Initiation of the Third Degree



High Priestess sits upon the altar, facing South, in the Osiris position. High Priest kneels before her, kisses both knees, extends arms along thighs, and adores. High Priest then fetches filled chalice and celebrates Wine and Cakes. High Priest again kneels before High Priestess, kisses knees and extends arms in adoration as before. Both rise.

 

High Priest says:

Ere I proceed with this sublime rite, I must beg purification at thy hands.

 

High Priestess takes up a red cord and binds his arms, then taking up the cable-tow, leads him once about the Circle.

High Priest kneels facing altar.

Scourge.

High Priest rises and is unbound whereupon he binds High Priestess as she bound him, leads her about the Circle and scourges her as she kneels before the altar. High Priestess rises and High Priest takes her by the cable-tow to each Quarter in turn, saying:

 

High Priest:

Hear ye, Mighty Ones of the East [S, W, N]: the twice consecrated and holy N...., High Priestess and Witch Queen [High Priest and Magus], is properly prepared, and will now proceed to erect the Sacred Altar./FONT>

 

High Priest unties High Priestess and says:

 

High Priest:

Now again I must beg purification.

HPS binds him, leads him about the Circle and Scourges him kneeling before the altar, as before. He stands and is unbound and says:

 

High Priest:

Now I must reveal a great mystery.,

High Priestess stands vefore altar in God Position.
High Priest gives her Fivefold Salute. [After he kisses feet, High Priestess opens into Goddess position, still holding scourge and athame].
High Priestess then sets scourge and athame aside and lies in the middle of the Circle with her head to the East and her womb in the shekinah point. HP kneels beside her facing North. [At each point marked (S) below he kisses her womb unless instructed otherwise.] High Priest says:

 

High Priest:

Assist me to erect the ancient altar,

At which in days past all worshipped,

The Great Altar of all things;

For in old times, Woman was the altar.

Thus was the altar made and placed;

And the sacred point was the point within the centre of the Circle.

As we have of old been taught that the point within the centre

is the origin of all things,

Therefore should we adore it.         [kiss]

Therefore whom we adore we also invoke,

by the power of the Lifted Lance.[touch phallus]

O Circle of Stars         [kiss]

Whereof our father is but the younger brother         [kiss]

Marvel beyond imagination, soul of infinite space,

Before whom time is bewildered and understanding dark,

Not unto thee may we attain unless thine image be love.         [kiss]

Therefore by seed and root, by stem and bud,

by leaf and flower and fruit, Do we invoke thee,

O Queen of Space, O dew of light,

Continuous one of the heavens         [kiss]

Let it be ever thus, that men speak not of thee as one, but as none;

And let them not speak of thee at all, since thou art continuous.

For thou art the point within the circle         [kiss]

which we adore,         [kiss]

The fount of life without which we would not be,         [kiss]

And in this way are erected the Holy Twin Pillars.

[kiss breasts, left then right]

In beauty and in strength were they erected,

To the wonder and glory of all men.

[If the Great Rite is to be actual, non-participants leave, sealing gate behind.]

 

High Priest:

O Secret of Secrets,

That art hidden in the being of all lives,

Not thee do we adore,

For that which adoreth is also thou.

Thou art That, and That am I.         [kiss]

I am the flame that burns in the heart of every man,

And in the core of every star.

I am life, and the giver of life.

Yet therefore is the knowledge of me the knowledge of death.

I am alone, the Lord within ourselves,

Whose name is Mystery of Mysteries.

 

High Priest now kisses High Priestess in the Sigil of the Third Degree as follows:

 

[There's a diagram in the non-computer version which I can't reproduce. It shows the Priestess with the points of the Third Degree Sigil marked on her body. The points are: 1. genitals/womb; 2. right foot; 3. left knee; 4. right knee; 5.left foot; 6. genitals/womb; 7. lips; 8. left breast; 9. right breast; 10. lips.]

 

and then lays his body gently over hers, saying:

 

High Priest:

Make open the path of intelligence between us;

For these truly are the Five Points of Fellowship -

Foot to foot,

knee to knee,

Lance to Grail,

Breast to breast,

Lips to lips.

By the great and holy name Cernunnos;

In the name of Aradia;

Encorage our hearts,

Let the light crystalize itself in our blood,

Fulfilling of us resurrection.

For there is no part of us that is not of the Gods."

.....

High Priest rises and goes to each Quarter in turn saying:

 

High Priest:

Ye Lords of the Watchtowers of the East [S, W, N]; the thrice consecrated High Priestess greets you and thanks you.

NOTES

• published in Janet and Stewart Farrar's The Witches' Wayand Stewart Farrar's What Witches Do. (Probably a few other places too, but these are the ones I'm sure of.) The Farrars say that they are giving GBG's Text B version.