Aleister Crowley described the lamen as "a sort of
coat of arms. It expresses the character and powers of the wearer." Crowley and
DuQuette have proposed that the magical lamen might be a modern adaptation of the
priestly breastplate of the ancient Hebrews. The magician may wear a
lamen as a representation of his personal relation to his godhead or the universal forces of balance and enlightenment. Many
magical orders also use a particular
lamen design to show membership and align energies of individual members with the group dynamic. and
Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn. Specialized
lamens are also used in the workings described in
The Book of Abramelin. ==References==