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FULL MOON SERVICE[Opening Song
O
GREAT AND MERCIFUL LORD OF EARTH, GREAT CREATIVE POWER OF ALL CREATION, WE LOOK TO THEE FOR WISDOM AND REASON--DESCEND UNTO US WITH THY POWER TO EARTH. LAST BUT NOT LEAST, O NAMELESS ONE, ABOVE ALL WHO COME THIS DAY, IN THESE DAYS, I WOULD BE WITH THEE, BLESSED AT THY SIDE, ENJOY IN REVERIE, BLESSED MASTER AND LORD OF EARTH WHO GAVEST THE SPIRIT OF THE WORD THAT BUILD WE MAY THIS ORB OF EARTH INTO THE CELESTIAL BODY OF ITS BEING. THAT AS THY SUN ARISETH, BEHOLD THE DARKNESS FLEES BEFORE THEE. EVEN NOW AS THE SHADOWS DEPART AWAY AND THE GREAT MOTHER ORB OF EARTH COMES FULL INTO RADIANCE THE FULFILLMENT OF ITS BIRTH. LET THY JOY ARISE AND BREAK FORTH FOR NO MORE ARE WE PRISONERS OF THE DARK BUT SONS, WHO LISTEN AND HEARKEN TO THE VOICE OF THIS EVER-GROWING POWER. FOR THE NIGHT THAT WE NOW MAKE DAY STAYETH WITH US ETERNALLY ON OUR WAY. KNOWABLE, UNKNOWABLE, INTO THE DEPTHLESS DEPTH WE MOVE IN THE LIGHT OF THY REFLECTED SPIRIT FROM OUR MOTHER ORB WE STAY. GLORY, GLORY IS THE GREAT AMEN. IN ALL RADIANCE, MAGNIFICENCE, AND POWER WE LOOK TO THEE IN THIS HOUR.
The Blessing and the Descending of the Holy Spirit
Preamble of the Preparation of the Vestments
(Becoming Conscious of the Periodicity of Time)
NO MORE DO WE ENTER THE TABERNACLE IN DARKNESS, AS IN THE OLD ATLANTEAN SCHOOL. NO LONGER ARE THE MYSTICAL SYMBOLS WHICH PROCEEDED OUR WAY TO THE GOLDEN CROSS HOLDING THEIR MEANINGS TO OUR GLANCE. FOR WITH THY LIGHT, O CHRISTOS, SO ANCIENT AND SO OLD, THY TEACHINGS--THE TEACHINGS OF THE TESTAMENT--THE WAY IS TOLD. TO THY LIGHT WE ADD OUR OWN, THAT ALL AROUND US MAY THY GLORY BE SHOWN.
FOR AS THE MULTITUDE APPROACHES THE TEMPLE, TO WORSHIP AND BRING OFFERINGS OF SERVICE, AND FOOD, AND THE MANY WAYS OF OUR BRETHREN WE BOTH APPROACH THE BRAZEN ALTAR OF FIRE, OF THE ETERNAL FLAME, THAT WE MAY CLEANSE OUR BEINGS BEFORE ENTERING INTO THE PRESENCE OF THY HOLY LIGHT, O CHRIST, TO SERVE THEE, WHEN WE HAVE PASSED BEYOND THE SECOND VEIL. WE, OF THE BROTHERHOOD, WHO ALONE ARE ADMITTED BEHIND THE SECOND VEIL TO RECEIVE THE COMMAND OF THE HOST, LOOK BACK IN ALMOST OUTSTANDING PRAISE, KNOWING THAT ALL THINGS HERE IN THIS SECOND CHAMBER REPRESENT THE NEW EARTH, IN WHICH WE HAVE ATTAINED THE PRIVILEGE OF RECEIVING THROUGH THY SON, LORD JESUS CHRIST.
ON OUR WAY INTO THE TEMPLE, AS WE PASS THROUGH THE OUTER COURT TOWARD THE INNER WISDOM TEACHINGS OF CHRIST, WE HAVE PREPARED OURSELVES BY MEDITATION AND CONTEMPLATION ON THE LIFE TO COME.
WE, AS MEMBERS OF THIS ORDER, HAVE PROMISED AND TAKEN UPON OURSELVES THE OBLIGATION TO OURSELVES THAT WE WILL LOVE, HONOR, AND OBEY THE TRUE LIGHT AND HIGHER SELF, AND DEDICATE OUR LIVES TO THE SERVICE OF MANKIND LEADING THE BLIND TO THE OUTER VEIL AND HELP THEM TO ATTAIN A GREAT ENOUGH CONSCIOUSNESS TO REALIZE THE EXISTENCE OF GOD.
Five minute Meditation
Prayer by the Mother of the Order for the continuation of the high standards of brotherhood and service in this Holy Order.
Attending Priest:
THOSE OF US WHO HAVE TAKEN THE ETERNAL VOWS AND RECEIVED THE MANTLE OF POWER, WHO ARE PERSISTING TO SHOW THEIR DEVOTION WITH A HIGH LEVEL OF GOD-CONSCIOUSNESS AND HAVE AQUAINTED THEMSELVES CREDULOUSLY IN THE WIDER WORK AND ARE, THEREFORE, PERMITTED TO PASS INTO THE INNER SANCTUARY. HERE, THEY WILL ACCEPT THE POWER OF THE REFLECTED SUN, AND BRING IT FORTH IN A BLESSING TO ALL.
LIKE IN THE ANCIENT TIMES, THE PATH OF ATTAINMENT THAT LEADS FROM EAST TO WEST, COMMENCES WITH THE SANCTIFICATION AT THE ALTAR OF SERVICE. TODAY, ALSO, THE ASPIRANT FINDS HIMSELF A DIVINE SACRIFICE AND A VESSEL TO RECEIVE THE POWER OF THE FATHER AND THE LIGHT OF THE MOON WHICH HOLDS FORTH TO US AT THIS TIME OF THE SUMMER SOLSTICE, THE POWER OF GROWTH AND THE MULTIPLYING OF THE SPECIES OF ALL LIVING THINGS.
EVERY NIGHT BEFORE GOING THROUGH RETROSPECTION, WE STAND BEFORE THE ALTAR AND JUDGE OURSELVES ACCORDING TO THE DEEDS IN THE BODY OF THAT DAY. WE ARE MORTIFIED BY THE TRUTH AND JUDGMENT OF THE SELF, AND PAY FIT TRIBUTE BY GIVING OUR BODIES TO BE BURNED IN THE FIRES OF REMORSE DURING THE NEXT TWENTY-FOUR HOURS. THAT IS, WE DO IF WE ARE FUNCTIONING WITH TRUE HUMILITY, IN ACCORDANCE TO OUR VOWS.
FOR ALAS, IT IS NOT SUFFICIENT THAT WE JUSTIFY OUR HUMILITY AND SERVICE, FOR LIKE THE RICH, YOUNG MAN WHO ASSERTED THAT HE KEPT THE LAW, BUT WAS NOT READY TO FOLLOW THE COMMANDS OF THE CHRIST JESUS WITHOUT CONDITIONS, WITHOUT JUSTIFICATION, AND OBEY THE COMMANDS OF THE BROTHERS. TO MANY ARE LUKEWARM, AND SEEK TO AVOID CONDEMNATION AND STRIVE NOT AFTER REDEMPTION, WHICH IS ATTAINED THROUGH THE DILIGENT MERIT OF SERVICE. WHEN THE LORD SHALL SAY, "WELL DONE THOU GOOD AND FAITHFUL SERVANT."
FOR WE MUST, IN THIS NEW DAY, ENTER THE TEMPLE, THAT THERE WITH THE POWER FROM CHRIST, COMING THROUGH THE MOON, WE CREATE ANEW AND BUILD WITHOUT THE SOUND OF HAMMER AND THE NEW RUDIMENTS OF FORM, WHICH WILL SERVE AS THE ARCHETYPE FOR THE GOLDEN WEDDING GARMENT.
IN ORDER TO DO THIS, WE MUST GIVE UP ALL EARTHLY DESIRE, AND POSSESSION, THOUGH FOR THE TIME, WE MAY RETAIN THESE POSSESSIONS IN TRUST, AND OFFER OURSELVES UP TO THE HOLY SPIRIT AS A LIVING SACRIFICE THAT WE MAY NOT BE EARTHBOUND WHEN WE LEAVE THIS EARTHLY REALM. HAVING MOUNTED THE FIRST TWO STEPS ON THE PATH, THE ASPIRANT NOW USES THE TOOLS WHICH HE HAS BROUGHT WITH HIM FROM HIS ANCIENT LIVES AND HAS LEARNED TO LIGHT THE FLAME ON THE SEVEN-BRANCHED CANDLESTICK, WHICH IS PLACED ON THE SOUTH WALL OF THE TEMPLE. HE HAS ALSO LEARNED TO ACCUMULATE THE AKASHIC GOOD OF SERVICE AND STORE THEM UP THAT HE MAY BE ADEQUATELY EQUIPPED TO TRAVEL AS HE PASSES THROUGH THE REMAINDER OF THE TWELVE GREAT WORLDS OF HIS SOLAR JOURNEY THROUGH THE MIND OF GOD. FOR THIS IS THE SYMBOL OF THE GREAT TWELVE LOAVES OF BREAD THAT WERE USED IN THE ANCIENT TEMPLE. AND THROUGH THESE GOD-GIVEN OPPORTUNITIES OF SERVICE, WE BUILD THE SOUL AND ITS GROWTH UNDER THE DOMINION OF THE DIVINE HIERARCHY, BUT AS HE ASPIRES TO THESE TASKS, HE WHOLEY, WITH GREAT LOVE, EMBRACES THEIR OPPORTUNITIES AND CULTIVATES THEM AND TURNS THEM INTO THE LIVING BREAD, WHICH NURTURES AND FEEDS THE SOUL, THROUGH WHICH THE SELF MAY GIVE MORE PERFECT GUIDANCE ON THE PATH OF ATTAINMENT.
Full Moon Initiation
NOW LET US ALL LOOK WITHIN AND KEEP FULL CONSCIOUSNESS AND POWER AS WE FOLLOW THE PATH OF INITIATION. AS WE ARE NO LONGER HELD IN ABEYANCE BY THE FLAMING SWORD, THOSE OF US WHO HAVE BECOME TRUE SERVANTS OF GOD AND WHO LOOK INTO THE GREAT DEPTHS OF THE AWE-INSPIRING LIGHT OF SELF, AS WE PASS AT THE GATES OF THE MYSTIC TEMPLE OF SOLOMON, WE AGAIN FIND THE CHERUBIM, BUT THE FIERY SWORDS NO LONGER IN THEIR HANDS; INSTEAD, THEY HOLD A FLOWER, WHICH SYMBOLIZES THE FULL MYSTIC MEANING OF LOVE, WHICH SHALL BE OUR MOST ARDUOUS ASPECT TO ASPIRE TO.
WHILE NATURE FEEDS THE FLOWER THAT GROWS FROM THE EARTH THROUGH ITS ROOTS, MAN TAKES HIS FOOD BY MEANS OF HIS HEAD, SINCE IT GOES DOWNWARD. LIKEWISE, MAN MUST TAKE HIS SPIRITUAL FOOD FROM THE HEAD, AND ALSO FROM THE EARTH THROUGH HIS FEET.
WHILE THE PLANT KNOWS NO PASSIONS AND FERTILIZATION IS ACCOMPLISHED IN A MOST PURE AND MOST CHASTE MANNER, IT PROJECTS ITS OFFSPRING TOWARDS THE SUN, AND IS A THING OF BEAUTY AND DELICACY TO BEHOLD. THUS, IT IS THAT MAN PARTAKES OF COMMUNION OF THE TRANSFORMED ESSENCE OF THE EARTH INTO THE BLOOD THAT CLEANSES US OF OUR INDISCREET PASSIONS. THE HEART, WHICH FUNCTIONS THROUGH COMPASSION IN THE COMMUNION BRINGS MAN A LITTLE BIT CLOSER TO THE REGENERATION OF THE PHYSICAL VEHICLE, OF A MYSTIC BIRTH INTO THE HIGHER SPHERES WHERE HE MAY LEARN OF THE GREATER CRAFTS AND HIGHER THINGS. AND IN THIS DAY, HE SHALL LEARN OF THE HOLY WEDLOCK WITH HIS SISTER AND THE HOLY FELLOWSHIP WITH HIS BROTHER, SO LET US TAKE COMMUNION OF THE SPIRIT NOW.
Communion of the Wine and the Water
The water is in a brass chalice and served first. The wine is blessed, but not transformed, a blessing is given. The water is served by the female Priest, the wine by the male Priest.
A blessing is given that shall send each one forth to seek the service of helping his brother in his soul growth.
NOW YOU HAVE ENTERED THE HALL OF SERVICE, WHICH SIGNIFIES FULL ILLUMINOSITY OF THE MOON IS PRESENT, WHICH IS SHOWN BY THE SEVEN-BRANCHED CANDLESTICK UPON THE ALTAR. AND YOU ARE BEING TAUGHT TO WEAVE THE LUMINOUS VESTURE OF THE SOUL BODY, AND ON THIS NIGHT OF THE FULL MOON, WE ALSO HAVE IN THAT FURTHER DARKENED SPACE BEYOND THE FULL POWER OF THE CHRIST--IN ALL ITS GLORY--INVISIBLE, THAT IS TRUE, FOR LET US NOW LOOK AT THE SUN, THAT WE MAY KNOW THE FULL BLAZE OF GLORY AS THE CHRISTOS LIGHTS OUR WAY UPON THE PATH AND COMES TO OTHERS IN THE DARKENED PART OF THE TABERNACLE. FOR HE WHO HAS NOT RECEIVED SOME DEGREE OF LIGHT, IT IS IMPOSSIBLE FOR HIM, AND UNSAFE, TO PASS WITHIN THE SECOND VEIL.
Priest:
AND NOW, BROTHERS IN CHRIST, WE WHO ARE CANDIDATES FOR THE HIGHER LIFE, WHO HAVE ENTERED INTO THIS HALL OF SERVICE, BUT SEEK TO STAND BY THE ARK OF THE COVENANT TO RECEIVE THE DIRECT COMMAND OF GOD, THAT WE MAY HELP AND SERVE BY PASSING THESE GLORIOUS WORDS TO THOSE IN THE OUTER TO LIGHT THEIR WAY TO WHERE THE INVISIBLE FIRE GLOWS OVER THE MERCY SEAT, AND THAT CAME FROM WITHIN, MAY BE OBEYED AND THAT GOD MAY MANIFEST WITHIN MAN. THOSE WHO ARE IN THE OUTER TEMPLE, AND ARE JUST ASPIRANTS ON THIS FULL MOON, SHOULD LOOK BACK OVER THE PAST THREE MONTHS AND GLEAN FROM THEIR ACTS AND SERVICE, THE CREDIBLE THINGS THEY HAVE DONE.
Female Priest:
LET US ALL MEDITATE NOW, AND BE CONSCIOUS OF TWELVE GREAT SPIRITUAL BODIES OF THIS SOLAR SYSTEM AND OUR LUNAR MOTHER. LET OUR MOTHER LEAD THIS MEDITATION.
Female Priest (five minute meditation):
NOW LET US, THAT WE HAVE OPENED THE WAY, GO INTO THE OUTER WORLD, FOR THE PATH IS NARROW WHEN IT REACHES THE TOP OF THE MOUNTAIN. SO IS THE PATH OF HOLINESS. THERE ARE MANY MORE THINGS WHICH WE CAN PERMIT OURSELVES AT FIRST, BUT AS WE ADVANCE, ONE AFTER ANOTHER OF THESE DIGRESSIONS MUST BE DONE AWAY WITH, AND WE MUST DEVOTE OURSELVES MORE AND MORE TO THE SERVICE OF HOLINESS. FOR ONE DAY, WE SHALL REACH THE TOP OF THAT MOUNTAIN, AND THERE FIND THE RAZOR'S EDGE.
THEN WE WILL BE READY TO ASCEND, AS THE MASTER DID, WHEN HE SAID, "FATHER, THY WILL BE DONE." AND WITH THE HELP OF THE ELDER BROTHERS, WE SHALL RISE TO THE HEIGHTS OF EVERLASTING GLORY.
AMEN, AMEN, AMEN.
(sign of the cross)
complete five minute meditation
Departing Blessing
