Off the top of my head ...

The commonly understood 'proper' symbol is the Mark of the Beast of which there are several variants. The Sun and Moon co-joined with '2 witnesses' is common. Personally I never added the witnesses.

That famous picture of Laylah has a variation on the theme:

Any easy to control sharp object will do the trick, but I recommend paying heed to the meaning of the word 'burin'. Crowley is quite specific with his choice of magickal weapons as a rule, and, IMO, is indicating a certain symbolism and related magickal action by choosing an engraving tool, rather than, say, a dagger.

I did a cycle of the Phoenix out bush and found it beneficial to wittle a burin like tool out of a hardwood near my camp.

When I did this ritual, I used a common symbol for Earth being a circle with a line both horizontally, and vertically in middle of it.

Hmm, if you appreciate William Blakes works you would get more out of this ritual by using an engraving tool. You could be using the infernal method of corrosives to engrave the symbol upon yourself.

I have not performed this ritual myself, but I recently had an idea after doing Resh that you could tie this into Resh by inscribing a cross of four Resh's on your chest.

This cross will be found to look uncannily like a "sunwheel" not entirely unlike the sort that people of a particularly untoward political bent often tatoo upon their chests. 😯

Why did I never think of this??? Esp. as, when all is said and done, I think Blake is cooler than AC. I had picked up on the "burn" reference and have been using a woodburning tool for several years-you get used to the pain but be careful, folks-when focusing more on catching the sun's last ray, I lost a nipple in the process...

...and I am SO waking up with coffee here!

I don't perform Phoenix at all. As a printmaker, I'm very comfortable working with blades but there still appears that unexpected moment when we slip and offer a few drops to the print-block. And doesn't Liber Art say: "The best blood is of the thumb, clumsy..."

Four Resh's: I actually SAW this on the back of some guy's neck at a convenience store...he had four axes, whirling about-I thought "Wow-that's kind of cool..." and then I noticed: "Wait-a minute-that's a..." and then I saw the rest of his neck was LOADED with his white supremacy bullshit (and he had a BIG neck-we're talking the neck of an OX-which may make sense as you really do have to be a FOOL to mark up your body the way he did...of course, I wasn't going to say anything-he was about 7 feet tall, weighed about 400 pounds-all stuffed into his itty bitty little combat boots and looking like a cartoon character).

But back to Blake and the Phoenix...I think it could be very powerful to simply set your eyes on the setting sun and declare: "Thou art Los in thy Four-fold Course-May God us keep from Single Vision and Newton's Sleep." (from Liber Los vel Helios).

The LBRP thread was/is GREAT...before I opened this one, I laughed a bit, thinking: "Oh, no! Now we've got a thread on how to properly cut ourselves!"

I always thought the "Mark" for this ritual was the simple X in an O (Hugs and Kisses, O Sol!) But there are definite points where I feel (personally) that following out Will and creating our own methods of attaining the points of power on our Path is far more effective.

I'm NOT a ditch-Crowley sort of Thelemite...there ARE some points and actions I hold to lovingly and find of great value...but I really think tapping the Heart of a prescribed Ritual will reveal new ways of going even deeper into that Heart's Deep Core!

Nashimiron, you are a smartass-in the very best sense of the word!

I tend to think that mayhap you REALLY translevitated UP the Q-Tree and, face smacking branch-slaps and all, you hit the TOP...

Love and Life and Losian Light,

Kyle

PHYTON 444

Aspring to be a scientific illuminist as much as possible - I see that Magickal experiences can be summarised as either the manipulation of the glamours, the cultivation of siddhas, the manipulation of lila, natural forces or maya etc. and that Mystickal experiences are those deep inner experiences of an esoteric gnosis, illumination, the philosophers stone, the holy grail, sunyata, samadhi, emptyness or the experience of void etc.

So, the way I see things are like this...if the aspiring adept has pursued both the above left and right paths...the resultant effects of such practice become quite synonymous states of experience. This is why it was wonderful to read Kenneth Grant - At the feet of the Guru - where he clearly demonstrates the mechanisms and tools which are required to unlock the 'secret', and does this by marrying the pinciples of advaita (non-division) with qabalistic metaphysics.

My question to all on this particular thread is this -

What were your actual experiences of applying 'The Mass of the Phoenix' ritual?...and why did you choose to do this ritual? What did this ritual actually do for you? How did it transform your experience? Was it performed to get closer to rending the veil of the self and the experience of unconditional sacrifice, akin to the Buddhist or Christ consciousness experience? AKA The Great Beast, poetically described by Crowley.

I am interested to know the effects of such a ritual on your human experience..

Love is the law, love under Will

Charles

I think that sunwheel, or cart wheel looking image is what I used. I didn't write in detail about the imagery used because I'm very timid about my work, and my opinions. I'm more apt to describe the circumstances around, and the effects of. Why we used this image, I'm not entirely certain, but I did so at the advice of a so called teacher. Not sure if that was good or bad advice, any one else? I did, however opt for a corrosion-free ritual.

I also did the ritual with a very close friend, at the time, the first time we'd seen each other in two years and a bit. It was my first time performing it and I was pretty new to the material.

We went out just a week or two after the Thelemic Holy Days to what's called "the 6 Mile coulees", which the wildlife is desert-like, but the coulees themselves very lush and green with carpeting in the summertime. It's esentially the desert of Canada. We went to a particular little cliff, with a wonderful view of the setting sun; this one had a bunch of tiny yellow flowering about it. It was very picturesque, and gorgeous. Anyway, I'm starting to sound like an over-descriptive Tolkien here. 😀 I guess I could tell you in detail how the ritual went itself, but I'll suffice to say that I had the appropriate thick-ass blood-like port wine, the burn and thurible, an aphame (sp?), altar etc.. The set up required.

That said, I'm going to answer Charles' question.

I did this ritual because the tenants in my home at that particular time were not getting along, this being my husband and my Thelemite buddy. Work was going downhill in many ways more than one for both my husband and I, money was tight, and there was discord everywhere I seemed to be turning. I needed personally the psychological effect of the ritual to rebirth my own awareness and understanding, and especially my empathy. And it helped quite a lot with everything. I was able to deal with coworkers, and extenuating circumstances much better, my friend left and by a miracle my husband and I sorted things out for what I see as the better. It gave me a profound uplifting experience and a rekindling of my magickal practice and interest, 10 fold. This was also helped by the friend visiting, of course, but when he left I felt for the first time that I was truely magickally independant. It may not be as fancy a definition as others might give but I am still a preliminary magician and though I have worked better with guidance in the past, this friend was my guide for a very long time and it was time to sprout my own pair of wings and seek, instead of being content with simply being found when I was bourne into the Great Work.

I'd like anyone who sees my experience as something I more than possibly did not recognize, that would make me a happy camper.

Kidneyhawk Kyle: You were talking about not being so much of a die hard Crowleyan. I can say for myself that I admire Crowley, but I initially was a Regardian and Jungian thinker, so by the time Crowley even came into my knowledge I was too well aware of his own psychology to dogmatize him entirely, or to deify him.

The subject of tattoos has me wondering... Did Crowley have any tats?

Vi, In The Sky.

So glad to hear this, as shortly after making my earlier post half a day ago, I ordered the very book from Midian Books. It's all starting to come together ... the stars are in alignment .... the many angled ones... but I digress.

I've never performed this ritual regularly, but I might start setting time aside for it after the LBRP which I'm starting to do again regularly after some time without any practice. Casting my eye over the text, it occurs to me that a sure sign that one is riding the crest of the 93 current would be when caught in rapture you find yourself proclaiming "green eggs and ham! green eggs and ham! Do what thou wilt! There is no god but man!" after eating the cake.

Kidneyhawk - being an appreciator of William Blakes work, have you heard the Norweigan band Ulver's "Themes from William Blakes Marriage of Heaven and Hell" album? It's really awesome. The way the text is put to music, and the vocal approach is just fantastic. The singer was also in a band called Arcturus who's "La Masquerade Infernale" album featured a blinding rendition of Poe's "Alone". Feed your head dude!

😆

Vilaven

Thank you very much for your post, it sounds like it was quite a turning point in your magickal development, and turned out to be a very positive one for your relationship with your husband.

I see this ritual as being very powerful, it is a ritual of the highest calibre, invoking the highest states of Cosmic fire above the abyss....gaining contact with magickal forces from outside. I see it as bringing birth to the God-Man experience or intelligences which connect the adept with galvanising and developing/evolving their magickal will. The ritual could almost be seen as being similar to when the Buddha touched the earth with one hand, so that the earth could witness his experience of enlightenment or the crossing of the veil of the abyss!... or the crucifixion of Christ.

The way I would also interpret the magickal energies which are liberated from this ritual experience, is that it unlocks the gates of gnosis to the upper triad, and hence the experience of ain/void/50 gates...and it would also involve opening up the aspirant to forces of magickal experience which seep through the mysterious power zone of daath (11 or the number eight). The battery of knocks (11/daath and the number eight) arouse all kinds of resonances....Typhonian.

From looking at the Tree of Life, it is a ritual performed when the adept has reached the magickal experience of the Adeptus Major...in the sense that the adept is exalted within the gnosis of Mars/Geburah/5 and is thrust through the veil of the abyss.....via the path of the Chariot/Cancer/the number eight or 11 - again also linked with Daathian gnosis....the 8th name etc...Octinomos.

Of course, nothing is cut in stone and it all depends where your point of magickal reference lies....

Love is the law, love under Will

Charles

Thought it worth resurrecting this post to point out the lyrics to Coil's song "Heavens Blade". Meant to post this ages ago, but better late than never! Behold:

Coil - Heaven's Blade

There's blood in the sun
There's blood in the sun
But I'm not afraid
I cut myself with Heaven's blade

Inside the wound I found my wings
And walked away from this human skin

I asked the earth to open up the sky
To get inside and live with me for life

I stand before the sun
Rise up and see the shape of things to come
It's all the same

Just cut yourself
With Heaven's blade
Just cut yourself
With Heaven's blade
Just cut yourself
With Heaven's blade

The song's on "The Ape of Naples".

The phoenix rising is *currently* expressed in the zodiac as scorpio rising...the symbol must resurrect the symbol, so to speak.

it is the manifestation of duality resolved (that is the whole of the secret of both war and peace) yet remaining as a balance - like a scale instead of a mixing bowl. (except on BOTH sides is your heart - no 'feather' truth - the truth is the truth compared with itself - to be true to self is to weigh in with truth.....that sounds muddy i know, but i can't hardly express it).

The phoenix rising is *currently* expressed in the zodiac as scorpio rising...the symbol must resurrect the symbol, so to speak.

What makes you say this? I'm interested and very curious.

It is the manifestation of duality resolved (that is the whole of the secret of both war and peace) yet remaining as a balance - like a scale instead of a mixing bowl. (except on BOTH sides is your heart - no 'feather' truth - the truth is the truth compared with itself - to be true to self is to weigh in with truth.....that sounds muddy i know, but i can't hardly express it).

Hm... Well, I wondered where you got the original Scorpio concept from because I was thinking of using the Sign for Taurus to be inscribed on the chest, pending on why there's a Scorpio connection, for Balance. This may be perfect for my own personal brand of Magick.

Take care all,

Vi

Well, Scorpio is opposite of Taurus on the wheel - the 'living creatures' mentioned 2 or 3 times in the canonized bible are the eagle (scorpio/phoenix), leo (lion), taurus (bull), and aquarius (man).
If scorpio is 'rising' that puts it at 9 o clock, the lion at the top (noon), the bull at 3 pm and the man at the bottom (at 6 pm).
And that's really the only way that makes sense according to the idea of a 'rising' sign - the pheonix was the symbol long long ago - perhaps all the way to Mesopotamia or in the age before this one...
but since this age has manifested mankind as being blind to his true self as living soul, the scorpion took the place - being a symbol of death instead of regeneration. And the 'eagle' represents the recylic life inherent in the carbon based food chain which is the prison of the living soul.

And one of the reasons we have been blind to our living selves this age is because of something best termed 'idolatry.'

Which means not so much putting diety in a box but rather the condition of mankind being ruled by his symbology - we have let our ideas become our masters in the form of the glyphs and what not that we use to symbolize ethereal truth and that is the cause of all the strife and division.

For example - letting ourselves (in general) judge other people or groups based on the symbol which serves as their talisman - the best example i know is that of the swastika...

Probably (in its essential and true representation) is it the most potent force of vitality and creation - the ultimate phallic symbol of the eternal male god...but not many understand that because they have allowed the symbol to define people and things they know not much more of beyond propaganda and diversionary rumors.

So we kill one another because of ignorance and the symbols have become demons instead of tools for mastering all things - probably this is the essential truth of King Solomon! Those who would deny his power over demons and all elementals are those who judge others based on ignorance of things such as the pentagram or runes, etc.

BUT if we can resurrect the power of the pheonix as a symbol then we resurrect our own power as the human race....and it won't happen en masse - it is just not realistic but neither is it necessary....

It just takes one sincere soul who understands...there are many doors that we all must pass through - but each only needs to be unlocked once!

Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the Law

First off, I'd like to thank everyone for their helpful and inspiring responses. I really liked nashimiron's idea of the Resh cross, I actually hadn't thought about that before (don't know why...).

I've pretty much by now drawn my own conclusions about what the said "proper sign" may actually be, I'm still doing a little bit o' research though.
I've developed some interesting notions about the mechanisms involved or that could potentially be involved in the Mass of the Phoenix - nothing conclusive, but if I do manage to form my incoherent ideas into a workable theory I'll share it.

One thing that has been really bugging me still is the Robe.

I know that should've been part of my original question, but seeing as it wasn't I guess I'll ask it now.

...

Here goes.

Would anyone perchance know or have an idea of what the "Phoenix Robe" would look like? I believe Crowley stated that it would simply be a robe in which the chest is bare... but "one can hardly do this with a single robe without looking like a whore in an evening gown" (sic) and with my nose... No!

I've had a few ideas about this myself, but I'd like to examine what others, more experienced/less experienced, think.

By the way, as of to date... I still have not performed this ritual 😳

Love is the law, love under will

The mark, according to A.'.A.'. documents, used in the Mass of the Phoenix is indeed the XO combination.

As to the "Phoenix robe" question. Rather than make a robe that simply slips over the head, have it button up from just around the diaphragm and when performing the Mass, simply unbutton the robe. Or you could have a robe that gets tied off in the front and simply drop it off your shoulders. It really doesn't matter if you look like a cheap whore or not because let's face it, in ritual we all look damn silly anyway.

Here, here, Uranus!

Looking silly is a part of the point to me. I've had a hard time practiceing openly around other Magicians. When I'm alone it forces me to face my interpersonal fear of yelling out loud, doing something out of my comfort zone or what's considdered regular and tabooed. This ritual I did with my 'friend' at the time was definately about the getting past of my own limitations and comfort zones. This person was staying with me for two weeks and it took all of that time frame for me to get up the balls to perform a ritual with him, despite having done so before on a few occasions, but I did it and it's important that I have.

Also, I find this helps in the long run with stagefright of al things... A bit of a positive side-effect, I think. I get bad stage fright but I'm quite good with a guitar and my sometimes very loud voice. Rituals, like this Mass, help me to find focus and center which now, a year or two later has developed solidly into a form of confidence, something to draw from, a well to be tapped into.

So, here's a little experiment for those of you terrified of kareoke: Do several rituals (maybe mass of the phoenix) in a week or however long with the goal of overcome your fear of singing in public. If you have the required faith in Magick, then this should be effective and your Mariah Carey impersonation will be a vision to behold! Huzzuh.

Becky

.'.93.'.

There are several sources regarding the "proper" sign:

One source states: "The proper sign is the Mark of the Beast, which is the Sign of the Sun and Moon or Cross and Circle conjoined. For those of you less inclined to use the Burin to carve the actual sign on your breast, a simple strike or thrust to the finger with the Burin to draw blood, and then the making of the sign on the breast with the blood, will suffice."

I asked my old friend Lon DuQuette this question many years ago (when I had decided to perform the ritual myself), and according to HIM, he stated it was the "Sign of N.O.X.", which would be an "X" within a Circle. I opted for the symbol of Earth, the equilateral cross within a circle, instead of the "X". I think if you're going to DO the ritual, you may as well do it properly.

And YES, the burin is an engraving tool with a metal blade. Below is a formal description.

http://www.answers.com/topic/burin

I myself used a straight-edge razor. I did a very nice job, if I may say so myself 😉

I would choose a meaningful Thelemic date to do this ritual. I performed mine on the Vernal Equinox many years ago. I still do it, but without making such a large cross anymore.

LVX,
Voxx
http://www.voxx.org

.'.93.'.

The Mass of the Phoenix is a Martial Ritual, not a Solar one. IMO If you're going to do a traditional Thelemic ritual ... you may as well do it the way it's suggested, otherwise you should create your own ritual and reserve your Resh symbolism for that.

LVX,
Voxx

What drew you to the conclusion that Liber XLIV The Mass of the Phoenix is solely "Martial" and not Solar?

Also considering that the "proper sign" is not specifically denoted in Liber XLIV and that the Mass is considered an official ritual of the A.'.A.'. in which extensive commentary has been concealed from those who are not of the A.'.A.'., theoretically only those within the A.'.A.'. would beyond a doubt know 100% what the "proper sign" is (and then of course even some within the A.'.A.'. may not know for sure...?).

Now I'm not yet initiated, but I've come to my own conclusions on many aspects of The Mass of the Phoenix. My ideas on the "proper sign" are quite flexible, which is why I rather liked nashimiron's idea of a Resh cross. For the entire time that I've studied this ritual, nothing has ever hinted to me that this ritual is not Solar, which brings me back to my original question to you (see above).

Anyways, I'm just curious as to what further insights you may have to bring.

p.s. for me the Mass of the Phoenix will be preformed daily, not merely reserved for special occasions, like perhaps the Great Invocation or whatnot would be. After all, The Mass of the Phoenix "should be performed daily at sunset by every magician."

p.p.s when you said in an earlier post that you used a "straight-edge razor" did you mean an actual razor, or is there a certain type of burin.
I've come to the conclusion that the answer to my OP regarding the burin is "yes".

.'.93.'.

Umm. I see.

It's a burin ... a specific kind of carving tool, and has no reference to the word, "burn" in the context of this ritual.

The Resh symbol (being from the Hebrew AlephBeth) has nothing to do with white supremacy. The symbol the guy was exhibiting sounds more like a version of a Nordic sign, or the whirling "Sigel", which was permutated into the infamous swastika, which was unfortunately perverted by the Nazis.

That sounds very soothing, however the intent and purpose of the Mass of the Phoenix is about the renewal of force, not the dissipation of it. The best time to do this ritual is at Dawn (the resurrection of the light).

I agree; however at that point, I think it's better to just write an entirely new ritual from the start, and add all the elements and wording that best sums up the ritual for yourself.

LVX,
Voxx

.'.93.'.

As some of you may have noted, I am a great advocate of this (and many other) Thelemic rituals 😉

Anyway, just thought I would point out that the actual constellation of Phoenix is located between Aquarius and Pisces, and not between Scorpio and Sagittarius (where Ophiucus lies).

I can see the point you're coming from regarding Scorpio as a transformative energy, but that's more the energy of water than fire. In the case of the Phoenix, it's very much about the element of Fire. That's why the presence of DM (Mars) is so significant in this ritual.

LVX,
Voxx

93,

My experience with Liber 44 has been wonderful. These few suggestions are based on my experience and your mileage may vary.

Burins: Very sharp pointed things. I have used 5 inch sowing needles and thin round metal sock honed to a very sharp point using a grinder and electric drill. An exacto style razor knife can also work, sometimes too well 😉 Women tend to have more fatty tissue on thier breast so a blade to CAREFULLY slice the skin seems to work better for them.

Signs: Simpler is better, IME. I'm no artist and you probably aren't working in front of a mirror either. I do not want drawing the sign to interfere with the enflaming or altered consciousness I am aiming to achieve.

Robes: The instruction is simply "The Magician, his breast bare..." That leaves a lot of wiggle room. Anything from nude to a button front robe seems to fulfill this.

I do not suggest CARVING a sigil into your breast! If the wafer is supposed to staunch the blood flow a tiny trickle seems appropriate. Even a couple of drops suffice. I do not have any scar tissue in the shape of a sigil on my breast, but there is typically a few days or week of slight scabbing in the shape I gashed my breast. This scabbing makes the blood letting process easier when working the ritual multiple days.

IMO, planetary and astrological correspondences and influences are not very influential in this ritual. As simple as it is, Liber 44 is a very direct and personal invocation of the THELEMA current.

Enflame thyself in prayer.

93s

Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the Law.

The Mass of the Phoenix is a Martial Ritual, not a Solar one.

In this ritual, the phoenix is the alchemical transformation of the pelican which nourishes others by offering up its own substance - like the sacrificing god of Tiphareth. The solar nature of the ritual is also shown in the 777 correspondences.

John

Love is the law, love under will.

Good question 🙂

If the ritual is solar, then can it be nailed down to a single constellation?

And where does the idea about it being Martial come from?

In the A.'.A.'. it is taught not scribe the symbol in full but to slowly form the symbol over the course of the rituals performances. You make a deeper cut and then slowly scratch the rest of the symbol. If it scabs, you simply trace over that area until it heals while making a deeper impressions in other areas. I have thin blood personally, this is not a ritual for me but those were the instructions I received from my former mentor in the A.'.A.'. about performing the ritual and making the NOX sign on the breast.

Oh and Vi, I just saw you question about AC and a tattoo and no, he didn't have any as is evident from many, many pictures of him in the nude etc. Some will lead you to believe that there is a required tattoo in the OTO but none of the older members seem to have possessed it and it may be a modern invention, if true, it is purely a Caliphate thing. No, AC had no tats.

Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the Law.

I agree. It is very "alchemical ritual". Cakes and wine/blood. I don't think use of sharp objects is a part of this ritual. Literary understanding sometimes can be... a mistake maybe? Mass is usualy alchemical thing and in Crowley case sexual ritual. Just my opinion and the way how I am informed by some people.

Love is the law, love under will.

HPK

93,

I have only performed Liber 44 once, many years ago. I am currently preparing to perform it daily for a moon recording my thoughts and perceptions and developments as the moon cycle passes.

I aim to connect to the current of the working, develop an understanding of it and a deeper understanding of the Eucharist.

It's been great to read all of your thoughts and tips. I was confused about the symbol and having to repeat it daily, but even as small a hint as opening up the wound from the day before (of course!!!) has been helpful.

93 93/93

Sr. Ananda

"In a post (above) from 2007, now necromanced a decade later, it was stated ...
"In the A.’.A.’. it is taught not scribe the symbol in full but to slowly form the symbol over the course of the rituals performances."

I have to wonder which A.'.A.'. was being referred to. That is, in the A.'.A.'. with which I am familiar, no such instruction was ever give. I suggest that this instruction is/was surely limited to the poster's experience, and is not "taught by the A.'.A.'." in general, and perhaps not at all in any other lineage. Ritu 44 clearly states that the invasive procedure known as gouging or cutting or inscribing is to be performed.

Personally, a long time ago, I was known as "Phoenix," and I performed 44 daily for 6 months (solo), and weekly thereafter for 5 years (in group assembly). The first time, I traced the symbol without cutting and then pierced the center of hat symbol minimally in order to obtain one drop of blood - in order to conform to the spirit (but not the letter) of the rite. After that, no further piercing or cutting was ever done.

That was then, but these are modern times. If one did this rite, actually drawing blood, and then placed a drop on several cakes for the consumption by others, Hepatitis, HIV (AIDS), and a few other dreadful pathogens (if present) would be transmitted to the recipients. Beware.

It was also stated ...
"In the A.'.A.'. it is taught" is a bold extension from the particular to the general, and is simply not correct.

It was also stated ...
"Some will lead you to believe that there is a required tattoo in the OTO but none of the older members seem to have possessed it and it may be a modern invention."

It is clearly stated in a certain OTO rite that "You can't re-enter the Temple until you have had this symbol (which had been drawn on the initiate with some removable paint or ink) permanently embedded." (a loose translation of the actual words).

So, this is not a modern invention and has nothing to do with an invention of the contemporary Caliphate and its contemporary derivation. We never required that this actually be done and I know of no initiate who actually did it (but surely some have done it). Instead, our initiates were given a small, 18-carat, gold ankh, which depended on a fine chain to rest over the heart.

These authoritative statements by yo-uranus are his own statements and experiences, and do not reflect the universal applications of the specified Orders in general.

p.s. for me the Mass of the Phoenix will be preformed daily, not merely reserved for special occasions, like perhaps the Great Invocation or whatnot would be. After all, The Mass of the Phoenix “should be performed daily at sunset by every magician.”
I'm not aware of anybody else fully performing this ritual (i.e. piercing their skin with a burin and letting blood) every day ongoing throughout their life at sunset, as clearly prescribed. I am willing to bet there has never been one single such person. Certainly Crowley himself never did; and if the ritual was as efficacious as intimated, surely all of his contemporary disciples and acolytes would have --- but there is zilch indication of Jones, Loveday, Mudd, Yorke, Regardie or any of the American O.T.O. members ever having undertaking to do so either. In fact the precise actual advantages of diurnal practice are never spelled out anywhere, and Crowley's comments on it elsewhere as a whole are minimal. On those occasions whenever I carried out 44 myself (certainly not daily at sunset) I always found it appropriate & beneficial to do the NOX sign in one continuous motion, but that is my own personal taste.

It rather appears to be another case of Crow's "don't do as I do, do as I say" sayings. As they say.

“Some will lead you to believe that there is a required tattoo in the OTO but none of the older members seem to have possessed it and it may be a modern invention.”
It is clearly stated in a certain OTO rite that “You can’t re-enter the Temple until you have had this symbol (which had been drawn on the initiate with some removable paint or ink) permanently embedded.” (a loose translation of the actual words).
So, this is not a modern invention and has nothing to do with an invention of the contemporary Caliphate and its contemporary derivation.
I can't recall anywhere where it says 're-entry' to the Temple is forbidden without 'permanent embedding', but the 'stipulation' to have a "required" rose/ rose cross tattoo'd over one's heart, although it is mentioned in the rubric of the Vth degree O.T.O. ritual, in practice appears to be only a modern Caliphate innovation, if for no other reason than such initiations were not in actuality carried out by anyone until they did so in the late 1970s. The effective branding would certainly have some value in setting one out apart to be a Thelemite though (a bit like, perhaps, if you were Jewish having numbers tattoo'd on one's wrist in the War in certain large concentration camps did.)

Markedly yours (mark my words),
Norma N Joy Conquest

Posted by: @jamiejbarter

 
I'm not aware of anybody else fully performing this ritual (i.e. piercing their skin with a burin and letting blood) every day ongoing throughout their life at sunset, as clearly prescribed. I am willing to bet there has never been one single such person.  

How much blood would be required, though?  I've lightly scratched myself with a lancet, and used a pendant I have that has a point on the end. 

I admit I don't always have the chance to do it exactly at sunset, though.  

This is the version I've used for a few years now:

https://hermetic.com/dionysos/phoenix

Posted by: @katrice

How much blood would be required, though?

One minim. (a minim is a "drop"). 20 drops = one dram.

@shiva 

Too many people seem to think it required more, but light scratching is sufficient, and if done carefully enough heals very quickly.

Posted by: @katrice

Too many people seem to think it required more

Blood lust. The same people probably drink too much liquor, then later wish they had'nt. I wonder how many Phoenix magicians end up in the Emergency Room.

Posted by: @katrice

light scratching is sufficient, and if done carefully enough heals very quickly.

This is correct. I only did it about 3 times (the bloody ritual, that is), with minor blood-letting.

The rite itself, without blood-letting, I must have done 100+ times.

It is a tremendously potent rite.  I never found any difference when done with or without exsanguination. Well, there was more (slight) pain in one of the methods.

Posted by: @shiva

Blood lust. The same people probably drink too much liquor, then later wish they had'nt. I wonder how many Phoenix magicians end up in the Emergency Room.

Was it Duquette who shared the story of using a scalpel once?  It did not go well for him.

The rite itself, without blood-letting, I must have done 100+ times.

Have you ever tried the Enochian version?

It is a tremendously potent rite.  I never found any difference when done with or without exsanguination. Well, there was more (slight) pain in one of the methods.

Pain can be useful for energy raising and altering consciousness.  I couple my use of the ritual with some energy circulation and the little burn from scratching helps prime me for that. 

Posted by: @katrice

Have you ever tried the Enochian version?

As repeatedly stated, over and over again, in multiple threads and personal conversations, I do not do well with ferenghi lingos. So the answer is "No."

Posted by: @shiva

As repeatedly stated, over and over again, in multiple threads and personal conversations, I do not do well with ferenghi lingos. So the answer is "No."

 

And yet you use a "ferenghi" term for "foreigner"  😉 

Posted by: @katrice

And yet you use a "ferenghi" term for "foreigner"

I am knowledgeable in specific words in furin (fearin?) lingos (Hebrew, German, Japanese, Chinese, Star Trek). I use these words often, usually in single words.

I was tortured with Spanish in Junior High School. I got through with a "C" grade (Average-Satisfactory). Whew!

Then I went to live in Mexico for a year and a half. I had enough basic training to start thinking in Spanish. I later discovered that this is when you really start to learn - when you catch yourself thinking in a for-in lingo. I am capable of traveling in Mexico, asking directions, and conducting simple business. That's all.

I figure the greatest tragedy in human history (aside from the Sodom-Gomorrah blow-up) was the climax at The Tower in Babylon.

Posted by: @katrice

 

This is the version I've used for a few years now:

https://hermetic.com/dionysos/phoenix

 

Well, thanks for that!

Instantly feels tremendously more powerful.

Combined with Liber Israfel (as advocated by Frater Shiva in his books) this is an amazing routine.

On that note, what's your take on Enochian pronunciation?

I'm pondering and experimenting with it for quite some time now. No classic way (Dee purist, Golden Dawn, Crowley) seems really satisfying. At the time being I combine all methods in trying to achieve the (subjectively) most beautiful way I can come up with as I suspect the Enochian Angels admire beauty.

93, Snow

Posted by: @snowonvenus

 

Well, thanks for that! 

You're welcome!

Instantly feels tremendously more powerful.

That's why I use that version exclusively. 

Combined with Liber Israfel (as advocated by Frater Shiva in his books) this is an amazing routine.

Have you compared Liber Israfel with the Bornless Ritual, which in incorporates parts of? 

On that note, what's your take on Enochian pronunciation?

I learned is as adding "eh" to each consonant, except when the consonant is followed by a vowel, in which case it's pronounced as one would normally pronounce the consonant/vowel combination. So "sg" would be "sehgeh" but "so" would just be "so".  But I know there are other methods that people have done fine with.

I'm pondering and experimenting with it for quite some time now. No classic way (Dee purist, Golden Dawn, Crowley) seems really satisfying. At the time being I combine all methods in trying to achieve the (subjectively) most beautiful way I can come up with as I suspect the Enochian Angels admire beauty.

Benjamin Rowe's work is definitive, in my opinion, and can be found online.  I've done well with Michael Kelly's book "The Sevenfold Mystery", but it's geared towards LHP practitioners.  Silly as is may sound, and please don't laugh too hard, but I've found the Schuelers' method of turning the tablets in to mandalas useful, and their theoretical "Tablet of Chaos" interesting, though I've seen a similar idea in the spurious Ordines Descendens. 

Posted by: @katrice

Have you compared Liber Israfel with the Bornless Ritual, which in incorporates parts of? 

I just noticed it uses this part from the preliminary invocation and Liber Samech and some lines from the Emerald tablet. 

I learned is as adding "eh" to each consonant, except when the consonant is followed by a vowel, in which case it's pronounced as one would normally pronounce the consonant/vowel combination. So "sg" would be "sehgeh" but "so" would just be "so". 

Cool, didn't know this variation yet. Intresting to give "eh" such an importance and big share. Kinda like "a" in Sanskrit.

Once I also translated some calls into the real names of the letters. So Iaida would be "Gonungongalun". Came up with it as Dee spoke about "Zadzaczadlin" being the name of Adam in the book of Soyga because a = Zad, Zac = d, m = Lin. However most Enochian names didn't sound all to well, especially words with n (drux) etc. However I always wondered what to do with these letter names.

I will certainly give your method a try as well.

But I know there are other methods that people have done fine with.

Always hard to determine what "have done fine with" means in this field. If the emotional setup is right I feel elevated no matter what pronunciation I use. Nevertheless I feel like there must be one perfectly right way. I mean after all the apocalypse should start if finally someone managed to pronunce these cries correctly. On the other hand this might just be true on the subjective level. 

 

Benjamin Rowe's work is definitive, in my opinion, and can be found online.  I've done well with Michael Kelly's book "The Sevenfold Mystery", but it's geared towards LHP practitioners.  Silly as is may sound, and please don't laugh too hard, but I've found the Schuelers' method of turning the tablets in to mandalas useful, and their theoretical "Tablet of Chaos" interesting, though I've seen a similar idea in the spurious Ordines Descendens. 

 

Seems like you read exactly some of the enochian authors I skipped or only skimmed. "Definitive" is certainly a big word regarding this topic. His work is this good in your opinion?

I read some chapters of Schueler but don't remember the mandalas. He did an Enochian Tarot as well however I always wished this Golden Dawn Enochian Tarot (which portraits the egyptian godforms/sphinxes) was still on the market for a reasonable price.

Posted by: @snowonvenus

I just noticed it uses this part from the preliminary invocation and Liber Samech and some lines from the Emerald tablet.  

Indeed so. I've used the Headless as part of my daily practice for a few years, in conjunction with the Hidden Stele and the Stele of Aion.  

Cool, didn't know this variation yet. Intresting to give "eh" such an importance and big share. Kinda like "a" in Sanskrit.

I learned it from someone I did a series of workings with the Aethyrs with.

Once I also translated some calls into the real names of the letters. So Iaida would be "Gonungongalun". Came up with it as Dee spoke about "Zadzaczadlin" being the name of Adam in the book of Soyga because a = Zad, Zac = d, m = Lin. However most Enochian names didn't sound all to well, especially words with n (drux) etc. However I always wondered what to do with these letter names.

I don't think I've seen that method before. It is interesting.  Have you tried using these in practice?

Always hard to determine what "have done fine with" means in this field.

The key determining factor for me is "Does it work for you?  Do you get results you found useful?"

If the emotional setup is right I feel elevated no matter what pronunciation I use. Nevertheless I feel like there must be one perfectly right way.

But that has yet to be found.

I mean after all the apocalypse should start if finally someone managed to pronunce these cries correctly.  

And found the missing Key, though I have seen that some people have claimed to have found that too.

Seems like you read exactly some of the enochian authors I skipped or only skimmed.

I like exploring a variety of sources when I study anything. 

"Definitive" is certainly a big word regarding this topic. His work is this good in your opinion?

Extremely, and well-respected among many others too.  

I read some chapters of Schueler but don't remember the mandalas. He did an Enochian Tarot as well however I always wished this Golden Dawn Enochian Tarot (which portraits the egyptian godforms/sphinxes) was still on the market for a reasonable price.

The mandalas are in The Angels' Message to Humanity.  The book is entirely about working with them.

I've never worked with the Enochian Tarot.  I think that art was done by Sallie Ann Glassman? She also did the art for the New Orleans Voodoo Tarot,which has a Thelemic influence. 

Posted by: @katrice

I don't think I've seen that method before. It is interesting.  Have you tried using these in practice?

Not really with discipline so thanks for the reminder.

I just regularly vibrated the Letters around the Holy Table à la Lon Milo Duquette.

Working with Enochian is somehow strange for me. It's the subgenre of High Magick I'm most passionate about but it also drains my energy faster than all other workings so the progress isn't as fast as it could be. But I don't think it's wise to overextend myself so I follow my Taurus nature there.

Does it work for you?  Do you get results you found useful?"

Resonates!

But that has yet to be found.

For the night is dark and full of terrors.

And found the missing Key, though I have seen that some people have claimed to have found that too.

And I'm sure they didn't convince you.

  The mandalas are in The Angels' Message to Humanity.  The book is entirely about working with them.

The title ist a bit new-agey but I don't find this idea of incorporating the Mandalas ridiculous at all.

Posted by: @snowonvenus

Not really with discipline so thanks for the reminder.

I'd be interested in hearing about your results. 

Working with Enochian is somehow strange for me. It's the subgenre of High Magick I'm most passionate about but it also drains my energy faster than all other workings so the progress isn't as fast as it could be. But I don't think it's wise to overextend myself so I follow my Taurus nature there.

Always pace yourself, and don't risk gnostic burnout.  Enochian has a reputation for potency, and Crowley's use of it,particularly working with the aethyrs, helped lay the foundation for much of the form that Thelema took. That should be an indicator.  The aethyrs alone are initiatory in nature.  

For the night is dark and full of terrors.

A primary source for pronunciation would have been a big help.  🙄 

And I'm sure they didn't convince you.

Not at all, but we'll never know until someone tests it out.  

The title ist a bit new-agey but I don't find this idea of incorporating the Mandalas ridiculous at all.

The title is a lot new-agey,which almost made me not buy it, but the mandalas got my interest, as did the instructions on incorporating sex magick.  

I forgot to mention, re: the Bornless, if you haven't read Jake Stratton Kent's booklet on it, I highly recommend it. 

Regardless of the wonders, or terrors, of other things, The Mass of the Phoenix remains applicable for solo performance or group participation. In its way, it is a reflection of the 5=6 operation, and it is a really good sort of practice to engage as one prepares for the Tiphareth adventure.

Posted by: @shiva

Regardless of the wonders, or terrors, of other things, The Mass of the Phoenix remains applicable for solo performance or group participation. In its way, it is a reflection of the 5=6 operation, and it is a really good sort of practice to engage as one prepares for the Tiphareth adventure.

 

Very much so. It's a very Solar rite, and an alchemical one too.

Posted by: @shiva

Regardless of the wonders, or terrors, of other things, The Mass of the Phoenix remains applicable for solo performance or group participation. In its way, it is a reflection of the 5=6 operation, and it is a really good sort of practice to engage as one prepares for the Tiphareth adventure.

 

Thanks for always finding a way back on topic. I'm confident it helps regarding 5=6. What were the best practices to prepare for Tiphareth on your journey?

@katrice thanks for your intellectual Input.

I'll get the little headless flyer, do my enochian theatre and will report back.

Posted by: @snowonvenus

What were the best practices to prepare for Tiphareth on your journey?

The usual Raja Yoga, banishing, Invocation of Thoth, Mass d'Phoenix. It finally narrowed down to Liber 418, the VIIIth Aethyr, with minor modifications.

It's going to vary a lot with different folks, and as we've been told, a lotta people are going to do this without ever hearing about Crowley, the double A.'., or the arcane tradition.

Posted by: @shiva

Posted by: @snowonvenus

What were the best practices to prepare for Tiphareth on your journey?

The usual Raja Yoga, banishing, Invocation of Thoth, Mass d'Phoenix. It finally narrowed down to Liber 418, the VIIIth Aethyr, with minor modifications.

It's going to vary a lot with different folks, and as we've been told, a lotta people are going to do this without ever hearing about Crowley, the double A.'., or the arcane tradition.

 

It would also depend on how you plan on doing it.  Abramelin?  Samekh? Some other approach? A couple of methods combined?

Regardless, I second what Shiva said, which itself is basically the De Cultu regimen.  The MMM section of Liber HHH.  Don't underestimate the value of consecrating the mundane things you do, it can be very useful. Like ritually cleaning your space, making bathing in to a purification, and doing Will before meals as in Liber MCLI.

@shiva

Resonates as always with you. I also met people (especially woman) who just have this magic gift by intuition. I doubt they consciously heared about the Aster Argon.

However, this statement  touched one of my recurring themes: discipline

For example last week I went to my yearly advaita retreat in the alps. I haven't done any magick besides comtemplating Liber 231 and it's implications along the way. One could argument doing Liber Israfel or the Mass of the Phoenix every single day could speed up the process (& karma). However everytime I do it, it feels just about right. Kinda like I prefer skipping days if it doesn't fit the circumstances to losing my passion in the matter and risking spiritual  burnout.

@katrice 

Liber Samekh would be my preference if I won't come up with a self-made ritual which feels powerful enough. I assume this may be up to destiny.

Good hint with the everyday life. Luckily my relative personality in this black iron prison is obsessive-compulsive enough to make every little thing into a ritual.