Textiles
Of all the items one might wish to purchase outright in the venture of outfitting a person, group or temple, robes can easily be the spendiest, often starting at $150. There are a surprising number of alternatives however, many not requiring a great deal of sewing skill (altho' that certainly helps). The simplest method is not to employ a "robe" at all, per se but to simply obtain some clothing of a fairly neutral color which will not be used for anything else. The next simplest would probably be the familiar "Tau" pattern, or perhaps the modified kimono/pant ensemble (both given below) or even a toga. In any case, the garment should tastefully support a "color charge."
The color charge is the method by which the garment is attuned to the given planetary attribution and is accomplished by any of a number of means, depending upon the garment. Frater A. has a simple Tau-pattern robe, neutrally colored but trimmed in gold, which can be fitted with a another drape of fabric either in the manner of a sash, scarf or snood. There are eight such articles, plus eight belts which hang in the temple in connection wth the banners when not in use, each in their appropriate quarter. Of course, a color charge can be accomplished by simply have 7 or more different robes, a situation some consider ideal (if money's not an object...) Such a robe should be trimmed in a counter-charge color, which simply means it ought to be trimmed with a color directly opposite it's position the color wheel. Opposite yellow you'll find violet; opposite red you'll find green and opposite blue, orange. In general, the color countercharge should not exceed 15% of the robe's overall color scheme, but a color charge on a neutral robe might be of any size or configuration.
The sketches below show the components of a simple Tau-pattern robe and the various appointments. The main body of the garment is made by folding a largish amount of cloth in half as shown where the distance from the top to bottom is about equal to the distance from the wearer's shoulder to the floor. The horizontal measurement is equal to the distance between the palms of the outstretched hands. After the "T" pattern is cut out and the edges sewn together everywhere but the sleeve-openings and the bottom, decorative trim-tape is stitched onto the edges of the sleeves and around the simply-fashioned neck opening. The "crown" is a somewhat stretchy headband around which is wrapped more decorative tape in an overlapping spiral, tucked under where it rejoins itself. This holds in place the triangular drape in the manner of a snood, or may adorn the head by itself, perhaps even serving as a base for the attachment of various things as might be required by the sort of rites found in, say, the Lemegeton. Tassels and trim might even be added, if one prefers a more ornate look.
The triangular drape can also be worn such that the longest ends hang in the front, the wide triangular bit draping the back. The ensemble is completed with a pair of simple sandals and a belt such as one might use in connection with a less formal robe.
One can profitably consider the construction of a sort of modified kimono robe, which is little more that a collection of square pieces of fabric sewn together and belted at the waist. A loose-fitting pair of pants such as are part of a martial arts outfit add a good complement to the top and, at least in Our Fair City, have a sort of cosmopolitan chic that doesn't stand out too badly in public.
Additionally, a robe of a given office might be manufactured and held as property of the Companions, passing from person to person as the occaision requires. One can easily see seven such robes to serve as costumes of office regarding the planets, with perhaps another desgned in gray or of a Saturnian theme for the ceremonial use of those members currently studying the zodiacal materials. We believe it is important for members to express their own personal preferences in this matter and would chose not to dress in anything suggesting a "uniform", with the possible exception of the dark cloak.
The dark cloak has several functions, some of which are symbolic and some of which are practical. In practical matters, it keeps one warm outdoors on chilly nights and provides nifty, period overwear for SCA events (and some of us are into that sort of thing, oddly enough). There is also a number of rites (such as The Opening of the Temple and Mid-winter Self-dedication) which make use of the symbolic interplay between the outer darkness of the cloak and the bright inner nature of the robe proper. Patterns for said cloaks are so utterly common everywhere that we will not need to reproduce one here.
<<<<INSERT BATIK SECTION>>>>
At the right, you can see a banner typical of the ones we use, in this case that of the West. It was manufactured from a simple dinner napkin, the top edge folded down and hemmed such that the rod would pass through it with ease and the bottom corners folded up and tacked into place in the center. These folded up corners can form a pocket into which a variety of small, light items might be placed. While the banner might be embroidered, it might just as well be painted upon with arcylics or special fabric paints. The bar was constructed of 3/4" wooden dowel with spherical wooden caps glued to the ends, the whole thing being painted gold and secured with a golden cord. Parts for the entire project were purchased in a sewing/crafts store for under $5.
In practice, the color-charge drapes or belts can be hung to frame the banner and to help keep track of them if the banners are hung on the temple wall most of the time. In a travelling temple rig, these things are easy to roll up and store in the Bomos.
Speaking of the Bomos, this too has a need for a color charge from time to time. On our Bomos, we accomplish this by one of two expedients--either we use a largish drape as can be purchased in most import stores, or we use a small square about the size of the top of the Bomos and set it either even with the edges, (as a square set upon a square) or rotated 45 degrees upon the top (as a diamond set in a square, remniscent of the Mystic Tessera). Also, because of the peculiar design of our Bomos, we have constructed a drape which is the standard furnishing for the device. Black in color, it is constructed of a square exactly the size of the Bomos' top to which has been attached the four sides, whose length equals 2x the width of the top. When draped squarely upon our altar, this effectively forms the double-cube configuration in and of itself, even though the physical structure beneath it does not so conform.
Lastly, one should consider the purchase of two other items of varying neccessity. The first is a small "prayer rug", say about 2' x 3' whose chief utility lies in the fact that it can be used as a barrier between one's tender flesh and the cold, hard ground. The second is an umbrella--the larger the better. As mentioned in The Book of the Glyph, we actually require a separate officer (known as the "Umbrux") whose sole job it is to keep dry the principal participants in less-than-clement weather (which in Our Fair City means only about 10 months out of the year). While we only have a mundane umbrella at the moment, we could easily envision a largish patio or beach-type umbrella under which more might comfortably be sheltered. Such a thing would definitely limit one's choice of vehicles, heading towards the van or pickup end of the vehicle spectrum! Best to keep with what can be carried or strapped to a bicycle.
Care should be taken in the selection of these drapes, and attention should be paid to their design and intended application. A tour of one of our many local import shops offers us a few examples of the sort we find most pleasing. In one visit we found drapes of good size (8'x10'+) in the following designs, priced under 16$: blue linen, orange trim with a pattern of squares within squares; off-green muslin with a riot of dark green, leafy vines and tiny red flowers; black with the now-popular sun-moon and stars motif wrought in gold; yellow cotton sunburst face design (including a border motif employing 7- and 8-pointed stars) on black. It wouldn't take long to build up a very good collection.
We use these things. "Burse" is high-falootin' talk for a fancy bag and such a thing is not hard to make nor difficult to find. First, tho', one should ask one's self whether or not a box might do the job better and more reliably. Things like small vials, incense cache cases, herbs, Enochian tablets and sacrificial tokens might wind up in a bag, while toasting glasses, incense burners, battery items and magickal weapons might live in a box. Regular use will decide which course is best.
The manufacture of a simple bag is so self-explanatory that we shall not burden our bandwidth with any further mention of it here. As a general rule tho', we tend to favor bags which are yellow, gold, black or some combination of these is we use it for a Glyph-general item. Bags which hold materials sacred to a specific sphere will be colored accordingly, using the Assiatic color scale.
