My first Gnostic Mass
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Hey guys,
Last night I attended my first gnostic mass with the scarlet woman lodge of Austin, TX. I have to say it was quite a beautiful ritual. Can anyone who knows the ritual comment on the symbolism perhaps? From what I figured out, the priest is in malkuth and makes his way through the path of the magician upto Nuit where they consummate and produce the cakes of light, the spiritual sacrifice transmuted upon the altar of the female body.Is the priest the Magician? or Hadit?
Any other info on symbolism would be great.Thanks,
Kenneth -
@Techpries said
"Can anyone who knows the ritual comment on the symbolism perhaps?"
That's a big order! - a partner and I used to give three-day seminars in the subject - but it may help to make sure you understand the symbolism of the floor plan and of the officers.
The tomb is Malkuth. The font is Yesod. The altar of incense of Tiphereth. The veil is the Abyss. Beyond the veil is the Supernal realm taken collectively but, broadly speaking, the tops of the pillars are Chokmah and Binah and the Stele is Kether. (But don't put too fine an edge on that.) The initial place of the grail, and ultimate place of the Priestess, is at the intersection of the Paths of Gimel and Daleth - the other Paths up the Middle Pillar are obvious from this, and of some importance (e.g., the usual place of the Deacon, between the font and altar of incense, is on the Path of Samekh).
The officers are expressions of the letters of Tetragrammaton, reflected by the color of their outer mantles. The Priest (red) is Yod - The Priestess (blue) is Heh - the Deacon (yellow) is Vav - the Children (black) are Heh-final. (But the Priestess, before she's the Priestess, is called the Virgin and, as such, is of Malkuth as Kallah, the Lower Shekinah, etc. etc.)
Work through the mass with these basic elements and the processes will sort themselves out.
I note that you've only talked about the Priest's path - in fact, the Priest and Priestess are each having independent journeys, and their journeys are not according to the same formula but are unique to each of them. This is one of the most sublime metaphors, in fact, for enlightened human relationships, since each is fulfilling their own Way in probably complete ignorance of the other's, but their path intersect at all necessary places, and the same interaction fulfills what each needs from the other at that exact juncture. One can work one's way through those for years.
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93 Y'all,
Wo. I had no idea all of that was built into it ... I will go to the next one here bearing these things in mind. Thanks for bring this up and giving such a great answer. The more I learn, the more clueless I realize I am.
Thanks, guys.93s,
Donna -
I wish we had a lodge nearby. sighs
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"I wish we had a lodge nearby. sighs Sad"
There was once a Oasis in Santa Fe that offered the Gnostic Mass twice monthly, but it has since closed its doors. That said, if ever you are given the opportunity to experience the Mass, it is an experience of sublime beauty.
But, then I have always been a sucker for a naked goddess!
