Understanding the Great Invocation

T he “Great Invocation”, as it is called, was made available for our use in 1945, even as the Lord’s Prayer was, two thousand years ago. This great and potent mantram is especially keyed to the New Age and is used by countless men and women of goodwill in all parts of the world. It provides an essential means of service both to mankind and to the planet as a whole. It is said that no one can use this prayer for illumination and love without causing powerful changes in their attitudes, and that its widespread use could bring about changed conditions in world affairs overnight if used rightly with purpose and heartfelt intent.

All of us can use it, but like the Lord’s Prayer, or any other mantram, it requires understanding if it is to be used effectively. Let us reflect on it together and see if we can reach an understanding of its purpose and the underlying meaning of the phrases. It is as well to have a few moments of silent preparation before saying the Invocation, giving time to relax and draw in to a central point of stillness, forgetting all preoccupations and problems. It should be said slow enough to follow the words with heart, mind and will, at the same time feeling and knowing exactly what we are doing. Between each verse or stanza there should be a silent pause in order to realise the qualities and effects of the energies invoked
Let us start with the first stanza:*

“From the point of Light within the Mind of God,

Let light stream forth into the minds of men.

Let Light descend on Earth.”

* The traditional, or original text of the Great Invocation is given here. A new version with a more inclusive translation, in popular use today, is also available.

This first stanza is fairly simple and offers an opportunity for visualisation. We can endeavour to visualise a beam or ray of light, vivid and brilliant, pouring down from on high, into the minds of men, bringing illumination, enlightenment and understanding. We can feel this flowing through or entering into our personalities, for how else can light “descend on earth”? As this happens we may experience a sense of inner joy for this is the effect of light; it illumines, enlightens and releases the hold of the material world.

Let us now take the second stanza:

“From the point of Love within the Heart of God,

Let love stream forth into the hearts of men.

May Christ* return to Earth.”

*The point of Love is the World Teacher, it matters not by what name He is called, as in different faiths and traditions, such as The Christ, the Lord Maitreya, the Imam Mahdi and the Messiah.

The Heart of God is the Company of Heaven, the Kingdom of Souls, known to some as the Spiritual Hierarchy of Masters. This Kingdom, is that spoken of by Our Lord many times in the Scriptures and is symbolic of the very Heart Centre of God, which embodies the love aspect of our planetary Logos.

The Christ is the central Point within this great Centre of Love; we should, therefore, open our hearts to this energy of divine love as it pours out into the hearts of mankind. His return may be far closer already than we are aware of, pervading mankind’s thinking and “overshadowing” human life. It is in the realms of thought and of feeling that we must first prepare for a new revelation and invoke the Christ Spirit to enter more fully into our hearts and minds; so this phrase does not necessarily mean that we should expect Christ’s physical appearance yet. It depends upon man’s response to the inflowing energies of the New Age. When the necessary preparations have gone forward, it will mean the emergence of the whole Kingdom of Souls on Earth.

Let us continue with the third stanza:

“From the centre where the Will of God is known,

Let purpose guide the little wills of men —

The purpose which the Masters know and serve”.

We can effectively invoke the divine Will without knowing exactly what this is. As we say the words: “Let purpose guide the little wills of men”, we can imagine mankind working in conformity with the overall purpose, thus coming under the divine law of Love and Grace. The word “Masters” refers to the Great Ones, Hierarchy or Ascended Ones (as above), the Company of Angels or Community of Saints, who, throughout the ages, have served and sacrificed their human wills to the greater Will, in the service of God and mankind. It means attuning the personal will — “Thy Will be done Lord, not mine” — with the divine Will that we too “may be about Our Father’s business”.

Let us now take the fourth stanza:

“From the centre which we call the race of men

Let the Plan of Love and Light work out

And may it seal the door where evil dwells”.

In this concluding stanza, mankind, the “race of men”, relates to the Kingdom of Souls and we can “hold in the light” any situation needing help by viualising the three streams of energies invoked creating lines of lighted relationship amongst men and nations. We may not know what the divine Plan is but we can intuitively recognise that it exists and determine to play our part in its manifestation.

The phrase “seal the door where evil dwells” is very often misunderstood and queried. The explanation of this line lies in the fact that it is the responsibility of humanity to close that door, symbolically speaking, to the entire past and give it no entry into the present and future. Let us remember that there is no evil, except that which man allows.

The method is to be so focussed on the light and love and power, which is being invoked, that there is no room or opportunity for that door to remain open into the past, so that no evil can seep through bringing into the future that which must be left behind. When our lives are so filled with the joy of light and love, the door becomes automatically closed, and evil ceases to have power and the light, love and power of the Great Invocation holds sway.

We come now to the final line which should be said as an act of will – a clear cut voiced appeal and demand for restoration:

“Let Light and Love and Power restore the Plan on Earth.”

This line suggests that there has been conflict in the working out of the evolutionary Plan. When man reaches the stage of living by spiritual laws and principles, then the divine Plan will be “restored on Earth”. Let us know that this is so.

Finally it is good to set the seal by concluding with the affirmation:

“So let it be, and help us to play our part in co-operating for world renewal.
We give thanks for all that we have received”.

Let us now say the Great Invocation together, realising that we are centres of light and love, for both receiving and transmitting ttiese energies:

THE GREAT INVOCATION

From the point of Light within the Mind of God,
Let light stream forth into the minds of men.
Let Light descend on Earth.

PAUSE

From the point of Love with the Heart of God,
Let love stream forth into the hearts of men
May Christ* return to Earth.

PAUSE

From the centre where the Will of God is known,
Let purpose guide the little wills of men —
The purpose which the Masters know and serve.

PAUSE

From the centre which we call the race of men,
Let the Plan of Light and Love work out
And may it seal the door where evil dwells.

PAUSE

Let Light and Love and Power restore the Plan on Earth.

OM      OM      OM

“So let it be and help us to play our part.
We give thanks for all that we have received”.

* You may prefer to substitute with “The Coming One” or the Deity that you recognise as embodying the Heart of God.

Thank You