Liber Stellæ Rubeæ
sub figurâ LXVI
A Secret Ritual of Apep, the Heart of IAO-OAI, Delivered unto V.V.V.V.V. for His Use in a Certain Matter of Liber Legis, and Written Down under the Figure
LXVI
A∴A∴ Publication in Class A
1. | Apep deifieth Asar. |
2. | Let excellent virgins evoke rejoicing, son of Night! |
3. | This is the book of the most secret cult of the Ruby Star. It shall be given to none, save to the shameless in deed as in word. |
4. | No man shall understand this writing— it is too subtle for the sons of men. |
5. | If the Ruby Star have shed its blood upon thee; if in the season of the moon thou hast invoked by the Iod and the Pe, then mayest thou partake of this most secret sacrament. |
6. | One shall instruct another, with no care for the matters of men’s thought. |
7. | There shall be a fair altar in the midst, extended upon a black stone. |
8. | At the head of the altar gold, and twin images in green of the Master. |
9. | In the midst a cup of green wine. |
10. | At the foot the Star of Ruby. |
11. | The altar shall be entirely bare. |
12. | First, the ritual of the Flaming Star. |
13. | Next, the ritual of the Seal. |
14. | Next, the infernal adorations of OAI.
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15. | Also thou shalt excite the wheels with the five wounds and the five wounds. |
16. | Then thou shalt excite the wheels with the two and the third in the midst; even ♄ and ♃, ☉ and ☽, ♂ and ♀, and ☿. |
17. | Then the five— and the sixth. |
18. | Also the altar shall fume before the master with incense that hath no smoke. |
19. | That which is to be denied shall be denied; that which is to be trampled shall be trampled; that which is to be spat upon shall be spat upon. |
20. | These things shall be burnt in the outer fire. |
21. | Then again the master shall speak as he will soft words, and with music and what else he will bring forward the Victim. |
22. | Also he shall slay a young child upon the altar, and the blood shall cover the altar with perfume as of roses. |
23. | Then shall the master appear as He should appear— in His glory. |
24. | He shall stretch himself upon the altar, and awake it into life, and into death. |
25. | (For so we conceal that life which is beyond.) |
26. | The temple shall be darkened, save for the fire and the lamp of the altar. |
27. | There shall he kindle a great fire and a devouring. |
28. | Also he shall smite the altar with his scourge, and blood shall flow therefrom. |
29. | Also he shall have made roses bloom thereon. |
30. | In the end he shall offer up the Vast Sacrifice, at the moment when the God licks up the flame upon the altar. |
31. | All these things shalt thou perform strictly, observing the time. |
32. | And the Beloved shall abide with Thee. |
33. | Thou shalt not disclose the interior world of this rite unto any one: therefore have I written it in symbols that cannot be understood. |
34. | I who reveal the ritual am IAO and OAI; the Right and the Averse. |
35. | These are alike unto me. |
36. | Now the Veil of this operation is called Shame, and the Glory abideth within. |
37. | Thou shalt comfort the heart of the secret stone with the warm blood. Thou shalt make a subtle decoction of delight, and the Watchers shall drink thereof. |
38. | I, Apep the Serpent, am the heart of IAO. Isis shall await Asar, and I in the midst. |
39. | Also the Priestess shall seek another altar, and perform my ceremonies thereon. |
40. | There shall be no hymn nor dithyramb in my praise and the praise of the rite, seeing that it is utterly beyond. |
41. | Thou shalt assure thyself of the stability of the altar. |
42. | In this rite thou shalt be alone. |
43. | I will give thee another ceremony whereby many shall rejoice. |
44. | Before all let the Oath be taken firmly as thou raisest up the altar from the black earth. |
45. | In the words that Thou knowest. |
46. | For I also swear unto thee by my body and soul that shall never be parted in sunder that I dwell within thee coiled and ready to spring. |
47. | I will give thee the kingdoms of the earth, O thou Who hast mastered the kingdoms of the East and of the West. |
48. | I am Apep, O thou slain One. Thou shalt slay thyself upon mine altar: I will have thy blood to drink. |
49. | For I am a mighty vampire, and my children shall suck up the wine of the earth which is blood. |
50. | Thou shalt replenish thy veins from the chalice of heaven. |
51. | Thou shalt be secret, a fear to the world. |
52. | Thou shalt be exalted, and none shall see thee; exalted, and none shall suspect thee. |
53. | For there are two glories diverse, and thou who hast won the first shalt enjoy the second. |
54. | I leap with joy within thee; my head is arisen to strike. |
55. | O the lust, the sheer rapture, of the life of the snake in the spine! |
56. | Mightier than God or man, I am in them, and pervade them. |
57. | Follow out these my words. |
58. | Fear
nothing. |
59. | For I am nothing, and me thou shalt fear, O my virgin, my prophet within whose bowels I rejoice. |
60. | Thou shalt fear with the fear of love: I will overcome thee. |
61. | Thou shalt be very nigh to death. |
62. | But I will overcome thee; the New Life shall illumine thee with the Light that is beyond the Stars. |
63. | Thinkest thou? I, the force that have created all, am not to be despised. |
64. | And I will slay thee in my lust. |
65. | Thou shalt scream with the joy and the pain and the fear and the love— so that the ΛΟΓΟΣ of a new God leaps out among the Stars. |
66. | There shall be no sound heard but this thy lion-roar of rapture; yea, this thy lion-roar of rapture. |