by Donald Tyson
Open your eyes and walk around the circle widdershins to stand before the orange stone of Nyarlathotep. Tap it with the key and speak the words:
The circle is broken!
As you do so, visualize the orange rays that link the stones into a heptagon break apart on either side of the orange stone and vanish. Circumambulate widdershins to stand facing the blue rod at the base of the altar. Place the key of Nyarlathotep into the altar. Stand in silent meditation for a minute or so to clear your thoughts. Extinguish the altar lights to end the ritual, put away your sash and lamen of Nyarlathotep, along with the wrapped Elder Seal, and carefully discard any prayers or offerings to the lord that occupied the triangle during the ritual.
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Rite of Yog-Sothoth
(Thursday)
The wrapped Elder Seal is placed in the altar triangle, along with the circular key of Yog-Sothoth and any prayers or offerings to the god. Yog-Sothoth is lord of the heights and of gates, and is associated with the sphere of Jupiter, so appropriate offerings would include such things as mirrors that are a kind of doorway, wine that opens the mind, strong incense that is not too sweet, eagle or hawk feathers, turquoise, blue crystals and gems, pennants, flags, streamers, pinwheels, balloons, and old door keys.
Wearing the lamen of Yog-Sothoth around your neck and the blue sash of the lord around your waist, light the flames at the points of the altar and stand facing the blue rod at the base of the triangle. Speak the words that open the ritual:
On this day of Yog-Sothoth, I invoke the Lord of Gates.
Pick up the circular key of Yog-Sothoth from the altar in your right hand and walk widdershins around the circle to the blue stone. Strike the stone gently with the key and make a complete circumambulation around the circle, moving against the course of the sun, and touching the stones of the circle as you pass them, so that you return to the stone of Yog-Sothoth. Strike the blue stone a second time to complete and seal the circle. Speak these words:
The circle is joined!
On the astral level, visualize blue rays of light linking the seven stones of the circle to form a heptagon with the stones at its points.
Walk widdershins around the circle until you reach the blue rod at the base of the altar triangle. This rod is the threshold of the Gate of the Heights, which belongs especially to Yog-Sothoth. All gates are gates of Yog-Sothoth, but through the Gate of the Heights is the presence of the sky god himself invoked.
Extend the key of Yog-Sothoth in your right hand across the blue threshold rod on the altar, and angle it sharply upward so that it points high above the center of the altar. Recite the litany of Yog-Sothoth:
Lofty Yog-Sothoth, ruler of all portals, opener of the way, keeper of the threshold, lord of coming and going, god of transitions between worlds, you who are both the gate and the key, who were called Janus by the Romans, who guards the ways to the black throne of chaos, approach this stone circle through the Gate of the Heights.
Receive this offering as a tribute of respect and fidelity. Confer good fortune on all who stand within this circle, and all who observe this rite. Heed the prayers of those who have placed offerings upon the altar. Bless the works of the Order of the Old Ones that are done in your name, and in the names of the seven lords. Send your agents to watch over and protect all who serve you this day, and all the days of their lives.
Yiii-eeee, Yog-Sothoth! Lord of Gates!
As you continue to stand facing the blue threshold rod at the base of the altar, touch the key of Yog-Sothoth to your forehead, kiss the key and press it to your heart center beneath both your hands. Close your eyes, and with the force of your will draw down from the heights above the altar the blue ray of Yog-Sothoth, so that it fills the stone circle with astral radiance, and concentrates itself above the altar triangle.
For a minute or so, meditate upon the power of Yog-Sothoth to both open and seal the gateways between dimensions of reality, and between distant worlds. All gates belong to Yog-Sothoth, from the most humble to the most exotic, and those he chooses to close cannot be passed through.
Open your eyelids and walk widdershins around the circle until you stand before the blue stone of Yog-Sothoth. Strike it gently with the key and speak the words:
The circle is broken!
In your imagination, see the blue rays on either side of the stone wink out of existence on the astral level, causing the heptagon of blue light that joins all the stones to vanish from the circle. Walk around the circle widdershins and stand before the blue rod at the base of the altar. Return the key to the altar. Pause a minute or two in silent meditation to empty your mind and still your emotions.
Put out the altar flames, remove your lamen and sash, and carefully discard any prayers or offerings that were within the triangle, bearing in mind that they have been devoted wholly to Yog-Sothoth and must have no other use.
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Rite of Shub-Niggurath
(Friday)
Written prayers and material offerings to Shub-Niggurath should be placed in the triangle of the altar before beginning the ritual. Appropriate offerings include such things as pleasant incense, perfumes, sweets, red wine, body oils, fine soaps, rich fabrics, and in general things that indulge the senses and cause pleasure, particularly pleasures of a sensual or sexual kind. Also on the altar should be put the covered Elder Seal and the key of Shub-Niggurath, which is in the shape of a triangle. When you hold the triangle during rituals devoted to this goddess, you should usually hold it with one point downward, to represent the female vulva. The exception to this rule is in rituals to Shub-Niggurath that invoke her masculine sexual energies, but these masculine energies are not invoked during her day rite.
Wearing the lamen of Shub-Niggurath around your neck and her green sash tied at your waist, light the three flames at the points of the altar. Stand at the base of the triangle facing the blue rod and speak the opening words:
On this day of Shub-Niggurath, I invoke the Lady of Desire.
Take up the triangular key of Shub-Niggurath from the altar and proceed widdershins around the circle to stand beside the green stone of the goddess. Gently strike the stone with the key so that it rings, and make a complete circumambulation around the altar, touching each stone in turn with the key as you pass, and touching the green stone a second time to complete and close the circle. Speak the words:
The circle is joined!
Visualize green rays of light extending between the stones to form a heptagon with the stones at its points. This should be created on the astral level in your imagination, where, if you wish, you may visualize the stones as larger than they are in the physical world, and the rays of green light at the level of your heart center.
Walk around the circle widdershins to stand in the east, facing outward. Extend the key of Shub-Niggurath in your right hand through the stone circle, with its point turned downward, so that the key is directed at the Gate of the East, which is visualized as a translucent rectangle that rises above the green threshold rod beyond the circle in the east. The key is extended at heart level. Recite the litany of Shub-Niggurath:
Wanton Shub-Niggurath, whose womb is ever-fruitful, goddess of wild desires and unchecked generation, who brings forth abundantly from the loins of beasts and the furrows of the field, great lady of desires, mistress of glamours, mother of monsters, who is called the Goat With A Thousand Young and the Black Goat of the Wood by witches, who is known as Lilith among the wise, approach this stone circle through the Gate of the East.
Receive this offering as a tribute of respect and fidelity. Confer good fortune on all who stand within this circle, and all who observe this rite. Heed the prayers of those who have placed offerings upon the altar. Bless the works of the Order of the Old Ones that are done in your name, and in the names of the seven lords. Send your agents to watch over and protect all who serve you this d
ay, and all the days of their lives.
Yiii-eeee, Shub-Niggurath! Lady of Lust!
Touch the key of Shub-Niggurath to your forehead between your brows, kiss it with reverence, and hold it pressed to your heart center beneath your hands. Close your eyes and visualize a ray of green light pouring through the opened Gate of the East to pass through your body and fill the stone circle with green radiance. The light from the green ray concentrates itself in the air above the altar.
Meditate silently for a minute or two on the power of Shub-Niggurath to excite desire and to give sexual pleasure, and on her endless fertility that can bring forth wholesome fruits of the womb or monsters, depending on how it is channeled and directed.
Open your eyes and proceed widdershins around the circle to stand in front of the green stone of the goddess. Any companions who share the rite with you must walk in the same direction as you walk, taking care to keep the same spacing around the circle. Strike the green stone gently with the key and speak the words:
The circle is broken!
Visualize on the astral level the green rays on either side of the stone wink out, along with the rest of the rays forming the heptagon of light. Walk widdershins around the circle to stand in the south, facing the blue rod at the base of the altar triangle, which is the starting point and ending point of the rite. Put the key back onto the altar. Stand silently for a minute with your back straight and your arms at your sides, until your mind is clear and your emotions calm. This is the time to release any energies aroused by the ritual.
Put out the altar flames, remove your lamen and sash, and discard with reverence and care the prayers and offerings that were dedicated to Shub-Niggurath. She has drawn from them their occult essences, so you must discard the husks.
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Rite of Yig
(Saturday)
Any prayers and offerings to Yig should be placed in the triangle shortly before his day rite is conducted. Yig is lord of serpents, and is associated with long life, resistance to disease, wisdom, old age, silence, ancient things, renewal, physical health, and the keeping of oaths. Saturnine things are in general appropriate as offerings, such as black stones, bits of lead, bones, antique objects, bitter roots, strong and harsh incense, and watches or other things associated with time. Beside the offerings is put the Elder Seal, carefully wrapped and bound up in its white cover, and the key of Yig, which has the shape of a lemniscate.
Place the lamen of Yig around your neck and tie his black sash at your waist. If you wear the black robe of the Order for the daily rites, these things are worn on the outside of the robe. Otherwise they are worn over your black ritual clothing. Light the three flames at the points of the altar. Stand in the starting position to the south of the altar, facing the blue rod at its base, and speak the opening words:
On this day of Yig, I invoke the Lord of Ages.
Remove the key of Yig from the altar and walk around the circle widdershins to stand before the black stone of Yig with the altar behind you. Bend and strike the stone of Yig with the key in your right hand, then complete a circumambulation around the altar, touching each stone as you pass with the key so that its metal rings faintly. Touch the black stone a second time to complete and close the circle. As you do so, speak the words:
The circle is joined!
As you stand before the black stone of Yig, visualize on the astral level rays of black light extending between the stones of the circle to form a heptagon with the stones at its points. Black rays are best visualized as flickering with violet light along their edges, which define their shape against a dark background. The black heptagon may be imagined to float upon the air at heart level between the larger stones of the astral circle.
There is no need to walk around the circle to reach the gate associated with Yig. It is the only gate that is directly opposite the stone of its lord. Hold the key of Yig by one of its loops in your right hand and extend it straight out toward the north on the level of your heart, so that it projects through the circle and points at the translucent Gate of the North that rises as a rectangle above the black threshold rod in the north. Recite the following litany of Yig:
Ancient Yig, Father of Serpents, oldest of the Old Ones who reside in this lower sphere, who was present at the beginning of things and shall witness the end of days, who was called the Old Serpent by the Hebrews and Apep by the Egyptians, whom some name Damballah, whose sinuous body wraps around the world, who never speaks but only hisses, approach this stone circle through the Gate of the North.
Receive this offering as a tribute of respect and fidelity. Confer good fortune on all who stand within this circle, and all who observe this rite. Heed the prayers of those who have placed offerings upon the altar. Bless the works of the Order of the Old Ones that are done in your name, and in the names of the seven lords. Send your agents to watch over and protect all who serve you this day, and all the days of their lives.
Yiii-eeee, Yig! Lord of Ages!
Touch the key of Yig to your forehead, kiss it with reverence, and press it beneath your folded hands to the center of your chest. Close your eyes and will the black ray of Yig to shine outward from the opened Gate of the North and pass through your body to fill the stone circle, concentrating its darkness like a dark mist above the triangle of the altar.
For a minute or two, continue to stand in that pose and meditate silently on the greatness and wisdom of Yig, who safeguards his children from harm, and who keeps his wisdom to himself, never revealing the secrets entrusted to his care. Of all the Old Ones, Yig is best to invoke for protection, but only by those who remain faithful to him.
Open your eyes and strike the key gently against the black stone of Yig at your feet. There is no need to move around the circle to reach the stone, which is directly in front of the Gate of the North. Speak the words:
The circle is broken!
Visualize on the astral level the black rays on either side of the black stone of Yig wink out of existence, as the heptagon of black light vanishes from the circle.
Walk widdershins around the altar to stand in the south facing north, with the blue rod at the base of the altar triangle in front of you. Replace the key of Yig on the triangle. Bow your head for a minute to clear your thoughts and still your emotions. Then extinguish the altar lights and remove the lamen and sash of Yig. Discard with care any prayers or offerings to Yig that may be on the altar.
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Rite of Azathoth
(Sunday)
Azathoth is associated with the sphere of the sun, although in an occluded manner, as when the sun is in eclipse behind the moon, as well as with all vortices, spirals, and whirlwinds. Offerings that may be placed on the altar as gifts to this lord include objects of gold or yellow brass, yellow stones and gems, spiral things such as metal springs and spiral flowers, pendulums, spinning tops, wheels, honey, beeswax, and things connected with music and the making of music, such as guitar strings or guitar picks, whistles, or bells. Beside any offerings and written prayers to Azathoth, put his key and the Elder Seal wrapped and tied in its protective covering.
Hang the lamen of Azathoth around your neck on its chain or cord, and tie his yellow sash to your waist so that its ends dangle down on the left side. Light the three flames of the altar to empower it. Stand at the south of the altar, facing the blue rod that forms its base, and utter the words of opening:
On this day of Azathoth, I invoke the Lord of Creation.
Remove the spiral key of Azathoth from the altar and go a short distance around the circle widdershins to stand before the yellow stone with the altar at your back. Strike the stone of Azathoth with the key and complete a full circumambulation against the course of the sun, touching the key to each stone in the circle as you pass so that the key gives forth ringing tones. Strike it gently against the yellow stone a second time in order to complete and seal t
he circle. Speak the words:
The circle is joined!
Visualize yellow rays linking all seven stones, so that they form the points of a heptagon of yellow light. On the astral plane, see the stones standing higher, with the rays from their tips at the level of your heart.
Walk around the circle widdershins to stand facing the yellow rod on the right side of the triangular altar. Hold the spiral key out in your right hand so that it extends across the yellow threshold rod and is centered above the altar. The gate of Azathoth is the Gate of the Center, so be sure that your arm is not angled noticeably upward or downward. Recite the following litany of Azathoth:
Blind Azathoth, center of chaos, called the idiot god by fools but lord of creation and destruction by the wise, who occupies the central seat of the black throne, who pipes the music of making and unmaking, about whom the twelve elder gods forever dance, whose true name cannot be spoken but who is the Alpha and Omega of the Greeks, approach this stone circle through the Gate of the Center.
Receive this offering as a tribute of respect and fidelity. Confer good fortune on all who stand within this circle, and all who observe this rite. Heed the prayers of those who have placed offerings upon the altar. Bless the works of the Order of the Old Ones that are done in your name, and in the names of the seven lords. Send your agents to watch over and protect all who serve you this day, and all the days of their lives.
Yiii-eeee, Azathoth! Lord of Existence!
Touch the key to your forehead, kiss it, and press it to the center of your chest. Close your eyes and, with the power of your will, draw forth from the air above the center of the altar the expanding golden ray of Azathoth so that it fills the stone circle with its radiance. This yellow light is most concentrated above the altar itself. It does not emanate in the form of a ray, but as an expanding sphere.
