THE THANATEROS RITE

A Lunar-Saturnine Rite of Illumination

The ritual consists of a statement of intent, followed by three litanies, each of which is followed by an invocation. The ritual may be spoken aloud by one or more of the participants or played as a sound recording. The other participants visualize figures during each litany. During each invocation participants hyperventilate and visualise the approach of and interaction with the figures, ending with various loud cries.

The ritual is usually performed standing with the eyes closed and gesticulations may be performed at will. Participants are encouraged to reach gnostic levels of emotional release and to make heartfelt noise towards, and particularly at the culmination of, each invocation.

The participants visualisations and cries are as follows:

EROS

A lover, real or imagined

Orgasmic Moan

THANATOS

Robed skeleton with scythe

Scream of Death - Terror

CHAOS

Both of the above

Some Bizarre Combination of Both of the Above, followed by ecstatic laughter.

THE THANATEROS RITE

Statement of Intent:

It is our will to experience Chaos through the ritual rehearsal of Sex and Death

Litany I

WHEN EROS MOVES IN US

WE ARE MOST INTENSELY OURSELVES

BUT AS EROS FINALLY TAKES US

THE SELF IS ECLIPSED, DESTROYED

IN ORGASM THE SELF IS LOST

CHAOS REMINDS US WITH A JOKE

THAT WE ARE NOTHING

SEX IS THE CAUSE OF DEATH

WE ARE DIVIDED FOR LOVES SAKE

THAT LIFE MIGHT EXIST

FOR A PRICE THAT SOME MAY FIND FEARFULL

THINK YOU TO SURVIVE DEATH?

HA! THE PART OF YOU THAT THINKS THAT

BARELY HAS LIFE BEFORE DEATH

Invocation I

SO COME EROS, WE INVOKE THEE

YOU WHO CREATED US

IN THE CHAOTIC CONJUNCTION

OF GENETIC ROULETTE

COME CREATE US ANEW

AND KILL US AGAIN

OUR LOVERS APPROACH

OUR BREATHING QUICKENS

AS THEY COME CLOSER

OUR BREATHING QUICKENS

AS WE ARE CLASPED TOGETHER

OUR BREATHING QUICKENS

WE BEGIN TO GHASP

WE ARE READY TO SURRENDER

THREE, TWO, ONE

(CRY OF CLIMAX)

Litany II

WHEN CONTEMPLATING DEATH

WE FEAR FOR LOSS OF SELF

YET WHEN STARING DEATH IN THE FACE

THE INTENSITY OF SELF IS OVERWHELMING

IN THAT MOMENT WE REALLY LIVE

CHAOS REMINDS US WITH A JOKE

THAT WE ARE EVERYTHING

DEATH IS THE PRICE OF SEX

WE ARE ASSEMBLED FOR LOVES SAKE

THAT LIFE MIGHT EVOLVE

THE BENEFIT THAT WE ACCEPT GLADLY

THINK YOU TO REINCARNATE?

HA! THE PART THAT WILL DO SO

HAS BARELY INCARNATED YET!

Invocation II

SO COME THANATOS, WE INVOKE THEE

WE ACCEPT YOUR BARGAIN

COME KILL US AGAIN

AND CREATE US ANEW

OUR NEMESIS APPROACHES

GRINNING SKULL AND UPRAISED SCYTHE

OUR BREATHING QUICKENS

CLOSER IT COMES AND CLOSER

OUR BREATHING QUICKENS

DEATH STARES US IN THE FACE

OUR BREATHING QUICKENS

UPRAISED TERRIBLE SCYTHE

OUR BREATHING QUICKENS

WE BEGIN TO GASP

WHEN IT FALLS, WE SHALL DIE

THREE, TWO, ONE

(CRY OF DEATH-TERROR)

Litany III

WHEN CHAOS MOVES IN US

WE WONDER WHO WE ARE

BUT WHEN WE ARE CHAOS

THE BUBBLE OF SELF IS BROKEN

AND EXPLODES INTO INFINITY

WHILST IMPLODING INTO ITSELF

IN CHAOS WE ARE BOTH JOKES

NOUGHT EQUALS TWO

AND TWO EQUALS NOUGHT

NOTHING IS THE CAUSE OF EXISTANCE

EXISTENCE IS THE PRICE OF LAUGHTER

LAUGHTER IN CREATION

AND LAUGHTER IN DESTRUCTION

LAUGHTER IS THE REWARD OF EXISTANCE

THINK YOU ANYTHING AT ALL?

HA! CHAOS IS TICKLING MATTER AGAIN

AND YOUR EXPERIENCE OF SELF IS THEIR FOREPLAY

Invocation III

SO COME CHAOS, WE INVOKE THEE

EROS, THANTOS, COME, APPROACH US

COME SEX AND DEATH

BEAUTIFUL AND TERRIBLE

OUR BREATHING QUICKENS

AS TWO FIGURES APPROACH

EXQUISITE LOVER, GRINNING CORPSE

OUR BREATHING QUICKS

AS WE CLASP OUR LOVERS

OUR BREATHING QUICKENS

AT THE RISING SCYTHE

OUR BREATHING QUICKENS

MOANS ESCAPE OUR THROATS

A CRY BEGINS TO WELL UP IN US

AS THE SCYTHE IS READIED

AND THE PASSION PEAKS

THREE, TWO, ONE

(?)!

(Followed by ecstatic laughter)