I have learnt a lot of things from my initiation and the many debates I have had with my master. One of the most remarkable of them is about rituals. In contrast to the rituals held by wizards and other arcanists, divine rituals are not about logic, geometry and other laws of magic. Rituals to praise the gods are about ideas, concepts and beliefs. While most mages rely in a strict pragmatism and rationalism, mystics rely in the power of beliefs and ideas. I did not mentioned animists; however they do belong to the second category, yet in a more primitive version. Despite, many consider I do belong to the first of these two poles; my true nature is in communion with the second one. As always, my own existence is a paradoxical misfit. Perhaps that is the reason my magic is also paradoxical.
Gods are very powerful beings; however their power resides on their limitations and abstraction. Not many understand this. Illustrating this in a simplistic and brief way may mislead many, however in order to avoid unnecessary digressions I will summarize this in a sentence: “Deities are the embodiment of a concept. Therefore the sphere of one ends where another sphere begins.” This is because gods, in spite of what many might think, are not almighty.
It is true that some share this “domain”; however they normally do this in different levels or due to a tight link between them. Some are dependent to others, this is the reason there are greater and lesser deities. Furthermore, like it happens with concepts, the borders separating them are vague and ever-changing. I do believe even it is possible for a god to snatch a piece of other’s domain. Yet, it is a complex matter and it must involve a huge cultural shock as it means a breach in tradition.
All of this explains why it is so complex to fully understand a deity; and the reason why takes long time to pass the line between adept to priest, and from this to archpriest. As deities depends and rely in ideas and beliefs, these should be carefully locked within the churches. This is the nature of “mysteries”: the traditions and laws that rule a god. If they were known to anyone, the church and therefore the deity would be compromised, for this reason they are carefully kept secret. Revealed only to those who proved worthy and deserve the trust of their gods. In exchange, the deity grant power to their worshippers, and this, to increase their own power; intercede for their deity in order to increase their number, increasing as well the power of their god itself. This wheel of divine power is mighty, but its balance is fragile. For this reason, devotees that have betrayed their deity are pursued and punished. Their god withdraws his favor from them and their colleagues hunt them to death in order to prevent a disaster. Those who take clergy lightly must think twice before opposing a deity and their church.
Said that, I am about to step in a foreign and dangerous field; experimenting and adventuring myself in a complex and risky ground. Yet, my master has not opposed and has even offered his help. I believe he is testing me and that he enjoys the situation even when it is also risky to himself.
At this point, the next step to take is explaining how different a ritual is to a simple spell. Any adept partakes in a ritual of initiation. This is the first and the most basic of the rituals of a deity, to where I know. During this ritual, the individual make a bond with their deity and is this bond what allow them to channel a spell of their deity acting themselves as a proxy. This bond is also what empowers the deity and I believe this last even after death. That is the reason why our souls are gathered by our gods, avoiding falling into oblivion.
¿What is a ritual, then? A ritual is a complex process in which ideas and symbolism take place to manifest the very essence of a god. In other words, it is a method to summon his or her power in a determined space and time. It might sound easy, however it is a very complex process and also very dangerous. The manifestation of a deity depends of many things. Examples might be: Using the correct symbolism to manifest the correct part of the deity’s power; performing it the correct day to manifest the power; and, of course, to have the fortune of the god answering the call.
Likewise, many are the things that might go wrong. For example, summoning a wrong god or even another being. Failing in the performance may even imply upsetting the deity becoming target of divine retribution. I am also aware of other oddities that may happen if the ritual is interrupted. Of course, gods are whimsy and another option is the god not answering the call and nothing happening at all. Fortunately for me, my master gave me some clues and guided me briefly. In any case, I am taking some extra measures to avoid any possible unpleasant situation.
¿So what does a ritual consist in? I do not have a wide experience with divine rituals, however what I could observe in the few I partook or witnessed is enough to differentiate a basic structure. This structure is similar to the arcane rituals but even more to the literary arts. This is not surprising as, at the end, a ritual consist in writing a story; a powerful one. And even more, in this case in which words and ideas are involved.
This structure consists in three main parts, or little rituals:
-An introduction or preparation: In which, the performers purify themselves and prepare and expose the symbology. This part split in two actions closely intertwined. The first action consists in the purification; were the petitioners clean and purify, first, the elements of the ritual; and then their body and mind. And the second action were the scenario is prepared methodically and everything is set in place. Depending on the ritual, the order might change or the actions may be alternate.
-A body, the ritual itself: In which the god is called and praised, the petition is made and payed. This part varies on the deity and tradition.
-Finally, and not less important, a closure: In which the petition may or may not be awarded; and were the power of the deity depart from this world and the link is closed.
Aditional notes:
Two of these elements must be studied carefully and in detail. These are the purification and the oblation.
Regarding the purification, many ways have been described in ancient volumes and grimoires; however the most common are the purification by fire and by water. Those two elements have played an important role through ages in cleansing body and mind. Of course applied to the practitioners, only the water is normally the chosen option by obvious reasons. It must be done with extreme care.
Regarding to the oblation, there are four main types:
Libations: Consisting in an offering of liquid which is spilled on the floor or over the symbols. Generally water, an alcoholic beverage, or blood.
Offerings: Consisting in an object offered to the deity by destroying it or simply placing it in an altar.
Sacrifice: Consisting in an offering of a life. Generally animals consecrated to the deity, and in rare cases willing intelligent beings also consecrated or unwilling enemies of the deity. The tales tell that the most devious and evil deities demand innocent lives, yet I have no proof of this.
Oaht: Consisting in the offering of a future feat or action. This oaths are with the deitie and consist in a future deed in his name or benefit. If the vow is accepted but not accomplished it might turn out in a curse of punishment from the deity.
Nixidea - The Witch of Dreams Coral - The Humming Mermaid Rakh'sha - The Master of Wonders
The first thing to do is drying the flowers, as this will take longer. One kilogram of violets, three water lilies, and a handful of jasmine will be dried in a rack. These are important but the use is different. The water lilies, I picked myself in the little lake in Cloackwood, will be burnt during the ritual in three different burners. With the violets, once dried, I will crush them with a little bit of virgin oil in order to elaborate the paint I will use later. The jasmine will be burnt in a burner during the purification. I will explain the symbolism and proprieties of both later, during the description of the ritual.
Meanwhile I will take the vessels to a water spring I have located in the wood of Sharp Teeth, in a tributary to the Chionthar. The water for purification must be of high purity, therefore wells and rivers near settlements are discarded. Three clean vessels will serve to transport the liquid and should be enough to fill the tab. This was specially ordered to my merchant of trust. It is a round wooden tab, eight feet long for two tall. No nails on it, only an iron ring to hold it together. Polished but not varnished. Purity is important. The wood must be ash, it symbolize the world and also induce dreams of prophetic nature. His protective might is powerful and it is highly related to dreams.
Collecting the stems of holly is also a must. Three stems for a crown, they must be long enough and with fruits. Cleanly cut with a sickle. This is also a powerful charm, it is the plant of the witching hour, when it has more power. As it is the time I have to go through the purification and ritual, it will be a powerful amulet.
Another thing to do is to wash carefully the three chickens; in order to prepare them for the ritual; a bit of red wine and some poppy seed will be their food the night before; and after that, eating is not allowed to them. They shall be kept in their cages to prevent them to eat anything else; and covered with a cloth in order to prevent them to be disturbed.
Of course the attire for the occasion is already prepared and well folded, packed carefully in silk to prevent either stains or any possible damage. I must also buy a little brazier. I have already ordered some coal to Otto Goldstein. The diamonds are clean and shiny after a week-bath in salty water, and the vial is untouched since I gathered it. The grimoire and the bone knife are also wrapped separately with leather, and the creepy bag… Well, what to say about it…? I will give it a better use than the previous master. The only thing left to do is to transport everything to the place, set the candles, draw the circle, and wait for the right time.
Purification:
I am glad we are in Ches, the equinox is the perfect time for this ritual as it is when the planes are closer one to eachother; and therfore magic is stronger. It is exactly midnight and so: I will begin.
I fast since yesterday night and I can feel my stomach growling and shaking, yet it is important for the ritual of purification. In the darkness of the cave, only the candles light the emptiness. In a side, the tab is waiting for me, and so is my master. This ritual is designed for me and he will only help on the parts I cannot do myself alone. Everything is quiet as I approach the empty bath. I can smell the scent of the burning jasmine in the burner. It is not a whim, jasmine helps to sleep and it is also a protection. From now I will be totally exposed as I have to open myself to the power the ritual will bring.
I intone the psalm, and the echoes of the cave answer me. As soon as I get rid of my clothes I can feel the cold air over my white skin. I have nothing on me but the little jar with the paint and the crown of holly. (The violets where a suggestion from my master; I know not the reason, however what I know is they are a symbol of seduction and they also represent faithfulness.) I deep my fingers on the viscous substance, my voice flow clear regardless of the cold. My fingertips spread the pigment in the border of the tab as I walk around it, and once it is closed I can feel the ambience changing. I cannot explain, it is subtle and yet obvious. I feel observed, not by my master but someone else. I feel something running through my skin and it is not just the cold.
My master takes the jar, and I kneel in the middle of the tab, yet repeating the rhythmic song, filling my mind with it:
“Oh, my Lady! You, that brings dreams upon us. I am your servant. Oh, my Lady! You, that holds the vail in front of us. Allow me to purify my soul.”
With my eyes closed I feel the water poured over me, it is icy; but so it is the emptiness I seek. One, two, three times the water runs through my hair, over my shoulders, freezing my chest and plunging my thighs. And after the third time, I open my eyes and pick up the bag my master is holding for me. I know what is inside, essence of shadows, a powerful poison. I spread it in the water and my hands slowly move around to dilute it. The water turns black, it is the time. I lie down and sink in those inky waters. It is risky, of course, but I took care not to have any wound. It is a proof that I am pure; it is a proof of my faith. Eventually the poison will soak into my skin, slowly. However this is also what I seek. It will draw my strength feeling heavier while I fall in the nothingness. I shall empty my body from any single emotion, feeling and thought. And meanwhile I will sleep peacefully. Many might think it would kill me; however we already stepped in a different realm. A realm of beliefs and ideas, a real where trust and faith are power itself.
I hear a voice, it is calling me, it echoes inside me. I awake, everything is silent, I don’t remember the dream. Coming out from that void I feel the water running through my body, I feel reborn. I know I am ready. As I stand up on the tab, my feet feel the water, it is warm now, I am leaving everything behind, even my heat. A couple of hours may have passed. As I come out, my master handle me the clean robes and the sharp knife. And only I know what comes next…
Nixidea - The Witch of Dreams Coral - The Humming Mermaid Rakh'sha - The Master of Wonders
The meaning of a ritual:
The ignorance surrounding the rites and rituals performed in honor of the gods caused a lot of superstitions related to them. Of course, as I said previously this is an advantage for both, churches and deities; which allow them to keep the secret tradition of the ‘mysteries’. As a consequence; performing this rites and rituals with no knowledge in the matter, will very likely cause a disaster for those who perform them. This way only the cults related can hold the full power of their deity and use it safely, and they own respect for such a feat. And also control.
One of these misbeliefs is that only evil deities accept sacrifices. This is wrong. Gods are merchants of power and beliefs. Faith is important to keep people together under the name of a god, yet faith will not grant any power or favor. What gods demands is not faith but devotion, and this two terms are frequently misunderstood. While faith consist in following the deity’s moral and teachings; and ruling with them our lives and acts; devotion means offering to this godly beings something of value to them and to us. Only this way they will satisfy our petitions. Prayers help to keep them in our minds and our hearts, and to inform them of what is happening in our realm. This is the way gods keep themselves knowledgeable. However, this is only a unidirectional channel and very rarely it has an answer; unless the link is formed by the ritual of initiation of a church.
So, what does gods do really want? They carve for devotion. Only by showing them we do commit with our beliefs, and this way is through sacrifice. Sometimes, this sacrifice is only an object, but the sacrifice is not only the object but what it means to us and to them. Is not the same to sacrifice something worthless for both, such somebody else belongings, than something worthless for us, such the sword of our family. This is, because, what is sacrificed is not only the object but the ideas and feelings upon them. Due to this, sacrificing cattle and livestock has always been an option to favor any god for two reasons:
-First, life is precious and full of possibilities
-Second, livestock means our own life as people die if a village lacks cattle.
But there is also another reason. This cattle has been raised, time has been spent on it, also water and vegetable that otherwise would have been useful for the village. This is why, craftwork is also worthy; as it is useful for growth and development and a lot of time has been spent on it. Furthermore, if this reason was not enough be enough, these things represent what our deities have offered us. Chautea offered us the grain and fertility, Mielikki concede us forests and game. Gond brought us craftwork and blacksmithing. Or Lurue gave us the animals we feed of. All this things are their blessings and they belong to them. Then, by sacrificing them after placing ideas and a link upon these things, we praise and show our gratitude to our deities. And this is also the reason that, during a willing human sacrifice or a cattle sacrifice, the offering is not considered to be murdered but consecrated to the deity and given back. Sacrifices are not evil as many think but an act of devotion.
However, even with sacrifices there are rules that trace the line between the propitious sacrifice and the disastrous that can doom an entire village.
Ritual:
As I leave behind me the bath, wearing my new clothes and feeling the cold stone under my feet; my chant begins once more:
“Oh my Lady! You that punish through nightmares. Come among us! Oh my Lady! You that rip the veil apart, allow me to foreseen the truth behind.”
I first stop lighting one of the burners with the dried water lilies, then walking around the circle, I light the other two. Water normally represents the celestial realm while flowers represent the earth realm; therefore water lilies are related to the cycle of birth, life, death, and rebirth by connecting them. And also, these beautiful flowers only bloom at night where the Lady of the Vail resides.
After that, five diamonds are placed in the vertex of the pentacle, this are the essence of the ritual, the trigger to release the power. Once this is done, I approach the brazier in the middle of the circle, also lighting it. Fire will take the offerings, because powerful magic and mysticism gather around it. Flames will also cast my shades in representation of my other side; not just the carcass is present but also the soul.
Now everything is ready for the offerings. A coin will make the first one, offered to the ladies of fate; begging them not interfering on the ritual. A cut in my finger will spill a drop of my blood. This is my vow, my promise. “I will bring one to the presence of my lady.” The next offering is the bag. It is a secret stolen from the enemy; an offering that now belongs to our lady. The powerful artifact comes next, the grimoire burn with strength. A tool snatch from our enemies they won’t be able to use against us.
Immediately after that, is the time for the chickens, the hardest part. They are quiet, relaxed. I present them to the brazier, holding them by the wings, in front of me. The first one, a clean cut, blood spills over the flames, they dance excited. The second one, the knife cuts deep, blood drips making them dance. The third offer her blood grateful, the fire hiss content. Three black chickens, birds belong to the sky, but chicken can’t fly. As for gods they must be white, goddess demand them black. With their blood dripping from my fingers I mark my face.
Offering finished, the vial spill the life essence over the five diamonds. Finally everything is ready. Master and I extract the force of the scrolls. I feel it for a moment, it is powerful, and something I have never held before. It is also odd, something different to what I am used to. Still magic, indeed, but its color, shape and essence is different, it is divine. The only thing in my mind is a request, and I bring it to life with my last psalm:
“Oh my Lady! You that see what lay inside us. I am your servant. Oh my Lady! You that hold great power, allow me to be your hand.”
Our hands full of power meet the circle and it shine intensely, conducting the energy through those rails, to the diamond and the substance covering them. Whether our prayer has been listened and our petition conceded, we will know very soon...
Nixidea - The Witch of Dreams Coral - The Humming Mermaid Rakh'sha - The Master of Wonders
An electrifying prick cross my body when that power flows into the rails I prepared, leaving my flesh and bones. However I shall not succumb, I shall stay still! The ritual must continue to the end. The mighty energy is intense; I feel it brimming over the circle, flooding the cave, reaching any corner of that place. I feel I could easily drown on it if I stop fighting to keep myself afloat.
My hands were burning, my body on pain. I have in mind only the objective of the ritual, the meaning of it, and how to perform it; otherwise, a single distraction and that power would tear me apart. I begin with it and I shall finish it!
One after another, I keep repeating the litany in honor of the gods. There is no more energy to sustain my own weight and yet I stay still. I can see all that might, gathering; I can feel the divines watching us. Our petitions have been accomplished and our objectives achieved. But this has not ended yet. The closure is needed, that whirlwind of forces must return to where it belongs or doom may fall upon us.
I hold the knife, yet dripping blood. In front of me, I present it to the darkness that has come when the hurricane of power extinguished the flames:
“Oh my Lady! This is you claw, with it I made a sacrifice in your honor. Oh my Lady! It carries all my guilt and shame, take it with you.”
After the last words I fracture the bone of the blade hitting it against my knee. Leaving it fall, I offer it to the darkness where the fire was lit. The remains of divine energy in the room are suddenly drawn to the brazier; and with the last gasp, the flames burst again, leaving everything as it was before. It almost feels like an illusion or a daydream. My legs fail me and I fall to the ground, weak. But there is a proof of my success. I feel stronger. And to celebrate, the chicken must be eaten in gratitude and delight.
Nixidea - The Witch of Dreams Coral - The Humming Mermaid Rakh'sha - The Master of Wonders
