THE VAMPIRE BOND AND RITUAL
10:08 Sep 09 2010
Times Read: 1,754
The Vampiric Bond
In the myths and stories, there is a legendary connection that can be forged between two vampires. This is sometimes called a "blood bond" and it has been widely popularized through fictional mediums such as White Wolf's role-playing game, Vampire: The Masquerade.
Although it is most commonly a subject of fiction, the concept of a bond forged between two people and sealed by an exchange of their very essence is a potent one. Such a deep exchange is possible and shouldn't be dismissed merely because it has a counterpart in fiction and fantasy. In many cases, reality inspires fiction but there is nothing wrong with taking ideas from imaginative sources and putting them to practical use.
In magick, intent is everything, and the symbols you choose to express that intent are simply there to help you focus. As long as you can keep the fictional ideal separate from your practical use of it, there is nothing wrong or dangerous in deriving some of your symbols from a fictional source. Additionally, especially where the vampiric bond is concerned, a good deal of the fictional treatments of this connection exist because there is a basis for the bond in real experience.
The following rite draws upon this potent aspect of the vampire archetype. It is designed to be performed between two people who are willing to be committed -- and connected -- to one another in ways that go deeper than friendship but do not have to cross over into romantic love.
The exchange of energy/life-force/essence that occurs here cements a connection between the two people that goes deeper than flesh. It is something they experience in their hearts and in their spirits, and it is something that can tie them together empathically and even telepathically over great distances.
This rite is not something that should be undertaken lightly because it's not easily undone. The Vampiric Bond should be approached as a sacred union -- not exactly a marriage, but certainly more than just "best friends". The two people who dedicate themselves to one another in a rite such as this do not have to be -- or to become -- lovers. However, they are expressing a deeply felt love that ties them, if not flesh to flesh, then soul to soul.
The most important part of this rite is that it is an equal sharing between two people. One partner does not hold dominion over the other; both are bound to the other on equal terms. This is why each partner takes a turn at giving, and each takes a turn at taking from the other. A bond of this magnitude, when it's unbalanced in favor of one partner, is disrespectful of the other person's value as an individual. The disparity between the two people will eventually cause all manner of problems, and is something you should always seek to avoid.
A couple final notes. First of all, bonds like this do not limit you to just one person. It's not like you have one link you can give away and then you're done. If you want to, you can bond yourself to many people. Just keep in mind that you should always do this with people you feel a very deep connection with, people you are respectful of, whose essence you are willing to share within your soul.
Finally, because a bond of this sort is not necessarily a profession of romantic or sexual love, there is no rule saying you can only do it with a person of the opposite sex. Do this with whomever you choose; so long as you and the other person feel a deep connection and respect for one another that you'd like to acknowledge in a ritual fashion, who you do it with is strictly between you and them.
The Rite:
To prepare for this rite, you and your bonded-to-be should set an evening aside where you can be alone together. On your own, each of you should prepare yourself ritually: fast for at least an hour prior to performing the rite, drinking only water but eating no food and abstaining especially from alcohol, cigarettes, or any substances that might affect your perceptions. Take a cleansing bath or shower, allowing the water to wash away any stress, distractions, or energies you do not want to bring with you to this intensely personal rite.
Prepare the place where this exchange is going to happen. Place pillows on the floor so you and your bonded-to-be will be comfortable. Place candles or tealights around the room and dim the electric lights or turn them off completely. Burn some incense that you both find pleasing and that will help set the mood for this sacred, intimate exchange. Finally, put on some soft music in the background. Select this carefully, making sure that both of you resonate with the music on some level and find its sound to be conducive to the sort of ritual atmosphere you are building. Play it loud enough to drown out any extraneous noises that might otherwise distract you such as the sounds of traffic, neighbors, or room-mates. But keep it low enough so it does not detract from the experience, which should ideally be focused on just the two of you.
When everything is set, and you both feel focused and at ease, you are ready to begin. Sit down with your partner and take a moment for each of you to get into a focused and relaxed state of mind. You might find that it's helpful to meditate a little, just to still any turbulent emotions and help raise your consciousness to the level that this rite demands. Once you are prepared mentally and spiritually, take a few moments to just feel one another's energy. You can do this by holding out your hands, palms up, and having your partner place his or her hands over yours, palms down. Your hands do not need to touch; in fact, it is easier to get a sense for the energy if you do not touch skin to skin so this very physical sensation doesn't block out the more subtle perception of energy. You may also find that it's easier to sense the energy if you close your eyes.
When you have both successfully started to perceive one another's energy, take some time to touch body and energy. Gently put your palms together and feel both the energy and the flesh as they touch. Concentrate on the sensation of the other person and their proximity to you, and work on opening yourself up to this other person until you feel some mingling of your energy with their own. You may want to take the touching farther, moving beyond just your hands to running your fingers along wrists and arms. As you touch your partner, make this a sacred rite, a worship of their essence and their flesh. Touch them so you begin to know the feel of them with your fingers; caress their fingers, their palms, and perhaps even their face. At no time does this touching need to be sexual; simply feel one another on both levels in an act that celebrates the sensation of both spirit and flesh.
After connecting on this level, take a few moments to make certain that you each have dropped all the shields you otherwise maintain to keep people, emotions, and other energies out. Open yourself completely to the other person, even if this makes you feel a little vulnerable. Finally, once both of you are as open and unshielded to each other as possible, you are ready to begin the actual exchange.
Kiss the person on the forehead over the third eye and breathe in as you do this. As you take in breath, also inhale their life-force, tasting their essence upon your tongue. Now place your lips gently over their heart. Breathe in as you breathed in over their third eye, inhaling and tasting their essence. Finally place on hand behind their head and tilt it to one side. Gently lay your lips against the pulsing vein in their throat. Press your lips to their skin just enough so you can feel their pulse against your lips. Here again, breathe in deeply, breathing their life-force as you inhale. You may want to put your free hand over their heart so you can focus even more completely upon the rhythm of the life coursing within them.
Feel that life bleeding out into you. Breathe it in deeply, savoring the unique essence of it. Breathe them until you can taste and smell and feel them with every fiber of your body. Breathe them until it feels as if your hearts are beating as one. Pull their essence inside of you, feeling it gather in your chest. Hold it in your heart until you feel their essence mingle with your own, so the other person truly becomes a part of you.
When you are finished, gently release your partner, reverently drawing away from their throat. Be sure to keep a hand lightly on their back or shoulder, as they may be unsteady after this exchange; you may find that you yourself are a little light-headed and dizzy.
Now the roles will switch. You become the passive partner, and your companion will take from you. He or she will go through the same set of motions: forehead, heart, and finally, throat. You both may want to twine your hands together as you are sharing this together. Many people find that if they close their eyes, they are able to focus more intensely on the sensation of the other person's essence and energy.
Share with one another until you feel a deep and ineffable commingling of Self. Make certain that this exchange is equal between you, so that neither partner has a stronger hold upon the other. When you are done sharing between you, take a moment to separate physically and just feel the connection that remains within you. Close your eyes and concentrate on the bond that now stretches between you and your partner.
To close the ritual, both of you should face one another and place your hands over one another's hearts. In unison, speak this vow:
I give of myself
As I take from you,
so we forge a bond
that ties us soul to soul.
We are Immortal.
We are Undying.
And nothing can sever
the bond we have sealed.
Close your eyes and concentrate on one another's energy until you feel your two hearts beat as one. Remain connected on this profound level for as long as you wish to: enjoy the intensity of experience this connection open up. When you are finished, you may wish to say something more personal to your partner. Do this if you feel you want to. Then take down the sacred space and take some time to come down from your intensely heightened state. Sharing a light meal or even just some cheese, bread, and wine, will help to ground you after such an intense working.
VAMPIRE RITUAL
07:04 Sep 09 2010
Times Read: 1,769
Vampire Ritual
The rituals of the vampire community have grown into a unique tradition all their own. Often separate from rituals invoking gods or goddesses, the rituals of the vampire community are typically focused on reaffirming the bonds of that community and evoking the power of the individual.
Great emphasis is placed on individuality in the vampire community, so there are no absolutes to ritual. Intent is everything. Dress, symbols, and tools vary from group to group and even ritual to ritual. The format of ritual also varies according to group. Not only is ritual form often customized according to the needs of each different group, vampires typically change their ritual format from ritual to ritual, maintaining a level of spontaneity that engages all involved, making each ritual a special and personal instance of divine play.
The design of vampire rituals is often syncretic, integrating elements from a variety of other systems and adding concepts relevant to vampires. Pagan and Wiccan rituals can serve as inspiration, but vampires will feel free to draw material from the rituals of ancient Egypt, from Hinduism, Persian traditions, Japanese Shinto, shamanism, and even LaVeyan Satanism. As long as the symbols and ritual activities speak on a meaningful level to those involved in the ritual, vampires feel free to innovate and explore a myriad of ritual expressions.
Although vampires have borrowed the basic structure of the Pagan Wheel of the Year, most vampire traditions play down the connection to nature. While many Pagan rituals take place in natural settings and out of doors, vampire rituals often occur indoors. The vast majority of vampires live in urban settings, and some people have suggested that vampirism itself is an urban phenomenon, a response to the city’s lack of sources of natural energy. Whether people tend to be vampiric because their environment is lacking in natural sources of energy is a matter of debate. However, the fact remains that most vampires are city-dwellers. Not only do vampire rituals typically take place inside, it is not uncommon for vampire rituals to occur at night clubs or other social events, tucked in among the bands and other performers. Possibly as a result of this, vampire ritual often has a very theatrical element to it, with the participants dressing in Gothic finery in honor of the event.
In addition to a certain flair for the dramatic, vampire rituals tend to place a strong emphasis on energy and the energetic structure of sacred space. The sacred space in a vampire ritual is typically set up through a series of actions that are often delegated to three separate individuals or groups. First, the space is cleared energetically and the boundaries of the circle are established. After this, new energy is raised in the space, infused with raw, creative potential. Finally, the energy is harnessed and shaped into a spiritual temple. Every person present in the sacred space is seen as being a part of that temple, contributing some vital aspect to its structure.
Especially when a vampire ritual is being performed for an audience, the individuals involved in creating sacred space will use words, gestures, tools, and other ritual actions to demonstrate their work. However, these things are not seen as ends to themselves but as methods of focus. Each activity is accomplished by intent alone. For some groups, no outward action may occur to mark each step. Even though items are approached in terms of symbol only, there are still some significant meanings attached to colors and objects. Colors that will occur again and again in vampire ritual items and ritual clothes are:
black (shadows, hidden knowledge)
purple (wisdom, magickal power)
silver (psychic energy, the moon)
red (life-force, blood)
Once the space is prepared, participants will typically file into the space and form a circle. They often hold hands, sharing energy around the circle before beginning anything else. The sharing of energy is very important within the vampire tradition, and it is not uncommon for vampires to greet one another by touching energy or presenting their energy, unshielded, to be touched. This is a gesture of trust and it is also a way of connecting beyond words and beyond the facades so many people tend to keep up. Since vampires are uniquely tuned to this type of energy, it feels natural and right to open one’s energy to companions in this way.
Vampire ritual is run by at least one priest. Gender is inconsequential. The priest often operates within the circle and may have one or two assistants. These assistants are often representatives of the different castes, a concept we will delve into in more detail in the next chapter. Although vampires do not often keep altars, a table is often kept in the center of the circle simply to hold any books or ritual tools that might be used during the course of the ritual. As there is such a heavy focus on energy and intent, vampire rituals do not require the use of ritual tools. The individual is seen as his or her own tool, and all ritual actions can be accomplished through an extension of energy or a focusing of intent. However, going back to the dramatic aspect of ritual, some groups do choose to use items simply for the aesthetic or theatrical qualities they bring to the ritual. These items can change from group to group and even from ritual to ritual.
After the sharing of energy, most rituals are opened with a statement or charge that expresses the sacred identity of the group. Specific deities are very rarely invoked. Even when they are specifically called upon, deities are still often seen in terms of symbol and archetype rather than as objectively real beings. If deities are called upon, they are almost always dark gods and goddesses with chthonic associations or associations with magick and forbidden wisdom. Some of the most common beings names are Lilith, Set, and Lucifer in his guise as Lightbringer.
This symbolic approach to deity arises because most vampires see the real "deity" at work in ritual as the individual. “Thou art god, thou art goddess,†is taken very literally in this system, and each individual reverences his or her own divine spark. Because of this, vampire ritual is less a "drawing down" and more a "drawing out" -- the power of the ceremony comes from invoking the divinity within each participant.
Vampires most commonly gather for ritual for social reasons. Vampire rituals honor some aspect of the community, such as a rite of passage, or celebrate a specific holiday. Group ritual among vampires is very rarely used to accomplish magickal effects. Magickal rituals are almost always solitary affairs.
Raising energy and sharing it within the group is both a main function and a main goal of vampiric ritual. Creating sacred space, where spirit and divinity are more keenly felt, is also both a function and a goal of vampire ritual. A vampire ritual has been successful if the participants come away more aware of their energy and the way that energy connects all of them and if the participants come away with a heightened awareness of their immortal Selves – that divine spark that is their inner divinity.
Other concepts and symbols relevant to vampires that might be encountered in vampire ritual:
Spiritual immortality and rebirth
Life-force, manifested as either prana or blood
Energetic connection and exchange between individuals
Affinity with night, darkness, and shadows
Rapport with spirits, mainly spirits of the dead
Death as change
Ankhs as symbols of life and eternity
Skulls, skeletons, or coffins as symbols of power/triumph over death
Ancient, hidden, or forbidden knowledge
Exceeding human limitations/becoming more than human
Ancient Egypt is often revered and drawn upon for inspiration because of its antiquity, its reverence for death and personal immortality, and its mythic connection with forgotten wisdom. In addition to this, the Watcher Angel and Enochian myths often hold significance among vampires. This is largely because of the notion that more-than-human beings at some point in the distant past made a conscious choice to become flesh. Adding to the potent allure of this mythos is the forbidden knowledge possessed by the Watchers, which was then passed on to humanity against the will of the gods. The Promethian aspect of this cycle of myths is also a strong part of the allure the figure of Lucifer holds for many vampires.
Ritual and Sacred Space
When we perform rituals and ceremonies, we are building sacred space. This is a realm which exists within yet apart from our ordinary reality that allows us to come into contact with the extraordinary. In sacred space, our sensitivities are heightened. Our thoughts and feelings are in an elevated state. Building sacred space may seem like something esoteric, but it is not difficult at all. Since the energies we harness for magick and ritual are within and throughout all things, in a sense sacred space is all around us. We only need to learn how to harness it.
Sacred space is really just a frame of mind. You can build it wherever and whenever you please. Once you get used to it, you can carry a little of it inside of you at all times, so that even in the midst of the most mundane environment, you can find a stillpoint and be at peace with yourself. Once you understand that sacred space is where you choose to make it, and that you can carry it within, you can perform ritual any time and anywhere – even on your way to work, riding the subway.
Some rituals call for a little more pomp and ceremony, however. Rituals held with large groups to honor important days or events can benefit from a more theatrical approach. It’s important to understand that the pomp and ceremony is not required to create sacred space – what really build ritual space is energy and the Will to direct it. So long as your Will is focused, you can erect an inner temple with no outward actions and without resorting to any tools. But tools and ritual actions are not only helpful in achieving focus. They add an aesthetic level to ritual as well. They especially help to focus the attention of a large group, catching everyone up in the beauty and potency of the ceremony. Chants and ritual actions help us achieve the focus necessary to reach this state of mind. To this end, try starting and ending your rituals with the framework listed below. This will help you establish the ritual area as something that exists outside of ordinary reality where the higher goals of ritual can be approached.
Caste Roles in Ritual
The set of ritual actions used below to build sacred space build upon the Kheprian concept of castes. Too often members of the vampire community encounter the word “caste†and assume that it is only related to a social hierarchy. However, in the Kheprian system, castes are more about energy and a person’s preferential role in working with energy. The first caste that enters Kheprian ritual space is the Warrior Caste. The Warriors clear the space of any pre-existing energy, breaking down any metaphysical barriers that might exist, chasing away unwanted spiritual entities, and then standing guard at the quarters. The Concubines – more widely known as the Counselor Caste – then enter. Their role is the generation of energy, building up raw material, connecting people and things, and facilitating flow. Once this caste has infused the blank slate created by the Warriors with energetic potential, the Priests enter. The Priest caste harness and direct energy, and in ritual they take the raw potential provided by the Counselors and shape it into the actual spiritual temple. Each Priest becomes a pillar in that temple, holding the shape of the structure throughout the ritual. The Warriors continue to guard the perimeter and serve as a firm foundation throughout the ritual, and the Counselors weave connections between everyone present, making sure energy flows and builds properly throughout the ritual.
The framework below is based on these notions. You do not have to recognize specific castes within your own system to use this, however. The castes are just formalizations of three fundamental relations to energy. Everyone falls into one of these three roles: grounding/stabilizing, connecting/building, and harnessing/directing. In truth, anyone – even members of the Kheprian castes – can perform any of these three functions. The distinction comes about because most people have one method that comes more naturally to them, and that feels more “right†to perform during ritual. When approaching this ritual system within your own group, talk among yourselves and decide what roles feel right to you. It’s perfectly acceptable to feel as if you fit into more than one, but consider what energetic archetype best fits how your view yourself magickally. Once you’ve assigned roles (and remember that you can switch them in later rites if you want to) then you can start building space through the set of steps outlined below.
Sebastian has suggested that in the Sanguinarium ritual system, the castes should be associated with the old guild system that existed on the Sanguinarium site from 1998 onward. These guilds are described in the Vampyre Almanac, and while their correlation to the castes is hardly perfect, they establish a division of concepts and duties within the Sanguinarium system. By Sebastian’s suggestion, the Mradu, once the guild for “sanguine scholars,†should be used to designate Warriors. Ramkht, the guild of “vampyre artists,†become Priests. There was no immediate corollary to the Concubine caste, so Lady Eden of the Court of Lightning Bay developed a term, Kitra, meaning “knot,†for this caste.
Erecting the Temple
The ritual space should be large enough to accommodate everyone in a loose circle. Within the circle, there should be a small table with a candle, incense, and any other ritual tools that might be required during the rite (don’t forget matches!). This should not be located at the center of the circle but rather off to one side, typically near the “head†of the circle. For some traditions, this will be North, while others prefer East. The direction of the “head†is a matter of individual preference and group symbolism. In the Kheprian tradition, the head of the circle is magnetic North, because that’s the way energy prefers to flow.
Part I: The Warriors enter the ritual space. All carry daggers that have been ritually consecrated. They walk counter-clockwise around the perimeter of the ritual space, using their blades to symbolically “cut†the energy and clear it. This “cutting†should be reinforced with an actual energetic sweep of the space. The person designated as the head Warrior leads this activity, and when he feels that the space has been cleared, he steps to the center and thrusts the tip of his blade into the floor, grounding the energy through the blade.
I clear this space
With the steel in my hand
And the steel of my Will.
Let all that was here be sundered
So we begin with the purity of void.
The Warriors take up points around the circle. Ideally, there should be at least four Warriors, and they should stand at the four quarters. If there are less than four, elect two to act as Watchtowers, standing at North and South. If there are more than four, elect four Watchtowers and allow the others to arrange themselves so there is balance in the circle when the other castes enter. As the Watchtowers take their positions, they turn to face outward from the circle, holding up their blades. Starting with the lead Warrior, who should stand at the “head†of the circle (for some this is North, for others, East) each Warrior, counter-clockwise around the circle faces outward, takes a fighting stance, and says:
I stand as the Watchtower,
Guardian of this circle.
I have cast everything unwanted out.
Nothing we do not welcome here
Will pass my blade and watchful eye.
In Honor and Blood.
The Warrior makes a symbolic cut in the air and then sheaths his blade, turning back to face the inside of the circle. As each Warrior finishes, they stand at attention, waiting for the next two steps in the ritual set-up.
Part II: The Counselors enter next. They pass through the outer perimeter established by the Warriors. Like the Warriors, the Counselors move counter-clockwise around the circle, using the Warriors to define the outermost edge. As they move, the Counselors begin to sway and dance, raising energy with their sinuous movements. They may play musical instruments or they may move to music that is already playing softly in the background. The lead Counselor lights a candle on the altar and lights incense from this. The lead Counselor gestures into the smoke, wafting the incense up across neck and throat. Each Counselor moves to the altar and does the same, always moving in rhythm to their dance. They Counselors join hands together at the center of the circle, cycling energy between themselves, building this energy internally, then pushing it out to fill the circle. Some groups may want to express the building of this energy in a more sensual manner than simply holding hands, instead having the Counselors touch and caress one another, celebrating life and love as they raise the energy of the circle. When the Counselors deem that they have raised enough energy, they extend their hands into the center of their inner circle, cupping their hands upward to hold a collective ball of energy. They infuse this with all of the positive emotions generated through their interactions and their dance, and the lead Counselor guides this also toward the energy that is the focus of the ritual The lead Counselor says:
This is our essence,
Our precious life.
Freely given to enrich this circle.
Spirit to spirit, flesh to flesh,
We weave the bonds that connect us.
The lead Counselor guides everyone into raising the collected energy above them in the center of the circle, then releasing it outward. All the Counselors stand with their arms raised for a moment, letting the energy wash over them. Then they step backward and take their places in the circle, moving evenly between the Warriors to maintain balance in the circle.
Part III: The Priests enter last, moving through the Warriors and Counselors to the inside part of the circle. The lead Priest heads the procession as the Priests walk slowly around the interior of the circle, moving counter-clockwise. After they have made one pass around the circle, inspecting the work of the Warriors and Counselors, the Priests move to the center. They hold their hands out to their sides, palms up to grab and harness the energy. Each Priest should envision a temple. This can be a temple that takes whatever form seems appropriate in that moment, or it can be a temple that was agreed upon by all the Priests previously. As the Priests harness and shape the energy, they should close their eyes and focus on this temple, seeing themselves each as a pillar holding the entire structure up. When the lead Priest feels that the energy has begun to take on a solid form, he or she speaks the following:
We are the Priest Caste,
Shapers of spirit and form.
With the Warriors as our Foundation
And the Counselors as our Mortar,
We build this structure brick by brick
Through our Immortal Will.
Alternately, all the Priests can speak together, intoning as one voice the creation of the temple. As the words are spoken, the Priests open their eyes and raise their hands slowly up at their sides, palms up, guiding the energy into its final form. The temple should not merely be shaped as a circle but should actually be a complete sphere of energy, surrounding the entire gathering on all sides as well as above and below. When the lead Priest feels that the temple has been erected, he nods to the others and they begin to step away from the center of the circle, taking places among the Warriors and Counselors. They maintain their hold on the structure of the temple as they move, slowly releasing it to stand on its own. During the course of the ritual, the Priests must keep that sense of being a pillar in the backs of their minds, harnessing the energy and giving it structure, just as the Counselors must maintain that sense of connection, weaving energy between everyone in the circle, and cycling and heightening it within themselves. The Warriors continue to stand guard against any outside influences threatening the space of the temple, while at the same time maintaining a firm foundation so the energy raised and directed also stays grounded and does not overwhelm any in the rite.
Open any ritual or ceremony with this set of actions. The framework is suitable for consecrating sacred space for Cabals and other gatherings as well. If the wording of any of the declarations seems clumsy or inappropriate for your particular group, play with them a little until you find a formula that works best for you. The idea here is to get your energy and the energy of everyone with you focused on building a place where you can all reach higher into your Selves than ordinary reality allows. Different symbols speak to each of us more strongly, so add what you feel is lacking to make the wording speak to you.
Focusing Group Consciousness
Once you have declared the sacred space, another crucial thing you should attend to before starting the ritual is get everyone in tune. A ritual will work best if you’ve focused the consciousness of the group on the experience at hand. One way that we do this in Kheprian rituals is simply by standing in a circle and joining hands. We observe a moment of silence where everyone thinks about the ritual and the connection we all share. We pass energy among us around the circle, usually taking with our left hands and giving with our rights. The particular direction doesn’t really matter. Counter-clockwise is what works for us, but the important thing is that everyone knows what direction things are supposed to be moving in before the sharing starts. If you haven’t coordinated this ahead of time, some people will pull one way, some will pull the other, and the energy of the circle will get really crazy really fast.
In addition to sharing our energy so everyone balances and gets in tune, we recite the Kheprian Charge. This is a short declaration of who we are, what we believe, and how those beliefs connect us. A charge like this further serves to focus the consciousness of the group by stressing the group identity. When you’re coming together to do a community ritual, you’re doing it because there are important things you share as a community. These beliefs and ideals define you as a group, and going over them in a ritualized fashion really helps achieve focus and a sense of interconnectedness.
As an example, here is the Kheprian Charge:
We are the many-born, we are the Immortal
Eternal, we wander the aeons,
moving to the rhythm of our own inner tides.
We are active elements moving through passive worlds.
Endlessly we die and are reborn,
changed yet unchanging through the years.
We move from lifetime to lifetime,
taking up bodies as garments.
Ours is a journey toward understanding,
and our charge is knowledge and wisdom.
We are the catalysts, and as we Awaken to our Selves,
we serve to Awaken the very world.
Wiccans usually recite the Charge of the Goddess to focus group consciousness at the start of a rite. Each group, by definition, will have a different belief system that defines it as a distinct community. Therefore, the Charge or opening prayer for each group will have to be customized for the beliefs of that group. This Charge, or opening prayer, does not have to be recited by everybody. In Wiccan ceremonies, as referenced above, the Charge of the Goddess is usually recited by the officiating priestess. Whether this opening prayer is recited by one person or by the group as a whole will really depend on the structure of your particular group. Some groups may not feel comfortable opening with a Charge or prayer. For some, a moment of silence where everyone shares energy and gets the group “in tune†is enough. A few of the more primal groups, like the Court of the Barrens in New York, prefer to focus conscious through a group howl, with each member throwing his or her head back, digging deep into their primal selves, and howling wordlessly with the power of that primal side. Each group has something different that appeals to them, and each group should feel free to experiment until that special something is found.
After group consciousness has been focused, you can move on to the body of the ritual, where the actual purpose of the rite is expressed and all of the ritual actions pertinent to that purpose are carried out within the sacred space.
Unmaking the Temple
At the conclusion of a ritual, the sacred space that has been erected in the form of a spiritual temple should be taken down. As the temple is taken down, it is important to acknowledge that the temple itself is a state of mind, something that is not dependent upon a particular time or place, but instead is carried in each of us at all times. In this sense, sacred space is entirely portable, and can be carried with the practitioners from place to place, being set up and invoked when it is needed. Never forget this, and never fail to bring back a little of the sacred reality into your ordinary lives.
The leading Priest decides when the rite is concluded. He should indicate the close of the rite to the participants in a formal manner. As an example, he can say:
Brick by brick, we built our sacred temple.
And brick by brick, we now unmake it,
We take the essence back into ourselves,
And carry it with us always,
Thus our temple is never sundered
But it lives within.
All other Priests answer, “It lives within.†The lead Priest nods to the Warrior closest to the doorway or traditional exit of the circle. Typically, this is directly opposite the head of the circle. This Warrior, sometimes known as “Guardian of the Gate,†then takes his blade and symbolically cuts a door into the space of the temple. He “holds†this door open, and the Priests file out.
The lead Counselor moves to the center of the circle and says:
We have built bonds between us,
Spirit to spirit, flesh to flesh.
Our time together is over for now,
But we will always honor these bonds.
The Counselors raise their hands, palms up, as the lead Counselor speaks. As the words are finished, all lower their heads and hold their hands over their hearts. They respond, “We honor these bonds.†They pull some of the connections that have been established within the circle closer, holding the ties of the circle deep within their hearts. Like the Priests, they then file out past the Guardian of the Gate.
The Warriors are the last ones standing in the circle. The lead Warrior steps toward the altar. He take his blade back out, passing it through the flame of the candle. Then he snuffs the candle and says:
We are Guardians
And we are Destroyers,
We stand at the beginning
And we stand at the end.
With our strength, this space was created.
With our strength we tear it down
So it may be created once again.
In Honor and Blood.
As he says, “In Honor and Blood,†the lead Warrior drops to the ground and plants the point of his blade in the floor, grounding out the remaining energies. As he does this, all other Warriors respond with, “In Honor and Blood,†and do the same. When all the energy is cleared from the space, the file out past the Guardian of the Gate. The Guardian is the last to leave.
Note on Special Roles
The castes lend themselves to a number of specialized roles within ritual space. In the closing of the temple, the most notable of these is the Warrior position of “Guardian of the Gate.†This role is particularly important when a ritual requires passage in and out of the circle once sacred space has been established. The Guardian of the Gate is the creator and keeper of the energetic “door†that allows individuals to pass into and out of the sacred space. An additional function of this Guardian is to cleanse the energy of anyone passing into the circle. In traditional Wiccan and neo-Pagan rituals, this is often done with smudging, using the smoke of an herb like sage to symbolically burn away impurities and cleanse the energy around an individual. Rather than sage, the main method the Guardian of the Gate employs is simply reaching out with his own energy and clearing or “wiping away†any impurities from the person about to enter. This can be done symbolically by cutting an outline around the person with the Warrior’s consecrated blade. Additional methods can be used if the group so desires, but the important aspect is the energetic cleansing.
In addition to the Guardian of the Gate, there are of course leading roles within each caste. These guide the other members of their caste through their actions and typically deliver the speaking parts involved with setting up and taking down the temple. The person leading the body of the ritual, sometimes referred to as the High Priest, is almost always taken from the Priest caste but may not necessarily be the lead Priest who helped set up the ritual space.
Among the Counselors, there are two specialized roles within in ritual. The first is Herald. This is someone designated to pass between the inside and outside of the circle, leading new people in past the Guardian of the Gate when the ritual calls for such an entrance. While the Guardian of the Gate maintains the separation between sacred space and the outside world, the Herald is someone who occupies a middle ground, belonging to neither and thus free to move between both. Because this role involves establishing a connection between things outside the circle and things inside the circle, this position is ideal for someone who resonates with the energetic workings of the Counselor caste.
The second specialized Counselor role is ritual assistant. The ritual assistant stands near the High Priest, playing a supportive role to that position. The ritual assistant fulfills two main functions. First, the ritual assistant helps the High Priest handle any items needed in the ritual, handing things off or taking them away to free up the High Priest’s own hands. Additionally, the ritual assistant acts as energetic support for the High Priest, ensuring that a direct connection of energy is flowing from those gathered to the High Priest to facilitate the magick of the rite. In my own Kheprian system, the ritual assistant is traditionally a Counselor, although this is also a position ideal for another member of the Priest caste.
Creating Living Ritual
As you go through this book, it’s important to realize that the rites and rituals contained herein are meant to be a guideline only. Even in House Kheperu, our rites and rituals change a little bit every time we perform them. We can write down the general gist of a ritual, but we can never really capture the spirit of the thing on the page. A good rite, a living ritual, is something which happens in the moment, something which is built by the energies and personalities of everyone who is participating in it. The person who is leading the ritual adds their own touch to it. The person for whom the ritual is being held also influences the wording, the tone, and the feel of things. And every single spectator, each person who is not directly involved in the action of the ritual but who serves as a witness and an observer, all of these people add their subtle changes, as well.
The result is a ritual which is wholly unique for that point in time and for the people who are involved in it. It is potent, and it has very profound meaning for everyone involved. It is impossible to record the words that go along with a ritual like this. The words just come. What we can record is a basic framework for what the ritual is supposed to accomplish. This serves as a guideline that the ritual priest must be familiar with – so familiar with, in fact, that he can decide, right then, on the fly, what is appropriate to focus on, what he should change, what to leave out entirely, and what may need to be inserted for the rite to have the maximum impact and meaning for everyone involved. Yet even with these on-the-fly alterations, the ritual priest must still be able to pick up where he left off, maintain the overall continuity of the ritual, and bring things to a solid and meaningful conclusion.
I call this Living Ritual. It is very similar to an improvisational performance in theater, only applied to a ritual setting. It is not an easy form of ritual to pull off, because there are so many variables involved once things get going, and there is never the easy crutch of a scripted rite to fall back upon. In order to perform a ritual like this, the ritual priest must have an excellent sense of timing and a keen ability to judge people. He should know a good deal about people’s emotional reactions, and how to maximize upon those in ritual space. He should know what symbols and phrases are meaningful not only to the individual but to the group as a whole, and he must know how to manipulate these for maximum effect. A background in theater certainly helps.
Ritual means nothing if it does not impact us upon a very profound level. But everyone who has chosen to participate in that ritual has asked to be affected on that level, and through their shared participation, they also serve to heighten that level, pushing it to an even more intense state. The group comes together as a whole, opening themselves up to deeper experiences, to spiritual revelation and emotion, and it is the responsibility of the ritual priest to understand this, understand what is needed, and to guide the rite toward that end.
All of this makes the ritual sound like some kind of psychodrama. But that’s only because it is. Our own theatrical tradition comes down to us not from stages that were meant to merely amuse, but from the Greek tradition of dramatic ritual that was part of the yearly celebrated mysteries. Theater and ritual have always gone hand in hand. Recreational theater still has a phenomenal impact on the emotional and mental state of those who observe it, not to mention those who actually are involved in the performance. It is a potent psychological tool, and why would something this profound be used merely for recreation when it can be harnessed and used to affect a more personal spiritual response in observers and participants?
Ritual is about stepping out of our ordinary space and crossing the threshold to something more profound. Think about going to the movies. When you enter the theater, you have made an agreement with the people behind the picture: you are going to suspend your disbelief, and for the course of the movie, the trials and triumphs, the joys and fears of the characters on the screen are going to become, at least for a little while, more real to you than your own life. You are going to live, for two hours, vicariously through them, and you will come away as if you had actually experienced all of those emotions yourself. Participating in a shared reality like that speaks to us on a very deep level. And in ritual, we are not just simply stepping through the doors and entering that Other space for the sake of recreation. We are stepping into a shared space with others who are important to us, to celebrate ideas that are important to us, and to strive toward something which we believe is nothing less than sacred. There is nothing more potent or more personally transformative than an experience of that kind.
So you see, a ritual priest has a very great responsibility to fulfill. He has to not only maintain that feeling of Other space, that sense of the sacred, in a general way, but he must also maintain the heightened sense of reality that everyone has come to the ritual to experience for each individual person. This requires a massive amount of presence and charisma on his part, as well as a very deep understanding of how the energies in such a group work, how to harness them, focus them, and keep them cycling through everyone so there is no lull in the intensity. Living Ritual is a direct, intense, and immediate experience. It is not only a very personal sort of ritual, but it is also a very personalized ritual. Which is why it must change moment to moment, as the need for such change arises, and why no one ritual, even if the framework and overall intent is the same, can be repeated precisely the way it was in a time before.
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