Ritual

Ritual is a set of actions aimed at altering the state of consciousness, communicating with forces, and/or influencing the surrounding world.

The Nature of the Phenomenon

Several explanations of what a ritual is can be identified.

Ritual as dramatic action. The performers imitate a certain sacred narrative, identifying themselves with various mystical characters. For example, the resurrection of Christ, the death of Osiris, the suicide of Hitler.

Ritual as psychotechnique. This may be combined with the previous point. By identifying with a character in a mystical drama, the performer achieves altered states of consciousness. Often the performer develops sub-personalities identical to the characters being enacted. For instance, a certain Vasya is a degenerate, an onanist, and a nonentity, but during the ritual he identifies himself, say, with Melanotheos. As Melanotheos, the insignificant Vasya becomes omnipotent. Having accomplished what was intended, Melanotheos once again becomes Vasya (unless, of course, Vasya wishes to continue his magical practice in a neuropsychiatric clinic).

Ritual practice may also include rhythmic movements and monotonous litanies that bring the performer into a working trance state. Consider, for example, the opportunistic manner of walking "two steps forward, one step back" — try walking in a circle that way and you will understand what a trance is. Or, remember the quote from the classic author: "read not like a parish clerk, but with feeling, with sense, with deliberation…" The classic author was a fool; the parish clerk was doing everything right. It is precisely a rhythmic, monotonous recitation that brings the performer into the necessary state. It is advisable to sway in time with the reading. In some traditions flagellation is employed — that is, the performer inflicts rhythmic blows upon himself with a whip, which is one of the most powerful trance-inducing techniques. The creator of the Wicca system, one Gardner, who had spent a long time as an overseer on plantations, incorporated into his system bondage and flogging as an integral part of the spiritual tradition of BDSM.

Ritual as a means of forming intention. "Intention" is the thing by which a person can govern forces and circumstances. In order to form it, one must express it. And the more frequently and regularly it is expressed, the more effectively it works. Intention is expressed in two ways: through word and through action. The words spoken by the performer during a ritual are aimed precisely at expressing that intention. To enhance their effectiveness, the words are spoken either in an altered state (see the previous point) or using special methods of vocalization. Likewise, every action in a standardized magical ritual is imbued with a specific meaning. Magical gestures are performed in a state of suspended inner dialogue.

Ritual as a means of directing energy flows. The movements of the body, the hands, and the gaze direct internal and external energy flows. Circular movements generate energetic vortices capable of becoming carriers of mental constructs or of drawing forces into action. The general principle is as follows: above-mirror forces are invoked by clockwise movement and banished by counter-clockwise movement. With below-mirror forces it is the reverse: they are invoked by counter-clockwise movement and banished by clockwise movement. In the ritual of "Opening the Watchtowers" described by the Western occultist Israel Regardie, the magician's clockwise circumambulation of the altar invokes the Divine Forces, while at the closing of the Watchtowers the magician walks in the opposite direction, banishing the invoked forces. The same principle is often applied when tracing invoking or banishing symbols in the air. For example, in the occult school Aurum Solis, invoking pentagrams and heptagrams are drawn clockwise, while banishing ones are drawn counter-clockwise.

The boundaries of the ritual space, outlined by gestures, allow energy to be concentrated within and protect against the intrusion of external influences.

Incenses used in rituals create the necessary astral atmosphere.

The human voice likewise creates and directs energy flows. Ritual postures open and close channels in the human body, helping to shape states of consciousness, to exert influence, and to defend oneself.

Ritual

The Nature of the Phenomenon

See also