Rituals of the Elements and Feasts of the Times

Liber AL, ch. II

37. A feast for the first night of the Prophet and his Bride!
38. A feast for the three days of the writing of the Book of the Law.
40. A feast for the Supreme Ritual, and
    a feast for the Equinox of the Gods.

Contents

• Liber AL vel Legis
• E.G.C. Manual
• Rituals of the Elements
• Works Cited

Chapter II

There are rituals of the elements and feasts of the times.

The New Comment: Each element—fire, earth, air, water, and Spirit–possesses its own Nature, Will, and Magical Formula. Each one may then have its appropriate ritual. Many such in crude form are described in The Golden Bough of Dr. J.G. Frazer, the Glory of Trinity!
In particular the entry of the Sun into the cardinal signs of the elements at the Equinoxes and Solstices are suitable for festivals.
The difference between 'rituals' and 'feasts' is this: by the one a particular form of energy is generated, while there is a general discharge of one's superfluous force in the other. Yet a feast implies periodical nourishment.

A feast for the first night of the Prophet and his Bride!

The New Comment: There should be a special feast on the 12th day of August in every year, since it was the marriage of The Beast which made possible the revelation of the New Law. (This is not an Apology for Marriage. Hard Cases make Bad Law).
The Gnostic Mass; Annotations and Commentary by Helena and Tau Apiryon: The Feast for the First Night of the Prophet and His Bride is a commemoration of the first night Crowley spent with his first wife, Rose Edith Kelly. They were married in a civil ceremony at Dingwall on August 12, 1903, although the wedding was not properly recorded until several days later. Rose later played an important role in the events surrounding the reception of The Book of the Law. The Feast for the First Night of the Prophet and His Bride is to be observed on August 12 of each year.

A feast for the three days of the writing of the Book of the Law.

The New Comment: This is April 8th, 9th, and 10th, the feast beginning at High Noon.
The Gnostic Mass; Annotations and Commentary by Helena and Tau Apiryon: The Feast for the Three Days of the Writing of the Book of the Law is a commemoration of the anniversary the reception of the three chapters of Liber AL vel Legis in Cairo on April 8, 9 and 10, 1904. It is to be observed on April 8, 9 and 10 of each year, beginning at high noon on each day.

A feast for Tahuti and the child of the Prophet—secret, O Prophet!

The New Comment: This particular feast is of a character suited only to initiates.

A feast for the Supreme Ritual, and a feast for the Equinox of the Gods.

The New Comment: The Supreme Ritual is the Invocation of Horus, which brought about the Opening of the New Aeon. The date is March 20.
The Equinox of the Gods is the term used to describe the Beginning of a New Aeon, or a New Magical Formula. It should be celebrated at every Equinox, in the manner known to Neophytes of the A∴A∴
The Gnostic Mass; Annotations and Commentary by Helena and Tau Apiryon: The Feast for the Supreme Ritual, observed on March 20 of each year, is a commemoration of the anniversary of Crowley's successful performance of the Invocation of Horus in Cairo, which brought about the opening of the New Æon. Crowley actually began the invocation ceremony around 10:00 PM on Saturday, March 19, 1904, and completed it just after midnight. The result of the invocation came during the early morning hours of Sunday, March 20, the day before the March equinox, as the announcement that the Equinox of the Gods was immanent. Interestingly, there are exactly 22 days between the Feast for the Supreme Ritual and the final day of the Feast for the Three Days of the Writing of the Book of the Law.
The Feast for the Equinox of the Gods is a commemoration of the beginning of the New Æon on March 21, 1904, or of the commencement of a new magical formula. It is celebrated within the A∴A∴ at each equinox.

A feast for fire and a feast for water; a feast for life and a greater feast for death!

The New Comment: The feasts of fire and water indicate rejoicings to be made at the puberty of boys and girls respectively.
The feast for life is at a birth; and the feast for death at a death. It is of the utmost importance to make funerals merry, so as to train people to take the proper view of death. The fear of death is one of the great weapons of tyrants, as well as their scourge; and it distorts our whole outlook upon the Universe.
The Gnostic Mass; Annotations and Commentary by Helena and Tau Apiryon: A Feast for Fire: A celebration of the puberty of a boy.
A Feast for Water: A celebration of the menarche of a girl.
A Feast for Life: A celebration of a birth. A Ritual
A Greater Feast for Death: A celebration of Life on the occasion of a death. A Ritual

A feast every day in your hearts in the joy of my rapture!

The New Comment: To him who realizes Hadit this text needs little comment. It is wondrous, this joy of awakening every morning to the truth of one's immortal energy and rapture.

A feast every night unto Nu, and the pleasure of uttermost delight!

The New Comment: To sleep is to return, in a sense, to the Bosom of Nuit. But there is to be a particular Act of Worship of Our Lady, as ye well wot.

Feasts and Celebrations

The Feast for the First Night of the Prophet and His Bride (August 12), the Feast for the Three Days of the Writing of the Book of the Law (April 8, 9, and 10), the Feast for the Supreme Ritual (March 20), Rituals of the Elements and Feasts of the Times (at the equinoxes and solstices), Feasts for Fire (celebrating male puberty), Feasts for Water (celebrating female menarche), Feasts for Life (celebrating birth), Greater Feasts for Death, and other occasional festivals, celebrations and observances may be conducted as official E.G.C. rites by the membership of the Church under the direct or indirect supervision of a Bishop.

Liber AL, ch. II

36. There are rituals of the elements and feasts of the times.

The Old Comment

A crescendo of ecstasy in the mere thought of performing these rituals; which are in preparation under the great guidance of V.V.V.V.V.

The New Comment

Each element—fire, earth, air, water, and Spirit–possesses its own Nature, Will, and Magical Formula. Each one may then have its appropriate ritual. Many such in crude form are described in The Golden Bough of Dr. J.G. Frazer, the Glory of Trinity!
In particular the entry of the Sun into the cardinal signs of the elements at the Equinoxes and Solstices are suitable for festivals.
The difference between 'rituals' and 'feasts' is this: by the one a particular form of energy is generated, while there is a general discharge of one's superfluous force in the other. Yet a feast implies periodical nourishment.

The Seasons and the Elements

Season	Spring	Summer	Autumn	Winter
Cardinal Signs	∴	∴	∴	∴
Agrippa	moist ∴	hot ∴	dry ∴	cold ∴

To be performed before a window open to the E. or N. without incense. The room filled with jewels, but only diamonds to be worn. A Sword, unconsecrated. 44 pearl beads to be told ["On Saturday {March 19} the string of pearls broke"]. Stand. Bright daylight at 12:30 noon. Lock doors. White robes; bare feet. Be very loud. Die ♄.

Preliminary

Banish. L.B.R. Pentagram. L.B.R. Hexagram. Flaming Sword. Abrahadabra. Invoke. As before.

Use the Sign of Apophis and Typhon.

Confession

Unprepared and uninvoking Thee, I, οὔ μή, Fra. R.R. et A.C., am here in Thy Presence—for Thou art Everywhere, O Lord Horus!—to confess humbly before Thee my neglect and scorn of Thee.
How shall I humble myself enough before Thee? Thou art the mighty and unconquered Lord of the Universe: I am a spark of Thine unutterable Radiance.
How should I approach Thee?--but Thou art Everywhere.
But Thou hast graciously designed to call me unto Thee, to this Exorcism of Art, that I may be Thy Servant, Thine Adept, O Bright One, O Sun of Glory! Thou hast called me—should I not then hasten to Thy Presence?
With unwashen hands therefore I come unto Thee, and I lament my wandering from Thee—but Thou knowest!
Yea, I have done evil!
If one blasphemed Thee, why should I therefore forsake Thee? But Thou art the Avenger; all is with Thee.
I bow my neck before Thee; and as once Thy Sword was upon it, so am I in Thy hands. Strike if Thou wilt: spare if Thou wilt: but accept me as I am.
My trust is in Thee: shall I be confounded? This Ritual of Art; this Forty and Fourfold Invocation; this Sacrifice of Blood—these I do not comprehend.
It is enough if I obey Thy Decree; did Thy Fiat go forth for my eternal misery, were it not my joy to execute Thy Sentence on myself?
For why? For that All is in Thee and of Thee; it is enough if I burn up in the intolerable glory of Thy presence.
Enough! I turn toward Thy Promise.
Doubtful are the Words: Dark are the Ways; but in Thy Words and Ways is Light. Thus then now as ever, I enter the Path of Darkness, if haply so I may attain the Light.
Hail!

α I א

Strike, strike the master chord!
Draw, draw the Flaming Sword!
Crowned Child and Conquering Lord,
Horus, Avenger!

1. O Thou of the Head of the Hawk!
   Thee, Thee, I invoke!
   (At every "Thee I invoke," throughout the whole of the ritual, give the sign of Apophis.)

1. Thou only-begotten-child of Osiris Thy Father, and Isis Thy Mother. He that was slain; She that bore Thee in Her womb flying from the Terror of the Water.
   Thee, Thee I invoke!

2. O Thou whose Apron is of flashing white, whiter than the Forehead of the Morning!
   Thee, Thee I invoke!

2. O Thou who hast formulated Thy Father and made fertile Thy Mother!
   Thee, Thee I invoke!

3. O Thou whose garment is of the golden glory with the azure bars of sky!
   Thee, Thee I invoke!

3. Thou, who didst avenge the Horror of Death; Thou the slayer of Typhon! Thou who didst lift Thine arms, and the Dragons of Death were as dust; Thou who didst raise Thine Head and the Crocodile of Nile was abased before Thee!
   Thee, Thee I invoke!

4. O Thou whose Nemyss hideth the Universe with night, the impermeable Blue!
   Thee, Thee I invoke!

4. Thou who travellest in the Boat of Ra, abiding at the Helm of the Aftet boat and of the Sektet boat!
   Thee, Thee I invoke!

5. Thou who bearest the Wand of Double Power!
   Thee, Thee I invoke!

5. Thou about whose presence is shed the darkness of Blue Light, the unfathomable glory of the outmost Ether, the untravelled, the unthinkable immensity of Space. Thou who concentrest all the Thirty Ethers in one darkling sphere of Fire!
   Thee, Thee I invoke!

6. O Thou who bearest the Rose and Cross of Life and Light!
   Thee, Thee I invoke!

The Voice of the Five.
The Voice of the Six.
Eleven are the Voices.
Abrahadabra!

β II ב

Strike, strike the master chord!
Draw, draw the Flaming Sword!
Crowned Child and Conquering Lord,
Horus, Avenger!

1. By Thy name of Ra, I invoke Thee, Hawk of the Sun, the glorious one!
2. By Thy name Harmachis, youth of the Brilliant Morning, I invoke Thee!
3. By Thy name Mau, I invoke Thee, Lion of the Midday Sun!
4. By Thy name Tum, Hawk of the Even, crimson splendour of the sunset, I invoke Thee!
5. By Thy name of Khep-Ra I invoke Thee, O Beetle of the hidden Mastery of Midnight!

1. By Thy Heru-pa-Kraat, Lord of Silence, Beautiful Child that standest on the Dragons of the Deep, I invoke Thee!
2. By Thy name Apollo, I invoke Thee, O man of Strength and Splendour, O Poet, O Father!
3. By Thy name of Phoebus, that drivest Thy Chariot through the Heavens of Zeus, I invoke Thee.
4. By Thy name of Odin, I invoke Thee, O warrior of the North, O Renown of the Sagas.
5. By Thy name Jeheshua, O Child of the Flaming Star, I invoke Thee!
6. By Thine own, thy secret name Hoori, Thee I invoke!

The Names are Five.
The Names are Six.
Eleven are the Names!
Abrahadabra!

Behold! I stand in the midst. Mine is the symbol of Osiris; to Thee are mine eyes ever turned. Unto the splendour of Geburah, the Magnificence of Chesed, the mystery of Daäth, thither I lift up mine eyes. This have I sought, and I have sought the Unity: hear Thou me!

γ III ג

1. Mine is the Head of the Man, and my insight is keen as the Hawk's.
   By my head I invoke Thee!

1. I am the only-begotten child of my Father and mother. My Father is dead. My mother bore me with labor and pain and fear.
   By my body I invoke Thee!

2. About me shine the Diamonds of Radiance white and pure.
   By their brightness I invoke Thee!

2. Mine is the Red Triangle Reversed. the sign given of none, save it be of Thee, O Lord!
   By the Lamen I invoke Thee!

3. Mine is the garment of white sewn with gold, the flashing abbai that I wear.
   By my robe I invoke Thee!

3. Mine is the sign of Apophis and Typhon!
   By the sign I invoke Thee!

4. Mine is the turban of white and gold, and mine the blue vigour of the intimate air!
   By my crown I invoke Thee!

4. My fingers travel on the Beads of Pearl ["On Saturday {March 19} the string of pearls broke; so I changed the invocation to:"] My mystic sigils travel in the Bark of the ākāśa; so run I after Thee in thy car of glory.
   By my fingers I invoke Thee! By the spells I invoke Thee!

5. I bear the Wand of Double Power in the Voice of the Master—Abrahadabra!
   By the word I invoke Thee!

5. Mine are the dark-blue waves of music in the song that I made of old to invoke Thee—

   Strike, strike the master chord!
   Draw, draw the Flaming Sword!
   Crowned Child and Conquering Lord,
   Horus, Avenger!

   By the song I invoke Thee!

6. In my hand is thy Sword of Revenge; let it strike at Thy bidding!
   By the Sword I invoke Thee!

The Voice of the Five.
The Voice of the Six.
Eleven are the Voices.
Abrahadabra!

δ IV ד

1. Mine is the Head of the Hawk! Abrahadabra!

6. I bear the Rose and Cross of Life and Light! Abrahadabra!

Therefore I say unto thee: Come Thou forth and dwell in me; so that every spirit, whether of the Firmament, or of the Ether, or of the Earth or under the Earth; on dry land or in the Water, of Whirling air or of Rushing Fire; and every spell and scourge of God the Vast One my be THEE.

Abrahadabra!

The Adoration—Impromptu.
Close by Banishing. (I think this was omitted at W.'s order—P)

• Crowley, Aleister. Magick; Liber ABA, book four, parts I-IV. York Beach, Me: S. Weiser, 1997. Print.