Lunar rituals and "LIBER QOPH vel HECATE"
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This is from Crowley's "Eight Lectures on Yoga":
".. every student should make a point of salutiing the sun (in the manner recommended in Liber Resh) four times daily, and shall salute the Moon on her appearance with the Mantra Gayatri. The best way is to say the Mantra instantly one sees the Moon, to note whether the attention waves, and to repeat the Mantra untiul it does not waver at all."
This Mantra Gayatri, I believe, goes somewhat like this, see Book 4 part 1 (Mysticism) for the proper letters, I can't type them all right now.
"Aum! tat savitur varenyam
Bhargo devasya dhimahi
Dhiyo yo nah pracodayat" -
@Jim Eshelman said
"So the definition of the ritual appears to be (please correct if wrong): An adoration and celebration lof the Divine Feminine conceived as Binah-through-Yesod. (Is this approximately right?)
I see no incompatibility at all between, say, the clazssic poetry and forms in Dion Fortune's novels vs. anything you're doing in ceremonial or Thelema.
I'm heading out of town in a few minutes but, as time permits over the weekend, I'll muse about the Muse and see what comes to mind."
Yes, that is right.
As always, thank you for your time and efforts, I really do appreciate it.
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93,
**The Atlas Itch **wrote:
"Hi Shunyata –the Egyptian deity seated across from the table of offerings in the Stele of Revealing is not the solar deity RHK, but lunar deity Khonsu, identified by the lunar crescent surmounted by the solar disk (someone even suggested this symbol is the mark of the Beast - “For he is ever the sun, and she a moon”, AL I:16). On the reverse side of the Stele paraphrase, the doubly-dead priest beseeches the “O Unique One”, which is a reference to Iah, an ancient but little known lunar deity. The scene takes place at Night, the priest looking up at the moon, opening up the starlight abodes, gathering the shining ones (=akhs or perfected righteous) into this glittering light. The key is the moonlight is a reflection of the coming dawn. This whole scene is the NOX formula. "
I'm looking at the reproduction of the Stele in Magick in T & P, and having trouble seeing a lunar crescent under the deity's solar disk. I don't think it's there. There's the tail of the solar uraeus serpent instead, the same as we've always had it shown.
The 'Modern' translation of the reverse side of the Stele given in The Holy Books of Thelema talks of "O Unique One who shines as the moon,' with the word 'em' (= 'as' written as 'm,' using the hieroglyph for an owl) being the preposition. There's similar phrasing in the other two, Brugsch Bey and Gardiner-Gunn. This phrase is a simile in all three of them, not a *designation *of a lunar deity.
I think your idea is interesting, but none of the three published translations comes to this conclusion. Do you have a source for this idea you've suggested?
93 93/93,
Edward
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93 Edward
Apologies - you’re right about the Egyptian deity sitting across from the table of offerings (I’m going from memory and crossed conversations held with someone in the past). The lunar crescent is missing on the deity, which therefore identify it as a solar deity.
On the other hand the lunar allusions on the reverse Stele paraphrase can be found on this thread starting with my question about half-way down the page:
www.lashtal.com/nuke/PNphpBB2-viewtopic-t-1494-start-30.phtml
93 93/93
T -
I have read some recent scientific evidence that is stating that during mitosis, the earliest parts of cellular division there is a significant period of time when the newly forming entity is existing with no brain, but that the heart has been clearly evloved.
I do believe that this little bit of information provides the magickal worlds and spiritual paths with much to chew on. Our heart, our source for emotions, feelings, and the chemical recations that transpire with in the biological structure is the first driving force of our being, not the analitical, logical, rational mind.
It has also been resently shown how our skin is the master of information processing, overriding all other senses and modes of information gathing.
I find these facts very validating for me, as a person who lives her life by monitoring/ controling and using my emotional body to make my desicions in life.
What does this have to do with Lunar Rites???
well for me, since I understand that all things come from one source, and that source is Love, ANY thing that I do in my life that makes me feel love, and be love ect is worth doing.IMo this world is being saturated by an addictive quality (addicted to external sources, as well as addiction to the biochemical reaction that are occuring on a molecular level) that is allmost devoid of all positive lilfe enhancing feelings, and that any action/thought/habit that increases the magnitude of (for lack of a better term) positive vibration energies is worth doing and doing as often as possible.
I do agree with this conclusion
""I couldn't agree more with the above sentiments, which connects to an issue raised in another thread on the imbalance of gender energies that seems to plague contemporary Thelema.""
As a teen when I first read Crowleys works I was first of all turned off by his addictive personality traits, but also the sexist, attittude I read and encountered in those in my world that followed his teachings. I felt as if my femine side was not to be incourage, except for the sexual parts. It definately gave me the felling of an old boys club, as I could not relate to all the pomp and circumstance that I saw in the rites. I understood what they were doing, on the subconscious level, but felt as if the rites had little geniune feeling, and for me my spiritulaity is A LOT of feelin, and very little thinking.
In fact I have found that when I try to think about the mysteries, I start to loose my grips (which IMO is why so many CM seem to end up in PSY wards, or have to take a break from their magickal practice.) Yet when I allow my self to just feel the mysteries, to fell the information I am recieving, to feel my world I am in harmony with my surroundings and the universe unfolds my will, for my will is in alinment with a higher will, a force more then my limited egotisical will.
As a very girlie girl, I am shinning my best when I am allowed the freedom to express my inner emotions and feelings of love towards all the beautiful manifestions I see in my world.
I am in love with this world, with the beauty I see and rejoice at any opportunity to express that love. I see lunar rites as my celebration of my feminine nature, of my emotional side, of my shadow self, of the beauty, and peace, and wonder that lays with in the mystery of the Moon, and its pull on us.
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Atlas Itch, 93,
Yes, that's an interesting thread on Lashtal, though as several people noted, it needs real scholars of the period to clear things up. Since the reverse of the Stele is basically selections or paraphrases of the standard text of the Book of the Dead, though, I'm not sure we should read too much into them in relation to the man who had the Stele made.
What does intrigue me - and I doubt anybody could trace the process of how this happened - is the fact that Iah or Yah is the God-Name on the Tree of Life associated with Chokmah. How a lunar deity could have become the Atziluthic Name of the sephirah at the top of the Fire Pillar is a real mystery. I'm tempted to guess there is no connection, and that it's just one of those curiosities that crop up to tempt us into over-speculation. But .. ?
93 93/93,
Edward
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Veronica, 93
"I do agree with this conclusion
""I couldn't agree more with the above sentiments, which connects to an issue raised in another thread on the imbalance of gender energies that seems to plague contemporary Thelema."""
Could it be that Thelemites are more likely to do something constructive about fixing the balance than anyone else? That we don't accept each other as final authorities? We create a lot of our own rituals, and we're not afraid to try something new. It's as if the Presiding Committee at Archetypal HQ said, "Well, the Christians aren't going to do anything - let's try the small but raucous rabble and see if they'll come up with some constructive channeling of energies to fix the old imbalance."
93 93/93,
Edward
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@Edward Mason said
"How a lunar deity could have become the Atziluthic Name of the sephirah at the top of the Fire Pillar is a real mystery."
But the sephiroth are balanced. So though Chokmah is the Root of Fire, its color in Atziluth is a watery blue. Though it's titled Ab, the Father, the word Chokmah is a feminine noun in Hebrew, as is its translation in Greek (sophia), Latin (sapientia), and German (Weisheit), and Wisdom is personified as a woman in various allegories. Its number, 2, is the number of the High Priestess in the tarot, which corresponds to the moon, and P F Case (among others) sees The High Priestess as a representation of Chokmah in one of its aspects.
I'm just sayin'.
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@Edward Mason said
"What does intrigue me - and I doubt anybody could trace the process of how this happened - is the fact that Iah or Yah is the God-Name on the Tree of Life associated with Chokmah. How a lunar deity could have become the Atziluthic Name of the sephirah at the top of the Fire Pillar is a real mystery. I'm tempted to guess there is no connection, and that it's just one of those curiosities that crop up to tempt us into over-speculation. But .. ?
"93 Edward
I pondered that question when researching the Stele and one far-out idea that came to mind was that the ancient Egyptian lunar deity Iah/Yah might be the origins of the Yah-weh cult when the Hebrews were in Egypt – keeping in mind the fact that aside from the Merneptah Stele there is hardly any archaeological evidence to support the Biblical story.
Btw hieroglyph V28, the Khonsu weave, signifying Iah, was presumably the inspiration for Crowley’s otherwise rather bizarre poetic paraphrase:
O thou that glitterest in the moon!
I weave thee in the spinning charm;
I lure thee with the billowy tune.93 93/93
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@Veronica said
"I see lunar rites as my celebration of my feminine nature, of my emotional side, of my shadow self, of the beauty, and peace, and wonder that lays with in the mystery of the Moon, and its pull on us."
*"La nuit est belle" *
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How interesting!
"O thou that glitterest in the moon!
I weave thee in the spinning charm;
I lure thee with the billowy tune. "Thus the feminine is a "weave" and, as someone else pointed out, a "reflection."
And another herself has pointed out, "I am receiving" is a necessity to her.
Personally, I love this lunar rite.
[edit] but wait, I'm ignorant
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I have to say that this thread epitomizes my entire experience in the magickal/pagan community over the course of my life.
We had an earnest question plus earnest answers. We had a disagreement. Some tangential aspect of esoterica came up and people got all scholarly.
All we need is a fire and someone to get naked and we have every party I've ever been to.
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93 Puck,
Who you're specifically adressing this question to is playing coy, as is his teaching style. In an early degree of a certain Order an adoration which you speak of is taught. Maybe it was already mentioned in this thread, what do I know?.
93's
A.
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@Allogenes said
"93 Puck,
Who you're specifically adressing this question to is playing coy, as is his teaching style. In an early degree of a certain Order an adoration which you speak of is taught. Maybe it was already mentioned in this thread, what do I know?.
93's
A."
If you are referring to Jim, he has been anything but coy with me. Thus far, every question I have asked he has answered.
However, I don't screw around. If I wanted to ask just Jim a question I would PM him. I asked everyone, and I meant everyone.
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@Allogenes said
"93,
Excuse me. Just trying to help.
93's
A."
Apologies if that came across as harsh, it was not intended. I just wanted to get across that I, myself, was not being coy in starting the threads I do. While I do get huge benefit from Jim's knowledge, I also really do want input from everyone.
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I am enjoying this thread very much, thank you Puck for sharing those lovely rites to begin with, who wrote them?
Edward Mason asked
"Could it be that Thelemites are more likely to do something constructive about fixing the balance than anyone else? That we don't accept each other as final authorities? We create a lot of our own rituals, and we're not afraid to try something new. It's as if the Presiding Committee at Archetypal HQ said, "Well, the Christians aren't going to do anything - let's try the small but raucous rabble and see if they'll come up with some constructive channeling of energies to fix the old imbalance."
thats why I'm here.I firmly believe that change starts on a individual level first, as a shift in belief/perception. I have shifted myself and watched how the things around me have had to shift as well, shift or fade away.
I am very interested in particpating in groups that are working towards balance, harmony, and fine tuning. I have loved the words of MK Gandhi Be the change you wish to see in the world" for a long time, and take them to heart.
I do believe that low and high magickal practioners alike have a hand at bringing change into the worlds, but for the past 20 years I have watched the tree huggers in my worlds do little to effectively change anything other then personal drama, (which is a a start, but it never gets much farther).
I dont like a lot of what I see in the world, so I am working on changing what I see.
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@Angel of Death said
"I am enjoying this thread very much, thank you Puck for sharing those lovely rites to begin with, who wrote them?"
Liber Qoph, a ritual of the type like Liber Resh, is credited to Horus/Maat Lodge and may have been written by Orryelle Bascule (unless Orryelle Bascule is only the author of the commentary on Liber Qoph).
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@Takamba said
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@Veronica said
"I am enjoying this thread very much, thank you Puck for sharing those lovely rites to begin with, who wrote them?
"Liber Qoph, a ritual of the type like Liber Resh, is credited to Horus/Maat Lodge and may have been written by Orryelle Bascule (unless Orryelle Bascule is only the author of the commentary on Liber Qoph)."
I found this document about Crowley and Luna. In it this rite LIBER QOPH vel Hecate is said to be by Orryelle Defenestrate (same Orryelle probably).
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93
By comparison, this may be of interest:
@Frater Aleph Ben Ali said
"
Liber Gimel vel Lunae
(For 9 days after the New Moon)
Hail unto thee who art Selene in thy waxing, even unto thee who art Selene in thy Brightness, who travellest across the heavens in the absence of the Sun.
Helios caresses the splendor of her brow, and Hermes ever guideth through her realm.
Hail unto thee through the abodes of N.O.X.(For 5 days either side of the Full Moon)
Hail unto thee who art Artemis in thy brilliance, even unto thee who art Artemis in thy Fullness, who travellest across the heavens in the absence of the Sun.
Helios blazes on the splendor of her brow, and Hermes ever guideth through her realm.
Hail unto thee through the abodes of N.O.X.(For 9 days before the Dark Moon)
Hail unto thee who art Hecate in thy waning, even unto thee who art Hecate in thy Darkness, who travellest across the heavens in the absence of the Sun.
Helios concealeth the splendor of her brow, and Hermes ever guideth through her realm.
Hail unto thee through the abodes of N.O.X.(The Orison)
Ceaseless change that is stability!
I adore the Light on thy Breast
Supreme and excellent Goddess
Who makest the Godes and the blessed
To tremble before thee: -
I, I adore thee!Appear within the navel of Nu!
Lighten the ways of the Ka!
Open the ways of the Khu!
The ways of the Khabs run through
To stir me and still me!
AOM! (The Vedic Gayatri Mantra can be inserted here) Let it thrill me!
The light is mine;
Thy beams embrace me:
I have wrought the secret gates
Into the groves of Selene,
Of Artemis and Hecate.
I am thine Athenian, O Chaos,
The prophet (insert your own name or motto)By Babalon my breast I beat;
By Therion I weave my spell.
Show thy star splendor, O Nuit!
Bid me within thine house to dwell,
O winged snake of light, Hadit!
Abide with me Ra Hoor Khuit!"As published in The Solstice, 2009 and Black Pearl v.1 n.3. I hope the author doesn't mind me posting this here, it says in the article to "feel free to pass it on to friends and other practitioners."
93's
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