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| Spring Equinox Ceremony (Chalice Enchantment) v1.0 |
Overview: This rite is designed as a celebration of the spring equinox and elemental water. The participants utilize a chalice or cup, and "charge" it throughout the course of the ceremony. The ritual follows a series of different myths that have been fused together (a "synthetic myth), all relating to an overarching theme of love, dreams, and absolution. The end result is an object that symbolizes the qualities of water and has intense personal meaning to the participant. Number of Participants: 6 (preferably 3 male, 3 female) Materials: 6 chalices 1 stereo 3 canvases 3 sets of Oil Paints Easels or other surfaces for paints Turpentine and containers for turpentine 1 cauldron or bucket Ingredients for mixed drink 1 glass or cup (for circling) 1 bag of coins 1 dagger or sword Sage (for lighting) Fragments of paper Water 1 white candle Roles: Speaker - essentially the narrator or conductor of the rite, also represents Taliesin or the voice of the Divine Muse - the creative facet of the feminine principle, drawn from story of Ceridwen King - initiates the story through greed and hubris, tied to Atlantis and the Arthurian legend Goddess - healing and absolving facet of the feminine principle and elemental water Knight - the active masculine, drawn from Lancelot, Paris, etc., steals the Queen from the King Queen - the active feminine, drives the synthetic myth and derives from Guinevere Upcoming Changes: * I intend to remove the role of the Speaker entirely and replace it with a more active participant, as well as removing much of the talking. I want the synthetic myth to remain intact, but to be told through symbolic action rather than actual storytelling. In the future I want almost all speaking to be done in a foreign tongue, ideally my own magickal language (for my group's rites). The one exception to this would be the prayers and blessings at the end. * Future versions of this rite will likely include diagrams for the more complicated sequences. * The "destroying of the paintings" section will include some kind of alternative for indoors. I will not remove it completely, because in our group's experience, it was one of the most powerful phases of the rite. The fumes from turpentine can be powerful though. * The synthetic myth needs to be fleshed out and refined significantly in this ceremony. As I minimize narration and emphasize action I will have to address exactly what type of energy I want to create in each phase. The resolution of the myth isn't as satisfying as I would have it; I'm not sure if I want to focus on the betrayal of the King by the Knight and Queen or on the downfall of the kingdom due to royal hubris, at the expense of generating positive intention. * Many different aspects will be simplified and distilled over time so that the intent is clear and the result is effective. One of the primary goals is to create a powerful and meaningful experience that stands out from normal reality. Complicated actions requiring concentration and practice can enhance this, but they don't always. I expect the majority of intricate action will be revised. Version History: v1.0 - 3/21/2008 * Initial release |