The temple should have "offstage" space at East and West, with a single altar in the center. On the altar should be the sheath for the Sword, a pyx of Abramelin oil, a censer and incense.
The DEACON should wear a black hooded robe with no distinguishing ornaments on it. BABALON and BEAST should each wear a light (diaphenous) cloak, hers red/gold, his silver/white; they may be naked otherwise, or not (but any robe should be openable so as to provide access for the anointing that is to come....) Ambitious vestment-stitchers might embroider a red lion on hers, a white eagle on his.
The BABALON bears the Grail and Wand; the Grail should be large, and as full of red wine as possible; the Wand should be as phallic as possible.
The BEAST bears the Paten and unsheathed Sword. (by the blade, hilt up, so as to form a cross). On the Paten is one cake made of grain, milk, honey, and leaven, in such a formula as to be easily dissolved.
The DEACON opens the temple, saying,
COME FORTH, O CHILDREN, UNDER THE STARS, AND TAKE YOUR FILL OF LOVE!
After all have filed in, DEACON recites the Prologue of the Unborn:
INTO MY LONELINESS COMES ---
THE SOUND OF A FLUTE IN THE DIM GROVES THAT HAUNT THE UTTERMOST
HILLS.
EVEN FROM THE BRAVE RIVER THEY REACH TO THE EDGE OF THE WILDERNESS.
AND I BEHOLD PAN.
THE SNOWS ARE ETERNAL, ABOVE, ABOVE --
AND THEIR PERFUME SMOKES UPWARD INTO THE NOSTRILS OF THE STARS.
BUT WHAT HAVE I TO DO WITH THESE?
TO ME ONLY THE DISTANT FLUTE, THE ABIDING VISION OF PAN.
ON ALL SIDES PAN TO THE EYE, TO THE EAR;
THE PERFUME OF PAN PERVADING, THE TASTE OF HIM UTTERLY FILLING
MY MOUTH,
SO THAT THE TONGUE BREAKS FORTH INTO A WEIRD AND MONSTROUS SPEECH.
THE EMBRACE OF HIM INTENSE ON EVERY CENTRE OF PAIN AND PLEASURE.
THE SIXTH INTERIOR SENSE AFLAME WITH THE INMOST SELF OF HIM.
MYSELF FLUNG DOWN THE PRECIPICE OF BEING.
EVEN TO THE ABYSS, ANNIHILATION.
AN END TO LONELINESS, AS TO ALL.
PAN! PAN! IO PAN! IO PAN!
DEACON may do a bibliomancy from the Holy Books, but in any case turns to the assembly and declares:
DO WHAT THOU WILT SHALL BE THE WHOLE OF THE LAW.
RA-HOOR-KHUIT HATH TAKEN HIS SEAT IN THE EAST AT THE EQUINOX
OF THE GODS; AND LET ASAR BE WITH ISA, WHO ALSO ARE ONE.
ALL: LOVE IS THE LAW, LOVE UNDER WILL.
All stand in a ring and recite:
I SEE THE MAID OF THE GRAIL;
SHE COMES, WALKING QUEENLY, IN BEAUTY AND STRENGTH,
WITH POWER ABOUT HER LIKE A PERFUME, AND ALL OF HER BODY GOLDEN.
HER HANDS HOLD THE CUP OF GLOWING GOLD, BRIMMING WITH DEEP CRIMSON BLOOD.
HER HAIR FLOATS ABOUT HER FACE LIKE FIRE;
RED BLOSSOMS SPRING IN THE PRINTS OF HER BARE FEET.
SHE COMES FROM HER GARDEN OF APPLES, FROM THE HONEY-LAND, THE
GATE OF DELIGHT.
BABALON emerges from the East, and the people continue:
I SEE THE KING OF THE SWORD;
HE COMES, WALKING WITH CARE, IN PRIDE AND IN PAIN
HIS BODY YOUNG AND HIS SOUL ANCIENT, AND THE SUN ON HIS BROW
FOR A HELMET.
HIS HANDS BEAR THE NAKED BLADE, STILL KEEN AND GLEAMING THOUGH
SLAKED IN BLOOD.
LITTLE POOLS OF BLOOD WELL IN THE PRINTS OF HIS BARE FEET.
HE COMES FROM THE PLAIN OF BATTLES, FROM THE WOUNDED LAND, THE
TOWER YIELDING.
BEAST emerges from the West and the two now move slowly toward the center as everyone continues,
COME TO US, COME TO US, RED LION AND WHITE EAGLE,
AND LET US BURN IN THE ATHANOR OF YOUR MEETING,
THAT WE MAY EMERGE THEREFROM PERFECTED,
EVEN AS THE STONE OF THE WISE.
BABALON and BEAST advance to the altar in the center and lay down the grail and paten. He falls to his knees before her, sword point to the floor.
BEAST
I AM SHED OUT LIKE SPILT BLOOD UPON THE MOUNTAINS;
THE RAVENS OF DISPERSION HAVE BORNE ME UTTERLY AWAY.
BABALON
BUT I HAVE BURNED WITHIN THEE AS A PURE FLAME WITHOUT OIL:
IN THE MIDNIGHT I WAS BRIGHTER THAN THE MOON;
IN THE DAYTIME I EXCEEDED UTTERLY THE SUN;
IN THE BYWAYS OF THY BEING I FLAMED AND DISPELLED THE ILLUSION.
THEREFORE THOU ART WHOLLY PURE BEFORE ME;
THEREFORE THOU ART MY VIRGIN UNTO ETERNITY.
BEAST
BEHOLD! I AM A MAN. EVEN A LITTLE CHILD MIGHT NOT ENDURE THEE.
BABALON
SURRENDER THE SWORD INTO THE LAKE, THAT THOU BE MADE WHOLE.
She holds up the sheath; he rises and gives over the sword into it as she holds it; she sets it on the altar. BEAST stands with his arms and legs spread wide, and recites as she anoints each of his chakras, root to crown, with Abramelin oil.
BEAST
I CAME TO THE HOUSE OF THE BELOVED, AND THE WINE WAS LIKE
FIRE
THAT FLIETH WITH GREEN WINGS THROUGH THE WORLD OF WATERS.
I FELT THE RED LIPS OF NATURE AND THE BLACK LIPS OF PERFECTION.
LIKE SISTERS THEY FONDLED ME THEIR LITTLE BROTHER;
THEY DECKED ME OUT AS A BRIDE; THEY MOUNTED ME FOR THY BRIDAL
CHAMBER.
THEY FLED AWAY AT THY COMING; I WAS ALONE BEFORE THEE.
When she is done, BEAST recites further:
BEFORE I SAW THEE THOU WAST ALREADY WITH ME;
I WAS SMITTEN THROUGH BY THE MARVELLOUS SPEAR.
He remains in the same position while she touches each of his chakras in the same sequence with the wand-tip. She then presses the wand, head uppermost, to his abdomen, and strokes it as she recites.
BABALON
ARISE, O SERPENT APEP, THOU ART ADONAI THE BELOVED ONE!
THOU ART MY DARLING AND MY LORD, AND THY POISON IS SWEETER
THAN THE KISSES OF ISIS THE MOTHER OF THE GODS!
BEAST (taking the wand in his hands and caressing it likewise, legs still spread wide)
I AM THE SNAKE THAT GIVETH KNOWLEDGE & DELIGHT AND BRIGHT
GLORY,
AND STIR THE HEARTS OF MEN WITH DRUNKENNESS.
She anoints the wand with Abramelin oil (the DEACON holding the pyx for her), and with wine from the Grail, then kneels and kisses the wand (11 times?).
BABALON
I HAVE THROWN A MILLION FLOWERS FROM THE BASKET OF THE BEYOND
AT THY FEET,
I HAVE ANOINTED THEE AND THY STAFF WITH OIL AND BLOOD AND KISSES.
I AWAIT THEE IN SLEEPING, IN WAKING. I INVOKE THEE NO MORE;
FOR THOU ART IN ME, O THOU WHO HAST MADE ME
A BEAUTIFUL INSTRUMENT TUNED TO THY RAPTURE.
He lifts her to her feet and anoints her with oil as she did him (the DEACON holding the pyx again likewise, so that BEAST need not fumble with it and the wand).
BEAST
THIS IS THE DAUGHTER OF THE KING. THIS IS THE VIRGIN OF ETERNITY.
THIS IS SHE THAT THE HOLY ONE HATH WRESTED FROM THE GIANT TIME,
AND THE PRIZE OF THEM THAT HAVE OVERCOME SPACE. THIS IS SHE THAT
IS SET UPON THE THRONE OF UNDERSTANDING. HOLY, HOLY, HOLY IS
HER NAME, NOT TO BE SPOKEN AMONG MEN.
He draws a cross with the wand tip over each of her chakras, root to crown.
THOUGHT CANNOT PIERCE THE GLORY THAT DEFENDETH HER,
FOR THOUGHT IS SMITTEN DEAD BEFORE HER PRESENCE.
MEMORY IS BLANK, AND IN THE MOST ANCIENT BOOKS OF MAGICK
ARE NEITHER WORDS TO CONJURE HER,
NOR ADORATIONS TO PRAISE HER.
He steps back, flinging his arms wide.
WILL BENDS LIKE A REED IN THE TEMPESTS
THAT SWEEP THE BORDERS OF HER KINGDOM,
AND IMAGINATION CANNOT FIGURE SO MUCH AS ONE PETAL
OF THE LILIES WHEREON SHE STANDETH IN THE LAKE OF CRYSTAL,
IN THE SEA OF GLASS.
BABALON
O MY LORD, LET US SAIL UPON THE SEA OF BLOOD!
BEAST
O THOU LIGHT AND DELIGHT, RAVISH ME AWAY
INTO THE MILKY OCEAN OF THE STARS!
He embraces her, first with one arm, then the other, such that the wand is held up between them by the pressure of their bodies. They caress each other as they will during the following section.
BEAST
THE EARTH IS RIPE FOR VINTAGE;
LET US EAT OF HER GRAPES, AND BE DRUNKEN.
BABALON
COME! LET US IRRITATE THE VESSELS OF THE EARTH:
THEY SHALL DISTIL STRANGE WINE.
BEAST
GIVE ME THY KISSES, O LORD GOD!
They kiss, while the DEACON speaks:
DEACON
O THE LUST, THE SHEER RAPTURE,
OF THE LIFE OF THE SNAKE IN THE SPINE!
THERE IS THE LOVE OF DAVID AND JONATHAN;
THERE IS THE LOVE OF ABRAHAM AND ISAAC;
THERE IS THE LOVE OF LEAR AND CORDELIA;
THERE IS THE LOVE OF DAMON AND PYTHIAS;
THERE IS THE LOVE OF SAPPHO AND ATTHIS;
THERE IS THE LOVE OF ROMEO AND JULIET;
THERE IS THE LOVE OF DANTE AND BEATRICE;
THERE IS THE LOVE OF PAOLO AND FRANCESCA;
THERE IS THE LOVE OF CESARE AND LUCRETIA BORGIA;
THERE IS THE LOVE OF AUCASSIN AND NICOLETTE;
THERE IS THE LOVE OF DAPHNIS AND CHLOE;
THERE IS THE LOVE OF CORNELIA AND CAIUS GRACCHUS;
THERE IS THE LOVE OF DIONYSOS AND ARIADNE;
THERE IS THE LOVE OF CUPID AND PSYCHE;
THERE IS THE LOVE OF ENDYMION AND ARTEMIS;
THERE IS THE LOVE OF DEMETER AND PERSEPHONE;
THERE IS THE LOVE OF VENUS AND ADONIS;
THERE IS THE LOVE OF LAKSHMI AND VISHNU;
THERE IS THE LOVE OF SIVA AND BHAVANI;
THERE IS THE LOVE OF BUDDHA AND ANANDA;
THERE IS THE LOVE OF JESUS AND JOHN;
AND MANY MORE.
I SHALL LOVE THEE WITH HONEY CAKES AND ROSES;
I SHALL LOVE THEE WITH ANOINTING AND CARESSES;
I SHALL LOVE THEE WITH JEWELS AND RICH ROBES;
I SHALL LOVE THEE WITH CHAINS AND A SCOURGE;
I SHALL CONSUME THEE, AND THOU ME;
I SHALL PENETRATE THEE, AND THOU ME;
AND I SHALL BE SACRIFICED TO THEE,
AND THOU SHALT BE CRUCIFIED FOR ME,
AND THOU AND I WILL KISS, AND ATONE FOR THE WRONG OF THE BEGINNING;
YEA, FOR THE WRONG OF THE BEGINNING.
(after a short pause)
OH MY ADORABLE, MY DELICIOUS ONE,
ALL NIGHT WILL I POUR OUT THE LIBATION ON THINE ALTARS;
ALL NIGHT WILL I BURN THE SACRIFICE OF BLOOD;
ALL NIGHT WILL I SWING THE THURIBLE OF MY DELIGHT BEFORE THEE,
AND THE FERVOR OF THE ORISONS SHALL INTOXICATE THY NOSTRILS.
ALL
O THOU WHO CAMEST FROM THE LAND OF THE ELEPHANT,
GIRT ABOUT WITH THE TIGER'S PELL,
AND GARLANDED WITH THE LOTUS OF THE SPIRIT,
DO THOU INEBRIATE MY LIFE WITH THY MADNESS,
THAT SHE LEAP AT MY PASSING.
DEACON
WORSHIPFUL ARE YE, O MY LOVERS;
LET US FORWARD TO THE DIMMEST HOLLOW!
THERE WE WILL FEAST UPON MANDRAKE AND UPON MOLY!
THERE THE LOVELY ONE SHALL SPREAD US HIS HOLY BANQUET.
BEAST
IN THE BROWN CAKES OF CORN
WE SHALL TASTE THE FOOD OF THE WORLD,
AND BE STRONG
BABALON
IN THE RUDDY AND AWFUL CUP OF DEATH
WE SHALL DRINK THE BLOOD OF THE WORLD,
AND BE DRUNKEN!
BABALON and BEAST pick up the grail and paten (respectively) and say together:
WAIL, O YE FOLK OF THE GRAY LAND,
FOR WE HAVE DRUNK YOUR WINE,
AND LEFT YE BUT THE BITTER DREGS.
YET FROM THESE WE WILL DISTILL YE A LIQUOR
BEYOND THE NECTAR OF THE GODS.
BEAST
I DRINK THE SUN AND WAX IN STRENGTH,
AND THOUGH I BE CUT DOWN, YET I WILL RISE.
WHO EATETH THIS SHALL RISE IN ME,
FOR I AM GOD, AND THIS BREAD IS MY FLESH.
BABALON
I EAT THE EARTH AND TEEM WITH FRUIT,
YET ALL THAT MY SKIN CONTAINS MUST SOON DISSOLVE.
WHO DRINKETH THIS SHALL DISSOLVE IN ME,
FOR I AM GOD, AND THIS WINE IS MY BLOOD.
BOTH (to each other)
I OFFER THIS TO THEE IN SACRIFICE;
ACCEPT, O GOD, THIS WARRANT OF MY LOVE.
DEACON
THOU HAST BROUGHT ME INTO GREAT DELIGHT.
THOU HAST GIVEN ME OF THY FLESH TO EAT
AND OF THY BLOOD FOR AN OFFERING OF INTOXICATION.
BABALON and BEAST elevate the offerings, she with Cup in both hands, he with the cake held in both hands over the cup.
BOTH
GLORIOUS, GLORIOUS, GLORIOUS ART THOU,
O MY LOVER SUPERNAL, O SELF OF MYSELF!
BEAST holds the cake against the wand tip; BABALON takes the Cup in both hands.
BEAST
IN THE GARDEN OF IMMORTAL KISSES,
O THOU BRILLIANT ONE, SHINE FORTH!
MAKE THY MOUTH AN OPIUM-POPPY, THAT ONE KISS
IS THE KEY TO THE INFINITE SLEEP AND LUCID,
THE SLEEP OF SHI-LOH-AM.
BABALON
O MY LITTLE ONE, MY TENDER ONE,
MY LITTLE AMOROUS ONE,
MY GAZELLE, MY BEAUTIFUL, MY BOY,
LET US FILL UP THE PILLAR OF THE INFINITE
WITH AN INFINITE KISS!
While the congregation chants/recites the following, BEAST and BABALON hold their lips as close together as possible without actually touching, and begin breathing in sync, one breathing in the exhalation of the other, building energy.
DEACON
O MY LORD, MY BELOVED! HOW SHALL I INDITE SONGS,
WHEN EVEN THE MEMORY OF THE SHADOW OF THY GLORY
IS A THING BEYOND ALL MUSIC OF SPEECH OR SILENCE?
[a responsory I haven't written yet]
When they feel as though the energy is about ready to peak, one breathing out should only exhale halfway, then inhale again; both should hold their inhalations until some signal between them, he balancing the cake on the wand tip and taking hold of the cup with his free hand, she taking hold of the wand with hers. Then with HA! or some other syllable or sound, they plunge the wand into the cup. Making a mess is emphatically OKAY, though there ought to be some left to take actual communion with.
DEACON (while BEAST and BABALON communicate by sharing the cup between them (leaving enough for the rest of the congregation each to have a swallow...)
LET THE INVISIBLE INFORM ALL THE DEVOURING LIGHT
OF ITS DISRUPTIVE VIGOR!
YEA! ALL THE WORLD IS SPLIT APART,
AS AN OLD GREY TREE BY THE LIGHTNING!
COME, O YE GODS, AND LET US FEAST!
BEAST & BABALON (in unison):
I AM CLOTHED WITH THE BODY OF FLESH;
I AM ONE WITH THE ETERNAL AND OMNIPOTENT GOD.
Here the congregation communicates, each coming to the central altar one at a time to take a drink of the cup (which DEACON hands to each). There can be drumming, or singing a Communion hymn (one of which is attached). In any case, each communicant says (to hirself) after communicating:
I AM CLOTHED WITH THE BODY OF FLESH;
I AM ONE WITH THE ETERNAL AND OMNIPOTENT GOD.
DEACON
NOW LET THERE BE A VEILING OF THIS SHRINE:
NOW LET THE LIGHT DEVOUR MEN AND EAT THEM UP WITH BLINDNESS!
(He draweth the Veil over Beast and Babalon.)