May Light, Love, and Good Will
transform our world

The Great Invocation

One kind of meditational service is to say (or think) an invocation for the world. Divine Love and Light remain mostly as 'potential energies', as yet to be fully realized, until these Divine energies are realized and manifested. Invocation is important because it builds a channel for the Divine Powers to enter into the world, becoming realized and manifested. Invocation opens up a receptive pathway and draws down the Higher Potentials into our world of realization and manifestation.

'The Great Invocation' is an example of a world-service invocation. It was given by a Master Teacher and brought into world recognition through the disciple, AA Bailey. Students of arcane teachings worldwide use this invocation in meditations, individually and in groups. Its purpose is to help bring Light, Love, and Spiritual Power into the world.

It's called the Great Invocation because it's regarded as especially important for humanity. Of course though, any naming of a practice as 'Great' is from the viewpoint of its practitioners, and other spiritual groups and religions may well have their own especially significant 'great' invocations, prayers, mantras, or meditations. Yet there is no objective criteria for knowing how great and important any particular invocation is. Each person and group will have to decide that by their own intuition and experience. Nonetheless though, the 'Great Invocation' is a well-used world-service invocation; so it is definitely worthy of study and trying it out.

Let us now look at the Great Invocation, as an example of a world-service meditation. To understand its spiritual meaning and usefulness (what it is intending to do), the reader will need to meditate on each stanza, or even better, work with it for a few weeks, to get to know it better and to learn its effectiveness for invocational world-service.

It may be that this invocation, in the exact wording used, becomes your great invocation. Or it may be that some of the words or phrases do not feel right for your understanding, or do not perfectly resonate with your thinking and feeling. So if the exact words don't resonate well enough with you, or if some words have a confused or ambiguous meaning for you, then you could look at what words or phrases you'd prefer to change. You might look at how you would translate certain words into different words that have a clearer understanding for you. You could even change some of the syntax or overall structure.

The first step, though, is to give this Invocation a try, just the way it is. Read it, say it, meditate on it, and practice this as an example of a spiritual invocation for the good of the world. Later on, you could change some of the words or phrases, but for now, meditate on this in the words as given. See what insights come from this, and intuitively sense its purpose and effect.

The Great Invocation (from the books of AA Bailey)

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

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

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.

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.

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

followed by one or three sounds of OM

Let us now gleam some of the meaning in this 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.

The main idea here is about Light, with a prayer that Light descend on earth and into the minds of everyone. First of all, understand that Light is the power of consciousness and awakening. Light is the awakener and the consciousness awakened. Most of humanity needs awakening, needs to wake up. Because most people are really asleep, relatively speaking. Many are awake to a material world, and many watch television or participate in the social internet. But few are awake spiritually, being wakefully conscious of the spiritual reality and spiritual purpose. Thus, we pray that Light brings forth a much wider and expansive awakening consciousness. Light will also awaken us to an expansive ecological consciousness.

Second, understand that Light comes from God, for the Mind of God is full of Light, full of consciousness. The point of Light refers to the source of Light, coming from the Mind of God. Light is the very substance of Mind, and God is the source of mind. Divine Mind is already at work in the world and is the originator of creation. However, the spreading of Light in and throughout creation is an ongoing process. This is actually the Divine process through time, as Light unfolds from the Divine Source, unfolding into creation, into the world, and into the minds of all people.

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

God is the Source of Love. Our love ultimately comes from God. It is not just some biological accident that happened to be a useful survival adaptation. Love is in the very heart of God, so it is possible for this Love to be realized in our own heart. We ask of Love that it stream forth into the hearts of all people, or perhaps that it be realized in everyone’s heart - since Love is really already a divine potential of the heart and is already inherently within. But there is a sense in which Love streams into us, coming from God.

Love has two main aspects. One is an experience of being loved. We can experience being loved by others and also by God. Two, love is a way of expression, which is to be loving. Both of these are great blessings, because love transforms us, whether by being loved or by loving. And love transforms how we are in the world, because with love we now care about others and also care about the natural world and the planet’s ecosystem of life. And with love we want to take care of our world and those in it; we want to help and heal, not harm or plunder. So love changes the way we see things and how we are in relation to others and the world.

The Invocation also speaks about Christ returning to earth. This could be taken literally as a return of Jesus, or perhaps it refers to any great World Teacher, who might appear but not belong to any single religion or denomination. Many people hope for a great World Teacher or spiritual leader to appear. So this can be a prayer for such to happen. Yet, practically speaking, it is doubtful that any single Teacher or even Christ will be able to fix the world problems and lead everyone into a new heaven, because it is doubtful that enough people would ever listen to or follow such a person.

Esoterically, the meaning of Christ is the spiritually awakened one, knowing their intimate reflective relationship with God and being capable of expressing the Qualities of God on earth. So what this stanza is more essentially asking is for a return of Christ consciousness, not just in one person called Jesus or whoever, but in as many people as possible. Thus, one is asking that The Christ-Spiritual consciousness and love be realized in more and more people, which will transform the world and history. One person expressing Christ will not be enough. There has to be many, and many more.

Also, we do sometimes enter into a spiritual consciousness of Love and Light, or a higher consciousness enters into us. Yet this does not usually last. Many people have had spiritual experiences or made deep connections with Divine Love and Truth, but then the conditioned, reactive, and disintegrated mind tends to hold sway, such that the person is again disconnected from spiritual heart and mind. So, we often need a renewal or a reawakening of the spiritual. Thus, the meaning of ‘may Christ return to earth’ can also be a prayer for the Christ-Divine Love to again return to us. We are asking for the Christ Love to enter into the hearts of others, as well as into our own heart, for spiritual renewal and reawakening of the Divine Love consciousness.

It is important to understand that in saying or meditating on such an invocation for the world, a corresponding prayer is also effected in oneself. So this is about service and helping the whole world, but also renewing spiritual truth in oneself. For example, when asking that Divine Love descend into the hearts of all people, we can also be asking that Love descend into our own heart, or of Love being reawakened in our heart. As well, asking for Christ to return to earth can also be a prayer for Christ Love consciousness re-incarnate into our own being, or that we ourselves become Christ beings, blessed with Christos and radiant with Love. Remember that whatever we sincerely ask of the Divine for the benefit of others and ’the world’, has a corresponding psychological aspect which involves self-transformation.

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.

There is a centre where the Will of God is known. Certain esoteric teachings have a cosmic description of this, but it is more practically important to know about this in terms of our own experience. So for most practical uses, this is our higher, Spiritual Intuition. For in our Spiritual Intuition we can know God’s Will, the Divine Will, or God’s Intention, all of these meaning the same. As part of this, related conceptually, is Divine Purpose and Divine Plan, which mean almost about the same. In these teachings we will speak of more often of Purposes, in the plural, because it would be too difficult and simplistic to state just one purpose for existence and life, since there are many aspects to Divine Purpose.

One of the highest Purposes of life is realizing and manifesting Love and Light. Another is to realize and creatively manifest beauty. Higher aesthetic experience, and especially the experience of beauty, is a fundamental purpose of life. Beauty certainly ranks up with love. Also is the expression and manifestation of beauty. Though we are not speaking here of just visual beauty, but rather of a more general beauty encompassing all forms of expression. For example, speaking and writing can be beautiful, and so can actions be beautiful. So in the larger meaning of beauty, any expression or manifestation can be beautiful, if it is virtuous, dignified, and has love in it. Beauty also has love in it, and it also has a special kind of light in it, a sort of sparkling and radiant light. Beauty is also be related to harmony, because any harmonious expression or action is beautiful. Last to consider about beauty is that it is always enjoyed. Beauty always evokes a higher enjoyment in us. And if there is no joy, then it isn’t beauty. Thus, a few of the purposes of life are love, awakening, beauty, harmony, and enjoyment. May we experience all of these, and may we also help create them.

The Masters are those who do know and serve the Divine Purpose. They know the Will of God. They know what God Intends. They know this in their mental Intuition, in their higher-spiritual mind - which is connected to the Divine Mind and Intention. A Master’s mind and will are surrendered to the Divine, and thus a direct connection is established. Most of these Masters are ascended, or non-dependent, on the physical plane, while some are living physical Masters. The Masters are like divine intermediators or helper/guides for humanity. Jesus is one example of a Master; perhaps the greatest example. But anyone can be a Master; it just requires a highly developed discipline and mastery in oneself, and also an awakened intuitive knowing of the Divine Will and Purpose, so that this can be served. A Master is one who knowingly and intentionally serves the Divine Will and Purpose, and who does not become sidetracked or entranced by lower self desires, nor by social or media influences. A Master also expresses the highest divine Qualities and is able to spiritually heal or enlighten people.

So we pray, or make invocation, that the Divine Purpose guide the little wills of men. As well, we could also ask that the Masters guide the wills of men. And even more importantly we ask that the little wills of men be guided, because the Masters are already trying to guide, but the little wills of men need to allow this guidance. Let the children be guided by Masters and by God. We hope that children be guided, to awaken their spiritual soul and express the highest of their potentials. We pray that the children of this world be guided to eventually know what is really true, from what is merely advertised or portrayed as truth. And we ask that the children be guided by God’s Will, not just by parental wills or by the little wills of ego people, and that they eventually realize the Greater purposes of life. Now let us also realize that everyone of humanity are children. So may we all be guided and helped.

Next, realize that this stanza of the Great Invocation is also about our own self. The ‘little wills of men’ can just as easily refer to our own little will. So, if we say, ‘May purpose guide the little wills of men‘, we could also be asking that our own will be guided by higher purpose. Moreover, most of us have many wills in this one person: many wills and many desires. So we ask that the many little wills of our own being be guided by Divine Purpose. If all of our little wills can be guided by higher Purposes, then we will be a more integrated and united person, as the whole of us will be serving the same greater Purposes.

This is also about spiritual will. When our little wills are guided by spiritual purpose, then we are in alignment with the Spiritual Will of God. Because Will and Purpose are necessarily related. So when our will and action has spiritual purpose, we then have spiritual will. In other words, spiritual will has spiritual purpose. Or, will with spiritual purpose is spiritual will.

What is needed in ourselves and in humanity is spiritual will, which is different from ego self-centered will and also different from tribal and religiously fanatical will. Spiritual will is in alignment with and reflective of God’s Will or the Will-Purpose of the Universe. Thus, it is possible to attain, or at least come closer to, being a reflective representative of Divine Will, which is what mastery is heading towards. The Masters of Wisdom and Love also have Spiritual will, but we too can approach this. Then, as ‘representatives’ of Divine Will, our will can make wise choices for the benefit of love.

Our human will has to make specific decisions, in the midst of practical life, so these specific decisions can be in alignment with the more general Divine Will and Purpose. The Divine Will is general, rather than specific, but when we make decisions and actions from spiritual will in alignment with Divine Will, then the specific follows in alignment with the General. Lastly, remember that spiritual will is good-will; it is loving will and caring will, yet also intelligent will. Fundamentally, spiritual will is the power needed to express and manifest love and wisdom; for without will, love remains as a caring feeling and wisdom remains as good ideas.

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.

The Divine Plan is for a gradual unfoldment of Love and Light. This works outward into actualization from its inward potential. The Plan is for a gradual spiritual or holistic awakening, an expansion of consciousness, as well as a gradual awakening of love for others, and a gradually developed expression of love and beauty.

The Divine Plan is a kind of general blueprint of the Process. It is a kind of structure or way of how the Divine will manifest, but it is not some kind of set fixed detailed plan about how every moment or everything will turn out to be. It is all about the unfoldment of Light and Love into the world, which is always a work in progress. This process is gradual over time, because it takes time for us creatures to slowly develop our capacity for greater light, consciousness, awakening. This is all part of an understanding about spiritual evolution -- which is the evolution of life through the unfoldment of Spirit in life. The Plan is that Light and Love and also Spiritual Will shall gradually awaken, unfold, and manifest through people and in the world. Realize that Light, Love, and Will are not simply already fully present in the world, and nor does this automatically unfold. The unfoldment of Divine Light and spiritual consciousness requires a ready and developed receptacle, and it also requires some form of asking or invocation. Thus, this all takes time.

Love and Light are meant to successfully unfold in humanity, to be realized and expressed. Then, as this happens, evil gradually dissipates and finally disappears. Some people are not comfortable with the term, evil, probably because it has such a diabolical or even satanical connotation. Yet the fundamental simple meaning of evil is ignorance, or the lack of knowing, or lack of Light, and this lack of knowing or lack of real awakening is the cause of bad human actions. Evil also involves a lack of love. For any awfully bad or unethical action in the world will have a lack of love. A lack of love will produce poor (or relatively evil) actions; and we will find that any poor actions will have a lack of love. So, evil is really about a lack of light and love. And thus, if Light and Love truly work out in humanity, as coming from the Spiritual Source, then evil will disappear.

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

This is a kind of final summary of the whole invocation. Humanity, the world, needs Light, Love, and Power. These are three essential aspects of the Divine, Cosmic Plan. Light is the energy of consciousness, so an increase in Light will increase the consciousness of humanity, which will be an expansion of consciousness, with greater understanding included in this. Love brings caring and helpful intentions into the world, and love brings greater unity among everyone. Power, as referred to here, does not mean just any sort of power; it means spiritual power. It does not mean ego power, or the power to manipulate or dominate. It means the spiritual power that is possible to enter into humanity and into each of us. This is a power to love, not hate; to heal, not hurt; to unify, not divide; to awaken truth, not deceive; and to beautify life, not destroy beauty.

This Power also refers to spiritual will. True spiritual will, which is a potential within us, corresponds and represents the Divine, Universal Will. To help transform the world, or let us say, restore it to Dignity and Beauty, will require a whole lot of spiritual will in people, which is a will of Love and Light and service to the world and the future. Will is the human power that is necessary to restore the world and help bring spiritual energies of love into the world. So, spiritual will is necessary, a spiritual will in us and manifesting through us, which is God's way of bringing Divine Will into manifestation.

The choice of words

At some point, a question might arise as to whether it is necessary to use the exact words of an invocation, or if it's alright to replace some of the words with other words that are more preferred for the understanding of the meditator and for fulfilling the true purpose of the invocation?

There are many examples of prayers, invocations and mantras from many different traditions, and these are very often intended to heal or help the world. So it could be questioned, why use one and not another? Are some invocations, prayers, mantras, or guided meditations better than others, or worded better?

Many religions and sects believe that their own particular teachings or practices or set of rules are 'absolutely necessary' for spiritual progress, or that they are the absolute best and most efficacious, and they also believe it necessary to work with these in an absolutely set way, or that the invocations or meditations are said in one particular certain way. The belief that a certain 'set way' is necessary implies that, if one does not follow in this set way, then the intended aim will not be reached (the aim of divine service or for individual spiritual progress).

The attitude in radiance meditation is that any traditional prayer or invocation is perfectly fine. There is no criticism of any kind of prayer, invocation, or meditation. However, there is no one particular meditation, prayer or invocation that is absolutely necessary – neither for divine service, nor for individual spiritual progress. There are many ways to understand and serve the divine; there are many possible forms and many ways to express spiritual purpose. This is not to discount the value of any set-way or practice. A particular-set way, in any religion or practice, might well be of great value and be greatly efficacious. Our position is just that there is no particular way that is absolutely necessary nor absolutely important.

There are underlying principles that are absolutely important, but no particular forms that are absolutely important. And because of this understanding, there is no spiritual necessity to follow any particular religion, book of truth, dogma, guru or teaching. Any one of these may be very valuable, useful, and spiritual significant; but none of these are absolutely necessary. This is because other alternative ways and practices can also be just as valuable, useful, and spiritual significant. What matters are the essential principles to follow, and the good intentions of the practitioner; not any exact form or set-way, nor any particularly worded prayer or mantra.

Not only is a particular set-way unnecessary, but also unnecessary is any particular exact wording of a prayer or mantra. This is because what's essentially important is the idea, meaning, and intention of any practice, prayer or mantra; not the particular form or particular words.

Some people will disagree with this, believing that the original form and words of an invocation are essentially important, in exactly the way it is, so they believe it is absolutely important to use the exact wording in a given invocation, prayer or mantra. In this belief, there is a perfect structure and quality in those exact words, so it is necessary to not veer from this or change anything in the invocation. Also, by changing words one could be discarding some important words or phrases, as intended to be essential or necessary to the invocation. Additionally, the exact particular words of an invocation could have an important unique sound and a special efficacious power when recited in the perfect way it was given. And finally, the original form ought to be maintained because it has already developed a vibrational power from continued practice by so many people over many years.

These are all valid important points, yet the counter viewpoint is that something even more important is the power of a greater understanding and meaningfulness by those using it, which might well be improved by making some alternative revisions to the original wording. That is, some of the wording could be modified, in order to improve on the intended meaning and purpose of the invocation for those now using this invocation. Also, by holding on to the same exact words as first given, one could be failing to adapt to newer times and newer understandings, or to cultural changes in the language being used.

Thus, the exact wording of an invocation is not ultimately important, not ultimately necessary. In saying this, there is no denial of the value of the exact words, nor of this exact sound or structure. The argument is just that this particular exact structure and wording of the invocation is not ultimately necessary nor absolutely important. That is, one could substitute alternative words or even change the structure or syntax, without diminishing the efficacious spiritual value of the invocation, prayer, or mantra.

In fact, there could be alternative words which actually increase the spiritual effectiveness and value of the invocation, because a different wording might be more updated and relevant for the new times and the new people now working with it. Afterall, the exact wording a particular invocation was originally given in the context of a certain time period, culture and audience (the original followers or students of that time and place). It was originally given in a way that was most understandable and meaningful to those people of that particular time and culture (or cultural group); such that this particular wording worked best for their particular understanding in their particular time and cultural context. Thus, it could be possible that an alternative-changed wording might be more meaningful and effective for the particular people now working with this mantra or invocation, rather than use the originally given exact wording.

Certain words can easily have different meanings or connotations for different people, even in the same language. Any particular word or phrase of a particular language could have different meanings or connotations for different cultures using that same language. As well, the meaning of particular words and phrases often changes over time. Connotations and meanings change over time, maybe not a lot, but some. In very traditional cultures, the meaning and use of words does not change too quickly, but in modern and liberal cultures the meaning and use of particular words might change more rapidly.

Thus, the best wording, for the sake of a clear understanding, may change over time, and the best words to convey a certain meaning may be different from one cultural group to another. So there could be a possible improvement in the choice of words, since times and cultures have changed, and even the language-use of any particular language may have somewhat changed. And if the original wording or phrases used in a certain invocation are either confusing or wrongly associated or misunderstood, then it would be best to change those words, or at least try something different to improve it.

Here is a provocative question for those who believe that one should always and continually use the exact given wording of any invocation or mantra –
How long would one continue to use these same exact words? Would these exact words, in this particular language, have the same exact meanings and connotations in one hundred years, in one thousand years? Would this same exact wording be exactly understood in exactly the same way? Or could there be a better wording of the invocation at some time in the future, in order to better adapt to changes in word meanings or changes in cultural thought. (and could that future time be now?)

This is not to dismiss the original value of the given invocation, nor suggest it is somehow flawed. The reasons for changing particular words or phrases is not because the original form was flawed; rather, it is because the meanings and connotations of those original words may have somewhat changed, so the present users of this invocation may need a change of words in order to more effectively practice the invocation with the kind of understanding and meaning that was originally intended.

Every invocation, prayer, or contemplative phrase has a certain purpose; and the words serve that purpose. The words are intended to fulfill that purpose, or to lead the practitioner into a certain understanding or state of consciousness. So, the words used are intended to serve a certain purpose, but if alternative words can just as well or even better serve this purpose, then it makes sense to change certain pieces of the original form if this will improve the understanding and effectiveness of the invocation's purpose.

Also, if we believe that a certain invocation, prayer or mantra has a Universal-Divine purpose, or that it was given from the Divine Intelligence, then it had to be translated from a universal language into a cultural language, or translated from divine-universal meaning into a particular linguistic form. Yet, the truly universal language could not have any exact-particular linguistic form; though even if it did, there would still be a problematic difficulty in exactly translating it into a particular cultural language.

There is no one form of universal language, perfectly understood by all humanity. There are universally understood ideas, but not just one language or set of words to understand or express a universal idea. So, in order to express a universal invocation, prayer, mantra, or guided meditation, it is necessary to use some kind of language and words. Yet, in any language there can be ambiguities or misunderstandings. Therefore, when a universal invocation is 'translated' into the words of a language, there are possible ambiguities or even possible confusions in the understood meaning of these words. Nonetheless, there has to be a choice of words; so if we are given an invocation, prayer, mantra, or guided meditation, there was a choice of words at that originating time.

So what is a truly universal invocation, in its original genesis? It's not in any exact wording. The real universality of any spiritual invocation must be in its universal idea, meaning and purpose, rather than its exact wording. We then have to translate these universal ideas, meanings and purposes into particular words and phrases of a cultural language that we can understand and use. But the particular words and phrases that we employ, for our understanding and for our intended use, are not the real essences of this universal invocation.

The words are just the tools, the means for understanding and transmitting the universal idea, meaning and purpose. Words are just our cultural tools (our linguistic means) for representing and conveying a certain idea or meaning. Additionally, words are used to invoke higher energies and to direct energies towards an intended aim. But it's not the exact words, in themselves, which have the most power. Rather, the greater power comes from the meaning and intention behind those words.

It's the idea and meaning that's essentially important. The idea, meaning and intention are the true essence of an invocation. The particular words are the form, the clothing, for this essence. So the form needs to serve the essence; the words need to serve the true ideas, meaning and intention of the invocation.

Form is different from Essence. The form is how something is particularly expressed. The form is in the particular wording. But this is not the same as the meaning or the idea within these words. The essence is the idea, meaning, or intention behind the form. For example, when we are given a particular prayer, mantra or invocation, this is a particular form, in particular words. We can say this or meditate on this in the particular exact way it was given, but underlying this particular form and wording is an essential idea, meaning, intention and purpose, which can be expressed in many alternative ways.

Thus, any particular form is just one way to express the essence behind it – the idea, the meaning and intention of the form. The particular form and wording, as originally given, has an importance and effectiveness, but it is not the only possible wording that has importance and effectiveness. Words merely clothe an idea or meaning. Words are the vehicles used to transport the idea, the meaning, the usefulness. So we should not become too 'dogmatic' about any particular wording of a meditation or invocation; because this wording is just one possible form, intended to express the idea, meaning and purpose behind it.

There are different possible words to understand or to express an idea, meaning and intention. In fact, some words are better than other words, for the purpose of understanding and conveying a certain idea, meaning or intention. So in any invocation, prayer, mantra, or guided meditation, one might question the choice of words, or also question the intended correct meaning of certain words. And thus, we might sometimes need to change words in any invocation, prayer, or sacred text; for the sake of a better translation into our understanding. In fact, we often change words in our thinking when we read things; that is, we mentally translate certain words into other words that are more understandable and meaningful to us.

In conclusion, the words given in an invocation are permissibly mutable, as long as the meaning and purposes of the invocation are held true. The particular words, phrases and structure of the invocation could be changed; in order to better serve the understanding of different cultures, individuals, or of newer times. People should also feel free to change words to fit their own understanding, or even create one's own invocation with words to best fit one’s own understanding and realizations, and resonate better with one's own sincerity, and thus be expressed more sincerely from the heart. Yet when making any changes to any given invocation, it is essentially important to maintain the intended meaning and overall purpose.

One particular problem, though, with changing words to fit one's own understanding, or of trying to meet the needs of a newer time, is that any changes can be confusing in group recited invocations. That is, in group work there needs to be a sufficient degree of uniformity, a group harmony by way of group agreement and unity. Like an orchestra, a meditation group needs to be in unity and in harmony, when together saying an invocation, prayer, mantra, etc; the group unity and harmony would be lessened if its members each said the invocation in their own unique way. Therefore, for groups already working with a traditional wording and already in harmony with it, it will be difficult to change the wording in the invocation; unless a new understanding and agreement is remade. Yet for individual invocational work, one can easily make useful changes for the purpose of a deeper understanding within oneself and a more meaningful self-expression of the invocation.

Guidelines for revising

While meditating on the given words, one might ask oneself, what does this word or phrase mean to me?

Also ask, what other words or phrases would basically mean the same thing?

This exercise helps us to better understand a word or phrase, and it also brings into mind similar meaning words or even words that might be preferable replacements.

Also ask, can this phrase or sentence be simplified, in order to de-complexify it and simplify my understanding? If unnecessary words can be eliminated from a phrasing, then it's easier to understand. If fewer words can be used to convey the same meaning, then there is an improved aesthetic simplicity.

However, in the process of simplifying by way of reducing, one should not simply eliminate the value of poetic phrases and metaphor. As well, any key essential words should be maintained, as part of the Teaching; such as Light, Love, Will and Purpose.

But often, there are key words that could be replaced with other words of similar meaning, so it might be possible to make some replacements if any given words have uncertain connotation or do not resonate well enough. There might be other words that resonate much better with one's understanding, yet mean just about the same as the given word. Many words can be replaced by other words having the same essential meaning. Consider the example of God. This means essentially the same as the 'Divine' or the 'Universal'. The word 'Divine' could be replaced with 'Spiritual'. The word 'evil' could be replaced with 'intentional harmfulness'.

Over time and changes in a culture, certain words may have acquired connotations that are not intended by the invocation; these words then become laden with confused meanings, so it is better that they are replaced with less connotative words.

Some words have a particular meaning in just one particular culture, religion, or group; but the meaning is not well understood in other cultures, religions, and groups. Examples of this would be 'The Plan' and 'Christ'. It's alright that people are challenged to learn the special terms of a religion or theosophy, but if an invocation is intended to be universal, or for all humanity to use, then it's best to use more general and universally understood concepts.

The ultimate criteria for what is a best word choice is the feeling and understanding of the person(s) reading or using these word phrases.

Here is the Great Invocation by stanza,
but on the right side is an example of modifications.

Another example of revision

So in conclusion, a few examples of different word choices have been shown. Though, there is no suggestion here that these revisions ought to be exactly used; they are only presented as examples of how one could change various wordings, in order to either simplify or increase the meaning, without losing the essential meanings and purposes of the invocation.

Each individual meditator using an invocation for world-service can modify any invocation in whatever way resonates best for their own understanding and importance. However, group work with this invocation, or any kind, will not be so easy to modify, unless there is a leader to decide what is best, or if the whole group can agree on a newer creative wording.

Also, this discussion about modifying words is not meant to suggest that any words absolutely need to be changed. Rather, this discussion is only meant to consider the question of possible changes. The choice to do so, or not, is up to each person or up to each group. Furthermore, the Great Invocation has been used as an example for discussing this question; yet the same general question could be posed for any other invocation or prayer or mantra, etc. In fact, the choice of words to use in any invocational or meditation work is a central question.

Here below is an easy, simple and clear version of the Great Invocation

Invocation for the world

From the point of Light within the Mind of God
Let Light stream forth into all minds.
Let Light permeate all of Earth.

From the point of Love within the Heart of God
Let Love stream forth into all hearts.
Let Love permeate all of Earth.

From the point of Will within the Power of God
Let spiritual Will stream forth into all wills
and greater Purpose guide all human activity.

Let Light, Love, and Goodwill unfold in all humanity.

One more invocation....

Invocation for the unfoldment of humanity

May the Intelligence & Wisdom of God unfold in humanity,

May the Love & Caringness of God unfold in humanity,

May the Purpose & Will of God unfold in humanity,

May the Light, Love, and Power of God transform the world,

transforming ignorance, hatred, greed and selfishness.

Invocation to our invisible Spiritual Helpers

May all ye Holy Ones,
Awaken us with your Enlightened Wisdom,
Embrace us with your Compassionate Love,
Inspire us with your selfless Will,
and help us to serve Spiritual Purposes.