Inner Shrine

Reflections on Ritual

I believe that it is important to each of us that we constantly keep in mind that Ritual Circle never ends. The Great Circle is the Eternal Temple of The Living Gods. Each man and each woman is a Star, a portion of the great Force of Creation. Because we are incarnated in the flesh all that we know has a beginning. a middle, and an ending; eternity is a concept, not a reality. We exist in the middle of a plane that is terribly finite, all that flows has an ebb... the constant cycle of birth, growth, and diminuition in substance as each of us marches on towards Grim Reality...Death. This creates a very real imprint on our brains. As a result, we, as humans, I believe, yearn for the experience of "unity" with the Powers of Creation. Perhaps this is part of our desparate attempt to bargain a way into eternity without having to deal with that awful part about extinction!

The creative force is the closest thing most people ever experience that touches anything close to Eternity. Human history is a glorious testimony to the eternal nature of mankind's need to create objects of beauty and majesty. Check out the Cathedrals of Europe if this idea seems far-fetched. Stroll in the gardens of the Taj Mahal or the Alahambra. Float down the Nile during Egyptian Spring and gaze on the Pyramids of Gaza aglow in the glory of sunset or watch the clouds change the colors of the Vatican. Spend a sunrise watching the light of the Sun hitting the keystone of Stonehenge. In each case humans have attempted to portray in stone their desire for union with the Infinite in an Act of Creation.

The creative force is not only imprisoned in stone, but it sings to us from Great Art. Paintings and statuary through the aeons of time and vagaries of culture reflect man's desire to capture a feeling or a sense of color and form. Artifacts from antiquity still stun modern tastes with their delicacy and beauty. I know, it's really tough to get turned on by a Tupperware bowl, (modern women have these much as the ancient Greeks had amphorae) but who knows what people four thousand years from now will think about a green-plastic-lettuce-keeper-with-pick!

I would like to speak to the many people who seem to carp on about the "validity" of a pagan/wiccan/spiritual approach or "tradition", as Americans are fond of calling patterns of practice. If it works, why try and fix it? I, personally, could care less if a tradition was channelled, discovered, passed-through-the-ages, taught in deep secrecy years ago by a "dead" grandmother or written a week ago last Thursday. The Creative Force is the Power of the Universe, and who is to judge how this Force chooses to manifest Itself? Call It names like Isis, Inanna, Thor, Kali, Aphrodite, Manitou or Jehovah. It is all the same....all Gods are One God, all Goddesses are One Goddess, and They are the Manifestation of One Light.

As Dion Fortune stated so beautifully in The Charge of The Goddess.." All Acts of Love Are Mine."

I offer to you, the reader, some of the Incantations, Prayers and forms of Ritual that my own Coven has used in the past years. It is difficult to say that "I" wrote the offerings with my own name on them, as I feel that I received the "kiss" of the Creative Force and in some cases, even now, I am stunned at what came pouring out onto the paper written by my own hand. Judge for yourself, and feel free to use anything you see here in your own meditations and prayers.

Some of the selections I have dedicated to people I know and love. To all of the beloved ones that stood with me in Circle over the past years I send my heartfelt thanks. There will never be a time when I will forget those Circles and the reasons I loved you all; they have been woven into who and what I am. What we shared was too special to ever be forgotten, and I hope that you all share that remembering with me, no matter where you are now. Our Coven was made up of men and women with different heritages, races, and approaches to spiritual direction. I am including , therefore, a varied collection of Offerings and approaches. All of the below offered works were written by persons I myself took through their Initiations. Where it is merited, I have listed their achievement of Elder Status, as Lady Ember, Lady Lotus, Lady Amber, and Lady Achren completed their 3 levels of Attainment and became High Priestesses.
With great Joy did I also watch as Draconis and Ash became High Priests, having achieved this status not through the benefices of their wives/Priestesses, but because of their own dilligence, dedication and hard work over several years. To acknowledge the efforts of these two of my "sons" gives me a profound sense of humility that I was, and remain, their Teacher, "Mother" and friend.
Only when you have stood in Circle and watched as dear friends (that you yourself initiated into the Mysteries) act as Officiators in the Center, will you understand the mixture of joy and pride this Teacher experiences participating in a Ritual written and performed by former students now "out on their own" with their own Coven families.
I shall be posting their Rituals and writings as I receive them.[Note to Avonleigh Elders: Ok, all of you, this is a Strongly Worded Hint....remember those "hints" from past days???]
(Unless otherwise stated, the following selections are my own writings.)

Summoning The Quadrants

From the North, I summon the power and force of Matter, for form is the manifestation of the Cosmos. Powers of Matter that formed Earth, itself, to manifest and assist in an Act of Creation. Uriel, Great Angel of the North...hold and protect the Northern Quadrant that all within may be secure and safe from harm. I thank Thee.

From the East, I summon the power and force of Intellect, for Intellect is the manifestation of the Force of Gods. Join with Matter and Intellect to begin the shaping and beginning of an Act of Creation. Raphael, Great Angel of the East, hold and protect the Eastern Quadrant so that all within may be secure and safe from harm. I thank Thee.

From the South, I summon the power and force of Passion, for Passion is the hot fire that flows in the blood, the passions of our convictions in a joining of Matter and Intellect to aid in the shaping and beginning of an Act of Creation. Michael, Great Angel of the South, hold and protect the Southern Quadrant to that all within may be secure and safe from harm. I thank Thee.

From the West, I summon the power and force of Change, for Change is the great manifestation of Growth, the Force of Life Eternal. Change to join with Matter, Intellect and Passion to assist in the shaping and beginning of an Act of Creation. Gabriel, Great Angel of the West, hold and protect the Western Quadrant so that all within may be secure and safe from harm. I thank Thee.

Into the Center do I pull the Forces of Matter, Intellect, Passion and Change, held and joined by the Power of my own Will to complete this Act of Creation. Earth, Air, Fire and Water do I hold, summon and command to be manifest in SPIRIT. For by the Will of Spirit do I say:

INTO THE LIGHT BY THE SPIRIT OF LOVE. INTO THE LIGHT BY THE WORD OF WILL. INTO THE LIGHT BY THE JOY OF LIFE ETERNAL!!!

It is done. Blessed Be.

Note: The above ritual was "shown" to me in a dream. The Force that "spoke" to me was manifested in a swirling white whirlwind of light and force. I chose to perceive the "voice" that spoke to me as feminine, yet, in truth, the Voice was neither male nor female, it was both. I woke up with my pillow wet with tears and I was laughing and crying at the same time...Priestess.

Drawing Down The Moon

By hearth, by fire, by flame, by vine,
This places and all within are Mine.
Sealed by the all-encompassing Body of Nuite.
Summoned by the lady of the Red Moon
Called by the Lady of the Nile
As the herds rumble across the plains
As Bast, Cat Goddess, calls Her kits,
As Sekhmet, Lioness, leads the Hunt.
Daughter of Isis!
Moon Priestess, serpent-bearer, rain-caller, baby-bringer..
She who blesses the fields
Lady of the Fiery Desert!
So Be It.

The above was writted by Lady Achren, HPS

Hear ye the words of the Great Mother
She who in days of Old
Was known by Many Names
Amongst the Celtic tribal people...
Epona, Rhiannon, Brede, Cerridwen
Blodeuwedd, Vivienne, Titania
Who was known among mortals as Moira
Morgana, Morgause, Branwen, Arianrhod
Deanu!

The Great Mother Speaks

My Joy is in the Beauty in all things. Mine is the Secret Garden, the darkness of the Womb from which comes all life, and Mine are the Waters of the Earth. Spirit is the Life Force made manifest in form, the artistry of my Creation. I am the limitless potential of the Universe encased in matter.

I am Life Eternal, Comfort Everlasting. I am the flow of the blood in your veins, and the sweet perfume of your body. I call to you from the fires of the volcano and the sparkling sunlight on the waves of the Oceans. I am the Yearning for Union that blesses the child at the breast, the bitter-sweet taste of First Love, the Exaltation of the new mother upon holding her first child, and the Sorrow of the grief-stricken widow. I am the Anticipation of the bridal chamber, the Comforter of the afflicted and the Passion of the artist. Mine is the Soul of the Post, The Hand that guides the brush and the Ear of the Musician. I am the Song of the Harp, the Cry of the Horn and the Feet of the Dancer. I am aloft on the Wings of the Birds.

It is I that give Return and Renewal. I make the form of your body within My Womb, for I am All Women, All that is Female. I am the siren song of woman calling out in need to her mate. I am the Shaper, the Mother of All Things. The Lord is My Lover, Partner, Son, Father and Husband and His Delight is to Me the Greatest of All Joys. My laughter surrounds the Earth, and Water is the Gift of My Nature. I am the Builder of the Temple which is your spirit's dwelling. I am Eden..the Sacred Garden of The Grail.

These things, too, are part of the great Mystery found within each of you. For as you are I once was and as I Am you may yet become, for Mine is the Song of The Chalice.

I would like to dedicate the Charge of the Great Mother to the one woman who has always worn the face of The Goddess... my mother. Mamma, you have taught the Goddess to me all of my life by just being yourself. I am so proud to be your daughter......Priestess

Hear ye the Words of the Sky Goddess
She in the dust of whose feet
Are the stars of the Heavens
Comets are caught
In the flowing tresses of Her Hair
Her laughter rings
Through the music of the Spheres
Her Body encircles the Universe
For Her Power is the Cosmos
Her light is the first light in infant eyes
And the last flickering ember
In those who Pass the Veil
Stars go nova at Her pleasure
For Hers is the Call of the Cup and the Atheme
For She is the Desire of the Heart

The Sky Goddess Speaks

In the Beginning I was.

I watched as I revolved around Myself, for I was alone in My splendor. As I watched I came to know Myself, and I knew that i was incomplete, for within Me was the ability to Create.

So I created Myself, giving Me form and substance. I called Myself My Daughter, to separate Her from Me and to give Us both identity.

I placed Great Lights in the night sky for Her laughter. I placed the Sun for Her warmth and growth. As I revolved around My Daughter She began to create.

For as I was, so She came to be. Life grew upon My Daughter, a part of Her, yet separate... Her daughters, as She is Mine.

Then, after a time, some of My Daughter's daughters wished to be different, for they took a great delight in creation and diversity. My Daughter changed them, and gave them a new name, for they were now different from Her. She called them Her sons, for She knew the promise of growth within each of them.

Know this, it is true that hand in hand with creation is destruction. Each has its own place in its own time. A tree that is allowed to grow unchecked kills the vegetation beneath it. Yet, a tree that is trimmed in the wrong time may die. There was such a great change in My Daughter's children that they had a difficulty judging when creation was needed and when it was time for destruction. A delicate balance is needed. My Daughter's children have had to struggle to relearn that balance. A few have succeeded. My Daughter grieves over Her children's struggles to become one with Her once more.

I created My Daughter for Myself. I created the stars and the comets for My Daughter's pleasure. In Joy I created the Moon for My Daughter's children to remind them of Me. If they have need or desire, and call to Me, I will answer and sing to them in the Wind.

For in the Very Beginning I was. To Me there is No Ending, for I will Always Be.

written by Lady Achren, HPS

Five-Fold Kiss for the Priest

The Officiating High Priestess goes to the Priest, escorting him to the Center of the Circle. She kneels before him, at his feet, in desire and pleasure, and kisses softly his feet left to right.

"Blessed are thy feet, for they follow the steps of the Dancing God."

She kisses his knees, right to left

"Blessed are thy knees before the Altar of thy Faith, not in Supplication, but in Thanksgiving>"

She kisses his phallus ( does not have to be *literally* his phallus, lower abdomen will work just fine)

"Blessed is thy phallus, that which holds the seeds of the human essence, for you guide, protect,and teach the children of this world."

She kisses his chest ( approx. center at *heart chakra*)

"Blessed is thy heart, for it beats steady and true."

She kisses his lips

"Blessed is thy mouth, for it speaks the truth and purity of mind and spirit."

She kisses his eyes, right to left

"Blessed are thine eyes, for they see through the veils of this world to the Truth."

She kisses his brow

"Blessed art thou among men, for there is no part of you that is not of the gods."

The Priestess rises up for the drawing Down of The Moon. The Priest places his hands over head and speaks the oreviously selected and agreed upon Invocation of the Goddess.

The Five-Fold Kiss for the Priest was written by Lady Lotus, HPS.

Many patterns and traditions have a Five-Fold Kiss for the Priestess, to my knowledge this is the first one I have seen written to Honor the Priest as the representitive of the God in Ritual.

The House of The Black Rose of Avonleigh is not exclusively matrifocal, the God shares all Honor with the Goddess equally in all Rituals and practices. Priests are able ( and encouraged ) to do all Rituals with the exception of First Digree Initiation into this pattern/tradition. Until the Universe sees fit to allow human males to conceive and bear living offspring this is not a debatable issue.

It is the decision of each High Priestess to accept or not to accept Iniations for First Digree done by someone not "trained" in Avonleigh/Black Rose. It has been done in the past on an individual basis and will continue to be an issue strictly between the members of a Coven, the High Priestess and the candidate involved. All Covens are autonomous.

I, personally, am not involved in the decisions and practices of any Elder and/or their Coven families. We are ALL thankful for that...Priestess

The Song of Nuite

I am She of the many Names. My form is Unknowable for I am the Light of the Heavens, I am the Song of the Stars and My Cloak is the Limitless Void. I am the Potential and My Veil is Eternity. My Face is Hidden for I exist without Shape or Form. The Endless Circle is My Domain and My Lord and Consort Hadit Rules and Reigns in Its Center as The Point.

Your mind cannot conceive and your eye may not behold My Glory, for to do so would destroy you utterly. I am the Force of All Love and I Create Love. In Love I Am The Law. To Know Me is to know your true Will, for in the knowing of Me is Love made Law.

I am the Spirit of Science, the desire to reach for the stars born in the heart of man and woman. I am the Changing of the Solar Tides, the Path of the Comet. My necklace is the Aurora, I girdle Myself with Galaxies, I walk among the Gardens of the Stars. My Thought is the Music of the Spheres.

I am the Mother of Gods. I am Sophia, Wisdom, The Pillar of Severity. I am Universal Justice and Divine Order, yet, in Mystery, I am Chaos as well. I am Endless Change, the forces of Expansion and Contraction that are life and growth, yet Extinction is My Face as Unseen.

Call on Me in your last moment, for I am the Mother of your soul and to Me are you Precious and Beloved. I yearn for you. Come to Me! Come to Me!

I would like to dedicate The Song of Nuite to sorer Fidelia, my beloved sister, Initiator and friend; and to Bubastis Lodge, North Texas OTO. It was there, in the Beauty of the Gnostic Mass that I feel I first truely "saw" the Star Goddess. It is my hope that the Light of Thelema shines on in our world forever. Its radiance has profoundly changed my life. Thank you, with all my love , to the fraters and sorers of Thelema all over the world.
A very Special thank you to my dear friend and brother, frater Coyote. You were there for me when times were pretty bad, and in your trust and friendship I have found the true meaning of what was meant when it was said "... as brothers, fight ye...".

93 93/93.....Priestess