Introduction
Scrolling through forums a while ago, I stumbled on a discussion of whether LBRP makes you broke. One argument is its pentagrams of Earth associated with all things material, including financial success. Another — that many occultniks obsessing over it romanticize the idea of being a ‘noble brokie.’ Considering both, I decided to share my two cents and hopefully bring clarity.
The Short Answer and the Earth Element
The short answer is emphatically no. LBRP does not make you broke. Despite its pentagrams, the rite doesn’t work with Earth (specifically). This is what SRP and GRP do. LBRP’s pentagrams have a different meaning(s). Because Earth contains all elements, they represent general (unimportant) work. The same applies to LRH’s shapes (or Saturn hexagrams). These rites work like a filter for practical magick. They are preliminaries before the space attunement, the current’s/force’s invocation, and the charge of intent.
Thought Forms and Aspirations
Luck plays a role. Yet, any success starts with a goal. While habits (and systems) do the heavy lifting, goals are essential as map points (and beacons of light). A change requires reverse-engineering an outcome and breaking it down into smaller milestones. With or without Magick, this implies building thought forms in the face of goals (and aspirations). Without those, there are no systems and habits.
Personal Experience
When starting my practice, I followed the traditional method of emphasizing banishing (particularly LBRP). Lasting a while, this period didn’t get me broke. On the contrary, my goals and aspirations felt (unusually) distant while my drive — severely mitigated (and questionable). I also didn’t advance my practice by delaying (adopting) various techniques. This was uncommon as I (always) track my motivation and strive to accomplish something.
Doing Things Later
If ‘Love Under Will’ is to be entangled with reality, this felt like being disengaged with it. I had many things to aspire to. Yet, I was going to do so later. Like my life was put on ‘hold’ (or ‘pause’), there was a glass ceiling between me and my experiences/events. Reflecting on it, I feel the traditional approach aims to separate Magick from life — as if making one want to not conquer but retreat, which, as we know from Dion Fortune: ‘Is not the way of the healthy Westerner/modern person.’ Nor apparently sounds like that of the ‘Crowned and Conquering Child.’
Disconnect
This ended with adopting the Operant Model, which revealed LBRP’s primary purpose in my practice — disconnecting/detaching my aura from thought and spiritual forms whenever the situation calls for it.
Is it a few times a week? Definitely. Is it every day? Most likely, no. Examples include feeling overwhelmed. Waking up in the middle of the night with racing thoughts. Having dreams that, though not nightmares, seem (rather) disturbing. Or wanting to detach from previous workings.
Empirical Results
Besides game-changing, such an approach opened my eyes to the obvious. LBRP is general. It disconnects your aura from whatever is there, which may or may not be Earth-related. It may be a ‘bad’ or a ‘good’ thing. Done strategically, it is essential. Done excessively (and haphazardly), it can create a distance between one’s goals and life experiences. Modern studies show that reducing the time between not taking action and going about it makes the most difference in (actually) achieving a goal. This makes sense, considering the old saying that the already started is halfway done and usually completed.
Emptiness
Now, think of poverty in general. It’s the opposite of abundance — a form of emptiness, a vacuum, which excess banishings tend to create, especially for introverted people, who are many practitioners. Now, think of the typical person obsessing over LBRP. Are they some of the most driven and ambitious people you know? What kind of practical skills do they have? Do they take daily action to achieve their dreams, having reliable systems and routines? How about their health and physiques? And do they (actually) advance their practice beyond LBRP and the Middle Pillar, or mostly read? LBRP can’t make one broke. Yet one’s absence of a burning desire to conquer oneself and the situation definitely can.
New Agers
IMHO, something helping many ‘New Agers’ succeed is creating thought forms that they feed through mindfulness and visualization. This doesn’t do much unless you take action, yet it’s better than excessively clearing your mind from the things you want.
Passive and Active
Speaking of action. According to some schools of thought, LBRP aligns you with the divine’s passive aspects, whereas LIRP with its active ones. Since accomplishing anything demands action, you determine how beneficial extensive usage of the first is, especially for not-so-initiative people. Also, feel free to share your empirical results.
Emphasizing LBRP
On the contrary, someone who’s all over the place and permanently distracted can benefit from such periods. Then, LBRP can help remove themselves from their way and improve clarity. So one can do what they are about. However, I’d rather discuss this in a separate video in the context of the Fields of Operation. You are never just a micro or macrocosm, but always both.
Conclusion
LBRP doesn’t make people broke. Yet, abusing it can interfere with one’s determination and drive to set goals and take action, as well as their motivation to adopt helpful techniques. While rituals are no substitute for taking action, sustained for longer, the mention can have repercussions, diminishing one’s ability to realize their potential in life and magick, which should never be separated. But that’s just my opinion. Feel free to share yours.
Thank you for your time!
