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Dear Fan,
I am in an anonymous black metal/noise trio whose signature concept
centers around the performance of music as an actual spiritual/occult
ritual. We have been relatively successful despite not publicly
performing live and have garnered some critical acclaim and a fantastic
fanbase. Each of us comes to the table with distinct ideas about the
practice of ritual music and we share a lot of common ground
spiritually.
Up until recently all of us have agreed on the use of blood sacrifice
in the performance of our rituals (recordings). But over the past year
one of our members has converted to veganism and now refuses to
participate in practices formerly utilized in the making of our music.
The other member sees this practice as essential to what we do and I am
on the fence about it. While I am for sacrifice as a spiritual practice I
also understand the need to accept that people and their spiritual
ideas change over time. But I don't see an easy way to reconcile the
other two. What does one do when the spiritual beliefs of a band member
change and then conflict with the core premise of the band? It's clear
that we all want to stay together and continue, but something has to
give.
Please advise, MT
]
Dear MT,
Despite my initial temptation to suggest you just let your newly vegan
member substitute with ketchup, I sought out some expert opinions from a
few witches and a shaman. Obviously you have a lot of belief invested
in the blood sacrifice, as a bond and as a ritual that you believe aids
in your career. I have even heard of your band, so perhaps your
bloodletting is working for you.
One of the experts suggested that your members could do a series of
blood draws over time, stockpile your own blood, essentially, for use in
ceremony. I asked about substituting with menstrual blood and she said
that it's usually only for rituals related to women's magic and “a very
different resonance to blood that comes from making a wound.”
Aside from the substitution angle, I was hoping there might be a way
where the whole band could take this as a mandate to evolve your
practice. L.A.-based energy medicine practitioner Bettie Rinehart, who
has expertise in this ceremonial realm, offered such a solution: fire.
“It seems to me that the vegan in the band is offering an opportunity
for all the members to deepen the consciousness of their connection
with spirit–which they are committed to obviously,” says Rinehart.
“Blood sacrifice presupposes duality–it demands pain or death in order
to appease another–and is related to the lower chakras, which hold
beautiful gifts, but metabolize the more primal, less conscious
energies. Fire seems like a happy medium, as it connects the soul to who
we've always been and may have forgotten.”
Also, there seems to be some real power as well as an easily scaled
and transportable spiritual practice: “Fire ceremonies can be intimate
or quite large. In an outdoor fire pit or a living room fireplace. Even
an ashtray works in a pinch. Like any ritual, it's all in the
commitment, intent and gratitude. The offering comes from the heart —
both the light and shadow sides. It's as simple as calling in the
protective spirits, putting together a good blaze and offering the fire
that which feeds it: sticks infused with prayers–just blow them in–and
a little oil or a bit of kerosene if you really need to blow out some
heavy energy (just be safe). The band members then can spend time
focusing on that connection they find so inspiring to their music. Fire
ceremonies involve all the senses. Feeling the heat, the beauty of the
flames' movement, the crackle and pop, the scent and taste of the smoke.
As above, so below.”
[
According to Pitchfork, it's believed that your secretive band lives in
Canada. Surely you must know someone with some land who would let you go
and camp out and–fire safety precautions in place–build a serious
motherfucking bonfire. So it feels different than a campfire. Chop down
some limbs together. Make your new ceremony a real special thing–you
guys are graduating to this next level and you are doing it together. A
fire ceremony could last for hours–and you could each add in your own
auxiliary rituals, prayers, songs or practices. You could eat a unifying
meal before or after to symbolize that this lifestyle choice is
bringing you together as creators, rather than dividing you. I feel like
some 15 foot tall fire would feel way more powerful than animal
bloodletting, personally.
This is a chance to develop your unifying spiritual regimen as a
band; magic and spiritual practice isn't a static thing because we are
not static. I think it's best to embrace this veganism as a positive
challenge, and to really welcome it as a chance to imbue something new
in your work. Do some research, consult with some other occultists or
your trusted practitioner and find out what all you can work into this
new ceremony. If you kick him out because he won't go along with a blood
ceremony, you will have to advertise that participation is mandatory
for new members and that is a lot of pressure and you might be just
pulling some wannabe Satanist who can't play from the dregs of
Craigslist, you know?
Best of luck to your whole band and please cast some positive prayer sticks on the pyre for ol' Fan. -Fan
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