The Vigil of the Five Points
If you have a copy of The Shining Paths, set yourself to do the twenty‐fifth, twenty‐fourth, and twenty‐
third paths during this month. All have a bearing on the training you have had so far and what you can expect in the future. Do one each week, and leave the last week for the Vigil of the Five Points and the Consecration Ritual itself. Perhaps now is the time to tell you that it is not just the temple that will be consecrated... during the ritual you will leave the title of neophyte behind you, and your priesthood will commence.
The ceremony is best performed on a Friday or Saturday night, so that you can sleep in a little next day and take things easy. As you may have found out, rituals can have some strange effects at times. The work you have been doing on the Quarters and God‐forms is really part of the consecration, but because of the shortened time of your training I have, in effect, been easing you into the ritual bit by bit, so that a little of the 'steam' is taken out of its culmination. The last bit of pre‐ritual work is to be done a few days before your 'finals'. This is the Vigil of the Five Points. Be warned, it is deceptively quiet and simple!
The intention of the Vigil is to let you and the temple meld into each other. We have spoken at some length about the beings who will be working with you, but the temple itself is, or will become, an entity in its own right. You will learn more about this when we come to the lesson on Group Souls and Group Minds.
It is a good idea to miss a meal before doing the Vigil, but do have a hot drink in a flask and some plain biscuits ready to eat afterwards. Record the main details and then go straight to bed. The length of the Vigil depends on you, it can be as long or as short as you like. For what it is worth my advice is not to decide on an hour or two hours, but to take each station as it comes and let your inner feeling tell you when it is time to move to the next station.
A few chapters back I spoke of the temple as having Four Quarter Gates, with towers set between them.
If you look at Figure 23 you will see how the four of them are placed, with the fifth point being the Gate
of the East from where the activating influence enters the temple. You also see that the lines of that influence make a five pointed star. This is not just for use in this particular instant, this pattern can be used as part of an opening ritual as well. Like the better known Ritual of the Rose Cross, it is extremely potent and can activate the power points in a temple very rapidly.
Take a bath and put on your robe, girdle, slippers, and ring. Place the candlesticks with new, unlit candles at the points marked A, B, C, and D in Figure 23. The East does not need a light, for you, the Magus will be representing the light in that Quarter. Dress the altar with the center light and a single red rose. Have a long wax taper by the altar light. Light the incense (Frankincense) and put a glass of water on the table in the East (you may need it to moisten your mouth during the Vigil). If you like, put on some music, turn it down so that it is just audible.
When you feel you are ready enter the temple and take your seat in the East. Sink into meditation and think upon the temple that you have built over the past months, think about the Eastern Gate and its power as the place of 'First Light'. You are now seated in the position of The Light Bringer'. It is you who must bring that Light over the threshold of the East and carry it to the Towers so they can act as beacons for those that come after you. Know this also, that in lighting such beacons you become responsible for them being kept alight. Feel the burden that it puts upon your shoulders, examine it thoroughly, know what it is, what it means to be an Officer of the East, more than that, what it means to be a Priest of the Western Mysteries.
When you have thought about these things and sorted them out in your mind, rise and go to the altar.
Place your hands flat on either side of the light and look into it deeply. Think about its meaning, who and what it represents, imagine being in that position. Now take up the taper, light it and return to the East standing with your back to the Gate. Now following the path shown in Figure 23, pace slowly to the candlestick in the north‐west, light the candle there, turn and pace to the candlestick in the southeast.
Light the candle then turn and cross to the candlestick in the northeast. Light it then turn and go diagonally to the last candlestick in the south‐west, light it and return to the East. Put out the taper and stand for a moment, then with the same slow pace move to the north‐west again and stand before the candle there. Look deeply into it and build in your mind the image of a great Tower rising into a sunset sky. At its summit a fire has been lit as if to guide the lonely traveller to a safe haven. Think of this Tower as part of yourself, the part that stands ready to help when needed. Cup your hands about the flame and bless it and the service it represents.
Now turn and go to the candle in the south‐east. Look into it and build another Tower like the first, standing against the amber clouds of dawn. The fire from its topmost turret leaps upward illuminating all around. Think of this fire as incoming knowledge, and the Tower as that part of yourself that may one day pass on what you have learnt. Cup your hands about the flame and bless that which it symbolizes.
Now turn and make your way across to the candle in the north‐east. Look into its fiery heart and see the great Tower build up; it stands tall and dark against a night sky lit by a Full Moon. The fire that
surmounts it gleams palely in the moonlight. It stands for the Mysteries ancient and awesome, the Tower itself is that part of you that strives to know what is hidden. Cup your hands about the flame and bless it and all that it stands for.
Once more you pace the temple towards the south‐west and the candle that glows there. The Tower stands in the full light of the noonday Sun, its crown of flame rivalling Apollo's chariot. This fire is the fire of love given and accepted freely and without barriers. The Tower is the symbol of the spirit that stands true and loyal to its principles. Cup your hands about the flame and bless it and the Tower it conceals.
Now return to the East and sit. Sink down into meditation and think on wnat has just passed, think of the inner meanings and symbols and store up the knowledge that comes to you.
Now for the third time pace out the five pointed star, but this time as you stand before each candle, let the Tower appear and enter that Tower and see what lies behind its door. Follow the same pattern and come at last back to the East and sit in meditation on what you have learned.
Now for the last time make your journey of woven paces. As you come to each candle snuff it out, return to the East to make the pattern perfect, then go to the altar and take the rose and lift it up.
The Vigil of the Five Points has been made, the Towers have been built, the fires have been lit, now I place this rose at the center of the pattern for it symbolizes perfection, silence, and beauty, let these things come to full flower in me.
Place the rose in the center of the altar, put out the altar light, make sure the incense is safe, then leave the temple. You may think from reading this ritual that it is simple and easy. In point of fact it can be more powerful in its effect than the actual consecration. You may feel those effects the next day or not until several days have passed, but sooner or later it will hit you for six. Record as much as you
remember before you go to bed, the rest will float to the surface later.