This is a ceremony to bless an expecting mother and her child-to-be. It should only be undertaken when the pregnancy has been medically confirmed. Although this ritual has been drafted for my own use, and therefore designates the ritualist as “Priest,” any clergy with sacerdotal powers may perform it. It is best conducted in the home of the family.

In a comfortable seat in the East of the ritual space, the MOTHER reclines, with her belly bared. A Cake of Light has been reserved from the Gnostic Mass. It is on a paten upon a table next to the MOTHER, along with a consecrated vial of a mild musk-scented oil and a copy of Liber Legis. A small altar with a lit candle, and a censer or incense holder is in the center of the space.

In the West is an image: of a serpent coiled around an egg, or of a sphynx, or of a sheela-na-gig. Before it are the perfumes: red sandal, olibanum, and storax (or myrrh). There is also a bowl of water, and a small cup of wine.

Music may be playing. The PRIEST wears a plain white robe. If any others are in attendance, they may be seated quietly on the north and south sides of the space.

The OFFICIANT stands in the center. Facing East, he draws a deep breath, pressing the right forefinger against the lower lip of his closed mouth, then dashes down the hand with a great sweep back and out, crying:

PRIEST (holding hands over the water): “TESSALA DODI PHORNEPAX, AMRI RADARA POLIAX” (breathes over Water).

PRIEST (elevates wine over or toward the image): “AMRI RADARA PILIU SON', MARI NARYA BARBITON” (makes + with wine over or toward the image).

PRIEST: “Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the Law.”

MOTHER: “Love is the law, love under will.”

PRIEST: Let us confess our beliefs.

The PRIEST and the MOTHER recite the Creed together.

The PRIEST retrieves the water from the west, and makes + thrice, on each breast and the belly of the MOTHER with the consecrated water, saying:

The PRIEST puts a small pinch of the red sandal into the censer and makes + thrice on the MOTHER as before, saying:

PRIEST (with the Hailing Sign): Be the LORD present among us!

MOTHER (with hand to heart): So mote it be!

PRIEST: May the Essence of the Saints be here present, potent, puissant, and paternal to perfect this feast!

MOTHER: So mote it be!

The PRIEST burns a kernel or two of olibanum in the censer.

PRIEST: Be the hour auspicious, and the gate of life open in peace and in well-being, so that she that beareth children may rejoice, and the babe catch life with both hands.

MOTHER: So mote it be!

The PRIEST burns storax or myrrh in the censer. He recites the invocation of the goddess Prothyraea from the Hymns of Orpheus:

PRIEST: O venerable goddess, hear my pray’r,
For labour pains are thy peculiar care;
Guard of the race, endued with gentle mind,
To helpless youth, benevolent and kind;
Benignant nourisher; great Nature’s key
Belongs to no divinity but thee.
Thou dwell’st with all immanifest to sight,
And solemn festivals are thy delight.
Thine is the talk to loose the virgin’s zone,
And thou in ev’ry work art seen and known.
With births you sympathize, tho’ pleas’d to see
The numerous offspring of fertility;
When rack’d with nature’s pangs and sore distress’d,
The sex invoke thee, as the soul’s sure rest;
For thou alone can’st give relief to pain,
Which art attempts to ease, but tries in vain;
Assisting goddess, venerable pow’r,
Who bring’st relief in labour’s dreadful hour;
Hear, blessed Dian, and accept my pray’r,
And make the infant race thy constant care.

MOTHER: So mote it be!

The PRIEST takes the Paten between the index and medius of the right hand.

The PRIEST makes + with Paten and kisses it.

MOTHER: “Love is the law, love under will.”

MOTHER (at the direction of the PRIEST): In my mouth be the essence of the life of the Sun!

The MOTHER takes the Host with the right hand, makes + with it on the Paten, and consumes it.

The PRIEST offers the cup.

MOTHER: In my mouth be the essence of the joy of the Earth!

The MOTHER takes the Cup, makes + on the PRIEST, tastes of it and returns it.

The PRIEST lays both hands gently upon the MOTHER's belly in silence. He then takes the oil and anoints her belly with his thumb, in the shape of an invoking passive spirit pentagram.

The PRIEST briefly kneels in adoration of the MOTHER, and then rises.

The PRIEST gives the MOTHER the Kiss of Peace.

Instrumental Sacraments
Vigorous Food & Divine Madness