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Aleister Crowley
Festival of the Equinox
"The Feast for the Equinox of the Gods"
(Published in The Equinox Vol.I. No.VII.)
FESTIVAL OF THE EQUINOX
(Temple arranged as for 0 = 0)
This Ceremony is held twice yearly:
The VERNAL EQUINOX (about March 21st) and the AUTUMNAL EQUINOX (about September 21st)
Hierophant:
(Knocks.)
Fratres and Sorores of all Grades of the Golden Dawn in the Outer, let us celebrate the Festival of the VERNAL / AUTUMNAL EQUINOX!
All rise.
(Knocks.)
Frater Kerux, proclaim the fact, and announce the abrogation of the present Pass Word.
(Kerux going to Ht.'s right, saluting, and facing West).
Kerux:
In the Name of the Lord of the Universe, and by command of the Very Honoured Hierophant, I proclaim that the VERNAL / AUTUMNAL EQUINOX is here and that the Pass-word —— is abrogated.
(Kerux returns to his place. Members stand facing towards the Altar and follow the Officers in making the Signs towards it.)
Hierophant:
Let us consecrate according to ancient custom the return of the VERNAL / AUTUMNAL EQUINOX.
Hierophant:
LIGHT
Hiereus:
DARKNESS
Hierophant:
EAST
Hiereus:
WEST
Hierophant:
AIR
Hiereus:
WATER
Hegemon:
(Knocks.)
I am the Reconciler between them.
(All make Neophyte Signs towards the Altar.)
Dadouchos:
HEAT
Stolistes:
COLD
Dadouchos:
SOUTH
Stolistes:
NORTH
Dadouchos:
FIRE
Stolistes:
EARTH
Hegemon:
(Knocks.) I am the Reconciler between them.
All give Signs (towards the Altar.)
Hierophant:
(Knocks.) ONE CREATOR
Dadouchos:
ONE PRESERVER
Hiereus:
(Knocks.) ONE DESTROYER
Stolistes:
ONE REDEEMER
Hegemon:
(Knocks.) One Reconciler between them.
All give Signs (towards the Altar.)
Each retiring Officer in turn, beginning with Ht., quits his post by the left hand and goes to foot of Throne. He there disrobes, placing robe and lamen at foot of Throne or Dais. He then proceeds with the Sun's course to the Altar, and lays thereon his special insignia, viz.: — Ht., Sceptre: Hs., Sword: Hg., Sceptre: K., Lamp and Wand: S., Cup: D., Censer: repeating out-going Password as he does so.
Hierophant, taking from the Altar the Rose, returns with the Sun to his post:
Hiereus takes Cup of Wine:
Hegemon waits for the Kerux and takes his Red Lamp from him:
Kerux takes nothing:
Stolistes takes platter of Salt:
Dadouchos takes emblem of Elemental Fire:
Returning each to his place.
All Officers except Kerux now keep their places.
The remaining members form a column in the North and, led by Kerux, proceed to the East; when all are in column along East side each turns to left and faces Hierophant.
Hierophant:
Let us adore the Lord of the Universe. Holy art Thou, Lord of the AIR, Who hast created the Firmament.
(Making with the Rose the Sign of the Cross in the Air towards the East.)
All give signs. Procession moves on to the South, halts, and all face South.
Dadouchos:
(facing South).
Let us adore the Lord of the Universe. Holy art Thou, Lord of FIRE, wherein Thou hast shown forth the Throne of Thy Glory.
(Making with the Fire the sign of the Cross toward the South.)
All give signs. Procession moves on to the West, halts, and faces West.
Hiereus:
(facing West).
Let us adore the Lord of the Universe. Holy art Thou, Lord of the WATERS, whereon Thy Spirit moved at the Beginning.
(Making with the Cup the sign of the Cross in the Air before him.)
All give signs. Procession passes on to the North. All halt and face North."
Stolistes:
(facing North).
Let us adore the Lord of the Universe. Holy art Thou, Lord of the EARTH, which Thou hast made for Thy Footstool!
(Making with the platter of Salt the sign of the Cross toward the North.)
All give signs.
All resume their places and face the usual way.
Hegemon:
Let us adore the Lord of the Universe.
Holy art Thou, Who art in all things, in Whom are all things.
If I climb up to Heaven, Thou art there
and if I go down to Hell Thou art there also!
If I take the Wings of the Morning and flee unto the uttermost parts of the Sea, Even there shall Thy hand lead me and Thy right hand shall hold me.
If I say, "Peradventure the Darkness shall cover me,"" even the Night shall be turned Light unto Thee!
Thine is the AIR with its Movement,
Thine is the FIRE with its Flashing Flame,
Thine is the WATER with its Ebb and Flow,
Thine is the EARTH with its enduring Stability.
(Makes the sign of the Cross with Red Lamp.)
All give signs.
Hierophant goes to Altar and deposits the rose.
Imperator meanwhile assumes the Throne.
Hierophant returns to a seat on immediate left as Past Hierophant.
Each old Officer now proceeds in turn to the Altar and places upon it the ensign he had taken therefrom, returning to places of their grade, not their Thrones, with nothing in their hands: they sit as common members, leaving all offices vacant."
Imperator:
By the Power and Authority vested in me, I confer the new Pass-word. It is ——.
The Officers of this Temple for the ensuing half-year are as follows:—
(Reads list of new Officers.)
New Officers come up in turn and are robed by the Imperator.
Each new Officer in turn passes to the Altar and takes his insignia therefrom, repeating aloud:—
By the Password —— I claim my ——.
Stolistes, after claiming his Cup, purifies the Hall and the Members by Water, without a word spoken by the Hierophant unless he fails in this duty.
Dadouchos, after claiming his Censer, consecrates the Hall and the Members by Fire, without unnecessary word from the Hierophant.
THE MYSTIC CIRCUMAMBULATION
This should take place in Silence, but if the Members be unprovided with Rituals, the Hierophant may order it as follows:—
All form in North, K., Hg., Members, Hs., S., D.
Each member as he passes the Throne repeats the Password aloud.
Hierophant:
Let us invoke the Lord of the Universe.
Lord of the Universe, Blessed by Thy Name unto the Eternal Ages.
Look with favour upon this Order, and grant that its members may at
length attain to the true Summum Bonum, the Stone of the Wise,
the Perfect Wisdom and the Eternal Light,
To the Glory of Thine Ineffable Name, AMEN.
All salute.
Hierophant:
Frater Kerux, in the Name of the Lord of the Universe, I command you to declare that the VERNAL / AUTUMNAL EQUINOX. has returned, and that —— is the Password for the next six months.
Kerux
In the Name of the Lord of the Universe and by command of the V.H.Ht. I declare that the Sun has entered {Aries / Libra}, the Sign of the {Vernal / Autumnal} Equinox, and that the Password for the ensuing half-year will be ——.
Ht. Khabs. Pax. In.
Hs. Am. Konx. Extension.
Hg. Pekht. Om. Light
Proof read and edited by Frater D.M.T. © Thelemagick.
[ SEE ALSO: » CEREMONY OF THE EQUINOX « ]
[ SEE ALSO: » Invocation of Horus « ]
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