Noon, March 20th





On this Holy Day of Babalon Her Mercurial aspects are celebrated as the Gate of the God Ra. Her other titles on this day are the Lady of the Gate, the Guardian of the Liminal Point, and the Gate of Elyon. In the Mercurial phase, Babalon can be seen as the Gateway through which Her Father Ra, the Sun, is born again. She is the Gateway through which He rises out of His Underworld Journey. This process starts the New Year, and His life-giving heat and light give birth to the fertility of Spring within the body of Gaia, after the long winter’s slumber. Babalon, the Daughter of Ra, now becomes the Great Liberating Mother who facilitates Her own Father’s rebirth for the people living upon Gaia. This process also starts the 22 Holy Days which culminate in the High Holy Days of April 8th, 9th and 10th, a very auspicious time of celebration for Ophidian Thelemites.

Follow and perform parts 1–3 of Preparations and Prerequisites for the Holy Days of Babalon. These parts are common to all of the Holy Days. When these parts have been completed, continue with part 4, below.


Part 4 – Invocation of Mercury

Strike the Bell 8 times for Mercury.

O Mercury, quick and nimble of foot and wit!
It is you who can travel the world in the blink of an eye!
It is you who can descend unharmed through the depths!

Psychopomp, deep-traveler, healer and teacher,
You alight on winged feet, you heal with winged staff,
and you teach with winged hat.

Swift with feathered-pen and quill you write
The interpretation of spirit in symbols and words,
And there is nowhere above or below which denies your visits.

Teach us, O wise Mercury!
Lead us, far-traveled one!
And heal us, with knowledge of ourselves!
For your clever wit, and your wise glance
Keep spirits burning bright with joy.

Hidden One, Bright One, Clever One, Winged One,
You are the keeper and storehouse of knowledge
In the ancient writings, on pages within books,
In symbols upon walls, and at markers at the crossroads.

Come quick Mercury, come!
Be as a teacher and friend
To those that seek to know themselves truly,
And in sincerity appreciate your gifts.


Part 5 – Invocation of the Great Liberating Mother

Strike the bell three times for the Great Liberating Mother. Touch the Chalice, which is resting upon the Sigillum Divinorum or Sigil of Devotion, while crying out to the Great Liberating Mother Babalon. If the Rite is being performed alone, then all parts should be read by the performer. Priestess or Magician begins to say the following:

I call to Thee, Babalon
On your most Holy Day.

I call to Thee, Babalon
United in voice and heart with all of your Devotees.

I call to Thee, Babalon
From my place of Spirit, traveler between worlds!

I call to Thee, Babalon
Wise One, giver of clarity and insight.

I call to Thee, Babalon
Great Goddess of the Liminal Gateway!

I call to Thee, Babalon,
Great Liberating Mother of Transformation!

I call to Thee, Babalon,
To come and manifest here, amongst the living.


Strike the bell once while the Priestess or Magician then begins to say the following with arms upraised to the heavens:


(P/M says:)
O Lofty Babalon,
I open to your Wise Council.
Come unto me so that You may walk the Earth again.
Ride me as your stead.
Touch me, guide me, inflame me with your Clarity!

(All say:)
May You shine forth, Mighty Babalon!
May You transform this world by Light!

(P/M says:)
O Glorious Babalon,
Return to our World on this day,
And ride the desires of this Realm.
Grasp it within your Power of Transformation,
And cast it anew in your Great Vision.

(All say:)
May You rise from the Underworld, Mighty Babalon!
May You transform this world by Light!

(P/M says:)
O Fierce Babalon,
Reveal the highest light of Truth to the world,
Break all free from disillusion,
Remove from the highest eyesight that which blinds
By shining the light of Mercury upon us.

(All say:)
May You slay your enemies, Mighty Babalon!
May You transform this world by Light!

(P/M says:)
O Sublime Babalon,
Return us to the Garden of Ecstasy and Delight,
That which leads us to our own Liberation.
Free me from my fears,
And that which keeps me from my destiny.

(All say:)
May we taste of Your Ecstasy, Mighty Babalon!
May You transform this world by Light!

(P/M says:)
O Supreme Babalon,
You shine with the light of the Aeons,
Wrapped within the Voice of Silence,
And the force of Autonomy of Being,
For Your Wisdom is infinite.

(All say:)
May You burn across this land, Mighty Babalon!
May You transform this world by Light!

Part 6 – The Ecstatic Exaltation of Babalon

Now take the cup and hold it aloft to Babalon while continuing to call to Her with the Ecstatic Exaltation of Babalon. Strike the Bell once for each line which begins with “We call to Thee”. The Priestess or Magician reads each line, while the people present answer “In Nomine Babalon”.

We call to thee, Daughter of the Mighty Ones, Daughter of the Fiery One, Daughter of the Deepest Black!
All say: In Nomine Babalon!

We call to thee, Gate of Life and Death, Queen of Heaven and Hell, Lady of Lust and Desire!
All say: In Nomine Babalon!

We call to thee, Black One, Blue One, Gold One, the Woman Clothed with the Sun!
All say: In Nomine Babalon!

We call to thee, Fierce Guardian, Formidable Warrior, Everlasting King!
All say: In Nomine Babalon!

We call to thee, Shameless One, Harlot, Whore, Bearer of the Cup of Fornications!
All say: In Nomine Babalon!

We call to thee, Lady of the Star, Lady of the Snake, Lady of the Wheel!
All say: In Nomine Babalon!

We call to thee, Lady of the Gate, Lady of the Crossroads, Guardian of the Liminal Point!
All say: In Nomine Babalon!

We call to thee, Cunning One, Wise One, Clever One, Mistress of Heka!
All say: In Nomine Babalon!

We call to thee, the Mother of Prostitutes and the Abominations of the Earth, the Holy Whore!
All say: In Nomine Babalon!

We call to thee, Daughter of Fortitude, the Gate of God, the Woman Crowned with Stars!
All say: In Nomine Babalon!

We call to thee, Great Liberating Mother, Daughter of Ra, Babalon the Great!
All say: In Nomine Babalon!


Part 7 – The Communion of the Living Flame

All present now partake of the Wine and the Cakes, with each one saying at the Communion: I am a living flame unto Babalon. When all have finished partaking of the Communion, strike the bell seven times. The Priestess or Magician then says aloud, with arms upraised:

O My Babalon,
Inflame me with the Fire of Your Future.
Inflame me with the Lust of Your Presence.
Release us from those things which bind us,
And which keep us from your presence,
So that we may join you on this day,
Flesh to flesh, Spirit to Spirit.

Rise, Babalon, Rise!
Walk the Earth and reclaim it as it is Your Own.
Destroy the obstacles of fear and shame and guilt,
And all who seek to stop you.
Let all now succumb to the Wisdom of the Snake of Light,
As it rises within us, in Love under Will.

All say:
In Nomine Babalon et Vox Sanctae Meretricis

All may now meditate before Her Altar to receive and record any impressions or communications as they may come to you.