Ra-Hoor-Khuit Network's
Magickal Library
A Feast for Life
Prepared for the use of E.G.C. clergy
by Helena and T. Apiryon
Version 4/26/97 e.v.
Copyright © 1997 Ordo Templi Orientis U.S.A. All rights reserved.
(The Gnostic Mass is celebrated. Afterwards, the officers
gather before the veil. The following orations may be made by the
Priest or the Priestess, or they may divide them between each other
or share them with the Deacon.)
THE PRIEST(ESS): One of the Holy Feast Days proclaimed in the Book of the Law is the Feast for Life. The Prophet has stated in his commentary that this feast is to be held to recognize the birth of a child. It is our will today to recognize the birth of (name), son/daughter of Brother N and Sister N.
This ceremony is not the same as a baptism. In our Church,
baptism is taken by an individual who is of sufficient age to make
the decision to do so. The Feast for Life is our ceremony of
welcoming a new child into the world of manifestation, of declaring
our intentions to protect, instruct and assist the child in his/her
efforts to discover and accomplish his/her will, and sharing a token
of our pledge in the sprinkling of water, a symbol of love.
Brother N and Sister N, there are Bonds which lead to Slavery, and Bonds which lead to Freedom. We are all bound in many Fetters by Environment, and it is for ourselves in great Part to determine whether they shall enslave us or emancipate us.
Consider the Bond of a harsh Climate, how it maketh Man a Slave; he must have Shelter and Food with fierce Toil. Yet hereby he becometh strong against the Elements, and his moral Force waxeth, so that he is Master of such Men as live in Lands where bodily Needs are satisfied without Struggle.
Consider also him that willeth to exceed in Speed or in Battle, how he denieth himself the Food he craveth, and all Pleasures natural to him, putting himself under the harsh Order of a Trainer. So by this Bondage he hath, at the last, his Will.
Now then the one by natural, and the other by voluntary,
Restriction have come each to greater Liberty.
It is not the Will of any person which ultimateth in his own Ruin
and that of all his Fellows; and that is not Liberty whose Exercise
bringeth him to Bondage. Thou mayst therefore assume that it is
always an essential Part of the Will of any Child to grow to Manhood
or to Womanhood in Health, and his/her Guardians may therefore
prevent him/her from ignorantly acting in Opposition thereunto, Care
being always taken to remove the Cause of the Error, namely,
Ignorance, as aforesaid. Thou mayst also assume that it is Part of
the Child's Will to train every Function of the Mind; and the
Guardians may therefore combat the inertia which hinders its
Development. Yet here is much Caution necessary, and it is better to
work by exciting and satisfying any natural Curiosity than by
forcing Application to set Tasks, however obvious this Necessity may
appear.
It is important that thou shouldst understand as early as may be
what is the true Will of the Child in the Matter of his/her Career.
Be thou well aware of all Ideals and Day-dreams; for the Child is
herself, and not thy Toy. Recall the comic Tragedy of Napoleon and
the King of Rome; build not an House for a wild Goat, nor plant a
Forest for the Domain of a Shark. But be thou vigilant for every
Sign, conscious or unconscious of the Will of the Child, giving
him/her then all Opportunity to pursue the Path which he/she thus
indicates. Learn this, that she, being young, will weary quickly of
all false Ways, however pleasant they may be to him/her at the
Outset; but of the true Way he/she will not weary.
Now in this Training of the Child there is one most dear
Consideration, and it is this, that since that which can be thought
is not true, every Statement is in some Sense false. Even on the Sea
of pure Reason, we may say that every Statement is in some Sense
disputable, therefore in every Case, even the simplest, the Child
should be taught not only the Thesis, but also its opposite, leaving
the Decision to the Child's own Judgment and good Sense, fortified
by Experience. And this Practice will develop his/her Power of
Thought, and his/her Confidence in herself, and his/her Interest in
all Knowledge. But most of all beware against any Attempt to bias
his/her Mind on any point that lieth without the Square of
ascertained and undisputed Fact. Remember also, even when thou art
most sure, that so were they sure who gave Instruction to the young
Copernicus. Pay Reverence also to the Unknown unto whom thou
presumeth to impart the Knowledge; for he/she may be one greater
than thou.
Sister N and Brother N, is it your will that your child be
brought under the wings of our spiritual community?
Parents: It is.
THE PRIEST(ESS): (addressing the Congregation) Brothers and Sisters! These are the responsibilities of the members of our Order towards children:
All children of brethren are to be considered as children of the whole Order to be protected and aided in every way by its members severally, as by its organization collectively. No distinction is to be made with regard to the conditions surrounding the birth of any child.
There is an especially sacred duty, which every Brother should
fulfill, with regard to all children, those born without the Order
included. This duty is to instruct them in the Law of Thelema, to
teach them independence and freedom of thought and character, and to
warn them that servility and cowardice are the most deadly diseases
of the human soul.
THE PRIEST(ESS): Brothers and Sisters, is it your will to
accept, protect and aid this child as you would your own?
Congregation: It is.
(Officers, Parents and Child go to East of Font. Congregation
forms crescent to West of Font.)
THE PRIEST(ESS): (sprinkling) In the name of Nuit,
Hadit and of Ra Hoor Khuit, I welcome thee, [name].
(All present do likewise, one by one.)
This page last updated: 03/01/2018