Rituals/Reap Ritual
From Sekhet-Maat Lodge
Wherein our Community Reaps what it Sows
Written by Soror Aletheia Mnemonicas
Contents |
Author’s Notes:
This ritual was born in a few different places, but achieved its height when our Brother Kallah Adonai passed away last November. I had, up to that point had an incredibly strong desire to write a ritual for
our Lodge that got people out of their heads and experiencing ritual within their bodies. As such, as you read through this, you will notice that it is not necessarily a lack of hermetic symbolism, but rather an increase in the physical essence and embodiment of the emotions within the participants that is focused on.
I would like to thank Sekhet-Maat Lodge and its members for supporting me in this piece of my year long magickal working and for taking part in this ritual. Without my Brothers and Sisters to support me in my way of going, my path would be lonely indeed.
Main characters and History
Chameheh - Khabs KAOS
Chameheh is a traveling salesman. In historical mythologies, the traveling salesman is a man who comes to bring a new message. He is the Fool. He is not well liked or trusted because he is always selling some form of Snake Oil. More often than not, his inherent charisma takes over and he becomes an advocate for the people, maybe even remaining with them and becoming one of them. Remember though, Snake Oil was a real remedy brought from the Chinese during the building of the railroad. Made from Chinese Water Snakes, it really worked quite well as a remedy for pain.
Baba –Soror Natasya
This person is the leader of her people, they who have been Lost. They worship her decisions because they fear her. She is the Baba Yaga, the wise old woman, the ugly woman, the woman who rules by common sense. She understands life as well as Death and is here to protect her folk from the disease and spirit of Death. She and her people are bound by Old Aeon logic.
Scapegoat – Frater Mantis
In the old language, the scapegoat is the goat who ‘scaped and got away… Our scapegoat has a message. Will the people be ready to hear it?
Executioner – Frater A
The Lord of Death and Bringer of Change, the Executioner understands Death in his very body as only he knows the feeling of the bones cracking and the dreaded THUMP of a head rolling.
Red Hands: Frater HydraLVX, Frater Tony, Frater I.O.I., Soror Sophia
“Caught Red Handed” In the before time, these are the men and women who were murderers, adulterers and those who were accused of Evil doing. In the New Aeon, they are guilty of assisting all of us in our march toward the understanding of Death by virtue of their authority and experience. In our community they represent those who have “by their own hand” (sponsorship and mentorship) sent the members to their “Death”. Our Red Hands are other worldy and are here to promote Beauty and Harmony among the Brethren by virtue of guarding the ritual space, holding the emotional energy and comforting all involved. They exist to observe and experience the bigger picture. They are consumed by Silence and choose never to speak. Note: During the ritual at SML, the Red Hands were either members of the R+C Chapter, Committee of Four Members or Executive members of the Lodge, to conform with this symbolism.
Mem - Soror Alethia Mneumonicas
Mem is the Water. The 23rd path. The Law of Reversal. The Liberator. Our Mem invokes the Cup and Cross of Suffering for each of you as she brings her gift and facilitates your passage through the ritual.
People’s Plants: Frater Andropos Troy, Brother Jeff
These are the folks who will help the people grow and turn their attention toward the Light. Qi flow in the ritual, there’s always someone to help the unruly populous get unruly eh?
Metals: Brother Greg
There are always those who would rather bang pots and pans than yell eh? With his Metal, his new music maker and his voice, Our Brother will bring soundscapes to our ritual.
The Unruly People: Attendees
The people are found to be grieving for the losses of their Lovers, Comrades, their Brothers and Sisters. This is you. You will be playing a vital part in our ritual tonight, dive in deep, for under the decay is the new seed, about to sprout.
The Stuffy Guy: Hodmedod the Scarecrow
Scarecrows are beings who banish the crows from the crops. They embody the fears of the people, fear of plague, fear of starvation, fear of death, fear of God. At the end of each Reaping season, these Stuffy Guys are painted various colors, and, if the family had sadness through loss and death, it was the Stuffy Guy who was blamed and their hands were painted red before being burned. A huge pyre in the town square would be the end of these guys, the ashes to be spread on the crops to show the victory over fear and to nourish their crops and spirits for the coming year.
Ritual Set up
Living Room Set up
Potluck/ritual set up, decorations include dark things, as well as on the Feasting table, a platter with grave dirt and a skull set upon it. Offerings are there, tobacco, coins, candy and coffee. Incense burns upon it.
Temple Set Up
Low lights. The Tomb is in the EAST and is covered with flowers and ivy. Rather than appearing to be a tomb of death, it looks rather “lively”. Above the entrance a Rose Cross made of Wheat. Inside resides a Stuffy Guy (scarecrow), dressed in shoddy clothing. The Scapegoat also hides in the tomb, with the Stuffy Guy. The mass altar in the WEST and is equally odd, being covered in black cloth, 23 red candles burn here, There is a skull set at the top, with the 23rd candle next to it, dead and rotting roses (cut on the Summer Solstice, consecrated during the Gnostic mass and left in water to rot) in the vases. Pictures of dead loved ones and Masters, Crowley, Laylah, Rose, Reuss, McMurtry, Phyllis, Chris, Jeremy, Tim, Leigh Ann and others adorn the altar. Also on the altar are other emblems of Death, bones, rotting meat, dead bugs. Saturnine incense, mugwort, cypress, storax, etc., burns on the altar and its essence pervades the room with smoky illness. Baba sits upon the altar, in mourning, looking very stern, holding the Skull Staff.
The celebrants are asked to bring a picture of a dead loved one or fetish of something that symbolizes a Death in their life this year that they have had a hard time getting over and letting go of. They will be placed on the altar as they enter. As they do so, Baba will help them place the items and she will sorrowfully address them.
The Ritual
In the Beginning
Music: An ambient track that is dark and ethereal will play in the background. Brother Greg will be singing sorrowfully old hymns, such as Abide with Me.
Mem will open the door to the temple, the Monk’s intoning/funerary music coming through with the Executioner standing guard. She will walk through the people quietly and will pick four people who will be carriers of the Old Aeon elements. She will hand these items to them (an earthen pot, a beat up metal bowl, a wooden chalice of water and an old wand) and then she will leave them in silence for a while.
Once everyone is ready, the Red Hands will begin their “Party” by laughing, clinking glasses, and doing readings and discussions in a humorous manner of the Holy Books of Thelema. They will be placed within Narnia (the storage area) with a light behind them so their shadows can be seen on the temple wall.
Mem will go out, leaving the door open and say:
Mem: How wonderful is Death, Death, and his brother Sleep! One, pale as yonder waning moon, with lips of lurid blue; The other, rosy as the morn, When throned on ocean's wave, It blushes o'er the world; Yet both so passing wonderful!
You though, you are not dead, you are only sleeping… I TOLD YOU NOT TO GO BACK TO SLEEP! (Turning to the skull, and sadly telling him) I told them not to sleep…
I have given to you the secrets of the Old (motioning to the elements that the four are now carrying), I charge you to care for them, as they are the only security you have left, but you WILL lose even these… Those who are caught “Red Handed” will wish to take them from you and you shall give them up immediately or you will be forever doomed to be complacent in the face of Death.
Who are these Red Hands that I speak of? They are your Lovers and your sorcerers. They are the men and women who have, by their own hand, sent you spiraling out, naked and cold into this world and they, again by their own hand have sent you to be hung upon your very own cross of suffering, where even still, you now hang.
Follow me, if you dare, into this Old World. Gain entrance by bringing forth your shame, accepting its mark upon your face, for how dare you live while they who are lost are seeking. Pray now my friends, pray with all of your heart that you have left that tonight you have eyes with which to see…
The Arrival
The Executioner then very seriously admits the people, as they enter; he beautifully adorns their faces with soot. This should be done roughly and somewhat painfully and he should invoke shame, grief and sadness among them. Mem will guide each person to the altar telling them to put anything which they would like to leave in this place, on the altar and then seat them.
Once they are all admitted and seated the Executioner will close the door, touch hands with Mem, commune with her and then walk one full circle of the temple, very slowly, looking into the eyes of each celebrant, making them as uncomfortable as possible, once he is satisfied, he will say “It is done” draw his Axe, and take guard by the door.
After the Executioner says “It is done”. Chameheh should wrap up the partying, and with a Book of the law in his left hand held high, and the Red Hands following him, enter the temple.
Chameheh: Have you heard the word??? The Word of the New Aeon!
As they enter the dark temple, they are shocked by the dismal scene. The celebrants are all on the floor, looking unhappy and the executioner is standing guard. Chameheh looks at all of the people, one by one. Checking their faces and finding them all lost and horrified, he is saddened. As he identifies with the People, so The Red Hands in particular are VERY interested in the Altar. They are shocked at the state of it. They quickly go to it to look closer, inspecting and trying to comprehend what has been done. Rather than seeing it clothed in Red and shining, it is black with emblems of Death. They gently point to and maybe even touch Baba, but otherwise pay her no attention. She then points to the pictures, one by one, showing them the losses, when she is finished; they sadly turn to the center. They go to Chameheh who is by now weeping sadly and quietly at the loss of Light in the celebrants.
Baba: You have returned in a time when we are drawn within and weak from the grief of our losses. The people have suffered continual Death since the last Demon Moon. Its horrible face shown upon our community and has darkened all of those who carried the Light, I have been unable, due to my grief, to find any replacements among them, for none of these can shine as my other Children shone... They were like the Stars in the night… All is lost, there is no hope, Death is now for us, Death is the end of all…
Chameheh puts the Book of the Law sadly and dramatically into his Pocket. The Red Hands put their hands on his body, holding him gently and with Love, rocking him as he weeps. After a few minutes of this, they, with only their faces and hands communicate hope and Beauty to him he nods affirmative. Once this is done each will go to their quarter.
Musician: Three crashing gongs.
Chameheh lifts his head and with resolve begins the Star Ruby and in each quarter when he does the signs of NOX, each Red Hand takes up that sign.
East/Tomb: Puella – Frater HydraLVX
North: Puer – Soror Sophia
West/Altar: Vir – Frater IOI
South: Mater Triumphans – Frater Tony
When the banishing is finished, they all stand guard holding their hands, palms outward toward the Center.
Symbolism note: In each of the quarters the people have been given an old aeon element. In this old way of looking at things, Fire begets Earth by its ash, Earth gives birth from its veins the Metal. Metal in turn is forged and holds water. This water nourishes and refreshes the Wood which in turn feeds the fire. Thus we have:
Earthen Pot – Earth to make Metal
Metal bowl – Metal to hold Water
Wooden Chalice with water – Wood taking up Water
Wooden Wand – Wood to feed Fire which in turn makes Earth yet again…
The Invocation
Chameheh:
To the Red Hand and people in the West:
Sorrow? Grief? Huddled here in the darkness I see you. I see you! Clutching to each other as if there was such a loss as to shake your foundations! Who did you lose here in the West and to WHAT? Was it a bright being? Was it your Love? Was it your sense of peace or just your own foul thoughts? You bang your pots and pans, you plow your fields but you will REAP NOT. There is only Death here, your souls writhe in grief, but your grief is full and tired. Your Sun has set. People of Metal, what do you hold true and safe?
The Red Hand takes from one of the celebrants a beat up clay/earthen pot and gives it to Chameheh, who then gives it to Baba and she places it on the altar.
Chameheh:
To the Red Hand and people in the North:
(Smelling the people) Ahhhh what is this? Fear I smell, here, in the North is the darkest fear, that of the deep unknown. You swim in the mist of its womb while it noisily gurgles in your throat, sucking at you, suffocating you. Twisting here in the darkness, you are dying of heaven. You tremble and wait for someone to come and save you. You wait for your shining bright soul, but he that inspired you, has died. And what of your dark soul? He lay twisted, drowned in his own self love, pulling you down with him. Your crops are lying in the muck, your minds are foul, you trust not in yourself, you drown in their wat’ry depths and cannot speak the Truth. People of Water, wherein art thou contained?
The Red Hand takes from one of the celebrants a beat up metal bowl and gives it to Chameheh, who then gives it to Baba and she places it on the altar.
Chameheh:
To the Red Hand and people in the East:
What disease has eroded away your roots? What fire, fueled by the Wind has come and burned your tender green away? Your loss is full and complete and your beloved cross of balance has been blown over, it lay dry and impotent, its branches dry and broken. Do you miss him? Where is she? WHO TOOK THEM AWAY FROM YOU? Who took your refreshment away? Where is he? The Master that gave you to drink? Gone. They are all gone. Oh People of Wood, wherein wilst thou now find refreshment?
The Red Hand takes from one of the celebrants the wooden chalice, full of water and gives it to Chameheh, who then gives it to Baba and she places it on the altar.
Chameheh:
To the Red Hand and people in the South:
(Holding his hands to his chest) Can you feel it? Hold your hand to your heart and feel its beat. Constrained, untrusting, hardened. There is no Joy there, your chest holds itself tight and withered, your losses full within it. Does your belly burn from the hatred of slander and the continual stream of discouragement? Can you hear them barking now? THOSE INCESSANT BARKING DOGS!! They are starving and have only your lack of discipline to feed on. Shall they starve? Who changed the landscape of this temple and where is our lost soul? The heat charred your tender hope, taken it away all too soon, nowhere on Mother’s Earth will it grow to reach the Sun now, for it has burned TO DEATH, leaving you dry, cracked and joyless. People of Fire, what willful thing will nourish and feed your flame?
The Red Hand takes from one of the celebrants the wooden wand and gives it to Chameheh, who then gives it to Baba and she places it on the altar.
Chameheh:
Moves to the center of the circle, the Red Hands will take up Guarding, one to each corner of the temple. Once everyone is positioned, he lights the cauldron and says:
Death is the Well wherein a magician takes his Refreshment!
The Scapegoat will then slither out of the tomb, smiling at the thought of the last line. After this, he and Chameheh will circle round each other a few times then the scapegoat will begin taunting the people, stinking, slobbering, occasionally barking like a dog. Chameheh will then begin, when he feels he is ready, the evocation. The scapegoat, during this, sneakily (but in plain sight) will steal the implements on the altar and hide them in the tomb. Neither the Red Hands nor the Executioner, nor the Baba stops him, even though they do notice.
Chameheh: (invokes, speaking to the people)
There was three kings into the east,
Three kings both great and high,
And they hath sworn a solemn oath
John Barleycorn should die.
They took a plough and plough’d him down,
Put clods upon his head,
And they hath sworn a solemn oath
John Barleycorn was dead.
But the cheerful Spring came kindly on'
And show'rs began to fall;
John Barleycorn got up again,
And sore surpris'd them all.
The sultry suns of Summer came,
And he grew thick and strong:
His head weel arm'd with pointed spears,
That no one should him wrong.
The sober Autumn enter'd mild,
When he grew wan and pale;
His bendin joints and drooping head
Show'd he began to fail.
His colour sicken'd more and more,
He faded into age;
And then his enemies began
To show their deadly rage.
They've taken a weapon, long and sharp,
And cut him by the knee;
They ty'd him fast upon a cart,
Like a rogue for forgerie.
They laid him down upon his back,
And cudgell'd him full sore.
They hung him up before the storm,
And turn'd him o'er and o'er.
They filled up a darksome pit
With water to the brim,
They heav'd in John Barleycorn-
There, let him sink or swim!
They laid him upon the floor,
To work him farther woe;
And still, as signs of life appear'd,
They toss'd him to and fro.
They wasted o'er a scorching flame
The marrow of his bones;
But a miller us'd him worst of all,
For he crush'd him between two stones.
And they have taken his very hero blood
And drank it round and round;
And still the more and more they drank,
Their joy did more abound.
At this point, he begins to court Baba, taking her down from the altar, invoking to her, inciting her, bringing passion to her.
John Barleycorn was a hero bold,
Of noble enterprise;
For if you do but taste his blood,
'Twill make your courage rise.
'Twill make a man forget his woe;
'Twill heighten all his joy:
'Twill make the widow's heart to sing,
Tho the tear were in her eye.
Then let us toast John Barleycorn,
Each man a glass in hand;
And may his great posterity
Ne'er fail in old Scotland!
During this final part, Baba will become excited at the prospect of happiness and she and Chameheh lead people in drinking and toasting by handing out a bottle of wine to be passed about. “Here here! AYE! YAY! Hail to the God John!” this sort of thing. The People Plants will also lead/help in this. However, the wine will be bitter.
Scapegoat:
Oh you make me sick with your silly superstitious stories and happy smiles. You and your “god” John. He stands there shining as if you adore him simply for his ability to fall and then rise again (mimicking an erection). What magick is this? You are ignorant and unworthy! It is only a simple story of all men. He rises, he falls and you in your ignorance cry and why? Because you cannot see the Truth. Your mind is sallow, your hearts are corrupt. You cannot see Light.
The Turning
Musicians: Sickly Scapegoat dancy music begins
Scapegoat then begins to dance around the temple in a sickly and disgusting fashion. He says the following words in a very condescending and mean-spirited way, as if he is above everyone, talking to them as if they were trogs and mocking them.
I adore thee in the song --
I am the Lord of Thebes, and I
The inspired forth-speaker of Mentu;
For me unveils the veiled sky,
The self-slain Ankh-af-na-khonsu
Whose words are truth. I invoke, I greet
Thy presence, O Ra-Hoor-Khuit!
Unity uttermost showed!
I adore the might of Thy breath,
Supreme and terrible God,
Who makest the gods and Death
To tremble before Thee: --
I, I adore thee!
Appear on the throne of Ra!
Open the ways of the Khu!
Lighten the ways of the Ka!
The ways of the Khabs run through
To stir me or still me!
Aum! let it fill me!
So that thy light is in me;& its red flame is as a sword in my hand to push thy order. There is a secret door that I shall make to establish thy way in all the quarters, (these are the adorations, as thou hast written), as it is said:
The light is mine; its rays consume
Me: I have made a secret door
Into the House of Ra and Tum,
Of Khephra and of Ahathoor.
I am thy Theban, O Mentu,
The prophet Ankh-af-na-khonsu!
By Bes-na-Maut my breast I beat;
By wise Ta-Nech I weave my spell.
Show thy star-splendour, O Nuit!
Bid me within thine House to dwell,
O winged snake of light, Hadit!
Abide with me, Ra-Hoor-Khuit!
Baba:
Hysterical and yelling: Who is this heretic? Who does he think he is? What is this horror that he speaks? You come here during our time of suffering and mock us? We have lost everything, we are in the darkness and there is no end. HOW DARE YOU MOCK US? I will not allow you to damage my people, to kill their hearts and to wallow in their ignorance!
At this the people become enraged, Baba leading them in chasing and beating the Scapegoat. During this, the scapegoat laughs hysterically while spouting random lines from Liber AL. The People Plants whip him and chase him, spitting upon him, encouraging others to do the same. Eventually, the People Plants grab the Scapegoat and hold him. Baba, moving forward very slowly commands the attention of all, and after making her decision slowly and very demonically starts chanting:
Death for you, life for the crops!
Mem will grab and put a noose around the Scapegoat’s neck and hands him off to Baba, who begins to pull him slowly around in a circle in the temple, chanting ever louder, the People Plants encouraging everyone to join in.
The Red Hands and Chameheh will watch this for a while, but as (and not before) the crowd becomes more inflamed in anger, and are beating and yelling at the scapegoat they begin to resist the people, attempting to save the Scapegoat. The People Plants and Townswoman should resist and fight back. At just about the time when the Red Hands and Chameheh begin to lose the battle…
Reborn
Executioner:
Axe drawn and held high yells as loud as he can the following, this should be as shocking and stunning as it possibly can be:
STOP!!!
STOP!!!
Cease this ignorant fighting! Cease this blind hatred! Cease this riot!
Once everyone is standing there blindly looking at the Executioner, wondering what in the hell is happening, he goes on…
Executioner:
Do you really believe that another Death will save your crops? Do you not understand that Death is the logical end of all? I have seen one head roll after another, their gray eyes staring into the night blue sky and I can tell you with every living bone in my body that killing one man will never relieve your fears but will only fill you with more loss. Death comes and Death goes, leaving your heart full of loss. Wail and cry over your losses, for they ARE losses… but do NOT fear Death. This is your nature.
You must face your fears, embody your fears and let them go. You must FEEL your loss.
The Executioner, at the words, “Let them go” grabs the Scapegoat from the people (who let him of course, who wouldn’t, he’s a mean Mo Fo with an Axe!) and tosses him aside. The Scapegoat stands somewhat indignant and triumphant.
Executioner:
Take that which is a symbol of your fear and turn it black with your hatred. He takes the Stuffy Guy now, out of the tomb with help from the Scapegoat, allow that fear to pour out of your body, your hands, your eyes into THIS Death. Go ahead, touch it, feel your fear, give Death the greatest kiss… (Scapegoat sloppily kisses the Stuffy Guy on both cheeks, and then pushes him away…)
Executioner:
Allow your body to open, to soften to the fear and to allow it all out. Know NOW that you are this fear but that you can give it away as easily as causing blood to flow…
At this, Mem will have a basket of red ties, and demonstrating, she and the People’s Plants will tie their cloth to the Stuffy Guy saying “Death for you, Life for the Crops!” When all are finished…
Executioner:
We must now kill this fear, kill it, burn it.
He begins chanting again…
Death for you, life for the crops!
But this time, at the Stuffy Guy… He and the Scapegoat and the Red Hands will lead the procession, with the Stuffy Guy held high to Mo’s house by way of the school yard through the neighborhood The musician joining in with banging pots and pans…
The Scapegoat will have his hands painted Red by Mem.
Mem and one of the People Plants will stay behind to prepare the altar…
First she will put out the cauldron fire and the altar candles. Each picture of the dead will be turned face down upon the altar.
She will open the bay doors and on the shelf above the garden, she will prepare another altar of a golden cloth upon which candles and the Stele of Revealing will be placed. The Old Aeon elements will be there, resumed from the tomb.
Once this is finished, she will follow the others (leaving one People Plant to guard the altar) and go to the fire circle, holding a bushel of wheat in each hand. When she arrives she will interrupt whatever is happening at that point, holding the wheat high in the air for all to see. Once she is done, she will cross the wheat over her chest, and then she will gather ashes up into her cauldron.
Mem:
You have Willed this and now it is done. Follow me…
LVX
She will then lead them back to the lodge and the garden.
When they reach the garden, Chameheh and Baba will stand in front of the altar, together as “King and Queen”. They will kiss and then step one to each side.
Mem will hand each participant one of the stalks of wheat. When this is finished, the Scapegoat will hold his hands high, showing all the Red, and say:
KONX OM PAX!
I am the flame that burns in every heart of man, and in the core of every star. I am Life, and the giver of Life, yet therefore is the knowledge of me the knowledge of Death.
He will then take and scatter the ashes of the Stuffy guy around the garden saying:
Thy Death shall be the seal of the promise of our age long love. Come! lift up thine heart & rejoice! We are one; we are none..
Aye! feast! rejoice! there is no dread hereafter. There is the dissolution, and eternal ecstasy in the kisses of Nu.
He then turns and takes the Old Aeon elements, and places them in the garden, nestled amongst the flowers where they will stay as a reminder not to pander to the Old Aeon fears of Death, superstition, tyranny and oppression. When he is finished he says to people:
Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the Law.
They reply:
Love is the law, love under will.
The End
All go inside and feast. Mem will remove the Grave dirt and skull, placing the dirt and offerings upon the mass altar and after the ritual will place them in the living room on the permanent altar. She’ll come in days later and remove all, leaving gifts of her thankfulness for members to find.
This ritual is lovingly dedicated to:
Frater Kallah-Adonai,
always fervent in his loving devotion to his Angel,
to Liknites,
who is finally able to dance the eternal invocation of Dionysis,
and My Brother Chris,
whom I will forever mourn his loss, even knowing he has been reborn in the Sun…
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Categories: Rituals | Events | Anno 04:14 | 2006 ev
