Ch.10 Drawing Down the Moon (WMB 10.d)

Extract from: Wicca: Magical Beginnings written by d’Este & Rankine, 2008 (Avalonia.) PB / Kindle @ https://amzn.to/3Ay4HJr.

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The assumption of god-forms was also practised by the Golden Dawn in the late nineteenth century, who saw it as the deity literally “stepping into” the body of the magician. The Golden Dawn emphasised the assumption of Egyptian deity god-forms, as being appropriately sharp images of deities with clearly defined roles. They also emphasised being ‘clothed with the god-form’ during initiation ceremonies, so there would be a genuine divine contact for the aspirant, ensuring the most profound effects in the initiation. This use of divine contact is subsequently seen in a similar manner in the Wiccan tradition with Drawing Down the Moon always being performed in initiation ceremonies.

In his instructional masterpiece Liber O, Crowley gave more concise instructions for assuming god-forms based on those he had learned in the Golden Dawn.[1] Considering the influence Crowley’s material had on the ceremony of Drawing Down the Moon, it is possible that his instructions may also have had an influence.

Having looked at the antecedents, we shall now examine the origins of the ceremony used in the Wiccan tradition, attributed to the Book of Shadows. We shall look at the components of the ceremony in turn to provide the clearest view of the origins of the respective components. The Charge of the Goddess, which is usually considered in direct conjunction with Drawing Down, will be considered separately in the next chapter Adore the Spirit of Me.

[1] Liber O, Magick, Crowley, 1929

Extract from: Wicca: Magical Beginnings written by d’Este & Rankine, 2008 (Avalonia.) PB / Kindle @ https://amzn.to/3Ay4HJr. Shared here with the intention to inspire and inform the now and future generations interested in Wicca and other Pagan traditions inspired by it.