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| Home > Article Library > Miscellaneous > Myceneaen > Initiation Ritual | Search |
| Myceneaen Mysteries: Ritual of Damos Initiation by Joseph Teller |
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Copyright © 1989 By Joseph W. Teller
Free to distribute & copy in its entirety for non-commercial use
The purpose behind this Ritual is to welcome a new person into the Damos as an initiate for the clergy. It is a statement of a persons choice to enter the path and explore it while maintaining the rules of the Damos they are entering. It is not a ritual for word-by-word recitation, but is simply an example of the concept that may be built upon by all. Please feel free to submit any and all variations, suggestions and ideas dealing with it so I may help keep the flow of information between the Laos open. The ritual is meant for at least 4 officiaries and is best performed between the New moon and the Full Moon, but not during the period of the waneing moon.
Mandatory Working Tools
- Personal Chalices
- Platter For Serving
- Bread or Plain Cake (uncut)
- Libation
- Music Source (Quiet, soothing, preferably recorded)
- Lighting Source or Bonfire
- Incense or Smudge
- Personal Voting STones
- Wooden Bowl and cloth to cover it
Personnel
This ritual is designed for 4 or more people. The position of OFF #1 (Officiary #1) should be the Wanax. Officiary #2 to 4 may be any of the other members who wish to hold it. The OFF #2 to 4 may be split amoung several people, but OFF #1 must carry out all the listed functions for this version of the ritual.
[OFF #1 enters working area, ensures its useability and lights the fire, candles or light sources to signal the rest to enter, one by one, preferably alternating male and female into the working circle area, walk clockwise around the area until reaching a place to stand and sit that appears comfortable and then stopping and standing in wait. Music should be playing during all this and most tools are to be in the circle already at the altar, except for the personal ones. Once all have enter and the OFF #1 is sure the fire or light source is fine then OFF #1 should bring the initiate of the occasion and lead her/him to stand near the entrance to the circle, apart from the rest of the Damos by being a bit closer to the center. The initiate shoul have been warned of this before the ritual and should be dressed in loose/comfortable clothing. AFter this the OFF #1 should take the smudge or the incense in hand and walk around making a complete circle in full around them three full times before returning to start. OFF #1 speaks while circling.]
OFF #1 : Welcome one and all. Close your eyes and breathe deep
the air. Hold the breathe (counts now mentally to 4)
and release, don't breathe in yet...(count to 4)...and
breathe deep (counts mentally to 4) and hold it
(counts again to 4) and let it go....we forge now the
circle, that shall seperate us from the restrictions of
today and open the ways to tomorrow and yesterday.
We seal it in the name of the Gods and Goddesses of
Myceneae, by our will we ask the spirits of this place
to watch over us and protect us from outside influence.
Athena and Hestia, Goddesses of Community and Security
we ask you to defend us in our place of worship. This
circle we seal so we might carry out the work of our
Damos.
[Off#1, should be back in place by now. and empties hands of smudge or incense.]
OFF #1 : Keep your eyes closed and thing of this place, think of a
shining veil of blue light around the boundries of the
circle - this is our circles outer appearance. Breathe
deeply, and slowly, feel the air the gods and goddesses
have given you to breathe. Now, reach out to your left
and right and take the hands of those who stand beside
you in the circle....until our hands formed a linking
circle between us.
[This action, the taking of hands should be taking place]
OFF #1 : Now open your eyes, feeling the energy of the person to
your left as it flows into you, thru you, and into the
person whoose hand is on your right. Keep breathing
slowly and deeply, savor the feeling.
[OFF #1 acts as Channel controller for this flow, and should analyze any weak points in the circuit chain.]
OFF #2 : Gods and Goddesses of this realm and all others, we come
together now to worship together, work together and help
each other as a Damos this Night. We ask your blessings
on this, the [Damos Name] Damos that we might together
Learn, Love and Grow. We come here in Perfect Love and
Perfect Trust.
[This last line 'In Perfect Love and Perfect Trust' should now be spoken by each person present, starting with the person to the left of the OFF #2].
OFF #2 : Tonight, we have come to bring into our Damos a new
member, who has until now stood apart and seperate from
our path. We wish to bring forth amoung us, to join
with us and learn our ways, he/she who is known to
mankind as [Insert initiates name here].
[Hands should be released. OFF #3 should move to the initiate and lead him/her to the Altar after making a complete clockwise circle, and the initiate should then kneel before the Altar. OFF #3 returns to his/her position in the circle, again making a full circle.]
OFF #2 : As the Gods did choose their judegements of old, and
as the Myceneaen's of old did choose, so shall we decide
if [insert initiates name] shall join us in the Damos.
Take forth your stones, and as the Bowl is passed by
you place within it your choice. White for acceptance,
Black for rejection. If, when done, any black stone
rests within the bowl then we cannot accept this one
amoung us.
[OFF #4 approaches the Altar and takes up the covered Bowl and travels around the circle clockwise collecting concealed stones. The OFF #1 approaches the Altar and awaits the bowl to be brought to the altar. OFF #4 stands aside and waits beside the ALtar, as the OFF #1 holds up th bowl over head]
OFF #1: Here is the Judgement of the Damos, Done in the Manner of
Hermes. Decided by Heart and Hand.
[OFF #1 lowers Bowl and uncovers it. If there are no Black stones then ritual continues as an acceptance, else as a rejection, both versions follow].
Acceptance of Initiate
OFF #1: The Damos has chosen, [initiates name] to offer you
acceptance. Do you chose to accept?
[Initiate should answer yes or no, if no, then go and patch the Rituals conclusion from as if they had been rejected.]
[OFF #4 turns to Altar, takes up the Pitcher and raises it up]
OFF #4: Rhea, Mother of all who live, have lived and will live,
We ask you to bless these waters with your love.
[Off #4 turns away from altar and faces the still kneeling initiate. Takes his/her chalice and fills it from the pitcher, and offers it to the initiate to drink]
OFF #4: Drink now of the love of the mother of all, thru her
love you came into the world and with it we of the
Damos live and grow.
[After initiate has drank, OFF #1 shall take the pitcher, refill OFF #4's chalice and then travel clockwise around the circle to pour libation for each member of the Damos while actions continue. OFF #3 Should move to the Altar, take up the platter of cakes/bread and raise it above head]
OFF #3: Apollo, God of vision and knowledge, we ask that you
bless these cakes so that we may see our way along
the path of existance so we may learn.
[OFF #3: lowers platter and approaches initiate, offers initiate one of the cakes.]
OFF #3: Eat now of the knowledge of Apollo, so that you might
share the vision of the Damos and learn our ways.
[OFF #3, after the initiate has partaken of the cakes, takes the platter and begins to travel the circle clockwise and distributing cakes to the Damos. OFF #1 should have finished by now and may return the pitcher to the altar and then take original position in the circle. When OFF #3 has completed delivering the cakes and returned the platter then OFF #3 returns to place in Circle. Off #4 stands beside the Initaite facing the Altar.]
OFF #3: You have partaken of the Waters of Love and the cakes
of knowledge. All that remains is your taking of the
oath we ask each member entering into the Damos.
Repeat this after Me:
Gods and Goddesses of Myceneae,
I kneel Before Thy Altar,
To Join with this Damos,
In perfect Love and trust.
Witness this, Lady Themis,
Binder of Oaths and Promises
I shall obey the Laws of Hospitality
And Shall not betray the Trust placed in Me.
If I breach this Oath I now Give
May I face thy wrath unleashed.
[Once finished, the initaite is helped to their feet by OFF #3 and led to a point halfway between the Altar and the center of the circle].
OFF #3: Let us welcome [initiates name] with open arms and
open hearts into the Damos!
[A hug-fest should now occur, and each person should be sure to hug the initiate at least once, and if wished bestow a kiss or joining gift unto them - such as a chalice of their own. Once enough of this has occured the OFF #2 should stand before the Altar and speak....]
OFF #2: [initiates name] is now one with the Damos, and will
ways of the Laos. Gods and Goddesses we thank you all,
mentioned and unmentioned, watching and wandering.
Our work here tonight comes to a close, for now a
celebration is called for. Thanks unto you all for
your help, knowledge, guidance and love. SPirits of
the land, thank you for having us here and for aiding
us this night. Our circle is now again open to the
material worlds.
[Off #2 should lead the procession out of the circle, and OFF #1 should extinguish the flames and candles etc as the last out of the circle, with help from OFF #3]
Initiate Rejection Procedure
OFF #1: The Damos has spoken, [initiates name] has been
duly rejected. We hold no arguments upon this,
and the choice shall remain secret.
[Bowl is returned as is to the Altar]
OFF #1: Thank you for your help and guidance this night,
gods and goddesses. Our work here is done this
night. Spirits of this land, thank you for watching
over us as we gathered this night. Our circle is now
open, let us go now in peace into the material world.
[Off #1 leads processional out of circle. OFF# 3 & 4 take care of cleanup and putting out fire and candles.
Design Notes: an option to consider in this is the blindfolding of the initiate, retaining the blindfold in place until after the takeing of libation and cakes. This adds a bit stronger sense of drama and revelation to the experience, but is a choice of the Damos involved.