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[[Image:Leila Waddell.jpg|right|thumb|[[Leila Waddell]], assistant to Crowley in performing the Rites. Photo from 1910.]]
[[Image:Leila Waddell.jpg|right|thumb|[[Leila Waddell|Leila Waddell (Laylah)]], assistant and muse to [[Aleister Crowley]] in writing and performing the Rites]]


The '''Rites of Eleusis''' were a series of seven [[invocation]]s or [[rituals|rites]], each centered on one of the seven classical planets of antiquity. They were dramatically performed by [[Aleister Crowley]], [[Leila Waddell]], and [[Victor Neuburg]] in October of [[1909]] at Caxton Hall. This act brought the [[A∴A∴]] into the publics eye.<ref>King, p.115</ref>.
The '''Rites of Eleusis''' were a series of seven public [[invocation]]s or [[rituals|rites]] written by British occultist [[Aleister Crowley]], each centered on one of the seven classical planets of antiquity. They were dramatically performed by [[Aleister Crowley]], [[Leila Waddell|Leila Waddell (Laylah)]], and [[Victor Benjamin Neuburg]] in October and November 1910, at [[Caxton Hall]], London. This act brought Crowley's occult organization the [[A∴A∴]] into the public eye.<ref>King, p.115</ref>


==History==
==The Rites==
The names of the seven Rites are ''The Rite of'' "Saturn", "Jupiter", "Mars", "Sol", "Venus", "Mercury" and "Luna". Crowley claimed that the ''Rites'' were designed to inspire the audience with '[[religious ecstasy]]', and that merely reading them would help people "cultivate their highest faculties". Some in the popular press thought otherwise, and considered the ''Rites'' an immoral display, riddled with '[[blasphemy]] and [[Eroticism|erotic]] suggestion.' The Rite of Luna was danced by Joan Hayes also known as Ione de Forest, a lover of [[Victor Benjamin Neuburg|Victor Neuberg]]


==In print==
''Rites of Eleusis: As Performed at Caxton Hall''
Illustrated by Dwina Murphy-Gibb. Edited by Keith Richmond. UK: Mandrake, 1990 (limited edition of 1,000 copies). Contains the complete scripts of all the ''Rites'', with introduction by Richmond and explanatory essays by Richmond and Terence DuQuesne. Also includes a series of adorations, ''The Treasure House of Images'' by Capt [[J.F.C. Fuller]], and Crowley's ''[[Magick (Book 4)|Magick Book 4 (Liber O)]]''.


==Contemporary Performances==
<!----
to be included when there is more information pertaining to each rite
==The rites==
"Saturn", "Jupiter", "Mars", "Sol" (the Sun), "Venus", "Mercury" and "Luna
-SynergeticMaggot
---->


Several modern [[Ordo Templi Orientis]] groups regularly perform the Rites of Eleusis as written by Crowley. There is an additional "Rite of Earth" not written by Crowley which was penned by [[Lon Milo Duquette]] and others as a logical extension of the Rites to complete the sequence from Saturn (Binah) to Earth (Malkuth).


Beginning in 2000, Seattle based [http://ritesofeleusis.com/ Eleusyve Productions] has been composing original musical arrangements for each of the plays comprising ''The Rites of Eleusis''. All seven have been created and staged, with the final video, "Rite of Saturn", released in May 2020.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://ritesofeleusis.com/the-rites-saturn-release-memory-reel-volume-three/ |access-date=28 August 2023 |title=The Rites Saturn Release & Memory Reel, volume three|date=May 2020 }}</ref>


On March 7, 2008 experimental media artist [[Raymond Salvatore Harmon]] presented a three channel video performance of the ''Rites of Eleusis'' at Horse Hospital Gallery London, UK, by recontextualizing them into seven abstract films containing all of the original content as subliminal content hidden within each film.

==In print==
Rites of Eleusis: As Performed at Caxton Hall
Illustrated by Dwina Murphy-Gibb. Edited by [[Keith Richmond]]. UK: Mandrake, 1990 (limited edition of 1000 copies). Contains the complete scripts of all the rites, with intro by Richmond and explanatory essays by Richmond and Terence DuQuesne. Also includes a series of adorations, "The Treasure House of Images" by Capt [[J.F.C. Fuller]], and Crowley's "Liber O".

Crowley claimed that the Rites were designed to inspire the audience with 'religious ecstasy', and that merely reading them would help people 'cultivate their highest faculties'. The popular press thought otherwise, and considered them an immoral display, riddled with 'blasphemy and erotic suggestion.'

==Contemporary Performances==

On March 7th 2008 experimental media artist [[Raymond Salvatore Harmon]] presented a 3 channel video performance of Aleister Crowleys Rites of Eleusis at Horse Hospital Gallery London, UK. Recontextualizing Crowley's Rites into 7 abstract films containing all of the original content of Crowley's Rites of Eleusis as subliminal content hidden within each film.


==References==
==References==
Line 30: Line 23:


==Sources==
==Sources==
*Crowley, Aleister - Rites of Eleusis: As Performed at Caxton Hall''' (ISBN 1-872736-02-5)
*Crowley, Aleister - Rites of Eleusis: As Performed at Caxton Hall ({{ISBN|1-872736-02-5}})
*King, Francis - The Rise of Western Occultism
*King, Francis - The Rise of Western Occultism

==External links==
==External links==
* [http://www.rahoorkhuit.net/library/libers/lib_0850.html Full text]
* [http://www.rahoorkhuit.net/library/libers/lib_0850.html The full text of the Rites of Eleusis]

[[Category:Occult books]]
[[Category:1910 books]]


{{Thelema-stub}}
{{Thelema series}}
[[Category:1910 non-fiction books]]
[[Category:Books about magic]]
[[Category:Eleusinian Mysteries]]
[[Category:Thelemic texts]]
[[Category:Works by Aleister Crowley]]

Latest revision as of 05:59, 6 December 2024

Leila Waddell (Laylah), assistant and muse to Aleister Crowley in writing and performing the Rites

The Rites of Eleusis were a series of seven public invocations or rites written by British occultist Aleister Crowley, each centered on one of the seven classical planets of antiquity. They were dramatically performed by Aleister Crowley, Leila Waddell (Laylah), and Victor Benjamin Neuburg in October and November 1910, at Caxton Hall, London. This act brought Crowley's occult organization the A∴A∴ into the public eye.[1]

The Rites

[edit]

The names of the seven Rites are The Rite of "Saturn", "Jupiter", "Mars", "Sol", "Venus", "Mercury" and "Luna". Crowley claimed that the Rites were designed to inspire the audience with 'religious ecstasy', and that merely reading them would help people "cultivate their highest faculties". Some in the popular press thought otherwise, and considered the Rites an immoral display, riddled with 'blasphemy and erotic suggestion.' The Rite of Luna was danced by Joan Hayes also known as Ione de Forest, a lover of Victor Neuberg

In print

[edit]

Rites of Eleusis: As Performed at Caxton Hall Illustrated by Dwina Murphy-Gibb. Edited by Keith Richmond. UK: Mandrake, 1990 (limited edition of 1,000 copies). Contains the complete scripts of all the Rites, with introduction by Richmond and explanatory essays by Richmond and Terence DuQuesne. Also includes a series of adorations, The Treasure House of Images by Capt J.F.C. Fuller, and Crowley's Magick Book 4 (Liber O).

Contemporary Performances

[edit]

Several modern Ordo Templi Orientis groups regularly perform the Rites of Eleusis as written by Crowley. There is an additional "Rite of Earth" not written by Crowley which was penned by Lon Milo Duquette and others as a logical extension of the Rites to complete the sequence from Saturn (Binah) to Earth (Malkuth).

Beginning in 2000, Seattle based Eleusyve Productions has been composing original musical arrangements for each of the plays comprising The Rites of Eleusis. All seven have been created and staged, with the final video, "Rite of Saturn", released in May 2020.[2]

On March 7, 2008 experimental media artist Raymond Salvatore Harmon presented a three channel video performance of the Rites of Eleusis at Horse Hospital Gallery London, UK, by recontextualizing them into seven abstract films containing all of the original content as subliminal content hidden within each film.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ King, p.115
  2. ^ "The Rites Saturn Release & Memory Reel, volume three". May 2020. Retrieved 28 August 2023.

Sources

[edit]
  • Crowley, Aleister - Rites of Eleusis: As Performed at Caxton Hall (ISBN 1-872736-02-5)
  • King, Francis - The Rise of Western Occultism
[edit]