A Magickal Textbook

Posted on by Jon Sewell

In earlier posts I mentioned that The Rites of Eleusis are particularly useful when employed as a study guide, and today I would like to delve a little deeper into that. As always, I invite your input.

To begin with, The Rites (when performed in the chronological order intended) follow the path of energy down the Qabalistic Tree of Life.

I am aware that the Rites are often presented “out of order” and I see no problem in doing so, provided that there is an awareness of the intended narrative.

The Tree of Life

This image comes from the Thelemapedia website, a valuable resource for people interested in learning about Thelema and Thelemic Magick http://www.thelemapedia.org/index.php/Tree_of_Life

Rather than try to explain The Tree of Life, I will direct you back to the Thelemapedia article. It is enough to note that the structure of these plays derives much from the study of this particular diagram, and that an understanding of The Tree will illuminate The Rites.

The events expressed in the narrative of The Rites of Eleusis often draw their characteristics from this “road map” of the human psyche. As an example, when Venus exclaims,”It is the ruin of the Temple” in The Rite of Venus, it can be seen as a dramatic enactment to the Path of Peh on The Tree of Life, depicted in the Tarot as The Tower, which forms the bridge from Netzach to Hod, the sphere of Venus to the sphere of Mercury.

Incidentally, I find it convenient to view the spheres or Sephiroth of The Tree of Life as stages (in the theatrical sense) or settings where the actors play out their roles, and the paths as the actions or actors, depending on the context.

For those who have studied or performed in these Rites, what other connections have you seen?

In future posts we will be discussing more about the relationship between astrology and the Tarot and The Rites of Eleusis.

What Do YOU Want to Talk About?

Posted on by Jon Sewell
Person doing alchemy






Let’s talk about making magick!

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

I know why I do this, but why should you do this?

Blog post number one, which you can find here, explains the gist of what this blog is going to be about. It is my hope that it will be discovered and shared by those who would like to continue to explore The Rites of Eleusis, not just as they have been presented, but in the new ways that they will be.

For that to happen, people will need to have a vision, a dream, a plan to push this material forward. Fortunately, artists seem to have wild dreams in ample supply.

One question a you might ask is: why would you chose this material?

I would like nothing better than to explain to everyone why they should do this. I can explain what it is to build a community around art. The value of learning of the astrological and astronomical and Quabalistic forces as they interact in these planetary rituals. The way that the various senses combine to make the experience real, and deep, and impactful for the players and the audience. I can describe all of that, and more, about the ways that these Rites are enjoyable and instructive. We will cover many of these topics in the coming months, as I find a voice here.

But, how can one express what it is to be the host to something Holy, profound and ancient? How much like love, and drunkeness and madness it is! How full of music! It is a wonder that words fail to express. The experience is incommunicable. It is a mystery.

And I want it for everyone. If not these Rites, then something very much like them. Ritual dramas that must be experienced to be understood.

I can’t walk you through this mystery alone. So, a little help is in order.

2010 was the centennial of the original staging Aleister Crowley’s “The Rites of Eleusis”, and as the anniversary approached, Melissa and I started talking about where and when these Rites started being celebrated again, and by whom. We got curious. We asked questions. We brought cameras. We ended up making a documentary with Bob Jones about what we discovered, and it is a window into the sanctuary of the mystery. (More about the inestimable Bob Jones later.)

Rather than try to convince you how amazing it is to engage with this material by myself, I will let these inspired folks share their stories.

Video

Rites of Eleusis Centennial Documentary (2010) from Bob Jones on Vimeo.

This video is free on Vimeo, and I invite you to use it as a resource. If you are wanting to stage The Rites of Eleusis, I have found that it is a great place to stir up some interest. Show it to your friends, and invite them to join you.
And as questions arise, feel free to direct them here!

In order to make this medium effective, we will need to engage with each other. I plan to leave commenting open, and I encourage discussion and questions. I want to make this a place where we are free to share ideas and to respectfully disagree. I plan to invite guests to write posts, and to provide text and video interviews with people who have shaped our history and those who are inspired to shape our future.

Love is the law, love under will.