Invocations & Possession ... pt 1
I've been thinking about invocations and such lately. I have attended a few over the past 2 years or so, I recall reading Margot Adler's Drawing Down the Moon ... how in traditional wicca the high priestess would channel a deity (usually goddess) and be able to manifest that incarnation. I had always been sceptical of such a thing ... I mean really, the scope of possible bullshit is enormous, its easy to fool those who want to be fooled. In her book Adler says "I did not know it then, but in this ritual, it is one of the most serious and beautiful in the modern Craft... In some Craft rituals the priestess goes into a trance and speaks; in other traditions the ritual is a more formal dramatic dialogue, often of intense beauty, in which, again, the priestess speaks, taking the role of the Goddess. In both instances, the priestess functions as the Goddess incarnate, within the circle." There is also a collection of faiths throught the world where historically and traditionally the gods often speak through their human vessels. I was not so much sceptical (belief can be a very self-serving state) as cynical and intrigued by the idea.
The first one I had attended was an Invocation of Hecate, a greek pre-olympian deity of interesting aspects and perporations. It was a women only event and by invitation only. I watched with keen interest as the high priestess arrived in a light trance-like state. She was taken into seclusion without interference from those gathered. Her attendants dressed and annointed her, and evenutally guided her to the area assigned - a large, throne like chair draped in silks, surrounded by candles and other paraphenila attributed to this deity, a small table set to one side of the chair with a plate filled from the feast table and a set of wine goblets (one white, one black) - clouds of incense rose from the hot coals stationed on the other side. I watched from the side as the priestess was raised to her feet, one attendant led the group in a chant, which flowed into a hymm. The other held the priestess's hands through-out, and at the finish of the hymm, began to annoint the priestess from head to toe "annointing the vessel in preparation" Next came a call/petition/invitation to Hecate to attend the gather in honour and deepest respect. It was a long and involved process and by the end of it the priestess was gone. I say 'gone' because I know the woman who was priestessing that night and the transformation was remarkable. The priestess vesseling had physically changed into something. Whether it was the lighting or power of suggestion it appeared to be a completely different woman sitting where before there was a 50 something high priestess. She spoke to her attendents for a few miniutes who then motioned that those gathered could pay their respects to the goddess one at a time and singularly in order to assure privacy. I watch many people go before the 'goddess' and each one came away changed slightly ... some were offered the white cup, others were offered the black. I learned at a later date that the white was a guest cup and the black was those the goddess blessed. Finally, I too decided to approach this goddess and her vessel, all senses alert since I knew the priestess sitting there. As I approached She looked up and all I saw were dark eyes and high cheek-bones. Was this the face of a goddess? It sure didn't look like the person I knew ... the face was different as was the voice and general appearance. As I knelt before her, I had no expectations .... just simple curiousity and an openness to the experience itself. My brain feverishly took note of as much as I could, including the fact that I seemed to be in a strange sensory bubble. I knew I was in a room full of women, but I heard nothing but the godess's voice and saw nothing beyond her face. The conversation will remain private other then to say that comments were made in application to my career that no one in that room was privy to ... I drank from the white cup and said my thanks. When I rose to leave, the minute I steped away and turned back to the room it was like having full audio sensory returned to me. It took a moment to adjust before I then wandered off to assimilate the experience from a place I could still observe the room closely but not be in the way. I watched the women - the ones still awaiting the goddess's company watched those who had gone before them and those who had spoken with the vessel were almost glowing in their connection with each other, though there were a few who I saw sitting quietly absorbed in their own thoughts. Eventually all had approached her and the priestess sat like stone watching the crowd mill about and offer their respect in passing with tokens from the feast table and praise of their own making. The figure that sat there hardly resembled my friend in the least ... and when the attendants closed in and signaled to the room that we would be saying farewell, I watched closely. Again we went through a hymm and chant with thanks and farewell in the end. The priesstess sat utterly still and silent, her face blank and as unresponsive as her eyes. Her lids closed and her face seemed to relax into its familar shape and colour, she took a long shuddering breath and opened her eyes and smiled at the attendants. The ritual drew to a close and people started to disperse. I, in turn made a point of approaching the priestess in hopes of talking to her ... I kept it brief since she looked completely worn thin ... but was indeed the woman I knew and called friend, despite the mantle she had worn through-out the night of something 'Other'. The impression stayed with me for a few days, and although there were explained things I couldn't figure out, I still wasn't willing to believe completely in divine possession. I continued to open myself to the universe and its opportunities for knowledge and learning and so I filed the experience away and went on with my studies.
Peace,
Red
Free Forum Hosting
Important Announcement
Prev Message
