by Donald Tyson
Of my free will I enter the ranks of the Order of the Old Ones, and pledge my obedience and service to the Old Ones and all their works, including the Work of the Trapezohedron. I swear to uphold the laws of the Order, and to diligently devote myself to the study of its teachings and rites. I further swear to keep all its wisdom and works secret from the uninitiated, to protect and aid all brothers and sisters of the Order in times of need, and to obey the directives of those brothers and sisters who are senior to me in rank or in term of membership, provided the fulfillment of those directives is in no way injurious to myself.
I commit myself to the personal discipline of the Seven Ways of Chaos, that by opening the gate of Yog-Sothoth upon my chosen path among the seven, I may stand before the black throne of Azathoth and inscribe my name in the Necronomicon beside the names of the Lords of the Order. Freely and of my own will I acknowledge and declare the Old Ones to be the rightful stewards of this world and all it contains, and myself their humble and obedient agent.
Should I betray the terms of this oath, let me be thrust forth from this Order, and let all brothers and sisters turn their backs on me. Let Nyarlathotep send down his wrath upon my head and darken my life with misfortune. Let me never know peace or happiness even to the moment of my death, but let me be hounded by the grinning black dogs of Tindalos, and let my soul be whirled up like a dry leaf upon the vortex of chaos to swirl around the black throne, howling its anguish for eternity.
Voiced and inscribed by me before a superior of the Order of the Old Ones this _____ day of the month ______ in the common year ______.
____________________________________
(your signature)
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Nightly Obeisance
The nightly Obeisance is to be recited each night before retiring to bed to sleep, while standing and facing the north. With feet together and back straight, raise your hands and place the tips of your fingers across your closed eyelids in imitation of the blindness of the dancing gods, who see with higher vision. Intone the declaration while visualizing the fivefold mark of the Old Ones floating upon your inner darkness behind your forehead. If necessary to conceal the words from being overheard, they may be whispered or delivered sub voce.
The Old Ones were, the Old Ones are, the Old Ones shall be. Unseen by men, you walk beneath the moon and stars. Where you tread, the corn is beaten into the field and trees are torn from their roots. Your passing is like the roar of a great storm, and behind you lingers the odor of thunder.
Accept me as your human agent! Freely I offer my mind and body for your use. Make of me your instrument in the Work of the Trapezohedron, that the earth shall be purified and restored to her rightful seat on the chaos mount!
May the seven lords guide me through the cycle of the week. May the twelve dancing gods favor all my works through the turning wheel of the year. Watch over and protect my life, that I may serve the black throne all of my days.
Let it be so!
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Rite of Dagon
(Monday)
The seven daily rites corresponding to the days of the week should be conducted within the stone circle at a convenient hour that does not conflict with the mundane daily obligations of the worshipper. It is best to work them at the same hour of the day on all the days of the week. The daily ritual opens the day, and the nightly Obeisance closes the day.
Wear the sash of the lord for which the ritual is worked, and the lamen of that lord around your neck. Individual members of the Order who cannot go to the temple to observe their daily rituals, or who have no temple, should conduct them within their own personal stone circle.
Place the geometric key to the gate of Dagon, the crescent of the moon, in the center of the altar triangle alongside the white-wrapped Elder Seal, and light the three lights at the points of the altar. Written prayers asking Dagon to grant specific requests may be folded and placed within the altar. A material offering to Dagon may also be placed in the triangle by any participant in the ritual who seeks a special favor or dispensation from the god. Offerings of silver are appropriate for this lord, as are offerings of sea shells and crystals, which are watery by their occult nature. After the ritual, all offerings should be discarded and not used again for any purpose, since their astral essences have been given as gifts to the god.
Stand in the circle facing the altar on its blue, southern side, so that you look across it toward the north. This is the beginning posture for all rituals. Speak these opening words:
On this day of Dagon, I invoke the Lord of the Seas.
Remove the key of Dagon from the altar, and walk around the altar counterclockwise to stand facing the purple stone of Dagon with the altar triangle behind you. Bend and strike the stone of Dagon with the key in your right hand, holding it lightly between your fingers so that it vibrates freely and produces a clear tone, then walk around the altar in a counterclockwise direction, striking the other stones as you pass them with the key.
In this way a chaotic circle of Dagon is established on the astral level—chaotic because it is traced in a direction opposite that of the course of the sun across the heavens. This counterclockwise direction of movement is known as widdershins. All movement around the circle is widdershins. As you return to the purple stone of Dagon, strike it gently a second time with the key to seal the circle by joining its end with its beginning. Speak the words:
The circle is joined!
Any other members of the Order who share the ritual circle with you should space themselves at equal intervals around the altar at the beginning of the rite, and should walk around the altar as you walk to project the circle, keeping the same distance from you so that all in the circle complete a full circumambulation and return to their starting places. A maximum of six others may share the ritual with you, if the circle is large enough to accommodate them, but others may sit between the stones, or if necessary may sit beyond the outer gates to observe. All who observe are participants in the ritual, and lend their energies to its fulfillment.
Standing once again before the purple stone of Dagon, visualize on the astral level rays of purple light connecting the seven stones, so that they form a heptagon of light. The stones may be visualized as larger in the astral world than they are in the physical world, so that they stand up to the level of your heart, and the purple band of light that connects them floats in the air at heart level.
Walk around the circle widdershins until you stand in the west. Hold the key of Dagon by its end, pointing it with your right arm extended through the circle at the Gate of the West, which is located above the purple threshold rod on the western side of the circle. Recite the following litany of Dagon:
Great Dagon, dweller in ocean rifts, mate of Hydra whose womb is forever fertile, lord of the Deep Ones who are your children under the waves, sovereign over all that dwell within the seas and waterways of the world, you who have been called Leviathan and Kraken and Cetus, approach this stone circle through the Gate of the West.
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, Dagon! Lord of the Deep!
Press the key of Dagon to your forehead, kiss the key, then hold it close to your chest over your heart beneath your folded hands, and, with eyes closed, will the purple ray of Dagon to shine through the opened Gate of the West above the western threshold rod. Visualize the gate opening on the astral level and the light of Dagon shining through your body and into the circle to concentrate itself above the altar triangle.
After a minute or two of
silent meditation, during which you should hold Dagon within your heart and contemplate his greatness, open your eyes and circumambulate widdershins to stand before the stone of Dagon. Strike the key of Dagon gently against his stone. Speak the words:
The circle is broken!
Visualize on the astral level the heptagon of light connecting the stones break at the stone of Dagon and vanish. Walk around the circle widdershins to stand facing the blue rod at the base of the altar, and replace the key of Dagon within the altar. Bow your head in silent meditation for a minute or so. Put out the altar lights and remove your lamen of Dagon and purple sash to formally end the ritual. Discard with care and dignity any written prayers or offerings to Dagon that are within the altar.
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Rite of Cthulhu
(Tuesday)
The rite of Cthulhu, which is performed on the day of the week devoted to this god of war, follows the same general pattern as that of Dagon, and all the other day rituals to the seven lords. Those who perform his rite within the stone circle wear the lamen of Cthulhu around their necks and the red sash of the lord tied around their waists over their black ritual robes, or if they have no robes, over black clothing devoted to ritual use.
An offering to Cthulhu, along with any prayers for his intervention, is placed within the altar triangle. Appropriate offerings include small objects of iron and steel, magnets, onions and other spices that are hot and sharp on the tongue, knives, images of weapons, and in general anything with a fiery, willful, or martial association. Also within the triangle are placed the Elder Seal in its white protective covering, and the key of Cthulhu, which has the shape of a trapezoid.
As leader of the rite, or as sole practitioner if it is done without companions in the circle, you light the flames at the points of the altar and stand before the blue altar rod, facing northward across the altar. Speak the opening words:
On this day of Cthulhu, I invoke the Lord of War.
Remove the key of Cthulhu from the altar and circumambulate the altar widdershins to stand in front of the red stone of Cthulhu. Strike the stone with his key and walk around the circle of stones widdershins, bending to strike each stone as you pass with the key, so that it rings with its distinctive tone. Once again rap the key on the stone of Cthulhu to close and complete the circle. Any companions with you in the circle must walk as you walk, keeping the same separation from you at all times. Speak the words:
The circle is joined!
As you stand before the red stone of Cthulhu, visualize on the astral level rays of ruby light connecting all seven of the stones to form a heptagon of light. The astral stones may be imagined as larger than the physical stones, so that the heptagon of red light floats at the level of your heart.
Walk around the circle against the course of the sun to reach the south. All movement in the circle is counterclockwise—never walk in a clockwise direction around the circle, even for a short step, since clockwise circumambulation represents order, and the Old Ones are lords of chaos. Hold the key of Cthulhu by its corner and extend your right arm through the circle to point with the key toward the Gate of the South, which may be visualized on the astral level as a translucent rectangle that stands above the red threshold rod in the south. Recite the following litany of Cthulhu:
Mighty Cthulhu, ruler of sunken R’lyeh, high priest of the Old Ones, autogenitor of the warrior spawn like to you in form, who bore the race of K’n-yan across the black gulf on leathern wings, you who dream in death within your stone house at the base of the obelisk of uncouth angles, approach this stone circle through the Gate of the South.
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, Cthulhu! Lord of Dreams!
Touch the trapezoid key of Cthulhu to your forehead between your eyebrows above the bridge of your nose, and kiss the key with reverence. Hold it against your chest over your heart beneath your folded hands. With your eyes shut, will the ruby ray of Cthulhu to shine through the center of the opened Gate of the South, and through your body, so that it fills the circle with radiance that concentrates itself in the air above the altar.
Meditate silently with eyes shut for a minute or two, during which you should consider the resolve and might of Cthulhu, whose will is indomitable, and whose incorruptible and self-renewing body will endure until the end of time. It is impossible for Cthulhu to actually attend upon the circle, since he lies imprisoned beneath the waves, but his awareness will be called across space through the opened gate.
Walk around the circle widdershins to stand before the red stone of Cthulhu. Strike it gently with the key of Cthulhu and speak the words:
The circle is broken!
Visualize the ruby rays that form the heptagon of red light break apart on either side of the stone, and vanish. Circumambulate the circle widdershins to stand in the south, facing the blue altar rod at the base of the altar triangle. Put the key of Cthulhu back into the altar. Bow your head and silently meditate for a minute or two to clear your thoughts and calm your emotions. Then extinguish the altar lights to formally end the ritual, remove your lamen and sash of Cthulhu, and discard with care any prayers or offerings to Cthulhu that may reside within the altar.
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Rite of Nyarlathotep
(Wednesday)
The day rite of Nyarlathotep, who is one of the three greater lords, is performed in a slightly different way from the day rite of the four lesser lords. Because the threshold of the gate of this lord forms part of the altar, rather than being located beyond the stone circle, the litany is directed inward instead of outward. In other respects, the structure of the ritual is similar to that of the lesser lords.
Place any written prayers or material offerings to Nyarlathotep into the altar triangle. Nyarlathotep represents the dark abyss and the dead, so things that are black, poisonous, or sterile are appropriate offerings, such as black stones, thorns or nettles, dead stinging insects, or anything connected with death, such as black feathers, coffin nails, or bones, may be given as offerings. Nyarlathotep is a psychopomp, having some similarities with Hermes and Thoth. Also within the altar triangle are placed the key of Nyarlathotep and the Elder Seal, securely wrapped and tied in its white shroud.
Wearing the lamen and orange sash of Nyarlathotep, stand in the south and light the three lights of the altar. Speak the opening words:
On this day of Nyarlathotep, I invoke the Lord of Chaos.
Take up the key of Nyarlathotep in your right hand and walk widdershins around the altar to stand before the orange stone of this lord. Strike the stone with the key and walk completely around the circle against the course of the sun, striking each stone in the circle as you pass. Touch the key a second time to the orange stone when you complete the circumambulation in order to join the end of the circle with its beginning. Say the words:
The circle is joined!
Visualize on the astral level rays of orange light connecting all seven stones in the circle, so that they form a heptagon of light with the stones at its points. The color should be distinctly different from the ruby rays of Cthulhu, so that you never confuse them in your imagination.
Move around the circle in a widdershins direction until you stand before the orange rod that forms the left side of the altar triangle. This is the threshold to the Gate of the Depths, the direction of space that belongs to Nyarlathotep.
Holding the key of Nyarlathotep by its end so that its triangular point is directed outward, extend it across the orange threshold rod of the altar in a sharp downward di
rection, so that it points below the ground or floor on which the stone circle has been erected, beneath the center of the altar. Recite this litany of Nyarlathotep:
Crafty Nyarlathotep, soul of the Nameless One, messenger of the twelve dancing gods of creation, faceless wanderer who keeps the lesser gods of earth enthralled in Kadath, who leads true disciples of the Old Ones to the foot of the black throne, master of the Necronomicon, wise in the ways of death, you who are called the Crawling Chaos, approach this stone circle through the Gate of the Depths.
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, Nyarlathotep! Lord of Death!
Still facing the orange rod of the altar, touch the key of Nyarlathotep to your forehead, kiss it reverently, and press it to your heart center beneath your hands. Close your eyelids and use the power of your will to draw up from the fathomless depths beneath the altar triangle the orange ray of Nyarlathotep, so that its astral light floods the circle and concentrates itself in the air above the altar.
Meditate for a minute or two on the power of Nyarlathotep to torment and destroy the souls of those who displease him or oppose the will of the Old Ones, and on his quick intelligence, which is able to understand any puzzle or mechanism.