BARBELITH underground
 

Subcultural engagement for the 21st Century...
Barbelith is a new kind of community (find out more)...
You can login or register.


Underground > Temple >

Discordian Ritual

  
  

Page: (1)2

 
 
saintmae
11:33 / 07.02.07
I'm new here, so please be kind if I haven't fully acclimatized.

I run Discordian.com, and do Discordian ritual. Sometimes this ritual is more general but done in Discordian groups (I run a Discordian convention every year; some of the rituals have been sort of general ritual lite for people who aren't super occulty), and sometimes it is ritual using a Discordian paradigm (we did a greyface banishing for example).

Anyone else here doing ritual using the Discordian paradigm? I've been reading through old threads here on Discordianism, and I understand that a lot of people here haven't seen much new and exciting coming out of Discordianism in a while. I'm doing my best to do new and interesting things with Eris (cuz she likes it like that), but even I haven't met all that many other esoteric Discordians.

About half the Discordians I've met are atheists and agnostics and get into Discordianism for the philosophy and in-jokes, so it's no surprise that the occultism isn't exactly overflowing. Still, I think there's some interesting Discordian ritual and magic(k) to be made and shared, and I'd love to hear any stories you might share here.

One of my favorite Discordian rituals that I did was several years ago at PantheaCon, a large pagan convention. It was a public ritual open to anyone at the con, so it was more introspective and less magical in purpose. We did a ritual greyface banishing, specifically to try to banish the part of ourselves that takes things too seriously and inflexibly. I did a pagan-y element invocation using modern implements (lighter, leatherman, etc.) and then two people narrated different greyface stories: hipster irony greyface who never manages to enjoy anything for real, and ritually correct greyface who declares ritual useless unless exactly the right shade of blue was used for the robes. Then they invoked these greyfaces, and we divided the ritual participants in half, and each half was tasked with making their respective greyfaces laugh as a method of banishment. When the greyfaces finally laughed, we popped large balloons to signify the popping of the overinflated ego that leads to this. Then I gave people ritual bubblewrap (soo pleased with myself on this one!) with the suggestion that they can do this themselves when they notice an awfully grey tinge to their own skin.

The best in Discordian ritual that I've done (I haven't been to anyone else's, just the ones I've done) seems to be somewhat light on actual magic(k) since so many Discordians aren't heavy occultists, but still personally transformative. I like using kind of silly methods to belie serious purpose, a sort of slipping in of intent behind the conscious objecting mind.

Anyways, I'd love to hear other people's perspectives on this.
 
 
DRR... DRR... DRR...
(prev. Mordant)
11:56 / 07.02.07
Sounds like a solid ritual. I presume that since the greyfaces represented patterns of behaviour you'd identified in yourselves and wanted to get rid of, it would be fairly easy to quantify the results. What did you do beforehand to help you identify those elements of your personalities? Did you feel your banishing was a success--ie. did you find you were freed from those behaviours and the inflated egos that created them?
 
 
DRR... DRR... DRR...
(prev. Mordant)
12:04 / 07.02.07
PS: you could make a fortune out of ritual bubble-wrap...
 
 
saintmae
12:34 / 07.02.07
This will be my fourth year doing Discordian ritual at PantheaCon. Every year, I've worked with one specific friend (and often several others, but one constant presence). He and I planned the greyface banishment, the first one we'd done there. These were not so much our particular vices as they were vices rampant in the greater community that I know attends the event we did the ritual at (though they are personal demons of a minor variety at times).

I think the ritual helped the three of us who worked on that ritual personally, and I've heard from a few others that it did something good for them too. I think I'm getting something of a reputation for being, as one person put it, awfully serious for a Discordian. I've had a few raised eyebrows when it's clear that the rituals I've done are not just about shouting "wibble! wibble! wibble!" or whatever (there's a place for that too, but I guess I see that as already getting a ton of play elsewhere). I'm ok with that, though. I think Discordianism as a paradigm has some awesome potential to work with, and so be it if I'm a semi-serious chaote in Discordian clothing.

You know, I totally should market ritual bubblewrap. It ought to get at least as much sales as those awful joke-shop "old fart pills" that people give as gag gifts. The package design is the real key to marketing success there. *grinponder*
 
 
Quantum - terribly nonplussed
(prev. Quantum of Solace)
12:58 / 07.02.07
Print a sigil or symbol on each little bubble to represent troubles and worries or beneficial effects, when you pop 'em they activate. Sell with an explanatory pamphlet of the symbols and how to charge them (things like "Tzaddi teaches us about the dismantling of fixed ideas and attitudes through revelation and unveiling, disclosure, and discovery. Pop it for inspiration or to break bad habits!") and then tithe ten percent of your profits to me and Mordant. For prosperity you understand.

Call it Pop Magic!
 
 
EmberLeo
01:01 / 08.02.07
*blinks* PantheaCon.... Discordian.com... saintmae...

Oh! Hey you! Fancy meeting you here...

--Ember--
 
 
saintmae
01:55 / 08.02.07
Heh, nice to see you too. :}
 
 
DRR... DRR... DRR...
(prev. Mordant)
02:09 / 08.02.07
I think what I like best about that ritual (apart from the fact that IT WAS WITH BALOONS, which is very groovy) was that you were specifically focused on getting rid of the greyface within. I come across a fair bit of theoretical ritual online which deals with battling those stupid greyfaces, freaking teh mundanes, and popping inflated egos without ever demonstrating that the magician has even momentarily considered the possibility that hir own face might be less than polychromatic or hir own ego in need of deflation.

It also sounds like a nice simple ritual that anyone could benefit from without having to know much about Discordianism or magic in general.
 
 
squib
03:53 / 08.02.07
that's really a clever exorcism. well done.

out of curiosity, have there been any ritual of (perhaps trepidatious) welcome for Disnomia of which you are aware?

i really like the number five.
 
 
Princess Augustine the Hippo
(prev. Prayerful Princess Petulant)
11:21 / 08.02.07
I'd imagine not. At least not any classical ones. The children of Eris weren't what you would call popular.
 
 
Princess Augustine the Hippo
(prev. Prayerful Princess Petulant)
21:00 / 10.02.07
Right. This thread has given me the proverbial kick in the arse. I should be doing ritual, I should be sorting stuff out.
So, first thing is that I need to sort out my relationship with Eris. I mean, my experience with her hasn't been the sugar-coated unicorn I was led to expect. I've actually come to worry about her slightly. Like, maybe inviting "Strife" to play a part is ridiculously stupid. I'm finding it hard to work out just who it is I am dealing with. Is she Chaos, is she Strife, is she something else entirely? And am I even talking to her, what is the actual noise to signal ratio in my dialogue with her? I want to clarify the nature of my relationship with her and ask for help dealing wth the ongoing hostage situation in my brain. It really feels like mental illness would come under her dominion, right?

To that end, I tried having a brief conversational with She-Who-Must-Be-Namedropped-23-Fnord-etc. It was strange, different ideas I'd been having about my pratice all came together in this one spontaneous ritual and I ended up "receiving" my instructions. I was going to post them up here, but they ended up looking stretched and thin when I typed them. Personal story public, I'm off to perform a small offering/communion for Eris and in return I should end up with some answers.

Thanks St. Mae for starting the thread.
 
 
Princess Augustine the Hippo
(prev. Prayerful Princess Petulant)
01:09 / 11.02.07
Well, just done that.
Theres something really satisfying about burning things isn't there? I mean, the smell of burnt offerings, so primal.

Also, the swans came to watch. They seemed unimpressed.
 
 
saintmae
01:59 / 11.02.07
Oh, very cool. I look forward to hearing about what you've done.

When I was deciding about whether to start this post, I searched this board for Discordianism and Eris and read a couple of old threads relating to Her. One point that was made was asking whether the Eris Discordians are praying to is the classical Eris of strife, or some modern different version of her. I've been thinking about that ever since.

Every time I think I might be done with this incarnation of public spirituality, I go back and realize just how much I like esoteric Discordians (not so fond of the wibble wibble type, but in my experience almost no one who is really into Discordianism is like that, only the people who think it's a funny in-joke and nothing more). It's not so much that I'm attached to the myth system, though I like it, as that I'm attached to Discordian cultural values. (!!Hah.) I like people who value reality hacking, sex, humor, philosophy, metaprogramming, magic(k), political discussion, irreverence.

In that vein, the Eris I pray to becomes a focus for these values - not so much strife in the most dangerous sense (though there is danger there too) as the Tower card style breaking of illusions, chapel perilous sort of experiences that are difficult and can cause people to react violently but can also cause good personal transformations. A lot of deities have dark sides, and Eris is no different, but their worshipers venerate their good sides. I like to think that I venerate a deity of paradox and transformation, and I most enjoy the positive aspects of those traits but must acknowledge that these have their difficult and painful sides too.
 
 
#
08:07 / 11.02.07
I've found the freshest ontological terrorists in Discordia to be emanating from HIMEOBS platforms PD and POEE.

And it's not remotely traditional ritual BS either. It's an atheist/agnostic approach that doesn't intend to reach a similar place though very much ending up there. Only moreso.

These motherfuckers are rewriting the PD to make it relevant while the toolsheds regurgitate same OMG23LOLPINEAL they ate for breakfast. Check out the dada-kabbalist savagery of the BIP if you don't believe me. Just don't ask me to undo what they'll do to your head.


You can't jump high enough, you can't dig deep enough.
 
 
Princess Augustine the Hippo
(prev. Prayerful Princess Petulant)
13:29 / 11.02.07
"traditional ritual BS "

Dude, a little mutual respect?

As of yet, receiving not much. Had some dreams, none of which seemed loud and pingy. Contents included.

  • Sex with a woman
  • Some kind of job?
  • Stuff.

    Most of it's gone now, but as I dreamt it, I knew it wasn't what I was waiting for.
    		•  
     
    DRR... DRR... DRR...
    (prev. Mordant)
    15:06 / 11.02.07
    I've found the freshest ontological terrorists in Discordia to be emanating from HIMEOBS platforms PD and POEE.

    *Bites back snarky comment about Bob icons and 1988 Batman quotes*

    Sorry, cynical git attack. I'll have a proper look around the PD boards later. Meantime, Netaungrot, maybe you could link to some threads you found especially tasty? Hook us all up with some of the good stuffs?

    (POEE, meanwhile, seems to have blocked my IP. My fame runs before me, MOJOJOJOJO.)
    		 
     
    Princess Augustine the Hippo
    (prev. Prayerful Princess Petulant)
    16:18 / 11.02.07
    Ancient Greeks and Eris is a thread from PD which I rocks fairy hard. More of the stuff that's been mentioned in the Barb. Apart from the Ishtar mention, it all seems pretty well researched.

    Although I'm not any form of scholar, so if it was all some subte mindfuck I'd have no way of knowing.
    		 
     
    saintmae
    13:22 / 12.02.07
    Interesting, re the PD boards. I've spent a little time over there and so far haven't been really impressed (I don't think I managed to get the hang of the in-jokes, seems like there's sort of a barrier to relevance), but I'll check it out again.
    		 
     
    Princess Augustine the Hippo
    (prev. Prayerful Princess Petulant)
    14:15 / 12.02.07
    Ok. Message has come through. Behold the magical wisdom of playing cards:

    JC KD 9D
    5H JS 4S
    10C 7H KC

    Row 123: Take control of your finances and you can expect financial change. Get a goddamn job hippy.(Sounds obvious, but I think I needed to hear it)

    Row 456: You are healthy now, but take this as a warning, you are getting into bad habits with food/excercise/sleep.

    Row 789: You feel like life is a constant struggle, you get some respite from friends but feel a disconnect with them. You are not going to cure this feeling but you will learn to deal with it's prescence.

    Row 139: Stop comparing youreslf to the "perfect body", it wouldn't make you happy. Get comfortable with who you already are.

    Row 258: You are going to have to support yourself financially as no-one else will.

    Row 369:If change comes it won't matter unless you start to stop your habitual decadence. Take a job, become master of your circumstances rather than a victim of them. Try to get some power over how you get money.

    Row 147: Do not, repeat, not turn towards sex work. A working boy might become a damaged boy at the hands of a man with money.

    Row 358: Financial problems can be overcome with hard work. You know, and have known for a while, that you really, really, really need to sort your shit out and start to get a bit of financial power.

    No Queens in the spread, no mention or reference to deities or the mind or anything like that. I'd say that it wasn't the message I was looking for, but I was so sure.
    But, as I look at it, I think the message is pretty clear. The situation is full of clubs and spades, I really need to sort my shit out. If I want to be working with Eris maybe I should meet the challenges I'm set rather than just letting them accumulate. The situation as it stands shows me losing all control, not in a constructive way, but in a really crappy way. The message from Eris is just to take some control of my life and try and change in a constructive way.

    Worryingly, if even my maladaptive coping mechanism is telling me to go out and act like a grown-up, I think I might have to listen. Off to the town to find some job vacancies. I'll tell you all how it goes.
    		 
     
    #
    13:55 / 02.03.07
    Doing a ritual that doesn't mock "popular paganisms of the day" or superstition in general, at least in some capacity, somehow doesn't seem appropriate to Discordia.


    Eris would fucking anybody.


    Has anyone here even read the Principia?

    Was chaos mahadgjeeeks ever about snapping out of dogmatic bullshit?
    		 
     
    EmberLeo
    14:07 / 02.03.07
    Has anyone here even read the Principia?

    I have, though it's been long enough I've forgotten it.

    I'd be downright shocked if StMae hasn't.

    --Ember--
    		 
     
    Jenna Elfman's Hollywood Haus
    (prev. West Baltimore Hausing Project)
    14:12 / 02.03.07
    Not only have I read it, I adhere to its every dictate religiously.
    		 
     
    Quantum - terribly nonplussed
    (prev. Quantum of Solace)
    16:00 / 02.03.07
    It's true. Haus is the living reincarnation of Malaclypse the Younger, and can often be seen on the Tottenham Court road shattering the reality tunnels of passers by by shouting 'FNORD!' at them and waggling his bottom. Ontological terrorism at it's finest, yeehaw.
    		 
     
    DRR... DRR... DRR...
    (prev. Mordant)
    16:33 / 02.03.07
    Along with Matrix Warrior, it's all I ever read.
    		 
     
    Quantum - terribly nonplussed
    (prev. Quantum of Solace)
    16:35 / 02.03.07
    Mordant, that's a lie- I've seen you reading the Illuminatus trilogy as well.
    		 
     
    electric monk
    16:46 / 02.03.07
    Has anyone here even read the Principia?

    Will you ever engage usefully with this forum and it's members?
    		 
     
    electric monk
    16:48 / 02.03.07
    Doing a ritual that doesn't mock "popular paganisms of the day" or superstition in general, at least in some capacity, somehow doesn't seem appropriate to Discordia.

    I've gotta say, it's a pretty piss-poor belief system that has to rely mockery of other belief systems to prove it's credentials. Weak weak weak.
    		 
     
    electric monk
    16:56 / 02.03.07
    Which is not to knock Discorida in general, y'unnerstan'. I'm quite enjoying saintmae's contributions here and I'm glad to have hir aboard. 'grot? Hmmm, that's another kettle of fnord entirely.
    		 
     
    #
    17:04 / 02.03.07
    Interesting, re the PD boards. I've spent a little time over there and so far haven't been really impressed (I don't think I managed to get the hang of the in-jokes, seems like there's sort of a barrier to relevance), but I'll check it out again.

    Rule of fives anybody?


    I spent a long time over here and haven't been regularly astounded.

    Yet here I am.

    Decaying these holy threads.
    		 
     
    #
    17:13 / 02.03.07
    I've gotta say, it's a pretty piss-poor belief system that has to rely mockery of other belief systems to prove it's credentials. Weak weak weak.

    ...

    Which is not to knock Discorida in general, y'unnerstan'.

    LMAO
    		 
     
    electric monk
    17:49 / 02.03.07
    So you're a REAL Discordian then. With street cred and all that. Ooh congrats.

    I spent a long time over here and haven't been regularly astounded.

    Yet here I am.

    Decaying these holy threads.

    Then GO! Fly like the wind before we disappoint once more!
    		 
     
    #
    18:11 / 02.03.07
    Clearly I'm a fake discordian...


    Way to frame the conversation towards ad hominems, real useful chap.
    		 
     
    Quantum - terribly nonplussed
    (prev. Quantum of Solace)
    18:14 / 02.03.07
    What's your take on the rule of fives, netaungrot?
    		 
     
    electric monk
    18:35 / 02.03.07
    No, not fake, N. Just severely narrow-minded, IME. If you'd bother to take a look around, you'd realize that there are a whole host of magical folk here working in a variety of trads AND that they benefit from those practices in a variety of ways. But no, you don't, and so we all have to deal with thoughtless comments such as "traditional ritual BS". It just doesn't fly here, son. Nobody's impressed and I, personally, haven't found any of your posts in this thread useful at all. I'm led to believe that there are a few different strains of thought regarding Discordia, and I know which one I'd like to hear more about. And it's not yours.

    So tell us again about how we're not regularly bending your brain at weird angles. Act smug about it. Then show us what a tough soldier you are by sticking around anyway.
    		 
     
    #
    18:35 / 02.03.07
    What's your take on the rule of fives, netaungrot?

    It's the simple and easily forgotten idea that we see connections where we want to.


    Psychology's confirmation bias, if you will.
    		 
      

    Page: (1)2

    		 
      
    Add Your Reply