Black Moon Ritual, Conquering the Shadows, 
 written by Sor.: Zauberkraut

[ed. note-- While this ritual is much more CM than what I prefer,
the usefulness of confronting those things that scare you cannot
be overstressed, something which terrifies you has power over you.
Healthy caution is a good thing.  I do not think unreasoning fear
is --Amythyst]

Dealing with ones fears and socalled shadows is essential to the
aspiring magician. Only through continously facing and conquering
our shadows can we put ourselves truly in charge of our lives.
Being in touch with, and realistic about "the dark night of the
soul" is also a tool against the most dangerous, and common,
sickness of the magician: megalomania and paranoia.

It appears that the majority of humans in this society go through
life in a moderately depressed state. It seems that people avoid
major mood changes, preferring to be more or less miserable at all
times. One who does not know the deep pit of fear and depression
will also never know the high altitudes of ecstasy.

This ritual is designed to get people in touch with their shadows
and to overcome them. Our fears and depressions are in fact our
demons and shadows. For the individuals who refuse to deal with
them they become ever more treacherous and powerful. To quote
Fra.: U.D.: "If you lock the demons in the basement they are going
to blow up your house!"

Paraphernalia:
Black altar cloth, one black candle, tarot card XVIII (The Moon),
Hecate or Moon/Pluto incense, tapes with appropriate music
(Diamanda Galas "The Saint of the Pit" and Laibach "Life is Life),
white votive candles in glass containers, one for each
participant, to be used to cast out unwanted shadows.  Structure:

-Banishing ritual of personal preference.

-Statement of intent: "It is our will to face and overcome our
shadows".

-Five minutes of guided pranayama during which the instrumental
portion of the Diamanda Galas is played. The Magister Templi
guides the pranayama by raising and lowering his or her hands over
the altar in time with the breathing. He or she should begin to
slow the breathing down gradually in order to allow all of the
participants to tune in and breath simultaneously.

-At the end of the instrumental portion of the tape participants
form a circle facing outwards, for we must conquer our shadows by
ourselves. Here a guided meditation follows while the music
continues:

Remember a time in your life when you were truly miserable, you
have become terribly depressed, you feel you have no value, your
love has betrayed you, life is pain.

You begin to feel very weak now, all your will power is gone and
you are frightened. Your knees are shaking, no strength, no hope,
nothing can help you now.

Lie down on the floor, curling up in an embryonic position, you
are alone, nobody is present to help you, all of your friends have
left, your parents have long since departed. You have nothing any
more, terrified you lay there.

This is the dark night of the soul, you are completely obsessed by
pain, insanity, depression. You begin to go insane with misery as
the shadows around you begin to cackle with delight. There is
naught you can do in the paralyzing anxiety. There is absolutely
nobody there to assist you. All that remains is total
surrender.....

(All of this litany should have been read in a slow enough fashion
to allow the participants to trance out and the tape to end.
During the rest of the meditation the M.T. moves about lighting
the candles one by one.)

Yet in darkness there is light! Feel the life force retuming to
you.  Feel your heartbeat strong and vigorous, fill your lungs
with air, roll onto your back and stretch. Stretch your body as
though it were recently awakened from a long deep sleep. Stretch
with your arms, legs, back and neck. You are attempting to touch
the universe, open your senses and your eyes as wide as they
possibly can be. Get up and take your candle from the altar,
passing it over your body. Cast out all that is not strong,
healthy, vibrant and whole. Tune in completely with the light and
allow it to heal you. Take your time allowing its rays to permeate
your being, cleansing every aspect.  Make certain there is nothing
left that is not light, bright and strong.

When you are ready, replace the candle upon the altar in the
middle of the temple. (At this point place the Laibach tape in the
player if you desire.)

-All partcipants hold hands and move rhythmically around the
altar, ever faster, drawing the combined life force within.

-At the climax of the circumambulation collapse to the floor
whilst performing a laughter banishing.

-Closing banishing of preference if desired.

                                     -oOo-