Rosslyn Sanctuary

Southern Oregon Thelemic Community and Organic Farm

Rosslyn Coven of the Hawk & Jackal

Merlin - Oregon - USA

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The New Moon Rite

 

In older cultures the new Moon is defined by the appearance of the first tiny sliver of lunar light just before the sunrise, and not by the dark of the moon when it is invisible, conjunct the Sun. The observation of the new Moon may begin just before sunrise. At this time the new Moon will rise only a very few minutes before the Sun, and this will be the only chance to see it. This is the moment to do the Hymn of Praise to Khonsu. To call upon him to banish all that would interfere with the Will of the participants who attend the Esbat at midnight. Expose his stele, image, or talisman to the first tiniest sliver of silver in the new Moon.

In the time of the Moon conjunct the Sun. As soon as the Sun sets, and the blue lidded daughter of sunset appears with her stars, the time for her invocation begins. Invoke the Goddess in her name AMENT. It is the time of ESBAT and for "the people" to assemble at the midnight. The moon is nearly exactly conjunct the sun and the stars rule the night, as the moon is dark, so the stars are brightest.

At midnight in a graveyard, or a place where the ashes of the dead have been strewn, or with the emblems of death present about the celebrants, the Rite begins.

If the temple has a House of Life[1] and a House of Death[2], this rite is to be held in the House of Death. The Birth of Life is consummated in the House of Death, and the 13 that are symbolically assembled here, represent the 13 New Moons of the Year. The Rites are done by the Priestess of the Door.[3]

Jasmine and Rose are the perfumes that are burnt, they symbolize the Lion and the Eagle, for it is in it's darkest moment that the Moon is reborn. For other aspects of the symbolism see the Tarot, Atu XVIII. (For the Solar Sabbats see Atu XIX)

The Rite that will be performed should contain some symbolism of the planets that are in major aspect to the Moon, you must include some aspects of the Solar Symbol as well, in that the Moon is with the Sun, and they lie together under the earth, the Day Star and the Star Goddess, our Father and Mother, that  have begotten us upon the Earth, Star & Star."

The Lunar rites are changeable and there are many varied celebrations so feel free to adapt.

 

 

New Moon Ritual[4]

 

The Temple is the House of Death a.k.a. the House of the Jackal. The decorations are of Death and Conception. Other symbols present should involve the astrological sign of the Moon.

The High Priest and High Priestess come forth as Khonsu and Quersut.

 

The Call:

PRIEST: Now ye shall know that the chosen priest and apostle of infinite Space is the Prince Priest the Beast.

PRIESTESS: And in his woman called the Scarlet Woman is all power given.

PRIEST: They shall gather my children into their fold:

PRIESTESS: they shall bring the glory of the stars into the hearts of men.

PRIEST: For He is ever a Sun.

PRIESTESS: And she a Moon.

PRIEST: But to him is the winged secret flame.

PRIESTESS: And to her the stooping starlight.

PRIEST: We have used myrrh, we have burnt incense, we have hacked up the earth.

PRIESTESS: We have presented offerings before Isis and Nepthys that they may place holy things upon the arms of Sesheta who is pregnant with us.

PRIEST: Nuit hath set thee as a god to Set, thee in thy name Neter

PRIESTESS: Thy mother Nuit hath spread herself out over thee in her name 'Coverer of the Sky'. Nepthys hath united for thee thy members in her name 'Sesheta, Lady of the Buildings through which thou hast passed. And thy mother Nuit hath granted that she shall embrace you in her name, 'Quersut' and that she shall introduce you in her name 'Door'.

 

Ceremony of the Door:

PRIEST: Where do we come from?

PRIESTESS: From between the Thighs of the Goddess, between the Pillars of the Temple.

PRIEST: Where do we go?

PRIESTESS: To the House of Death: Name the parts of the Door that we may enter.

PRIEST: Beyond the door are the stars of Nuit

PRIESTESS: The Lintel of the door is the Winged Disk of the Sun, Hadit.

PRIEST: The right leaf is Isis.

PRIESTESS: The left leaf is Nepthys.

PRIEST: The bolt to be drawn is the Finger of Set (touch phallus).

PRIESTESS: The socket is the Black Hole at the center of the Wheel of Stars (touch kteis), Nu.

PRIEST: The Threshold is Seb[5].

Form a circle. No one may leave until the conclusion of the ceremony.

 

Purification:

The priestess mixes the salt and water, and walking widdershins around the circle, sprinkles herself, the priest, and the worshipers.

PRIESTESS: Earth and Water, Virtue of the Oceans, Mother of Life, purify us.

 

Sanctification:

The priest places the incense in the censer, and walking deosil around the circle, censes himself, the priestess, and the worshipers

PRIEST: Fire and Air, Virtue of the Winds of Enlightenment, Father of Light, sanctify us.

The Holy Water and the Censer are placed on the Altar to form a triangle with the lamp.

 

Exorcisms:

Priest takes up the dagger, holding it point down, and traces the circle widdershins.

PRIEST: The Knife divides the World of Men from the World of Gods. (He returns to center.) Be banished in the name of Thelema, all that would oppose our Will.

The priest places the dagger to the east on the Altar.

 

Invocation:

The Priestess takes up the cup. She traces the circle deosil.

PRIESTESS: We invoke Thee, Lady of the Cup. Bring the spirit in our wine. (She returns to center.) Be invoked in the name of Agape, all those who would compose our Love.

The priestess pours the wine into the cup, she places it to the west on the Altar.


 

The Priest calls the Sons of Horus

The Priest walks to the direction indicated.[6]

PRIEST: We invoke Thee, Hapi who hast the head of a Ape[7].

            “I protect that which is within thee, thy small intestine, and one of thy arms.”

Spoken by the priest opposite the high priest as he invokes this Deity.

TOGETHER: We invoke Thee, Son of Horus.

PRIEST:  We invoke Thee, Kebekhsenuf, who hast the head of a Hawk.

            “I protect what is within thee, thy liver, thy gall bladder, and one of thy legs.”

Spoken by the priest opposite the high priest.

TOGETHER: We invoke Thee, Son of Horus.

PRIEST:  We invoke Thee, Imset, who hast the head of a Man.

            “I protect what is within thee, thy stomach, large intestine, and one of thy legs.”

Spoken by the priest opposite.

TOGETHER: We invoke Thee, Son of Horus.

PRIEST:  We invoke Thee, Duamutef, who hast the head of a Jackal.

            “I protect what is within thee, thy lungs, thy heart, and one of thy arms.”

By the priest opposite.

TOGETHER: We invoke Thee, Son of Horus.

The priest takes his place within the circle as the priestess comes forward to invoke the goddesses.

 

The Priestess calls the Four Goddesses

The priestess walks to the direction indicated.

PRIESTESS:  We invoke Thee, Nebt-het, Lady of Darkness, Lady of the House of the King.

“I hide the hidden thing, and I make protection for Hapi who is in me.”

Her words are spoken by the priestess who is opposite the high priestess as she invokes

TOGETHER: We invoke Thee, Daughter of Nuit.

PRIESTESS:  We invoke Thee, Selket, who guards the crowned and conquering Child. Lady of the Scorpion.

“I employ each day in making protection for Kebekhsenuf who is in me.”

Her words are spoken by the priestess who is opposite the high priestess.

TOGETHER: We invoke Thee, Daughter of Nuit.

PRIESTESS:  We invoke Thee, Aset, Lady of  Light, Lady of the throne of the King.

“I conquer the foe, I make protection for Imset who is in me.”

Spoken by the priestess opposite.

TOGETHER: We invoke Thee, Daughter of Nuit.

PRIESTESS:  We invoke Thee, Neith, Lady of the Bow.

“I pass each morning and I pass the night of each day in making protection for Duamutef who is in me”

Spoken by the opposite.

TOGETHER: We invoke Thee, Daughter of Nuit.

 

Call for Blessing:

PRIEST: We have called Thee, Hapi, Kebekhsenuf, Imset, and Duamutef[8]. Protect us in the time of the waxing moon enlighten our minds, help us heal and grow.

 

PRIESTESS: We have called Thee, Nebt-het, Selket, Aset, and Neith.

Protect us in the time of the waxing moon bless our bliss, and nurture our being.

PRIEST: We invoke Thee, Quersut, Goddess of Infinite Space and the infinite stars thereof We greet thee and ask thy help and blessing, thy heart of understanding.

PRIESTESS: We invoke Thee, Khonsu, God of Love and of the intimate embrace. We greet thee and ask thy help and blessing, thy thought and  empowerment.

They embrace together. Priestess raises cup.

PRIESTESS: I am above you and in you. My ecstasy is in yours. My joy is to see your joy.

Priest breaks bread.

PRIEST: Aye! feast![9] rejoice! there is no dread hereafter

PRIEST May the Immortals enjoy this feast of conception in the House of Anpu.

 

The Priest and Priestess thank the deities and do license to depart before closing the rite. This is also where a request might be made of the deities, and where the changes of Nature are recognized. The feast or revel is where the included rituals and great rites that are unique to this occasion are done. It could be said that the Deities interact with the worshipers as equals on these occasions. We go to their House to celebrate and party with them.

 


 

[1] The ‘House of Life ‘ is a generic term for the Egyptian Temple, these temples often were located on the east bank of the Nile. A temple of this sort was considered a celebration of life, and the deity therin a deification of one of the principles of life. Thoth was the God of Magick and it was he that uttered the Words of creation, he was also associated with the full Moon.

[2] The ‘House of Death’ is a generic term for the tomb, although these tombs had temples attached to them, where the living could go to receive guidance or to give an offering. They became places of Magick. One aspect of Khonsu, as the mumiform Magician and Exorcist, was associated with the Tomb, he personifies the new Moon and was said to be able to transfer his power to objects.

[3] Heb. "Dallet" 4+30+30+5+9=78, and the Priest, Son of Ra, Khonsu. Heb. "Vau", 6+1+6=13, the Hierophant in the Tarot, greets and questions the entrants.

 

[4]This is only one example, and not necessarily the best one, of an expression of the previous outline of the silver rite.

[5] Some say Geb.

[6] These deities are attributed to the directions depending on which realm you are working. Elementary, Planetary, Astral, or Absolute. Some also change the order in which they are called to match. Lucy Lamy gives the directions used at the coronation of the King as: Nepthys and Hapi to the East, Isis and Imset to the West, Selket and Kebekhsenuf to the South, Neith and Duamutef to the North. Budge gives Hapi to the North, Duamutef to the to the East, Imset to the South, and Kebekhsenuf to the west.

[7] Budge in Egyptian Magick, gives Dog-headed.

[8]Originally I attributed these with Duamutef to the southeast, Imset to the Southwest, Hapi to the Northwest, and Kebekhsenuf to the Northeast. This is the way that it is in the tomb of Tut-ankh-amon. I have seen various schemes among the ancient Egyptians in these attributions. In rituals they sometimes seem to start at one quarter and move to another. Other attributions given later seem better to me, but feel free to work with them as you will. Check out different Qabalah on the spelling of the names as well.

[9]Do so, feel the presence of the Deities, within and without the worshipers. After the ceremony is ended then the priest and priestess give the license to depart..

 

 

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