zmei magesnik_en issue 1

8/2/2019 Zmei Magesnik_en Issue 1

1/40


2/40

1

Issue 1

25th

of March 2012

Blagovetz

Design and Edit

IsrafelaEditors:

A.S.

Israfela

Cath

[email protected]


3/40

2

Pagan Federation International Bulgaria..........4

Kukeri..5

Trifon Zarezan and the vine.7

Karakndjul...9

Todors Sunday10

Baba Marta and Her faces.13

Ostara, the Spring Equinox and the Rabbit.15

Orphic Hymn to the nymphs .17

Blagovetz..18

Hekate and Her Sacred Fires ...20

The Three Initiated..24

Liber Resh Vel Helios or the fourfold adorations of the

Sun.32

Invocation of the Goddess Isis The Golden Dawn.36


4/40

3

ear reader,

Zmei Magesnik is an independent magazine dedicated to magic, occultism and esoteric

literature. It is entirely prepared by a team of young occultists and it combines the traditional

magical beliefs with the most contemporary tendencies in the magickal arts - the magick in the old

times and its development in the present days.

The authors of the magazine have the idea to unite articles about Western occultism with

paganism, no matter if we are speaking about pagan belief within Bulgaria or outside our borders.

Having in mind that the authors have a wide range of perception and that the articles express their

personal interests, you will be able to find different kind of topics connected with the Bulgarian

folklore, the Bulgarian customs, contemporary paganism, magick, occultism and Western esoteric

ideas.

Zmei Magesnik combines a great number of different views and gives an opportunity for

both the authors and the readers to perceive a new understanding for magick and the world. We

would like to invite our readers to send us their own articles or to get in touch with our team for any

further information that should be provided.

The magazine is being issued in an electronic format and it is bound to specific dates and

celebrations in relation to the Bulgarian and Western traditions.

We hope you will find Zmei Magesnik useful on your path and in relation to the Art.

The Authors.


5/40

4

FI Bulgaria is a part of Pagan Federation International- a

registered nonprofit organization, established in 2005. It is an

affiliated organisation of Pagan Federation which was

established in 1971 to promote and defend Pagan Rights.

All Pagans over the age of 18 are welcome to join regardless of

which Pagan path they follow. They must however subscribe to the three principles which give the

Pagan Federation International its common purpose and its focus:

* Love for and Kinship with Nature. Reverence for the life force and its ever-renewing cycles of life

and death.

* A positive morality, in which the individual is responsible for the discovery and development oftheir true nature in harmony with the outer world and community. This is often expressed as "Do

what you will, as long as it harms none".

* Recognition of the Divine, which transcends gender, acknowledging both the female and male

aspect of Deity.

PF Bulgaria will try, with your help, to grow as her other sister-branches all over the world, and

provide an excellent point of contact not only for beginners but also for experienced pagans. The

only requirements of PFI are an open mind and respect and tolerance to others in our communities.

For more information please contact:

[email protected] -

Sothis - National Coordinator Bulgaria

[email protected] -

Morgana- International Coordinator


6/40

5

ukeri and the rituals of Kukeri is a

special custom that is performedthrough our lands during the daysaround New Year up until SirniZagovezni (The first Sunday beforeLent). In some regions for example inEastern Bulgaria the rite is celebratedbetween Mesni (Meat Fasting Day) andSirzni Zagovezni and between

Christmas Eve and Epiphany in Westernparts of Bulgaria. Nowadays, however,Kukers day is celebrated almosteverywhere in Bulgaria on the day ofSirni Zagovezni. Regardless of thetime of celebration the aim of the Kukerirituals is to banish and scare away allevil spirits and creatures with specialmagical dances and scary and terrifyingmasks so that there will be rich harvestduring the next year. The custom in

Bulgaria derives from the Thracianswhere it had been celebrated during thedays of the Thracian god Dionysusaltogether with the feast of thebeginning of the new agricultural yearrelated with the start of the plough of

fields. The Kukeri games also mark thebeginning of the Summer Fertility andthe end of winter. The Kukeri are mendressed like beasts always wearing

masks on their heads, which usually aremade of wood. The masks with faces oframs, goats or bulls are considered tobe the most ancient ones. The Kukerialso wear large bells attached to thebelts (the bells are made of bronze), furcoats with the hair outside. The masksare very different from small ones andsymbolic to very big and impressiveones, they are also made of fur, feathersand goats hair, small bits of textile are

glued, mirrors and other elements.There are also double faced-masks onthe one side of the mask the face is withtip-titled nose and cheerful expression ofthe face and on the other side the facehas a humpbacked nose with sinisterlook. These masks represent the goodand evil and their inseparable bond inthe world. The Masks of the Kukeri alsocan be with faces of old women,women, old men and kings (these aretypical characters).Main characters inthe Kukeri band are: a King, a YoungMan, a Bride or a Grandmotherand aGrandfather. They have a two-wheeledcarriage or a cart in which the King isled; they also have a wooden ploughwith which they plough up the land in aritual manner, a dry measure filled withgrain which the King sows, woodenswords, a mace and a warp-beam all ofwhich represent a phallus. TheKukeri rite re-creates the bond betweennature and men: the land- the woman;plough up the sexual act; sowing insemination; the death of the king theend of the winter; the coming of thespring the Resurrection of the King.


7/40

6

The pokes of the red edges of theswords represent the fertile movementsof the sexual act. The jumps are madein order to make the wheat to grow

higher. The shaking and thedownthrows are done in order to makethe corn to swing because of theabundant and rich ears of wheat, andthe rolling on the earth is done in orderto charge their bodies with earth's life-giving energies. The rattle of the bells isused to scare away and banish evilspirits. In Eastern Bulgaria the leadersof the Kukeri are dressed in traditionalbridal and bridegroom clothes. In other

parts of Bulgaria Kukeri are dressed infur made out of deers, goats or sheep,their faces can be also painted withcharcoal in black instead of wearing amask. They bear with them a woodenphallus painted in red and a woodenpole with a tied rag on its edge (this ismade for the sweeping of the oven).Israfela


8/40

7

rifon Zarezan or the day of the

vine-grower is a traditional Bulgarian

celebration in honor of St. Trifon,

because he is known as the protector of

vines. We celebrate this holiday on the

1st of February (new style) and on the

14th of February (old style). But

according to the tradition thecelebration consists of the first three

days of February. They are called

Trifuntsi. On the 1st of February we

celebrate Trifonovden (The day of

Trifon), the day of the God of the wine;

on 2nd of February we celebrate Sretenie

Gospodne (or the presentation of Jesus

at the Temple ) also known as the day

of the Gods son; and on the 3rd of

February is Trifon Zarezan , also called

by the Bulgarians Wolfor Trifon Mother

Mary, Simeon The Righteous(Holy

Simeon) or (Vulcha or Trifonova

Bogorodica; Simon Bogopriemec or

Zimen Simeon) in fact on this third day

we honor the Mother of God. Trifon

Zarezan is also called Trifon piqnica

(Trifon the drinker) Trifon Zarezoi or

Trifon Chipiq, also Zarezanovden (theday of Zarezan) Trifon Zarezan is a

celebration, not only for the vine-

growers, but also for the tavern-keepers

and the falcons. This is how the holiday

is celebrated:

On the 1st of February early in the

morning the proprietress of the house

(the housewife) kneads bread a new

one or a leavened, a chicken filled with

rice or with croup is also made ( in some

places a rooster is cooked and filled with

rice or croup it is the sacrifice given to

the son, sometimes this is done on 2nd

of February) Regardless of the fact on

which day the chicken/rooster is cooked

it has to be boiled whole and after that it

should be baked on trivet (spider). The

chicken or the rooster should be put in a

new bag made out of wool together with

a wooden wine vessel filled with wine.

The men go to the vines with the bagson their shoulders and make the sign of

the cross three times, they take the

sickles and from three hubs each of

them cuts three sticks. Afterwards they

make again the sign of the cross and


9/40

8

pour the vines with wine. This

ritual is called carving or zarqzvane.

After that all men gather and choose

the king of the vineonly then the feast

begins. The kingwears wrath made of

vine sticks, which he bears on his head

and another one which he bears through

his shoulders. He sits on a cart and

under the sound of pipes, drums and

gadulka (traditional Bulgarian bowed

string instrument) pulled by the wine-

growers the kingand his companions

set off themselves to the village or the

town. When they reach the town they

stop by each house, the housewife

takes out the wine in a white cauldron,

firstly she gives a drink to the king, after

that she offers wine to the other wine-

growers. The rest of the wine she flings

on the king and utters this blessing:

Let there be a rich harvest, let the

wine spills over the thresholds.

And the king answers Amen.

Afterwards the king changes in new

clothes and sits on the table to welcome

people from the whole village/town.

Thats why the chosenking is always

a well-off man. The next two days of

Trifuntsiare known as Wolf celebrations

and women are prohibited to do some

actions as on the other Wolf days

(during 11th - 16th to 21st of November

depending on the region) they are not

allowed to sew. During these days

women do not cut with scissors this is

done in order to prevent the wolves to

open their mouths. They also do notspin and knit. They prepare ritual bread

and give it out to other people; they put

bits from the bread in the mothers milk

of the animals. This is done for

protection, to keep the wolves away

from people and animals.

The 3rd day of Trifuntsi in Rodopa

mountain the childless women knead

corn loaf and give it away to neighbors.

It is forbidden for pregnant women to doany kind of work, because it is believed

that if you work on this day while you

are pregnant your child will be born with

a scar. In the evening divination is

given: from the charcoals in the fireplace

we predict what the year would be like.

It is absolutely obligatory to clean the

chimneys one day before Trifons day,

because otherwise catkin would fall on

the vines.

Israfela


10/40

9

ccording to peoples traditional

beliefs karakondjul is a spirit,

resembling to a vampire. It is called by

different names: karakandju,

karakondjer, poganetzand many more.

It is believed, that every buried man

onto whom a priest hasnt sang or onto

whose grave a cat has jumped over

after his or hers funeral transforms into

karakondjul. None knows how exactly a

karakondjul looks like. But usually it is

represented with four horse legs and

with a human head and also with wings.

It is also said that he can fly.

Karakondjuli have long ears and big

eyes. They can appear in otherunexpected forms such as - a dog, a

cat, a horse, a chicken, a little child or a

big scary man with one leg and one

eye. In all cases there is a certain

indeterminateness, duality. A

karakondjulis nor a human, neither an

animal, it is a creature from the chaotic

terrifying world, which is called

Underworld.He reveals himself only to

people who had been born on

Saturdays only in the nights from

Christmas Eve to Jordans day. During

this period the evil ones are dismissed

and walk on the streets, around the

houses, they gather close to water-mills

and dance horo on the stack yard.

Most oftenly they can be seen close to

wells, rivers, valleys near to gulches and

waterfalls where cranes bill and ivygrow. The place where a pig is killed is

also dangerous. When karakondjul

appears among people, it breaks the

tiled roofs of the houses; it dazes

peoples heads, if it meets a person on

his or hers way karakondjulwith the

magical power of his demonic

transformations leads him or her to

unknown and dangerous places.

Israfela


11/40

10

t is a well-known fact that in

the traditional Bulgarian culture there

are many mythological characters

samodiva, zmeiove, karakondjuli. But

few people know that in the traditional

folk beliefs illnesses also have their own

personifications. They are seen as

demonic creatures that should be

appeased in order not to harm people.

In the Bulgarian spring festival cyclethere is a certain period in which some

illnesses are worshipped.

Traditionally this period is thought to be

dangerous, more precisely the week

known amongst the people as Todors

Sunday. Todors Sunday is celebrated

on different dates each year, as it

begins immediately after the first

Sunday before Lent, which is

determined by the date of Easter, in

turn, depending on the lunar phases.

Each day of this week is perceived as

bad and is celebrated with a certain

purpose and with specific rituals, but

also is associated with many

prohibitions, which aim is to protect

people and animals from harmful

influences. The first day of the Todors

week is known mainly as Pesi(doggish)Monday. This is a very important day,

because it is celebrated in order to

protect dogs and domestic animals from

illnesses. In this connection a custom

known as swinging of dogs is done,

this custom gained a lot of popularity

recently with other names such as :tsirene (healing), besene (hanging-

despite the fact that the rope is not put

on the dogs neck) and also trichene.

The belief that the custom is barbarian

and it is harmful for the dogs has been

drawn up by the Bulgarian media for the

past years. This is more than wrong.

The custom is being done throughout

our lands for centuries and actually its

aim is absolutely practical otherwise itwont have survived. There are records

stating that dogs that have been

hanged, even after they have been

bitten by a rabid animal do not catch

rabies. This is very important for the

owners, who want to protect their

hunting or domestic dogs from death.

On this day it is forbidden to sew, to spin

or to handle an ax, a knife or other iron,

so that there will be no pests on the

field. Another very important custom on

Pesi Monday is the circling of mummers,

and therefore in some places the day is

known as Kukov or Kukerovden

(Mummers day) Here I will explain very


12/40

11

briefly how does the holiday run and one

should bear in mind that the details in

the ritual or the names vary in the

different regions.

From early morning the mummers walkaround the village chase and beat

people with branches, who in return are

obliged to give them money. At noon all

people gather at the house of the boy,

who was elected for

Baba(Grandmother) a main mummer

character who ,therefore is dressed in

female clothes. Led by the Baba the

mummers go

from house to

house, play horo

(dance) in each

house while she

spins. The hosts

give them various

gifts. After they

finish with all the

houses, the

mummers gatherin the square,

where they play a

special ritual scene the Baba

harness two mummers in plow and

in this way plow a certain place, plants it

and drags it with harrow. All this is done

to ensure a rich harvest and prosperity

for the village, so that is why people

welcome mummers with special joy.

The next day is known as Tzurn

(black) or Dry Tuesday. In the traditional

Bulgarian culture all Tuesdays are

regarded as bad days, during which no

initiatives are taken. But the Tuesday

from the Todors Sunday is considered

to be the worst of all. This day is also

celebrated to avoid dry land and thats

why it is called Dry Tuesday. In the

regions of Belogradchik and Pleven

people knead bread, burn incense and

go out next to the wood-shed, where

they break the bread and invite the rainy

clouds to come and to eat and so they

will be favorable to the hosts and they

would come also during the summer.

Mad Wednesday is

celebrated to protect

men from insanity.

There are several

prohibitions that

should be followed,

and the most

important one is that

a man should not

work on this day,

because he or shewould certainly go

mad. After the Mad

Wednesday a Giddy Thursday follows,

which is celebrated to protect people

and cattle from vertigo or also known as

dizziness. The Bulgarians believed that

on this day water should not be boiled

and in general no dishes should be

prepared. Ritual breads with a specific

plastic were kneaded. A small part ofthe bread is given to the cattle.


13/40

12

The Friday of this week is known as

Shamoten heady or Black Friday.

Prohibitions come into effect mainly

about feminine activities on this day

women should not wash and comb

themselves and they do not have to

work with spindle. Apart from this people

do not work on this day. In this way they

protect themselves from illnesses and

the harvest from natural disasters such

as lightning, hail, drought.The last day

of the Todors week is Saturday, when is

the day of Todor. Despite the fact that

the honor of Christian saints named

after Todor is witnessed amongst theBulgarians back in the early Middle

Ages, still the celebration has no such

orientation for them. While in the

Christian religion six saints bearing this

name exist together in Bulgarian

traditional culture the day of Todordoes

not coincide with any of the Christian

celebrations.Furthermore In the folk

memory of people St.Todor is not a

fighter for the Christian belief, but theone who contributes for the coming of

the summer.According to the traditional

Bulgarian culture on Todors day,

St.Todortakes off his nine fur-coats and

begins to pray to God to bring summer

or he crushes a burning firebrand into

the ground and thats how he warms the

earth. According to the folks

understanding St.Todor has a dual

nature he is a saint horseman, who isriding his white horse and a patron of

the horses; but he is also a demon, who

goes around at night accompanied by

vampires and karakondjuli and he

walks on the late ones who stayed

outside their homes after sunset. Such a

duality may seem strange for our

understanding, according to which we

naively believe that the gods are only

good or evil, but in fact it is quite the

opposite, because good or evil are

only human notions, which regarding the

traditional culture are inapplicable to the

divine.

Cath


14/40

13

ne of the months filled with the

most special festivals, beliefs and rituals

in Bulgaria is surely the month of March.

But there isnt anything as popular as

the celebration of Baba Marta -

(Grand Mother Marta), which

starts at the beginning of March and

continues until the end of the month.Even being entirely pagan, it is highly

respected and celebrated from the

whole population. It is a very ancient

tradition the traces of which are lost

somewhere between the Thracians and

with the Proto Bulgarians. However it is

a pure miracle that it has been

preserved until today with all its beliefs

and superstitions. Baba Marta is a

mythical symbol in the Bulgarian

folklore. Her name derives from the

name of the month itself (in Bulgarian

language March - which is

pronounced [mart]) She is often

described as frowning old woman and in

the meantime as beautiful young

maiden. She has two brothers, her two

lovers January, called Goliam Sechko

(Big Sechko) because the month has 31days, and February, called Malak

Sechko (Little Sechko), because the

month is with 28 days. There are a lot of

Bulgarian fairytales connected with the

two brothers and the sister. It is believed

that they have a beautiful and tidy house

as well as a gorgeous vineyard from

which they produce the finest wine.

The old woman is best known for her

unpredictable and changeablecharacter. When she is in the role of the

young maid, she is happy and so the

sun shines, the snow starts to melt and

the flowers blossom. When she is the

old hag, she is mad, there are tempests,

the snow is falling again from the sky,

the wind blows, the rivers are ice-bound

and the ground is frozen hard. She is

the ultimate femaleness- raising,

nourishing, giving birth and in the same

time destroying, wrecking, devastating

Goddess. Most of the rituals, which are

performed during the whole month, are

with one single purpose- to please Baba

Marta. The most common way to please

her is by wearing a martenitza- a

special handmade amulet, which is

traditionally made out of white and red

knitting wool. It is given to everyone,especially to young children, women

and animals because the month of

March is a month of transition, from

winter to spring, from one realm to the

next, and these two colours are believed


15/40

14

to be the perfect defense against the

evil spirits. It is very important that the

martenitza is worn near the places we

can best feel our pulse and the blood

running through our veins- the wrists- as

a bracelet, the neck- as a necklace and

the heart- as a decoration on the

garment. The red colour of the yarn

symbolizes blood, life, passion, health,

the white colour of the yarn symbolizes

purity, happiness and immortality and

the two colours together are believed to

chase away evil spirits, demons and

illness. The most special kind of

martenitza is two little dolls of a man

and a woman, made of red and white

knitting wool - Pijo and Penda. They

represent the God and the Goddess- a

pray for fertility, health, love and

happiness. A martenitza is always given

as gifts. People never make the amulet

for themselves. They are given to lovedones, friends, and those people whom

one feels close to.

Because Baba Marta loves the red

colour so much, early in the morning on

March 1st, every girl puts on some red

clothes or hangs a red scarf, knitting

wool, apron or a rag-carpet out of her

window. It is believed that whenever

Baba Martasees this colour she smiles,

she becomes so happy that the sun

starts to shine bright. You can predict

the following year by the first days of

March. They are called the counting

days and it is believed that the first

twelve days represents the twelve

months of the year. Whatever the

weather is in the counting days, this will

be the weather all through the year.

And there is even more. If you are born

on the July 21st for example, it is enough

for you to see what will be the weather

on March 21st to predict your luck this

year. If its rainy, you will have troubles

and misfortunes but if it is sunny you will

have a happy and healthy year.

It is believed that the martenitza is worn

until you see a blossoming tree or a

stork. They are both messengers of the

spring and you no longer need your


16/40

15

protection, because the Sun God is here

to guide you. Then you should tie your

amulet to the tree with the blossoms to

give the tree your protection. Make a

wish and until the end of the month it

should be fulfilled. Blessed be!

A.S.

he end of March is the focus for a

number of religious and traditional

celebrations. As the sun appears tocross the earth's equator on the 20th or21st of March, entering the Zodiacalsign of Aries, day and night will be equalin length. This astronomicalphenomenon has been the reason forcelebrations and festivals known as Eostre /Ostara, or Spring Equinoxheld by the ancient people during thisperiod of time. We know that in themodern Witchcraft and Wicca belief, the

vernal equinox is part of a cycle of eightcelebrations(the wheel of the year)known as Sabbaths, which in thenorthern hemisphere is around the 20thor 21st of March and in the southernhemisphere around the 23rd ofSeptember. Its modern revival is linkedto some of the oldest traditions ofmankind according to the local beliefsand honor. As here in Bulgaria March isrelated to the female beginning so is the

same with the Western tradition. TheMonth of March is dedicated to theGoddess.

The month of the Goddess

Pagans named the Spring Equinox after

Ostara , their goddess of spring, fertility,

and rebirth. In England, among the

Anglo-Saxon tribes, Ostara was known

as Eostre. In fact the modern holiday of

Easter is derived from the name of the

Teutonic Goddess of spring Eostre and


17/40

16

the associated myths. According to

these myths, Eostre is a playful goddess

whose reign over the earth begins in the

spring when the Sun King journeys

across the sky in his chariot, to bring the

end of winter. Eostre comes down to

earth then, appearing as a beautiful

maiden with a basket of bright colorful

eggs.Ostara's magical companion was a

rabbit who accompanied her as she

brought new life to dying plants and

flowers by hiding the eggs in the fields.

The symbol of the Egg

Many of the traditions associated withEaster have direct links with Paganism,

for example the one related with the

eggs and their dying. From the earliest

of times, the egg has represented

immortality. The egg is the World Egg,

laid by the Goddess and opened by the

heat of the Sun God. The hatching of

this World Egg was celebrated each

year at the spring festival of the Sun.

The Druids dyed eggs scarlet to honour

the Sun, and Pagan Anglo-Saxons

made offerings of their coloured eggs to

the Goddess Eostre. They also (like

many Pagan cultures before them)

placed patterned eggs in tombs or on

fresh graves, to ensure the rebirth of the

deceased.

The rabbit

Another symbol related with this

celebration is the rabbit - a symbol of

fertility and abundance. The modern

belief that the eggs are carried by therabbit, in fact comes from a famous

pagan legend, according to which

Eostre was having a walk in one sunny

spring day and suddenly she saw a

beautiful small nbird.The wing of the bird

was so injured that Eostre knew that it

wont be abel to dly again.She decided

to help the bird,so that it will be able to

move again, but not only she helped the

bird,but she also turn it into a rabbit.The

rabbit was so thankful that he laid a

sacred egg in Her honour. The rabbit

decorated the egg and gave it as a

present to the Goddess. She was so

happy that she decided that she have to

share with the whole humankind Her

happiness.In order to fulfill Eostres

wish, the rabbit travelled throughout the

world carring and leaving beautifuldecorated eggs. It is believed that he

still does this even today.

Israfela


18/40

17

Nymphs, who from Ocean's stream derive your birth,

Who dwell in liquid caverns of the earth

Nurses of Bacchus secret-coursing pow'r,

Who fruits sustain, and nourish ev'ry flow'r:

Earthly, rejoicing, who in meadows dwell, 5

And caves and dens, whose depths extend to hell:

Holy, oblique, who swiftly soar thro' air,

Fountains and dews, and mazy streams your care:

Seen and unseen, who joy with wand'rings wide

And gentle course, thro' flow'ry vales to glide; 10

With Pan exulting on the mountains height,

Loud-founding, mad, whom rocks and woods delight:

Nymphs od'rous, rob'd in white, whose streams exhale

The breeze refreshing, and the balmy gale;With goats and pastures pleas'd, and beasts of prey, 15

Nurses of fruits, unconscious of decay:

In cold rejoicing, and to cattle kind,

Sportive thro' ocean wand'ring unconfin'd:

Nysian, fanatic Nymphs, whom oaks delight,

Lovers of Spring, Ponian virgins bright. 20

With Bacchus, and with Ceres, hear my pray'r.

And to mankind abundant favour bear;

Propitious listen to your suppliants voice,

Come, and benignant in these rites rejoice;

Give plenteous Seasons, and sufficient wealth, 25

And pour; in lasting streams, continued Health.


19/40

18

n the 25th of March we celebrate the

feast of Annunciation or the so called

Blagovetz. According to the Christian faith

the archangel Gabriel gave announcement

to the Virgin Mary that she would conceiveand become the mother of the Sun of God.

Therefore this day is celebrated by the

mothers, because Virgin Mary is their

protector. In the traditional Bulgarian

ritualism 25th of March is connected mainly

with the coming of the spring. It is believed

that all snakes and lizards, mermaids,

wood-nymphs (samodiva), dragons ( zmei)

and vili ( a beautiful female wood spirits a

kind of nymph) go out on this day. On the

night before 25th of March yards are beingcleaned and on the morning people light

fires and the boys jump over them to singe

their heels, this is done for protectionagainst snakes biting. The ritual of scaring

away is widely spread which the women do.

They use different metal objects, all kinds of

kitchen objects, most recently saucepans

and frying pans. The housewives make the

following spell Runaway snakes, lizards,

fleas and frogs, because grandfather

Blagovetz is coming with the big mace

Another famous practice is the

whitewashing of the houses and the plug up

of the holes; women do this for protection

against snakes. On the day of Blagovetz the

ears of the young girls are pierced. From

one point of view, because on this day it is

believed that the wounds heal faster, and it

hurts less, and from another the piercingitself has a ritual character. The golden

ornaments are put with the aim to protect

the child from the evil spirits who are going

out with the coming of the spring.Here are

several superstitions related to the

celebration: If you plant a tree on this day,

its fruit would be sweet.The houses and

yards are cleaned and swept well yet in the

night before Blagovetz, because people

should meet the new day clearly. The

gathered rubbish is lighted on the street and

the boys jump over the lighted fire.The girls

who are not married yet look on which

branch a cuckoo would land so to take the

branch with them and hide it in their chests.

By Doing this they will marry by love. The

magicians look for a snake a whole day

long to kill it and then to fill its mouth with

basil seed. Then they bury the head of the

snake in the ground and when the plant

springs up and glooms they pick up theglooms from the basil and make potions for

passionate love. The skin of the snake is

being dried and reduced into powder. The

treasure-hunters go out at dusk and begin

to walk over the field. wherever a blue fire

blazes theres buried a treasure. On this day


20/40

19

the bee-keepers open the bee hives and let

out the bees to fly freely to breathe in

from the wealth of Blagovetz, so that their

honey would be good. The grandmothers

pierce the ears of their little granddaughters.

It is believed that the little girls do not feelpain, because the powers above protect

them. The whole vanity of people is being

carefully observed by the samodivi(fairy like

spirits), the villi (fairy like spirits), the judi

(forest fairy like spirits), the mermaids, the

zemjove (dragons) and the zmeitzi (female

dragons). They are hidden in the shady and

cool forests and stalk for young men to go

out from the village, so that they can allure

them and take them for husbands. Those

kidnapped husbands had no other

obligation except to make love. After they

have drank all of his male power, the

samodivi leave him back to go

home.Sometimes the shepherds see how

the samodivi play horo bare. They become

ill from the attraction they feel about them,

they languish and in the end men die if none

manage to cure them. Sometimes a bunch

of yung men used to kidnapp a samodiva

for a bride and took her at their homes, theythrew away in the fire their non-earthly

clothes and dressed them in ordinary woven

clothes. The children born by kidnapped

samodivi were extremely beautiful. On

Blagovetz according to the belief the cuckoo

begins to sing for the very first time after the

winter. Therefore the older name of the

celebration in some regions is known as

Cuckoo day(Kukovden), Most of the ritual

songs sang on this celebration begin with

the tidings that the small spring bird has

arrived. In the songs for Blagovetz the

cuckoo is alighted sometimes amongst the

village, sometimes in someones yard and

sometimes at the end of the village or at the

shore of the lake.According to the folks understanding and

experience the cuckoo can be heard only

until Eniovden(St. Johns Eve on the 24th

of June this year) or Petrovden(Feast of St.

Peter and Paul) at the beginning of

summer and then it becomes silent. Thats

way everybody waits for the first singing of

the cuckoo. It is believed that its hooking

predicts how many years would live theperson who is listening to its voice in this

particular moment. The other old folk belief

tells that when a person hears for the first

time the singing of the cuckoo he or she

should touch a piece of bread and a coin. In

this way he or she would be satisfied and

rich during the year, and the new harvest

would be good.

A.S.


21/40

20

he Rite of Her Sacred Fires is

an international act of devotion to the

Goddess Hekate. It was first initiated at

the Full Moon of May 2010 when

thousands of people in more than 60

countries participated, performing the rite

in many different languages and lighting a

flame for the Goddess Hekate.

For general information see:

http://sacredfires.co.uk/the-rite-of-her-

sacred-fires

(from where you will be able to explore

lots of resources from past years!)

This year the Full Moon falls on May 6th.

As we gaze up to the skies, whether we

are performing the ritual by ourselves as

solitaries, and regardless of where in the

world we are - or with a group of other

like-minded people, we know that we arelooking at the same Moon as all the other

devotees who are participating.

Recorded examples of the Rite of Her

Sacred Fires can be found on YouTube,

including this http://youtu.be/p6-zVYbMSJUshort film in which Sorita d'Este (who penned the

ritual) performs it, filmed and produced by the author Tara Sanchez,with music by Jad Sol

Luna.www.youtube.com/hersacredfires will have further information, as well as featured playlists

with examples uploaded by other participants in previous years. Some of which are

summarised at:http://sacredfires.co.uk/the-rite-of-her-sacred-fires/ritual-recordings/hsf-

contributor-recordingsand which includes recordings of more than one person doing it together

as a group rite if you are looking for inspiration.

This year Pagan Federation International Bulgaria will be joining The Rite Of Her Sacred

Fires. Honouring the Goddess Hekate-6th of May 2012.

All the members of Pagan Federation International- Bulgaria willing to participate will be able to

do so in an organized open ritual. For more information:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Pagan-Federation-International-Bulgaria/233938556627688
http://sacredfires.co.uk/the-rite-of-her-sacred-fireshttp://sacredfires.co.uk/the-rite-of-her-sacred-fireshttp://youtu.be/p6-zVYbMSJUhttp://youtu.be/p6-zVYbMSJUhttp://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fhersacredfires&h=6AQEo7N4Uhttp://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fhersacredfires&h=6AQEo7N4Uhttp://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fhersacredfires&h=6AQEo7N4Uhttp://sacredfires.co.uk/the-rite-of-her-sacred-fires/ritual-recordings/hsf-contributor-recordingshttp://sacredfires.co.uk/the-rite-of-her-sacred-fires/ritual-recordings/hsf-contributor-recordingshttp://sacredfires.co.uk/the-rite-of-her-sacred-fires/ritual-recordings/hsf-contributor-recordingshttp://sacredfires.co.uk/the-rite-of-her-sacred-fires/ritual-recordings/hsf-contributor-recordingshttp://sacredfires.co.uk/the-rite-of-her-sacred-fires/ritual-recordings/hsf-contributor-recordingshttp://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fhersacredfires&h=6AQEo7N4Uhttp://youtu.be/p6-zVYbMSJUhttp://sacredfires.co.uk/the-rite-of-her-sacred-fireshttp://sacredfires.co.uk/the-rite-of-her-sacred-fires


22/40

21

The Rite can be done solitary or in a group

(its very easy to adapt!) and can be done by

itself (exactly as it is presented) or

incorporated into a larger, longer and/or

more complex ritual. You can do it with, orwithout, a shrine or an altar etc. Essentially

that is all up to you! All you will need is

something to light a devotional fire with -

which could be as simple as a candle and a

box of matches; or anything else suited to

your circumstances (some people have

used lamps, bonfires, hearth fires, oil lamps

etc.).

Preparation:

Find a quiet place where you will be able to perform the rite undisturbed. You will need a candle

(or another form of devotional fire, such as a lamp or hearth fire) and something with which to

light it. You may wish to consecrate the candle, or other materials you will be using in keeping

with your usual tradition of working, otherwise please simply ensure that it is clean.

Prelude:

Make yourself comfortable, breathe deeply and find your point of balance, a balance of mind and

soul and body, which will present you proud and beautiful to the world. Breathe deeply and find

your voice, the voice with which you will speak words of true and pure intent. Breathe deeply

and call upon the freedom within your heart so that you will be able to express yourself with

purity of intent and with strength of desire.

Place both your hands on your heart (three heartbeats), your forefinger and middle finger of your

dominant hand to your lips (three heartbeats), and then to your brow (three heartbeats). Nowenclose your thumbs within both your hands (in fists) and raise both your arms to the heavens.

Open your hands and with palm upwards in your left hand, bring your right arm to your side palm

facing downwards and invoke the Goddess.


23/40

22

Invocation:

I invoke thee, Great Mistress of the Heaven, Earth and Sea,

By your mysteries of Night and Day,

By the Light of the Moon and the Shadow of the Sun

I invoke thee, Mistress of life, death and rebirth

Emerge now from the shadow realm to feed my soul and enlighten my mind,

Triple-formed Mistress of the three ways

I entreat thee, Key-bearing Mistress of the Nightwandering Souls

To bring forth your wisdom from amongst the stars

To bring down your starfire from the darkness between,

Creatrix of Light!

Goddess of the Shadow Realms! Light-bearing queen!

Whisper now your secrets!

Fire-bringer! Earthly-one! Queen of Heaven!

[Raise both hands with palms facing upwards to the heavens (three heartbeats) and then touch

the ground palms downwards]

[Sit before the candle and prepare to light it]

[Take three deep breaths and allow your senses to awaken]


24/40

23

Say:

Hekate, companion and guide to the mysteries

I light this sacred fire in your honour, [light fire]

Its light uniting the stars and stones, the heavens and the earth,

With this fire I express my desire for a greater understanding of your mysteries

Askei Kataskei Er?n Ore?n I?r Mega Samny?r Baui (3 times) Phobantia Semn?,

Great Hekate, who spins the web of the stars and governs the spiral of life

Guide me through towards pathways of understanding,

From Crossroad to Crossroad,

The Torchbearers and the Keybearers of your mysteries,

will always find one another,

Now sit and watch the flame flicker and dance, allow yourself to focus on the different colours in

the flame, the yellows and reds, the blues and whites, and the black. If you wish you may

decide to spend some time meditating on the flame, skrying for visions or omens. Likewise, youmay wish to extinguish it and keep the candle let your true self radiate brightly its beautiful

mysteries from this day on forth, the flame of the fires of Hekate burns on in your heart!

I banish now the shadows of doubt from my mind,

Infused by the silence and warmth of our union

I feel your golden radiance within my heart

And the glory of knowledge on my brow,

I am a student of your mysteries.

Extinguish the flame, then place both your hands on your heart (three heartbeats), your

forefinger and middle finger of your dominant hand to your lips (three heartbeats), and then to

your brow (three heartbeats).

Open your palms reaching towards the heaven, then reach down and touch the Earth.


25/40

24

Kybalion a study of the

Hermetic philosophy of ancient

Egypt and Greece

The Principles of Truth are

Seven; he who knows these,

understandingly, possesses

the Magic Key before whose

touch all the Doors of the

Temple fly open.

he Seven Hermetic Principles,

upon which the entire Hermetic

Philosophy is based, are

as follows:

I. THE PRINCIPLE OF MENTALISM.

II.THE PRINCIPLE OF

CORRESPONDENCE.

III. THE PRINCIPLE OF VIBRATION.

IV. THE PRINCIPLE OF POLARITY.

V. THE PRINCIPLE OF RHYTHM.

VI. THE PRINCIPLE OF

CAUSEANDEFFECT.

VII. THE PRINCIPLE OF GENDER.

These Seven Principles will be

discussed and explained as we

proceed with these lessons. A shortexplanation of each, however, may as

well be given at this point.

I. THE PRINCIPLE OF MENTALISM.

THE ALL is MIND; The Universe is

Mental.

This Principle embodies the truth that

All is Mind. It explains that THE ALL

(which is the Substantial Reality

underlying all the outward

manifestations and appearances which


26/40

25

we know under the terms of The

Material Universe; the Phenomena of

Life; Matter; Energy; and in short, all

that is apparent to our material senses)

is SPIRIT, which in itself is

UNKNOWABLE and UNDEFINABLE,

but which may be considered and

thought of as AN UNIVERSAL,

INFINITE, LIVING MIND. It also explains

that all the phenomenal world or

universe is simply a Mental Creation of

THE ALL, subject to the Laws of

Created Things, and that the universe,

as a whole, and in its parts or units, has

its existence in the Mind of THE ALL, inwhich Mind we live and move and have

our being. This Principle, by

establishing the Mental Nature of the

Universe, easily explains all of the varied

mental and psychic phenomena that

occupy such a large portion of the public

attention, and which, without such

explanation, are non-understandable

and defy scientific treatment. An

understanding of this great HermeticPrinciple of Mentalism enables the

individual to readily grasp the laws of the

Mental Universe, and to apply the same

to his well-being and advancement. The

Hermetic Student is enabled to apply

intelligently the great Mental Laws,

instead of using them in a haphazard

manner. With the Master-Key in his

possession, the student may unlock the

many doors of the mental and psychic

temple of knowledge, and enter the

same freely and intelligently. This

Principle explains the true nature of

Energy, Power, and Matter, and

why and how all these are subordinate

to the Mastery of Mind. One of the old

Hermetic Masters wrote, long ages ago:

He who grasps the truth of the Mental

Nature of the Universe is well advanced

on The Path to Mastery. And these

words are as true to-day as at the time

they were first written. Without this

Master-Key, Mastery is impossible, and

the student knocks in vain at the many

doors of The Temple.

II.THE PRINCIPLE OF

CORRESPONDENCE.

As above, so below; as below, soabove.


there is always a Correspondence

between the laws and phenomena of the

various planes of Being and Life. The

old Hermetic axiom ran in these words:

As above, so below; as below, so

above. And the grasping of this

Principle gives one the means of solvingmany a dark paradox, and hidden secret

of Nature. There are planes beyond our

knowing, but when we apply the

Principle of Correspondence to them we

are able to understand much that would

otherwise be unknowable to us. This

Principle is of universal application and

manifestation, on the various planes of

the material, mental, and spiritual

universeit is an Universal Law. The

ancient Hermetists considered this

Principle as one of the most important

mental instruments by which man was

able to pry aside the obstacles which hid

from view the Unknown. Its use even


27/40

26

tore aside the Veil of Isis to the extent

that a glimpse of the face of the goddess

might be caught. Just as a knowledge of

the Principles of Geometry enables man

to measure distant suns and their

movements, while seated in his

observatory, so a knowledge of the

Principle of Correspondence enables

Man to reason intelligently from the

Known to the Unknown. Studying the

monad, he understands the archangel.

III. THE PRINCIPLE OF VIBRATION.

Nothing rests; everything moves;everything vibrates.


everything is in motion; everything

vibrates; nothing is at rest; facts which

Modern Science endorses, and which

each new scientific discovery tends to

verify. And yet this Hermetic Principle

was enunciated thousands of years ago,

by the Masters of Ancient Egypt.ThisPrinciple explains that the

differences between different

manifestations of Matter, Energy, Mind,

and even Spirit, result largely from

varying rates of Vibration. From THE

ALL, which is Pure Spirit, down to the

grossest form of Matter, all is in

vibrationthe higher the vibration, the

higher the position in the scale. The

vibration of Spirit is at such an infinite

rate of intensity and rapidity that it is

practically at restjust as a rapidly

moving wheel seems to be motionless.

And at the other end of the scale, there

are gross forms of matter whose

vibrations are so low as to seem at rest.

Between these poles, there are millions

upon millions of varying degrees of

vibration. From corpuscle and electron,

atom and molecule, to worlds and

universes, everything is in vibratory

motion. This is also true on the planes of

energy and force (which are but varying

degrees of vibration); and also on the

mental planes (whose states depend

upon vibrations); and even on to the

spiritual planes. An understanding of this

Principle, with the appropriate formulas,enables Hermetic students to control

their own mental vibrations as well as

those of others. The Masters also apply

this Principle to the conquering of

Natural phenomena, in various ways.

He who understands the Principle of

Vibration, has grasped the sceptre of

power, says one of the old writers.


28/40

27

IV. THE PRINCIPLE OF POLARITY.

Everything is Dual; everything has

poles; everything has its pair of

opposites; like and unlike are the same;

opposites are identical in nature, but

different in degree; extremes meet; all

truths are but half-truths; all

paradoxes may be reconciled.


everything is dual; everything has two

poles; everything has its pair of

opposites, all of which were old

Hermetic axioms. It explains the oldparadoxes, that have perplexed so

many, which have been stated as

follows: Thesis and antithesis are

identical in nature, but different in

degree; opposites are the same,

differing only in degree; the pairs of

opposites may be reconciled; extremes

meet; everything is and isn't, at the

same time; all truths are but half-

truths; every truth is half false; thereare two sides to everything, etc., etc.,

etc. It explains that in everything there

are two poles, or opposite aspects, and

that opposites are really only the two

extremes of the same thing, with many

varying degrees between them To

illustrate: Heat and Cold, although

opposites, are really the same thing,

the differences consisting merely of

degrees of the same thing. Look at your

thermometer and see if you can discover

where heat terminates and cold

begins! There is no such thing as

absolute heat or absolute coldthe

two terms heat and cold simply

indicate varying degrees of the same

thing, and that same thing which

manifests as heat and cold is merelya form, variety, and rate of Vibration. So

heat and cold are simply the two

poles of that which we call Heatand

the phenomena attendant thereupon are

manifestations of the Principle of

Polarity. The same principle manifests in

the case of Light and Darkness, which

are the same thing, the difference

consisting of varying degrees between

the two poles of the phenomena. Where

does darkness leave off, and light

begin? What is the difference between

Large and Small? Between Hard and

Soft? Between Black and White?

Between Sharp and Dull? Between

Noise and Quiet? Between High and

Low? Between Positive and Negative?

The Principle of Polarity explains these

paradoxes, and no other Principle cansupersede it. The same Principle

operates on the Mental Plane. Let us

take a radical and extreme example that

of Love and Hate, two mental states

apparently totally different. And yet there


29/40

28

are degrees of Hate and degrees of

Love, and a middle point in which we

use the terms Like or Dislike, which

shade into each other so gradually that

sometimes we are at a loss to know

whether we like or dislike or neither.

And all are simply degrees of the same

thing, as you will see if you will but think

a moment. And, more than this (and

considered of more importance by the

Hermetists), it is possible to change the

vibrations of Hate to the vibrations of

Love, in one's own mind, and in the

minds of others. Many of you, who read

these lines, have had personalexperiences of the involuntary rapid

transition from Love to Hate, and the

reverse, in your own case and that of

others. And you will therefore realize the

possibility of this being accomplished by

the use of the Will, by means of the

Hermetic formulas. Good and Evil are

but the poles of the same thing, and the

Hermetist understands the art of

transmuting Evil into Good, by means ofan application of the Principle of Polarity.

In short, the Art of Polarization

becomes a phase of Mental Alchemy

known and practiced by the ancient and

modern Hermetic Masters. An

understanding of the Principle will

enable one to change his own Polarity,

as well as that of others, if he will devote

the time and study necessary to master

the art.

V. THE PRINCIPLE OF RHYTHM.

Everything flows, out and in; everything

has its tides; all things rise and fall; the

pendulum-swing manifests in everything;

the measure of the swing to the right is

the measure of the swing to the left;

rhythm compensates.

This Principle embodies the truth that in

everything there is manifested a

measured motion, to and fro; a flow and

inflow; a swing backward and forward; a

pendulum-like movement; a tide-like ebb

and flow; a high-tide and low-tide;

between the two poles which exist in

accordance with the Principle of Polarity

described a moment ago. There is

always an action and a reaction; an

advance and a retreat; a rising and a

sinking. This is in the affairs of the

Universe, suns, worlds, men, animals,

mind, energy, and matter. This law is

manifest in the creation and destructionof worlds; in the rise and fall of nations;

in the life of all things; and finally in the

mental states of Man (and it is with this

latter that the Hermetists find the

understanding of the Principle most


30/40

29

important).The Hermetists have graspedthis Principle, finding its universal

application, and have also discovered

certain means to overcome its effects in

themselves by the use of the appropriate

formulas and methods. They apply the

Mental Law of Neutralization.They

cannot annul the Principle, or cause it to

cease its operation, but they have

learned how to escape its effects upon

themselves to a certain degree

depending upon the

Mastery of the Principle. They have

learned how to USE it, instead of being

USED BY it. In this and similar methods,

consist the Art of the Hermetists. The

Master of Hermetics polarizes himself at

the point at which he desires to rest, and

then neutralizes the Rhythmic swing of

the pendulum which would tend to carryhim to the other pole. All individuals who

have attained any degree of Self-

Mastery do this to a certain degree,

more or less unconsciously, but the

Master does this consciously, and by the

use of his Will, and attains a degree of

Poise and Mental Firmness almost

impossible of belief on the part of the

masses who are swung backward and

forward like a pendulum. This Principle

and that of Polarity have been closely

studied by the Hermetists, and the

methods of counteracting, neutralizing,

and USING them form an important part

of the Hermetic Mental Alchemy.

VI. THE PRINCIPLE OF CAUSE AND

EFFECT.

Every Cause has its Effect; every Effect

has its Cause; everything happens

according to Law; Chance is but

a name for Law not recognized; there

are many planes of causation, but

nothing escapes the Law.

This Principle embodies the fact that

there is a Cause for every Effect; anEffect from every Cause. It explains that:

Everything Happens according to Law;

that nothing ever merely happens; that

there is no such thing as Chance; that

while there are various planes of Cause

and Effect, the higher dominating the

lower planes, still nothing ever entirely

escapes the Law. The Hermetists

understand the art and methods of rising

above the ordinary plane of Cause and

Effect, to a certain degree, and by

mentally rising to a higher plane they

become Causers instead of Effects. The

masses of people are carried along,

obedient to environment; the wills and


31/40

30

desires of others stronger than

themselves; heredity; suggestion; and

other outward causes moving them

about like pawns on the Chessboard of

Life. But the Masters, rising to the plane

above, dominate their moods,

characters, qualities, and powers, as

well as the environment surrounding

them, and become Movers instead of

pawns. They help to PLAY THE GAME

OF LIFE, instead of being played and

moved about by other wills and

environment. They USE the Principle

instead of being its tools. The Masters

obey the Causation of the higher planes,but they help to RULE on their own

plane. In this statement there is

condensed a wealth of Hermetic

knowledgelet him read who can.

VII. THE PRINCIPLE OF GENDER.

Gender is in everything; everything has

its Masculine and Feminine Principles;Gender manifests on all planes.


there is GENDER manifested in

everythingthe Masculine and Feminine

Principles ever at work. This is true not

only of the Physical Plane, but of the

Mental and even the Spiritual Planes.

On the Physical Plane, the Principle

manifests as SEX, on the higher planes

it takes higher forms, but the Principle is

ever the same. No creation, physical,

mental or spiritual, is possible without

this Principle. An understanding of its

laws will throw light on many a subject

that has perplexed the minds of men.

The Principle of Gender works ever in

the direction of generation, regeneration,

and creation. Everything, and every

person, contains the two Elements or

Principles, or this great Principle, within

it, him or her. Every Male thing has the

Female Element also; every Female

contains also the Male Principle. If you

would understand the philosophy of

Mental and Spiritual Creation,

Generation, and Re-generation, you

must understand and study thisHermetic Principle. It contains the

solution of many mysteries of Life. We

caution you that this Principle has no

reference to the many base, pernicious

and degrading lustful theories, teachings

and practices, which are taught under

fanciful titles,and which are a prostitution

of the great natural principle of Gender.

Such base revivals of the ancient

infamous forms of Phallicism tend to ruinmind, body and soul, and the Hermetic

Philosophy has ever sounded the

warning note against these degraded

teachings which tend toward lust,

licentiousness, and perversion of

Nature's principles. if you seek such

teachings, you must go elsewhere for

themHermeticism contains nothing for

you along these lines. To the pure, all

things are pure; to the base, all things

are base.

The Three Initiates


32/40

31


33/40


34/40

33

Hail unto Thee who art Ra in Thyrising, even unto Thee who art Ra inThy strength, who travellest over theHeavens in Thy bark at the Uprisingof the Sun. Tahuti standeth in

His splendour at the prow, and Ra-Hoor abideth at the helm.Hail unto Thee from the Abodes ofNight!

In the end you should make the sign ofsilence. You have to stamp hard on theground with the right foot and rest the

Fig.2. The sign of the Enterer

index finger of your right hand to yourlips in a gesture as if you tell someone tokeep quiet. The Sign of Silence is alsoknown as the the sign ofHarpocrates.(Please look at fig.3)At Noon face south and make the sign ofthe Enterer. Make the triangle ofManifestation (please look at the pictureLiber Resh vel Helios page 35). In this

case you should make the triangle standslightly above your head (since here itrepresents the element of Fire, while inthe previous position it represented theelement of Air) Say in a loud voice the

following prayer:

Hail unto Thee who art Ahathoor inThy triumphing, even unto Thee whoart Ahathoor in Thy beauty, whotravellest over the heavens in thybark at the Mid-course of the Sun.Tahuti standeth in His splendour atthe prow, and Ra-Hoor abideth at thehelm. Hail unto Thee from the Abodesof Morning!

Make the sign of silence.

At sunset face west and make the signof the Enterer. Make the triangle ofManifestation with your hands, but thistime make it front of your stomach withpalms facing your body, with thumbsabove, and the rest of the fingers facingdownwards. This position represents theelement of Water. Thus you have aninverted triangle, located in front of yourstomach. Say in a loud voice thefollowing prayer:

Hail unto Thee who art Tum in Thysetting, even unto Thee who art Tumin Thy joy, who travellest over theHeavens in Thy bark at the Down-going of the Sun. Tahutistandeth in His splendour at theprow, and Ra-Hoor abideth at thehelm. Hail unto Thee from the Abodesof Day!

Make the sign of silence.


35/40

34

At Midnight face North, make the sign ofthe Enterer. After that make a one stepforward with your right foot and lift yourright hand above your head with palmfacing forward in a salutation. This

position symbolizes the element ofEarth. Say in a loud voice the followingprayer:

Hail unto thee who art Khephra inThy hiding, even unto Thee who artKhephra in Thy silence, whotravellest over the heavens in Thybark at the Midnight Hour of the Sun.Tahuti standeth in His splendour atthe prow, and Ra-Hoor abideth at thehelm. Hail unto Thee from the Abodesof Evening.

When making the adorations of the Sunyou can also do the followingvisualizations:1. When you are facing east at Dawn,imagine that you are filled with yellowcolour and the quality of Air: heat andmoisture2. When you are facing south at Noon,imagine that you are filled with redcolour and the quality of Fire: heat anddryness3. When you are facing west at Sunset,imagine that you are filled with bluecolour and the quality of Water: coldnessand moisture4. When you are facing north atMidnight, imagine that you are filled withbrown and green colour and the qualityof Earth: coldness and dryness.

Fig.3. The sign of Silence

Fig.4. L.V.X. Signs


36/40

35

Aleister Crowleys adorations of theSun

If you wish to make the adorations of theSun, in the way they are given by

Aleister Crowley himself, you may usethe same texts, which are given above.The only thing that is different is thepositions of the body, which is used inthe four directions. On each direction thestudents of AAuse a relevant to theirdegree position of initiation in thehierarchy of the magical order. But in thecase in which the student doesnt belongto the order, he should use the followingfour positions while making the

adorations:

At the dawn you should make the L.V.X.signs. (Please a look at fig.4 the L.V.X.signs)The positions should be done as itfollows:

1. The sign of Osiris slain or also knownas the sign of the cross

2. The sign of Isis mourning or alsoknown as the svastika

3.The sign of Typhoon or also knownas the Trident4. The sign of Osiris risen.

At noon the sign of Fire is done- hands

touch the forehead making a upward-

pointing triangle .At sunset the sign of

the Air is done or the also known as the

God Shu supporting the sky. You have

to imagine how you support something

with our hands. At Midnight the sign of

Water is done.

No matter if you decide to use Craigs

adorations or those of Crowley,

remember that the secret of the good

result is the persistence in your practice.

My advice is to spend some time in

studying the symbolism of the

adorations, in order to comprehend and

understand deeper the meaning of the

movements and the gestures that youdo and the words you say. And because

of the fact that I managed to find few

mistakes in Craigs book Modern

Magick 11 lessons in High Magickal

Arts (which in the current text are

corrected, when it comes to the signs

and gestures of the positions, which

should be fulfilled in different directions),

always check the veracity of what you

read and what you intent to practice.

Spend enough time for its serious study.

A.S.
http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=a%20a%20astrum%20argentum&source=web&cd=1&sqi=2&ved=0CCIQFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fen.wikipedia.org%2Fwiki%2FA%25E2%2588%25B4A%25E2%2588%25B4&ei=zDqIT-6iAuKN4gSm1IzrCQ&usg=AFQjCNFlXIiwKg9cqHXXHvxeTfi-DLihFQ&cad=rjahttp://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=a%20a%20astrum%20argentum&source=web&cd=1&sqi=2&ved=0CCIQFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fen.wikipedia.org%2Fwiki%2FA%25E2%2588%25B4A%25E2%2588%25B4&ei=zDqIT-6iAuKN4gSm1IzrCQ&usg=AFQjCNFlXIiwKg9cqHXXHvxeTfi-DLihFQ&cad=rjahttp://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=a%20a%20astrum%20argentum&source=web&cd=1&sqi=2&ved=0CCIQFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fen.wikipedia.org%2Fwiki%2FA%25E2%2588%25B4A%25E2%2588%25B4&ei=zDqIT-6iAuKN4gSm1IzrCQ&usg=AFQjCNFlXIiwKg9cqHXXHvxeTfi-DLihFQ&cad=rjahttp://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=a%20a%20astrum%20argentum&source=web&cd=1&sqi=2&ved=0CCIQFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fen.wikipedia.org%2Fwiki%2FA%25E2%2588%25B4A%25E2%2588%25B4&ei=zDqIT-6iAuKN4gSm1IzrCQ&usg=AFQjCNFlXIiwKg9cqHXXHvxeTfi-DLihFQ&cad=rjahttp://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=a%20a%20astrum%20argentum&source=web&cd=1&sqi=2&ved=0CCIQFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fen.wikipedia.org%2Fwiki%2FA%25E2%2588%25B4A%25E2%2588%25B4&ei=zDqIT-6iAuKN4gSm1IzrCQ&usg=AFQjCNFlXIiwKg9cqHXXHvxeTfi-DLihFQ&cad=rjahttp://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=a%20a%20astrum%20argentum&source=web&cd=1&sqi=2&ved=0CCIQFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fen.wikipedia.org%2Fwiki%2FA%25E2%2588%25B4A%25E2%2588%25B4&ei=zDqIT-6iAuKN4gSm1IzrCQ&usg=AFQjCNFlXIiwKg9cqHXXHvxeTfi-DLihFQ&cad=rja


37/40

36

beheld a great wonder in heaven, a

woman clothed with the Sun, with the Moonat her feet. And on her head was a diademof the twelve stars. Hear me, O Lady Isis,hear and save. O thou queen of love andmercy, thou crowned with the throne, thou

hauled as with the Moon. Thou whosecountenance is mild and glowing, even as

grass refreshed by rain.

Hear me, our Lady Isis, hear and save. Othou who art in matter manifest. Thou brideand queen as thou art mother and daughterof the Slain One. O thou who art the Ladyof the Earth. Hear me, O Lady Isis, hear

and save. O thou Lady of the amber skin. Lady of love and of victory, bright gate ofglory through the darkening skies. O crowned with the Light and life and love.

Hear me, our Lady, hear and save by thy sacred flower, the Lotus of eternal life andbeauty; by thy love and mercy; by thy wrath and vengeance; by my desire toward

thee, by all the magical names of old hear me, O Lady, hear and save. Open thybosom to thy child, stretch forth thy arms and strain me to thy breasts. Let my lips

touch thy lips ineffable.

Hear me, O Lady Isis, hear and save. Lift up thy voice to aid me in this critical hour.Lift up thy voice most musical. Cry aloud, O queen and mother, to save me from that

I fear most. I invoke thee to initiate my soul. The whirling of my dance, may it be aspell and a link with thy great light, so that in the darkest hour, the Light may arise in

me and bring me to thine own glory and incorruptibility.

Isis am I, and from my life are fed all showers and suns, all moons that wax andwane, all stars and streams, the living and the dead, the mystery of pleasure and ofpain. I am the Mother. I the speaking sea. I am the Earth in its fertility. Life, death,love, hatred, light, darkness, return to me, to me. Isis am I, and to my beauty draw.All glories of the Universe bow down, the blossom and the mountain and the dawn.

Fruits blush and women are creations crowned.

I am the priest, the sacrifice, the shrine. I am the love and life of the Divine. Life,death, love, hatred, light, darkness, are surely mine, are mine. Isis am I, the love andlight of Earth, the wealth of kisses, the delight of tears, the bowel and pleasure nevercome to birth, the endless infinite desire of years. I am the shrine at which thy long

desire devoured thee with intolerable fire. I was sung music, passion, death upon thy


38/40

37

lyre, thy lyre. I am the grail and I the glory now. I am the flame and fueler of thybreath. I am the star of God upon thy brow.

I am thy queen enraptured and possessed. High do these sweet rivers welcome tothe sea, ocean of love that shall encompass thee. Life, death, love, hatred, light,

darkness, return to me, to me. Hear, Lady Isis, and receive my prayer. Thee, thee Iworship and invoke. Hail to thee, sole mother of my life.

I am Isis, mistress of the whole land. I was instructed by Hermes, and with Hermes Iinvented the writings of the nations in order that not all should write with the sameletters. I gave mankind their laws, and ordained what no one can alter. I am the

eldest daughter of Kronos. I am the wife and sister of the king Osiris. I am she whorises in the dog star. I am she who is called the goddess if women. I am she who

separated the heaven from the earth. I have pointed out their paths to the star. I haveinvented seamanship.

I have brought together men and women. I have ordained that the elders shall bebeloved by the children. With my brother Osiris I made an end of cannibalism. I haveinstructed mankind in the mysteries. I have taught reverence of the divine statues. I

have established the Temple precincts. I have overthrown the dominion of thetyrants. I have caused men to love women. I have made justice more powerful thansilver and gold. I have caused truth to be considered beautiful. Come unto me and

pledge unto me your loyalties as I pledge mine unto you.


39/40

38

Oh mother Isis, great art thou in thy splendor, mighty is thy name and thy love has nobounds. Thou art Isis, who art all that ever was, and all that there is to be, for nomortal man hath ever unveiled thee. In all thy grace thou has brought forth the sun,the fruit that was born forth for the redemption of man. Oh Isis, Isis, Isis, graciouslyhear our cry unto thee, we mourn for thy blessings on us this day, every day, to

nourish, to aid and to fill the emptiness within, that only you our beloved mother cansatiate. Unto thee do we pledge our solemn oath of dedication, and for the power andglory of him the Unknowable One to witness our devotion to thee.

For as we now receive thee into our hearts, we ask that you never leave us, in timesof trial and joy, and even unto death."


40/40

zmei magesnik_en issue 1

Documents