Queen Maria Satanica || Mary of the Black Cathedral/Mass || “Bloody Mary”
Patroness of:
Sin – most any traditional form of sin, though she’s particular
fond of the “unforgivable” ones, Strife, Discord, Necromancy/Nigromancy – and the
Dead and Damned, in general, the Dark Arts, Revenge, Sorcery, Divination, Domination
– of men, in particular, War – for it is she who is the Great, Marciless
Warrioress, Malediction, Sickness/Illness – mental illness and insanity are her
specialty, Cannibalism, Poison, Transformation/Shapeshifting, Sex – loves a
good orgy, Sacrifice, Entheogens and Poisons, Demons/Shades, Most any diabolic
works or motivations ;; She is power – the embodiment of primal, female energy –
and hellfire runs through her veins, flows through fingers, and burns behind
her eyes. She is Queen of Hell, Consort (and Mother) to the Devil (as Lucifer,
the Destroyer)
– the diabolic equal of Mother Mary, the Virgin: there must forever be balance.
Call upon her for works of:
Power, Sexual Wiles, Temptation, Lust,
Dominion, Knowledge of all things Diabolical/Nigromantic/Malicious, Raising the
Dead, the Evocation/Invocation/Conjuration of Demons/Shades, any works call for
Lucifer, the Destroyer – their powers are strongest when combined, Curing (or
inflicting) Disease/Illness, Lessons in working Herbs, Roots, Poisons – as well
as Astral Projection and Trance work, though Possession will most assuredly be
required.
Symbols:
The Slain Dove, Jimsonweed Flowers & the Devil’s Fork
Roads/Paths/Aspects:
Maria Satanica, Queen of Hell: the most powerful and volatile manifestation, it is she who
Destroys, whose force and will is unmatched, she who hold the Fork of the
Devil, and impales all those who dare cross her or her attendants. For works
involving demons or shades of all types, it is she who presides above all.
Queen of the Dead: the aspect most knowledgeable in regards to necromancy, she who works in
the Graveyard, with the Dead and the spirits, shades and demons therein. She is
also the one most suited to heal or inflict illness – the one who imparts
medicine and poison.
Queen of the Night: The most sexually charged and alluring aspect, that of the Whore – who
is blatant in her indecency, who revels in her lechery – but she is also the
most human and understanding of the aspects, the one who is forgiving, the one
who does not judge, but offers comfort instead
Queen of the Crossroads: The Witch – the one who houses endless knowledge of the Black Arts –
her justice is swift. It is she who keeps the recipes and rituals, who knows
the arcane ways. She is the Sorceress, the Witch, the Priestess – she is the
one who reads the bones and walks the planes, who takes the guise of any
creature on which she has lain her eyes. It is she who keeps the sold souls,
bartered at the Crossroads, forever bound to do her bidding.
Ideal locations for Worship and Workings:
Always worked at Night; Crossroads – “X” and “T”, places
of Death, Disease and Despair – Battlefields, Hospitals, places of Massacre,
Murder, etc., Caves/Tunnels, Graveyards/Sepulchres/Mausoleums – especially Catholic
cemeteries which feature Mary statues at the foot of the crucified Jesus, Thick
Woodlands/Wetlands, Brothels, Crematoriums, Deserted Roads or Building –
especially desolate, nature-reclaimed Churches, any Subterranean place – including
basements/cellars.
Offerings, including but not limited to:
Animals Sacrifices (or
blood of) – lamb/goat, black hen, dove*, snake; Poisonous flowers – Jimsonweed,
in particular, rotted/spoiled meat, bladed weapons – though tridents, lances
and spears are also accepted, hot-pepper infused rum, red wine mixed with vinegar,
thorny brambles or red roses, Sinner’s Dirt/Dirt of the Damned – the grave dust
from the grave a particularly nasty person (murderers, rapists, etc.), statues
of Mother Mary that have been defiled with blood, graveyard dirt and brimstone.
Takes black or red candles
“Prayer”:
“Maria Satanica – Queen of Hell: Purveyor
of Damnation, Consort
of The Devil, Mistress
of the Diabolica; She
who drove the spear – Into
the Heart of God, Who
lapped at the blood Of
Christ – upon his Cross, And
smiled; Who
rules the infernal nethers, And who
creeps – like the serpent – Up
the spine and into the mind; Mistress Mary – Queen of the Dead, Harlot
of the Boneyard, Who
digs a hand into the grave, And
raises the bones of the Forgotten;
Mistress Mary – Queen of the Crossroads, Who knows the ancients ways – Who barters yet – for stolen souls And bestows to (wo)man, Her mysteries,
Mistress Mary – Queen of Night, Whose
kiss is that of poison, Rise
from the depths – and settle, Now,
upon the Mortal Plane; The
flesh is yours, The
blood is yours, The
choice is yours.
Symbol(s):
Seal of Maria
Satanica – used to evoke her
presence; offerings should be left on the seal
Fork/Tridents of
Mistress Mary – used for invocations
when marked upon the body; can also be used to incorporate her energy into
works or as a way of solidifying the evocation of like-entities (i.e. Lucifer, the Destroyer or some manifestations
of The Devil)
I suppose you could call it a sort of vision – a cinematic work of the hypnagogic mind – that I have thus recorded in verse.
Black earth shifts – ashen phantoms Rise from obsidian soil, volcanic and crystalline A great salt sea foams at earth’s edge Frozen in chemical coitus, And the heavens blaze over-head – crimson A bloody sky dotted with flint and rock-hewn daggers She walks – bare of flesh and clear of mind Upon the unforgiving glass and atop the mirror Surface of the steady sea; Pale skin blinding Painted with onyx hair and wild eyes She turns: Casting a black shadow That is born from her anew Sharpened nails pluck gently at her own reflection And from the water – fresh – She draws the silhouette birthed It wails not – but hums As its simple visage of obstructed light Vibrates into form at but the motion Of her ghostly hand – Into her ear it whispers – And unravels into the sky, Black ribbons eclipsing the boiling atmos And so she remains – reclining now on Naked soil, watched by those who Watch Three tall figured, obscured – Draped in the fabric of time Around her leaps the sparks of power Altered in their form to bleed flame The fire twists in to a ring and arcs around her being She is standing – though no air displaced And they Watch The ribbons of the sky buckle, But behind, the star-clad sky, And the shrinking form of her creation Takes shape there at her side, The Black One comes, lit by witches’ flame Her shadow born to shape – to space, She molds him thusly in darkness, And placed the moon to light her sight, She gives her shape more substance, But yet – he is lacking – and so she whispers sweetly And smiles; as they who Watch are torn asunder In their robes her Shadow wrapped – But yet – he is lacking; And so she gives him great horns So that they might shoulder her own knowledge Which she bestows unto him sweetly In the act of a symphony – And she leaves him – great of form, To heft the Witch’s Knowledge, Adorned with a crown of horns By which he rules the legions born From her mind and painted thusly Upon the canvas of space; But the Heaven’s called gently – And her cosmic lover came hence, Serpents black and white, The lady-lovers coiled tight until naught remained, but – Silence and the Devil – Within the Witch’s Flame.
Standard
The Witches’ Baptism
Or – perhaps more fittingly – the Witches’ Rites of
Renunciation are meant to sever the religious ties of your own personal past.
This is done (I have found) for two distinct reasons: to shed the preconceptions
forced by organized religion, including both the doctrines and the antithetic
notion of hierarchal power in regards to Enlightenment, and as a symbol of
rebirth. Much like a baptism! Only in this instance, the sin you wash away is
the sin of religious indoctrination, hypocrisy and the very human realities
that accompany the notion of “church.” It is meant to be a freeing exercise –
one that cleanses all the malformed ideologies imbued on you throughout your
earlier life. Of course, that is easier said than done and no one ritual can
truly clear the slate completely, but it serves as a formal boundary between
the past and the future – a future in which you must relearn your understanding
of the world at large. One in which the answers presented are not set in stone,
but fluid – from which you must come to your own conclusions, test your own
theories and tessellate the scattered mythos and ideas into a cohesive faith –
you own faith, reliant wholly on none other than yourself.
That is The Witches’ Baptism, and this is one example of how
it may be performed:
Ideally, the rite should be done at a Crossroad
(of whichever type speaks to you the most) as it is a transformative ritual! Bring
with you whatever you need to light a fire in your preferred method – such as
wood for a classic bonfire, Sacred Fire to light in a bowl/cauldron/vessel, or
alcohol – which can be poured in a circle (note: isopropyl alcohol isn’t fond
of the cold or wind, so either plan according to weather or bring a backup
solution).
On site, when you are emotionally prepared, build your fire.
Depending on your chosen medium, your window of opportunity will differ greatly
(the above are listed from greatest to least burn-time), so factor this in as
well. For those of you who thoroughly enjoy taking your time, I recommend
building a true fire.
The following part should be personalized to fit your taste,
as how you wish to release the past is up to you. You can do it simply, by
speaking out loud that you rebuke the religion of your youth/past (traditionally,
this is done by rebuking the Holy Spirit of Christianity – the unforgivable
blasphemy – so as to free oneself from its vice-grip, though the renunciation
can extend to any religion [or even no religion]). As an example:
I, [name], child of [father’s name] and [mother’s name], Reared in the faith of [“Our Lord,” “Yahweh,” “Allah,” etc.]
– rebuke these laws; No longer am I bound by tomes or cathedral walls, Nor do I kneel at the altar of man – But I walk the crooked path – proud, For I was born in the Earth – In the Heart of the Tempest; And so I have become; From whence I came – so I return.
A few other options consist of writing these things out – in
as long-winded or concise a manner as you wish (these can even be written days
in advance) – or burning a symbol of the past. The flames are freeing – allow them
to be.
Purge these broken things from the mind and heart, and cast
them symbolically into the consuming fire of creation and destruction. It is
these things that stand as obstacle – let them be cleansed from you. And when
the time has come, when these things have been expressed and used as kindling
(carefully) leap the fire (and try not to wear any hairspray!). Then you are
free.
Upon the other side, you may douse the fire, allow it to
burn out, or use this time to connect with another Spirit or Deity (I said you were free, not that you had to stay free!), Nature at large, or even
with yourself – whichever is most befitting your chosen path. Theoretically,
this could be done by an Abrahamic witch if only to cleanse the effects of church
indoctrination – for those who wish to follow the gospels/tomes in a unique or
personal way.
And for those who wish to follow the Traditional Witch path
(the “origin” of the Witches’ Baptism), this would be the perfect instance to Evoke
the Devil!
photo source //
“Baptism of fire: Girls leap over flames as part of ancient cleansing ceremony held on the birthday of John the Baptist,” DailyMail
I’ll call this “traditional” because it’s merely one of many ways to meet the same end. There
are some methods more popular than others, but this is my method – a method not
so set in stone, I might add. Adaptions are always welcome, this is but a
guide. As I’m sure you all well know (and this is mostly for those who don’t) –
The Devil is not synonymous with the Christian Satan or the Muslim Shayṭān, but
rather an archaic being pre-dating the Christian conquest of Europe. He exists
in many forms, under many names – but serves much the same purpose: a force of
Enlightenment. He is the Keeper of the Arcane, whisperer of Mysteries, the
Intercessor but do not fall under the notion that He is wholly benevolent (nor
wholly malevolent) for, so too, is he the Trickster, The Fool and the Hanged
Man. In these capacities, he can be likened to Hermes/Mercury, the Lwa Legba, and
Exu – Keeper of Wisdoms, but ones that
must be earned. You will be Tested – and he will decide if you are worthy of
His knowledge.
To Evoke The Devil:
Go forth to a Crossroads at the edge of town – the more
secluded and forested, the better – near midnight or when the moon is New. Take
with you the blood of a chicken or horned animal, two black candles tied into an
“X,” anointing oil, a crown woven of (young, malleable) oak or hickory – as well
as a staff or limb of the same, and an accelerant of your choosing (I always
used 91% isopropyl alcohol as it burns clean – however, it’s temperamental in
colder weather). Optionally, bring pemba
or chalk if your crossroads lacks any dirt to draw in.
When you feel the time is upon you, mark in the dirt with
your finger or a stray branch, the symbol of the crossroads (the + in a circle,
in this instance). Adorn your head with the crown, place the candle(s) at the center
of the circle (at the cross) and with the staff/limb, knock the ground in the
sequence of: knock … knock-knock …
knock-knock-knock – Take the blood and drizzle around the circle in a
counterclockwise fashion. Light the two candles and anoint your brow with the
oil. Sit before the circle on your knees and bow in the traditional manner
(sitting on your heels with your arms stretched out before you and your
forehead just off the ground) – ball your fists and knock in the same fashion
as above – asking the Devil to come forth. Repeat three times.
Return to your upright position and wait patiently until
there is a change in the air or His presence is revealed. Beseech him in
whispers – be not commanding, but receptive – and allow His behavior to
influence your own. For instance, if he is stern and stoic, be solemn. But if
his behavior is relaxed, exuberant and playful – feel free to be so. I’ve only
ever experienced the latter. The Devil comes as jubilant and child-like to me,
teasing and joking – but I know this isn’t the case for all. Most importantly,
be genuine and be respecting. Crossroads beings always have a way of seeing
through any farce you attempt to construct – so save yourself and them some
time by being open and honest to begin with. They are knowing – don’t
underestimate them.
This is but the building of the bridge. Do not yet ask for
anything, merely introduce yourself and note what it is that you wish to receive
from this relationship and how you might honor the knowledge imbued on you.
When the communion is done – remove the crown from your head
and place it in the circle. Drizzle it with anointing oil and the accelerant,
and set it alight with the candles. Extinguish the candles and lay them in the
flaming wreath.
Take three steps back from the circle, and whisper the words
“DIABOLUS – LIBERA ME,” turn away and
do not look back – as is customary with all crossroads rituals.
Prepare, for you will be tested in some way or another –
knowingly or not.
Pictured is Hermes: “
So-called “Hermes Ingenui” after the inscription on the pedestal indicating the name of the sculptor or of the donator. Hermes wears his usual attributes: kerykeion (or herald’s staff), kithara, petasus (round hat), traveller’s cloak and winged temples. Marble, Roman copy of the 2nd century BC after a Greek original of the 5th century BC.”
The Qedavian Apocrypha 