Ritual Chalice – Mother Nature’s Cup of Spiritual Sustenance
A chalice is a specially dedicated vessel, used in ritual to ingest a ritual libation. When used to imbibe specific magical alchemical formulations, the ritual chalice becomes a sacred cup of renewal out of which the sacred life-transforming and life-sustaining ritual libation is drunk.
The chalice is well known in magical history for its association with the holy grail. The holy grail is symbolic of wisdom and the search for the truth within. The chalice is found widely in tarot symbolism, representing the element of water, which corresponds to the emotional nature and emotional body. In general symbolic terms, the chalice acts as a ‘container’ of the emotional body – keeping the inner waters steady and enabling clear vision through the stillness of the emotional waters.
THE MAGICIAN AND THE CHALICE
In the tarot key No 1 The Magician, the magician can be seen standing in front of his altar with his tools placed carefully in front of him.
Upon his altar are the pentacle representing the earth element and the direction of north, the sword representing the air element and the direction of east, the wand representing the fire element and the direction of south and the chalice representing the water element and the direction of west.
In Eighth Ray ritual, the chalice represents the element of water and the direction of west. The element of water is connected to the emotional body and is directly involved with the ability to control, contain and direct the emotions for a predetermined magical outcome.
MOTHER NATURE’S CUP
From an Eighth Ray perspective, the chalice is Mother Nature’s magical cup and the libation it contains is the ‘light power’, the sacred soma or sacred initiatory drink that is the inexhaustible spiritual sustenance provided by the creation Goddess herself in her form as Isis-Urania.
From an alchemical perspective drinking the ritual libation is to ‘follow the way of the grail’. The grail is symbolic of the heart and the libation is the regenerative power of light that creates the magical and all powerful Lapis Elixis. This Latin name means a small inconspicuous stone and it is a specific reference to the fabled jewel that is the Philosopher’s Stone.
Ritually drinking a ritual libation from your ritual chalice magically represents the divine light entering your being. Ritually drinking the alchemical libation from the ritual chalice is to consciously and energetically align yourself to the spiritualising powers of light as opposed to the forces of materiality. As such the ritual chalice is the sacred cup of initiation out of which the sacred life transforming and sustaining libation is drunk.
SELECTING A CHALICE
Ideally, your chalice is used solely for Eighth Ray rituals and stays on your altar, in the western quadrant. You can choose any suitable vessel for your chalice as long as it is watertight and stable. Natural materials, such as glass, wood, metal or ceramics are preferable to manmade materials such as plastic. Your chalice, over time, will become a familiar, essential and trusted ritual item that will develop and accumulate energy of its own alongside your own work as an Eighth Ray ritual magician.
Check out the specially designed and blessed Eighth Ray ritual chalice from my collection here
PREPARING YOUR CHALICE FOR EIGHTH RAY RITUAL WORK
There is a very simple Eighth Ray ritual that you can undertake to purify, consecrate and dedicate your chalice for ritual work.
You will need:
- A chalice that you have selected to use specifically for Eighth Ray rituals
- Porta Alchémica® Holy Water or holy water of your choice
- Porta Alchémica® Water Holy Smoke Ritual Incense
- Porta Alchémica® Water Elemental Anointing Oil
Step 1
Begin by making your statement of intent. Hold your chalice in both hands and speak your statement of intent directly to it. This statement of intent can be spoken out loud and outlines the overall objective to be achieved from working with the chalice. Say:
“I work as an eighth ray ritual magician with this chalice to purpose good in my world, to purpose good in the world to purpose good in the greater universe.”
Step 2
To purify your chalice sprinkle or gently sponge with Porta Alchémica® holy water or pure spring or artesian water and say as you do so:
“With the power of this holy water I purify this chalice for sacred magical purpose.”
Step 3
To consecrate your chalice pass it through smoke from Porta Alchémica® Water ritual incense or incense of your choice and say as you do so:
“With the power of the holy fire of life I consecrate this chalice for sacred magical purpose.”
Step 4
To dedicate your chalice use Porta Alchémica® Water elemental anointing oil or oil of your choice and with your right index finger draw the symbol for the element water on the chalice and say as you do so:
“With the power of this ritual gesture I dedicate this chalice for sacred magical purpose.” “Purifactio, consecratio, dedicatio.”
Step 5
To activate your chalice for magical purpose blow on it three times and then say:
“The breath of life activates and vitalises this chalice for sacred magical purpose.”
Then say decisively and forcefully:
“It is done!”
Once your chalice has been purified, consecrated, dedicated and activated to sacred magical purpose and placed on the west side of your altar you can start to formally work ritually with it. Ideally no one else should be allowed to touch it.
Discover more powerful ways of working with your ritual to ‘purpose good’ in your life, in the world and in the greater universe in my book Eighth Ray Magic The Magic of the Goddess – The Magic of Co-Creation.
I would love to hear from you, please share your comments and experiences below.
L.V.X.
Light in Extension
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