The Caltrop of Chaos
by Ray Sherwin
The Circle of Chaos seldom uses banishings or openings of a sort recognisable to other magicians; in fact we have no set banishings at all, preferring to rely on the member who has been chosen to perform this part of the rite to produce something powerful or appropriate. Because we have worked together for so long it is not difficult for us to ally our imaginations to a new ritual concept even though we might never have discussed the elements and principles of which it is composed.
We are not a teaching group but we do recognise that newcomers need at least some firm principles in order to practise visualisation methods and experience the altered awareness brought about by the successful performance of magical technique.
All rites, wherever they originate, are open to adaptation for individual needs and the following banishing cum opening rite is no exception. It does not, however, rely on the use of particular god/dess forms or obvious symbolism and does not rely on any particular scenario in order to be effective. This means it can be used as a preface to most styles of rite without interfering stylistically with what follows. It’s function is not to act as a barrier against unknown energies and influences but to prepare the minds of the participants for the influx of those energies and influences . It is absurd that sophisticated magicians spend so much of their energy in keeping out impressions from the chaos or .weird side of consciousness when shamans the world over go to extreme lengths to open themselves up to those impressions and energies. After all, if you have no experience of chaos, the formative and usually hidden energy of the universe, you can hardly use it to create change in the formed universe or bring about changes in your perception, understanding and awareness. The type of opening proposed below is intended to prepare the minds of the people involved to enter a theatre of operations quite different from the mortal, cosmos sphere in which they normally operate
The rite makes three assumptions and if you are unable to assimilate these for the duration of its performance you would be better off adapting it or working out something totally different. Most people working within the Chaos attitude will probably have little difficulty in shifting their beliefs slightly to accommodate them. The assumptions are these: -
- The phenomenal universe (i.e. the formed and manifest result of universal powers, probability, cosmos) is best represented by the cardinal points. That it needs to be represented at all is the effect of necessarily comparing it to chaos.
- Chaos, the sphere of (as yet) unformed energies, is best represented by the caltropic points halfway between the cardinals. In calendrical terms the half way points are the times of the year at which the weird energy of improbability is invited in.
- Black or white can be used in visualisation without suggesting morality or intention of result.
Tne rubric of the rite (which takes about ten minutes to perform when decently paced) follows. Explanations are given where necessary in italics
The magician stands at the centre of the temple or site. Having composed him/herself by breathing deeply and regularly he/she speaks.
- "In the beginning four forces joined in perfect absolution.
- The end will be the same.
- Aleph is omega.
- The four are one and the one is the world.
- All comes From the unity of the four.
- All exists because they are separate."
This statement expresses the scientific belief that there are four forces (gravity, electro-magnetism, weak and strong) which are responsible for this and previous universes. When the four come together the big bang occurs, ending one universe and beginning another. The magician now goes on to identify the powers with the cardinal points.
Facing any cardinal point the magician intones the mantra visualising as he/she does so a segment of white light, the energy rushing away from him/her. He/she does the same at the remaining three points (see figure below for clarification of this)
- "Ie arbaa ka
- yikuu gamaa
- Agiba ka
- ta 'ala nu
- yikun sowaa."
The mantra has a twofold application since it is used both to dissolve the participant’s ties with consensus reality and to emphasize the influx of energies and powers which bring about the state of otherness and allow for the performance of magick. It is impossible to create a mantra in English to perform this function for two reasons.
1) In order to be maximumly effective it needs to be vibrated in one breath with stresses on the second and fourth vowel of each line so that the whole mantra gives an effect not unlike the thrum of a steady deep-noted engine.
2) By creating mantras autoshediastically and then meditating on them to ally the sound to the meaning, a great deal of information can be telescoped into a relatively short mantra. The intended meaning of this particular mantra is:
"Let the effect of the four forces come within our reasoning. Let Chaos pervade our company and unite us in the strange realm (of impressions and power)."
At the centre of the temple again the magician says:
"Let Chaos and Cosmos combine."
Chaos and cosmos are always combined anyway but not necessarily within our reasoning. The purpose of the rite is to reinforce the notion within our spheres of knowing.
- and reinforces in his/her and the group's imagination the opening so far; then continues:
- "Before the first. Beyond the last:
- The unknowable pulse, unwitting of time
- Pervades the rigid forms.
- Improbable Chaos, in between the lines
- Contrives the whirling dance."
Chaos is not confined by time or by big bangs. It is improbable in the scientific sense and allows for the improbable to occur within the inertial frame of the knowable.
Turning to the first caltropic point he/she vibrates the mantra, visualising an inrushing black segment of energy, knowing that the medium of improbability is being invited in. After a pause of sufficient length the magician declaims:
"Let Chaos and Cosmos combine."
The celebrants should then be prepared to proceed to the main body of the rite. If it be considered necessary the whole process may be reversed at the end of the rite (the black, Chaos energy rushing out, the white Cosmos energy rushing in).
It is easiest to visualize the caltrop and its flowing energies on a flat plane but rather better to imagine the wedges as reaching infinity above and below.