The first part of this stage involves you in constructing, and learning to play (if possible with your companion) the Septenary Star Game (see chapter VI).
The second part involves undertaking the Grade Ritual of External Adept. This ritual should be undertaken on the night of the new moon – and you should go to some trouble to find a suitable locality. This locality must be an isolated hill-top, miles from any human habitation, and should be devoid of trees, giving thus an unobstructed view of the sky. If possible choose a night when the stars are visible.
You should dress all in black and take nothing with you except the clothes you wear – for example, no torch or other means of light. As dark approaches lie with your head east, directly on the ground. Your task is to remain lying unmoving without sleeping until dawn. During the darkness you should think about the two stages undertaken previously – particularly about your relationship with your companion. Once you have clarified your thoughts and feelings on these and other matters, turn your attention to the stars -–observing them and their slow movement across the sky. At dawn, bow to the rising sun (or in the direction of it), and leave the hill. As soon as possible write in your magickal diary your thoughts and feelings during the night.
You must be honest with yourself about your feelings: as you must be honest about the success of the ritual. Since your aim was to lie still without moving or falling asleep, you must realize that if you did fall asleep or move, then the ritual is not a success – and must be done again, until you succeed. It is basically a test of your will and a ‘coagulation’ (see ‘The Alchemical Process’) of your feelings, experiences and so on.
Those who desire a more difficult test should try the following version of the ritual (which is not obligatory).
Arriving in Cairo (Egypt) take the desert road from the city past Medinet Sita October (6th of October City) that goes to Bahariya Oasis and thence to Farafra. Stop about 100 or so miles from Cairo and spend the night away from the road in the Sahara desert. Return to Cairo the next day. Your isolation in this location will be complete.
At the time of writing, there is a bus service (one bus a day in each direction) between Cairo and the Oasis of Bahariya. Intrepid individuals might try cycling along the road from Cairo. Whatever means of transportation are used, the ritual is the same in detail as that given above.
Both versions should be undertaken without any assistance by others, and involve only yourself.
The third part of this third stage involves you undertaking the workings with the seven spheres again – but this time with your companion (or another one if circumstances have changed). Follow the same procedure as for stage two except both of you should concentrate on the same image at the same time and agree beforehand to explore the scenes together. After each working, discuss the experience with your companion, and write about it in you magickal diary.
-From Naos –
Darkness Converges 