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Confirmation is the rite that confers formal Lay membership in E.G.C., which is
usually performed just after the Gnostic Mass. Within this rite, the individual
confirms that it is her True Will to join the church as a Soldier of Thelema
and is anointed as a Servant of Ra Hoor Khuit. The recitation of the Creed from
memory shows that she has learned the essential tenets of the church and that she
is willing to be an active participant in our spiritual community. The Church
accepts the new member as a Thelemite, one of its own, a rightful claimant to the
heirship, communion and benediction of the Saints. The cuff on the cheek represents
an awakening to the reality of Thelema and all its implications, as well as to the
life-consciousness of puberty.
As in the rite of baptism, no duty or obligation is laid on the new member
regarding the Church or any individual. However, with confirmation the individual
is specifically charged with serving the Law of Thelema and Ra Hoor Khuit. The
manifestation of this duty is strictly determined by the individual’s understanding
of their true will, and is not subject to any other authority. Although there is no
other charge, it is hoped that the new Lay member will continue to study the Creed
and the Gnostic Mass, as well as other Thelemic holy books—most especially The Book
of the Law.
The public ceremony of confirmation may be administered by any Priest or
Priestess of E.G.C. under the direct or indirect supervision of a Bishop
or Auxiliary Bishop. The person confirmed must have previously been
baptized, must have reached the age of puberty, must have committed the
Creed to memory, and need not be an Initiate member of O.T.O. Confirmation
confers Lay Membership in E.G.C. A public celebration of the Gnostic Mass
should be offered as part of the confirmation rite, at which only the Priest
and the persons confirmed partake of communion. Confirmation rites used
within E.G.C. must be approved in advance by the Primate or the Patriarch.
The ceremony of confirmation is mentioned in the final paragraphs of Liber XV.
Confirmation represents the first conscious manifestation of the True Will.
The recitation of the Creed by the confirmand represents a statement that active
participation in the Church and belief in its tenets is in conformity with the
confirmand's own True Will. The Church accepts the confirmand as a Thelemite,
one of its own, a rightful claimant to the heirship, communion and benediction
of the Saints. The cheirotonia conveys the sacramental bond that joins the
confirmand's consciousness with the egregore of the Church. The cuff on the
cheek represents an awakening to the reality of Thelema and all its implications,
as well as to the life-consciousness of puberty. (Note that the Greek word
egrêgora means, roughly, "it has awakened.")
Taking your Confirmation confers formal Lay membership in E.G.C. The individual
confirms that it is his or her True Will to join the church as a "Soldier of
Thelema" and is anointed as a "Servant of Ra Hoor Khuit". By reciting the
"Creed" from memory, the confirmand shows that he or she has learned the
essential tenets of the church and that he or she is willing to be an active
participant in our spiritual community. The Church accepts the new member as a
Thelemite, one of its own, a rightful claimant to the heirship, communion and
benediction of the Saints. The cuff on the cheek represents an awakening to the
reality of Thelema and all its implications, as well as to the life-consciousness
of puberty.
As in the rite of baptism, no duty or obligation is laid on the new member
regarding the Church or any individual. However, with confirmation the individual
is specifically charged with serving the Law of Thelema and Ra Hoor Khuit.
The manifestation of this duty is strictly determined by the individual's
understanding of their true will, and is not subject to any other authority.
Although there is no other charge, it is hoped that the new Lay member will
continue to study the Creed and the Gnostic Mass, as well as other Thelemic holy
books-most especially "The Book of the Law".
If a member is interested in seeking confirmation in EGC they must be Baptized,
have a Plain White Robe, One Sponsors who is also a confirmed member of the Church
and must be prepared to recite the Creed from memory. If you are interested,
please contact the EGC coordinator for Sacred Serpent Sanctuary by writing to:
egc@sevenspirits.org and she will provide you with a form to fill out. This
must be submitted for a date to be assigned for your ceremony.
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