(C) Daily Kos
This story was originally published by Daily Kos and is unaltered.
. . . . . . . . . .
A Fearless Rite [1]
['This Content Is Not Subject To Review Daily Kos Staff Prior To Publication.']
Date: 2023-08-20
One of the unfortunate, yet defining effects brought on by the changes we have undergone during the twenty-first century, is the ascendance of fear in the minds of far too many of us. Fear is perfectly natural and it can help us to steer clear of danger, it’s an evolutionary perk earned over millennia. But fear can be taken advantage of, by those who have learned to manipulate us in their relentless quest to gain and maintain power. There are those who want us to live our lives in fear. They need it to be that way. Because without fear we, can clearly see them for who they are, how terrible their ideas are, and know that our individual differences make society as a whole stronger, not weaker. And this is the fear of conservative America: the growth of a fearless society that rejects the will of the power hungry few who control the levers of wealth, the access to opportunity and the protection afforded by genuine equality. So they need us to fear them and to fear one another, that they may enforce conformity and obedience. I reject their claim to dominion over my mind, my life, my spirit.
But I need to bolster my fortitude from time to time. These are after all, heavy days. There are many techniques available to accomplish this task such as meditation, therapy, mindfulness, faith, self-care, spirituality, the list goes on and each of these has many variations. I encourage and support your decision to do what works for you when dealing with fear. But here’s something I have done and found helpful.
One aspect of following a pagan path is for many, the use of magical rites. Some are held sacred and kept from public view in order to maintain a sense of the holy. Many more can be found online or at most bookstores if you’ve got one nearby. Spell books and magical grimoires aren’t hard to find. If you are wondering what these magical rites might hold, if your curious about trying out a spell, or if you’re a well traveled practitioner, I offer you the following. A spell for realizing your fears and exorcising those pesky little buggers from your mind. It is my personal reworking of a well known spell from antiquity called “The Stele of Jeu the Hieroglyphist in his letter” or “The Headless Rite.”
The past two years I've been intrigued by the ancient writings found in what is known as the Greek Magical Papyri. If you're unfamiliar with it, it's a collection of old Greco-Egyptian spells written over the course of several centuries. The PGM, as it's commonly referred to, has some pretty wild stuff. The content ranges from the fragmentary and confusing, to the disgusting and offensive, to some spells that are actually pretty inspiring and that many have found effective. It also serves as a historical window into the past, revealing what magical practitioners were up to 2,000 years ago. Much of what they were up to was pretty unsavory and the translations often don't roll off the tongue with ease. On top of that, many of the spells use "magical voices" or "barbarous words," you know, the "ABRACADABRA" type of words that have been caricatured countless times. The meanings of most of these barbarous words are long since forgotten. Many of them reference various deities from different religions, different pantheons. “IAO,” for example is a reference to the Abrahamic God, Yaweh, while “Osorronophris” has been said to mean “Beautiful Osiris”. One of the most remarkable facts about the PGM is that the ancient priests or sorcerers who wrote these spells had no problem calling on the Gods of Egypt, the Gods of Greece, the Judeo-Christian God and others all at the same time, in the same spell.
The Headless Rite, found in the PGM, is basically an empowerment spell to rid yourself of the unhelpful daimons or spirits that were thought to plague your life. In the distant past, an addiction, a pattern of self-sabotage, hatred, anger, bad luck, any unhelpful repeating occurrence would have been seen as the result of harmful spirits lurking within what we now call our shadow self. From a current perspective, when considering what it is our daimons might be, that which prevents us from really seeing one another, causing harm to one another and to our selves, my heart tells me it's our fears. Yet in realizing these fears, whether born of misunderstandings or past trauma, if we can see and know them, we can grow and be free of them.
What I present here is a modified version of the Headless Rite as a spell to see ones fear and turn that energy into something useful. It still involves calling to spirits, declaring oneself to the Divine and using the magical voices as originally presented. Keep the magical voices in the spell if you try it, they are a deep connection to the past. Just do the best you can with pronunciation. Roses aren't as beautiful or mysterious without the thorns, so don’t skip them. There is a protective charm described in the PGM to be used with the spell but I have made it so the only thing you need for this is a small bowl of water, and to read the script. The words on the charm are included in the spell anyway, so you're good to go. I kind of get the feeling that the charm was for when performing the spell on someone else anyway. Who knows. Insert your own full name where it says (name) and your own pronoun where it says (pronoun). When these appear next to one another use both, your are talking about yourself, a step removed. Also give one good hand clap where it says (clap).
Most people report feeling energized and refreshed by the many versions of this spell that are out there, with the long term effect of things just kind of getting out of their way in life. When performing this version I had a series of dreams that woke me up several times throughout the night, so maybe save it for a weekend, during the waning or dark moon. And since I have made it into a spell to know your fears and to be freed from them, don't be surprised if your dreams reflect that. Happily, while the dreams that came to me should have been disturbing based on what I was seeing, I calmly walked right through what normally would have made me hide under the covers. As the spell progresses, you will notice a change from speaking about the Divine, to speaking to the Divine before finally speaking as Divine yourself. This is a pretty standard formula for invoking deity. The first few lines I added are a call to ally spirits, those of place, your ancestors, and wise ones, practitioners of the past. One last note, while the PGM speaks of the "true names" of gods, my changes, the additional ending chant/visualization/meditation, are there to present the idea of ones own "true name" for contemplation and the possibilities that are open to us when we consider it. I hope you enjoy the rite and maybe even find it helpful. Alright then, here’s my adaptation of the Headless Rite as "The Fearless Rite." (Finer points in the notes that follow for those who might want to give it a go.)
“The Fearless Rite”
Face the North. Consecrate a small bowl of water by saying "This water is pure, This water lives" and then breathe your sacred breath upon it, the holy breath that you share with and connects you to, all life on Earth. With your fingertips, draw the symbol “ :> “ on your chest/heart, the sigil of a serpent’s head, with the water.
Say:
Ancestor spirits, we walk hand in hand, (clap)
Spirits of place, we share this land, (clap)
Wise ones passed, by your deeds I stand. (clap)
Your presence is welcome now here in this rite
Dance within my shadow tonight.
Stars above, Earth below
Within Without, let Spirit flow.
I ask of you guides, and allies dear,
Make aware to me, my buried fear.
And from this cause of terror and fright,
Of depths of my soul, I will gain insight.
I summon you Headless One
Who created this land and all realms of the Otherworld
Who created day, night, and twilight
Who created the seasons of life, death, and rebirth.
You are Osoronnophris whom none has ever seen
You are Iabas, You are Iapos
You have distinguished the just and unjust
You have made lover and beloved
You have revealed seed, flower, and fruit
You have made people free to love one another or to bind themselves in hatred.
I am (name), one who turns the wheel
To me, you teach your mysteries
You have revealed life and death and all challenges.
Hear Me!
I am the messenger of the Pharaoh Osorronophris
This is your timeless name
Which has been earned by those who walk between the worlds
Hear Me!
ARBATHIAO REIBET ATHELEBERSETH ARA BLATHA ALBEU EBENPHCHI CHITASGO IBAOTH IAO
Listen to me and illuminate my fears.
I call upon you awesome and invisible god with an empty spirit
AROGOGOROBRAO SOCHOU MODORIO PHALARCHAO OOO
Holy Headless One, liberate (pronoun), (name), from the fear which restrains (pronoun)
ROUBRIAO MARI ODAM BAABNABAOTH ASS ADONAI APHNIAO ITHOLETH ABRASAX AEOOY
Mighty Headless One, deliver (pronoun), (name), from the fears which restrain (pronoun)
MABARRAIO IOEL KOTHA ATHOREBALO ABRAOTH
Free (pronoun), (name)
AOTH ABRAOTH BASYM ISAK SABAOTH IAO
Eternal spirit of the cosmos
Green Guardian of the sacred breath
The one for whom the four winds wail
Healer divine, use your voice, empower the soul!
IEOU PYR IOU PYR IAOT IAEO IOOU ABRASAX SABRIAM OO YY EY OO YY ADONAIE
Now! Immediately! Winged messenger, soar!
ANLALA LAI GAIA APA DIACHANNA CHORYN
I am the headless one with sight in my feet
I am the mighty one, immortal soul of fire
I am the truth who mourns the fact that unjust deeds are done in the world
I am the one who makes the lightning flash and the thunder roll
I am the one whose sweat falls upon the earth as rain so that the seed may release the sun
I am the one whose words craft and unmake
I am the favor of the Aion.
My name is a heart graced by a serpent.
Come Forth and follow.
A O… A O… A O… A O… A O.. .A O… A O… [Chant the Alpha and Omega for as long as you wish. While doing so, visualize a glowing red serpent of light emerge from your heart where you drew the sigil. See it encircling you, protecting you, as it weaves it’s ever flowing, undulating path. Let the chant rise and fall as the pattern of a heartbeat, your pulse, the serpentine rhythm of your life in its entirety, from it's first beat to it's last. For who you are, your name, is all your life's actions and manifestations. Your thread in the fabric of eternity. This life lasts as long blood flows, from beginning to end, Alpha to Omega. Contemplate this lifelong string of heartbeats as your true name, that none but you may ever speak. Make of it what you will.]
(When you are ready, say your own prayer to the Gods and Goddesses you know, affirm your love and dedication, and ask for their blessings. Then take a few moments to listen. Give thanks to the Gods and Goddesses and all the spirits who attended your rite. Heed your dreams.)
**Additional Notes for the Hardcore** (None of the following is essential but might be of use)
* The line about the seed/sun was inspired by Phyllis Curott's words. The ending and the idea of our heartbeats as a representation of our lifetime and who we are was inspired by joining her in circle on April 15, 2023. Thank you Phyllis! (see also: Witch of Fire, from "Witches' Wisdom Tarot")
* The final prayer/dedication/blessing/listen/thanks sequence is from the teaching of John Beckett. Thank you John!
* See the original spell in "The Greek Magical Papyri in Translation" edited by Hans Dieter Betz for comparison to my changes and additions, there are many.
* For accuracy regarding the magical voices also see Betz. (I used the standard keyboard O for Omega, there are 7 Greek vowels, etc.) Just give the pronunciation your best guess. When in doubt, go with the long vowel sound and chant/vibrate the magical voices as you feel.
*inaccurate vowel guide: A= ah like open wide and say ah
E= eh like get
H= ay like eight
I= ee like eek a mouse!
O= a like otter
Y= ooo like Uber
O= oh like oh my this should be Omega but I don't know how to type Greek fonts
* the symbol :> is given by Betz to be the beneficial symbol as part of the protective charm. I interpret it as the head of a snake.
Enhancements for the Rite:
I wrote the “Fearless Rite” to be fairly simple, you really only need some water and the script. However here are some possible suggestions for a more devotional, and dramatic ritual.
* Try to do this at night, outside, alone in some secluded space preferably during the waning or dark of the moon. This is the proper moon phase for banishings.
* For candles I always like just plain natural beeswax for all work. Red is also good like the color of blood, green could be a nice acknowledgement of Osiris who is often depicted with green skin.
* White clothing is another nice acknowledgement of Osiris as he’s often depicted in white, partially mummified.
* Instead of water you could use an oil. I like patchouli, nice and earthy.
* Incense is always a plus. Myrrh is a good choice here. Egyptian Kyphi would also be highly appropriate. My personal choice is a blend of cinnamon, myrrh and dragons blood resin. Plus incense helps keep the mosquitos away if you live in a swamp like me.
* Pre-ritual bath with whatever nice herbs you like. I like a dash of salt and a few drops of rosemary oil. Sounds like the start of a soup but I love the scent rosemary oil. Let the waters inherent purity fill you. Failing the bath, dust your hands with cinnamon, declare yourself pure.
* Sweeten your words by eating a bit of honey before you start.
* Any ritual jewelry you normally use to honor the Gods.
* If you haven't worked with ancestors, local spirits or the spirits of witches of the past, you might try honoring them with an offering (glass of water with honey or even just water will do) before calling on them as you do at the start of the rite.
*Use a bell instead of the clap if you like.
[END]
---
[1] Url:
https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2023/8/20/2188416/-A-Fearless-Rite
Published and (C) by Daily Kos
Content appears here under this condition or license: Site content may be used for any purpose without permission unless otherwise specified.
via Magical.Fish Gopher News Feeds:
gopher://magical.fish/1/feeds/news/dailykos/
