center of the temple space.
Touch the tip of the implement to the center of the rose cross already formulated there and then trace a line from there to above your head in the centre of the room. Visualise again this line being traced in bright white light. Draw a rose cross as before in the centre above your head. Intone “YEHESHUAH” as before.
Trace a line from the centre of the rose cross above you to then connect with the center of the Southeast (SE) rose cross on the other side of the room to reconnect it with the horizontal barrier.
Next trace a line from centre of the Southeast (SE) rose cross to the centre directly below you. Draw another rose cross here as before and intone “YEHESHUAH” as before.
Trace the line from the center of this rose cross below you to then bring up and terminate in the centre of the rosecross in the Northwest (NW) corner to form another completed circle. Intone “YEHESHUAH” as before.
You should now be able to visualise two additonsal rose crosses above and below you in addition to the rose crosses and circle already formed, connected to the NW and SE rosecrosses by another protective barrier of white light.
Next, to strengthen this protective barrier, point your implement at the centre of the southeast (SE) rosecross, move deosil (clockwise) with arm outstretched to the Southwest (SW) corner, tracing the white light from the centre of the rosecross in the southeast (SE) to the rosecross in the Southwest (SW).
Walk diagonally toward the NE tracing the line of white light, stopping in the middle of the room to connect it to the center of the rose cross above your head.
Then draw your arm down to draw a line connecting the NE rose cross with the rose cross below your feet. finish this up by tracing a line from the rose cross below you to terminate in the centre of the rose cross in the Southwest (SW). and completing another circle, so that it looks like Figure 2 below. Intone “YEHESHUAH” as before.
Move clockwise and link up with all the crosses by touching their centers with your implement (NW, NE and SE). No need to intone as you do so.
Upon returning to the SE, the site of the first cross, touch the center and pause. Then retrace the golden cross over the original, only much larger. Vibrate,” YEHESHUAH.”
Trace a larger red circle over the original and intone, “YEHOVASHAH.” (yee-oh-vah-sha)
Walk deosil (clockwise) to the center of the room. Observe all six Rose Crosses surrounding you, all connected by ribbons of light.

2. Perform the Analysis of the Keyword

Figure 4 – The Sign of the Mourning of Isis

Figure 5 – The Sign of Typhon and Apophis

Return to the centre of your protected space and stand with arms outstretched in the form of a cross as per Figure 3. Face East.
Vibrate these words with feeling,”I.N.R.I” (Pronounce each letter) “YOD NUN RESH YOD” (Yode-noon-raysh-yode). (If you like, as the names of the Hebrew letters are pronounced, trace them in the air before you, from right to left, but it’s not required)
Return to the stance of the Tau Cross saying, “The Sign of Osiris Slain.” (Figure 3)
Put your right arm straight up in the air from the shoulder. The left arm should be straight out from the left shoulder so that the position of the two arms together resemble the letter L. Hands are to be open flat with palms forward. Turn and bow your head so that you are looking over your left arm to form the Sign of the Mourning of Isis. (As per Figure 4)
Say, “L, the Sign of the Mourning of Isis.”
Raise the arms overhead to an angle of 60 degrees so that they form the letter V. Keep the arms straight and the palms facing forward to form the Sign of Typhon and Apophis. (As per Figure 5)
Throw the head back and say, “V, the Sign of Typhon and Apophis.”
Cross the arms on the chest to form the letter X to form the Sign of Osirus Risen. (As per Figure 6)
Bow your head and say, “X, the Sign of Osiris Risen.”
Say slowly and powerfully, “L.V.X.” (Spell out each letter separately and give the appropriate sign of each as you do so.)
Say, “LUX!” (lucks).
Remain in the Sign of Osiris Slain (Figure 3) and say, “The Light…”
Hold arms out in the Tau Cross position for a moment then recross them again on the chest as per Figure 6) “..of the Cross.”
Then say: “Virgo – Isis – Mighty Mother, Scorpio – Apophis – Destroyer, Sol – Osiris – Slain and Risen. Isis – Apophis – Osiris.”
Gradually raise the arms and lift the head upwards.
Vibrate strongly, “I.A.O.” (eee- ye-oh)
End the Analysis by vibrating the four Enochian Angels of the Tablet of Union names to equilibrate the Light: “EXARP. (Ecks-Ar-Pay) HCOMA (Hay-Com-Aii) NANTA (Nan-Ta-Ah). BITOM (Bee-Toe-Em)”
Aspire to the Light and draw it down over your head to your feet.
Say: “Let the Divine Light Descend.”
Finish by performing the sign of silence. (One finger to lips)

The Rose Cross

Complimentary Crystals

Whilst not a requirement within this ritual, the following types of crystal can enhance and complement the ritual and continue to protect the space once complete. As will all magickal items, please ensure you always cleanse your crystals and charge them with intention prior to use within a space and put them in place before starting to draw the protective barriers.

Tourmaline, Rose Quartz, Obsidian, Smoky Quartz.