Rite of Aigai
Context
The following is a ceremony designed to draw favour and energy from Helios.
The utilisation of twelve aspects of Helios is derived from PGM IV 1596-1715.
The greeting is derived from PGM XXIIa 18-27.
The entire rite is a pathworking from Chesed to Tiphareth (י).
References
- Betz, H. D. — The Greek Magical Papyri in Translation (1997)
- Crowley, A. — 777 and Other Qabalistic Writings of Aleister Crowley (1909)
- Fontenrose, J. — The Delphic Oracle (1978)
- Plutarch — On the E at Delphi
- Bulwer, J. — Chirologia, or The Natural Language of the Hand (1644)
- Austin, G. — Chironomia: Or, A Treatise on Rhetorical Delivery (1806)
Officers
Zeusian magi
The lead magus (Priest), Temenus, Caranus, and optionally others (a factor of twelve in total),
all dressed in white and adorned in blue.
The Pythia
Dressed either in a white robe with a purple veil, or a hooded black robe.
Priest - Fr. Mala'ak
Pythia - Sr. Lilith
Temenus - Fr. Lux Libertas
Caranus - Fr. Aeternus
Setting
Altar in the NORTH, dressed in green.
Double cube in the CENTER.
On the NORTH altar, arrange a dozen candles in a semi-circle beginning in the EAST and ending in the WEST
In the focus of the semi-circle, place a gold chalice filled with an appropriate libation (a spirit such as rakija is recommended.)
Optionally scribe the appropriate names and images of the aspect between the chalice and candles.
Behind the chalice, a yellow candle.
On the double cube, water, salt, incense.
Ceremony
Once the setup is complete, allow for a moment of meditation before continuing with the banishing.
If a Pythia will be initiated in the Apollonion tradition, the congregants should meditate while it is done at this point.
| PRIEST | Assuming the role of the Apollonian priest |
The Pythia moves to the font and unveils.
| PYTHIA | Wets her finger and draws the letter E on her forehead |
| PYTHIA | Drinks a small amount of water |
The Pythia reveils and returns to the double cube.
The Pythia either gives a prayer to Apollo of her own ingenium or can resite the following:
| PYTHIA | Lord, I imitate you by saying the seven vowels; enter and hear me. |
The Zeusian magi begin to slowly circumambulate deosil. The Pythia burns cedarwood, producing smoke.
| TEMENUS | My children! Smoke rises from the omphalos. The axis turns, and the light descends. The God prepares His voice. |
The Zeusian magi approach the Pythia from the South. Temenus and Caranus kneels on either side of the Priest.
| PRIEST | in the chironomic sign of supplico Hiereia. |
| PYTHIA | How do you approach me? |
| PRIEST | I approach thee as a student of the THREE mysteries. |
| PYTHIA | in the chironomic sign of mendico How can you assure me of such? |
| PRIEST | IACCHE! I cry to thee. (ee-AK-khay) |
| PYTHIA | What is the meaning of this word? |
| PRIEST | It is the cry of man and torch, of kingdom and crown, of visible and invisible. |
| PYTHIA | Where do you stand? |
| PRIEST | I stand before thee between life and death. |
| PYTHIA | Where is death? |
| PRIEST | On my right, a fallen king, born of Zeus. |
| PYTHIA | Where is life? |
| PRIEST | On my left, the noble's progeny, an aspirant of the crown. |
| PYTHIA | You've answered truthfully with no falsehoods therein. I find you fit as a student of the THREE mysteries. Now I must ask of your question. |
The Priest kneels holding the sign of ploro
| CARANUS | How may I increase my power? |
A pause.
The Pythia unveils and burns a small amount of frankincense.
In a manic frenzied manner, she scries the smoke and delivers the Liber 777 imagery:
"Tall, fair, large man, with him a woman holding a large black oil jar"
The Pythia calms and meditates on her prophecy. Walks deosil to between the double cube and Priest.
The Pythia raises Caranus with her left hand, then hands him the salt from the altar.
The Pythia raises Temenus with her right hand, then hands him the water from the altar.
The Pythia raises the Priest with both hands, and keeps them held to deliver:
| PYTHIA | Leave Argos and go to the springs of Haliakmon, and where you see goats grazing, there you and your folk should dwell. Settle in Macedonia where goats lead you. |
| PYTHIA | Ducibus capris imperium quarere. |
| PYTHIA | Journey North, through verdant fields, guided by the light which I will bestow unto you. There you will find a land fit to venerate the sun. |
The Pythia walks deosil returning to her post at the double cube; Gives the signs of L.V.X; Lights a taper and hands it to the Priest.
| PYTHIA | Nómōi peíthou; |
The Pythia knocks a battery of 1-4-1, closing the Temple of Apollo.
The magi and congregation begin the following chant while standing in place. When the energy has reached a suitable level, the magi followed by the congregation parade deosil about the space FOUR times while continuing to chant the delphic maxims. The Pythia may follow burning narcissus incense.
Nómōi peíthou
(Obey the Law)<<
Sophían zḗlou
(Long for wisdom)<<
Eúphēmos ísthi
(Be silent)<<
The Zeusian magi approach from the SOUTH.
| TEMENUS | Nómōi peíthou, obey the law. |
| CARANUS | There is no law beyond Do what thou wilt. |
| TEMENUS | Hail to thee, CARANUS, descendant of HERACLES! |
| CARANUS | Hail to thee, TEMENUS, progenitor of our line! |
| TEMENUS | By the vision of PYTHIA, Oracle of DELPHI, we heed the call. |
| CARANUS | The herd has led us to this sacred ground, life of goat and game, painted by VIRGO. |
| TEMENUS | As the grazing goats lead us, we shall lead our people in consecration of this land under the name AIGAI. |
The word Aigai translates roughly to "goat town".
| CARANUS | Mighty HELIOS, ruler of the heavens above, we seek your favour! |
Both magi approach the altar carrying their weapons,
| TEMENUS | Pouring into the chalice on the altar Water to water. We combine the rivers of ere with the seas of yours. |
| CARANUS | Marking the altar with sign in the sign of JUPITER Earth to earth. We combine the soils of ere with the pastures of yours. |
TEMENUS and CARANUS magi fall back in line with the PRIEST
| TEMENUS | We ask for thine fervour to give unto us energy to perform our True Will. |
The PRIEST takes a taper, and lights it. The LEAD MAGUS faces SOUTH
| PRIEST | Holding taper above |
The central yellow candle is lit by the taper, and the taper is extinguished with a breath pattern of 1-4-1. Rotating between magi, light the taper from the central candle. Transfer the flame to the associated aspect candle in the semi-circle. Recite the words and extinguish the taper as before; pass to the next magi. Optionally, the Pythia may orate the god form attributions, and strike a bell when each candle is lit.
By your cunning, o FARAKUNET
(the form of a cat)
By your loyalty, o SUFI
(the form of a dog)
By your fertility, o AMEKRANEVEČEO TAUTH
(the form of a serpent)
By your transmutability, o SENTENIPS
(the form of a scarab)
By your patience, o ENFANHUF
(the form of a donkey)
By your strength, o VAI SOLVAI
(the form of a lion)
By your sexuality, o UMESTHOTH
(the form of a goat)
By your virility, o DIATIFI
(the form of a bull)
By your precision, o FIUS FOUTH
(the form of a falcon)
By your wisdom, o VESVOOKI
(the form of a baboon)
By your knowledge, o MOU ROF
(the form of an ibis)
By your adaptability, o AERTOI
(the form of a crocodile)
At this stage, all candles are lit and the taper can be placed down.
| MAGI | By these aspects we invoke you. |
As one, the magi make the Sign of Horus, followed by the Sign of Harpocrates.
| PRIEST | ĒI |
The magi fall back to a line. The central magus should face SOUTH, the far left magus WEST, and the right magus EAST. For more than 3 magi, the attention should be that of an arch from WEST to EAST.
| ALL | We invoke you he who is over the world and under the world, rising at dawn, shining from the east for the whole world, setting in the west. |
The Pythia may begin to burn frankincense at this point.
| ALL | Facing SOUTH, vibrating the names |
The Priest takes consecration.
| PRIEST | With might and grandeur |
| PRIEST | I conjure earth and heaven and light and darkness and the great god who created all. |
| PRIEST | The one Zeus is Sarapis. |
All magi and attending take consecration.
| CONGREGANTS | The one Zeus is Sarapis. |
License to depart
| PRIEST | In the names of HELIOS: |