Performance of ritual, especially in a group setting, requires a number of things, but one of the most important (and yet frequently overlooked) aspects is the ability to act out the role in a way that creates an impression on all present. This requires firstly that the officer read their part with vigour, not simply a dull recitation. They are no longer Frater "Bob" but Frater Hierophant, for example, and represent forces greater than the physical enactment of the ritual makes apparent. Thus a certain ability to perform is required and one of the most vital aspects of this performance is how each part of the ritual is read. Too many times I encounter barely audible voices of officers or a reading as if the ritual was the most boring thing on earth. It is not boring, and it should not be made to appear that way by a monotonous tone.
Z3 gives explicit instructions on how a ritual is to be read and performed:
"The Ritual should be read in a loud, clear, stern and solemn voice so as to impress the Candidate with the solemnity of the occasion. In this, there should be no foolish nervousness or hesitation, but the Ritual as performed by an initiated Hierophant should become in his hands something more than this."
And further on:
"Let him speak, then, not as if unto an assembly of mortals but as to an assembly of Gods. Let his voice be so directed as to roll through the Universe to the utmost confines of space."
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7 comments:
Some good points. There is a psychological affect to these rituals as well as magical ones. Those psychological aspects are important and if not achieved can actually interfere with the magical aspects.
That's very interesting and makes sense. The Heirophant [used in the example] needs to have the ability to draw others into suspension of disbelief in order to then open the channels to invocation...at least this is how I would understand it.
The speeches, and the way they are delivered, also have the effect of moving the mind to certain places so that it is not consciously interfering with the magical process that is now going on. When everything, including the way the speeches are delivered, is done properly the candidate, at least in the outer order initiations, is usually quite out of it. If you jar that with clumsy speaking it can affect the etheric and astral bodies and screw stuff up.
Ave,
As both Kate and Brother BhDA say the voice is a powerful element to ANY ritual. Whether a Wiccan Circle or a Temple space one is entering a moment that is different than that previously occuptied by as you said "Frater Bob" or Bobby from Lisdoonvarna. Many groups utilize drums, bells, rattles and such to bring the members into the right frame of mind and rythme of the proceedings.
Some really good points to this post. There is a reason that someone like Florence Farr helped teach ritual - there is something of a "stage presence" of the Officer. The Hierophant is no long 'Frater Bob', but is now Osiris/Aroueris and the 'Very Honoured Hierophant'. This person for the duration of the Ceremony can be essentially treated like a King or President or Prime Minister in a social/political setting.
The Office, whichever Officer, should speak in a clear steady tone with some "life" in the speeches - not in a dry monotone. Make the Candidate experience the grandness of the Ceremony - and hopefully, the other members and Officers too will pick up on this as well.
Just my two cents.
In LVX,
Samuel
Just to add to the sense of separateness from the profane, our Temple recently started using music (instrumental meditative that's not too slow) to augment our ritual work. It's a great and easy way to add just one more element to the sense of mystery.
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