Ritual Ritual by BA Magazine Journalism and Publishing

Issue 1/1, Winter 2018 Issue 1/1, Winter 2018 Issue 1/1, Winter 2018 Issue 1/1, Winter 2018

Issue 1/1, Winter 2018

Ritual Ritual

Editor’s Note

It’s human nature

to create rituals: we have been doing it for centuries. Many exist within a religious and cultural context, others are more personal, but whether celebrated by the masses or by a singular being, they have power to shift perspectives, bring joy and consolation. With a subject so diverse, fascinating and essential, we felt our understanding of rituals didn’t even scratch the surface. We felt that we were probably not alone in our ignorance of rituals beyond the sphere of our own lives, and we knew we were definitely not alone in our fascination and desire to learn more. It was this that spurred us to make Ritual; we thought that, whilst we went on our journey of discovery, that others might like to come too. When making this magazine we tried to get as involved as possible, from standing out in the cold London woodlands, speaking to relatives about how they dealt with unusual voices in their head, attending Hindu weddings and working with charities we have made it our mission to bring you an array interesting rituals. Some rituals in this issue are more known than others, the idea is that it will inspire you to go out and experience them for yourself. Within this issue we wanted our creative flair to run throughout, reinterpreting, exploring and portraying interesting human behavior and creations. If you have an interest in human nature, then by extension you have an interest in rituals, in all their colour and glory, and we hope this issue gives you just a taste of the wide, wide world of rituals and what they have to offer! Enjoy, The Rituals Team

CONTRIBUTORS

e, Isabella Co l l o mir f f de W Al 4

tt Knights, T arle a m Sc a y

ezia Chia r c u rle ,L ,K n o s u at

, on

n, Blake C l o c in rei L J gh it s t r

Content

6 Samhain Ritual

14 Mum and Molybdancy

My Tarots & Me

OCD

16 Match made in Heaven: Hindu Weddings

Samhain A century old pagan ritual in the depths of Londonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s woodlands

“You must bless your ancestors - for without them you would not be.” The sound of shuffling autumn leaves under our feet calms the short journey through the forest. Guided by distant chants and flickering lights through the trees we are greeted by the ‘ferryman’. He receives us with gratitude as his bellowing excitement spills out through the words of “we have a special ritual for you all this evening”. With the smell of burning sage filling the crisp evening air, the group of thirty of us are led to form a circle around the fire as a woman in a white dress hands each of us twigs and leaves. Samhain is a pagan ritual which ushers in the dark half of the year. It is a Pagan festival that is responsible for Halloween following its reinterpretation by others along with the spread of society over the centuries. This specific group of neo-pagans who orgainsed this meetup in Queen’s Wood London run pagan rituals and meetups all year round. They adapt their rituals so that anyone can join in and take something out of the ritual.

someone who holds the belief that witches, wiccas and the dark lord are but myths and tales. The evening’s Samhain ritual consisted of three witches reading out modern day adaptions of Pagan scriptures, which were a combination of relatable philosophical and personal anecdotes. We paid our respects to Fire, Wind, Water and Earth and became present within our surroundings whilst acknowledging silence. We sung traditional pagan songs around the fire and lastly, summoned the dark lord. The leaves in the distance begin to scuffle as the high priest summoned the dark lord. Appearing in the circle, a man dressed in a long black coat and concealing his face behind a white mask, the dark lord slowly and softly trod the inside perimeter of the circle, where at the same time he looked through and into each one of us. His soft whispers gradually grow louder into a yell that rung through the trees, reciting ‘You must bless your ancestors - for without them you would not be’, over and over whilst walking around in the circle, throwing himself on the ground and pounding trees. Once the dark lord’s energy subsided he called for us to drink and dance to our ancestors, before collapsing on the ground.

As I softly placed my twigs and leaves that the high priest running the ritual said represents my guilts, regrets and sorrows into the fire, the flames flickered green and blue. A connection was made. It was not an overwhelming moment, nor did I feel like the newly formed person as the high priest suggested, rather I became psychically present in the ritual and in myself.

A tusk full of red wine made its way around the circle and with the sound of the wind passing through the trees, distant traffic, the occasional dog bark & firework explosion, we each payed our respects to our ancestors. As the red wine touched my lips after paying respects to my grandparents, whom all have passed, I felt closer to them.

As the ritual continued, two women went around the circle blessing us all. One rubbed salt water on everyone’s forehead and the other blessed us with a burning cauldron of sage, ushering us into the rest of the ritual. Having never been to a pagan ritual nor having much of an understanding of paganism, the hour and a quarter ritual was compelling, even for

As I placed my hands down on the damp earth following the final song sung around the fire, all the small acts within the Samhain ritual made me acknowledge aspects of my life which otherwise become fluttering thoughts and feelings. Words by Blake Creighton Illustations by Lucrezia Chiarle

My Tarot & Me I get my tarot cards read every couple of weeks, and it isn’t by some all-seeing mystic but by my housemate, Maddie. My last reading was done in her room, in bed (she refused to get out as she was ill), surrounded by the clutter of herw life - although she did light candles, for “ambience’. “I’m really sorry but there might be quite a lot of coughing during this reading,” Maddie says as she spreads out my cards, “but make sure you concetrate because you’ve had a bit of a rough week and hopefully this will help.”

“People are lonely and angry. Tarot helps them to cope with insecurity in these difficult times.”.

When people think of tarot card readings what normally springs to mind is the cliché of a dimly lit room shrouded in the smog of burning incense, crystal balls and a wild eyed medium clad in scarves pulling cards and predicting far-fetched divinations. It does not have to be like that. Like many clichés it is a simplification, for despite the concept that tarot card readings are an occult art reserved for the mystic, they can have a more down to earth resonance for us all: it is less about hocus-pocus predictions than it is about the self-analysis, reassurance and understanding that the cards and their meanings facilitate. The experience of having the cards read by a friend who knows the back story of your life allows you to open up and discuss honestly the feelings and events mirrored in the cards. But even if you and the reader are strangers, the mysticism and energy that is attached to tarot card readings creates a unique trust between you, the intimacy of the reading melting away formalities that normally hinder personal conversations – it’s like going to a therapist, but much more exciting. I’m not alone in this shift in perspective; in recent years the art of tarot card reading has seen a spike in popularity, both in purchasing cards and having them read,with sales of tarot cards increasing by 30% in 2017,with sales of tarot

cards increasing by 30% in 2017, according to the editorial and communications director for U.S Games Systems, Lynn Araujo. Michelle Chaso, a tarot card reader for over 20 years, told the Guardian that tarot card reading has, “become just as mainstream as seeing a therapist”, and the art has found particular resonance in millennials due to the stress of an increasingly competitive job market, technology and the pressures of social media. Chaso elaborates that, “Questions often relate to difficulty finding love, challenges with loneliness, internet dating, getting on the property ladder and the pressures of career and work life balances.” Another significant shift causing people to turn to tarot cards is the chaotic political landscape the world finds itself in. In particular concerns for Brexit and the increased alienation people feel with events such as the election of Trump, and growing popularity of far right and groups as well as the rise of racism and misogyny, has caused people to turn to the practice. Karen Vogel, founder of Motherpeace Tarots, whose tarot cards designs where featured on the dresses of Dior’s 2016 show, told BBC news, “People are lonely and angry. Tarot helps them to cope with insecurity in these difficult times.”. Tarot cards more than ever are allowing people to reclaim control where it feels lacking, becoming a form of self-care tool for those feeling insecure about their current situations and futures, both internally but also in relation to the rest of the world. It is with that self-care in mind that I quietly sit on Maddie’s bed as she considers my cards with an air of sombreness that is reserved only for these readings. The way the tarot cards are read depends on their spread, each spread varying depending on what it is you want to know, from the general “how is my life going?” to the specifics of love, career or whatever burning question keeps you awake at night. Each card has its own meaning, from what has happened to what will happen, the attitudes of others and what I (the querent) need to do to achieve my goals - so it generally does the trick and gets me to take a good look at my life. My last card reading served me a generous dollop of home truths, and despite getting

them done for the purpose of this article, I still came away from it slightly reeling, but reassured that the changes I was making in my own personal life (it’s been a rough year) would eventually benefit me and lead me to a more fruitful period of my life. This is exactly why tarot cards are so beneficial, not because they tell you that you’ll become rich, marry, or have a loved one die, but because they engage you in a dialogue with yourself out of which you come out clear minded and confident in the decisions you are making or have to make. For those of you that can do that without tarot - congratulations you’re smashing life! Words by Isabella Colloff Watson Photography by Blake Creighton Moon taken at Chiswick House King of Cups shot at The Bridge, Hoxton, model Kurtis Lincoln Illustration by Tamay Aldemir and Isabella Colloff Watson

Tarot cards, in their original form, were said to originate in Turkey in the 14th century. They were not symbols of the occult but a form of playing card, that was adopted in the 15th century by Italian aristocracy. They were used to play a game known as “tarocchi appropriate” (tarocchi the Italian word for Tarot). In the game random cards were dealt to players who then had to come up with poetic verses about the themes depicted on the cards. The decks were also used to play a game similar to bridge, and referred to as “carte da trionfi” (cards of triumph). These cards, commissioned by wealthy Italian families, were divided up into suits of cups, swords, coins and polo sticks (which were later converted to wands). It was only in 1781 in France and England, that the tarot card deck was reappropriated by followers of the occult, believing that the symbols and motifs depicted in the cards had deeper meaning than their traditional use. It was then that these cards began being used as the divination tool they are recognized as today.

O.C.D

OCD is a clinically recognised disorder which affects around 1-2% of the population. It is debilitating and paralysing. People with OCD experience intensely negative, repetitive and intrusive thoughts. In order to quell the thought or quieten the anxiety, they will often repeat an action, again and again. These are called compulsions but are also known as rituals. These are some of them: 1-“Every morning I have 3 pieces of toast, toasted for 3 minutes 33 seconds, and cut into 3 identical parts, with the butter spread 3 times” 2- “I get so afraid that if I get a cut I’m going to get septicaemia, so I always make sure I carry a first aid box with me at all times, with bandages, plasters and antiseptic” 3- “It takes me hours to brush my hair because I can’t have a single strand of hair out of place. After I’m done I have to pull out all the hair from my hair brush and through it in the bin, it makes me sick seeing it there” 4- “I can’t use a toilet if the toilet paper is hanging the wrong way, it has to hang over the top not underneath. Ihavetoalwaysmakesureit’s always like that in my house, but also if I’m at someone else’s house I have to change it, public toilets as well.”

5- “Whenever I leave the house I get a paralysing fear that I have forgotten something, so I have line up my possessions in alphabetical order to check that I have everything. One time is normally not enough so I have to keep doing it till I’m okay to leave” 6- “I always have to put my right shoe on then my left, and then to the laces on my right shoe then my left. Then I have to tap my right foot 4 times (one, two, thrxee four), then my left 4 times (one, two, three, four)” 7- “I have to wear two pairs of socks every day. It means I go through a lot of socks. I also always bring an extra two pairs with me in case my feet sweat and I need to change them” 8- “If I make a mistake on a page on my notebook, even if it is tiny or in pencil, I have to tear the whole page out, I can’t cross it out or rub it out, the whole page has to go”

This piece was created with the help from OCD Action, and all the quotes are from those with OCD Photos by Tamay Aldemir

Mum

and

Molybdomancy

When my seven-year-old mum heard noises in her head, all the ladies in her Turkish village gathered to perform an ancient ritual ... “I used to hear noises,” my mum said. She had never told me that before. Surprised, I questioned her to find out more about Kürşün Döktürmek, a lead pouring ritual known in Western cultures as molybdomancy. Now less widely used in cities and still used in villages, this was and is a popular practice in Turkey. Fortune-telling is deemed sinful in regards to the Qur’an, however even in the 13th century in the Ottoman palaces, Sultan’s kept a müeccimbaşi (the head of the fortune-tellers), who are also able in lead pouring as the ritual was something that they would heavily rely on to ultimately predict the future and relieve ongoing spiritual troubles. My mum described them as “whispery noises” these were probably a consequence of the relationship she had with my grandfather. Someone I have envisaged a strict and angry one-legged man who would beat his children with an old-fashioned metal walking stick. My grandmother, sweet and worried, gathered about six women from the village in Düzçe who were gifted in lead pouring.

Düzce, located in the Turkish suburbs, was where my Mother grew up for the first 10 years of her life before moving to Istanbul. They performed the ritual on my mother. Only four of them took active part as “one poured the lead into a pan full of water, the other held it stable and two held a sheet over my head, over which the pan was hovering.” My 7 year old mother gripped onto my grandmother’s hand as they went into a room that than been emptied for this exorcism-like ritual. The women said a prayer. Unable to recall which particular prayer they chanted, my mother explained how she felt comfort belong-side my grandmother but slightly fearful of the hot contents falling from above. The women explained that the needlelike shapes that began forming in the boiling water was a sign that malicious spirits that were toying with her were now relieved from her soul. It wasn’t the last time my mother heard these sandpaper scratching sounds, at 14 it happened again but she didn’t get the ritual done. “The ritual probably worked due to its psychological effect.” Mum doesn’t really believe in these sorts of rituals, it’s something my grandmother did out of worry. Words by Tamay Akdemire Photos taken from her own family collection

From left to right: Tamay’s Grandmother Sanda, Tamay’s Mother Charuh, Sanda and her two sisters and friends

The rites and rituals of a hindu wedding: experiencing the beauty of a three day long celebration.

I’ve never been to a Hindu Wedding before, so as the days drew closer I could feel myself becoming quite excited but also rather nervous. The celebrations in Asian marriages are greatly important with hundreds of friends and family members in attendance for the final ceremony, the Saptapadi (Sapta means Seven and Padi means steps). Unlike western weddings, a traditional Hindu wedding can last an average of three days and that’s without the engagement ceremony! In the days leading up to the wedding three main ceremonies take place - the Muhurta, the Sangeet and finally the Mehndi ceremony. So depending on your relationship to the bride and groom your invite it will specify the events in which you have been invited to. My father and I were both asked to join the families for the Saptapadi rituals in Loughton. Exactly one day before the Saptapadi ceremony, the Mehndi ritual begins. During this day the bride’s female friends and family are asked to join her in having their hands and feet adorned with henna paint. This ceremony is often limited to close relatives, however i was asked to join the family to celebrate (in exchange for documenting the day). Each family member was dressed in a traditional gown or saree and one by one the henna application began. It was truly fascinating to watch, as these intricate designs were slowly laid onto their skin. The patterns were so delicate, I didn’t want to close my eyes, not even to blink. As the day went on the excitement grew for the Saptapadi ceremony, music

“In Hindu beliefs,marriages are established in heaven and once the marriage is solemnized the two souls are joined for seven lifetimes.”

started and food was served, taking pleasure in the joy of the upcoming union. The day finally arrived, my father and I were both dressed in our best and ready for the celebrations. We arrived slightly early and were greeted by the bride’s family and taken inside the hall. The bride’s guests were already seated inside, however the groom’s family had not yet arrived. Traditionally, the bride’s family host the event with the groom and his party arriving as guests from outside the venue to the Mandap (a temporary structure constructed for the wedding). The ceremonies are a colourful affair, with hundreds of guests arriving dressed in beautiful satin garments adorned with golden jewels. A fire was lit at the centre of the Mandap acting as the main witness for the ceremony, the bright orange flames only adding to the abundance of colours. In Hindu beliefs, marriages are established in heaven and once the marriage is solemnized the two souls are joined for seven lifetimes. After the bride and groom had to committed to one another by taking the seven vows the real celebrations started. It was an emotional time as friends and family begun to bless the newly wedded couple with bright garlands and petals, representing good fortune for the future. Soon after the ceremony finished we were all invited to celebrate with the families at the reception. The colourful themes flowed through seamlessly with mountains of food and drink waiting for us. Whilst we ate sounds of traditional Hindi music echoed throughout the hall and ceremonial dances began. As the evening went on guests continued to celebrate, with people of all ages coming together to revel in the delight of the new union; ending the night with a beautiful firework display.

Words and photography by Scarlett Knights With thanks to Faisal and Sana, the happy couple

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Breathe, You count to three but you feel like falling to your knees, Nerves make you heave, You wish you could just leave, Breathe, It’s turbulent, These feelings collate you wish it went dead silent, Slowly the shakes stop being so violent, Breathe, You don’t want to be so reliant, Sertraline they say will stop your mind from being so defiant, You don’t want to be another client, Breathe, The suppliant is giant, In the UK it’s almost become an alliant, But you want to stand alone stronger than a steel trident, So she learnt to breathe.

Poem by Tamay Aldemir