Calling the Four Corners/Quarters (Watchtowers)

[Celtaur]

I'm currently reading a book that is giving me perspective on calling the four Watchtowers. From my understanding these are protective in their purpose when doing magical work, and relate historically to the watchtowers that people would use to look out for possibly approaching energies.

Generally the Watchtowers are large, spiritual beings, and this book spoke of 4 Archangels.

My question is, what other beings, energy forces, are related to the four watchtowers?

Also, when we are working with Protective energy... does this have to do with fear? Are we to fear that some forces are working against us when we are working with magick? And does having this fear, or the need to protect, actually draw the energy of fear/ or something we need to be protected from, like a self fulfilling prophecy?

[Echo]

The Watchtowers are associated with the whole gamut of symbolism from the archangelic forces, via the elemental kings, the elementals and the mundane symbols appropriate to the Quarters. If you haven't come across it, I recommend Israel Regardie's 'Ceremonial Magic' on the subject, which gives his version of the full Ritual for Opening by Watchtower.

Sensible precautions against intrusion rather than fear, I think, is the order of the day. That there are darker forces out there is a given, I think, for anyone using magic. That they are likely to attack or intrude, less so. They will generally not waste the effort unless against someone who they percieve as a threat.

The Tree of Life has its obverse side, the Qlippoth, which can be thought of as the unbalanced force that exists as the reverse of the equilibrium of the Sephiroth. To seal a working space against intrusion, deliberate or unintentional, in the same way as one locks the bathroom door in a house full of strangers, is premptive rather than reactive. Fear engenders fear, which is a negative emotion, but precaution frees the mind of worrying possibilities.

[WillowRainMaker]

Here is a list of some correspondences that I use or have used

Element - East - Air South - Fire West - Water North - Earth

Animal
East - Eagle
South - Snake or Lizard
West - Otter or Dolphin
North - Buffalo or Bear

Quality
East - intellect, thought,imagination
South - passion, determination
West - emotion,love
north - patience,strength

The Angels
North – Ariel
East – Raphael
South – Michael
West Gabriel

I connect best with the animal correspondences.
I have heard it said that you can use any image that you are comfortable with as long as it is compatible with the element.

The protection factor isn't about fear it's about keeping unwanted or negative things out.

[Celtaur]

The protection factor isn't about fear it's about keeping unwanted or negative things out.

I think it's becoming clearer... It's a way of ensuring that the energies that you intend to focus on and work with are not influenced by anything, known, or unknown, that could have any effects that would be undesirable.

Now, I do wonder if working with the four Watchtowers if they can be advised to allow any positive influences to enter... that would be possibly any unknown energies that you are aware of, but would welcome if you were to be made aware of them as part of assisting the magical work. I would suspect the energies associated with the watchtowers, being of a higher awareness, would be aware of what energies would be of assistance to the practitioners work.

I think at this time I would probably feel more associated to the energy of the Archangels, but more in abstract forms. I think it would be because I have an affinity to the classic tarot's such as the Waite and I have a mental affinity to the associations used in magical practices of Golden Dawn, Thelema, relations. That being said though, I do have an affinity to archetypal energies of Gods and Goddesses of many pantheons, so would be interested in learning how these would associate. For me I don't feel as much an affinity to the animal correspondences, as is common with my attributes to astrology - I think more on planetary, archetypal energies more than the animal associations to the zodiac.

What of the Square... Does the square (made by the four watchtowers) have a specific purpose, of its own magical energy and correspondence that is used as part of the work? What are the magical attributes of a square specifically.

[Echo]

I have heard it said that you can use any image that you are comfortable with as long as it is compatible with the element.

Quite right, as they are, after all, only symbols of an element of the divine. The Archangels, Kings, elementals... all are embbodiments of an aspect of divine force, and all reflect a different level of operation of that same force.

however to say that they are 'only symbols' is to oversimplify their nature, as they are also ensouled beings of another order than humanity. There is a paradox here, but once grasped, it renders working with 'impossible' concepts quite simple.

To use the god-forms, which gives the ritual a different 'flavour' and resonance, simply choose the god which are compatible with the nature of the forces of each quarter. For example:

Raphael: Jove, Zeus, Lugh, Osiris
Michael: Helios, Apollo, Gwydion, Anubis
Gabriel: Diana, Artemis, Arianrhod, Isis
Uriel: Hecate, Persephone,Rhiannon, Nephtys

As you are working with the Light, it doesn't really matter which set of symbols you use, the interchange readily, and you can work happily with any or all of them.. sticking to one pantheon at a time, of course!

[MoonDance]

I worked with Dragons and these are the Elemental "watchtower" verson of the Dragons.

Sairys, of the Eastern plain, watches over the Dragons of the wind and breezes, color- the purest of yellows. Sairys represents the positiveness of the Element of Air.

Fafnir, of the Southern Plain, watches over the Dragons of fire and sunbeams, color- purest of reds. Fafnir represents the Element of Fire

Naelyan, of the Western plain, watches over the Dragons of rivers, seas, springs, and ponds. Color- purest of blues. Naelyan represents the Element of Water.

Grael, of the Northern plain, watches over the Dragons of mountains, minerals, moonbeams, and stones. Color- purest of dark greens. Grael represents the Element of Earth.

I hope this is what you were talking about

Blessings
Nyla

[Briony Haldane]

East- spring, morning
South- summer, noon
West- fall, afternoon
North-winter, evening

four sides to a square
four sections to a cross
four rivers to Paradise
four watches of the day and night
four quarters of the moon
four limbs of the Damba Tree of Life
four celestial guardians
four limbs to a human body
four gospels
four evangelists
four horsemen of the apocalypse
four is the number of time, Hermes
four worlds of the Kabbalah
Brahma's four faces

The energy of the Four Watchtowers was obviously intended to be protective, that much is evidenced by another name given to them, the Guardians. This may be due in part to the fact that not all who call the Quarters have necessarily worked in the Light.

I think that asking for protection is important as there are many low astral energies that one is possibly open and vulnerable to during ceremony. Why leave yourself open when the Archangels/Guardians/Totems of the highest and best energy are available to you?

Another reason to call the Watchtowers is to create sacred space in which to work, honouring the contributions of all.

The square is a powerful shape, symbolizing stability and the security that stability brings. It is seen as the first "solid" number. It is a metaphor for the Earth plane, the 3D world and is known as relating to the laying of foundations. All of these elements would be desirable in any working.

[brifae]

The 4 knights of the tarot ex of clubs in the south, or swords in the east, like knights round ritual, in ceremonial magick they would have officers of each quarter
Some use the 4 royal stars or a more astrological variant than elemental, the watchers are said to be a variety of things as was mentioned depending on your perspective, and there is a spiritual hierarchy.
a square is a nonmagickal solid representing earth, the circle of art also represents earth and malkuth with the 4 directions within or the cube if the swastika of the unformed elements are solidified into the physical realm, square with cross of matter from expanded jupiter. the circle represents spirit as well as above so below as well as corners produce stagnant energy like the corners of the room and the circle also represent the solar sphere and magician as point within the circle as the solar astrological symbol and navel solar plexus energy center as a direct connection to higher self personality and inner godself within and without from the greater spiritual "sun or star" sphere of kether.