Fellowship of Isis - Online Liturgy http://www.fellowshipofisis.com

Dea, Rites and Mysteries of the Goddess By: Olivia Robertson

Introduction

ThereligionoftheGoddesscentresaroundtheHearth.Whetherthisbetheinnersunflamingwithinthematrixofourearth,orthesunitself,thisisthesourceofmanifestedlife.Withinthebodyofallmothers,whetherGoddesses,women,femalecreaturesthatgivebirthtoeggorseed,the innerfireistheDivineCentre.Inthisnucleusisourownheartslife,thatheartwhoserhythmicbeatingkeepsusaliveandsetsmovingtherhythmicDanceofCreation.ThisHeartbeatoftheCosmossetsmovingallheartbeats,eventhetinypulsewithinabladeofgrass.Ontheearthlyleveltheheartbringslife.OnotherlevelsitisLove.FortheHeartexistsonalllevels.WomanisnaturalPriestesstotheGreatGoddess,andsopresidesoverthehearth.Whereveranylivingflameburns,thereistheVestalFireguardedbyHestia.ThetraditioninIreland,andinmanycountries,isthatthehearthfiremustneverdie.AtthetimeofthewintersolsticethefireisrenewedwithembersfromthedyingfireofYule.Itiswomanstasktokeepthisfirealight.Itismanstasktobringherfuelforhertask.TocreateashrinetotheGoddessthereneedstobethismatriarchalflame.Inanyimpersonalhotelroom,inatownflat,inasmallgarden,thevestalflameisthesame,andgivesthesamepowerasthatbestowedby theGoddess in themighty templesofantiquity.Thissacred flamemayberepresentedbya lightedcandle,anincensestick,aresinoustorchorsmallfire.ThesmokerepresentsAir,theholybreathwhichkeeps the fire alive, as does our breath combine with our heartbeats. By the divine law ofcorrespondences,everythingmaterialinthisworldisasymbolforsomerealityinanothersphere.Whena fire, candlesor incense areburntwith the intentionofhonouringDeity, a communication centre iscreated,whichformsalinkinagoldenchainthatbringsthroughthefierypoweroftheDeityinvoked.Havingmadethecentreofourshrine,weneedashell,aMatrixtoprotectit.Inthepastthiswasthedutyofthemanwhobuiltthehomeorthetemple.ThisMatrixingreaterformmaybeunderstoodtobethedarknessofOuterSpacewhichholdsgalaxiesinitsembracingblackness.Itistheblueatmospherewithfleecycloudswhichprotectsourearthlyvegetationasarobe:itisthecrustoftheearth,achrysalisthatconcealsthemysterywithin.Beneaththisrockyshellofeartharetwo lavaflowsofmagmawhich, likefierydragonsrotatingincontrarydirections,protectthegoldenapplesthatshineintheglowingheartofour planet.And so also is theMatrix the protectingwomb that enfolds the unborn child and smallanimal:thesnakethatconcealshereggswithinher:thenutshellandhuskthatguardthelivingkernelandseedwithin.Thoughwerespectgreattemples,asimpleroomorgroveoftreesformaMatrixthatprotectsouraltarfire.Ashrinemaybeapsychictemplenotmadewithhands.TheDevotee,sittinginsilentcontemplation,even inacrowdedroom,mayyetbuild increative imaginationashrine thatguards theprivacyof thesoul.FortheMatrixisnotonlyawomborshell:itisalsotheindividualaura.Wecarryourtemplesaboutus.WithintheshrineistherestingplaceofDeity,theAltar.Madeofstoneorwood,thealtaristhethroneofIsis,Aset;andthePalladium,thecasketofAthena.HereisthemeetingplaceofDeityandDevotee.HeretheGoddessorGodmanifesteitherthroughtheHierophantorthroughalltheparticipants.TheelementsplacedonthealtarareanearthlyfocuswhereDeitymaymaterialisethroughearth,air,fireandwater;andthroughoilwhichrepresentstheblendingoftheprimalfour.Anyshelfortableinaroommaybethe

altar, and any quarter orplace between the compasspointsmay beused. For each compasspoint isrelevant to theGoddess.On thealtarmaybeoffereda stone,apotplant, incense sticksanda cupofwater.ThroughtheirhallowingbytheDevotee,theseareusedasafocusfortheirowntruebeing.Thegemoflifeisinastone:thedivinebreathiswithinsmoke:theelixiroflifeshinesthroughwater.Everyelement,everyatom,containsthesparkneedfulforitstransmutation.Through this realisation, theDevotee invokesDeityand throughasimple touchingof thehands,mayawaken the life spark within each object. Earth protects: on another level it represents strength andstability.Firebringsvitality:italsoinagreatersphereofbeing,typifiesLove.AirsymbolisesMindandSpiritandsomustbefreetomove.Waterissoreceptivethatitmustbekeptpureandcalm,yetflowing.Otherwise,likeunhealthyemotions,itmayeitherrageinastorm,orstagnate.Thoughoccultsymbolismvaries indifferentsystems,theprincipleremainsthesame.Anyobject,howeverhumble, isakeyto itsessentialrealityingreaterspheres.Thepurposeofritualistostrikeanoteononelevelevenwithbell,gongorsistrum,andsotoawakenthesamenoteonotheroctavesofbeing.Whenashrineisawakenedthroughitstruekeynoteandcolour,itbeginsasitweretohumlikeawelltuned harp. It is the awareness of theDevotee that brings about this transformation. For theDeitiesrespondtothosewhoknock.Theyanswer.Thoseseekerswhoarereadyforexpansionofconsciousnessmayeasethewaytoinitiation.TheElementalSpirits,theSidhe,DevisandDevas,willworkinharmonywiththosewhotreattheelementswithrespect.NoSpiritsshouldbecommandedevenifthisispossible:theycomejoyfullytothosewhodotheMotherswork.TheRites in thisManual start very simply, for oneDevoteewhomay be starting on thePath to theMysteries,andisalone.Todaylonelinessisaveryunpleasantstateoflivingformany,especiallysoforthosedrawntotheoccult.Inpastagesthosechurchmenandkingswhopersecutedpeoplewithpsychicgifts,atleastacknowledgedthesefacultiestobereal.Itispossiblymorecomplimentaryifdisagreeabletobe burnt, drowned or hanged, than to be incarcerated in amental home as a patient suffering fromdelusions.Thousandsofmenandwomen feel lonelywithin themselvesbecause theyareawareof thepsychicsphere,whichtheylongtoenjoyyetdarenot,becausetheyfearridiculeorcontempt.Noonelikes to be thought either absurd ormad.The creation of a shrine helps a lonelyDevotee tomake astronghold for the soul, where psychic development may take place without disturbance fromunsympatheticfamilyorneighbours.Thisstrongholdmaybe inasmallbedroomorgarden.Allthat isessentialisthepowertomakeimageswiththeeyesshut,orimaginebeautifulwordsandmusic,throughthecreativeimagination.However,actualrepresentationsareanaid.ApostcardofaGoddesscannotexcitecommentascanthesmell of incense: andwhowill object to a box ofmatches and a glass ofwater?Onematch flame issufficienttoinvoketheelementoffirethoughcareisneededwhenthisisdoneineverysphere.Recordedmusicalsogiveswingstothesoul,andthereadingofwrittenritualsstimulatesthespirit.When regularuseof the shrinebecomesestablished, theDevoteeexperiences thekindnessandaidofSpiritGuidesandGuardianAngels.CommunionwithDeityisnolongeronlyapromise:itbecomesfact.Nowcomesachoice.Therearethosewhoprefertofollowthesolitarypath.ThisisonemuchprizedinEasternschools.AfterinitialsponsorshipbytheGuru,theaspirantmeditatesinsolitude.However,itisassumedintheseritesoftheFellowshipofIsisthatoursolitaryDevoteemaywantcompanionshiponthePath. Two or three friends gather together, and discover enhanced joy and power through humancommunion.Experience isgainedthroughdiscussionandpractice.Widervisionsareobtainedthroughgroupmeditation andwhen reports frommeditation are shared, amulticoloured pattern is broughtforth,with some strands similar, some differing, but all forming a beautiful andmeaningful picture.Guidesmayvary,nationalities,andevenDeities:someparticipantsreceiveChineseinfluence,othersareguidedfromAncientEgyptor theDevicrealms.Andasparticipationcontinues,thediscovery ismadethatthewisertheTeachers,themoretheyworkinharmonywithotherTeacherstoaidhumanityandalllife.AsgreaterTeachersmake themselvesknown, they reveal the essentialTruths inall religionsandphilosophies.Withthemtheworthofeverypathisacknowledged.

Whatof levels thatare lessadvanced thanourown,whichmay interferewithourwork?There isnointerference.Thelessadvancedareintouchwithusbecausetheyneedus:andwemayneedthem.Surelywe, being unique individuals, have something to offer Deity as gifts, besides hymns of praise andincense.Likewisesomeunevolvedbeingrequiringrescueworkmayyethaveagreatdealtoteachus.TheDailyRitesareoffered in thisLiturgyasbeinghelpfulforoneDevotee,or for twoor threepeopleliving in the same home. The SeasonalRites are particularly suitable for groupswho can onlymeetoccasionally.InaSeasonalRite,theinvocationisconnectedwithaspecialtimeofyear,withthecyclicmovementsofthecelestialbodiesandwith theclimaticchangesof theearth.For those living ina town,cutoff fromnature inherwild form, even thevisualisingofStonehengeand thePolar starsat theWinterSolsticebringsfoodforthesoul,areminderofpast incarnations,aharmonywithnaturespirits.Whenagroupgathersforaseasonalfestival,eveninasmallroom,affinityisrealisedwiththecosmos.Aboveisnotamereplasterceilingwithanelectric lightbulbsuspended from it but thestarrygloryof theheavens.Behind the television set is themysteryof the setting sun:beyond the radiator is the radianceof thecircumpolarstars:bythedoormaybefelttheinfluenceofthecentreofourgalaxy,nearVega,theWeaverMaid.AndmightyOrion is rising below the sittingroom carpet, ashe chasesTaurus, and in turn isfollowedbytheStarofIsisnowbelowtheearth.Thiscreativeuseofthedivineimaginationaidsthesoul,whilethebodyispassive,andsolittlechangeiswroughtinthematerialsurroundings,butratherthemind.Andthisisthespiritualpathofdevelopment.Butwhen ritual activity isundertaken,power isbrought through to the earthlyplane. ForAriadnesnimble feethemadeadancing floor. SowroteHomerof theDanceof theCretanLabyrinth. Inritualdancing, even a simple circling movement brings through Power. This is like a coiled fiery snakeunwinding itself and expressing its vitality through each devotee. So dance the Dervishes, as inwiddershin circles they imitate the rotation of themoon, and so attain euphoria.Everydance bringsthrough itsowneffectonsoulandbody,andon thesurroundings.Ancientsinginggamesofchildrenechooldmysterydances: InandOut theDustyWindows, HowManyMiles toBabylon, Stand theLadyoftheMountain,and Wallflowers.AsourancestorsthreadtheirwaythroughmegalithicstonecirclestoaidfertilityandcommunionwithDeities,sochildrenplay ThreadtheNeedle, interweavingthrougharchesbyupheldarms.AlltheArtsstrengthenRitualandbringaboutpurposefulchanges.Whenancientliturgiesarerecitedandwords of Power uttered, sound reverberates through the centuries, note calling to note. Words areuttered,evenintranslation,theyreiteratethoseusedintemplesforthousandsofyears.IntheseRitesfortheFellowshipof Isis, ancient invocations,hymns anddialogues areused from ancient liturgies frommanyreligions.ForthetimehascomewhenIris,therainbowmessenger,isformingapatternofbeautyfrommanyfaiths.Communicationthroughnewmethodsoftravel,wireless,television,newspapersandbooks,areforcingpeopletobeaware that thereligioushorizon is farwider than theyhaddreamt.Noonereligiouspracticecannowdominatethisearthandforcerivalfaithstoberegardedasheresies.Sothewiseacceptthis,andarelookingforcommonpointagreementthatharmonymaybeattained.SointheseRitesprayersandhymnsareusedfromKarnak,Babylon,Africa,theNorselands,India,China,Japan,theCeltic countries. For all are relevant, andwithout one faith the planetary symphony is deficient.Weacceptthegiftofdistinctiveartandcraftsfromeverycountry:nowwelearntoreceivewithappreciationeachreligiousandesotericcontributionfromanywhereonthisglobe.Any Rite which invokes Deity or Deities through a Mystery Religion that which deals with theUnknownhaseffectthroughoutalllevelsandontheearthitself.Throughouttheagespeopleofvaryingcultures have learnt to communicate with those from other spheres: we need all the knowledge,understandingandgoodfeelingwecanobtain,inorderthatwemaylivehereinpeacewitheachotherwithallcreatures;andobtainhappinessandwisdominthespheresbeyonddeath.

In theseRites,however,wehaveusedonecommon factor togive integration:MatriarchalSource, theMotherGoddesses.Thereisagoodreasonforthisdedication.TheGodsorGodhavebeeninvoked,moreandmoreexcludingtheGoddesses,duringtheIronAge,whichhaslastedforaboutthreethousandfivehundredyears.Now this technologicalanalyticalperiod isbeing replacedby theSubatomicorSpaceAge. And this more and more involves the apparently supernatural aether, only now beingphotographedbyparticularlyrefinedinstruments.Toprotectlifeonthisplanet,itisessentialthatbalanceberestored toourworld,particularly in theWest,where there is themostdangerousconcentrationonMarsSaturnormale aggressivepower.Thepsychic and emotional attractiveness of theGoddesses isneededtoquietenMarsandmakeSaturngentle.Whenaspeciesisindangerofannihilation,meaningfulmutationmay takeplace.This transformation isvoluntarilybeingundertakenby thosewho follow theoccultpath.Tohasten thisprocess,activity isenjoyed thatblends thepsychicwith thephysical: ritualmovementwhichusesalltheartsmayachievethisnewmysticalawareness.A spiral procession slowly and surelywinding itsway through a garden inwards towards a templeblends two spheres, the earthly and the psychic. After such a ceremony, the garden or field has adifferent,morepsychically alive atmosphere,whichmaybe felt evenby thoseunacquaintedwith theoccult. The wearing of robes and regalia, the playing of musical instruments, enhance the effect.However,ifneighboursmaywonderwhentheyhearchanting,theclashofsymbols,theeerienotesoftheflute and the rattle of the sistrum, all that is needed is a quietwalk around the garden in everydayclothes.Duringthissilentwalk,thoughtsaresentforthtoblessplantsandtheearth.Theprocessionthenwinds inwardstothehalldoorandsowithintotheshrine.So istheouteracknowledgedandblendedwith the inner.After theRitewithin the shrine,whichbrings through thePowerneeded for thegoodpurposeof the ceremony, it isneedful that theprocession should returnoutofdoors,preferably in acontraryspiralmovement.ThisreturnisnottoinhibitthePower,nortodispensewiththeaidofthoseelementalandotherBeingswhohavechosentojoinintheceremony.Itistodispersethepoweroutwardsso that it may radiate blessing to the whole neighbourhood and the surrounding plants, earth andstreams.ItisgoodwhenperformingRitesandMysteriestouseactualearth,plants,water,fireandoil.Butthesemaybesymbolisedorhaveaverysimplerepresentation.Theelementsofwaterandfireinagardenmayfittinglybeshownasanunobtrusivebucketofwaterandsmallbonfire.ARite startswith an Invocation toDeity, and endswithThanksgiving to theDeity so invoked.TheThanksgiving includes an acceptance of the aid received; and this is brought about by consciousawarenessofthegoodgiven.Sooftenweprayforsomethingandthenforgetallabout it.Forsevenornine days, after a Rite, those who have taken part do well to watch possible effects. Enhancedconsciousnesscan,afterall,only takeplacewhenweareaware that this ishappening tous.Theauraaroundtreesandplantsmaybecomeapparent:newvitalityisfeltnotonlywiththeparticipantsbutwiththeirfriends:healingmayoccurintheneighbourhood.Cats particularly enjoy ritual; but other animals and birds attain benefit. For in the true world ofperfectionwhere theyeternallybelong, thecatplayswithmiceand themice tempt them tosuchplay,whichinthepsychicworldsisnotfollowedbypainanddeath.Alionindeedliesdownwithalamb,forNature,whichshowsherselfred in toothandclawon thisplane, in the innerspheresshowsa lovelierface.Deaththroughbeingeatenistransformedintoecstasythroughsurrender:killingbecomesadesiretoenfoldand love:hunger forpower is truly the longing toencompassothers inaunifyingembrace.Even themostpervertedofdesiresareareflectionofsomeneed that isessentiallygood.Ritualbringsaboutthisaffinitywiththerealworldbyusingitsownsymbols.HavingseentheReal,thedevoteecanmakegoodthereflection.Noparticipantiseverentirelythesameaftertrulyenjoyingdivinecommunion.InRitesandCeremonies,theDeitiesbestowfoodanddrink,blessingsandaid.Theseareforall.ButtheMysteriesgo further.Theseare for thosewhoare ready foragreaterdevelopment in trueBeing.And

suchadevelopmentcannotbebroughtaboutbyanyceremony:butaceremonyprepares thesoulandpersonalityforthatwhichmaycomeabout.Thiscanbe intheflashofasecond:asonefoot is liftedtotakeastep:betweentwowords:itcomesasunexpectedlyasdeath:asswiftlyaslove:andisasfruitful.TheMysteriesherepresentedinnewformareamongthemostancientknowntothehumanrace.AnyoftheseMysteriesmaybeused for Initiation: fora changeof state.SuchaRite can thereforebeusedasrequiemorfuneralforonewhohasenteredtheworldofSpirit:foranycandidatewhoaspirestoenterintodeeperconsciousness:foraMarriageofTwinSouls:forthehollowingofababynewlyenteredintoourworld:theseMysteriesarerelevanttoallchangesofawareness.TheDrama of Isis andOsiris used to be enacted for theEgyptian people in theOuterCourts of theEgyptianTemples, and so appealed to the simplest.Yet tounderstand thisMyth requiresknowledgebeyondthehuman.ForeveryMysteryexpressesitselfonmanylevels,accordingtotheperceptionoftheparticipants. On the surface, the story of Isis, Osiris and Set is a detective story, a thriller. Osiris ismurderedandhiswife,aidedbyacleverfriend,hastofindthefragmentsofhisbody.InthisfolkhistoryaboutagoodEgyptianKingandQueenandwickedbrother,thevirtuousarerewardedandthevillainpunishedbytheKingandQueensheir,Horus.Thestoryresemblesthosemysteriesperformedoutsidemediaevalcathedralswhere Judas isgiven theredhairofSet.Evencomic interludesareenjoyed.Thiscomicnecessity,theperceptionoftheincongruityofinteractinglevels,wasacceptedbytheGreeks,butby themrelegated toafarcicalepilogue,distinctfrom thecentraldrama.But in theancientBabyloniandramaofIshtar,theGoddesshashumorousdialoguewithNeti,GatekeeperoftheUnderworldwhenshe threatens to break down the door if he refuses her admittance. But as humankind becomemoreintellectuallyobstruct,andhencefurtherfromnature,humourwasregardedasirreverent,sobythetimewereachGreekMysteries,wearepermittednohumour:comedy is fencedoffasanecessary ifvulgarcatharsis.AstheMysteriesbecamemorephilosophical,otherlevelsofunderstanding,oncethesecretknowledgeofinitiatedpriests,becamemorewidelyknown.HencethecoffinmadebySetforOsiriswasunderstoodtobethehumanbody.ThefragmentsofthemurderedPharaohwereseentobetheNomesofEgypt,orasthescatteredfragmentsofuninitiatedhumanity.Throughthiscomprehensionofarchetypalsymbols,Isiswas no longer a mere loving Queen, but was a feminine archetype of wifely devotion. But as thisidentification of theVirtues andQualitieswith relevantGods andGoddessesmade theDeitiesmoresublime,moresuitableasobjectsofworshipfortheeducatedsoalsoitmadethemlessreal.ForifIsisbenotarealwoman,orOsirisandSetrealmen,whatrelevancehavetheyforus,saveaspersonificationsofabstract qualities?Why not respect the qualities and avoid the vices without presenting thesewithhumanoranimalfaces?Hence Religion became divided into Philosophy, where abstract thought prevailed: and a theurgicpracticeforthepeoplewhostillwantedaidandcommunionwithDeities.Obviouslythen,themassofpeoplewantedarealcarpentersfamilyinNazareth,ratherthanarchetypalbeingswhomtheyweretoldwerenotreal.Thecultofsaintsbroughtthemthekindlyhelpandwarmthfrombeingslivinginabetter,kinderworldbeyondthegrave.SaintstookonthesameworkasGodsandGoddesses,astheytoodweltinthepsychicsphere,yetcouldaffectthematerialworld.So theMysteriesweredivided,ashuman consciousness turned to intellectuality.Thedrama,whetherGreek,or laterEuropeanplays,dweltmoreandmorewithhumanproblems.TheMysteriesofreligionhadbutonechannel:theMass.OnlysecretesotericOrdersretainedtheancienttheurgicdramas.Theseare not secular dramas. The Mysteries are a means of grace whereby the Devotee, either throughidentificationorthroughworship,attainsharmony,evencommunionwithDeity.Finally,latentdivinityisawakenedinthedaughtersandsonsoftheDivineOnes.OnstudyingtheseancientMysteries, itwouldseemat first that there isonlyoneneophyteorpossiblytwo in eachdrama. It isOsiriswhodies and is resurrected, andhence is the candidate for Initiation.

PsycheandDemophoonlearnneedfullessonsfromtheirtutelaryDeities:TheseusisguidedthroughthelabyrinthbythePriestessAriadne.But on closer examination,we realise that theDeities toomay expand their individual consciousnessthroughrelationshipwiththoselessadvancedthanthemselves.InIndiandrama,theGodKrishnalearnscompassion for humans and animals from themortalmanArjuna. For as each being is a particularmanifestationoftheallpervadingDivineReality,soeachcreatureisnecessarytobringharmonytothewhole.ThereforeevenamightyBeingmay learn froma lesser creature,and sodiscovernew joy.Forthereisnogreaterorlesserinqualities:thereisadifferenceinquantityonly.HenceDemeterherselftheGreat Goddess, learns to share her daughter withHades. Hades likewise returns Persephone to hermother.According tooneGreeksource, this is forhalfayear.Butaccording toanotherversion,moresubtle, Persephones yearly cycle is divided into three: onewith herMother, onewithHades in theUnderworld,andathirdwithherfriendsonearth.There is a resemblance in this drama of the twoGoddesseswith Shakespeares Tempest, andwithMozartsopera, TheMagicFlute.Wehaveagirl,symbolof thehumansoul,withaMotherGoddessandFatherGodasparents.MotherandFatherareseparatedfromeachother.IntheGreekmyth,itistheFatherwhoisterrifying,theMotherwhoisgood.AsPatriarchymoreandmoreprevailedintheWest,wefindanewbiascenturieslaterintheShakespeareplay.Themotherhardlyexists,orisrepresentedbyanevilwitch,Sycorax.ThefatherisapuritanicalauthoritarianmagicianwhoexploitstheElementalSpirits,and the indigenousnativesof the islandwherehe is inexile.Theplotof the MagicFlutehas firstanopposingsignificance.TheMother,TheQueenofNight,wasoriginallygood:thePriestSarastro,evil.Butowingtoasimilarstorybeingonthestageoftheperiod,thisplotwasreversed.Itisinterestingthatinthemodern IngmarBergman filmof theopera, thisrendering is taken toextremes.TheQueenofNight isshown as a demonically possessive mother using her daughter to murder her father. The father isportrayedasarighteouspatriarchwearingablackcassock,and isheadofasecretOrderofProtestantoccultistswithpuritanicaloutlook.Naturally theclosingchorus: Oh IsisandOsiris isomitted. It isaScandinaviandivorceproblemdrama,withtheFathergivencustodyofaratherweakbraineddaughterandweakerhero.The IronAge expresses itself in thisNordicversionas totallyhostile to theMotherGoddess, and committed to a totalitarian Patriarch. Persephone as the daughter is in obscuration.Humble, submissive, only obedient to the Father, enduring attacks from his unpleasant servant, sheneedsrescuefromhersisters,theValkyrie!Howpooradrama is this,compared to theMysteryofDemeterandPersephone! It is to theancientmythwemustreturn,forintegrity.ThethreefoldnatureoftheGoddessesandourselvesisshownastheOlympianGoddess, theruler, thecreatrix: the laughingmaidenof the flowery fieldsofartandnature:andtheQueenoftheMysteries,thedarkEnchantressofHades.DuringtheIronAgeonlyonearchetypewasreveredandhelduptowomenforemulation;thereceptiveVirgin,orthekindlyVirginMother,whoonly aided humanity through supplication to theAllFather.Yetwhenwomen did follow this ideal,admirationwasonlygiventotheyouthfulmaidens:whentheyagedtheywereoldMaids,spinsters.For uneducated and powerless, and often without financial stability, what had they, but their meekdevotions?Yethowpowerfulare the trueSpinsters, theEumenides: theseRites invoke theFates, theEumenides,QueensoftheUnderworld.ForthedarkpowersoftheMothersarenottobefeared:buttheyaretoberespected.Fromtheblackearthgrowsthefruitfulgrain,andthetreeoflifethatholdsthebrightlywingedbirdsyetgrowsfromtheground.Nolongerneedhumanssufferfromshameoftheirearthyroots.Noneneeddreadoldage,orignorethenaturalneedswithintheirbodies.ButifwomenhavebeentaughttobeashamedofthedarkMotherwithin,andtofeartheEnchantressthatbringspsychicgifts;menhavebeenbaulked of the spiritual heritage by being taught to be ashamed of sensitivity, of love of the arts,psychism, of tenderness and care for children and animals and plants.An unnatural overdevelopedrefinement inwomen, and a brutalising toughness inmen denied both sexes a natural completion:

deniedonesideofthebrain,onehand,onefoot.Weneedbothourhands,bothsidesofourbrains,andbothsoulandbody,thatwemayenjoyourtrueselves.ThosewhoidentifywithvariousGoddessesandGods,whorevereandlovethem,willfindintegrationofconsciousness.For there isaDeity foreveryperson,whetherhumorous,grave, joyful, lively,strongorgentle.Notonly iseachperson representedbyaDeity; the ideal lover isalsopresent: for Isishas tenthousandnames,andOsiristenthousandfaces.ErosisseenasLove,yetcolouredbyrace,family,feature,accordingtothedevotionofPsyche.AndPsycheappearstotheLoverwiththeformandbeautythatisforhimalone.SoDeityistobesoughtinmeditation:lovedinthoseweknow:anddiscoveredthroughtheMysteries.ThisisthedarksecretoftheUnderworld:thisistheenigmaoftheLabyrinth.Itisasecretthatistoldbyallteachers.Itisaspokensecret.Yetwordsmaytell:asphinxportray:yetonlywhenthesecretisexperiencedisitknown.AnearofbarleyisreapedinSilence.MaythosewhoenacttheseRitesattaintheirtruebeing.

Copyright Notice: The FOI Liturgy from this website is copyright protected. Copying the Liturgy text or pages to another website or publication, is prohibited. Printing of individual rites by FOI members for their personal and group ritual use is encouraged and allowed.