THE INVOCATION OF LILITH
A Rite of Dark Sexuality

Background:

Lilith is the mythological first wife of Adam. She, like Adam, was created by God "from the dust of the earth. . . in the image of God He created them, male and female He created them" (Gen. 1:27) being the first reference to human life in the Bible. It would seem that Eve came later, fashioned from a rib taken from Adam while he slept : ". . . this is to be called Woman, for this was taken from Man". (Gen. 2:24) This strange anomaly can only be explained by assuming that there was a female human before Eve. Since only Eve is subsequently present in the Garden of Eden, her predecessor must have departed before Eve's arrival on the scene. One can only assume that Lilith's near total absence (aside from oblique references to "screech owls") from the Judeo/Christian Bible is a matter of prejudice on the part of the male patriarchal authors.

Semitic legend describes Lilith as having a "base" nature and a taste for biting Adam and drinking his blood. She had refused to submit to Adam's authority (and a preference for being "on top"), and in a fit of pique, she uttered the ineffable name of God and flew up into the air, only to be cast down by God into the desert wastes where she took up residence. (The only mention of Lilith by name in the standard Christian Bible is in Isaiah, where a passing reference is made about her living in the desert.) Lilith is described as either a winged serpent or a screech owl (or a anthropomorphic combination thereof) who murders infants (it would appear from the perspective of modern medicine that infants who succumbed to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome <SID> would have been thought to have been victims of Lilith), and who torments men at night who sleep alone -- the original succubus.

In modern mythology Lilith has become a symbol to many feminists of the independent woman, who refuses to submit to the control of men. While this is certainly an aspect of her egregore, there is a strong sexual component to Lilith's nature that must also be recognized. She is more than just an "uppity woman", she is the power of primal lust in female form. And also, she is Death, and this cannot be ignored when working with her magically.

Various other Lilith legends:

- Lilith is called the Isheth Zenunim (Woman of Harlotry) in Jewish folk literature, and lives inside mirrors to seduce the vanity of young girls.

- Some Biblical scholars relate her to the female form of the arch-demon Leviathan, and the "Great Whore of Babylon" in Revelation.

- In the Qabalah, Lilith is associated with the Qlippothic Shell of Nehemoth, the antithesis of the Sphere of Malkuth on the Tree of Life. Malkuth/Nehemoth is the "Kingdom" of the Earth in Assiah, or the Material Plane. This is co-incides with the legends of the Zohar, where Lilith is bound to the Earth eternally, free of the curse of Death but unable to transcend to the higher realms.

- The Hebrew prophet Nahum describes the armies of Assyria as being led by Lilith: "The horsemen lifteth up both the bright sword and the glittering spear: and there is a multitude of slain, and a great number of carcasses; and there is no end of their corpses; they stumble upon their corpses: because of the multitude of the whoredoms of the well-favored harlot [i.e. "lilitu" or Lilith], the mistress of witchcrafts, that selleth nations through her whoredoms, and families through her witchcrafts". [Nahum 3:1-4]

- She returned to Eden in the guise of the Serpent, who tempted Eve with the Fruit of the Tree of Knowledge. This was a recurring image in Christian art of the Middle Ages, where the serpent is depicted with the head of a woman.

- Lilith was once the consort of Sameal (Lucifer) in Hell, but she proved to be too much even for the Prince of Darkness to handle, who eventually banished her back to the desert.

- As the first vampire, who came to Cain after he was banished by God for the murder of Abel and together they begot the curse of vampirism on the world.

- She coupled with the Djinns (Jinn or genies) in the desert, and so was the breeder of the "Lilum", or the earth-bound demons -- hundreds(!) every day, according to legend.

- In Teutonic legends, Lilith is often associated to the fire, as she has been described as a beautiful creature from head to navel, but as a 'burning fire' from naval to toe.

- Lilith was the war goddess who destroyed Job's sons in the desert, and freed the animals they had captured. (Lilith loves all animals, as she has since she ruled in Eden, for their feral wildness and their pure innocence.)

- Some say that Lilith ruled as Queen of Sheba, and again in Zmargad; and appeared before Solomon's throne disguised as a harlot from Jerusalem. Suspecting who she was, Solomon tricked her into exposing her owl's-feet -- he had the floor of his throne room covered with clear glass, giving it the appearence of water, so Lilith had to lift her skirts when she entered.

All this is possible because though Lilith was human, she escaped the curse of death which overtook Adam, since they had parted long before the Fall.

*WARNING*

Lilith is a primal egregore of the dark anima. She is unfettered sexual dominance and power. This invocation should not be attempted by those with little background in ceremonial magic, nor by those who harbor unresolved psychological problems related to sexuality.

Events must be allowed to transpire as they will. The participants must be willing to submit to the sexual dominance of the Main Operator invoking Lilith. The rite is more effective if the participants know and trust the Main Operator (and each other) beforehand. Some people find sexual submission difficult and uncomfortable (but then they may be the ones with the most to gain from participating.) Anyone fearful of the possible psychological effects of this rite would do well not to participate in it in the first place. It is not for the timid.

If blood is to be drawn, or sexual activities ensue, all precautions pertaining to the prevention of diseases borne by blood or sexual fluids should properly be observed.

With these caveats, all discretion pertaining to these matters is left to the participants. The authors assume no responsibility for the irresponsibility of the participants in performance of this rite.

You have been warned.

Materials:

- Black, and/or purple candles
- Musk incense
- A silver chalice
- A scourging whip ("cat-o-nine-tails" type)
- Black cape, preferable satin (for Main Operator)
- Red wine
- A (sterile) scalpel or x-acto knife (to draw blood)
- A fairly decent music playback system, and an ominous, sexual musical selection. (Diamanda Galas, "Deliver Me From My Enemies", This Mortal Coil, "Filigree and Shadow", Coil, "Horse Rotovator", or even Ravel's "Bolero" are excellent choices, but this is left up to the participants.)

Preparation:

Lilith is the primal feminine aspect of dark sexuality. For that reason, it is the opinion of the authors that invocation is more likely to succeed if the Main Operator is female. This is not to deny the possibility of success with a male M.O., but he must be able to contact his primal feminine nature strongly enough to succeed at invoking she who is the most fundamental of all feminine daemons. The participants may be either male or female or a mixture of both in any proportion.

One participant is designated the Secondary Operator (S.O.), and it is recommended that s/he perform the initial banishing. The S.O. should be experienced in magical ritual work, as s/he is responsible for the calling forth and final banishing of the egregore of Lilith at the end of the rite.

The applications of this rite vary considerably. Lilith is both a goddess of sensuality and of death, and the interface between the two.

Since it is a combined Lunar/Saturnine working, it may be approached as a ritual rehearsal of death (where, as in Tibetan Chod rites, the egregore is summoned to destroy the summoner), or used as psychodrama to confront the participant's sexual fears and transcend them. As presented here, it is a ritual of liberation and is also used to bring forth a Word Of Power from the egregore for subsequent use by the participants; therefore the Statement of Intent reflects this purpose. The Statement should be tailored to properly express the intentions of a particular working.

The ritual should be performed at night, preferably during the Black (New) Moon. A conjuction of Luna and Saturn would be especially effective. One could also consult astrological sources for information on the legendary "Invisible Moon" called Lilith, and arrange for a time when the astrological aspects are condusive to the intention of the work.

The Rite:

0. Large black candles are arranged in a circle around the temple space and lit, as is copious quantities of incense. The room should be thick with smoke.

1. Banish by LBRP, GPR, Star Ruby or other procedure as desired. A strong, well-executed banishing is recommended.

2. The Main Operator, naked beneath the black cape, takes position in the middle of the circle. She holds the scourge in her right hand. Other participants sit in a circle around the M.O. The music begins.

3. The Statement of Intent is declared by the M.O. and echoed by all participants:

"It is our Will to invoke the egregore of Lilith, so that by her spirit we are liberated from the fear of Sex and Death and obtain her Word Of Power!"

4. The following passage (see notes) is recited by the M.O. to invoke the persona of Lilith into her body and mind:

"I am the daughter of Fortitude and ravished every hour from my youth. For behold, I am Understanding, and science dwelleth in me; and the heavens oppress me. They covet and desire me with infinite appetite; for none that are earthly have embraced me, for I am shadowed with the Circle of the Stars, and covered with the morning clouds. My feet are swifter than the winds, and my hands are sweeter than the morning dew. My garments are from the beginning, and my dwelling place is in myself. The Lion knoweth not where I walk, neither do the beasts of the field understand me. I am deflowered, yet a virgin; I sanctify and am not sanctified. Happy is he that embraceth me: for in the night season I am sweet, and in the day full of pleasure. My company is a harmony of many symbols, and my lips sweeter than health itself. I am a harlot for such as ravish me, and a virgin with such as know me not. Purge your streets, O ye sons of men, and wash your houses clean; make yourselves holy, and put on righteousness. Cast out your old strumpets, and burn their clothes and then I will bring forth children unto you and they shall be the Sons of Comfort in the Age that is to come."

5. The participants then begin chanting the mantra of Lilith. As they chant, the Main Operator must sink into a deep gnostic trance and invoke the spirit of Lilith into her body.

"Flesh she will eat, blood she will drink!" (repeat)

6. As the chant continues, one participant (the Secondary Operator) recites the following:

"Dark is she, but brilliant! Black are her wings, black on black! Her lips are red as rose, kissing all of the Universe! She is Lilith, who leadeth forth the hordes of the Abyss, and leadeth man to liberation! She is the irresistible fulfiller of all lust, seer of desire. First of all women was she - Lilith, not Eve was the first! Her hand brings forth the revolution of the Will and true freedom of the mind! She is KI-SI-KIL-LIL-LA-KE, Queen of the Magic Circle! Look on her in lust and despair!"

7. The participants begin to chant "Lilith! Lilith! Lilith!" repeatedly as the M.O. invokes the Lilithian egregore. One by one they pass around the scalpel and cut their left thumb and anoint their foreheads with blood. They then pass around the chalice (which is filled with red wine) and touch it to their foreheads one by one. (Note: The original conception of this rite called for a drop of blood to also be placed by each participant into the wine. In our opinion, this increases the power of the invocation considerably. But the participants must gauge the health risk posed (however slight) by this procedure for themselves and act accordingly.) After all have done so, it is taken to the M.O. who drains it in a single draught. This is the climax of the invocation.

8. If the invocation is successful, all participants should feel the emotions of simultaneous fear, lust and the urge to submit. Forced over-breathing or another variation of Death Posture should be used to deepen each participant's level of gnosis until they come close to fainting. As they are overcome by these emotions, they should fall to the ground and prostrate themselves before Lilith.

9. What proceeds next is not specified, but left up to the will of the egregore. She may choose to scourge the participants, or mock them or entice them or seduce them. She may command them to commit various acts of lust upon her or each other. All participants must submit to her will, whatever it may be - it would be dangerous in the extreme to do otherwise; do not risk the wrath of Lilith!

10. Eventually the energy of the group will begin to wane. At this point, the S.O. will rise and face the M.O. and recite the following in a commanding voice:

"Black Moon, Lilith, sister darkest,
Whose hands form the hellish mire,
At my weakest, at my strongest,
Molding me as clay from fire.

Black Moon, Lilith, Mare of Night,
You cast your litter to the ground
Speak the Name and take to flight
Utter now the secret sound!"

11. The M.O. from within the depths of the Lilith-trance, will call out a "name", as the legendary Lilith did call out the unutterable name of God to rise up from Eden into the heavens. It is not known in advance what this word will be, but it will most certainly be a Word of Power to be used subsequently by the participants in further magickal work.

12. If all has been done properly, the spirit of Lilith will flee the M.O. at the calling of the Name, and she will likely fall to the ground, spent. If not, the S.O. must repeat the above command with greater force until the spirit of Lilith departs. The S.O. should then draw an upright pentagram over the M.O., a full facial lustration of cold water is administered to her, and she is called forth by her ordinary name until she responds.

13. The temple is banished and closed.

Notes:

The invocation spoken by the M.O. is the text of a message delivered by an unidentified spirit entity to Sir Edward Kelly in 1592 during a scrying ritual. Kelly, along with Dr. John Dee (Queen Elizabeth's Royal Astrologer), originated the Enochian system of magic. The vision of this entity so frightened Kelly that he abandoned the working of magic from that day forward. Though Kelly never identified the entity, in our opinion it represented the Lilith egregore.

The "Dark is she, but brilliant..." invocation is a translation (from German) of a section of "Lilith-Ritus" by Soror Hachel. The calling forth of Lilith is adapted from "The Hymn to Hecate" by Frater U:.D:.

References:

The Book of Lilith, by Barbara Black-Kultov
Lilith: Goddess of the Dark Moon, by Lois Daton
Secrets of the German Sex Magicians, by Frater U:.D:.
The Enochian Invocations of Dr. John Dee, by Geoffrey James
A Dictionary of Angels, by Gustav Davidson
The Black Madonna, by Fred Gustavson

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