A Rite of Dark Sexuality
The Invocation of Lilith:
A Rite of Dark Sexuality
Background:
Lilith is the mythological first wife of Adam. She, like Adam, was created by God
"from the dust of the earth. . . in the image of God He created them, male and female
He created them" (Gen. 1:27) being the first reference to human life in the Bible. It
would seem that Eve came later, fashioned from a rib taken from Adam while he slept :
"... this is to be called Woman, for this was taken from Man". (Gen. 2:24) This
strange anomaly can only be explained by assuming that there was a female human before
Eve. Since only Eve is subsequently present in the Garden of Eden, her predecessor must
have departed before Eve's arrival on the scene. One can only assume that Lilith's near
total absence from the Judeo/Christian Bible is a matter of prejudice on the part of the
male patriarchal authors.
Semitic legend describes Lilith as having refused to submit to Adam's authority (and a
preference for being "on top"), and in a fit of pique, she uttered the ineffable
name of God and flew up into the air, only to be cast down by God into the desert wastes
where she took up residence. (The only mention of Lilith in the standard Christian Bible
is in Ezekiel, where a passing reference is made about her living in the desert.) Lilith
is described as either a winged serpent or a screech owl (or a anthropomorphic combination
thereof) who torments men at night who sleep alone -- the original succubus.
Various other legends describe her as:
* Having returned to Eden in the guise of the Serpent, who tempted Eve with the Fruit of
the Tree of Knowledge.
* Having once been the consort of Lucifer in Hell, but she proved to be too much even for
the Prince of Darkness to handle, who eventually banished her back to the desert.
* As the first vampire, who came to Cain after he was banished by God for the murder of
Abel and together they begat the curse of vampirism on the world.
* As the breeder of "Lilim", or the earth-bound demons -- thousands(!) every
day, according to legend.
The Invocation of Lilith:
*WARNINGS*:
Lilith is a primal egregore of the dark anima. She is unfettered sexual dominance and
power. This invocation should not be attempted by those with little background in
ceremonial magic, nor by those who harbour unresolved psychological problems related to
sexuality.
If blood is to be drawn, or sexual activities ensue, all precautions pertaining to the
prevention of diseases borne by blood or sexual fluids should properly be observed.
It may be wise to appoint a "guardian" who shall "observe" the rite as
it proceeds from a detached viewpoint and intervene if the participants, in their excess,
are about to commit dangerous acts. The guardian should cast hir own circle of protection
about hirself. The guardian should only intervene if there is a threat of serious bodily
harm; otherwise, events must be allowed to transpire as they will. Anyone fearful of the
possible psychological effects of this rite would do well not to participate in it in the
first place. It is not for the timid.
With these caveats, all discretion pertaining to these matters is left to the
participants. The authors assume no responsibility for the irresponsibility of the
participants in performance of this rite.
You have been warned!
Materials:
* Black, and/or purple candles
* Musk incense
* A silver chalice
* A scourging whip ("cat-o-nine-tails" type)
* Black cape, preferable satin (for Main Operator)
* Red wine
* A (sterile) scalpel or x-acto knife (to draw blood)
* A fairly decent music playback system, and an ominous, sexual musical selection.
Diamanda Galas, "Deliver Me From My Enemies" or This Mortal Coil, "Filigree
and Shadow" are excellent choices, but this is left up to the participants.
Preparation:
Lilith is the primal feminine aspect of dark sexuality. For that reason, it is the opinion
of the authors that invocation is more likely to succeed if the Main Operator is female.
This is not to discount the possibility of success with a male M.O., but he must be able
to contact his primal feminine nature strongly enough to succeed at invoking she who is
the most fundamental of all feminine daemons. The participants may be either male or
female or a mixture of both in any proportion.
The applications of this rite vary considerably. Since it is a combined Lunar/Saturnine
working, it may be approached as a ritual rehearsal of sex and death - much like Carroll's
Thanateros Invocation from _Liber Kaos_. As presented here, it is a ritual of liberation
and is also used to bring forth a Word Of Power from the egregore for subsequent use by
the participants; therefore the Statement of Intent reflects this intention. The Statement
should be tailored to properly express the intentions of a particular working.
The Rite:
0. Large black candles are arranged in a circle around the temple space and lit, as is
copious quantities of incense. The room should be thick with smoke.
1. Banish by LBRP, GPR, Vortex or other procedure as desired.
2. The Main Operator, naked beneath the black robe, takes position in the middle of the
circle. She holds the scourge in her right hand. Other participants sit in a circle around
the M.O. The music begins.
3. The Statement of Intent is declared by the M.O. and echoed by all participants:
"It is our Will to invoke the egregore of Lilith, so that by her spirit we experience
the power of Sex and Death and obtain her Word Of Power!"
4. The following passage (see notes) is recited by the M.O. to invoke the persona of
Lilith into hir body and mind:
"I am the daughter of Fortitude and ravished every hour from my youth. For behold, I
am Understanding, and science dwelleth in me; and the heavens oppress me. They covet and
desire me with infinite appetite; for none that are earthly have embraced me, for I am
shadowed with the Circle of the Stars, and covered with the morning clouds. My feet are
swifter than the winds, and my hands are sweeter than the morning dew. My garments are
from the beginning, and my dwelling place is in myself. The Lion knoweth not where I walk,
neither do the beasts of the field understand me. I am deflowered, yet a virgin; I
sanctify and am not sanctified. Happy is he that embraceth me: for in the night season I
am sweet, and in the day full of pleasure. My company is a harmony of many symbols, and my
lips sweeter than health itself. I am a harlot for such as ravish me, and a virgin with
such as know me not. Purge your streets, O ye sons of men, and wash your houses clean;
make yourselves holy, and put on righteousness. Cast out your old strumpets, and burn
their clothes and then I will bring forth children unto you and they shall be the Sons of
Comfort in the Age that is to come."
5. The participants then begin chanting the mantra of Lilith. As they chant, the Main
Operator must sink into a deep gnostic trance and invoke the spirit of Lilith into hir
body.
"Flesh she will eat, blood she will drink!" (repeat)
6. As the chant continues, one participant (the Secondary Operator) recites the following:
"Dark is she, but brilliant! Black are her wings, black on black! Her lips are red as
rose, kissing all of the Universe! She is Lilith,who leadeth forth the hordes of the
abyss, and leadeth man to ruin! She is the irresistible fulfiller of all lust, seer of
desire. First of all women was she - Lilith, not Eve was the first! Her hand brings forth
the revolution of the Will and true freedom of the mind! She is KI-SI-KIL-LIL-LA-KE, Queen
of the Magic Circle! Look on her in lust and despair!
7. The participants begin to chant "Lilith! Lilith! Lilith!" repeatedly as the
M.O. invokes the Lilithian egregore. One by one they pass around the scalpel and cut their
left thumb and anoint their foreheads with blood. They then pass around the chalice (which
is filled with red wine) and touch it to their foreheads one by one. After all have done
so, it is taken to the M.O. who drains it in a single draught. This is the climax of the
invocation.
8. If the invocation is successful, all participants should feel the emotions of
simultaneous fear, lust and the urge to submit. Forced over-breathing or another variation
of Death Posture should be used to deepen each participant's level of gnosis until they
come close to fainting. As they are overcome by these emotions, they should fall to the
ground and prostrate themselves before Lilith.
9. What proceeds next is not specified, but left up to the will of the egregore. She may
choose to scourge the participants, or mock them or entice them or seduce them. She may
force them to commit various unspeakable acts of lust upon her or each other. All
participants must submit to her will, whatever it may be - it would be dangerous in the
extreme to do otherwise; do not risk the wrath of Lilith!
10. Eventually the energy of the group will begin to wane. At this point, the S.O.
(prompted by the guardian, if necessary) will rise and face the M.O. and recite the
following in a commanding voice:
"Black Moon, Lilith, sister darkest,
Whose hands form the hellish mire,
At my weakest, at my strongest,
Moulding me as clay from fire.
Black Moon, Lilith, Mare of Night,
You cast your litter to the ground
Speak the Name and take to flight
Utter now the secret sound!"
11. The M.O. from within the depths of the Lilith-trance, will call out a name, as the
legendary Lilith did call out the unutterable name of God to rise up from Eden into the
heavens. It is not known in advance what this word will be, but it will most certainly be
a Word of Power to be used subsequently by the participants in further magickal work.
12. If all has been done properly, the spirit of Lilith will flee the M.O. at the calling
of the Name, and s/he will likely fall to the ground, spent. The guardian or S.O. should
then draw an upright pentagram over the M.O., a full facial lustration of cold water is
administered to hir, and s/he is called forth by her ordinary name until s/he responds.
13. The temple is banished and closed.
Notes:
The invocation is the text of a message delivered by an unidentified spirit entity to Sir
Edward Kelly in 1592 during a scrying ritual. Kelly, along with Dr. John Dee (Queen
Elizabeth's Royal Astrologer), originated the Enochian system of magic. The vision of this
entity so frightened Kelly that he abandoned the working of magic from that day forward.
Though Kelly never identified the entity, in our opinion it represented the Lilith
egregore.
The calling forth of Lilith is adapted from "The Hymn to Hecate" by Frater
U:.D:.
Return to the Temple of Lilith main page
I am unaware of the original author(s) of this Rite, although I have seen it in a number
of places, and have had a copy in my possession for some years. Please e-mail me if you have some information that may
shed light on the author(s).
This page is Copyright Lilitu Babalon, 1999
I'll give you permission to reproduce anything on my page if you ask, provided it is mine.
However, if I find you plagiarising, well.....