219 lines
8.9 KiB
Plaintext
219 lines
8.9 KiB
Plaintext
ab:init1.txt 16jan90
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First Degree Initiation
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People: Hierophant (H) (Initiator)
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Candidiate (C)
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Hierophant's Working Partner (P)
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Summoner (S) (Hierophant does his part if S unavailable)
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High Priestess (HPS) (actually, H or P, depending on gender)
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Needs: blindfold
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nine foot red cord
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short white cord
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oil
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scourge
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all ordinary esbat requirements
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Preparation:
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Candidate stands outside Circle to NE, blindfolded and bound
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by members of the opposite gender.
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Wrists are bound together in back by middle of a 9 foot red cord,
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knotted in front at throat with ends hanging down front as cable-tow.
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A short white cord is fastened to the right ankle with ends tucked in
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so as not to trip C up, saying:
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"Feet neither bound nor free."
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HPS casts Circle. Opening ritual is followed to the end of the Drawing Down
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of the Moon, but the Charge is not yet declaimed.
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Summoner fetches Sword (or athame) from the altar, and opens a gate in NE.
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S, H, and P face C and S issues the Challenge:
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S: "O thou who standest on the threshold between the pleasant world of men
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and the dread domains of the Lords of the Outer Spaces, hast thou the
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courage to make the assay ?"
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Placing point of blade against C's heart, S continues:
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S: "For I say verily, it were better to rush on my blade and perish,
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than make the attempt with fear in thy heart."
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C: "I have two passwords. Perfect love and perfect trust."
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S: "All who have such are doubly welcome."
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H: "I give thee a third to pass thee through this dread door."
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H grasps C above waist with H's left arm, kisses C on the lips,
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and swings C into the Circle with H's body, from behind.
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S (or P if no S) closes the gate.
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H leads C to each Quarter in turn, saying:
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H: "Take heed, ye lords of the East (South/West/North) that
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N... is properly prepared to be initiated a priest[ess] and witch."
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H leads C back to centre of Circle (via East)
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while coven dances around, singing:
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"Eko, eko Azrak, (etc.)...."
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... over and over, meanwhile pushing C back and forth among them, until
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H calls a halt.
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Partner then rings bell three times as H turns C to stand before the altar,
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with C's back to the altar (i.e. facing South if altar is in North).
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H stands in centre of Circle, facing C (and altar). H says:
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H: "In other religions, the postulant kneels, while the
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priest towers above. But in the Art Magical we are
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taught to be humble, and we kneel to welcome
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her [/him] and we say: [kneels]
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'Blessed be thy feet, which have brought thee in these ways;'
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[kiss r. foot, then l. foot]
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'Blessed be thy knees, that shall kneel at the sacred altar;'
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[kiss r. knee, then l. knee]
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'Blessed be thy womb[/phallus], without which we would not be;'
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[kiss above pubes]
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'Blessed be thy breasts [/breast], erected in beauty [/formed in
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strength] ;' [kiss r. breast, then l. breast]
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'Blessed be thy lips, that shall utter the sacred names.'"
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[kiss on lips] [rises]
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H: "Now we are going to take your measure."
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H, aided by another witch of the same gender, stretches a button thread from
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the ground by C's foot to crown of C's head and cuts it there with
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athame or bolline.
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Measure C once about the forehead with the cut thread and knot at the point of
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overlap, again about the heart starting from the same end [knot], and lastly
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about the hips across the genitals [knot]. The measure is wound and placed upon
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the altar. H asks:
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H: "Before thou art sworn, art thou ready to pass the ordeal and be
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purified ?"
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C: "I am."
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H, aided by another witch of the same gender, helps C to kneel, head and
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shoulders bowed forward. The loose ends of the short cord are unwound and C's
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ankles bound securely. The cable tow is fastened to the altar. H fetches
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scourge from altar as Partner rings bell three times, saying:
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P: "Three."
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H scourges C firmly, but tenderly, thrice.
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P says (but doesn't ring bell):
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P: "Seven ... Nine ... Twenty-one."
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And each time H scourges C with the number of strokes P has named, and
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all should be light, yet firm, save only the very last which may sting somewhat
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as a reminder that H. has been deliberately restrained. Hierophant then says:
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H: "Bravely thou hast passed the test. Art thou ready to swear that thou
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wilt always be true to the Art ?"
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C: "I am."
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H: "Art thou ever ready to help, protect and defend thy brothers and
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sisters of the Art, even though it should cost thee thy life. ?
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C: "I am."
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H: "Then say after me: I, N..., in the presence of the Mighty Ones, do of
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my own free will and accord, most solemnly swear, without any
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reservation in me whatever, that I will ever keep secret, and never
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reveal, the secrets of the Art, except it be to a proper person,
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properly prepared within a Circle such as I am now in. This I swear
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by my hopes of a future life, mindful that my measure has been taken;
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and may my weapons turn against me if I break this my solemn oath."
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H and other witch of the same gender help C to feet. P fetches anointing oil
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and chalice of wine. H moistens fingertip with oil saying:
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H: "I hereby sign thee with the Triple Sign.
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I consecrate thee with oil ..."
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H touches moistened finger to just above pubes, right breast, left breast, and
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above pubes again. H moistens fingertip with wine and anoints the same three
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places, saying:
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H: "I consecrate thee with wine ..."
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H: "I consecrate thee with my lips ... [kiss as above]
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Priest[ess] and witch."
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C is now unbound and the blindfold removed by H and assistant of same gender.
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New Initiate is welcomed by coven, then presented with the Working Tools.
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As each tool is named, H takes it from the altar and passes it to the Initiate
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with a kiss. As each tool is finished with, the assistant takes it from the
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Initiate [kiss] and replaces it upon the altar. H says:
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H: "Now I present to thee the Working Tools.
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First, the Magic Sword.
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With this, as with the athame, thou canst form all Magic Circles,
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dominate, subdue and punish all renellious spirits and daemons,
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and even pursuade angels and good spirits.
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With this in thy hand, thou art ruler of the Circle.
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Next I present the Athame. This is the true witch's weapon and has all
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the powers of the Magic Sword.
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Next I present the White-hilted knife. Its use is to form all
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instruments used in the Art. It can only be used in a Magic Circle.
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Next I present the Wand. Its use is to call up and control certain
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angels and genii to whom it would not be meet to use the Magic Sword.
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Next I present the Cup. This is the vessel of the Goddess, the Cauldron
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of Cerridwen, the Holy Grail of Immortality. From this we drink in
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comradeship, and in honour of the Goddess.
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Next I present the Pantacle. This is for the purpose of calling up
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appropriate spirits.
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Next I present the Scourge. This is the sign of power and domination.
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It is also used to cause purification and enlightenment. For it is
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written: 'To learn you must suffer and be purified.' Art thou willing
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to suffer to learn ?"
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C: "I am."
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H: "Next and lastly I present the Cords. They are of use to bind the
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sigils of the Art; also the material basis; also they are necessary in
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the Oath.
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I now salute thee in the name of Aradia, newly made priest[ess]
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and witch." [kiss]
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H and P now face the new Initiate and deliver the Charge.
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The Initiate may consecrate his athame here; he must consecrate it before
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using it.
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Cakes and Wine.
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The Initiate is now presented to each Quarter in turn by the Hierophant,
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saying:
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H: "Hear ye Mighty Ones of the East [S./W./N.]; N... has been consecrated
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priest[ess], witch and hidden child of the Goddess."
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[to north declaim: "Hear ye Mighty Ones of the North; Boreas, thou
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guardian of the Northern portals; thou powerful God, thou gentle
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Goddess; N... .... (etc.)]
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Close Circle.
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A "graduation" party should follow.
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----------
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-published in Janet and Stewart Farrar's "The Witches' Way"
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