BLACK MOON RITUAL
Conquering the Shadows,
by Sor.: Zauberkraut
Dealing with ones fears and socalled shadows is essential to the
aspiring magician. Only through continously facing and conquering our
shadows can we put ourselves truly in charge of our lives. Being in
touch with, and realistic about "the dark night of the soul" is also a
tool against the most dangerous, and common, sickness of the magician:
megalomania and paranoia.
It appears that the majority of humans in this society go through life
in a moderately depressed state. It seems that people avoid major mood
changes, preferring to be more or less miserable at all times. One who
does not know the deep pit of fear and depression will also never know
the high altitudes of ecstasy.
This ritual is designed to get people in touch with their shadows and
to overcome them. Our fears and depressions are in fact our demons and
shadows. For the individuals who refuse to deal with them they become
ever more treacherous and powerful. To quote Fra.: U.D.: "If you lock
the demons in the basement they are going to blow up your house!"
Paraphernalia:
- Black altar cloth
- one black candle
- tarot card XVIII (The Moon)
- Hecate or Moon/Pluto incense
- tapes with appropriate music (Diamanda Galas "The Saint of the Pit" and Laibach "Life is Life),
- white votive candles in glass containers, (one for each participant, to
be used to cast out unwanted shadows).
Structure:
-Banishing ritual of personal preference.
-Statement of intent: "It is our will to face and overcome our
shadows".
-Five minutes of guided pranayama during which the instrumental
portion of the Diamanda Galas is played. The Magister Templi guides
the pranayama by raising and lowering his or her hands over the altar
in time with the breathing. He or she should begin to slow the
breathing down gradually in order to allow all of the participants to
tune in and breath simultaneously.
-At the end of the instrumental portion of the tape participants form
a circle facing outwards, for we must conquer our shadows by
ourselves. Here a guided meditation follows while the music continues:
Remember a time in your life when you were truly miserable, you have
become terribly depressed, you feel you have no value, your love has
betrayed you, life is pain.
You begin to feel very weak now, all your will power is gone and you
are frightened. Your knees are shaking, no strength, no hope, nothing
can help you now.
Lie down on the floor, curling up in an embryonic position, you are
alone, nobody is present to help you, all of your friends have left,
your parents have long since departed. You have nothing any more,
terrified you lay there.
This is the dark night of the soul, you are completely obsessed by
pain, insanity, depression. You begin to go insane with misery as the
shadows around you begin to cackle with delight. There is naught you
can do in the paralyzing anxiety. There is absolutely nobody there to
assist you. All that remains is total surrender.....
(All of this litany should have been read in a slow enough fashion to
allow the participants to trance out and the tape to end. During the
rest of the meditation the M.T. moves about lighting the candles one
by one.)
Yet in darkness there is light! Feel the life force retuming to you.
Feel your heartbeat strong and vigorous, fill your lungs with air,
roll onto your back and stretch. Stretch your body as though it were
recently awakened from a long deep sleep. Stretch with your arms,
legs, back and neck. You are attempting to touch the universe, open
your senses and your eyes as wide as they possibly can be. Get up and
take your candle from the altar, passing it over your body. Cast out
all that is not strong, healthy, vibrant and whole. Tune in completely
with the light and allow it to heal you. Take your time allowing its
rays to permeate your being, cleansing every aspect. Make certain
there is nothing left that is not light, bright and strong.
When you are ready, replace the candle upon the altar in the middle of
the temple. (At this point place the Laibach tape in the player if you
desire.)
-All partcipants hold hands and move rhythmically around the altar,
ever faster, drawing the combined life force within.
-At the climax of the circumambulation collapse to the floor whilst
performing a laughter banishing.
-Closing banishing of preference if desired.
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